the legend of the frozen fingers

...that the farmer's market is on top of halloween prep, even during summertime.  these creepy carrots i saw could totally pass for frostbitten body parts.

don't go outside without gloves, kids.  it's dark and cold, and you might end up with the dreaded frozen fingers.

it's the stuff urban legends and overprotective moms are made of.   

s'moremallows

...for genius ideas.  while browsing big lots the other day and marveling at their newly installed enormous grocery freezer section {at big lots.  who'd of thought?}, i happened upon these yummies.  square marshmallows perfectly shaped for s'more eating, finger sticking deliciousness.  i thought to myself, "who wouldn't want a s'more {or four} with this extra surface area that flattens more easily to create a mallow-to-chocolate-to-graham cracker ratio worthy of greatness?"

s'more mallows might just be the answer to everything.

and then i realized that it's impolite to drool over merchandise that one will not be purchasing.  so i walked away.

but not before wondering if i could reasonably sneak these guys into dinner sometime.  chicken with roasted cauliflower, tomatoes and s'more mallows, anyone?  

fruit and vegetable fun

...for funny signs at the farmers market.  i did not try said very sweet peach, but if that comparison helps this vendor move product, good for him. 

dear lisa,
you're as cool as a cucumber, and if friends were flowers, i'd pick you.

i probably shouldn't quit my day job to start writing garden copy anytime soon.  my own mother in law is pretty cool, though. 

and at least this guy wasn't selling garlic. 

cauliflower biscuit fails

...for kitchen fails.  these cauliflower biscuit - muffin hybrids looked so festive in their little muffin liners.  i followed the pin to the letter, and they smelled good in the oven.  they came out sort of potato pancake-esq, with a hashbrown like consistency.  the husband was not a fan, so i ate his plus my own and thought i'd created a viable afternoon snack option. 

and then it took me a week to make my way through the batch.  that would be one dozen in six days.  that's a lot of cauliflower. 

i chalk this kitchen miss up to several things; my lowered standards for baked things when using low carb ingredients, my hollow sounding insistence that nutritional yeast is really similar to cheese {it's so not}, and the pervasive online paleo attitude that cauliflower is a wonder vegetable.  rice, pizza crust, muffins, alfredo sauce... i've seen caulirecipes for all of these.

so i hope to impart the following important points in this post:
* the ricer attachment on my food processor is great.  i would like to begin ricing other veggies on a semi regular basis.
* cauliflower is a versatile vegetable, but let's call a spade a spade.
* these might have been tastier had i added real cheese.  and bacon.  
* if anyone has any ways to use up nutritional yeast, please comment.  my dairy allergic self thanks you in advance.


 

zucchini chips

...for snacktime.  i picked up a couple of zucchini last week at the grocer, and over the next few days, watched them sit in our fridge until they were within an inch of their lives.  finally, not wanting to lose them, i followed  this pin  and made squash chips in our dehydrator.  dehydrating is something i've watched the husband do forever {homemade beef jerky}, but never actually tried myself.  to any fellow dehydrator-phobes {just me?  bueller?}, it is super easy.  thinly slice whatever you're drying, season well, spread out, leave overnight, and eat.  tasty and crunchy, i've been enjoying these during my daily 3pm munch time. 

that said, potato chips they are not.  pringles shouldn't be nervous quite yet.

also, be aware that cleaning said dehydrator is a project in itself.  it makes you feel like instead of veggies, you should be drying something a little more decadent.  dehydrated  cupcakes, ftw.

coconut pistachio snoball cookie bites

...for yummy snacks.  i'm always looking for ways to use up some of our random fridge and pantry ingredients.  you know the ones...you buy something for one recipe and then it just sits there taking up space indefinitely.  chinese five spice powder, i'm looking at you.  {two full containers, and i can't use more than a teaspoon at a time}.

moving on. 

i've had leftover unsweetened coconut flakes for months now, but i couldn't figure out a good use up for them.  i was tinkering around last weekend when i decided to play with a "cookie" recipe i'd pinned many moons ago.  i made two variations, and was able to use the coconut flakes in batch #2.  these are not so much cookies, as little dough bites.  fragile, but worth it for ease of making.  the only bad part about them is the stomach ache which follows eating too many at once.  trust me.

peanut butter cookie bites {slightly adapted from peanutbutterfingers.com}
1 egg
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup sweetener {i used splenda, but you could use sugar, honey, agave, etc.}

mix all ingredients together then roll into fifteen or so 1 inch thick dough balls
bake in 350* oven for ten to twelve minutes
check for doneness with a toothpick and then let cool for ten minutes 

and if you're feeling fancy {do it.  totally worth the extra step}
pistachio coconut cookie bites
same recipe as above, except substitute pistachio butter {grind two cups pistachios in the food processor for several minutes to make one cup butter} for peanut butter
after rolling into dough balls and before baking, roll the balls around in a few tablespoons of unsweetened shredded coconut flakes
coconut flakes will become toasted and delicious in the oven, as well as make the bites look pretty

both of these treats are yummy, as well as low carb, gluten free, paleo friendly {pb is not paleo, but you could use almond butter}, and can be refrigerated or frozen for several days.

get snacking!

smooth moves

...for three beverage mornings.  green tea has been in my life {and on my blog} for many years now, but this summer i am embracing the smoothie breakfast.  now that i've learned how to clean our blender* without accidentally cutting myself**, smoothies and i are besties.

my current favorite mix:
several ice cubes, 1 cup halved strawberries, big handful spinach, 1 scoop vegan protein powder, 1 tablespoon flax seed, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 cup non dairy milk, 1/4 cup water, optional stevia to taste

smush everything into blender: ice on the bottom, then dry ingredients, then liquids poured over top.  mix until smooth.  pour into large cups and enjoy, preferably through a fun straw.

sometimes, i get too excited and overdo my liquids.  a two smoothie morning is a happy morning.

*  after pouring out your smoothie, fill the blender a little under halfway with water and dishsoap.  let it run for a bit, then rinse.  easy peasy.
** true story.  those blades on the bottom are not a joke, kids.     

a whale of a... tortilla

...for foodie fails.  in my quest to become a little more housewifey skilled in all things domestic, i've been trying to accomplish some of my pinterest items.  i'm happy to say, my "pins i've actually tried" board is slowly becoming a real folder.  some pins have turned out better than expected {cake batter cashew butter, you have my heart}.  others... not so much.

these homemade tortillas had all the potential to be delicious.  egg whites, coconut flour, seasoning blend, almond milk:  all things i enjoy.  i even shocked myself when three out of four tortillas came out looking like actual tortillas.  you can see the hidden whale tale there on the right which was the result of a batter oops.  i lovingly spread almond butter on the top beauty there and sat down to enjoy.

it tasted like an off pancake.

undeterred, i tried again with a sort of breakfast burrito a few days later.  another fail.

i guess i'm sticking to my costco la tortilla factory low carb high fiber wraps {much tastier than they sound, i promise} for the time being.  i may not fully understand the whole of the ingredient list, but i'll be darned if they don't make an excellent salsa/ hummus vessel.

not, of course, using my pinned "dessert chickpea hummus" recipe that i made last week.  totally as disgusting as it sounds.    

man meets meat

...for new weekend traditions.  as a kid, i suffered from sunday night anxiety.  unfortunately, this has only gotten worse as an adult.  taking advantage of the recent spate of gorgeous weather {which i'm sure will turn to rain now that i've blogged it}, we've been enjoying beers and bratwursts as an end of weekend happy moment the past few weeks.  husband loves his grill, and i enjoy standing inside far away from any flareups which might leave one eyebrowless.  win win.

herbs of a feather

...that i can proudly say, "oh, those herbs? yeah, i grew them myself. no biggie." i am so relieved happy that my little chia guys are doing well.  we had a close call with mold there for a bit, but i'm finally able to begin adding my basil, chives and parsley to salads.  no official green thumb for me quite yet, but baby steps. 

of champions

...for vacation breakfast each morning this week, with a delicious side of blogs.  spring break, i'm just not ready to say goodbye. 

we all scream

...for the love notes that married people leave for each other.  i fell even more in love with my husband when he started making me sugar and dairy free ice cream a few years ago.  {between the two of us, we have about eight billion allergies}.  my job every few weeks is to prep his ingredients like the sous chef that i aspire to be, and his job is to keep desserts on hand at all times.  why we didn't include this agreement in our wedding vows was a serious oversight.    

family love

...for family time {especially even if you're not related}.  i found this one in my archive the other day from the husband's bday dinner at benihana's a few months ago.  due to yuck weather, our party of eleven became just the four of us.  we talked; we laughed; we watched the chef cook our food right in front of us.  the onion volcano makes me happy every. single. time.  i couldn't get ian to wear the giant birthday hat, but i've got fifty more years or so to get on that.       

crock of spit

...for google, which taught me that the key to outsmarting a cranky crockpot {spitting out boiling water onto the kitchen counter is never okay} is not to jiggle the lid around and frown at the thing as i first tried.  instead, it appears that weighting down the top is the more sensible way to go.  who knew?  other googlers, that's who.

side note:  i can totally see my picture taking reflection in the bowl.  that photo course i took back in november has clearly paid off.  notsomuch.  

ch ch ch chia

...for getting my green thumb on.  plants and i haven't always been friends {i once killed bamboo}.  but i'm turning over a new leaf {ha ha} with my new little chia pots.  in a little bit, we'll have basil, chives and parsely that i can proudly declare i grew myself.  i even made these fun little greenhouses out of sandwich bags like the directions told me to.  it's been two weeks or so since this picture, and i'm actually seeing basil looking sprouts appearing.  i've probably jinxed myself by posting that, but i'm proud my little ones have made it thus far alive. 
.

vegetable ambitions

...for my very own popeye moment.  on monday, i bought a two pound bag of spinach at costco {along with a giant block of cheese for the husband}.  i never ate spinach as a kid {it doesn't come in a happy meal}, but as an adult, i LOVE it.  seriously.  my mission this week has been to take down as much of the bag as possible to avoid the uglyness that was costco rotten spinach fest 2011, the last time i let myself buy veggies in bulk.  i'm pleased to say that after three days, i've just over half the bag to go.  i've probably jinxed myself by bragging here, but i'm very much looking forward to winning this iron and folate rematch.   

lemonade

...for trying to make lemonade out of lemons.  we have this citrus tree in our backyard that produces the most amazing fruit.  giant lemons that stay fresh for weeks and are so good in soups, salads and even plain water.  they put trader joe's lemons to shame {i still love you, joe.  your almond butter will always hold a special place in my heart}.  i'm currently on vacation, and bummed that school starts again next week.  but in the spirit of new year's lemons and all of their optimism, i'll try and look on the bright side.  only six more months until summer.  it will feel so good to leave the house each morning for school.  

famous vacation diners

...for healthy food in california, and for totally weirding out our waitress.  still sifting through ny photos, and found this one of what new yorker's consider a "fruit cup."  i ordered this at breakfast, and it was covered in syrup.  even i couldn't finish it, and sugar is a close bff of mine.  the best part of this photo was when the waitress saw the camera as she brought our bill.

"you're taking a picture of your meal?"
"yes.  we're on vacation and so excited to be here."
"um... yes.  our diner in upstate new york.  great spot.  enjoy your stay." {confused shake of her head as she walked away}

this little piggy

...for remembering that i still had some random pictures on my camera from our new york trip last month.  this sign was posted on the RIT bulletin board in their student union all by its lonesome.  college students need no context for gratuitous pork products, apparently.  no wonder my husband spent so much time there.

no wait brisket

...that our favorite ayce korean bbq restaurant was so empty last friday night.  usually, it's a half hour wait, and that's only bc we come when the old people eat.  the hostess was just as confused as we were as to where everyone was.  "maybe there's a basketball game on?" haha.