Pancakes & Sushi

Posted on January 2, 2011 by kissmybroccoli

Good afternoon interneties! First off, let me just say a very big THANK YOU for all the sweet comments on my NYE pic! You guys really know how to make a southern gal blush!

I just got back from another trip to Nashvegas on this bright sun-shiny Sunday. Where was this weather the night of New Years Eve?? I met a friend downtown this morning at The Pancake Pantry, a popular breakfast eatery in Nashville. I had never been before today, but had always heard amazing things about their menu. Check out all the pancakes!

It took me FOREVER to decide, but in the end I chose the sweet potato pancakes topped with pecans (upon request) and served with cinnamon cream syrup!

I wish I had asked for it without the butter and sugar, but it was easily scraped off! They were so light and fluffy and soaked up the cinnamon syrup perfectly. I wanted to eat it all but only made it about 2/3’s of the way and I was sooooo full! Happy Pancake Sunday to me! Happy Pancake Sunday tooooooooo me!

After breakfast, I had to stop at Whole Paycheck Foods and Trader Joe’s…because, you know, I was in the area! 😉

First stop, Whole Foods! I can’t wait to use the bottle of Vidalia Onion & Fig grilling sauce that’s on the far left. There is a chicken breast in my freezer with this thing’s name ALL over it! There are also two bags hiding behind the Daiya cheese and the dulse flakes…whole wheat pastry flour and rolled oats. You KNOW you need to go to the store when you’re out of both of these!

I’m so mad at myself for getting these! I had never had a meringue before and when I saw these I thought they looked purdy, but they didn’t have a price on them. I meant to ask the cashier, but she distracted me (more on this in a second) and I forgot. When I got home I checked the receipt…SIX freakin’ NINETY-NINE!!! Good grief, did they get the egg whites from the goose that laid the golden egg?? And to top it off, they’re awful…just taste like air and sugar! Bleh! 🙁

I have wanted to try Artic Zero for months now, but the last time I went to Whole Foods, all they had was chocolate (my least favorite flavor). They had a full stock today and I couldn’t decide on one flavor so I got two! Yeah, and about the cashier distraction…she asked me if I had ever tried these before and when I said I hadn’t she gave me one for FREE! Heck yeah!

I practically ripped into both containers as soon as I got in. Coffee was first…mmm, yeah…not bad…tastes just like coffee ice cream. Then it was time to try the vanilla maple…SMACK YO MAMA! I could bathe in this stuff (though that would be a little chilly)! It is sooooo good! If you have a chance to try this flavor, do it NOW!

Trader Joe’s was next. I wish I could’ve paid the TJ’s price for my WF’s ticket! So much cheaper!

Baby heirloom tomatoes, basil, and whole wheat crust. Yes, there will be a Margherita pizza in my near future! I also picked up some hearts of palm. I see Allie put them on salads all the time, but I have never tried them before. Have you?

Notice the salmon in the back? I’m keeping my “intentions” in mind! I’m thinking some smoked paprika rubbed salmon is in order this week!

I’ll leave you with my beautiful lunch plate brought to you by the kind gentleman behind the sushi counter at WF’s: Shrimp summer roll and brown rice sushi with eel (my fave), avocado, cucumber and brown sauce.

Well, I’m off to pack up all the Christmas decorations 🙁 Hope you all have a great rest of the weekend!

 

Posted in Breakfast, Entree, Pancake Sunday, Raw | Tagged , , , | 35 Comments

Happy New Year!

Posted on January 1, 2011 by kissmybroccoli

So did everyone have a good night last night? I went to downtown Nashville and watched the guitar drop for the very first time. And even though it rained and I ended up looking like a hot mess, I had a blast!

Did you eat your black-eyed peas yet?? It’s not too late, you still have another couple of hours to “guarantee” your luck in 2011! I’m not a superstitious person, but I do like to entertain the ideas behind the traditional New Year’s Day foods.

Lucky Black-Eyed Peas: (serves 4)
From seriouseats.com (Adaptations in red)

  • 1 cup dried black-eyed peas
  • 3 bacon, cut into 3/4-inch squares
  • 1 red onions, peeled and sliced (yellow onions were all I had)
  • 2 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped
  • 1/2 tablespoon dried oregano or Italian seasoning
  • 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt or kosher salt (1/2 teaspoon) <- Not a salt lover!
  • 1 teaspoon Tabasco or other hot sauce (1 teaspoon sriracha)

1. Soak your beans overnight or try the quick-soak technique.
2. Position a rack in the middle of your oven and preheat to 275 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. Cook bacon in an oven-proof deep skillet or dutch oven over medium-high heat and cook until it renders its fat. Remove bacon from pan and set aside, saving the grease.
4. Add the onions, garlic, oregano (or Italian seasoning), and black pepper and cook, stirring, for 8 minutes.
Add the drained peas, bay leaves, salt, and 3 cups water.
5. Cover and transfer to oven. Cook until the peas are tender, at least 1 hour 15 minutes. Stir in the hot sauce and serve.

Make Me Rich Turnip Greens: (serves 4)
From foodnetwork.com (Adaptations in red)

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 shallot, chopped (again, only had yellow onions)
  • 1 clove garlic, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 1/2 pounds turnip greens, washed, stemmed, and chopped
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 1 cup chicken stock (I used low sodium veggie stock)
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted (since I planned for leftovers I only toasted a few to put on top of my one serving)

1. Heat olive oil in Dutch oven over medium heat.
2. Add shallot, garlic and red pepper flakes and saute until tender and fragrant.
3. Add the washed and cleaned turnip greens and mix together. Cook until they have wilted down, about 3 minutes. Add pepper to taste.
4. In a small bowl, whisk the Dijon mustard with the chicken stock. Add to the wilted greens and cook until the liquid has all but evaporated. Add the toasted pecans and serve immediately.

Well, I don’t know if I’ll be extremely rich or lucky in 2011, but I did thoroughly enjoy dinner!

I used to hate when my mom would break out the black-eyed peas (aka “dirt beans”) on New Year’s Day. I just recently gave them another chance and found my hatred had dissipated. This is the first time I’ve ever made the dried version and I think they taste a lot better than the canned variety. I may be a new black-eyed pea lover now! Mama would be so proud! 🙂

Hope everyone had a great first day of the new year! With #3 of my list of “intentions” in mind, I’m heading to bed! ‘Night!

Posted in Entree, Snacks | Tagged , , | 11 Comments

5…4…3…2…1…

Posted on December 31, 2010 by kissmybroccoli

I hope everyone is having a fantabulous New Year’s Eve and if you plan on going out tonight, have fun but please be safe!

I will be joining the masses this coming year with a list of New Year’s resolutions, though I like Averie’s term a little better: intentions. Like she say’s, “resolutions are easily broken [but] you cannot break an intention the way you can “break your New Years resolutions'”.

New Year’s “Intentions” for 2011:

1. Drink at least 64 ounces of water every day
I usually only drink water and coffee (only 1 cup of 1/2 caff in the am), but some days I will go all day without a single sip of water! I need to get better with this.

2. Eat at least one serving of fish high in omega 3’s once a week
Fish is so good for your heart and cardiovascular system. I LOVE seafood, but I rarely ever eat it, especially at home. This is going to change.

3. Get 7-8 hours of sleep each night
‘Nuff said!

4. Try out one recipe a month that challenges my knowledge in the kitchen
I like to challenge myself and try new things, this year I would like to attempt to make a few classic dishes that I have never tried before as well as new techniques. Suggestions are more than welcome!

5. Read one book a month
All I ever said throughout college was how much I wanted to read something that wasn’t from a textbook. After I graduated, I read about 5 books. Since then, over 3 years later…zilch!

6. Do 30-60 minutes of physical activity every day
I already have a plan set into place with this one. I joined Team HEAB yesterday and am so excited to see what Lindsay has in store for us! My ankle is finally getting better from my horrible sprain back in late September so I think it’s about time to see what I can do. Plus, I am so much happier when I’m active!

7. And last but definitely not least, reconnect with family and friends, more phone calls and more visits this year!
I am so bad about visiting and calling my family and friends. A lot of times, I tend to let work rule my life and everything falls to the wayside until the weekend. Well, by the weekend, I’m usually so tired (hopefully #3 will also help with this) that I don’t even feel like leaving my house, much less being sociable. The relationships with the people in my life now are so very important to me and I want to try to do my best to convey that to them by setting up lunch/dinner dates and the occasional phone call when scheduling conflicts don’t allow for visits.

My lucky number is sever, so I figured this was perfect for me. Plus you don’t want to burden yourself with too many goals or you more than likely won’t even achieve one!

Well, I’m off to put some of my own touches on a take-and-bake pizza I bought from Papa Murphy’s. Then it’s time to get ready to paint the town tonight! This will be my first time going out to celebrate New Years and I am so excited!

Have a great night everybody!

Posted in Uncategorized | 11 Comments