Sweet Potato Pizza Crust

September 19, 2013 By Laura

My name is Laura. I hoard booze.

Really.

Many of you were surprised that I could keep this pumpkin beer in my fridge – untouched – for 2 months. That’s actually easy for me. It’s mine. It’s not going anywhere. It won’t spoil. It will be there for me in 2 months (after my next figure competitions).

Going out… that’s another story. That lamb-stuffed squash blossom is seasonal! The beers on tap rotate! I might not remember to come back to try the bacon Manhattan! (Ok, ok… it’s unlikely I’ll for forget bacon). You get my point.

As such, this is (part) of my collection:

I don’t store my beer in the wine fridge. It was posing for the pic.

Many of you commented and tweeted about YOUR favorite pumpkin beers that I should try. Thank you for the suggestions! I would like to officially announce that I am open to donations. 😉

Enough about my sobriety. You know what goes well with beer? PIZZA! Kat has an awesome Sweet Potato Pizza Crust to share today!

I’m not-so-secretly hoping she’ll make me one to drink with my pumpkin beer in a couple of months…

Mix it up: Night Running and Sweet Potato Pizza Crust

This weekend, I (Kat) mixed it up by visiting a place I used to live, Savannah, GA. I had a great time with friends, and sat at a booth with/for the Stonewall Bar Association at Pride. I also got to visit with great old friends! It was super fun. Now I’m trying to mix it up at home and outdoors.

I have been trying to mix it up by running with more friends (which is more difficult than you think). I get turned down all the time, and people don’t invite me on group runs very often (Editor’s note: My invite must have gotten lost in the mail…). So I decided to inquire about this lack of running buddies.

I find that the friends who know what kind of distances I run are afraid to run with me because they think I’m fast. WRONG. I am not actually that fast, but I can run super far, for a super long time (Editor’s note: Lies. You are fast. But you are a patient partner.). That being said, I enjoy running at an 8:15-9:15min/mile pace in the city, and depending on the trails and the distance, 10:30-13min/mile. So, run with me! Let’s mix it up! 🙂

I have also found that running in the city on pavement, especially flat surfaces, really hurts my body. My knees and feet ache terribly if I run on pavement more than 7 or so miles. So, I stick to the trails as much as possible, and throw in a bit of yoga for strength and flexibility (Editor’s note: You should come lift with me!).

While for many people, trail running is a great way to mix it up, because that’s my usual form of running, I’m taking extra measures to mix it up! This Sunday at 7:30p.m., I am going night trail running with some friends. It’s huge rush that heightens your senses, and it actually makes me run faster. Check out this fun article on trail running at night. If you want to join me, let me know, and I’ll forward you information on the run. I wish I could go during the full moon, tomorrow night!

Speaking of mixing it up, my friend Julie from Savannah told me about a Sweet Potato Pizza she tried to make when I mentioned Laura’s Cauliflower Pizza. When I got home, I had to try this! I didn’t love any of the recipes I found online, so I tried my own! (Editor’s note: Story of my life.. also prepping this post made me come home and pull one of my cauliflower crusts out of the freezer for a pizza dinner!)

I wanted to capture a picture of it picked up once I realized how great it was, but I was near the end of the slice… excuse my excess Sriracha (I put that sh** on everything). ← Don’t we all? 😉

This pizza, like the Cauliflower pizza, can be picked up like a piece of pizza (Editor’s note: It’s not pizza unless you can hold it in your hands!).

It’s a little chewy and a little crispy. It has a bit of sweetness, and a bit of heartiness. Really, a GREAT gluten-free pizza crust option!

Sweet Potato Pizza Crust

½ C sweet potato (mashed)
1 egg (I bet this would be great with Chia, too)
¼ C almond flour
¼ C buckwheat
1 T flax meal
Pinch of Salt
½ tsp baking powder

Preheat oven to 375.

Beat the egg, add the sweet potato, and then mix in everything else. It should form a sticky dough.

Spread the dough onto a piece of parchment paper (about ¼ inch thick) and bake for 18 mins. The middle should be firm when it’s done (you should be able to pick it up).

Load with veggies/toppings of choice. Bake for another ~7 minutes to heat. Devour.

Also, if you like that bad-ass pizza cutter, check out Pequea Valley Forge. They have AWESOME kitchen utensils, etc. I found this on my trip to the beach in August, and it’s my new favorite thing (which results in eating way more pizza).

My pizza has sautéed peppers and onions, Daiya mozzarella cheese, tomatoes and spinach. Delish!

xo,

Kat

***

I told Kat yesterday that I was going to require taste tests from now on. Quality control, right?!

How are you mixing up your running/lifting/workout routine to get an extra rush?

Did you try Laura’s Cauliflower Crust? Do you think the sweet potato or cauliflower does/would work better? I wonder if we could combine them…

Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Crispy Treats (Lightened Up)

July 8, 2013 By Laura

Treat ‘yo self.

That is my favorite saying from my friend Sarena.

This weekend I (rice crispy) treated my self and my friends! My best friend’s favorite treat is the crispy variety. In honor of the holiday weekend, I decided to make her a batch. Of course, I couldn’t just follow a recipe… regular ‘ol rice crispy treats have been done before!

What I came up with was a chocolate and peanut butter crispy treat. While these will never be a health food, they are slightly cleaner than the treats of your youth (recipe at the bottom). Here are a few of the cuts/subs I made:

Cut the amount of marshmallows and butter in half by using natural peanut butter
Replaced the bit of butter with coconut butter
Used brown rice crispy cereal rather than the usual snap, crackle, pop brand

One of my favorite things about these bars is that they aren’t as sticky-sweet as the traditional treats. Cutting back on the marshmallows really helps!

Before taking them to my friend’s house, I had to share then with a couple of my favorite people: Lee and Carol! We ran the Peachtree Road Race (the world’s largest 10K) together on July 4th. Clearly that deserved treats!

Lee and Carol both gave me the thumbs up, so I bought the concoction to the bestie’s house for dinner that evening. They received a stamp of approval there too – from 4 adults, a 2-year-old, and a couple of crumb-eating dogs.

Bonus: they paired really well with a certain impulse buy (thank you, Whole Foods):

Chocolate, Peanut Butter Banana Beer from Rogue. I figured it would be really good or repulsive. The taste was quite layered – chocolate up front, then a hint of peanut butter, and finally the banana came on the end. Surprisingly it wasn’t too sweet, but there is no way I could have drunk a bottle. We split tastes between 4 people – it was just the right “side” with the chocolate peanut butter rice crispy treats.

As you might imagine, it was a pretty marvelous 4th of July. Head over to Katie’s link up to see what everyone else is smiling about today!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Crispy Treats (Lightened Up)

4 C marshmallows
2 T coconut butter
1/2 C crunchy peanut butter
1/2 C semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon
4 C brown rice crispies

Place marshmallows, coconut butter, peanut butter, and chocolate chips in a non-stick pan and melt over low heat, stirring constantly to prevent burning. Add cinnamon and vanilla, stirring to combine. (Note: if it is too thick, stir in almond milk 1T at a time.)

Quickly add rice crispies and stir to combine. Press mixture into an 11 x 13 pan.

Cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours to set.

Remove from fridge and cut into squares to serve.

***

After a holiday weekend of eating out, I’m looking forward to more home cooked meals this week!

Did you run any races this weekend?

Are you a rice crispy treat fan? What fun flavor would you like to try?

Getting Schooled at the Food & Wine Festival

June 6, 2013 By Laura

Food & Wine is about more than stuffing your face.

Though you know from my last post on the topic that I stuffed it well.

My favorite feature of Atlanta’s Food & Wine Festival is the focus on education. Each day of the festival begins with classes led by well-known Southern chefs and libation experts. You get to choose 3 per day from a long list. Proof that life is full of tough choices.

My friend Rich and Me

My strategy was to choose classes that were diverse. The amount of time I spent creating my schedule is embarrassing, but in the end it paid off!

Without rambling on (hopefully), I want to share some photos and takeaways from a few of those classes.

This Little Piggy Got Spicy

This class was taught by Chef Asha Gomez, a lady I admire and respect (she inspired me to try curry leaves!). She owns Cardamom Hill, one of the best Indian restaurants in Atlanta. She focuses on cuisine from her home-region of Kerala. It’s much different that the spicy curry dishes many associate with Indian food!

I especially love Asha’s mentality when it comes to trying new things:

I will never walk away from a fruit, vegetable, or spice that I am not familiar with. I will always pick it up and try it.

Pork Vindaloo

While some of her dishes may seem like fusion, she prefers to call it evolution. Her fried chicken recipe is one her mother made back in India!
Curry powder is a Western thing; in India curry simply means that something is braised with a sauce
Classic Indian spices are black pepper, cardamom, and ginger; cumin and red chili pepper were introduced later by foreign merchants
There is no naan in Kerala – gluten is not produced there so their main carb is rice
The smaller the pepper, the spicier it is (I can’t believe I never realized this, but SO true)
To learn the nuances of a spice, blanch a vegetable it in it

Fresh Start

Chef Nathan Lyon taught this clean eating course. You may be familiar with his series on Discovery Health, A Lyon in the Kitchen, or from his appearance on The Next Food Network Star.

Summer Squash Salad

When you salt food, do it from high up; this allows the salt to be distributed more evenly
Sea salt is better than table salt (duh), and you can use less of it
You don’t need to spend a ton of money on a variety of knives, rather have a couple of favorites and keep them sharp
His focus on eating seasonally was best demonstrated with a delicious gazpacho-esque smoothie combo (that I forgot to take a pic of): watermelon, tomatoes, jalapeno, parsley, mint, cucumber, red pepper, red onion, red wine vinegar, and freshly squeezed lemon juice

Beer & Doughnuts

Beer Director Greg Elbert and Pastry Chef Tiffany MacIsaac (read: doughnut genius) from Birch & Barley and GBD Chicken & Donuts in Washington DC blew my mind with this session. Who knew beer would be so tasty for breakfast?!

Beers sampled:

Gose – old German beer style from Leipzig, unfiltered wheat beer, crispness and low hop, hints of coriander
Allagash Curieux – this is Allagash’s Tripel Ale in Jim Beam bourbon barrels, amber color, soft and flavorful, yeast and vanilla upfront with hints of tasty bourbon at the end (this was my favorite)
Avery Anniversary Twenty – new release (we were the frist in GA to try it), copper color, super hoppy IPA, citrus sweetness, surprisingly not bitter

Doughnuts sampled:

Passion Fruit glazed, churro-style
Classic yeast doughnut with a chocolate pudding filling, topped with chocolate glaze, maldon salt, and Cocoa Krispies
Sour cream doughnut with a grapefruit and campari glaze

Like wine, the best pairing is the one that tastes good to you
What tastes good to me is the Allagash Curieux with the chocolate yeast doughnut or the grapefruit glazed
When pairing food and drink, “make sure the impact matches” (this is why we typically don’t drink a light white wine with a T-bone steak)

Aged to Delicious Bourbon and Cheese

Led by Tim Gaddis of Atlanta’s Star Provisions and Seth Thompson of The Bourbon Review magazine, this session was a boozy treat. At least it was after noon at this point. To be honest I think all cheeses go with bourbon… I was an easy sell.

The Bourbons:

Blanton’s Single Barrel – amber color, lots of citrus on the nose, nice caramel and clove taste
Bulleit Bourbon Frontier Whiskey – reddish gold color, more oak and leather in taste, some vanilla
Woodford Reserve Double Oaked – dark copper color, tons of butterscotch up front, deepens to a warm and woody finish (easily my #1)
Four Roses Small Batch – amber color, lighter with more caramel and fruit on the finish

There isn’t much in terms of education notes to share here – you really have to experiment at home!

The cheeses were all scrumptious – we sampled Sweet Grass Dairy’s Green Hill Cow’s Milk, Ossau Inaty Sheep’s Milk, Rogue Blue, and Gouda. I’d had all but one before (I love cheese, what can I say?).

The one I hadn’t tried was actually my favorite! It was a Aged 5 Year Gouda. It wasn’t smoked – it was a deliciously sweet butterscotch/caramel flavor that sung when paired with the Woodford.

***

One other note: don’t be afraid to go to events by yourself! I went solo on Saturday and met two awesome friends who I hung out with into the evening.

Were any of the lessons/takeaways new or surprising to you?

What is the most valuable food or drink-related lesson you’ve learned?

Brown Beer Hummus

February 25, 2013 By Laura

I make a lot of strange stuff.

Relatively speaking – I think it’s totally normal! 🙂

I must confess that there ARE certain things that intimidate me. Heather’s Meatless Monday A-Z ingredient this week one of them. Yeast. I am inexplicably intimidated by the thought of using yeast to make bread. Bread seems so complex to me! It’s only a few ingredients, I know.

For this week’s recipe I decided to be sneaky with the ingredient and use beer. Beer has yeast. It counts, right?

This was actually created for another reason: I had an Oscar party! I wanted to have food in the theme of the movies this year, and this killed two bird with one stone. Hummus for the Middle Eastern-set Argo and Zero Dark 30, and beer for the tailgate theme of Silver Linings playbook!

What resulted was a funky hummus, with the nutty tahini and cumin flavors we all love, combined with hoppy, brown sweetness from the beer.

The beer I used is a limited release. Laguanitas came out with a seasonal beer – Brown Shugga’ – a few years ago and apparently it was SO good that when they didn’t bring it back the following year due to capacity issues people were outraged. Laguinatas Sucks is their apology.

It’s awesome. It says brown shugga,’ but it has notes of citrus and pine that make for a really interesting marriage of flavors with the more tadtiional lemon and tahini in the hummus.

Brown Beer Hummus

1 can no salt added chickpeas
Juice of 1/2 lemon
2 cloves garlic
2 T fresh rosemary
1 T tahini
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp coriander
1/3 C beer (I used Lagunitas Sucks, a hoppy beer)

Add all ingredients to a food processor and process until smooth. Add additional beer for a thinner dip.

Serve with chips and veggies.

Makes 1 1/4 cups.

***

I wish they wouldn’t do these shows on Sunday nights. I’m SO tired… but how awesome was the Les Mis performance?!

Did you watch the Oscars? What was your favorite performance?

What are your thoughts on yeast? Does bread intimidate you?

Microwave Protein Cookie + WIAW

September 19, 2012 By Laura

Lifting weights will not make you bulky.

It drives me NUTS when I hear women say they don’t want to lift because they are scared they’ll get bulky or look “manly.” Women don’t have the hormone levels men do, so it’s just not possible to gain like a dude. It takes a TON of work to significantly grow muscle. I should know.

It is especially important for women to have a strength training program.

A few of the benefits include:

Body Fat Reduction – As you increase lean muscle, so does resting metabolism. This means that you burn more calories all day long. Studies have shown that for each pound of muscle you gain, you burn 35-50 more calories each day. That’s as much as 18,250 calories in a year!
Decreased Risk of Osteoporosis and Heart Disease – Women are at an especially high risk of suffering from this disease. Weight training can increase spinal bone mineral density, and – combined with adequate calcium – can be one of the best defenses against osteoporosis. Cardio is important in heart health; however, lifting can help to lower “bad” (LDL) cholesterol, increase “good” (HDL) cholesterol, and lower blood pressure.
Improved Athletic Performance – Research continually proves that strength training improves athletic ability. It enables you to increase endurance, improve technique, and decrease the risk of injury.
Improved Mood and Fights Depression – A Harvard study found that 10 weeks of strength training reduced clinical depression symptoms more successfully than standard counseling did! Strength training often helps women feel more confident and capable, both important factors in fighting depression.
Physical Strength – This may sound obvious, but strength training is important for daily activities – chores, chasing after kids, carrying groceries… basic, daily tasks will be much easier. And how nice is it to be able to open ajar unassisted?

Strength training isn’t the only factor though. I’m trying my best to gain as much as possible before my November competition. Just as important as lifting is diet. Healthy fats, complex carbs, and a lot of protein are key to gaining mass. As much as I’m taking in, I’m still not She-ra…. but I am making gains!

A few people have asked for progress pics. I wish I’d done a better job to tracking and taking pics from the same angles, but here’s the best bicep progress pic I have:

Still a ~~really~~ long way to go, but I think there are some changes!

Speaking of strength training (nice transition, right?), this fall’s What I Ate Wednesday theme: “Fall Into Good Habits.”

Check out my healthy fall fuel below, and then click here to head over to Jenn @ Peas and Crayons to get ideas from others’ fall eats!

Meal 1:

I probably bore you all with my morning cocktail, but this day started out like every other day with a mix of Apple Cider Vinegar, Glutamine and Aminos (I’ve switched since this pic to ON brand and LOVE it) … with some kombucha and water. This week I had a lavender-rosemary homebrew to mix in. Good for the digestion, skin, and overall energy!

30 mins later I noshed on a random concoction:

A Morningstar veggie sausage scrambled with egg whites and topped with cilantro, 1/2 a grapefruit, and a slice of Ezekial bread with sugar-free strawberry jam. Not super creative, but it was the jam on this rainy morning.

Meal 2:

If it’s going to rain, at least my food can be bright!

There’s no shame in microwave baking! Especially when it is an iced Sunbutter cookie.

This cookie is incredibly easy. I was going to bake it, but that seemed too time-consuming. 35 secs in the microwave for this baby! I blended together cottage cheese, stevia, and apple pie spice as the icing and arranged golden kiwi slices on top.

Recipe at the bottom.

Meal 3:

Monday night’s dinner was a healthy version of Crab Eggs Benedict. I remade it for WIAW because it was so delicious. I’d probably be eating it again right now if I wasn’t out of my local farm fresh eggs.

However, I’m a tease. The recipe will be shared tomorrow… sorry, but I felt it deserved its own post. 🙂

Meal 4:

Tilapia again… but I did prepare it differently! I’m working on a project making my own (salt-free) spice blends. This was cooked in a grill pan with my Mexican blend and fresh lime juice. On the side was roasted broccoli slaw and brussels, topped with more of my blend, rice vinegar, and nutritional yeast.

Meal 5:

I’m trying not to Instagram everything before I post it on WIAW… but I couldn’t help myself last night.

This pizza combo knocked my socks off. I toasted a low-carb tortilla as the crust, then slathered it with a sweet potato mashed with lemon juice, cumin, and chili powder. Meanwhile, I sautéed asparagus and chopped fennel in a splash of garlic-infused olive oil. That saute, arugula, and pre-cooked salmon topped my pizza.

I put the whole thing in the oven on broil for a few mins, finish with freshly ground pepper, thick balsamic, and cilantro… and viola!

Total foodgasm. ♫ The neighbors complain about the noises above… ♫

Meal 6:

An old favorite… with a new twist. Remember my Carrot Cake Protein Batter? I made it chocolate.

This Chocolate Carrot Cake Protein Batter was basically the same recipe, but I added 1 T cocoa powder and use almond extract instead of vanilla.

Side note: Did you know that 1 T of cocoa powder has 1g of protein?

Meal 7:

In the interest of honesty… this happened:

I get an extra cheat each day in effort to gain weight… ~~although this may not be what my trainer had in mind…~~

It was delicious though! Terrapin is a Georgia brewery, and their Pumpkinfest beer is fantastic. It combines two styles – pumpkin beer and Oktoberfest – to create a spiced pumpkin beer that isn’t overly sweet.

Never fear! I got my protein in too:

A maple-casein version of my 150 Calorie Microwave Protein Cake topped with fresh figs.

Nutty Microwave Protein Cookie

2 T peanut flour
1 T water
1 T Sunbutter
2 T egg whites
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp baking powder
5-6 drops liquid stevia

Mix ingredients in a small bowl.

Coat small, microwave-safe plate with cooking spray. Spread dough on plate and microwave 30-40 secs.

Serves 1.

***

Protein count for the day: 191.3g from fall clean eats!

Do you do any strength training? Why or why not?

What foods have you been loving the most this fall?

Manic Monday

March 26, 2012 By Laura

I wish it was Sunday…

‘Cause that’s my fun day.

There was not an inch of free space on any Atlanta patio yesterday. The weather was perfect – 70 degrees and clear blue skies.

My softball team, Laid Back, had our first games of the season. We lost both by 1 run… but we had a great time! I got to do my signature split off of 1st base. I think I pulled my hip.

Super-old pic!

Here are a few more things that made this weekend fabulous:

1. My Sister, the Rockstar

Have a listen to Goose & Fox’s (my sister’s band) new song, “Fearless.”

2. iHerb Delivery

This was my first time ordering from iHerb.com and I was really pleased! I ordered Sun Warrior vegan protein powder (my favorite) and more peanut flour. They even threw in a sample bag of tea! Orders over $40 receive FREE 1-3 day shipping. I had my goods the NEXT DAY. Perfect for someone who expects instant gratification.

Additionally, I got $10 off my order because it was my first time. If you are interested, here’s the code: USO924.

3. Monday Night Brewing

Just when I thought I knew ever beer in Atlanta, I found this local craft brew from Monday Night Brewing at a local pub called Augustine’s.

The glass reads: “Weekends are Overrated.”

I should have stolen this glass.

It is called “Drafty Kilt Scotch Ale.” A little smoky with notes of chocolate, I instantly loved this cleverly-named Scottish-style brew. Tasty beer and the company was even better. 😉

4. Tattoo Consultation

I have been planning this tattoo forever. After procrastinating on the design, I finally asked my best friend’s husband, Greg, to sketch it out for me. He did a great job on the sketches, and I had a clear vision to bring to the talented Danielle at Only You Tattoo. It’s really special to me that Greg drew it; he and my bestie mean the world to me.

Danielle is a talented woman – April 28th was her first available appointment. I’m 1 month away from new ink!

5. Whole Foods Hot Mess Bar

A little Sunday evening dinner treat. The bar was LOADED with vegan options tonight – BBQ seitan, tofu cacciatore, vegan mac & cheese, vegan spaghetti with “meat” sauce… and raw kale salads galore!

I also ran into one of my favorite singers in the produce sections… I didn’t say hi…. but it was cool!

________________________________________________________________________________________

Last week I mentioned that I may have found the root of the problem with my knee. I was told to take it easy this week… I kind of did. Against advice, I did run in the softball game. It was just short sprints between bases… but I didn’t feel pain! *crossing fingers*

Running makes me feel more sane. It’s my release. Saturday morning 5Ks give me something fun and athletic to look forward to every weekend. If Dr. Justin fixed it… I’ll set up a shrine to him in my room. LOL!

Workout Recap (3/18 – 3/25):

Monday – Elliptical, this Fit-in-Heels workout, 100 PUs
Tuesday – P90X Biceps/Back, 1-mile run, 100 push-ups
Wednesday – This workout by Lori, 100 push-ups
Thursday – This Body Rock (4x), elliptical, Ab Ripper X
Friday – This BodyRock (those abs were killer!), 100 push-ups
Saturday – This workout by Khushboo (4x)
Sunday – Softball, stationary bike, 100 push-ups

***

I’m speaking to a bunch of MBAs at my alma mater today about post-careers… nervous!!

Have you tried peanut flour yet? What are you waiting for?!

What do you do to keep your mind healthy?

Cardamom Hill

January 13, 2012 By Laura

If you have been reading for a while, you know that I LOVE Indian flavors.

Wednesday night I tried a much-hyped new Indian restaurant in Atlanta, Cardamom Hill (1700 Northside Dr.NW #A6, Atlanta, GA 30318, 404.549.7012).

The owner, Asha Gomez, is locally-famous for her underground supper clubs. She wanted to share her food with a broader audience, thus Cardamom Hill was born. I’m sad to have missed her Supper Clubs, but am excited to see where she takes the restaurant.

Cardamom Hill menu

They don’t have their liquor license yet, but they do keep some beers in the back to share. Thus, I tasted my first Schiltz. It wasn’t as bad as I had imagined… though that’s not saying a lot. They did have a Sweetwater IPA in the cooler that the server ~~mercifully~~ graciously brought me after I couldn’t handle anymore Schlitz.

The food was MUCH better than the beer selection. 🙂 I’m really kidding – it was great of them to offer my friend and I anything at all.

We started with a beautifully plated salad of arugula, starfruit, radish, cucumber, and papaya. It was dressed in a tamarind vinaigrette. Each item on its own was flavorful and fresh; however, my companion and I both felt it lacked something to pull it together. I also thought it was slightly over-dressed (normally I ask for dressing on the side – my mistake!).

Our second app was on the house. Beef and Potato Croquettes seasoned with ginger, garlic, and green papaya salad. I nibbled on the potato part of the croquette (trying to stick to the veg thing) and wasn’t blown away. I loved the (pickled?) ginger and garlic served with it. I wish that had been used in a salad!

For my entrée I chose the Vegetable Trio, served with coconut rice.

Part 1 of the trio was Sweet Potato Verka sautéed in coconut oil with mustard seeds, shallots, and curry leaves. It was absolutely fantastic. A little oily, but honestly… that just made it better. Perfectly balanced between the sweetness of the potato and the subtle heat from the spices, I could eat this dish all day every day.

As good as that was, Part 2 of the trio topped it. It was a “Seasonal” Thoran, which is listed on the menus as a stir-fry but (as the waiter described) this more accurately identified as a soup. A phenomenal soup. The broth was just spiced enough with dried red chillies. It contained bite-sized pieces of carrot, eggplant, potato, and tomato. I’m not sure what sorts of other spices were in this, but whoa. My friend and I agreed it was the best dish of the night.

Dear Asha, Please keep this on as an appetizer soup.

Lastly, I had a Beet Pachadi. 3 warm beets layered with housemade yogurt (ask for it to be left off to make this dish vegan) and mustard seeds, topped a curry leaf. It was also good, just not quite as stand-out as the first 2 items.

My friend had the Braised Short Ribs with roasted coconut sauce, served over umpa (like fried polenta, but made from semolina). It was nice… but I was happy I stuck with the veg.

We couldn’t pass up a traditional dessert. I have no idea what this is called, but it was a warm coconut milk soup with toasted coconut, cashew halves, cardamom seeds, ginger, and rice noodles. It was one of those dishes you keep eating but you’re not entirely sure you love. The flavors were just so interesting! We wondered if it would be better (albeit non-traditional) cold?

If you’re in the Atlanta area, I do recommend trying Cardamom Hill. The service was solid and it has a lot of potential. This isn’t the typical curry-laden Indian food many of us are accustomed to. Dishes from the Southwest Indian state of Kerala are laced with interesting spice blends and not heavy on the heat. It just enough spice to detect. You know the balance of flavors much be great if I’m not begging for more heat.

Don’t miss the Vegetable Trio, try the dessert for fun… and do make sure to BYOB. There’s no corking fee while they await the liquor license.

***

I just realized it’s friday the 13th! Some people shudder, but 13 is my lucky number and this is my lucky day (knock on wood).

Do you like trying authentic food from different cultures? Panda Express doesn’t count.

Who’s doing something fun this weekend?

Indulging in 2012

December 31, 2011 By Laura

Happy New Years Eve!!!

In case you do get a little over-zealous while welcoming 2012…

Top 5 Hangover Helpers:

Sleep – roll over and pray it goes away
Hydrate – before you roll over and go back to sleep, chug a big glass of water or Gatorade (taking a Motrin or Excedrin Migraine with it may not be a bad idea either)
Exercise – nothing works better than to sweat out all those toxins (not that I would know)
Hair of the Dog – there’s a reason bloody’s and mimosas are breakfast drinks. They work. Just watch out or you’ll only have a worse hang over the following day!
Kombucha – It may be in my head, but I swear this stuff lessens a hangover. Is it the tummy-pleasing enzymes? The fermentation? The carbonation? Who cares. It works.

Other ideas include: Waffle House, coffee, (caffeine), Pedialyte. Mom says orange juice. Baby sis says Emergen-C before going out and pickles the next day.

You can thank us later (when your head stops pounding).

__________________________________________________________________________________

In all the excitement I almost forgot to post about my December Foodie Penpal treats!

The amazing Rachael @ The Avid Appetite sent me a package not to be forgotten!

In it was homemade marshmallows (which were gone in about 30 minutes!), a fantastic loaf of banana bread, KIND bars, and a couple of holiday teas. Sometimes I think bloggers have ESP – how did she know that banana bread is my favorite loaf and that KIND bars have been on my “to try” list for literally a year? Thanks, Rachel!!! And thank you for organizing, Lindsay!

Want a Foodie Penpal of your own?

Please send an email to Lindsay @ theleangreenbean@gmail.com and include the following information:

-Your full name
-Your email address
-Your blog name/address
-Your twitter handle (if applicable)

She will need to hear from you by January 4th – penpals will be notified on January 5th!

***

Thank you for all of the wonderful comments yesterday AND for the votes to land me in the FoodBuzz Top 9 today (check it out here) – you guys made my 2011!

What are your big plans tonight?

Any hangover cures to share? 🙂

Sweet Potato Pizza Crust

Mix it up: Night Running and Sweet Potato Pizza Crust

Sweet Potato Pizza Crust

Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Crispy Treats (Lightened Up)

Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Crispy Treats (Lightened Up)

Getting Schooled at the Food & Wine Festival

This Little Piggy Got Spicy

Fresh Start

Beer & Doughnuts

Aged to Delicious Bourbon and Cheese

Brown Beer Hummus

Brown Beer Hummus

Microwave Protein Cookie + WIAW

Meal 1:

Meal 2:

Meal 3:

Meal 4:

Meal 5:

Meal 6:

Meal 7:

Nutty Microwave Protein Cookie

Manic Monday

1. My Sister, the Rockstar

2. iHerb Delivery

3. Monday Night Brewing

4. Tattoo Consultation

5. Whole Foods Hot Mess Bar

Cardamom Hill

Indulging in 2012

Top 5 Hangover Helpers:

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