Baked Grits - 2010.13

My Dad is from the South and he loves grits. So, when I knew he was staying for a few days to help me get settled here in Raleigh, I knew I wanted to make this recipe. I halved the recipe and glad I did because their serving sizes are huge! This was rich, creamy, nutty (due to Parm cheese). So good. Cooking Light has a winner here.

2 cups milk (I used skim, in a glass, from a local farm: delish)

2 cups water

pinch of salt

3/4 cup quick cooking grits (scant, I just like them thicker)

2 oz grated parm cheese (about 2/3 cup)

2 1/2 egg whites

pinch of black pepper

2 T chopped fresh chives

pinch of salt

Bring milk, water, and salt to boil. Stir in grits, turn down to simmer, cover and let cook, stirring occassionally, for 8 minutes. Meanwhile, grate cheese, seperate egg whites, chop chives.

Whisk egg whites to stiff peaks (don't over beat) with pinch of salt. Add chives, pepper, and salt to grits when they are done. Fold in the egg whites (don't deflate them). Pour in greased 8x8 pan and bake at 350 for about 25-30 minutes. Lightly browned, little wobbly in middle.

Enjoy. I cooked some eggs and decorate the plate with remaining chives.

About 200 calories - and worth it!

Lumberjack Hash - 2010.10

I had everything I needed for this in my fridge/freezer - which is good because I'm trying to clean it out (it is slowly working, I promise)
This was good, I changed it a little bit - but it still needed more salt I think (I didn't put in extra in b/c of the saltiness of the ham). This is a Cooking Light recipe (best of 2004) and is 6 WW points as directed (mine probably evened out)

2 T evoo
1 medium onion, chopped
1 orange pepper, seeded and chopped
24 oz shredded hash brown potatoes, frozen
pepper to taste (salt if you want more)
2 2 oz ham steaks, chopped
1 cup 2% sharp cheddar

Saute onion for about 4 minutes, add pepper. Add in rest (not cheese). Cook until slightly browned and potatoes are done.
Smooth out in large frying pan - top with cheese. Let cheese melt. Divide by 4 and plate up. Becca brought some Plant City strawberries and a banana. And I have 2 servings leftover for Sunday and Tuesday!

Taste of Nashville: Pfunky Griddle

What a neat place in a very popular and cool city.

A new friend took me here and I loved it. Walked in the door, the iCarly co-star was there (I didn't know it was her till I asked), they invited me to just help myself to the coffee.

This place was very interactive. You got to make your own food! Now, most people would not want to pay to make their own food, but I thoroughly loved it.

They had an organic 5 grain and a homestyle white pancake batter, we got mashed potatoes (for fried cakes), and I got some bacon. Vermon syrup was on the table and I got crunchy peanut butter as my topping.

Let's just say Amy and I ate our fair share of pancakes and potatoes (and bacon).

If you are ever in the Nashville/Brentwood area - off 65 at exit 81 - you must go. Fabulous prices, vegetarian options for lunch, and great staff!

Tomato-Basil Toads in the Hole

Panera puts out some mighty delicious bread. I got a loaf of their tomato-basil bread for dinner on Thursday night. I wanted to use it for my breakfast with Becca. I did - and it was yummy.

2 slices of your fave bread (tomato-basil)

2 eggs

mozz cheese

pepper

spray olive oil

Spray a griddle. On about med-high put the bread (cut a hole in it with a glass - that's what I used). Crack open an egg. Cook till mostly done - or to your liking - then flip it. I overcooked mine a bit, but I will learn. Top with mozz or parm cheese and serve warm!

Yoplait Giveaway

Smoothies are everywhere! Lyon in the Kitchen had one on his show the other day. Green Smoothies are all the health rage. Smoothie King is raking in the dough! So, wanna make your own at home?

Yoplait and My Blog Spark are giving you the chance for a "Free" smoothie. You get a coupon for a Yoplait Smoothie (found in freezer dessert section) and a single serve blender - I LOVED THIS this morning. Will definitely keep it.

You could either drink the whole thing, or actually have two servings. The one I chose, the Strawberry Mango Pineapple was a little sweet - but those are naturally sweet fruits too.

So, all you have to do is leave me a comment - what is your favorite smoothie? It can be homemade, green, take out, restaurant, whatever...

Let me know!

Day 5 of Oats: Pumpkin Cranberry White Chocolate

I think I saved the best for last. This was yummy - reminded me of fall. Oh, I like fall much better than winter - but so be it! At least I can remember warmer temps with my bowl of goodness in the morning!

1/3 cup oats
1/2 plus a little more cup water
2 tsp white chocolate wonderful (PB&CO)
10 dried cranberries
1 T pumpkin

So good! Enjoy!

Week of Oats: Day 4 - Chocolate Banana

Since I am definitely feeling under the weather I went for a tried and true recipe this morning as I dragged myself to work.

1/3 cup oats
1/2 cup water
2 tsp chocolate peanut butter dreams
3/4 of a banana (the other 1/4 of it was bad)

So good - especially laying on my new couch while eating it! Washed down with a glass of water and some vitacraves gummy multivitamins.

Check back for my last day of oats tomorrow.

Day 3 of Oats: Apple Peanut Butter Oats

A few months ago I bought a bag of dried apples at Whole Foods for some granola I was making. After many little snacks of the leftovers, I finally had about a tsp left in the baggy. Not wanting them to go to waste, I thought of my morning bowl of oats. This bowl may even inspire a cookie!

1/3 cup oats
1/2 cup water
1 tsp dried apples
1 T crunchy salted Trader Joe's pb.

I liked it a little thicker this morning. It was good. Even being sick...
4 points. - under 200 calories

Week of Oats: Day 2 - Egg White Oats

One thing about reading food blogs - you make things you would never even DREAM of making. I tried a new bowl of oats this morning. Honestly - it wasn't my favorite - but I might try it a little different at least one more morning.

1/3 cup oats
2 egg whites
2/3 cup water
1/4 cup pumpkin
1 1/2 tsp pb (from Trader Joes - crunchy salted. Just nuts and salt. Good stuff! Actually tastes like peanut butter)
1 tsp honey
1/2 tsp cinnamon

Cook oats/eggs/water for about 1.35. Stir well the other ingredients into it. Eat. These are filling. Just not sweet enough for me. We'll see... Any tips? These are very healthy too:
227 cal, 6 fat, 6 fiber = 4 points

Week of Oats - Day 1

This week I'm trying something I did last week with smoothies - week of oats - where I eat oats every day this week for breakfast and see how it makes me feel. Just saying that I feel like the pit of despair in the Princess Bride. Do you know what I mean?

Anyway, first day:

1/3 cup oats
2/3 cup water
1 T dark chocolate pb
1/2 banana

SO GOOD! Filling - hmmm, we'll see. Maybe I'll try some steel cut oats or maybe egg white oats...

Day 5 Green Smoothie and Recap

Ok - here is my last smoothie for the week of smoothies:

1/4 apple
1/2 banana
1/2 cara cara orange
1 1/2 tsp ground flax
1 1/3 cup water
1 cup spinach
3/4 cup kale
3/4 cup frozen strawberries

Mix all.
Very good - not too sweet.

I like the low-cal, heavy fiber, portability of green smoothies.
I like the quickness of them in the morning.
I like all the veggies and fruits you are getting first thing in the morning.
I would like more protein in mine - I usually pair it with pb on a thin or something. PB in the morning is so good.
Now, for the week of oats.

Taste of Wheaton: Butterfield's Pancake House

Love the internet. It created a safe haven for Janel and I to venture into suburbia for lunch after church. Though it didn't disappoint, it didn't exceed my expectations. It was good. Not fabulous.

Janel got the hash with chorizo, tomatoes, avocado, potatoes. It was good - there was other stuff in it too. She said it could have used less chorizo and more tomotoes. Came with an english muffin - which I had.

I got the acclaimed heart heathy Caramalized Banana Steel Cut oats. A huge bowl - massive. Good, but very sweet. Basically - a big bowl of steel cut oats - which I love. With a banana chopped up on top, sugar blowtorched on it - with a runny caramel sauce below. Good, sweet - filling.

Do I need to go back if I'm in the area - no not really. Good for lunch on a Sunday afternoon - yes. Very quick service and cheap (under 10$). So there you go.

Day of Green Smoothie - 4

This one was so quick this morning - and yummy and healthy - because I woke up late. Already drank half of it before leaving the house (with oats in a jar/ 1/2 banana) and sipping on the other half in my SBTS insulated tumbler.

1/4 red apple
1/2 naval orange
1/2 banana
2 small pieces mango
3/4 cup frozen strawberries
1 cup spinach
2 stalks kale
1 1/2 cup water

You know what to do. Blend away! Enjoy!
150, .5, 7 fiber = 2 points, and a ton of veggies!

Blueberry Orange Scones (2010.2)

My friend Sarah and I went to a bummer of a cooking show last year. Neither one of us were impressed. The two best parts of the evening were the free magazine subscription and eating out at Old Spaghetti Factory that night in dtown Ville.

One of the recipes I got from Healthy Cooking over the summer was this one. Here are my thoughts: healthier than most scones, easy, doesn't look at all like the picture, not too muc orange flavor, love the picture that I took. Pretty with blueberry layers! I overcooked them a bit, but SBTS PhD students didn't seem to mind and they are all gone.

2 cups flour

3 T sugar

2 tsp baking powder

2 tsp grated orange peel

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp soda

1/4 tsp cloves

1/2 stick cold unsalted butter, chopped up

1/2 cup skim milk (I didn't feel like making buttermilk, so this worked fine)

1/4 cup fresh squeezed naval orange juice

1/2 cup frozen blueberries (I picked these this summer)

Mix all dry. Cut in butter. Combine juice and milk. Fold in berries. Knead a little. Cut into 8 triangles and cook on greased cookie sheet for 12 minutes at 425. Take out and enjoy warm.

200 c, 6 fat, 1 fiber (use whole wheat flour if you want more).

Day 3 of Green (Blue) Smoothies

This morning my smoothie ended up being blue - blueberries are potent! Mine was thick and sweet. The blender seemed extra loud to me this morning, so I didn't mix it as much. Still so good - and I cranked it all into a calculator - 145c, .5 f, 6 fiber! I also had a pb thin which was good and so I'll be full for a good bit!

1/4 red delicious apple
1/2 banana
1/2 naval orange (I used the juice of it last night for some scones, recipe coming later)
1/4 cup frozen blueberries
1 1/2 cup spinach
2 small stalks kale
1 1/4 cup water

Mix all. Enjoy.

Since I forgot the ground flax seed - I sprinkled some on my pb thin this morning - added a little texture!
Happy Breakfasting no matter what color your smoothies!

Day 2 of Green Smoothies

I am trying Green smoothies for 5 days in a row this week. So far, yesterday, I was fuller all day (which basically means I needed less to fill me up once I got hungry again - if that makes any sense at all).
Here was my smoothie this morning
1/4 red delicious apple
1 cup frozen strawberries
1/2 small banana
2 small branches kale
1 1/2 cups spinach
2 tsp ground flax
1 1/2 cups water

Not as sweet as yesterdays, but good - and healthy for me.

My first green smoothie

Actually, it is just my first time making it in my own kitchen. I had one back in November from my friend Rachael in Wake Forest, then I made one for my Dad over Thanksgiving. But, I used my brand new red black and decker blender I got at Kohls after Thanksgiving for 27$. Much cheaper than a VitaMixer for right now.

My friend Becca was coming over. This thing is so healthy and good for you and filling and low in points (if doing weight watchers). I've also listed the health benefits of what I threw in:

1/2 large red delicious apple:

http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/10-health-benefits-of-apples.html

1 cara cara orange from tree in parents yard:

http://www.paramountcitrus.com/fresh_citrus/cara_cara_oranges

1 small banana:

http://thetaoofgoodhealth.com/6-awesome-health-benefits-of-bananas-9/

3/4 cup frozen strawberries (picked from Huber's this summer and frozen):

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=32#healthbenefits

1/8 cup cut mango:

http://www.freshmangoes.com/aboutmangos/index.html#b

2.5 stalks of kale:

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=38

3 cups fresh baby spinach:

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=43

1/2 cup water:

http://www.health-benefit-of-water.com/

1 T ground flax seed:

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=81

I blended the water and apple first, then did it all in that order till it was ready to go! My blender worked fabulously!

Apple Barley Breakfast Cereal (2010.1)

2010 has arrived in full fashion. This year is the year of using all those recipes that I clip out of magazines - I have a TON! So, this week was something for breakfast (or I made it for breakfast).

1/2 cup barley - quick cooking
1 cup water (just follow directions on box)
1 apple (I used braeburn)
1 tsp unsalted butter
sprinkle of cinnamon
1 T lemon juice
1/8 tsp sugar

Cook barley. Saute apple in butter (chopped, I left peel on), sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar and stir in lemon juice. Mix all together.
I eat mine cold with 1/2 cup vanilla yogurt on top and some cool whip. Good.
Unfortunately, not very filling which I'm surprised. But, good none the less and relatively healthy.
This recipe came from Cuisine At Home magazine. This definitely wasn't a keeper - but one to try nonetheless. And gets me trying new grains. And I had everything on hand as well.

Baked Christmas Oatmeal

This might be a Christmas tradition. This was very, very yummy. Make it the night before, the first person who gets up in the morning puts in the oven (that was definitely Dad), and then serve it warm with cool whip and/or milk. Yum! Much better when it is cold outside, but can't you just see...sitting in your new pjs, holding a bowl of warm baked oatmeal in your hand, sipping on coffee. Ahhh, sweet!

I found this in a Christmas across the US cookbook a friend let me peruse at work. They make it here. So good. Glad I copied it.

2 cups oats

1 cup quick-cooking steel cut oats

1/2 cup light brown sugar (you could actually lower this if you wanted)

1/2 cup maple syrup

3/4 cup craisins

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1 large granny smith apple (unpeeled), diced

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup milk

2 cups water (I will use all water next time)

1 cup ff vanilla yogurt

2 eggs

2 T unsalted butter, melted.

Mix all dry. Stir together vanilla through butter. Combine. Pour into greased 9x13 pan and cover, let sit overnight in fridge.

Turn on oven to 350 and take out oatmeal to come to room temp while oven is preheating. Uncover and bake for 50-60 minutes or until set.

Serves 12-14 (so you get many leftovers). I didn't warm mine up, poured a little milk over it, and topped with cool whip.

Orange Cranberry Coconut Granola

This is a healthy granola recipe - perfect for the winter. It is very yum. I'll be giving it to people this Christmas - then using the rest for the remainder of the winter.

3 cups oats.
1/4 cup wheat germ
1/4 cup ground flax seed
1/2 cup chpped pecans
1/2 cup honey
1/2 tsp grated orange zest
1/3 cup orange juice (I used cara cara orange juice from the backyard)
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup craisins
1/2 cup coconut

Mix first 4 ingredients. Take honey through cinnamon and melt over medium heat until honey is melted. Combine. Bake at 325 for 15 minutes on a rimmed baking sheet. Stir. Bake another 5 minutes. Stir. Stir in craisins and coconut. Bake another 8-10 minutes or until browned, don't BURN!
Enjoy!