I like to get toasted.
In the French way ’cause I’m classy.
French toast is becoming an unintentional theme for #strangebutgood. Last week it was Healthy French Toast. 2 weeks ago it was totally unhealthy (but delicious) Eggnog Baked French Toast. Now it’s the thug life.
This is the laziest, most bass ackwards way possible to make french toast. Toast the bread while beating egg whites with cinnamon and stevia. Pour egg mixture over the top.
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I love Vegas in sickness and in health.
Just didn’t think we’d have to prove it so soon.
Today’s strange but good is a quickie because we’ve both been hit by the plague. I don’t know if it’s the flu or the worst cold ever, but we are miserable.
Yesterday my eye swelled up and started oozing a lovely substance. I’ll spare you that picture and instead share the scene on the nightstand:
In sickness and in health…
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Strange can be simple.
Simple is strange in my kitchen!
This recipe consists of simply two things: bread and eggnog. It’s what we had for breakfast brunch lunch linner (we like to sleep) on Christmas morning. And a giant side of champagne because all the rum Mom dumps in her eggnog would have cooked out. 😉
We did get a little complex with the homemade eggnog and using chocolate chip brioche. I neglected a picture, but I also made fresh whipped cream with coconut rum to top. You don’t have to get that fancy… but it didn’t suck.
Also served was scrambled eggs with spinach and onion for protein and greens. And bacon. Because bacon.
Mom likes to set a fancy table. This one had a gorgeous centerpiece, a charcuterie, ambrosia, and a magnum bottle of sparkling from Schramsberg.
It was so good we didn’t worry about opening presents until almost 2!
It’s a little past the holidays, but why not keep celebrating and try this out? It’s strange… but good! Besides, the eggnog is on sale at Whole Foods! 😉
Dip cubes of bread in the eggnog. Place slices evenly in a greased pyrex dish. Pour any remaining mixture over the slices.
Cover and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, preheat oven to 400. Bake for 20-25 minutes (until poofed up and golden brown on top).
Place on rack to cool slightly before cutting and serving.
Makes 8-10 servings.
How have you enjoyed making co-workers, friends, or family stare with strange but good creations this week? The link up rules can be found here or by clicking on “Strange But Good” in the menu bar above. In short, I want to see what concoctions have earned you weird looks from co-workers, family and friends! Post your Strange But Good creations, grab the logo below for your blog, and link up here.
Remember to use #strangebutgood in any Tweets and Instagrams of your creations. 🙂
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That magnum bottle was goooooone, plus 2 more standard sized ones. There were 7 of us! 5 of the 7 were drinking…
Do you like eggnog? I never have… but I love it baked!
How was New Years Eve? I have much to share! Later…
The (Christmas) beet goes on.
I’m so festive-feeling that even I want to slap me.
But how awesome are red pancakes in the winter?! Especially with they’re delicious and trimmed in white.
Oh… and they have a not-so-hidden healthy ingredient. Beets lend their color to these festive ‘cakes. It’s strange, yes. But I’m telling you… it’s good!
I use the new Quest vanilla milkshake protein powder in my pancakes. It’s flavor really is fantastic, and it bakes like a champ. These tasted like a beet milkshake pancake. In a good way. Really….
There are few things I love more than cake.
Actually, I can only think of one…
One of the best things about waffles is that they are like cake… but with crevices for icing sauce.
My favorite cakes include: chocolate, carrot, red velvet, and banana-peanut butter-bacon. In that order. The only thing to do is to make all of these in protein waffle form (in no particular order).
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Waffles distract me.
Ohhhhh…. sparkles!
If I’m honest, lots of things distract me. Having a new toy is just an enabler. I went on a waffle bender. However, getting new supplements from Cellucor brought be mack to an old favorite: protein pancakes. Something about that Peanut Butter Marshmallow protein powder flavor screamed for fluffy pancakes.
These did not disappoint. Peanut butter marshmallows should be a thing. They probably are… I’d be shocked if Target didn’t have them. That place is a black hole for my wallet. Much like Whole Paycheck Foods. See what I mean about distraction?
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Have you ever eaten warm banana?
Think pie… bananas foster… breads.
When you bake a banana it becomes a gooey, caramel-y treat. You don’t even need to use sugar. Like in these muffins.
I’m not one to take the time to make a baked oatmeal in the morning, but I love having it for breakfast. Especially as it gets colder outside! Bake it in advance and you have a delicious instant breakfast, portioned out perfectly. That’s the idea behind these.
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Eat your greens!
I can still hear my mother yelling saying this to me at the dinner table.
Growing up, I was the pickiest kid on the planet. If it was green, the only way I’d eat it is if it was raw and covered in so much ranch dressing (specifically, Marie’s ranch) there was no possibility of tasting it.
Fast forward 20 years and I’m voluntarily starting my day with this sludge:
Mix together in a small bowl and a allow to sit 1-2 mins to allow the mix to gel.
It’s a very “green” tasting mix, which is why I add a little stevia… even my altered taste buds need some help. Here’s the “why” behind the ingredients:
One cup of matcha green tea has as many antioxidants as 10 cups of regular tea. As if that’s not enough reason to start supplementing with it, it also enhances metabolism, reduces stress, lowers cholesterol, and combats aging and cancer.
One of my favorite benefits is the caffeine. It’s perfect first thing in the morning. It doesn’t cause the shakes though! The relaxing properties of L-theanine in matcha promote concentration, memory, and mood.
This isn’t your cafeteria nastiness. Gelatin is actually flavorless, making it easy to add to just about anything. I began taking it for digestion at the suggestion of Lindsay (see her post here). It 100% works for that! I’m more “regular” than I’ve ever been. It can help to heal the lining of your stomach and digestive tract, and is a detoxifier.
For someone who is active, gelatin is especially beneficial because it contains half of the 18 essential amino acids, which help build muscle. With 6 grams of protein per tablespoon, it’s a great way to add more protein to your diet. It is not a complete protein, but it helps the body fully utilize the complete proteins you eat. It also supports skin, hair and nail growth, and is good for bone strength and joint recovery. Rumor has it that it can help tighten loose skin and improve cellulite.
Aside from making everything taste better, cinnamon is good for your health! It stabilizes blood sugar levels, making it popular for those with Type 2 Diabetes. Cinnamon might also reduce the effects of high-fat meals by reducing response of triglycerides (a type of fat) in the blood but as much as 30%.*
It can also lower your bad cholesterol (LDL), reduce inflammation, and can decrease cancer risk (especially leukemia and lymphoma cancer cells, which my dad had). It can control yeast with it’s antifungal properties. Allegedly, candida cannot live in a cinnamon environment. When added to food, cinnamon acts as a preservative, slowing bacterial growth and food spoilage. Even smelling cinnamon can have positive effects on cognitive function, memory, and headaches!
*This is not a license to raid the nearest Cinnabon… it has been found to be toxic in large doses. And I don’t think even OD-ing on it will fight that sugar rush. 😉
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