Superfood Veggie Scramble with Chickpeas ~ Meatless Monday

I had one last 'Little Bessie' egg in my fridge, and I was all set to make a pretty meal.  I planned to saute superfood veggies (kale, spinach and 3 colors of bell peppers), getting them ready so I could crack my huge, double-yolk egg on top of their healthy goodness and then poach those two beautiful, mounded yolks (that came out of that one egg) and enjoy my breakfast...  

What really happened was that one of the yolks burst when I cracked the egg ~ WAH!!  Total bummer!  Since I couldn't make what I wanted, I got cranky and just scrambled it all together.  Since I was on a roll, I added some chickpeas that were in the fridge for good measure and topped it all with some salsa.  It had became a glorious, tasty mess.  Not pretty, but it was ~ low fat, low carb, low cal and yummy ~ all the same.    Some days chickens, some days feathers...some days cracked yolks.  Ya gotta roll with the punches and not let it ruffle your feathers.  (tee-hee ~ every pun intended! :)  Happy Meatless Monday!

No-Bake Maple-Nut Granola Topping

I saw this recipe link for a clean eating granola bar (from the site ~ Reboot with Joe) on my Facebook feed  and was intrigued.   So much so, that I went right into my kitchen at midnight (what can I say, I'm a night owl!) and made a batch.  I didn't have all the ingredients that were called for, so I used what I had on hand. (sound familiar?)  

I was thoroughly impressed with the taste, but was unable to get it to set-up properly, it just would not hold a bar shape. :(  So, instead of a bar I turned it into ~ No-Bake Maple-Nut Granola Topping.  It makes a perfect, crumbled crunch that is excellent over yogurt or ice cream.  What a tasty, clean-eating snack treat!  There are so many flavor/ingredient variations that you could do, the possibilities are endless.  I'm sorry that the recipe didn't work out as planned, but so happy that I've got a new superfood creation to top my morning yogurt with. :)  Enjoy! 

 

No-Bake Maple-Nut Granola Topping
adapted from this recipe 

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup old fashioned oats 
• 1/2 cup oat bran 
• 1/4 cup sunflower seeds 
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts 
• 1/4 cup carob chips (or raisins, or cacao nibs, or chocolate chips ~ or a mix ~ I used a 1/4 cup mix of carob chips, raisins & cacao nibs)
• 1/4 cup maple syrup 
• 3 Tbsp chia seeds 
• 1 Tbsp honey
• 1 Tbsp peanut butter
• 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon (or a 1/2 tsp mix of spices like I did ~ cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice & cardamom) 
• a dash of salt 

Directions

Line an 8x8 square baking pan with parchment paper or plastic wrap.  Add all ingredients to bowl and mix well.  Spread mixture into pan and press down firmly, using the back of a spoon.  Cover with plastic wrap and allow to set-up for at least an hour in the fridge.  When firm, crumble and store in an air tight container in the fridge. Best when eaten while still chilled.

 

Green Cake Batter Smoothie

Green Cake Batter Smoothie

Cowabunga!!  This stuff is amazingly good!  It tastes just like cake batter ~ no fooling!!  This smoothie gets it delightful green color from spinach, but just because you make this with spinach, don't let it turn you off.  You can't taste the spinach, at all.  Indulge your inner kid & have this green concoction for breakfast or a treat.  Ya gotta love a green smoothie when it tastes like cake batter.  

The following recipe was adapted from one by Mama Pea, over at ~ Peas & Thank You.  If you haven't been to her site, go check it out, it's awesome!!  She makes the most amazing vegan food & smoothies.  Plus, she is funny as all get out.  After reading one of her posts, I was inspired to rush right into my kitchen to make her Cake Batter Green Smoothie, but I was missing a bunch of the ingredients she called for.  I just used what I had on hand that sounded like it would create a similar taste.  Not having the exact ingredients for a recipe will NEVER stop me.  As Monty Python once said: Adopt, adapt & improve!

I must say, the shocking green smoothie turned out fantastic!  Of course, Roy wouldn't touch it with a 10 foot pole, because of the vibrant green color.  Sucker!  His loss was my gain ~ all the more for meeee!  J tried it & liked it.  He won't pass up anything that tastes like cake batter...and you shouldn't either.  Thanks for the bit of green inspiration, Mama Pea! 

Green Cake Batter Smoothie 
makes 1 smoothie

Ingredients

• 2 cups  prewashed/bagged baby spinach
• 1/2 cup fat free milk
• 1/2 cup plain yogurt
• 1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder
• 1/4 cup quick oats
• 1 tsp almond butter
• 1/2 cup silken tofu
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 4 slices frozen banana (cut into approx 1/2 inch slices)
• 6 ice cubes
• 2 packets Equal, or to taste (or sweetener of choice)

Directions
Throw all ingredients in blender & blend until smooth.

What an easy way to eat your greens ~ enjoy!