Sprint 2 the Table

Appetites and Adventures

Green Tea Spinach Smoothie

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Random thought of the day:

I read a study once (no idea who it was by) that claimed the 1st stall in the restroom is the one used least frequently.

Naturally, I began always using the first stall.  Less frequent usage = increased likelihood the stall will be clean-ish.

Yesterday I realized the study can’t possibly apply at my office.  Every time I go in the bathroom that stall is occupied!

I’m proposing a new hypthosis: the middle stall is the one used least often.  Particularly in a 3-holer where the last stall is the #2 handicapped stall.

____________________________________________________________________________

Back to your regular scheduled programming.  Please don’t make any connections to my restroom observations and the green smoothie.

Leanne @ Healthful Pursuit posted a Green Energy Smoothie at just the right time for me.  I felt like I didn’t get enough “good for you” greens this weekend.  A green drink is just what I need to replenish.

I made my own version with what I had.  I would have loved to add some ginger too, but I’m all out.

The best part?  No juicer required!  I did it all in my Magic Bullet. 🙂

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Green Tea Spinach Smoothie

  • 1/2 cucumber, peeled and sliced
  • 1 C spinach
  • 1/8 C cilantro
  • 1/4 C unsweetened apple sauce
  • 1 C kombucha green tea, brewed and chilled
  • 1/2 tsp lemon juice

Blend and enjoy!

***

It’s going to be a green week after my farmer’s market run.  Next up: kale!

Do you make random observations about things that probably don’t matter?

How would you customize this green drink?  I think red zinger tea would be fantastic in it too!

Coconut Chocolate Banana Squares

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Another weekend.  Over too soon.

It was a fun one!  My friend Kat was in town from South Korea.

She moved there a few years ago to teach, which I think is incredibly cool.  It’s good to see old friends so happy and fulfilled.  We used to be concert buddies, so naturally we caught up over a show.

Michelle Malone was playing the Sunday night 99X Unplugged in the Park show.  Unplugged in the Park is a summer-long free music series put on by a local radio station.  They pull in some great musicians at these!

The weekend was also punctuated with…

a baking WIN!!!

 

I’m not gonna lie – my ego needed this one after last week’s baking fail(s).

During my weekend trip to the Farmer’s Market I found coconut flour on the cheap.  $1.36

Normally I hoard the stuff because… well, do you know how much it costs at Whole Foods?  Hint: more than $1.36.

Click here for some of the benefits of coconut flour (and for an awesome coconut chocolate chip cookie recipe).

I was so excited to use it with reckless abandon in Coconut Chocolate Banana Bars!  Low in sugar and high in fiber, these tasty little chocolate bars can be eaten as breakfast OR dessert.

To bake them, I used my square pan, but you could also bake them in cookie-like form on a baking sheet.

The texture coconut flour gives baked goods is so silky it’s downright luxurious.  I also love the notes of sweetness from the banana with the rich cocoa.

Tip: use a good cocoa powder in dishes like this – the difference in taste/quality is worth the splurge!

Recipe at the end!  First a bit ‘o fitness.

Here’s the weekly recap.  I’m happy with last week because I worked out every day!  Usually there’s one day that I simply cannot motivate (unintended “rest” days).

Whatever happened, it worked well because I landed a new PR in Saturday’s hill-filled 5K. 🙂

Workout Recap (8/15-8/21)

  • Monday – Kickboxing
  • Tuesday – 4 mile run, P90X Ab Ripper X, 84 push-ups
  • Wednesday – Biceps/Back, 84 push-ups, 6 Minute Plank Sequence
  • Thursday – 4 mile run, P90X Ab Ripper X, 84 push-ups
  • Friday – Triceps/Chest, Plank Sequence, 84 push-ups
  • Saturday – 5K, + 1 mile run, 84 push-ups 
  • Sunday – 4 mile run x2, 100 push-ups

Coconut Chocolate Banana Squares

by Laura Hall

Prep Time: 15 mins

Cook Time: 10-12 mins

Keywords: bake snack dessert vegetarian low-sodium nut-free low-sugar sugar-free banana coconut flour cocoa greek yogurt healthy cookie

Ingredients (9 squares)

  • 2 ripe bananas, mashed
  • 2 T Greek yogurt
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 C unsweetened apple sauce
  • 1/4 C NuNaturals’ More Fiber Stevia Baking Blend
  • 1 C whole wheat pastry flour
  • 1/3 C coconut flour
  • 2 T cocoa powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Place muffin cups in muffin tins

Whisk together NuNaturals, applesauce, and egg until creamy and light yellow

Add mashed bananas, yogurt, and vanilla, and whisk to combine

Add flours, cocoa, baking soda, and salt, and stir until smooth.

Spoon the batter into tins

Bake for 10-12 minutes

Approximate Nutritionals: 108 calories, 1.9g fat, 21.3g carbohydrates, 6.1g fiber, 3.9g sugar, 3.8g protein.

Powered by Recipage

***

I’m already excited to eat one of these for afternoon snack.

How was your weekend?  Anything exciting?

Do you have a favorite flour to use?

Coconut Milk Greek Yogurt + WIAW

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Jen’s WIAW is becoming my favorite weekly feature.

 

 

I get SO many great ideas reading other people’s posts!  Head over Peas & Crayons to check them out.

 

Breakfast

I was fortunate enough to receive samples of the new So Delicious Greek-style yogurt.  The flavors include blueberry, raspberry, chocolate, and plain.  Made with coconut milk, the Greek-sytle yogurt is VEGAN.

 

The nutritional information overall is good.  The fiber contect is awesome – 8g!  For those who prefer flavored yogurt, it only has 11g of sugar.  That’s a lot for my taste, but it is pretty low compared to others on the market.  It also have a ton of Calcium, Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, and Magnesium.

Admittedly, I was a bit disappointed with protein.  One of the reasons I love Greek yogurt so much is the high protein content.  This coconut version only contains 2g.

 

I tried the blueberry version first.  While I did like it… it was very different than Greek yogurt.  The texture wasn’t as creamy and it didn’t have the tartness.

Recognizing that this may be a plus for some of you (especially if you don’t like/have never had Greek yogurt), I like the “real” thing better.

 

Had I tried it expecting a traditional yogurt, I would have been happier.  I think it’s better than “regular” yogurt!  (Disclaimer: I don’t like regular yogurt.)

 

I gave it some more “oomph” with my new love: Peanut Flour.  Why didn’t you guys beat me over the head to order this sooner?!  It’s life-changing!!!

 

It’s incredible.  Just add a little liquid and salt and you have a protein and fiber-rich peanut butter substance with less fat.  Did I mention it’s also gluten-free?!  I cannot wait to make pancakes and cookies with this.

I’m not sharing – order your own here: Protein Peanut Flour (woo hoo for this hometown Georgia company!)

From a galaxy far, far away...

 

PBJ Vegan Yogurt Deliciousness

  • 2 T Peanut flour
  • 2 T So Delicious unsweetened vanilla coconut milk
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 container So Delicious Blueberry Greek-style yogurt

 

In small bowl, mix together first 3 ingredients to form a peanut butter-like substance.  Swirl in yogurt.  Inhale bowl of deliciousness.

 

 

Lunch

Moroccan Carrot Salad is even better a day or 2 later!  I made some extra so I could eat it through0ut the week and I thoroughly enjoyed it in a wrap today.  I used a Rudi’s spelt tortilla and stuffed it with hummus, carrot salad, cucumber, celery, spinach, and green pepper.

With lots of water throughout the day in my Georgia Tech glass.  (16 days until the beginning of the GT football season!!!)

Insert 4 mile, music-less run here.  Silly Shuffle was out of juice. 🙁

Do you see that sweat?!  It was so flipping hot.  No music.  630pm.  I think I ran fast just to get ‘er done.

I fantasized thought about dinner the WHOLE way.

Dinner

More carrots!  This time with Shirataki tofu noodles and peanut sauce (yes, more peanut flour!).

Tomorrow you get more details on this!  This post is getting loooong… it was a fantastic throw-together-meal.  You should check back.  Everybody’s doing it.

Snacks

I cannot believe I FORGOT to take a pic of my snack today.

 

Pinkberry yogurt.  Sheer deliciousness.  I got the watermelon (only in stores until August 19th!) with mango and toasted almonds on top.

I also sampled the Salted Caramel.  It was good, but I prefer yogurts in fruity flavors.  “Dessert” flavors (like chocolate and caramel) are reserved for ice cream treats.  Clearly I don’t mind a fruity tart!  (That’s what she said.)

 

My nighttime snack doubled as dessert – a chocolate-peanut butter protein shake.  With spinach, of course.

Almost forgot the pic.  Lucky me – I was chatting with the famous Jen while drinking it and remembered just in time.

In my shake:

  • 1 scoop chocolate casein protein powder
  • 1/2 C spinach (I ran out!)
  • 1/2 C unsweetened vanilla almond milk
  • 1 T crunchy peanut butter
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla
  • 1/4 tsp cinnamon
  • Pinch of guar gum (helps to make the texture more shake-like)
  • Ice + Water, to taste

***

I have dinner plans tonight and it’s making the day dragggggg.

Do you have dessert preferences in terms of what you like fruity vs. chocolate-y?

What is the best thing you’ve eaten so far this week?

 

Biscoff Cookie Dough Balls

By

Let’s talk about balls.

 

Hee hee… yes, I’m 10 years old…

Delta is my home-away-from-home this week.  Lots of work travel.  It’s only appropriate that I highlight my favorite Delta snack – Biscoff.

biscoff

 

Ever since Miss Smart benevolently bequeathed unto me a scrumptious jar of my very own Biscoff spread, I’ve been fantasizing innovating new and decedent different ways to use it.

I’m officially on the sauce.  Soft serve sauce, that is. 🙂

 

Enter: Biscoff Cookie Dough Balls.

I’ve got a lovely bunch of coconut balls… here they are standing in a row…

 

No joke – these really are like eating a big, satisfying bite of Biscoff cookie dough.

This edible cookie dough is a bite-sized ball of brown-sugar and coconutty deliciousness.  At less than 60 calories, 2.5g of sugar, and 1 gram of protein, they aren’t that bad for you!  I’m not claiming Biscoff to be a health food, but the other ingredients are. 🙂

 

A couple of these balls make a great pre-workout snack – easy to grab and go with a teensy sugar boost to pick you up.  They even have a whole gram of protein each!

 

These may be the best balls yet.  And I really, really loved S’more Balls.

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Don’t worry, you’re getting the recipe…. AFTER you tell me if you’ve been doing push-ups!

I’m really proud of myself – I did them all but one day this week.  The day I skipped was one where I did the P90X Tricep workout, which is push-up-heavy.

 

I also tried out a new-ish ab exercise.  Hayley @ Oat Couture posted 4 and 6-minute versions of a plank sequence she does.  It reminded me that I’ve been slacking in the planking (click here for my plank advice).  It really is the single best thing you can do (aside from cardio) to improve your abs.  Click the links below to see Hayley’s plank progression with her demo pics (she has perfect form!).

 

Workout Recap (8/1-8/7)

 

The running was a bit lacking this week because I was SO SORE from the P90X leg workout that I was struggling to do much (that’s what I get for slacking on legs).

However, I did bang out 9 miles on Sunday (in 1:12:14!!!) AND I committed to running Atlanta’s Thanksgiving Half Marathon with some friends. I can’t wait!

_____________________________________________________________________________________

 

Biscoff Cookie Dough Balls

  • 1/2 C Biscoff spread
  • 1/4 C applesauce
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla
  • 3 T coconut flour
  • 3 T white whole wheat flour
  • 1/2 C rolled oats
  • 2 T unsweetened shredded coconut (optional)

 

In a large bowl using an electric mixer, combine wet ingredients until smooth.

Slowly mix in flours, followed by the oats. Lastly, mix in shredded coconut.  

Scoop ~2 tsp of dough onto parchment-lined tray and roll to form balls. Freeze or refrigerate until dough firm.

Enjoy!

Makes ~20 balls

Notes: If you don’t have access to Biscoff spread, substitute your favorite nut butter.  If you do that be sure to taste as you go – you may need to add maple syrup or other sweetener.  You may also sub in other flours – or use all coconut for gluten-free dough!

Approximate Nutritionals: 58 calories, 2.9 g fat, 6.8g carbs, 0.9g fiber, 2.5g sugar, 1g protein

***

Thank you for your input on the dessert for Feast Noir!  I think I’m going with the Peach Tart… but those brownies will happen SOON too!

What are your favorite balls?  (Keep it clean!)

Have you been doing push-ups?!

 

Biscoff Sauce + WIAW

By

What I Ate…

errrr... on Friday night of last week.  Details, details… but I promise a real recipe from Wednesday at the end!

I’ve been meaning to write a post about this Underground Supper I went to last Friday.  It is the best supper event I’ve attended to date!  And you guys know I do these a lot.

Atlanta native Zach Meloy started Push Start Kitchen with his wife, Christina.  They recently returned from a stint in Costa Rica where they ran a restaurant.  This supper club is their way to generate some buzz and money in hopes of pushing a restaurant start here in Atlanta.

So my foodie-partner-in-crime (Corinne) and I trekked out to The Goat Farm.

The Goat Farm is a kitschy little hippie-like colony that – in addition to literally being a goat farm – hosts a variety of events (this night included a dance performance and a food truck), is home to a few loft owners, and has it’s own coffee shop/late night $2 beer stop.  I had NO idea places like this existed in Atlanta but I’m moving in.

We were to dine in a small room with 8 others among ancient ceiling pulley systems, discarded books, and cotton mill ruins.

Candles were lit, Dark and Stormy beverages flowed, and the night began to move.

Pictures were taken in front of an old pile of bricks by a local photographer.  A train rolled by.  We found a copy of The World According to Garp.  I ran into a girl I went to high school with (what are the odds?!).

All while enjoying a lovely canape – a small masa biscuit topped with cream cheese and red pepper jam:

After the first round of drinks and the canapes were consumed, we took our seats at a rustic (read: IKEA) dining table for the first course.

First, the wine (served by Zach): a light rose, full of strawberries and refreshing on a muggy night.

I was of course busy ogling the already-plated food on the chef’s table next to my right…

First course: crispy Serrano ham, tomato confit, avocado, smoked chile cornbread, with molasses vinaigrette and basil.

Now.  I don’t like cornbread (bad Southerner!), but this stuff was delicious.  It was soft and smokey, not gritty and dry like the bread I often see.  The Serrano was perfectly crisped and added the right level of salt to compliment the plump tomatoes.

I could have eaten this all night and been content.  Alas, the meal must go on!

Second Course: Sous vide pork tenderloin, roasted plum mole, crispy grits, goat cheese, country ham powder, and greens.

You read me correctly – PLUM mole.  Spiced chocolate plum sauce.  I nearly begged Chef for a jar of the stuff.

For those of you who haven’t had meat prepared sous vide before, it is basically cooking meat at a low temperature in a plastic bag underwater.  This allows you to cook even the thickest cuts of meat evenly at a perfectly controlled temperature, resulting in (arguably) the most juicy meat perfection (sorry if I just made all the vegetarians gag!).

Back to the mole.  It was amazing with the pork not too sweet and a bit smokey.  All of this was complemented by the slightly salty flash-fried grit cakes and creamy goat cheese.  I gobbled up mine so fast Corinne asked if I wanted to finish hers.

The Finale: Rum scented “pan perdido,” condensed milk ice cream, pickled cherries, and galleta maria

I didn’t know what half of that meant until I googled at home later.  My initial description was “deconstructed dessert French toast.”

It turns out I wasn’t too far off!  Pan perdido is essentially bread pudding.  Chef Zach pan-fried it so it was especially french toast-like (nom nom).  Galleta marias are tea biscuit-like brown sugar cookies found throughout Latin America.  They almost crumbled to the touch and their vanilla and cinnamon flavorings only added to my french toast fantasy.  Served with homemade ice cream and pickled cherries… I can now die happy.

The way to my stomach’s heart is dessert.  Someone must have let that cat out of the bag because we were presented with a sweet coconut candy rolled in almond meal:

The bird didn’t want any, so I ate it all myself. 🙂

As promised, I am posting something I actually made and ate this week for a change.

The Biscoff spread Miss Smart gifted me with has been burning a hole in my pantry.  This is an emergency situation, remedied only by having banana soft serve (which I think you all are familiar with) for breakfast.

Why soft serve?  To go with my Biscoff Sauce, of course!

Biscoff spread tastes like a creamed version on the brown sugar cookies served on Delta flights… but better.

Why better?  Let me break this down: Spread = Peanut Butter-like = Awesome.

biscoff spread

In fact, it says right on the jar that it should be used any where you’d normally use PB or chocolate spread.  Cookie spread!!! *swoon*

Can you call 2 ingredients a recipe?  Maybe not… but it’s what I ate for breakfast on Wednesday (WIABW).

Banana Soft Serve

Freeze a banana.  Toss said banana in blender.  Blend until smooth (can add milk if you need to thin it out a bit to blend).

Biscoff Sauce

  • 1 T Biscoff spread
  • 1/8 tsp coconut oil

Place both ingredients in a small bowl.  

Microwave for ~10 seconds – just until melted (BE CAREFUL – it will burn).  Stir together.  

Try to top soft serve with sauce before you slurp it up

***

This jar doesn’t have a prayer of lasting through the weekend.  It will be used for some epic oats.

What food product have you recently tried and loved?

Does anyone want to write a guest post for me next week?  Pretty please?!

Thank Yous and Push Ups

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Today I am thankful.

I was sitting on my couch last night feeling a little grouchy and whiney and over-tired… it was one of those moods.  You know, the ones where you’re almost in tears for no good reason. 

Then I realized that was just silly.  Monday was not too shabby!

A few things I am thankful for at the start of the week:

  • Being selected for the FoodBuzz Top 9 again for the Indian-Spiced Tofu Scramble I made last week
  • All the bloggy friends – old and new – read my ramblings and left comments over the past few days… you guys continue to inspire and make me grin from ear to ear
  • Making my flight this morning (serious close call)
  • Getting a 1st class upgrade on the return this afternoon
  • Having the discipline to still get a workout in tonight (P90X shout out!)
  • Arriving home to a surprise package  (’cause I am one lucky duck)

The ever-so-awesome plate-licking Miss Smart of The Smart Kitchen blog-fame sent me goodies!!!

In my box of good stuff:

  • BISCOFF spread!!!  (OMG – it is just as amazing and I’d dreamed it would be!)
  • Reese’s (my all-time favorite candy)
  • Vanilla Chia Raisins w/ Green Tea (I’ve never heard of such things but I can say they are now half gone)

This totally made my night.  Those raisins are what I have to credit for powering a good workout.  Double thanks, Miss Biscoff Fairy. 🙂

 

Many of you have commented/asked about the 84 push-ups I do on the daily.

Yes, I really do them.  NO – I don’t do them in a row. 🙂  (They are done in 3 sets.)

The best part?  YOU can do them too!  You just have to break it down and be consistent.

I posted a 4-step “how to” back in May – click here to check it out.

(Added bonus: Re-reading that just reminded me about runny eggs on my pizza.) 

Focus, Laura.

Push ups.  Back in May, I was only up to 75.  Today I am doing my 84 and honestly… I need to quit slacking and re-test (read the post… you’ll see what i mean about re-testing).

***

I promise something more creative (probably involving Biscoff) tomorrow. 🙂

Do you ever get into a funk for no reason?  How do you break out of it?

Did you read the push up post?  Are you going to try it?!

Thirsty Thursday

By

It’s about a million degrees outside.

 

 

The only thing I want for breakfast on these days is a big arse smoothie!

 

My mornings usually consist of the following:

  • Rolling out of bed
  • Wetting down my crazy spiked up hair (short hair + restless sleep = rockstar AM ‘do)
  • Brushing my teeth
  • Eating a date or spoonful of PB
  • Throwing on running clothes
  • Running or the gym


The date/PB keeps me going to 4-6 miles – more than that and I’d need more substance – but in this heat I’m never very hungry when I first get back.

 

The solution?  A smoothie!  It’s easier to drink than eat post-run and the coldness helps me stop sweating (yes, I even sweat post-shower) before going to work.

Ever since the jaw-breaking incident, I’ve been pretty creative with making a substantial drink.

 

99.9% of the time I use a protein powder – bonus is that is adds sweetness without excess sugar.  You can also use dates, Stevia, honey, agave to get the right level of sweet sans protein.

I also ALWAYS toss in a cup o f spinach or kale.  You really can’t taste it and you get all those nutrients.  Why wouldn’t you add it?

 

My Top 5:

(click the names for recipes)

 

1. Sweet Potato

This is a go-to for me.  I usually have a sweet potato laying around.  Usually half eaten from the previous meal.

Adding the potato makes this smoothie sweet, super creamy, and reminiscent of the pie (in a good way – I don’t actually like the pie… maybe a consistency thing?).

 

2. Avocado-Banana

 

Avocados after the perfect ingredient – they give your drink a creamy shake-like texture and have virtually no taste.

I’m always guilty of letting 1/2 an avocado go to waste – I eat part on a salad, the other half turns brown, and I toss it (basically throwing away a dollar per!).  Until I discovered that you can freeze avocado.  Cut it into quarters and toss it in tupperware (with your collection of frozen bananas 🙂 ).

 

3. Butternut Squash-Cherry

 

I hate to play favorites… but this one is my favorite.  It’s like a cherry bomb with squash!  Yes, I realize that doesn’t sound as appetizing to normal people as it does to me.

Seriously though.  Again with the creaminess, but this one has that rich, winter squash sweetness too.  You already know (I hope!) that cherries and chocolate are a great combo.  Just think of the nutrients in this one little drink!

By now you should be bouncing up and down with excitement in your desk chair.  Try it – you’ll know I’m not nuts.

 

4. Savory Protein Lassi

 

It’s no secret that I’m a fan of Indian food.  It borders on addiction.  As such, I naturally love lassis.  Mango is good, but they can sometimes be too sweet.

When I saw a more savory lassi on a local menu, I knew I needed to amp it up with protein and call it a recovery drink.  Indian-style.

 

5. Mocha Banana

 

I cannot believe I almost forgot about this creation!  Banana + chocolate + coffee.  It is a great way to use the leftovers from your pot o’ coffee, ensuring that you’ll be properly caffeinated for the day.

If you are really hard core – and I am – you’ll crumble a chocolate muffin on top too.  Guess what I’ll be having for breakfast… *still kicking self for going so long without this smoothie*

***

Many say they couldn’t get tired of oatmeal or peanut butter or cookies… I couldn’t get tired of smoothies.

What’s your favorite smoothie?

What the one thing you could never tire of?

 

Eggplant Shirataki + WIAW

By

In honor of my crazy work week(s)…

I’m copying the growing wordless WIAW* trend.  Does good food really need words?  I think not.

*As usual (except for last week), Wednesday = Tuesday eats.

But first, a run.  I don’t know why I stopped posting these breakdowns… I like to look back at them.  Nevermind the fact that you have to suffer through them. 😉

Stats:

  • Distance – 4 miles
  • Time – 32:37 mins
  • Pace – 8:09 mins

___________________________________________________________________________________

Breakfast

I did say it is almost worldess WIAW, right?

The delicious Chocolate Breakfast Pudding.  So.  Good.

Lunch

Salad topped with carrots, celery, Purple Haze goat cheese, a Lightlife Chick’n Cutlet.  A bit chewy, but it wasn’t bad!

Snack

Cottage cheese tastes really, really good with peanut butter.  Someone call Intervention.

Not pictured: celery and hummus, Think Thin bar, and random handfuls of cereal.

Dinner

Big.  Win.

Mom recently told me about Shirataki Noodles – apparently it is just tofu pressed into noodles.  It’s gluten-free, vegan, low-cal, and – most importantly – a QUICK-FIX.

The only downside is the smell when you first remove them from the package, but that does go away once you rinse them (thoroughly) and pop them in the microwave for a minute.

To go with my noodles, I roasted some eggplant, red onion, and garlic in a quick vinaigrette.  Then tossed it all with an heirloom tomato (because I didn’t get enough at the tomato festival) and more Purple Haze goat cheese.

Perfect light dinner for a summer day!!!

…followed by a little something I like to call…

Dessert

____________________________________________________________________________________

Roasted Eggplant with Tofu Noodles

  • 1 medium eggplant, sliced
  • 1/2 red onion, sliced
  • 5 cloves garlic
  • 1T EVOO
  • 1T marsala wine
  • 1/2 tsp white wine vinegar
  • 1 tsp herbes de provence
  • 1 tsp red pepper flakes (reduce to 1/2 if you are sensitive to spicy foods)
  • 1 package Shirataki noodles (or 2 servings of pasta)
  • S+P, to taste
  • Optional toppings: fresh tomato, cheese (I used goat)

Preheat oven to 425.  

Cut eggplants into 1/2 inch slices.  Generously salt the slices, allowing them to sit for 15-20 mins.  Wiping away the beads of water that form (this process removes excess moisture – which makes ggplant “slimey” – and bitterness).

Meanwhile, whisk together the oil, marsala, vineger, herbs, and pepper flakes.

Cut the eggplant slices into 1/2 inch cubes and toss in a large bowl with the garlic, red onion, and vinaigrette.  Spread eggplant onto foil-lined baking sheet and roast for ~3o minutes, tossing once halfway through.

Prepare noodles as instructed on package.

Divide among two plates, adding extra toppings as desired (I loved how the goat cheese melted and clung to mine!).

Makes 2 servings (or 4 sides).

***

I’ve taken to working from Starbucks lately.  They have a the bar where I can stand and a constant supply of caffine… perfection.

Do you find you get more work done from a “third-party” location?

What’s the best thing you’ve eaten today?

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