Kabocha Bacon Drop Biscuits [Recipe]

May 1, 2015 By Laura

Kabocha and bacon are two of my favorite things.

Vegas and chocolate are also on that list.

Speaking of Vegas, these were Vegas-approved! I always consider that an accomplishment – my pasta-loving lady gives me the side-eye if I try to get *too* healthy on her. However, She can always be won over with bacon.

These muffins were inspired by the bacon grease I had leftover from breakfast at this past weekend. I always save it for cooking; you can use it in place of butter to grease a pan. It may sound strange, but why not use bacon grease in place of butter in baked goods too? It really is good!

Dropped and ready to bake!

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Pumpkin Tomato Sauce Recipe

October 3, 2014 By Laura

Recipe inspiration can come from anywhere.

I like to think this excuses my aimless wandering in Whole Foods.

This particular meandering trip paid off! It resulted in a copycat Pumpkin Tomato Sauce recipe that’s a lot less expensive and *almost* as easy as the jarred version at Whole Paycheck.

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Flavor Overload + WIAW

September 3, 2014 By Laura

Flavor overload.

A line needs to be drawn.

Lays flavors have gotten out of control. I mean… I can see a Wasabi Ginger chip. I can even stretch it to Mango Salsa. But Cappuccino?! No. One review I read described them this way: “They smell like a tomb, and taste like stale crackers dusted with International Delight-brand instant coffee.”

I’m all for #strangebutgood… but really?!

BUT… this is even worse than anything Lays could ever come up with.

Chicken Wing ICE CREAM?!

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Kabocha Apple Breakfast Bowl

July 18, 2014 By Laura

Squashes make great bowls.

Ohhhh… wouldn’t a cereal bowl of squash be cool?!

I make batches and batches of squash each week. Usually kabocha. It’s a problem. Or it would be if it wasn’t also healthy. I’m not orange yet!

I roasted the above at the beginning of the week so I could use it for a quick, homemade breakfast. All I needed to do was put the kabocha in the over under broiler while I whipped up the eggs, apples, and peanut sauce. All of these things are delicious, but maybe a little strange to eat together and for breakfast. Or maybe not. The moral of the story is that it’s really good!

The best thing about this creation is that It can all be done simultaneously, so even notoriously late to work people (not that I know anything about that) can have a fancy start to the day!

The apples and cinnamon made it feel like pie, but the peanut butter made it divine. The only way this could have been better is if I’d had bacon.

Kabocha Apple Breakfast Bowl

Chunk of kabocha (or other squash), pre-roasted
Eggs
Cinnamon
Apple, dices
Peanut flour sauce (or nut butter)

Place kabocha in the over to re-heat and crisp up.

Sauté apples in a small plan. When softened, remove from pan and set aside.

Scramble eggs (or egg whites) with cinnamon and 2-3 drops of stevia, if desired. When almost done, add apples.

Remove squash from oven. Top with egg-apple mixture and peanut sauce (or nut butter).

Enjoy!

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. 🙂

An InLinkz Link-up

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Annnnnd I’m in Colorado! Wheeee!

Do you pre-make food for the week?

Do you eat the same thing for breakfast everyday or shake it up?

Brinner of Champions

June 20, 2014 By Laura

I’m a sweet and salty girl.

Literally and figuratively.

A bacon and peanut butter combo may sound strange to you, but they are are soul mates in my book. Unfortunately those two alone do not a dinner make. I came home after a beer ~~or two~~ with my boss in need of treat-tooth satisfaction. Bacon and peanut flour* sauce were an obvious choice, but I needed protein and carbs.

*I order my peanut flour from iHerb. It’s my favorite because there are NO additives – just de-fatted peanuts. Use discount code USO924 for $5-10 off your order!

Brinner is the best of treats. All the sweet and savory you can eat! I put my bacon in a pan to cook up slow and crispy while I prepped the rest.

The prep was easy. I stuck my cocoa-cayenne-cinnamon kabocha under the broiler to bake while I mixed up the peanut flour sauce. Next I whisked the eggs with maple extract. Then I changed a light bulb… and by that time the bacon was done. I reserved the grease for a later TBD use and cooked the eggs in the pan with the salty bacon remnants.

Are you disgusted yet? I’m not. I layered it on a plate, crumbled my bacon like sprinkles, and topped it off with shredded coconut. There weren’t real measurements, just a pile-on of satisfaction.

It was the Brinner of Champions. I was disgusted that it had to end.

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Brinner of Champions*

Bacon
Cocoa Roasted Kabocha
Peanut Flour Sauce
Egg whites
1/4 tsp maple extract (can use vanilla or maple syrup)
Coconut shreds (optional)

Cook bacon over medium heat. Be patient – the slower you cook it, the crispier it gets! Meanwhile, prep the kabocha, mix peanut sauce, and whisk eggs with maple extract.

Plate the eggs, top with kabocha, bacon, peanut sauce, and coconut flakes. Devour.

*There are no measurements to this. Make as much bacon and eggs as you’re hungry for!

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If you’re not a blogger, you can still share your recipes on Instagram with the #strangebutgood hashtag.

Remember to use #strangebutgood in any Tweets and Instagrams of your creations. 🙂

An InLinkz Link-up

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I’m co-hosting a challenge with Heather for the month of July! Stay tuned for details next week… there are going to be some awesome prizes from a few of our favorite brands. Get excited, y’all. 😉 #movehappy

Do you like a sweet or savory brinner? I clearly like a combo.

What is your Brinner of Champions?

Kabocha and Black Bean Frittata

March 10, 2014 By Laura

There’s something special about a hot breakfast.

Forget Folger’s in my cup – I want eggs!

As someone who is continually unable to get out of the door on time, hot breakfasts aren’t exactly practical. This means food prep is especially important. And it has to be high protein – I need stay-power!

I bring you the Kabocha and Black Bean Frittata.

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Strange But Good: Pinterest Edition

November 15, 2013 By Laura

Eating tilapia, asparagus, and sweet potato is strange.

Not necessarily good.

In lieu of a recipe from me this week, I want to share some of the #strangebutgood creations you’ve linked up that I can’t wait to try!

This list is certainly not exhaustive…. you guys are brilliant creators of strange! Check out more on the Pinterest board. I’ve been collecting them to make post competition.

1. Banana Cornbread from Suzanne. Can you imagine the luscious texture?!

2. Lean Beef Balls… with a twist from the twerking king, Arman. Because you know I love some fruit with my beef!

3. You will NEVER guess what makes this Lemon Shortbread Oatmeal so creamy!

4. It’s been way too long since my last kabocha squash. Or my last brownie. These Fudgy Kabocha Brownies from Sarah are at the top ‘o the list.

5. This is a little bit of a cheat. I’ve made it before, but I want Broccoli Heather’s Peanut Butter Cup Omelette. It’s delicious.

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Remember to use #strangebutgood in any Tweets and Instagrams of your creations. 🙂

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My last figure competition of the year is Saturday! I'm in Colorado with Heather, who's going to be competing in the bikini division - her first one! Follow our craziness and post-show debauchery on Instagram. 🙂

Have you made any of the #strangebutgood link ups?

What would be the first thing you eat after walking off the stage?

Satisfying Creamy Asian Kale Salad + WIAW

September 25, 2013 By Laura

There are no short cuts.

That doesn’t seems to stop people from trying .

Satisfries? Really Burger King? According to this article, the fast food chain has developed a lower fat french fry.* One serving is 190 calories, 8 grams of fat, and 210 milligrams of sodium.

*Yes, they are really called Satisfries

Apparently Satisfries taste like regular fries – they are made with the same oil as the full-fat version. The trick is that Burger King uses an oil-repelling agent in the better that lowers the fat content.

This is kitchen wizardry, not a nutritious french fry. I can’t stand when companies do this because it’s misleading to consumers. Yes,ultimately it’s up to the individual to do their research… but they DON’T. They see these products come out and think eating fries for lunch every day is a good choice (with a burger and a diet coke).

Right or wrong, the timing couldn’t be better. The U.S Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is requiring restaurant chains to post calorie counts on their menus next year. I wonder how many more menus items like these will be popping up?

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This is WIAW was crazy. I was in back to back meetings and pretty much only left my office long enough to pee and run to the fridge for more food. Thank god for food prep. I’m sure people think I’m nuts.

Read on for my San Francisco treats, and then check out Jenn’s blog. for some more “normal” days of food.

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Breakfast:

I’m still going with my new Aminos in my morning cocktail. I am liking it! It’s not a sweet, but I think that’s nice on my taste buds early in the AM.

The food part… well, let’s just say I won’t be leaving the house without tasting my breakfast first ever again. This was going to be a genius idea – mixing ingredients for an oatmeal mugcake the night before so all I had to do was nuke it in the morning. 2 mistakes: I tried a totally new recipe and I microwaved it WAY too long.

At least the Cats mug made me smile.

Mid-Morning Snack:

Porgy with celery sticks and my lentil hummus. Porgy was a new fish to me. I really liked it – it’s heartier, more similar to chicken than a flaky fish.

Bonus: Progy is fun to say.

Lunch:

This was salmon sashimi with lavar, Ezekial bread, and a massaged kale salad.

The dressing (massage lotion?) was my take on Heather’s Creamy Chickpea Salad. If you’ve never use tofu in dressing before, you MUST try it. I can’t believe how creamy and delicious this was!

Creamy Asian Kale Salad

1 bunch of kale
~10 shiitake mushrooms, diced
1/2 C chopped asparagus
3 ounces firm tofu
Fresh lime juice (from 1 lime)
1 tsp dijon mustard
2 cloves garlic
1 1/2 tsp dulse (seaweed flakes)
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp nutritional yeast
1/2 tsp coriander
1/4 tsp black pepper
Red pepper flakes, to taste

Toss together kale, mushrooms, and asparagus.

Blend together dressing ingredients, and massage into kale mix.

Can eat immediately, but best if allowed to marinate overnight so that veggies soften and flavors infuse..

Mid-Afternoon Snack:

Pork Belly of the sea! Sea bass is my favorite fish. Hands down. I ate it in my office with roasted cauliflower and sweet potato (topped with the cinnamon I keep in my desk).

Dinner:

Dinner continues to be more snack-like on my new schedule. I snacked on some (unpictured) granola before hustling to the gym. When I came home after 9p, all I wanted was my chocolate-beet smoothie.

I was out of beet powder (my Whole Foods quit carrying it!!!), so I tossed in a raw beet! The Vitamix blended it like a champ. Topped with more granola, then inhaled.

Then I needed round two. Double roasted kabocha and peanut flour sauce.

I could eat this every meal.

Dessert:

I’m so sad about this… I made my Carrot Cake Batter Protein Bowl using French Vanilla Designer Whey. Was planning to top it with a Banana Nut Quest Bar. And I did. But not before I burned it. I ate it any way, obv. Note to self: Don’t put your Quest bars under the broiler and walk away.

Topped with cocoa powder-coconut flour sauce and Nuttzo. Because that makes everything better.

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Don’t forget to enter the Designer Whey giveaway for a 1 year supply worth $500. Contest ends tonight at 11:59p!

Satisfries. Do you buy it? Would you buy it?

Do you keep a stash of spices in your desk or purse?

Kabocha Bacon Drop Biscuits [Recipe]

Pumpkin Tomato Sauce Recipe

Flavor Overload + WIAW

Kabocha Apple Breakfast Bowl

Kabocha Apple Breakfast Bowl

Brinner of Champions

Brinner of Champions*

Kabocha and Black Bean Frittata

Strange But Good: Pinterest Edition

Satisfying Creamy Asian Kale Salad + WIAW

Breakfast:

Mid-Morning Snack:

Lunch:

Creamy Asian Kale Salad

Mid-Afternoon Snack:

Dinner:

Dessert:

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