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Fun Finds Friday #22: What the Buck[wheat]?

27 Dec

Clever title, huh? Well I thought it would be funny for this edition of fun finds Friday. As you guessed it, it’s all about buckwheat. I have three products to share with you; a cracker, cereal and pasta.

What is buckwheat? It’s actually gluten-free despite the word “wheat” in it’s name. Check out what vegetarian.about.com has to say:

“Buckwheat, which is commonly found in raw food diet recipes, has a slightly deceptive name that can easily cause confusion. Buckwheat is not wheat, nor is it related to wheat. It is not a grain nor a cereal and is gluten-free. So where does it come from? Buckwheat is derived from the seeds of a flowering plant.”

Orgran’s buckwheat pasta was purchased because my doctor told me to increase my fiber; as much as I can. The pasta had 5g of fiber and 8g of protein. How did it taste? It was actually pretty good and reminded me of whole wheat pasta. The texture was of “normal” pasta but with added health benefits! I will definitely try from more of this brand.IMG_20121226_101815And why yes I just did. I also got their buckwheat crackers. I’ve been eating a lot of the Wasa crackers but I’d like to find a good crackers similar that I know is gluten (and corn) free. I found these and they were not bad but I don’t think I’d buy them again. I may try their rice or quinoa ones though.IMG_20121228_163651Arrowhead Mills cereal? Well I am saving the best for last. I love Nature’s Path millet rice cereal but it isn’t labeled wheat free. So I found these buckwheat maple flakes that looked similar. The results? So delicious and tasted pretty close to the Nature’s Path cereal. I had some with granola and a banana. Perfection.IMG_20121228_163716Question: Any new finds during your grocery shopping? Have you tried any of Orgran’s or Arrowhead Mills products? I must say they are pretty tasty and I will be trying more things for sure.

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Posted by on December 27, 2012 in Meal Ideas Made Simple, Snacks For Munching, Tidbits On Healthy Living

 

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WIAW #31: A Whole Lot of Yum

12 Dec

Happy WIAW folks. Being that it’s Wednesday, that means my final was yesterday. Let’s not talk about it shall we? That’s all I will say about it. But, I do want to show you yummy eats from the past week for each meal. If you don’t know what WIAW is, check it out at Peas and Crayons!wiaw what i ate wednesday button happy healthy holidaysBreakfast: I’m sure if you have been reading my blog, I have been raving about the microwaveable pancake. I got a little creative with it and made the non-vegan on and instead of using the flour, I subbed it for 1/4 cup of Nature’s Path Gingerbread granola. The results? Tastes like a gingerbread pancake, yum!IMG_20121207_094627One of my favorite snacks has been the Cabot cheese bars plus the high antioxidant trail mix (minus walnuts) from Whole Foods. So, delicious.IMG_20121206_101540On a cold raining day here in Massachusetts, soup totally hits the spot. I had the tomato basil soup topped with parmesan cheese and parsley. Plus a side of Wasa Crackers.IMG_20121205_211225I have been eating more savory meals as you can see. Another snack I have been loving is having an egg (scrambled or hard-boiled) with sauteed spinach and a little cheddar cheese. Topped on Wasa crackers with a pinch of sea salt, pepper and parsley.IMG_20121209_132005I made this pasta similar to this recipe but instead of using the Kraft’s vinaigrette, I used an extra tbsp of olive oil, upped the parmesan cheese to 1/4 cup, added 1/4 cup of shredded mozzarella and 2 tbsps of soy milk. I also used fusilli pasta instead of gnocchi and it was absoultey yummy.IMG_20121207_104127For dessert? The picture doesn’t do it justice but I’ve been having the mini chocolate chunk cakes topped with salted pumpkin seeds and raisins. The sweet and salty combo may sound weird but trust me, it’s heaven. Who says no to gooey chocolate cake?IMG_20121207_155334Question: What are some combo’s you’ve been loving? Me? Well definitely chocolate and pumpkin seeds, cheddar cheese and pumpkin seeds and pears and pumpkin seeds. Notice a pattern?

 
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Posted by on December 12, 2012 in Meal Ideas Made Simple, Snacks For Munching, Sweets and Treats

 

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Pumpkin’d Gnocchi

04 Dec

One word for this recipe? WOW. This recipe is quite simple but tastes really good. It kind of reminds me of sweet potato french fries and who wouldn’t want something that tastes like that?

I had left over pumpkin (which I froze) from after making the pumpkin muffins. I wanted to make a savory dish using the pumpkin and because I love gnocchi so much, why not make a sauce for it?

This recipe is a quick, easy and you can literally whip it up in under ten minutes. I will definitely be adding this to my rotation when I need to eat asap. Enjoy!IMG_20121127_121530Gnocchi with Pumpkin Sauce Ingredients:

  • One Package of Shelf Stable or Frozen Gnocchi (Regular, Wheat or GF)
  • 1/3 Cup of Canned Pumpkin
  • 2 tsps of Olive Oil
  • 2 Tbsps of Parmesan Cheese (Grated)
  • 2 Tbsps of Milk (I used Unsweetened Soy)
  • 1 tsp of Italian Seasoning (I used Mrs. Dash)
  • 1 tsp of Parsley Flakes
  • 1/4 tsp of Garlic Powder (Or use fresh)
  • Dash of Salt & Pepper

Prepare gnocchi according to package directions, set aside. Place a small pot on the stove top over a low flame. Add all ingredients into the pot and stir until ingredients are well blended and warm. Feel free to try out your favorite spices with the sauce as well.

If you want the sauce thicker, add more parmesan cheese or a bit of flour (wheat, rice, etc.). For a thinner sauce, add more milk. Take the pumpkin sauce and pour into gnocchi and stir until gnocchi is covered with sauce. Top with a little bit of pepper and extra parsley flakes. IMG_20121127_121537Question: Have you every had a savory dish with pumpkin? I’ve tried pumpkin soup before, but didn’t really care for it. Maybe I should give it another shot?

 
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Posted by on December 4, 2012 in Meal Ideas Made Simple

 

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Meal Planning & Chocolate Chunk Mini Cakes

03 Dec

I am finally doing meal planning again, but it’s just going to be a quickie. I need to start doing food in advanced again due to the fact that I have a final in less than two weeks. No time to waste and every second counts.

This week and using some of the foods my mom got me. I went to Whole Foods and the regular market yesterday to pick up spinach, oranges, bananas and pears. I also got more granola and a little bit of two different kinds of trail mix (all peanut, walnut and sesame seed free!).IMG_20121202_130422I was craving gnocchi, so I got the gluten-free one from Whole Foods. It’s $4.99 for two servings, which is pricey but once in a blue moon it’s okay.IMG_20121202_124936

Here are my eats until Thursday. As you can see, the bottom tells you the things I have left which I will decide how to incorporate into my next batch of meals. Enjoy!MPlanI also have a yummy variation on the chocolate protein dessert cake. I used Chobani’s vanilla chocolate chunk to make it extra moist. It’s easy and very delicious. You can even eat this for breakfast as the whole cake without chocolate chips has about 240 calories. Enjoy!IMG_20121202_132009Chocolate Chunk Mini Cake Ingredients (Makes 2 Mini Cakes):

  • 1 Chobani Vanilla Chocolate Chunk Champions Container
  • 2 Tbsps of Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
  • 3 Tbsps White Rice Flour (Or GF All Purpose works too!)
  • 1 Egg White (from a large egg)
  • 1 Tbsp of Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips (Or Your Choice!)
  • 1/4 tsp of Baking Powder
  • 1 Packet of Stevia (*If you want it extra sweet!)

Mix everything very well in a small bowl. Then divide the batter between two small plates, ramekins, etc. Be sure to spray them with cooking spray first. Sprinkle a few chocolate chips on top of both cakes.

Microwave each cake for 1 to 2 minutes, depending on your microwave. Let cool for two minutes then eat! Perhaps you could top with more chocolate chips, whip cream, coconut flakes. Yum!

Question: Are you good at meal planning or have you slacked off like I have? Not anymore, it’s time to get back into it. Plus it helps me save money and use up what I already have.

 
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Posted by on December 3, 2012 in Meal Ideas Made Simple, Snacks For Munching, Sweets and Treats, Tidbits On Healthy Living

 

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Non-Friday Fun Finds!

20 Nov

I meant to post this last Friday. I have some fun finds for you guys. You may recognize some of the products from previous posts saying that I was going to try them. I finally have and not to mention there are non-food finds too! It’s just one non-day isn’t it?

The first product is a honey bush caramel tea by Revolution. I really want to get into tea because sometimes at night or after dinner I want “something” but not really. If that makes any sense. I figured tea would be a good option because it’s zero calories and full of antioxidants.

I added a Stevia packet, 1/4 of soymilk and 2/3 cup of hot water. The results? It tasted really good! Like nice warm milk with a sweet hint of caramel. Look for it in your supermarket and give it a try.Next up is Annie’s GF Deluxe Mac N’ Cheese. I’ve been craving mac and cheese but have been too lazy to make my simple homemade mac n’ cheese. I made it and added steamed Brussels sprouts. The results? It was good, but not as good as their regular gluten-free mac n’ cheese box. And finally, we have a hair product! You may not know, but I love hair products. I just don’t really use them. I’ve been looking for a sea salt spray from my hair ever since John Frieda discontinued their beach waves sea salt spray when I was in high school. It was the best spray ever.I found this one by Not Your Mother’s as a trial for $3.00. I decided to give a try and I have to say it works amazing! It gives you nice beach waves and leaves your hair smelling like a hint of summer. You have to find and try it if you love the sexy, tousled beach wave look.Question: Has there ever been a product that you loved and their discontinued? Another one that I can remember was VO5 Oasis shampoo and conditioner. Smelled so good!

 
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Posted by on November 20, 2012 in Meal Ideas Made Simple

 

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WIAW #27: Starting Over…And Over Snacking?

14 Nov

Happy WIAW Wednesday! This edition is all about starting over. The past week my eating has been everywhere so it was nice to finally get my eating back to normal yesterday. Does that ever happen to you?These eats are from my crazy long school day. Can’t you tell I was bored? Taking pictures in the bathroom, when I should be in class? Shame! Oh and by the way, if you are new to the What I Ate Wednesday party, please do check it out at Peas and Crayons. Breakfast: A delicious batch of vanilla almond crunch overnight oats. This is currently my favorite breakfast. Though I have only has it three times, but third times the charm, right?Snack: One Bartlett Pear!Lunch: Turkey burger with broccoli, apple slices and almonds. All top with a generous slab of “all natural” ketchup. I use to be addicted to ketchup as a teen. I think it’s coming back…Snack #2: I had a nice serving of tea. I never really drink tea, but I wanted something and I remember I had a tea box that my mom bought me (review coming this Friday). I added a little pure cane sugar and soymilk. It was quite yummy and hit the spot.Dinner: I had dinner while studying before class. Parmesan & Romano Gnocchi. Mmm!Snack #3: I munched on these during class. You have to excuse me…I ate the whole box. What? I was craving chocolate. Lots of chocolate.Late Night Snack #4: Okay, too many snacks? Maybe, but I was up since 7:00am, class til 10:00pm! I had raspberries with cashew butter, cashew pieces and coconut flakes. A nice end to a long day.Question: Have you ever has overnight oats for breakfast? Do you ever had those days where you’re just snacking all the time too? I know I have tons of those!

 
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Posted by on November 14, 2012 in All About Sabrina, Meal Ideas Made Simple

 

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Parmesan & Romano Gnocchi w/ Brussels Sprouts

12 Nov

My mom left this afternoon after spending the weekend with me. It was bittersweet to have her leave. I missed her tons. But at least I get to see her next week for Turkey Day. However, I totally forgot to tell you about this past Friday. It entails a savory recipe…

I finally had a half day to myself! I’ve been busy with friends, school and work that I quite enjoyed the me time I had Friday morning and part of the afternoon. I spent my time cooking some breakfasts for the weekend; I made banana maple oat pancakes and an apple pie like “muffin top.” That recipe will be coming soon. Stay tuned.Once roomie came home from work, we headed to the gym. Before we went I had a pre-workout snack of Greek yogurt and homemade granola. Delicious and just enough to fuel me at the gym.For dinner on Friday, I made something a little difference from my basil parmesan gnocchi. I got a packet of gluten-free gnocchi and wanted to make something yummy. I had a jar of Parmesan & Romano blend cheese and I decided to combine that with a similar approach to my homemade mac n’ cheese recipe.

The results? A delicious sauce that can be use for any pasta, but I of course love gnocchi. Does it even count as a pasta since it’s mostly potato? Ahh, who knows. Enjoy!Ingredients (Serves Four):

  • 1 Package of Gluten-Free Gnocchi (shelf stable or frozen)
  • 1/3 Cup of Parmesan & Romano Cheese Blended, Shredded
  • 1/3 Cup of Non-Dairy Milk (or your choice)
  • 1 tsp of Olive Oil
  • Dash of Sea Salt and Pepper
  • 1 tsp of Italian Seasoning Blend (I used Mrs. Dash)
  • Your Choice of Steamed Veggies (I used 1 Cup 1/2 of Brussels Sprouts)

Cook gnocchi according to package directions. While the gnocchi is cooking, place all other ingredients except veggies into a small pot on a stove top with a low flame.

Whisk ingredients together until it is hot and liquid-y. If you want the sauce thicker, add more cheese. If you want it thinner, add more milk. I personally like this balance.

Take your cooked gnocchi (drained of water, of course) and your choice of veggies and place them into a bowl. Add the cheese sauce to the bowl and stir until everything is well combined.

Divide amongst four plates and garnish with extra Italian seasoning, ground black pepper and parmesan cheese. Then eat!(Average Calories w/ Brussels Sprouts: 295)

*Nutrition information will vary depending on ingredients used

 
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Posted by on November 12, 2012 in Meal Ideas Made Simple

 

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WIAW #26: Granola Lovin’

07 Nov

I have become addicted to granola ever since I made the best vanilla almond butter granola recipe last week. I’ve even tweaked my honey-nut granola, which I will post soon.

This WIAW is all about granola. Well not entirely, but it seems like I have been eating granola non stop. I think I need to cool it down, I feel my pants are too tight these days! Oh and if you don’t know what WIAW is, check it out over at Peas and Crayons!Breakfast: I had Nature’s Path millet rice cereal with granola, milk and a banana. I miss having cereal and I have been having cereal all the time.Snack: Good ole pear, cheese and nuts! No picture :(

Lunch: Turkey burger with homemade fries and baby brussels sprouts. I’m getting into them a little more. I am bit broccoli’d out and need new veggies in my diet.Snack: Trader Joe’s vanilla yogurt with vanilla almond butter granola. Mmm!Dinner: Gnocchi with parmesan cheese, basil, olive oil drizzle and sauteed spinach. Yums.Dessert? It was a beauty; vanilla ice cream with warm chocolate mousse and warm raspberries. I was in chocolate, raspberry and ice cream heaven.Question: What’s your favorite dessert? I can’t decide anymore but I love my mousse always and forever.

 
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Posted by on November 7, 2012 in All About Sabrina

 

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Fun Finds Friday #14: Mmm, Mmm Good!

05 Oct

I have some exciting things to review for you today. On not so excting news? One I can’t get, even thought it was good. You can read more about that in a few, but before you do, check out the last review filled with pizza and chocolate-y goodness.

Chobani’s Flip Greek Yogurt: This vanilla chocolate chip greek yogurt mixed with raspberry puree, is simply quite divine. I also mixed in a handful of fresh raspberries to add some fiber. Made it even better!Almond Cashew with Flax Kind Bar: This bar, unlike many of the others, was only 150 calories. Not only did that draw my attention, but also the fact that it has flax and I lack the Omega-3′s in my diet. This bar was absolutely delicious, however after eating it I felt a little sick.Of course I missed something; CORN! Their dietary fiber ingredient comes from corn, although on their site it says otherwise from the particular bar I bought. Just goes to show you, you must double-check. Other than that, the bar was great and I would have totally bought it againConte’s Pasta Cheese Ravioli: I was excited to find this because I miss ravioli. Back in my college days, I use to eat the little single serving beef ravioli’s from Chef Boyardee. I found this heavenly thing (fyi, it has corn starch, but it didn’t bug me at all!).I cooked the pasta and then added a garlic parmesan “sauce”; 1 Tbsp parmesan cheese, 1/2 tsp of Italian seasoning, 1/2 Tbsp of olive oil, 1/2 Tbsp butter and 1/4 tsp of garlic powder. Gosh, it was way too good so beware of over indulging.The verdict? I would so get the Chobani flip again and I would even get the ravioli too. I just wouldn’t have it often due to the corn starch. I would get the Kind bar because of the instant allergic reaction. Such is life, but hey maybe you can eat some for me?

Happy Friday :)

 
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Posted by on October 5, 2012 in Meal Ideas Made Simple, Snacks For Munching

 

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Meal Planning: Weak of September 17th

17 Sep

It’s Monday, which means the beginning of a new week and a meal planning post. I am so glad last week is over. I feel like this week is going to mean fresh start for me. I also have exciting news to share with you guys, but you are going to have to wait just a tiny bit.

Like I had mentioned, the food line up is similar to last week’s. Here is a a favorite breakfast picture of mine, it’s from the Yoga At The Beach post. Enjoy!

Breakfast: Van’s GF Waffles w/ Almond Butter & Blueberries or Maple Almond Butter “Muffin Top” w/ Almond Butter & Roasted AlmondsLunch: “Flatbread” w/ Broccoli, Basil & Mozzarella Cheese or Basil Parmesan PastaDinner: Ground Chicken w/ Black Beans, Green Beans and Brown Rice or Turkey Burger Patty w/ Steamed Broccoli and Baked PotatoSnacks:Vanilla Yogurt
Luna White Chocolate Macadamia or Chocolate Chunk Bar
Almonds & Apples
Bananas or Berries
Dark Chocolate

 
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Posted by on September 17, 2012 in Meal Ideas Made Simple, Snacks For Munching, Tidbits On Healthy Living

 

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