WIAW #35 - Random Eats and A Happy Halloween Questionaire

If it wasn’t for What I Ate Wednesday’s, I don’t think I’d have one blog post this month!! Okay, maybe one. What’s up with that? Too busy at work? Kinda, but the really busy part has passed until year end. Whatever it is, I’ll just take it easy until my “post-ivation” comes back.

I think a big part has to do with the lack of pictures I’ve taken lately. If you don’t have pics, it’s really hard to be inspired or to find something to write about. Anyone else like this?

The seasonal winter squash and other produce have been cooked in my home, yet I don’t have much proof. Guess I have some catching up to do, but don’t know when that will be.
Anyway, with today being Halloween, I figure I would pose a few Halloween themed questions to you…..
What is your favorite memory of trick-or-treating as a kid?

Mine is when I was old enough to go out on my own with friends and feel soooo cool for running around shooting silly string everywhere. Remember that stuff; Silly String? The neon colored foam stuff in a can? When I was younger, just getting to dress up was my favorite part. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Superman were the best!


Would your parents go through your “treats” before you could have any?

My mom just trusted I wouldn’t have anything harmful…..so much for that!! Probably why I was a heavy boy!! Well, that and McD's or Burger King double meat burgers and fries.  Geez, glad I changed!

What candy or other treat did you most enjoy from your collection?

Snickers!! Some people would even hand out full bars in the “rich” neighborhoods. The next best were Almond Joys for me….chocolate and coconut = bliss.
What candy or treat do you enjoy now?

It’s crazy to think that now I wouldn’t touch stuff I had as a kid. I would just think of the candy by each of its low quality ingredients and couldn’t even enjoy it. Nope, I’m perfectly fine with my homemade treats using protein powder, veggie purees, egg whites, fruit, and stevia. Oh, and of course natural peanut butter!!
Halloween leftovers – More for you or “get’em outta here quick!”?

This is first year Kelley and I are handing out treats and it is a big deal to me. She wanted to just buy the candy you see in stores, but I feel like I’d be a hypocrite for giving kids things I wouldn’t touch. She argued it’s not our place and for the parents to decide and we don’t want the kids getting mad at us. Well, good points, but I just can’t support it; doing that would drive me insane. So we settled on Annie’s Homegrown Halloween Bunny Grahams and Dove Dark Chocolate.

Someone commented to me a couple weeks ago that they handed out mini boxes of raisins, and I loved the idea, but could never find a big bag at the store. Plus, Kelley did not like that idea one bit. So the Bunnies and Chocolate is us “meeting in the middle” and will have to suffice. I’ll admit, the Bunny Grahams are pretty cool being whole wheat and all; too bad I’m gluten free now…..


Are you handing out candy this year? If so, do you try to keep it healthy or just give the usual mix for fear of getting your house egged/toilet papered?

See my answers above.

Did you go to any Halloween parties this weekend or have one planned for tonight? If yes, are you dressing up?

I will just be at home handing out treats and have no parties lined up. Back in college, it was a different story, obviously, and I got it all out of my system then. I remember one year Kelley and I had a party at our first home and dressed as a plug and socket. I’ll let you decide on who was which….. : )
One year, I was Zorro one and thought it would be fun to have someone video tape me sword fighting with a friend…..with real swords! Needless to say, I got stabbed in the upper shin and the rest of the night I was getting stitches in my leg. And no, I hadn’t even started drinking yet. The hospital was cool enough to let my Kelley and my 2 of my friends in to video the whole stitching. Maybe I’ll post the video one day….

Did you ever have any Halloween mishaps like my sword stabbing? Was it because of your costume?

That’s all of the questions I can think of right now. Hope you all have some great answers as I’d love to hear them. Now, despite my lack of pictures, I’ll attempt to share a few of my eats that I most enjoy. Thanks to Jenn at Peas and Crayons; I can’t wait to see what November’s theme will be. Hopefully I’m better at participating unlike my non-spooky eats and treats this month.

I love microwaves! This Microwave Veggie Frittata is delicious, healthy, and ready in minutes!!

 Another microwave masterpiece - Microwave Protein Chocolate Peanut Cake

Creamy green smoothie with a slice of Microwave Protein Cinnamon Bread, Plain Greek Chobani, and Natty PB on top

This is how I start the majority of my dinners....big salads loaded with veggies and a source of lean protein.  Then it's on to my creamy veggie protein smoothies!

No-cook Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars (made by using my Pumpkin Protein Cookie recipe and adding cocoa powder).

Hope everyone has a Happy and Safe Halloween and I hope to see you around more often!

Happy WIAW!!

Don't Give Flowers for Valentine's Day.....Bake Something!

Tuesdays don't usually scream "Romance", but being Valentine's Day might help a little today. Do you have any plans today or are you more bitter than on a regular Tuesday? I had to laugh when passing by the card section at the grocery store yesterday to see guys holding flowers and franticly searching for the right card. Why laugh, you ask? Well, for one thing, flowers just die and they cost too much to just die so fast; and the other thing, they are too cliché, just like chocolate.

I'm not against “V-day” by any means, I just feel that it would mean more to create your own gifts rather than buy what stores have placed on their high traffic end-caps just because those items are "hot sellers." Luckily, Kelley agrees, or so she says. If not, I'd probably be one of those frantic guys in the card aisle too.

Kelley has come to expect that I will try and make my own gifts; she has plenty of construction paper cards with designs cut out of them to prove it. In addition to my one-of-a-kind paper cards, I like to try and make something for her too.

This year my gift was in the form of baked overnight oats soaked in Zevia Creme Soda and a strawberry puree.  The strawberries were meant to turn the oats red, for a romantice effect, but I guess I needed more since it didn't work. As you can see in the pic, they burned, but lucky for me, Kelley likes crispy burned things. So she enjoyed my edible homemade V-day gift. Success! My “card” came in the form of a small notepad paper with fluffy words and a picture of a stick flower (drawings last longer than the real thing)…hey, I’m no artist.

4 Strawberries pureed with Zevia Creme Soda added

Oats and Chia Seeds prepared to soak in Zevia overnight

Oops! Too long in the oven.  There were supposed to be hearts in there too...

If you don't feel like burning anything for your sweetheart, here are several healthy yet delicious treats from past posts I suggest you try. These are easy to make and can even be made ahead of time. Try one of these and make your loved one smile....

Crunchy Roasted Garbanzo Beans

Greek Yogurt Banana Bread

Frozen Fruit and Squash Puree

Easy Banana Ice Cream

Homemade Instant Oatmeal Mix

Homemade Rice or Regular Pudding sweetened with Stevia

There are plenty of recipes to try and one is sure to be a success with your loved one. Give one (or two) a go and let me know the result. Hopefully everyone is happy and healthy.

Enjoy your Valentine’s Day, everyone, thanks for reading!

Kelley, Happy Valentine’s Day to you. I love you!

Delicata - Fun to Say, Fun to Eat

What do you like most about the Fall? Is it the cool, crisp air, the bright, vibrant colors of nature, or maybe the food that’s in season? I choose all of the above, but really enjoy the wide availability of winter squash varieties. I am able to get squash like pumpkin (pureed in a can), butternut, acorn, or spaghetti year round, but my favorite is delicata squash.

 

Have you tried this squash before? The whole thing, even the skin, is so tender and sweet that when cooked can be consumed in its entirety. My face lit up with joy when I entered the store the other week and was greeted with a mound of delicatas just waiting for me to take home. I’ve mentioned how I enjoy blending squash and fruit together basically every day, and delicata squash is no exception; this stuff is a real treat!

 

Delicatas are very dear to me, but I felt like sharing the awesome flavor they provide by making a healthy pureed soup with delicata, cannellini beans, and ginger. The result was a big hit with Kelley and I loved it too! Now, once the Texas weather cools down to more “fall like” temps, I will make it again. Homemade soup purees are perfect to warm you inside and out!

 

The sweetness of the delicata makes it great in my blending creations without the need for fruit. I will add chunks of microwave steamed delicata (skin included) in a blender, add some protein powder, unsweetened almond milk, a pinch of salt, and blend away. The result is a tasty treat with a consistency similar to pudding, but oh so much better! Add unsweetened cocoa powder and vanilla stevia for a chocolate squash pudding that offers the perfect comfort to long day, week, month, etc.

 

Delicata, Cauliflower, and White Bean Ginger Soup

What You Need:

4 Servings

3 Delicatas – cut in half with seeds removed and steamed in microwave

6 ounces frozen cauliflower – you can use broccoli too, but cauliflower keeps it a pleasant color

2 carrots, peeled and chopped

15 ounce can of cannellini beans, drained – navy, lima, black, or other beans would work fine

Half of a yellow onion, diced – or use a 6 ounce bag of frozen, chopped onions

4 cloves garlic, crushed and chopped

1/2 tablespoon fresh ginger, chopped

1 1/2 teaspoons each of cumin, paprika, ground mustard

1 tablespoon of parsley and dill

6 ounces plain, non-fat Greek or regular yogurt

2 cups of low sodium chicken or vegetable broth

Pinch of nutmeg

Salt and pepper to taste

 

What You Do:

 

Heat a sauce pan over medium-high heat; add garlic, onions, and ginger and allow to sweat (they will be fragrant) for minute or two. Add the steamed delicata in chunks, cauliflower, carrots, beans, herbs, and spices; pour broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, stir, cover and simmer for 30 to 45 minutes. If there is a lot of liquid left over, remove the lid and continue to simmer until some evaporates. Remove from heat and puree using an immersion blender right in the pot or blender. If using a blender, only fill half-way or it will be all over the kitchen…..and you. Stir yogurt into pureed soup, garnish with fresh or dried dill or parsley and toasted almond slivers if desired. Serve and enjoy!

 

As with most soups, ingredients can easily be substituted, so add in or take out things as you see fit. There are so many unique flavors that combine really well to give a comforting feeling upon the first spoonful. Make sure you have some hearty, whole grain bread toasted to use for dipping.

 

If you want to stick with a squash theme (and who wouldn’t!), here’s a quick chocolate squash “pudding” you can enjoy without guilt.

 

Chocolate Squash “Pudding”

2 Servings

Using 1 delicata squash that has been oven roasted or steamed and cooled; add to blender with 3 ½ tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, 10-12 drops of regular or vanilla liquid stevia, vanilla protein powder (optional), large spoonful of plain, non-fat Greek yogurt, and 3/4 to 1 cup unsweetened almond milk; blend until smooth. You can omit the stevia and add a frozen banana instead; it adds a nice taste and texture….might as well add some peanut butter too. Yum, now I’m hungry….think I’ll have this tonight!

 

When it comes to blending, using tasty veggies like squash or carrots lets you create healthy alternatives to favorites like pudding, milk shakes, and ice cream. I try to make something different with what I have all the time; it’s fun and sometimes turns out great.

 

It has been busy at work lately, hopefully I will be able to post more than I have been. Please keep checking in as I received some awesome samples from Crunchmaster and will post a review soon.

 

Happy Eating!