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Appetites and Adventures

Strange But Good Halloween Recipes

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If there’s ever a time to let your freak-flag fly*, it’s Halloween.

*Assuming you ever bother to hide it.

This Halloween I’m letting my flag fly in full-on Rocky Horror fashion.  Complete with a costume I cannot believe I’m actually going to leave the house in.

In lieu of a new recipe this week, I thought it appropriate to round up some of my favorite not-so-normal recipes.  Translation: I got busy and haven’t taken pics of anything I’ve made.  Or made much, for that matter.

1. Roasted Pumpkin

Pumpkin itself isn’t all that strange, but I’m willing to bet most of you have never roasted your own.  They’re delicious – 100x better than the canned stuff.  I don’t do it all the time… because patience… but you owe it to yourself to do it at least once this fall.

Roasted pumpkin… 

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Baked Banana Oatmeal Protein Bites

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Have you ever eaten warm banana?

Think pie… bananas foster… breads.

When you bake a banana it becomes a gooey, caramel-y treat.  You don’t even need to use sugar.  Like in these muffins.

I’m not one to take the time to make a baked oatmeal in the morning, but I love having it for breakfast.  Especially as it gets colder outside!  Bake it in advance and you have a delicious instant breakfast, portioned out perfectly.  That’s the idea behind these.

Baked Banana Oatmeal Protein Bites… 

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Spooky Matcha Green Sludge + WIAW

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Eat your greens!

I can still hear my mother yelling saying this to me at the dinner table.

Growing up, I was the pickiest kid on the planet.  If it was green, the only way I’d eat it is if it was raw and covered in so much ranch dressing (specifically, Marie’s ranch) there was no possibility of tasting it.

Fast forward 20 years and I’m voluntarily starting my day with this sludge:

Matcha Green Sludge

Matcha Green Sludge

  • 1 tsp matcha
  • 1 T gelatin
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 2-3 T water
  • 5-6 drops liquid stevia

Mix together in a small bowl and a allow to sit 1-2 mins to allow the mix to gel.

It’s a very “green” tasting mix, which is why I add a little stevia… even my altered taste buds need some help.  Here’s the “why” behind the ingredients:

Matcha

One cup of matcha green tea has as many antioxidants as 10 cups of regular tea.  As if that’s not enough reason to start supplementing with it, it also enhances metabolism, reduces stress, lowers cholesterol, and combats aging and cancer.

One of my favorite benefits is the caffeine.  It’s perfect first thing in the morning.  It doesn’t cause the shakes though!  The relaxing properties of L-theanine in matcha promote concentration, memory, and mood.

Gelatin

This isn’t your cafeteria nastiness.  Gelatin is actually flavorless, making it easy to add to just about anything.  I began taking it for digestion at the suggestion of Lindsay (see her post here).  It 100% works for that!  I’m more “regular” than I’ve ever been.  It can help to heal the lining of your stomach and digestive tract, and is a detoxifier.

For someone who is active, gelatin is especially beneficial because it contains half of the 18 essential amino acids, which help build muscle.  With 6 grams of protein per tablespoon, it’s a great way to add more protein to your diet.  It is not a complete protein, but it helps the body fully utilize the complete proteins you eat.  It also supports skin, hair and nail growth, and is good for bone strength and joint recovery.  Rumor has it that it can help tighten loose skin and improve cellulite.

Cinnamon

Aside from making everything taste better, cinnamon is good for your health!  It stabilizes blood sugar levels, making it popular for those with Type 2 Diabetes.  Cinnamon might also reduce the effects of high-fat meals by reducing response of triglycerides (a type of fat) in the blood but as much as 30%.*

It can also lower your bad cholesterol (LDL), reduce inflammation, and can decrease cancer risk (especially leukemia and lymphoma cancer cells, which my dad had).  It can control yeast with it’s antifungal properties. Allegedly, candida cannot live in a cinnamon environment.  When added to food, cinnamon acts as a preservative, slowing bacterial growth and food spoilage.  Even smelling cinnamon can have positive effects on cognitive function, memory, and headaches!

*This is not a license to raid the nearest Cinnabon… it has been found to be toxic in large doses.  And I don’t think even OD-ing on it will fight that sugar rush. 😉

… 

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Spicy Apple & Chickpea Salad

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There is a distinct crispness in the air.

Before the sun comes up… after that… hey, we are in the South.

Fall is one of my favorite seasons.   The colors, the refreshing coolness… and the food!  Everyone goes pumpkin crazy, but one of the best things out of Georgia in the fall is apples.

We make the requisite pies, doughnuts, compotes, cider, and various other treats, but I like to use them in savory dishes.  They add a great texture and a strange (but good) shot of sweetness to dinner salads.  I’ve been known to make them just for snacks.

Spicy Apple & Chickpea Salad 2… 

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Pie-Spiced Eggplant French Toast (Waffles)

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It wasn’t me, I swear.

This is weird even for me.

Even I couldn’t have some up with something as strange as eggplant french toast.  No, this fabulousness was linked up to an August #strangebutgood by Debbie @ Accidentally Delish.  It was shockingly good.

Pie-Spiced Eggplant French Toast

I did make it a little more odd by spicing it pie-style and cooking it in the wafflemaker.*  You can also cook it in a skillet like “normal” french toast.

*Note: All things in my house are now cooked in the wafflemaker.  

Pie-Spiced Eggplant French Toast

After a good waffling, I topped with with protein syrup and a little cereal for the added crunch.  It made for strange (but good) brinner!

 

Pie-Spiced Eggplant French Toast

Pie-Spiced Eggplant French Toast

  • 1 small eggplant, thinly sliced
  • 1/4 C egg whites
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp powdered ginger
  • 1/4 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
  • 3-4 drops liquid vanilla Stevia

In a shallow bowl, beat together egg whites, spices, and stevia. Mix together.  Place eggplant slices in mixture and soak.

Meanwhile, preheat wafflemaker or pan.  Make sure you grease it well!

Place eggplant slices in your cooking vehicle or choice and cook until softened and golden brown.  If you’re using a wafflemaker, push down on the lid to help flatten and cook the eggplant.

Plate and top with protein syrup (recipe below).

Protein Syrup

  • 1/4 scoop (~8g) vanilla protein powder (I use Growing Naturals)
  • 1 T syrup (I use a Stevia-sweetened one)
  • 1/8 C unsweetened vanilla almond milk

In a small bowl, mix ingredients together.  Pour over waffle.  Eat.

 

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.

Sprint 2 the Table

 

 

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



***

I am floored that I couldn’t taste any eggplant “funk.”

What do you like best: waffles, french toast, or pancakes?

Have you ever made a recipe from the #strangebutgood link up?

Simple Baked White Fish

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Seafood is a go-to in my kitchen.

That’s the understatement of the year.

I eat 5-6 meals a day.  Typically at least 2 of those meals involve seafood.  As someone who loves variety, I’m always on the hunt for strange new fishes to eat. When Paiche went on sale at Whole Foods, I jumped all over it.

If you haven’t tried Paiche before, I highly recommend it.  It’s easy to work with and has a mild taste.  It’s firm but really moist.  It’s like chicken.  But not.  Strange, but good.

Simple Baked White Fish

In the event that you don’t have Paiche at your fingertips, you could use any mild fish here.  It’s a simple recipe, despite having several spices.

Think of it as a lazy tomato sauce.  No pots or simmering required!  My spices are Indian-inspired, but you could use the idea and method to create a more traditional Mediterranean flavor profile.

Paiche and dessert butternut squash

Make it even more strange by turning your butternut squash side dish into dessert with the random things you keep in your office: NuNaturals coca syrup, cinnamon, and peanut butter.

Simple Baked White Fish

Simple Baked White Fish

  • 1/2 C no salt-added fire roasted tomatoes
  • 1 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/2 tsp turmeric
  • 1/4 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 C chopped bell pepper
  • 1/2 small onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 C basil, ribboned
  • 1 lb. Paiche (or other white fish)

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

Place tomatoes in a medium bowl.  Stir in spices.  Add veggies.  

Line a pyrex with foil (or grease well).  Place the fish in pan and cover with tomato mixture.

Bake for 20-25 mins, until the fish is cooked through.  Time will vary depending on the thickness of fish, but it should be ~130 degrees. 

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.

Sprint 2 the Table

 

 

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


***

I just realized it’s shark week… consider this my festive post. 😉

What’s your favorite fish?

Do you like to try new proteins, or keep the same ones in rotation?

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