Cornmeal Banana Walnut Pancakes

Cornmeal Banana Walnut Pancakes pg. 109
Morning Glory Gluten Free Pancake Variation pg. 111

I have a couple of questions for you today.  Are you ready, because I am about to get really personal? Here we go...

Would you be able to tell the difference between a pancake made with flour vs. the gluten free version?  Which one do you think would taste better?  

I know it was deep, huh! I already feel like we know each other better.  Don't you?  I always feel like it is better to not hold back, and share your thoughts.  Sometimes I think I might even over share.  Like for instance I could tell you that one of my guilty pleasures is to watch The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.  I love it!  I could also tell you that submarines freak me out.  Just the sight of them send chills up my spine.  What, is that weird?

Cornmeal Banana Walnut Pancakes

This would be the very delicious Cornmeal Banana Walnut (gluten) Pancake variation.  It was easy to make and yummy.  In all my years making pancakes via Bisquick, I never added bananas to my batter.  Trust me when I say this, do it, do it today!  It was fabulous.  Gather these ingredients and make someone you love breakfast.  This was actually the first recipe that I had all the makings in my cupboard! Yea! 

As the recipe says in CSK don't try and flip these suckers for a couple of minutes.  Otherwise they will still be stuck to the pan, and you will have a mess on your hands!

Here is what the gluten free version looks like.

Morning Glory Gluten Free Version

There isn't much difference to the ingredients by looking at it. Just 2 little things.

Taste test time!  I liked the gluten free version more.  I thought the consistency of the pancake was better.  It was absolutely fantastic.  The recipe calls for an apple cider maple syrup.  I liked it, but I preferred just plain old fashioned syrup with no cider.  Give both a try and see what you like.  It is all easy to put together.

Enjoy your breakfast, and have a great day!

Garden Lasagna

Garden Lasagna pg. 205
Cashew-Pine Nut Ricotta pg. 231
Tomato Relish pg. 239

Garden Lasagna

This was one doozie of a recipe!  It was a lot of ingredients and time for essentially a fancy salad. 

So, I will just get right to it.  You will want to soak some cashews in prep for the Cashew-Pine Nut Ricotta.  The Ricotta was pretty easy to make.  Throw all your ingredients in a food processor and waa-laa!  You could definitely take any leftovers from the ricotta and make a yummy sandwich or wrap.  Here is what you will need to put some protein in your lasagna.

Cashew-Pine Nut Ricotta

Next up is the Tomato Relish.  This was actually pretty awesome.  It had lots of flavor and I think was the best part of this dish.  It would make a killer pasta sauce.  It was a cinch to make because it just required a bit of chopping.

Tomato Relish

The last major component to the lasagna was an Olive Tapenade.  I have made the tapenade before so I didn't list it above, but here is the link if you want to check it out: http://crazysexykitchenproject.blogspot.com/2012/12/cucumber-cups.html

Here are the remaining ingredients needed for your lasagna.  I warned you this was a whopper of a recipe!

Can you tell this wasn't my favorite?  It was just too much work for what it was.  The flavor is good and the presentation was nice.

So if you have the time go for it!

 

Super Fudge (Low-Fat) Brownies

Super Fudge (Low-Fat) Brownies pg. 258

Super Fudge Brownies

I have been eyeing this recipe in CSK since I got the cookbook.  Brownies are always a household favorite.  Usually my brownies come from a box, five steps: empty box, crack eggs, add water, mix, bake.  The problem is if you want a vegan brownie, they aren't.  The recipe in CSK has a few more steps then the boxed brownie I would traditionally make.  I guess truth be told I was a little intimidated because the CSK recipe seemed a little "chefy" for brownies.  Here is what you will need for these vegan, non-boxed, low-sugar, homemade brownies.

The brownies are labeled a "1" for easy in CSK, but I kind of think they are closer to a "1 1/2"! First off, you have to make a prune puree.  Let's pause for a minute, yes, prunes will be in your brownies. OK, once you get over the fear of the prunes, you have to make the puree.  Not so hard, just boil your pitted prunes in water, let them simmer for 10 minutes, drain, blend with some of the prune broth and then you are pretty much good to go.  The dry ingredients needed to be sifted.  My 4 yr old got into the action.  He said, "Look mom, it looks like snow!"

I had to invest in a sifter last night.  I was stuck on the other side of town yesterday because of traffic.  No seriously, stranded in Santa Monica, CA because the freeway was a disaster.
( I had a doctor's appointment if you must know, that is why I was over there!) Anyway I went into my first Sur La Table.  Boy could I spend big money there.  It was an awesome cooking store. 

One of the coolest parts about baking vegan is your kids can lick the bowl with no worries.  This is one happy kid!

Just call me Darth!

The brownies came out of the oven pretty gooey.  I had to freeze them to take shape.   I think I would bake them longer next time.  The recipe calls for a baking time of 12-13 minutes.  The outer edges of the brownies were more the consistency I like.  I guess my family likes more of a cakey brownie.  These were more like fudge.  Plus, I couldn't get the prune flavor past my kids.  Although they kind of liked them, I can't say they loved them.  This is another case where they have been exposed to the dark side of junk food and sugar for too long.  It is hard to come back from all of that.  Case in point look closely at my son's shirt...  The grown ups in the family enjoyed them.  They were a guilt free treat!

 I think if you are looking for a low-sugar and low-fat brownie you have found your answer.

Sweet Greens

Sweet Greens pg. 83

Sweet Greens

When I woke up this morning, I grabbed for my iPhone that was along side my bed.  Nothing different from how I normally awake.  I quickly scrolled through my emails to see what's up in my world.  To my surprise there was an email from KrisCarr.com.  Not the normal Monday morning Newsletter.  This was different.  It was more personal.  It was sent to me.  It quickly made me sit up.

I have fantasized about this email.  Although in my fantasy it could be other things besides an email like maybe a phone call, a card, a dinner, a Hay House event... It really depends on my mood.  When I started this blog I half jokingly said maybe Kris will come to my house for dinner.  I am no dummy, I realize how busy Kris and Chef Sarno are and I have no delusions of anything from cooking my way through this cookbook.  Although I must admit their re-Tweets never get old.  It is the social media I am newest to, and it is really fun.  Oh and of course  I want to leave the blog world on good terms with everyone! 

OK so back to this email.  It started out quite flattering.  Thank you Natanya, but quickly I found myself slightly panicked. I had an "oh shit moment!" Turns out I made a bit of a mistake.  I have been so careful to not post any recipes, and really strive to make Kris and Chef Sarno proud.  Anyway, I fixed the problem, but not before feeling kind of stressed.  I bet you are wondering what I did?  I am going to leave that for you to chew on today! Let me just be very clear the last thing I want is to be 91 recipes in and lose the support of Kris and Chad.  That would suck, and be kind of like that  part in Julie/Julia when Julie Powell finds out that Julia Childs hates her.  That must have been heartbreaking.

So after starting the day a little stressed all I could think of was I need a drink...

Line them up, because we are doing shots!  Sweet Greens shots!  Here is what you will need to join me as I drink me sorrows and embarrassment away.

I used to wash all my veggies separately as I prepared to make juice.  I don't have that kind of time, so now I just throw them all in the sink together.  After I give them a good soak I will peel and chop anything that needs it.

Sometimes it is hard to believe how many veggies I am drinking when I make juice.  Check out this healthy layout of greens.  Funny story about the greens, one of those leafy veggies is dandelions.  It only took a trip to 3 different stores before I got them. (I love when that happens. Not!) My husband found them at Sprouts.  Sprouts has produce for a fraction of the cost of one of my other frequented stores which will remain unnamed. I don't want to piss off anymore people this week. Anywho, the cashier asked my husband, "Are the dandelions for your turtle or rabbit?"  My husband said, "I don't think my wife fits either one of those categories!"   The cashier was speachless!

That's a whole lot of green goodness.  In a blink of an eye, these turned into this deliciously mild green juice.

Which was just what I needed to feel better about my slightly frazzling morning.  So lets start drinking baby.

  I am 6 shots in already!  Don't let me drink alone;)

Corn & Heirloom Tomato Salad

Corn & Heirloom Tomato Salad with Creamy Poblano Vinaigrette pg. 163

Corn & Heirloom Tomato Salad

Today I had to laugh at myself as I tried to get "the shot" for this salad.  I was working against the clock as the sun was setting, and The Golden Globes were about to start.   I find I am easily flustered when my husband is here helping me prepare everything.  I just want to impress him. I feel kind of silly because I am taking myself way too seriously, and truth be told my husband has a better artistic eye than me which intimidates me a little. (Don't tell him I said any of this!)  So as I try to act cool, like I know what I am doing, I am so afraid he will call my bluff as I pretend to be a photographer and this armature chef.  Not that he is anything but the most supportive man ever.  Seriously, he would do anything I needed to help me.  I just can't seem to concentrate as well when he looks on. Possibly it is his hot body distracting me?  So, as I act like a silly teenage girl I will pretend he didn't see me get flustered as a took my pictures.  I love you babe!

As I watched the Golden Globes I munched on the most delicious salad.  It was the Corn and Heirloom Tomato Salad with Creamy Poblano Vinaigrette.  The dressing for this salad is amazing.  It is spicy, and no fattening! A total win win.  The dressing was killer on the salad, but you could easily pour it on anything from roasted veggies to grains like quinoa. Here is what you will need to spice up your life.

Creamy Poblano Vinaigrette

I am lucky to live in Southern California.  We get lots of produce year around.  To get fresh corn, heirloom tomatoes and avocado in January is awesome!   I hope you are able to get these ingredients because you will love this salad. I actually had no idea you could put raw corn in a salad.  I just assumed it needed to be cooked first, but guess what it doesn't.  As the old saying goes, you learn something new everyday.

Enjoy this guilt free salad that is so satisfying!  Recipe 90 is a success.  Me, I am going to work on just having fun with these last 60 recipes, and getting more comfortable working in front of my hubby!  Order up, one serving of self confidence for me please!

Food & Play for the Soul

Recipe 88 & 89
Supah Good Mashed Potatoes with Garlic Herb Buttah Pg. 222 & 230

Garlic Herb Buttah

Comfort foods are awesome.  They make us feel all warm and fuzzy. Plus, they put a smile on our face.  In my house mashed potatoes are classified as a comfort food.  They in fact are my daughter's favorite food.  This recipe had a very tough critic.  My daughter has not been afraid to tell me when she hasn't liked a recipe.  I have to say, I heard nothing from her except the scraping of her spoon as it cleaned her plate.  She ate every bit of these Supah Good Mashed Potatoes with Garlic Herb Buttah.  Victory is mine, and I guess Derek Sarno the guest chef who created this recipe in CSK! (Also Chef Sarno's Brother, I think.)  Here are the ingredients you will need to feed your soul some seriously comforting mashed potatoes.

Mashed Potato Ingredients

Garlic Herb Buttah

The Garlic Buttah is the more complicated of the two recipes because it takes a couple of steps.  In the end you are rewarded with some tasty homemade vegan buttah.  The recipe calls for some cashews to be soaked in preparation.  Then you have to make your, "Herby Goodness."  This requires sauteing garlic and shallots in a pan with veggie broth, and then placing the pan in the oven to roast the herbs for ten minutes.  Now, you are ready to mix your ingredients for the butah.  Lastly, you want your buttah to chill so it takes shape.  I lined a little bowl with cellophane and poured my mixture in it.  That way it wouldn't stick, and I could pop it out to take pretty pictures.  I also put mine in the freezer for about 20 minutes, and then transferred to the refrigerator to speed of the hardening process. 

The mashed potatoes were easy and pretty standard to prepare.  They took only minutes once the potatoes were boiled.

Supah Mashed Potatoes

Good for the soul and yummy!  Another thing that was good for the soul was my trip to Disneyland.  We took our older kids, and left our littlest home with grandma. (Thank you grandma!) My son and his girlfriend went off to play in the park, as did my daughter and her friend.  This left my husband and I to explore the park alone!  We had a date at Disneyland.  It was fabulous.  The crowds were low because it was kind of chilly out.  This just added to the enjoyment.  We laughed, held hands, and had a ball.  Later, we caught up with the kids, and finished the day together.  We rode a few new rides over at California Adventure, Disneyland's sister park.  My son's girlfriend got me to go on the Tower of Terror for the first time.  That was one crazy ride!  Check out some of our pictures from various rides.  We just snapped the picture off the monitor to avoid spending $25 bucks, so the pictures are bit grainy, but you get the point!

Car's Land, we had no idea they took our picture!

Look how serious we are! We'll get you Zurg!

We are in the right first two rows of Tower of Terror.  I look
surprisingly calm considering I was freaking out!

My soul is well fed in more ways than one! I am a lucky girl!

Vacation Day!

Hi There! I am taking a vacation day today and heading to Disneyland!  Ya, I just went a month ago, but today is just for the big kids.  Lots of us in So. Cal have yearly passes.  So we just come and go all year long. I will leave you with a delicious video courtesy of Kris Carr. It is from her past dinner event! Enjoy... 

 http://kriscarr.com/cooking-classes-dinner-series/