Overboard

Is everyone super happy it's Friday? I know I'd be lying if I said I wasn't! I'm also super excited for the start of the Olympics. Finally something good on television!

This morning started with another ridiculous bowl of Toasted Coconut Gingerbread Oats with Choco-Mocha "Icing". I think it's safe to say I've been going a little overboard with the toppings as of late, no? hehe.

At least it's still kind of healthy though, right? It just feels like cheating :P

I'm totally loving the whole molasses/gingerbread flavor. And hey - blackstrap molasses just so happens to be an excellent source of iron and calcium! How ya like them apples?

The usual mix with heaping 1/8 t. each ginger, nutmeg, ground clove, and cinnamon; vanilla extract, and 1.5 t. molasses. 

Topped with 2 t. coconut (toasted) toasted walnuts, goji berries, crystallized ginger, banana, wheat germ, raisins, and a maraschino cherry, just for good measure!

The Chia-Seed Yogurt Pudding "Frosting" of the day was brewed coffee, almond milk, chia seeds, greek yogurt, unsweetened organic cocoa-powder, and a splash of agave. 

*deep breath* phew! that was a mouthful!

Lunch was a repeat from the past couple days, yet still hasn't gotten old! I actually froze the meatballs so they kept pretty well. Still enough for one more delicious turkey buffalo wrap, too. 

Work actually went by pretty quickly today, just slowing down towards the end of the day so I ended up leaving a half hour early. It was a beautiful day outside so I took the opportunity to walk a package down to the post office. I love being able to take a short walk during work, even though the wind did get quite chilly after a couple minutes! Oh, well. The sun was gorgeous, and I can't help but to smile when it's out. The weather has such a huge impact on my mood, I think moreso than most people.

How much does the weather affect your mood?

I came home to a surprise!

Aside from my Naturally Nutty shipment coming in, my mom was thinking of me when she saw these at the Discount Foods Store! Sure, the cans are dented but who cares? They're not expired yet, and will certainly be consumed before that date, anyway. I was mourning to her about the pumpkin shortage awhile ago, but she remembered...and I've been dying to try the S'mores Z Bars. 

She's too good to me :)

Dinner tonight was a good one, too! Even though I only got home about 20 minutes earlier than usual, I just felt like I had so much more time to cook! It was quite nice. This is another "how is this healthy" meal from me, haha. Sure, I'm not saying it's a prime example of health food by any means, but food can certainly get much junkier than this, too. And I've finally finished those scallops! hah.

Garlicky Scallops & Butter Beans with Bacon

For One

Ingredients:

2 slices raw bacon

~3/4 c. raw scallops with their juice

1/2 c. canned butter beans, undrained

1/8 c. each: diced scallions, diced red bell pepper, diced red onion

2 sundried tomatoes, diced

1.5 t. minced garlic

1 t. honey mustard

salt & pepper

EVOO

Destructions:

1. Defrost scallops in microwave, do not drain liquid from bowl. Microwave bacon on paper towel-covered plate for 45 sec, blot away excess grease, and chop into medium-sized pieces, trimming away excess fat.

2. Over low heat, begin sauteeing the minced garlic in a non-stick pan drizzled lightly with olive oil (alternatively, I'm sure you could omit the EVOO and microwaving the bacon, and instead use the bacon grease in place of EVOO. I declined on the notion.) Add the scallops & their liquid as well as the bacon, scallions, pepper, and onion. Season with honey mustard, salt and pepper, and allow scallops and bacon to finish cooking thoroughly.

3. Once thickened some and scallops and bacon is cooked, add the beans and sundried tomatoes.

4. Plate!

I cut and then toasted a pita with some garlic, and served with a side of "burnt broccoli," as well, and topped with some parmesan. Delish!

If only burnt broccoli looked as appetizing as it tastes. It's my favorite way to eat broccoli! So much better than just steaming or microwaving it.

This was a really good meal. Next time? I'll be making some homemade Naan rather than the pita!

Is anyone else excited to have the Olympics to watch?

What sport are you most looking forward to?

I  can't wait to watch the snowboarding. Ice skating is exciting, too. ( the racing )

Super Strata

mmm....the smell of gingerbread in the morning!

Gingerbread Oats, that is!

Thinking about a gigantic bakery gingersnap cookie my mom brought home with her the other day, yet left me with just a tease of a taste, I decided I could make my own gingersnap cookie this morning! I love how I always make my favorite desserts into breakfast, haha. And I think I may just like them better - because oats are involved!

To make this yourself, just replace your water with brewed coffee (if I was really on-the-ball, I would have brewed some of the Green Mountain Gingerbread coffee I have. I didn't think of it 'til after!), whip in half a banana (more for sweetness and volume - you can't much taste it)lots of cinnamon, ginger, and ground clove, splash of vanilla extract, and 1 tsp dark molasses. Top with crystalized ginger, raisins, chopped walnuts, banana, and Chia-Seed Yogurt "icing". I added a teaspoon of organic light brown sugar, as well...I thought it would need the added sweetness, but it turned out being unnecessary, lol. 

Another winning bowl! Next time I'm adding even more ginger, though :)

After getting ready for work (Involving packing an amazing lunch involving a sundried tomato & feta turkey meatball wrap, an orange, carrot sticks, oat bran pretzels, and a kashi bar) I was so on the ball that I prepared tonight's dinner! 

Any guesses what I made? Anyone? Anyone?

Turkey Meatball and Apple Strata!

If you've never had strata before...you're seriously missing out. Seriously. 

It's funny, because up until now, Strata has always been a once-a-year occasion: Christmas morning. In my mind, Strata=Christmas Brunch. Nothing else! My mom has always made up a huge, cheesy, sausage breakfast strata. This year was the first year I joined the fun, and made up a healthified version to go along with hers! Our "showdown" was tons of fun, but none of us could choose between the two. The traditional was, of course, delicious (be it greasy!) and mine was healthy and delicious. 

It's funny because it's not necessarily as much as a holiday meal as my mind has ingrained it to be. And after seeing Brandie make it so many times recently (re: not a holiday, Jess!) I realized I, too, should be enjoying this delicious dish during the week! Preferably multiple times :)

My favorite thing about strata is how versatile it is. You could make it differently every time, but my favorite - which I just discovered this past Christmas, during my mom and I's strata showdown - incorporates sausage and apples, and feta! Another awesome thing about strata is that while it easily can be a "guilt" meal, it doesn't need to be. It'd be great to bring to a get-together. No one would be any the wiser! (Okay, that, and - how cool is it that I could throw this together in 15 minutes before work, refrigerate for the day so the bread soaks up the egg, and just call home when I left work for mom to pop it in the oven? Pretty cool...)

Sausage and Apple Strata for One or Two

Ingredients:

-2 slices Spelt bread, lightly toasted and cubed (or whole wheat, day old french, etc. Use what you've got!)

-4-5 Sundried Tomato and Feta Turkey Meatballs, crumbled (alternatively, it's very good with chicken sausage)

-1 apple, chopped

-1/4 c. scallions, diced

-1/8 c. red onion, diced

-1/8 c. red pepper, diced

-crumbled feta or shredded mozzarella

-2 eggs or 1/2 c. egg beaters

-1/3 c. almond milk/soy milk/milk

-salt and pepper

-garlic powder

-1-2 c. baby spinach leaves

-raspberry dijon mustard, 1 tsp or so, to drizzle on top

Destructions:

In a large liquid measuring cup, combine milk, eggs, cubed bread, scallions, red onion, red pepper, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and spinach.

Pour this mixture into a greased mini-casserole dish.

Over this, crumble your meatballs or other pre-cooked sausage, followed by the chopped apple, and then the feta/cheese of choice.

Garnish with a few dices of scallion and drizzle with some raspberry dijon mustard.

Cover with aluminum foil and refrigerate overnight/over"work".

When ready to bake, bake at 350* for 30m covered, then uncover and bake at 425* for an additional 10m.

Oh. mah. gaw. So good! Just like Christmas morning :) haha.

I had half with a biiiig salad. Tomorrow's my late night at school, so this will be the perfect leftovers! It reheats quite well - might just get better with age!

If you don't care for feta, it would be really good with provolone or mozzarella, I bet. Some nutmeg in there with the spinach might have been nice, too.

And I am now enjoying a delicious bowl of pumpkin yogurt chia pudding. Greek yogurt + pumpkin + chia seeds + cinn & nutmeg + almond milk + cheesecake pudding mix = amazing. The end.

In addition: It's been awhile since I've done a Fun Flickr Photo Feature!

Check out Rowena R. on flickr!

Amazing use of lighting, and I love the color and post-processing. Subtle but effective - sometimes "over photoshopped" images run rampant these days, but it's all in how it's handled! 

She is undeniably talented...definitely something to strive for - amazing motivation in her stream. So, take a look-see!

Alright bloggies. That is all from this end of the world...but not before I thank you all for another FoodBuzz Top 9! Too cool...I hope everyone makes that French toast now :P

Question? Do you have any meals that remind you of certain occasions or holidays, yet aren't necessarily widely received as such when you really think about it?