Strange But Good: Peach Sweet Potato Scramble

August 9, 2013 By Laura

The Peach State isn’t actually the largest peach producer in the US.*

Not that it stops me from eating copious amounts while they’re in season.

You may remember my love of PB & Jeggs. Or Aggs. Or (vegan) Ceggs. Or Zeggs. I could go on forever, but all this is to say that I was actually thinking of my PB & Peggs when I came up with the combo.

Now that I type this, I realize I should have added peanut flour too! Tomorrow is another day…

One of the slightly strange adds was sweet potato. I cubed it and sautéed it quickly before making the scramble. It was so easy! Adding the peaches at the end was just enough to warm and caramelize the natural sugars a bit. Then there was the basil, which was a nice, herb-y accent to give the dish a bit more “pop.”

And bacon… because everything is better with bacon. Really, the savory-salty bacon sprinkles made every bite fun. Sounds strange, but trust me. It was good.

*In case you were wondering, California is the largest peach producer in the U.S. South Carolina is the largest in the East.

Peach Sweet Potato Scramble

Coconut (or other) oil to grease pan
1/2 C diced sweet potato
1/2 egg whites
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ginger
Shake of cayenne (optional)
1 Peach, chopped
Basil
Bacon, crumbled (optional)

In a lightly oiled skillet, sautee sweet potato until tender. Set aside.

Scramble together egg whites, cinnamon, ginger, and cayenne with a spoash of water (the water helps them “fluff”).

Transfer to a lightly oiled skillet and cook over medium heat until half way done (~1-2 mins). Add sweet potato, peaches, and basil. Mix and cook through.

Plate your scramble and top with additional basil and bacon sprinkles, if desired.

Note: Feta or goat cheese would also be good here to add a pop of saltiness.

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. 🙂

***

And now I have to brag. I get to have dinner at Sarena‘s house tonight. Her food makes me drool.

Is there anything bacon (or vegan bacon bits) isn’t good with? It’s like peanut butter!

What are you looking forward to this weekend?

Strawberry Fields Forever

June 10, 2013 By Laura

Let me take you down…

Random fact: I listened to The Beatles religiously high school.

I’ve been religiously adding berries to everything lately. You’ve seen these if you follow me on Instagram, but here’s round up of some marvelous strawberry creations last week.

You may have noticed that I love to add fruit to seafood. Most of the time it’s in the form of a salmon creation
(Like salmon and peaches. Try it.) Last week I was on a crab bender, and so this salad was born:

Crab and Strawberry Salad

Crab meat
Strawberries, sliced
Basil
Balsamic
Lime juice
Pepper
Paprika

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Strawberries are also good for breakfast! Friday morning I treated myself with a breakfast pizza. Normally this would involve yolk porn, but I was out.

Instead, I made a creamy spread by blending my cottage cheese, and used bacon and strawberries as toppings. The kicker was the fig balsamic glaze I’ve been adding to everything.

Strawberry Breakfast Pizza

Flatbread or pizza crust (I used P28)
1/4 C no-salt cottage cheese
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp almond extract
3-4 drops liquid stevia
Strawberries
Bacon, pre-cooked and broken into “sprinkles”
Optional toppings: hemp seeds, cacao nibs, balsamic

Top pizza and place in oven under broil for a few mins.

Sprinkle with hemp seeds, cacao nibs, balsamic… or other toppings of choice!

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Lastly, we must have strawberries on dessert! My #1 favorite “healthy” dessert is my 150 Calorie Chocolate Cake. Who knew 2 minutes in the microwave could produce such a perfectly moist individual cake?! I followed my original recipe, but used mashed sweet potato in place of the apple sauce. I think I’ll be doing that from now on – it was fabulous!

For the strawberry topping, I simply mashed up some fresh berries in a bowl, added a tiny bit of balsamic, and microwaved it to warm. The heat juices the berries even more, making for a delicious fruit syrup.

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One more thing… I’m now a strawberry blonde! I went lighter for the summer. Yes, my hair color is seasonal. Holla at Karen and Lava Hair Studio.

How’s that for a berry Marvelous Monday? Check out all of the Monday Marvels at Katie’s linkup!

***

I have a little announcement tomorrow… I’m a little nervous about it, but I’m all about being real. Suspense.

What is your favorite way to use strawberries (other than plain)?

Do you change your hair or something about your “look” seasonally?

Strange But Good: Bacon, Eggs, and Coffee (Pancakes)

May 24, 2013 By Laura

I’m not a huge coffee drinker.

Morning energy is key though.

Since having my morning cocktail everyday, I’ve simply not craved coffee. Combine that with my mental block for some reason I think coffee takes far too much effort to make (yet I will spend time making breakfasts like this… no logic, I know), and I rarely make coffee.

Anyway, I decided to make coffee on Monday morning (I was still dragging from the post-Blend excitement!). when I do prepare coffee, I always make extra to have during the week. With my leftover coffee, I make things like Tiramisu parfaits and pancakes!

This pancake creation hit all the high points when it come to breakfast: it is possible to have your bacon, eggs, and coffee all in one bite!

It may be a little strange. It definitely is a lot good! We all know how I like my waffles at Waffle House. That may not be the healthiest way to eat breakfast, but this creation is one you can feel good about.

Fluffy, protein-rich cakes made silky with coconut flour. These were laced with mocha coffee goodness and filled with blueberries that burst in your mouth. Their syrup is a delicious egg yolk that pops with flavorful bite of bacon sprinkles. Breakfast porn at its best!

Coffee Pancakes

2 T raw oatmeal
1 T coconut flour
1/2 scoop (10g) protein powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp no-salt baking powder
2 T egg whites
1/4 cup brewed coffee (I used a mocha flavor)
1/4 tsp maple extract
6-8 drops vanilla liquid stevia
Optional: blueberries, runny egg, bacon sprinkles

In a small bowl, stir together dry ingredients. Add wet ingredients and stir to combine.

Heat pan over med-high, spoon batter onto pan, and cook until done (~3-4 mins each side). Add blueberries half way through, if using.

While your pancakes are cooking, prepare your toppings. I amped up the #strangebutgood with a runny egg and bacon “sprinkles.” The egg rocks because the yolk becomes your pancake syrup!

How have you enjoyed making co-workers, friends, or family stare with strange but good creations this week?

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. 🙂

***

I am look forward to an amazing long, relaxing weekend with friends... and my new CAT!!! Lucy is picture shy as she acclimates, but stay tuned...

What are you looking forward to this long weekend?

What's your favorite way to enjoy yolk porn? 😉

Strange But Good Vegan Bacon Bits

April 26, 2013 By Laura

Bacon is good.

And a huge part of why I didn’t make it as a vegetarian.

Long ago Heather hipped me to the fact that Bacon Bits are vegan… but I have never cared for them. They taste like what I imagine dog food to be.

When Kat posted a recipe for vegan TVP Bacon Bits, I couldn’t WAIT to try my own recipe. Since I can’t have bacon this close to my competition (too much fat and sodium), this was the perfect time to make my own bits! I took Kat’s idea to use nutritional yeast and cumin, but I cut the sodium, sugar, and the oil. That does NOT mean I cut the taste though!

These smokey, spicy little bites are crunchy and packed with flavor. For the longest time I had only regular paprika in my cabinet… let me be the first to admit that was WRONG. Smoked paprika is the way to go. It makes a massive difference; I was shocked at the amount of smoke it lends to dishes.

I used stevia for a hint of sweetness and I added maple extract because… who doesn’t like maple bacon? I also like my bacon peppered, so that went into this mix as well.

In case none of this is strange to you, I created a #strangebutgood breakfast salad using these Smoked TVP Bacon Bits. It’s a simple mix of heirloom tomato, pear, cilantro…. and raspberries. Don’t be scared – tomatoes pair really well with fruit! The coolness of the fruit and the smokey, slightly spicy Bits are a fantastic contrast party in your mouth.

Eaten with cinnamon oatmeal and turkey “sausages” (that recipe is coming next week).

Smoked TVP Bacon Bits

1/4 C Texturized Vegetable Protein (TVP)
1/4 C hot water
1 T nutritional yeast
1/2 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp smoked paprika
1/4 tsp turmeric
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp maple extract
5-6 drops liquid smoke
3-4 drops liquid Stevia

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Stir the TVP into the water and allow to soak. Meanwhile, mix the dry ingredients together in a small bowl.

Once TVP has (mostly) absorbed the water, stir in the dry ingredients and add extract, smoke, and sweetener.

Squeeze out excess moisture and spread mixture across a lined baking sheet. This is important – you need to really spread it out so that moisture doesn’t gather.

Place in oven and bake for 20 mins, stirring half way through. When crispy and golden, remove from oven and allow to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.

How have you enjoyed making co-workers, friends, or family stare with strange but good creations this week?

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. 🙂

***

This time next week I’ll be with my trainer on the road to my 2nd figure competition to check in and get spray tanned!!!

Do you like bacon bits?

What one thing would you find most difficult to cut out of your diet? Healthy fats are the hardest for me right now!

Spring is Marvelous

April 8, 2013 By Laura

Something about Spring makes life better.

Until the pollen hits.

Last week I was in a bit of a funk. It was rainy and cold, I was tired… but spring arrived just in time for the weekend! I want to carry over this weekend weather high into the week, and Katie’s Marvelous in My Monday link up is my favorite way to focus on the good and start the week out right!

Almost everything involved the outdoors – something I’d forgotten how much I love!

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There’s only one right way to start the weekend – pancakes! I made Heather’s Peanut Butter Cookie pancakes and topped them with a fresh strawberry sauce. My only change to her recipe was to omit the rice flour and reduced the liquid to 1/3 C. They were perfect!

With the spring berries on top, it was like PB&J cookies for breakfast.

Those pancakes fueled the best workout I’d had in DAYS. This week in the gym I had just not been feeling it. I’d be half way through a workout coaxing myself with post-workout foods if I finished.

Not only did I have a great shoulder/glute day in the weight room, but I was feeling so good I decided to run some sprints before heading home. Those sprints are great for the glutes and I could feel it the next day!

After than calorie torch, I made myself a massive Carrot Cake Smoothie… I needed some cool-down fuel because I then met Carol and her puppy for a 6 mile walk in the park!

I don’t know how we walked so long – I was already tired. We just started talking and the time FLEW by!

We parted ways and I headed home for a (much-needed) shower before meeting a friend for dinner.

I don’t know about you, but my #1 favorite thing about spring is patios. Sitting outside with my flip-flops on, a teensy sunburn, and a margarita makes me happy. Simple pleasures.

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Sunday I woke up early (read: before 9am on a weekend) to play softball. We won both games! Our team is undefeated in a men’s league. Hahaha! 🙂

I didn’t have time to make Sunday morning bacon… but my favorite meat-treat still managed to make a cameo.

Sunday is also my grocery store and meal prep day. I hauled my sweaty, dusty self (#sorryimnotsorry) to the farmer’s market and Whole Foods for the weekly stock up. No real diet changes yet, but the competition is coming up fast and next week it will be lock down time.

Despite having bags of groceries from 2 stores, I made it up to my condo in one trip. I saw this on Pinterest, which perfectly captures the moment. Please tell me I’m not the only person who is this stubborn:

I also bought myself flowers. Flowers go a long way in brightening up my week, especially when I work from home. It’s nice to look over and see their natural brightness after staring at a computer screen for hours!

Besides, if I waited for someone else to do it I’d be waiting a looong time. 😉

Another favorite of mine in the warm weather is watermelon. After a long 2 days in the sun, I was happy to have a refreshing watermelon salad… and finally, my Sunday bacon.

Sweet, salty, and a little earthiness from the beets. It’s the perfect spring salad! #strangebutgood

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Watermelon, Beet, & Bacon Salad

1 C watermelon, diced
1/4 C beets, roasted and diced
2 strips crispy bacon
Cilantro, to taste
Freshly ground pepper, to taste

***

My teensy sunburn got worse on Sunday. I forgot that with spring comes the need for sunscreen. #fail

Do you ever buy yourself flowers?

What is your favorite part about spring?

Gettin’ Grounded & TVP Bacon Bits

April 4, 2013 By Laura

I can admit when I’m wrong.

Sometimes. If I’m in the right mood.

Wednesday I ranted about declining service in restaurants. I still stand by my theory, but I have to call out the fact that I had absolutely amazing service at dinner last night.

I met a friend at Metro Fresh, one of my favorite local spots. They serve fresh, clean food. The menu changes daily and the prices are reasonable. It’s my go-to.

After enjoying a fantastic piece of salmon and a leafy green salad, I was craving dark chocolate. I asked if they had squares, but they didn’t. Much to my surprise, one of the employees brought over the most delicious (housemade!) cinnamon roll. For. Free.

When I got home, I wrote an email to the owner bragging on his staff and thanking him for another great experience. Have you ever done this? I try to be as quick to compliment as I am to complain.

This morning when he emailed out the daily menu, he included my note saying it was especially nice to get after a long, busy day. How cool is this?!

Awesome. There is hope. There are still restaurant owners and staff that care about the experience customers have in their establishments.

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It feels so good to be APRIL! I’ve been waiting for this month all year!

It’s my last month of law school, and I am so so so so excited to be almost done! I could not have done this without my friends and family and their constant support. (Editor’s note: SO PROUD of you!!!)

I went to my cousin’s amazing wedding, and got to spend time with my mom and brother and dad. Being with my family reminded me of how important they are because they make me feel so grounded. This is probably because your family are your roots, and even though they might sometimes drive you batty, they are where you come from.

See, I get it from my momma (and I know the quality of this picture SUCKS – but you can see where I get my quirky qualities)

Me and my handsome brother

It was also a blessing to go to my cousin’s wedding and spend time with my extended family. WOW.

It was so cool to see how in love they are and to know how much they’ve been through before they ever got married. Their love is the kind of love I aspire to, and they truly have a fairy tale. (Editor’s note: I flippin’ loved seeing all their wedding pics – cowboy fairy tale!)

SEE?!?!? So stinkin’ cute!

When I came home, I also had a beautiful necklace in the mail – a tree that represents the earth and feeling grounded… this is symbolic for me because I think I realized that this is my theme of the year/month/right now/whatever.

My groundedness is coming from my family, my ability to connect with nature, to be with the earth. I love what I get from the earth and feel incredibly lucky every day.

I also got to connect with Laura over a wonderful dinner at Bacchanalia! I can’t believe she treated me to such an awesome birthday dinner! (Editors’ note: Thank god the company was good! 😉 )

At the dinner, she asked me to share what I have been doing with TVP, so I had to oblige. TVP Bacon Bits!!!

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In my opinion, what gives these a better flavor (and meatier than most) is the combo of the BBQ sauce, cumin, and nutritional yeast. I have never seen a recipe that used this combination, and I don’t know why! It’s amazing.

I put these bits on EVERYTHING! Make your friends jealous. Try it on a salad, on your guacamole (or on half of an avocado), on your baked potato, eat them plain, top your chili. Endless possibilities!

Also, another great reason to try this recipe, besides that it’s super easier and way healthier than bacon, (Editor’s note: mmm… bacon), is that you can taste as you go! You can tell by the flavor of the un-crisped mixture what the final product will taste like, so you can adjust. Need a pinch of salt? Want a little more barbecue flavor? No problem!

Now, what else can we do with these bits? I’m glad you asked. Bacon PANCAKES. That’s right. Add a handful of these bad boys to your pancake mixture. You will NOT regret it.

Pancake batter

I really like Karina’s recipe, but mine do not come out nearly as beautiful. I used her recipe and added a bit of cinnamon and a tablespoon of nutritional yeast. Once I made the mixture, I ladled some into the pan, and added the TVP Bacon Bits.

I suck at flipping pancakes. They’re never consistent in color but they’re delicious. (Editor’s note: that’s all that matters!)

I like these so much, I eat them plain – no butter, no syrup, etc.

Also, I now get why it’s impossible to take pretty pictures of brown food. Editor’s note: told you so!!!) So, you will have to take my word for it.

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Vegan TVP Bacon Bits

3/4 C TVP
3 T nutritional yeast
3/4 C boiling water
1-1.5 T smokey barbecue sauce (or Laura’s sodium and sugar free recipe)
2.5 T tamari (of soy if you’re not gluten-free)
1/2 T maple agave (maple syrup would also work, or you can eliminate for a sugar-free version – I just like maple bacon flavors)
2 T sunflower oil
1 T cumin
Pinch of cayenne

Preheat the oven to 265 degrees (yes, 265 – that is not a typo. I just couldn’t decide between 250 and 275).

Mix all of the ingredients in a bowl together, whisk with a fork. Spread mixture across a baking sheet. Place in oven.

I set my timer for 24 minutes. But they really needed like 31.3 minutes…. until I got really impatient. When they still weren’t crispy, because it takes forever and you have to keep moving them around, you start to get really annoyed. The next step was to heat that bad-boy of and oven up to 425. After that, they were done in 10 more minutes. Crispy and delicious. This was a trial and error… but came out AWESOME!

Editor’s Note: I think the moral of the story might be to make them at a higher temp. 😉

***

I have to admit… I’m a little sad that Kat beat me to this idea. Haha. Really… I’m gong to be making these STAT.

Does your family keep you grounded, even when you feel insane? No comment.

What’s exciting about your April?

In a Rut & Bacon Truffle Parmesan Popcorn

March 7, 2013 By Laura

All day yesterday I thought it was Tuesday.

I am especially happy it’s Thursday today. If it was only Wednesday this week would be reallllly long.

I don’t know what it is, but this week has seemed tedious. Work, workouts, even cooking. I think I need a vacation.

When I was younger, I couldn’t wait to be an adult. No authority, no homework… I do what I want! Wellll… the thing I didn’t realize is that you actually DO have to answer to people (bosses, bills, ~~cops~~…) and there really IS homework (work you were handed at the end of the day, house work, working on my fitness, other obligations).

I’m not necessarily complaining. I normally love working out and I’m happiest when my job is busy. It’s just this week. This cold. Bad dates. ~~Girl Scout Cookie cravings (I swear those little people are stalking me at the grocery store!).~~ I need a vacation. Some place warm.

Thankfully, I have friends like Kat to cheer my up. Not only will she meet me for a glass of wine and a second dinner after a bad date, but she also write a guest post (see below), that perfectly describes my feelings right now.

So now you should quit reading my whining and listen to Kat, who reads my mind and makes me feel more connected.

It’s part of human nature to sometimes feel like “no one gets you.” We have to make an effort to realize that it’s not true! You’re never alone – someone will always be able to “get you” if you just reach outside yourself. (Editor’s note: get outta my head, Kat!)

So, I have to share – I was in a RUT! Every kind of rut – a running rut, a yoga rut, a dating rut, a food rut, and opening up about my feelings rut. UGH!

How to kick yourself out of a rut? First steps first – admit it to yourself… then tell people! When people relate to you, they often offer suggestions that help you pull out of your rut and kick you into high gear with a new, better attitude.

And having an amazing Friday night girls night opening up to some of your closest friends and sharing ~~a lot of wine~~ your feelings doesn’t hurt either.

K Trifecta: Kelly, Kat, & Kim

To get out of my running rut, I decided to run some new places, with new friends, and make better, solid plans! This helped my running rut because it made me want to run even more than I already usually want to!

I made a plan with a new friend, and a woman from yoga. BOY did that help! 🙂 It made me get back to my smile-when-I-run mental amazing state, and enjoy my solo runs even more. (I know, crazy, running with people made me enjoy solo runs more???)

Have you ever noticed that smiling literally makes you happy? It’s true. Whatever muscles you use when you smile trigger something in your body, that triggers something in your brain… let the experts tell you about it. It can also make you younger, prettier, friendlier, and on and on. The point is – SMILE. (Editor’s note: this actually works. I was skeptic, but after Kat told me this I grinned my way through my 8 hour race!)

I ran 15 miles on Monday (Yo-Run-Ga! – 7 before yoga & 8 after). On my way home, I was almost GIGGLING. I was smiling so big and bright. I love love love to run. It makes me high. BUT, not everyone can relate to that. So, apply it to your favorite thing/activity! Smile while you do it!

Now, to get out of the yoga rut. I was taking the same classes over and over and over. I was hitting a plateau – not trying as hard, not getting much stronger, not learning new poses. Perfect solution – try a new teacher!

Turns out I didn’t even really like the new teacher I tried, but I learned something and it helped me to enjoy my regular classes even more.

I want to learn to do this!

I really want to start learning new poses and breaking out of my shell. Maybe I will try a new studio or ask some of my favorite instructors for tips. I know I’m strong enough and flexible enough to do more!

The dating rut? I have no idea how to get myself out of this one. Ask someone else for advice on this. (Editor’s note: Good Lord, don’t ask me. #fail)

The food rut! Okay, seriously, who else ends up buying the same groceries over and over and over?! It’s like I have been reusing the same list… forever! And you know what I make? The same meals. I know, shocking!

To get out of the food rut, I have had a few strategies:

Eat out more! If you do this, you will draw inspiration from menus, and eat different things.
Shop in the frozen section. No, don’t actually spend a ton of money buying the frozen meals, but use the ideas to go buy stuff to make similar, more fun items.
Buy something, anything, that you wouldn’t normally buy, then go online and search the ingredient for recipe ideas. The advent of the internet is glorious! (Editor’s note: So true! I just bought curry leaves = awesome.)

One other thing I like to do, is find something I like, and do it better! For example, I had Bacon Cracker Jack Popcorn (below) at Harper Station. UGH – It could be done SO much better. (Editor’s note: I had the same thing at Holeman & Finch 2 weeks ago… and thought the same thing!) So I later made Bacon Truffle Parmesan Popcorn – WIN.

Yes, it’s real!

I couldn’t help but recreate it after coming home to a 12.5 pound bag of popcorn on my door step, thanks to my friend Jimmy!

Popcorn is one of my favorite foods. In fact, I eat it almost every day! Not always as decadent, usually just some EVOO and Salt.

H. Harper Station popcorn

Mine was SO much better. First of all, the “Cracker Jack” from H. Harper Station was way too sweet. Second of all, their bacon was NOT crispy – and it was COLD. Turn-off! Third, who doesn’t love truffle-parmesan anything… and then you add bacon!? AMAZING WIN!

And I got the idea for the cute little serving cups online – bonus if you’re going for portion control. I refilled my “personal size” like 3 times. (Editor’s note: Bring me some!!! Inviting a friend helps with portion control!)

MY Bacon Popcorn = Amazing

Bacon Truffle Parmesan Popcorn

1/4 C popcorn kernels
1 T coconut oil
1 T truffle salt
4 strips of bacon, cooked crispy and chop finely
1 C shredded Parmesan

Cook the popcorn in the coconut oil; this gives it a better texture.

Then coat the popcorn with truffle salt. Add bacon (finely chopped and crispy) and Parmesan.

Use a large spoon to stir it all together. Devour.

Notes: This is not a healthy meal option. You could also sub the truffle parm and do bacon chocolate popcorn! YUM! Next time.

Editor’s note: Make it vegan with bacon bits (yes, they’re vegan) and nutritional yeast!

***

Tomorrow is Friday. Kat’s post made me smile. *deep breaths*

What kinds of ruts have you been in, and how do you get out of them? TIPS!?

What is your favorite unhealthy snack?

Stay Calm + WIAW

September 26, 2012 By Laura

Try to stay calm.

There may be a bacon shortage. The LA Times reports that drought conditions caused a reduction in corn and soybean crops, which means less feed for swine… which means less bacon. Stock your freezers now.

Despite my frequent posting about bacon, I really am not a fanatic. Yes, I do enjoy the occasional Maple-Bacon Pancake Cookie. And I think Bacon Toothpaste is funny.

HOWEVER… I bought a mere 2 slices at the farmer’s market to add just a little extra flava-flav to my food this week. And, I worked bacon into a meal today.

It’s a really stressful week. Today I craved comfort food, and having developed the habit of reaching for healthy comforts helped me keep it clean… and sticking with September’s What I Ate Wednesday theme: “Fall Into Good Habits.”

Check out my healthy comfort foods below, and then click here to head over to Jenn @ Peas and Crayons to get to see how everyone else maintained healthy habits this Wednesday.

Meal 1:

Like every morning, I arose and had my morning cocktail: a mix of Apple Cider Vinegar, Glutamine and Fitmixer Aminos. Then I almost panicked when I realized I’m almost out of my Aminos.

After a quick 2 mile walk, I enjoyed a Stuft Mama-inspired sandwich:

P28 Bread panini-pressed in the George Foreman with cinnamon and flax-scrambled egg whites, sugar-free strawberry jam, a little Daiya pepper jack. With a side of golden kiwi.

Meal 2:

This is truly random. Certainly a Strange But Good candidate. Pre-baked lemon-dill salmon… mixed with ricotta cheese, a little cinnamon, and blackberries.

Strangely delicious leg-day fuel.

Meal 3:

I spent my lunch break in the gym ~~blowing off some steam~~ busting out some leg work. When I got back home all I could think about was a giant green smoothie bowl.

In my bowl:

Vanilla protein powder
Chocolate unsweetened almond milk
TONS of spinach
Cinnamon
Liquid stevia
Crumbled Zucchini Protein Muffin to top (recipe for that coming soon!)

Meal 4:

Did I mention work is really, really, really stressful this week. It called for my protein-comfort snack: PB Cottage Cheese and celery (a riff on my childhood “ants on a log”).

I mix 1/2 C no-salt added cottage cheese with 2T of peanut flour, cinnamon, stevia, and butterscotch extract. Then I dip my celery. There may have also been a side of dark chocolate… shhhhh…

Meal 5:

Clearly I can never get enough pizza. This week’s pizza meal’s base was my beloved cauliflower crust.

Toppings:

Swordfish
Bacon (just a little bit…)
Avocado
Truffle oil
Radishes
Asparagus
Brussels

My crust “dough” felt a little too wet, so I added a little nutritional yeast. It worked well to soak up a little moisture, and it was really good!

Meal 6:

Still working (it was a late night). So stressed I had no appetite. Late nights in college always meant Waffle House… so I made a healthier version of my old order – egg whites with red onion, jalapeno, and spinach.

Meal 7:

Comfort food is the name of the game for this post. More smoothie bowls! Meal 7 was a Pumpkin-Chocolate Vitamix ice-cream-like concoction.

In my Fall Smoothie Bowl:

Pumpkin puree
Chocolate protein powder
Cocoa powder
Unsweetened chocolate almond milk
Cinnamon
Ginger
Stevia
Ice
Apple slices on top

***

Does my posting most of this on Instagram ruin the suspense? Oh! And the protein count for the day: 195.8g from fall clean eats!

What are you favorite healthy comfort foods?

Do you have a fall chill yet? It’s still pretty warm here (yay!).

Strange But Good: Peach Sweet Potato Scramble

Peach Sweet Potato Scramble

Strawberry Fields Forever

Crab and Strawberry Salad

Strawberry Breakfast Pizza

Strange But Good: Bacon, Eggs, and Coffee (Pancakes)

Coffee Pancakes

Strange But Good Vegan Bacon Bits

Smoked TVP Bacon Bits

Spring is Marvelous

Watermelon, Beet, & Bacon Salad

Gettin’ Grounded & TVP Bacon Bits

Vegan TVP Bacon Bits

In a Rut & Bacon Truffle Parmesan Popcorn

Bacon Truffle Parmesan Popcorn

Stay Calm + WIAW

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