Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Confessions

Confession #1:
 I don't like fruit.  I don't hate it, but I don't reach for it as a snack.  I pack my husband 3 things of fruit a day- a banana, an apple and whatever else is in season- peach, plum, nectarines. But me? I'd rather eat cheese. Have I mentioned that before?  Anyway, when a recipe for Peach Gazpacho came up on We Are Not Martha, I jotted it down, knowing I wanted to try it. 
I loved how easy this dish was to prepare but the simple truth still remains: I don't like fruit.  This soup was sweet and interesting and I bet most of you out there would like it, but my hub and I felt it wasn't savory enough.  Maybe it was the fact I didn't measure anything or that I didn't add enough salt and pepper. But after we ate it Dave asked how many of his peaches I used.  Sadly, he will be without peaches for the rest of the week.


I served this soup with something I did absolutely love- Mango Chicken Sausage, Shrimp and Arugula Salad.  I had bought the Mango Sausage at Trader Joe's along with pre-sliced Mango (yes I still haven't figured out exactly how to slice a mango), Shrimp, and Arugula.  And pretty much thats all you need.  I added jalapeno, red pepper, red onion, lime juice and salt and pepper and it was fabulous.  This is a REAL fruit salad : ).  So I guess I do like fruit- when its not the star.
Confession #2:


I don't like oatmeal. I'm a food blogger and I HATE the texture of oatmeal.  I used to force myself to eat it but then I discovered three other (healthy) breakfasts I enjoy better.

1) Baked Banana Oatmeal
I love when my bananas turn brown.  I'm also a banana stealer.  If I'm at a friends house or my in-laws and I see bananas about to go bad, I try to take them so I can make my baked oats. 
I make this in a loaf pan on Sundays and then I cut it into bars- usually five for the week.  I bring the five bars into work on Mondays and have it for the week.  After I workout and get to work, I microwave a slice and its perfection.  Especially if you unhealthify (is that a word) a bit and add some chocolate chips.
 RECIPE:
Baked Banana Oatmeal
Combine the dry ingredients:
2 cups rolled oats
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp kosher salt
(Toppings of your choice, I've used chocolate chips, coconut, heath bar chips...)
Combine the wet ingredients:
1 egg, beat
1 mashed banana
1.5 cups almond milk
1 tsp vanilla
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry. Mix well.
Instructions:
Spray some cooking spray in a loaf pan then add the mixture and bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes.


2) Egg Cups
My friend Lisa originally mentioned this recipe to me when we were in the Biggest Loser competition.  She said she got it from the South Beach Diet and since I had that book, I checked it out.  So easy! (Use any sauted veggies you like!)
RECIPE
Ingredients:
1 Tablespoon of EVOO
1 Cup of Baby Spinach
1/2 cup of mushrooms
2 Roasted Red Peppers
Handful of sliced pepperoncini's
5 eggs and a little milk
1/2 cup of light shredded Mexican blend cheese
salt and pepper
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350. Saute vegetables in pan with evoo until spinach is wilted and veggies are starting to get soft. At the same time, whisk eggs and milk in a bowl. Let the veggies cool then add the veggies to the eggs with half of the cheese. Whisk together. Spray Muffin pan with cooking spray. Fill the muffin pan 3/4 of the way full. Sprinkle the rest of the cheese on top. This worked out to 11 Veggie Cups. Bake for 20 minutes or until the eggs are set. Remove from Muffin Tin and let cool.

 
3) Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Muffins- my latest favorite breakfast! (Inspired by The Way the Cookie Crumbles)
I made this Sunday and I've been enjoying it all week so far.  It would have been really healthy, but I added White Chocolate Wonderful Peanut Butter (I couldn't help myself- the stuff is like crack and its amazing to cook with!) I also may have added some chocolate chips and peanut butter chips....
 RECIPE
Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Muffins 
Ingredients:
1 cup Whole Wheat Flour

½ cup All-purpose flour
1 cup old-fashioned oats
1 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoons baking soda
½ teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons applesauce
¾ cup granulated sugar (if you have brown use it)
2 large eggs
1 cup mashed banana (about 3 bananas)
6 tablespoons creamy peanut butter (another confession- I don't love peanut butter but I do LOVE White Chocolate Wonderful Peanut Butter and I used it here!)
1 cup skim milk
Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350? F.  Line 18 muffin cups with paper liners. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the applesauce, sugar, eggs, banana, peanut butter and milk until smooth.  Pour the dry ingredients into the bowl with the wet ingredients and mix just until incorporated and fully blended. Divide the batter between the prepared muffin cups.  Bake 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Allow to cool in the pan for 5-10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool
completely.



Confession #3:


I try to run people off the treadmill.  Meaning- I like to be the last one on the treadmill at the gym. Also, I watch music videos in the morning while running.  Remember music videos? Yep, they still play them.  But only before 8:30am. Oh and I mouth the words to songs while running and play the air guitar. I'm totally normal.


Confession #4:


I don't use Google Reader. I read my blogs like this:


Does anyone else out there go old school and just keep multiple tabs open? Or am I the only one?

18 comments:

  1. Hey Lizzy, I love confessions (the Usher song - kidding. I love this post). Thanks for sharing the recipes, I am totally going to make the baked banana oatmeal - in fact, I would bake them right this minute but I don't have any baking powder... nor any bananas. Im also a big fan of White Chocolate Wonderful, but not as much as I love Dark Chocolate Dreams :) Oh and I definitely mouth the words to songs when running too. That's completely normal...

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  2. 1. Peach gazpacho sounds awesome.
    2. looove mango chicken sausage.
    3. what the heck were YOU doing in a biggest loser competition?!
    4. Funny - Bridget is a good (virtual) friend of mine - we chat all the time - and I never noticed that this recipe didn't involve any fat! I love White Chocolate Wonderful too and used it in that pb-berry omelet I blogged recetly.
    5. I love that I can read what tabs you have open :)

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  3. Wow, I seriously don't think I've ever heard of anyone not liking fruit! But seriously, I do think liking vegetables is much more important :) But I think Elina's idea of adding hot sauce to the gazpacho is an awesome one! I might need to try it again.

    I also don't really like oatmeal. Well, I'll like it for 2 days, but then I have no desire at all to make it. But I do LOVE oats in my baked goods... And your bfast alternatives sound fabulous!

    Sues

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  4. Who doesn't love fruit? Man some cheese and grapes and I am in heaven!

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  5. well at least you were honest with us. great post! I have no idea how you finagle the multiple tabs, but whatever works!

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  6. I like Google reader to remind me what posts are new but, I agree, opening up to the real post is the thing to do (especially if you want to comment).

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  7. I love these confessions! #3 had me laughing because I am the exact same way!! I always have mini-competitions with the people running next to me. And I sing little songs of victory to myself when I make it longer (it sounds awful, I know, but it motivates me to keep moving!) And I always ALWAYS watch music videos while running at the gym. Fortunately my gym has several channels that play them all day long.

    I do use Google Reader as a reminder, but then I open things up in multiple tabs.

    And finally -- the baked banana oatmeal AND those muffins look amazing!! I definitely want to try making the baked oatmeal recipe for the week. Thanks for sharing! :)

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  8. I love that Dave gets 3 "things" of fruit! And I confess, I don't use google reader either. I just bookmark all my blogs!

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  9. I agree that it is nice to read blogs in the "flesh" (aka not Google Reader)... although I do use Google Reader to let me know about new posts and then go directly to the website so I can comment. And enjoy the photos. Great breakfast ideas btw! I'm in a rut and will have to try some of these recipes!

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  10. We should do brunch! I'll take the oatmeal and fruit, you can have my eggs and cheese. :)

    The confessions are too funny. I do the same thing at the gym. I feel the need to be the last man standing on the treadmill. I don't know why, but it's the little game I play.

    Thanks for the great recipes. As I prep to go back to work, I'll be needing more quick breakfast options.

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  11. you don't like fruit, oatmeal or peanut butter!? gaaah we can't be friends. jusssssst kidding. i also do the multiple tabs when reading blogs. there is another option? mmmmm riddle me that. loving the egg cups! thanks for the recipes!

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  12. I knew I followed this blog for a reason...
    #1 I totally agree. I don't dislike fruit, but I never just grab it for a snack. I often grab cheese... ok, almost always.
    #3 Me too... love to do this, in fact. And REALLY love when I realize someone else is trying to do the same thing and I still end up running longer than them. Very motivating!!!
    #4 Mine are all bookmarked, and I prefer to go through them one at a time. Some I click on more often than others.

    But you got me on #2... I do like oatmeal, but prefer cream of wheat... yum!

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  13. i don't like oatmeal either! All the breakfast ideas sound great. I try to run people off the tredmill too!!! I love fruit though sorry...wish you were at PT today - we are doing well huh? lol

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  14. I read blogs the same way. I need to try those egg cup things.

    I didn't realize you're in MA too. I live in the burbs too!

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  15. I like fruit, but sometimes I forget that I do! I follow a bunch of blogs in reader, but mostly I just go to the sites of the blogs I love. Like yours, Lizzy :)

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  16. I miss music videos!!

    I like to read the blogs I really like, and want to comment on, the old school way!

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  17. Oh my gosh, that Mango Chicken Sausage, Shrimp and Arugula Salad looks really, really good!! Consider it stolen :-)

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  18. I don't use Google Reader; it must be an HHCC girl thing :) And I love the look of those muffins; I need to make them! I'm a gym weirdo too; I usually try to "race" the person next to me; particularly if its a big, swarthy dude; I'm little, but competitive!

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