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Sweet Berry Breakfast Rolls

December 31, 2010 By Laura

Happy New Year’s Eve!!!

I’ve been waiting to post this… I misplaced my new camera and didn’t get pic of the finished product.

Good news: Found camera.

Bad news:  It was washed.  In a ski jacket.  By my mom.

Playing in the snow with my sisters

At least we got to play in the whole 1/4 inch of snow…

Soooo… I’m posting this sans final product pics.  But they were pretty!  These would make a great hangover New Years Day breakfast.


Christmas morning was very different this year – I was the first one awake!

I bounced out of bed, ready to open presents at 830a.  Then I waited until 11a for the family to wake up.  Talk about anti-climatic.

Things I did to entertain myself for 2.5 hours:

  • Made/drank coffee
  • Ate 1/2 an apple
  • Whittle My Middle workout
  • Prepared the breakfast roll glaze
  • Chopped veggies for a frittata
  • Ate some granola
  • Unloaded and re-loaded the dishwasher

Productive, right?!

In our family, the big-deal Christmas meals are Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas Day brunch.

Continuing with my theme to trying new things, I decided to make Sweet Berry Breakfast Rolls.  These are adapted from the January 2011 Food & Wine.

We enjoyed them with a veggie frittata and a fantastic rose sparkling wine (which I had a picture of on my new/newly cleaned camera).

Of course, we opened presents first. 🙂

My favorite gift this year was a MacBook Air from Mom Santa.  If anyone can teach me how to use it, that would also be cool.


Now for the incomplete rolls.

Ready to roll out after rising.

Rolled out, berry-topped, and sugar-cinnamon sprinkled.

Ready for rise #2!  I let them rise for 2 hours and then placed them in the fridge overnight to beaked fresh on Christmas morning.

Sweet Berry Breakfast Rolls

Dough

  • 1 C Milk
  • 2/3 C Sugar
  • 1 1/2 T Active dry yeast
  • 1 Stick Unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 Eggs
  • 1 tsp Finely grated lemon zest
  • 1/2 tsp Fine sea salt
  • 4 1/4 C All-purpose flour (+ more for dusting)

Filling

  • 10-ounce package IQF (Individually Quick Frozen) mixed berries (not thawed)
  • 1/4 C + 2 T Sugar
  • 2 tsp Cinnamon
  • 1 tsp Cornstarch

Glaze

  • 3/4 C Confectioners’ sugar
  • 3 T Unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 1/2 T Heavy cream
  • 2 tsp Cinnamon

For the Dough:

In a small saucepan, warm the milk over moderately low heat until it’s 95°.  Pour the warm milk into the bowl of a standing electric mixer fitted with the dough hook and stir in the sugar and yeast.  Let stand until the yeast is foamy, ~5 mins.  Add the softened butter, eggs, grated lemon zest and sea salt.  Add the flour and beat at medium speed until a soft dough forms, ~3 mins. Increase the speed to medium-high and beat until the dough is soft and supple, ~10 mins.

Scrape the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead it with your hands 2 or 3 times.  Form the dough into a ball and transfer it to a lightly buttered bowl.  Cover the dough with plastic wrap and let stand in a warm place until doubled in bulk, ~2 hours.

Line the bottom of a 9 x 13 in baking pan with parchment paper, allowing the paper to extend up the short sides.  Butter the paper and sides of the pan.  Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and, using a rolling pin, roll it into a 10 x 24 in rectangle.

For the Filling:

In a medium bowl, toss the frozen berries with the sugar, cornstarch, and cinnamon.  Spread the berry filling evenly over the dough.  Tightly roll up the dough to form a 24-inch-long log.  

Working quickly, cut the log into quarters.  Cut each quarter into 4 slices and arrange them in the baking pan, cut sides up.  Scrape any berries and juice from the work surface into the baking pan between the rolls.  

Cover the rolls and let them rise in a warm place until they are puffy and have filled the baking pan, ~2 hours.

To Bake:

Preheat the oven to 425°.  Bake the rolls for ~20 mins, until they are golden and the berries are bubbling.  Transfer the pan to a rack to cool for 30 mins.

For the Glaze:

In a small bowl, whisk the confectioners’ sugar and cinnamon with the butter and heavy cream until the glaze is thick and spreadable.

Invert the rolls onto the rack and peel off the parchment paper.  Invert the rolls onto a platter.  Dollop glaze over each roll and spread with an offset spatula.  Serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes: The recipe can be prepared through the “Filling” step the day before (I did and it turned out perfectly).  Once risen, simply cover the rolls and refrigerate overnight.  Return to room temperature before baking.

You can also use any sort of berries for the filling.  The original called for raspberries.

Filed Under: Baking, Breakfast, Core, Fitness, Recipes Tagged With: breakfast, brunch, Christmas, P90X, Whittle My Middle, workout

Let Them Eat Cake

December 29, 2010 By Laura

I always look forward to Christmas.

 

…and I am always ready for it to be OVER.  

Things are beginning to calm down again, and I couldn’t be more ready for it!  🙂

Tonight I am going to my first derby practice in a month!  I really want to get some weights in this afternoon, but I’m also pretty sore from P90X on Monday.

Things I am ready to get back to:

  • My condo
  • Quiet
  • Food that doesn’t involve sugar (*gasp*)
  • Running more regularly
  • Derby
  • Cereal (can you tell I haven’t had breakfast yet?!)

______________________________________________________________________________________

Speaking of breakfast…

Angela continues to amaze over at Oh She Glows.  Carrot Cake Oatmeal.

It is literally like eating carrot cake batter for breakfast.  I made a couple of modifications… make your own adjustments and eat cake for breakfast!

I’m pretty sure it doesn’t get better than this.

Carrot Cake Oatmeal

  • 1.25 C unsweetened vanilla almond milk (or other milk-substance)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 T cream of coconut
  • 1 T apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp ground ginger
  • 1/4 tsp fresh ground nutmeg
  • 1/8 tsp sea salt
  • 1/2 tsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1 large carrot, finely grated (like you would for a carrot cake)
  • 1/4 C oats
  • 1/4 C muesli
  • 1 scoop vanilla protein powder (I use Growing Naturals)

 

In a medium pot over medium heat, add milk, lemon juice, coconut milk cream, and apple cider vinegar, stirring to combine.  Whisk in spices and salt.

Stir in grated carrots and oats.  Reduce heat to medium-low. Cook until mixture has thickened (~8 minutes), stirring as needed.  Mix in protein powder, cooking 1-2 mins more to warm.  Remove from heat and pour into a bowl.

Have fun with the toppings!  I used dried cranberries, pecans, and a drizzle of maple syrup.

 

Filed Under: Breakfast, Fitness, Recipes, Roller Derby Tagged With: breakfast, Christmas, derby, Growing Naturals, oats, P90X

Green Beans and Chocolate

December 19, 2010 By Laura

Now that we are home the cooking can resume!

Mom has been running around the house like a humming bird on crack.  I’m not sure if it is the pain medicine or the fact that she is finally able to walk again.  Well, its still more of a shuffle, but close!

Since Christmas is this week and mom is still recovering, I’m going to hang out at her house until next weekend.  Not to mention the fact that my sisters are in town and her kitchen is better than mine.

I finally got to exercise again and it felt GREAT alright.  Apparently when you don’t exercise for 10 days, getting amped up again is difficult.

My uncle and Baby Sis were her when we arrived on Saturday, so I let them watch Mamma and ran a quick 3 miles.  It really was quick – 26 mins – but it felt like an hour.

Today was a little easier.  P90X Shoulders and Arms, followed by Ab Ripper X.  I love a good core workout.

Other than that, I have been in the kitchen.  Some healthy creations, some borderline, and some down right sinful.

Variety is the spice of life.


The Healthy

I made a French Green Bean Salad using a Lemon- Tahini Dressing inspired by this one by Angela at Oh She Glows.

In summary – YUM.  I loved the crispiness of this salad and the tahini dressing was like hummus with a zing.  Best of all, it was super healthy and easy to make.

French Green Bean Salad

  • ~1 lb French green beans
  • 6 dried Mission figs, quartered
  • 1 cucumber, sliced
  • 1 large carrot, sliced
  • handful flat-leaf parsley, chopped
  • 1/2 tsp garlic salt
  • S&P (to taste)

Bring large pot of water to a boil.  Remove ends from beans and steam until bright green and still crisp.  Remove from water and place immediately in an ice bath (this will chill them and stop the cooking).  Remove from bath and dry.  Place in bowl and toss lightly with garlic salt, carrots, cucumbers, figs and parsley.

Top with crackers or pita and Lemon-Tahini Dressing.

Serves 3-4

Lemon-Tahini Dressing

  • 4 T tahini
  • Juice from 1 lemon
  • 3/4 tsp honey
  • 3-4 T water
  • 1 tsp EVOO
  • S&P (to taste)

In a small bowl, combine tahini, honey, lemon juice, EVOO, and S&P.  Thin out with some water (add one tablespoon at a time) and stir until well combined.


The Borderline

It is a bit of a repeat.  But this time I’ve learned a couple of tricks.

Roasted Banana Rum-Raisin Breakfast Bread

Lessons:

  • Check it at 40 mins.  Mom’s oven cooks fast.
  • Don’t skimp on the rum raisin soaking time.  They get super soft and flavorful when you actually let them soak the whole hour.
  • Use the paddle attachment in the mixing bowl.  I forgot until half way through the first time.  This loaf was much fluffier.
  • Don’t sub evaporated milk for coconut milk.  It was an emergency… but the coconut gives it more depth of flavor.

***

And, back by popular demand, PB Sunflower Granola!

Thanks to Ann, I did get it to stick together better.  Press it down hard immediately after taking it out of the oven.  Then don’t touch it again until it is totally cool.

Ready for the sinful?

The Sinful

Fudge.  More specifically, peanut butter fudge.  With walnuts.

I was making something else, had the marshmallow fluff out, and thought “why not?”

The Jett-Puffed recipe has always been my go-to, but I think this one is pretty good.  It is less greasy and sugary (1/2 C less in fact)… You can actually eat an whole square without that sugar over-dose feeling.  Whether that is good or bad, I’ll let you decide.


Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge

by Laura Hall

Cook Time: 25 mins

Keywords: boil dessert Marshmallow Fluff peanut butter chocolate chips Christmas

Ingredients (20 servings)

  • 2 1/2 C sugar
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 stick butter (salted)
  • 2/3 C evaporated milk
  • 5 1/2 oz (~3/4 jar) Marshmallow Fluff
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 12-oz. Ghirardelli semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 2 T peanut butter
  • 1/2 C walnuts

Instructions

Line an 8-in square baking pan with aluminum foil; set aside.

In large saucepan combine the first 5 ingredients. Stir over low heat until blended.

Increase heat to medium and bring to a full-rolling boil, stirring constantly for 5 minutes (until sugar is completely dissolved and mixture is perfectly smooth).

Remove from heat, stir in vanilla and chocolate until chocolate is melted. Add nuts. Barely fold in peanut butter. Pour into lined pan and cool completely before cutting.

Powered by Recipage

***
Do you have that one thing you make every year?  One your friends request

Happy Holiday baking to all!

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5003/5275326845_15813cc850.jpg

Filed Under: Baking, Core, Fitness, Recipes, Running Tagged With: Christmas, dessert, dinner, P90X, snacks, workout

Hospital food is gross

December 11, 2010 By Laura

It has been a while since I’ve posted!  Mom has been in quite a lot of pain, so between care-taking and a crazy work week I have barely had time to think.

In the hospital I was able to have oatmeal from breakfast, but it was a little… well, it tasted like hospital food. 🙂  Their lunchtime salad bar was lacking too, so I made a quick trip out to Whole Foods for provisions on day 2.

Thank god for the hot bar!!!

I also picked up some chicken soup for mom (canned hospital salt broth wasn’t cutting it).

We are finally home now.  I have a whole new appreciation for a real bed, food, showers, and exercise (in that order).

Sitting around all day makes me want to run.  I don’t feel comfortable leaving mom alone at the house, so I settled for P90X.  It felt amazing to moooove!!!

Mom has been craving that Roasted Banana-Rum Raisin Bread.  I’ve eaten it plain, heated it in the microwave with peanut butter, crumbled to top a smoothie, and toasted it with ice cream and chocolate syrup.  Tonight I want to toast it in the oven with powdered sugar.

You know that Texas Pete hot sauce commercial where the old lady says “I put that shit on everything”?  That’s how we are with this bread.  🙂

For breakfast today Mom wanted eggs and bacon.  She had heard on The Dr.’s that Jennie O-Turkey Bacon is good.  So I tried it.

The Dr.’s were wrong.  At least the dog likes it…


I was smart elected to finish off some pumpkin we had in the fridge. I made a little breakfast bowl.

In my bowl:

  • Greek yogurt
  • Pumpkin puree
  • Kashi Warm Cinnamon Heart-to-Heart Cereal (YUM!)
  • Fiber One
  • Cinnamon
  • Nutmeg

Breakfast bowls are awesome for someone like me who gets too excited about breakfast and can’t decide what sounds best.  This way I get a little last of everything! 

Sans the fake bacon.

Today I’m going to leave mom’s house for the first time for a quick grocery trip!  I love the grocery store. *swoon*

I’m in the mood to BAKE!

***

If anyone knows of a good non-pig bacon, I’d love to hear about it.

Filed Under: Baking, Breakfast, Fitness Tagged With: bacon, breakfast, P90X, pumpkin, workout

The final day in San Fran

November 7, 2010 By Laura

We didn’t want to leave, but if you have to end a trip this was the way to do it.

Laura arranged for us to have massages at her spa.  I got the hot stone massage and Mallory got wrapped in eucalyptus leaves.  The ladies lounge had a misting room, hot tub, sauna, and steam room.  Naturally, we spent and additional hour lounging after our massages.  If you are in the Bay Area, I highly recommend checking out Burke Williams.  Ask for Taylor or Tuesday!

After a light lunch at one of the cafes in the Ferry Building (and some dessert sampling), we walked around Pier 39.  Check out the sock store.  Before we knew it, it was time to get back to the hotel to get ready for dinner.

Proud side note: I Whittled My Middle before we left!!!

The Sumos enjoyed the Trolley

Did I mention the Giants were in the World Series?!

Classic San Fran – Giants, Trolley… and a German flag?!

Dinner was something totally different  – raw food at Cafe Gratitude.

Everything on the menu was raw and vegan (except for 3-4 items… but they were still vegan!).

I am grateful

You order an item like our appetizer – nachos.  But the nachos are called “I Am Honoring.”

And they consist of flax chips with sunflower seed “refried beans” over mixed greens with guacamole, salsa, & cashew nacho cheese.

I am Honoring

Then, when they bring them out, the server places the dish in front of you saying “You are honoring.”

Side note: raw refried beans are wayyyy better than the real thing.

My favorite was the lasagna Laura ordered: layered zucchini, cashew mozzarella, olive tapenade and pesto topped with marinara, cashew ricotta and Brazil nut Parmesan.

I Am Fabulous

Mallory’s was good too – a sushi bowl consisting of quinoa tossed w/kale, avocado, cucumber, nori, scallions & herbs in sesame-ginger sauce.

She said she couldn’t believe how much it tasted like sushi.

I couldn’t believe she ordered something called “I Am Accepting.”

I Am Accepting

Since I can never get enough Mexican, I ordered the enchilada – a live vegetable tortilla with sprouted seed filling, topped with spicy salsa verde & cashew sour cream. It was served with cilantro coleslaw and quinoa.

It was good.  Better after they brought out the hot sauce.

I really just wanted to say “I Am Elated”

Then there was dessert.  Why stop the gluttony on the last day?

I didn’t get a picture of mine, but I can declare that I AM SUPER.  At least when it comes to the dark chocolate nugget I ate.

Mallory was Devoted in the form of a coconut cream pie.

I Am Devoted… to dessert 🙂

Laura was the winner (IMHO) with a scoops of vanilla and chocolate nut-milk ice cream.  I was praising her choices.

Verdict: I wish we had something like this in Atlanta.  I will always prefer “real” cream pie, but this is a great alternative.   The lasagna is crave-worthy and I am happy anytime I can get a good quinoa dish.

Something cool happened while we were in the restaurant…

The GIANTS won the World Series!!!

The city erupted – it was really neat to be there and watch everyone (literally) go nuts.

Go Giants!

I would tell you what we did next… but I’d have to kill you.

We went to one of those super-secret unmarked bars.  We knocked on the door and have to give a password to get in!

It was well worth the effort – I had the best cocktail of my life.  The Citizen Cane.

And just like that, the awesomeness was over. 🙁


Back at the ranch… the cleanse update…

Day 3 was better.  My headache was gone, but I was still feeling pretty low-energy.

Despite this, I completed P90X Biceps and Back – with the Ab Ripper X at the end.  Then I promptly fell asleep for 45 mins.

If you haven’t tried it, I recommend the DVDs.  I’ve never followed the program exactly (would LOVE to hear if anyone has!), but they are some great workouts when you aren’t motivated to pull together your own.

We were starving before dinner, so I made baked kale chips as an appetizer.  They have been written about ad nauseam in the blog world – for a good “how to” check out Smitten Kitchen’s play-by-play.

Washed, dried, and coated with EVOO, salt, and red pepper flakes

These didn’t last long around Baby Sis and Mamma

On to the main event… I tried my first spaghetti squash!  I couldn’t get over how much like real spaghetti this was!  The consistency of the squash was such that I almost didn’t miss the noodles.

We prepared an awesome tomato sauce to go with it. (Kale chips are delish dipped in tomato sauce, btw.)


Spaghetti Squash Spaghetti

  • 1 Spaghetti squash
  • 2-3 T EVOO
  • 1/2 C Yellow onion
  • 2 Garlic cloves
  • 750g (~24 oz) Tomato puree
  • 1/4 C Parsley
  • 1 tsp  Oregano
  • Red pepper flakes, sea salt, and pepper to taste
  • 3-4 Basil leaves

Cut the squash in half (can soften in microwave first).  Remove the seeds.  Place in a glass baking dish, cut side down, in about 1 in of water.  Microwave for 7-8 minutes, or until shell is tender when pierced with a fork.  (Yes, we were lazy hungry… you can also do this in the oven at 350 for about 45 mins.  I thought the microwave worked fantastically.)

Remove the flesh with a fork.  Place in serving bowl and toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper to taste.

Meanwhile, warm olive oil in skillet over medium heat.  Add onions and garlic.  Saute until softened and beginning to brown(about 4 mins).  Add tomato puree and adjust heat until sauce comes to a simmer.  Cook for 10 minutes.  Add the parsley, oregano, basil, red pepper flakes, and salt and pepper to taste.  Keep warm over very low heat.

Top with sauce, fresh basil, and chopped onions.

Other potential adds: Parmesan, capers, olives, rosemary, peppers, carrots, wine.

I would also have used chunky (not puree) tomatoes (San Marzanos are my fav), but Baby Sis doesn’t like the big pieces.


Now for the most exciting news… We found a cleanse-approved dessert!!!

No one said it had to be pretty…

Pineapple-Raisin Crisp

  • 1 Pineapple
  • 1/4 C Raisins
  • 2 tsp Coconut butter
  • 1/2 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice
  • 1/4 Cinnamon
  • 1/8 tsp Cayenne pepper

Core pineapple and cut into 1 in rings.  Toss with pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, and cayenne. 

Heat coconut butter in ridged grill pan over medium heat on stove top.  Add pineapple rings and grill for ~4 mins on each side (until grill marks form and the pineapple becomes fragrant).  Add raisins just before pineapple is done.

Top with granola or flax/chia seeds for extra crunch!  My topping as a roasted mizture of flax seeds, chia seeds, cacao nibs, cinnamon, and coconut oil (remnants of a partial fail I’ll disclose tomorrow).

Verdict: I would eat this again, cleanse or no.  Grilled pineapple is satisfyingly sweet and the bit of heat from the cayenne is enough to keep it interesting. 🙂

Filed Under: Core, Fitness, Recipes, Restaurants, Travel Tagged With: dessert, dinner, P90X, San Francisco, Standard Process Cleanse, Whittle My Middle, workout

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