Yes, I'm still here...

So after a major hiatus, I am making an epic return.  I have been cooking up a storm lately and making some really tasty stuff.  I like things super healthy, and other people's tastes may or may not coincide with the specific ways that I made these dishes, so I've decided that I will include the dish name and a brief description here, but if you want the full recipe leave a comment and I can include it there.  I can also provide a "normal" alternative if you ask for it.  Deal?

What's been cookin' :)

Coconut Crusted French Toast
I used a batter of carrot/butternutsquash puree with egg whites (both are sweet vegetables...so it was pretty yummy!) and then dipped the toast in coconut and crumbs (I used dried tofu which most people would probably think is gross...it's my new bread crumb substitute.  You could use rice crispies or corn flakes or crushed nuts though it would probably be delicious too).

As a topping, I used quick brulee bananas.  So simple.  Mash up a banana and microwave.  It gets a nice buttery flavor and almost gets to be a thick syrup.  I used almond extract for flavor.  Next time, I'm going to add some liquid (almond milk or water) because it does thicken as it cools.


Brownie Flats
This was a purely experimental endeavor...  I found a recipe for black bean brownies.  I must admit I completely doctored this recipe by substituting out the oil and sugar by using unsweetened applesauce.  If you want the real or version j.9 recipe, let me know :)  Instead of an 8x8 pan I used a baking sheet and I ended up with really thin flat brownies that I could use to dip in things (peanut butter/ froyo...etc.).

Next time, parchment paper.  My pan is still a mess.  I also have an idea to use this recipe to make what I'll call a resees roll using the brownies and frozen pb2-b (see below).  I'll let you know how it goes...



Frozen PB2-B 
While this might sound like an icicle friend of R2D2 or something, it's actually a super awesome dessert which I've tried with people who enjoy "normal" food and seems to be a hit.  This is SO simple.  Freeze a banana.  Pop it in a food processor (I use the newest version of the magic bullet called the Nutribullet and it's amazing!) with 1 TBSP of PB2.

What is PB2 you may ask?  Available at select GNC stores (I got mine at the Mass Ave. location near symphony hall), PB2 is a dry roasted peanut powder.  You can mix it with liquid (water, milk, almond milk, yogurt...) and it makes really low fat peanut butter.  I also add some vanilla extract for an extra kick to this frozen treat, but the banana blends to a frozen yogurt consistency and the peanut butter thickens it a little...

This is a perfect healthy alternative to ice cream after dinner.  You could even eat it for breakfast with some cereal if you wanted to.

Let me know what you think of these nutritasty food fusions and try your own twist on them and let me know how it goes.  That's my pearl of nutritional wisdom for the day.  You'll only eat healthy things if you find away to make it your own....

ja9.  Out.

Chips ahoy!

It's been a hot second, and a busy/crazy one at that, but I thought it was about time to share a recent inner musing.

"Variety and spontaneity are the spices of life, but as with all spices you must remember two things.

1.) If life is all spice, then you won't taste it any more.
2.) Overseasoning will ultimately take away from the taste, not add to it."

Food for thought...literally :)

-9s

Who've Dunk?

So, yes it is St. Patrick's day, and, while I'm supposed to be all gamed out to go party (which I may or may not be...), I have some choice words about my newest Dunkin' Donuts discovery.

Anyone who's EVER been to Dunks with me knows that I'm a fan of the egg white flatbread, but also knows that I'm not such a fan of the flat bread part of that whole business.  Today, as I approached the drive thru I thought, huh, I wonder if they'd just give me two of the egg patty's (see I fit patty in here somewhere...) with cheese.  So, I drove up and made this odd request in the following manner, "Yeah, um, hi, so I have kind of a weird order, but can I get a turkey sausage egg white flat bread but instead of the bread can I just get to of the eggs w/ cheese in the middle?"  The response, "Sure".  Awesome.  SUCH a good decision.  I threw some salsa on this and called it an awesome day :)

Cool.

-9s

Wonton drama

So I learned a few valuable lessons I would like to share with you all today.

1.) When draining a can of tuna, aim the can away to avoid an unplanned wardrobe redo.  That being said tuna salad stuffed peppers made with some hummus are an AWESOME healthy lunch.

2.) Don't leave your sunroof open...especially if it's going to rain (oops!)  That being said there is something inexplicably wonderful about driving with the windows down and the sunroof open even if it is only March.

3.) Even if both of the above things happen before 9am, it does not have to wreck your whole day.  Keep things in perspective.

Keep on keepin' on :)

-9s

Just keep swimming...

The experience of starting this blog is proving to be harder than I thought.  Being someone that is in constant chatter mode, it is difficult to put things here as they occur and then...well....I forget them. 

This brings up an interesting question.  If I can barely track the things that I say, how can I expect others to?

Right?

Ponder.

-9s

Roll the ball and drop the dice...

So after a long bout with the flu, I came back to life this weekend.  With that, comes this pearl of wisdom...go out....have fun....occasionally. 

And if you are going to indulge in what I will call the 2 am garbage disposal...resist.   Try eating something small and healthy....close your eyes and most likely your desire to devour bickfords will pass.

I promise to swallow my hypocrisy burger with a side of food hangover that I'm still working on from not following my own advice the other night...

9s

Dominos....not the pizza

Quick thought on this Friday....

"You change the angle of one domino....and they all fall differently"
-9s

Chew on that....

breaking my own rules...

So I guess if I make the rules...then I don't necessarily have to follow them...right?  So tonight I'm not writing about something new foodwise that I've done/discovered, but my go to breakfast is SO easy that I thought it'd be a good place to start.

All you need is eggbeaters and a frozen veggie burger (use your favorite kind).  In the morning, I put the veggie burger in a tupperware.  Then I shake up the egg beaters and pour them in with the burger.  I usually eyeball it, but it ends up being roughly 2/3 of a cup.  After a very quick prep, I pop it in the microwave for 4-5 mins...go do something else, and by the time I get back it's done!

I usually eat it as a frittata, but you could also pop it in a flat bread, skinny bagel or whole wheat wrap.  It's super low maintenance and easy to take on the go.

Give it a whirl and let me know what you think :)

-9s

Popping the blog cherry!

So, I'm giving this a whirl because, frankly, people have told me that I should write this stuff down.  I'm hoping that it's out of the entertainment value or weight of my words...and not just because they're sick of listening to me.  Maybe it's a little bit of A and a little bit of B.  Anyways, here's what I have to say today...

"Trying to understand other people's lives is like everyone living in a snow globe.  You can see in, you kind of know what's floating around, but it's not the same view from the inside" - 9s