Oh, Hi! We tried those BROCCOLI TOTS so you don't have to...

Healthy.

Baked.

Broccoli.

TOTS.

Those four words should add up into something that my husband and I can really sink our teeth into.

We saw the video you all did...and thought these little healthy tots looked like heaven on earth and were totally in line with our lowfat, minimally processed way of eating (never mind the pregnancy cheats this girl has been giving into lately)

We followed the instructions exactly...

 Blanched the broccoli...

 Mixed up all of the ingredients...

 Formed the mixture into adorable little tots...

Plated them with some chicken wraps...

And then the husband took a bite.

And he made the same face he made the last time I burned a pot of split pea soup...

As you can imagine, he wasn't a fan.  His main complaint was that they were just really really bland, and not in the "we should have added more salt" way.  He even tried dipping them in ketchup and Sriracha, just to see.  NOPE.  

I didn't mind them....the first two I ate I was actually kind of pleased, but I also am a fan of the somewhat bland world of veggie burgers and brown rice.  After the first two though, I really didn't want anymore, and that's saying something, because at six months pregnant I will pretty much finish of anything in front of me.

SO, our verdict is....if you like bland "health food" taste, and are just looking for a fun way to get some broccoli in....you may be cool with these.

Otherwise...yeah...not recommended. Darn it!

xoxo-A

Oh, Hi! Gluten Free French Toast Pancake Roll-Ups!

Gluten Free French Toast Pancake Roll-Ups With Yogurt!

Growing up, anytime my parents served up pancakes at our house, syrup was never a condiment option.  We splurged on whole grain pancakes with yogurt on the side to dip them in!  I've taken the inspiration from those kid friendly breakfasts and spiced the idea up a bit, bringing in the Gluten Free side and pairing it with a delicious French Toast inspired flavor.  My pancake roll-ups were absolute perfection dipped in Liberte French Vanilla yogurt...but during non-pregnancy life I would be opting for a low fat / greek yogurt option for sure! (And yes...my Orange Juice is being sipped from a stemmed glass....give a girl a break, I can't have mimosas for four more months) Hope you enjoy this super easy, super fast breakfast / brunch!

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup GF Flour (Try Cup4Cup Gluten Free Flour)
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder (Clabber Girl is Gluten Free)
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1/2 tablespoons cinnamon
• Dash of salt
• 1 cup (organic) 1% milk
• 1 egg (organic/grain fed/ free range/ antibiotic free)
• 3 tablespoons melted Smart Balance Omega -3 butter substitute

How to Whip These Bad Boys Up:

1. Mix all dry ingredients (Flour, Sugar, Baking Powder, Cinnamon, Baking Soda, Salt) in a medium sized mixing bowl.
2. Melt butter
3. Mix Butter, Milk, and 1 Egg together in small mixing bowl.
4. Whisk wet ingredients together with dry ingredients. Set aside.
5. Warm medium sized non stick pan on stove on medium / low heat.
6. You know what to do from here....pour your preferred amount of batter into the pan, cook one side until bubbling in middle and lightly cooked around edges.  Flip, wait for batter to be completely cooked and pancake to be a pretty golden brown.
7. Roll each pancake and cut in half if you'd like.
8. SERVE with your choice of yogurt to dip the Roll-Ups in!

Yum!

xo-A

Oh, Hi! Dinner At Tiffani's! (and my inspiration to have a little more fun in the kitchen)

Oh, Hi! Dinner At Tiffani's! 

(and my inspiration to have a little more fun in the kitchen)

Before last night, if you mentioned the name "Tiffani Amber Thiessen" to me, I would have conjured up this image immediately:

(oh man....Zack Morris *hearts*)

Also, there may have been a slight blush and eye roll because my husband insists that we look SO MUCH ALIKE (HELLO! COMPLIMENTS!).

I would not, however, have thought at "Ohmygosh-I-Am-So-ADDICTED-To-Her-Cooking-Show!"

That has all changed though.

Last night, during a bout of insomnia thanks to this growing baby bump I'm rocking, and the fact that getting super comfy in bed is slightly more difficult than it used to be, the hubs suggested that I turn the TV on and let it put me to sleep.

Sounded like a great idea.

I even turned the Cooking Channel on thinking it would knock me right out, because who gets sucked in to cooking shows late at night?

Apparently, this girl RIGHT HERE does.

BUT it's because all of a sudden, right in the middle of boring late night TV, Tiffani Thiessen pops onto the screen extolling the values of her "Italian Breadsticks", "Crab Cakes", "Chopped Salad with Roasted Veggies", and ... wait for it.... "Limoncello Sorbet"!!!

Joined by two girlfriends in her kitchen (ONE BEING JULIE BENZ!!!! *fangirl moment*), Tiffani proceeded to whip up an extremely mouthwatering meal, complete with easy to follow instructions as she went, witty chatter with the ladies, and a gorgeous backdrop which appears to be her home, and completed by a perfectly appointed tablescape where the ladies dined on their amazing looking meal.

Tiffani as a host is real, sassy, sweet, and totally relatable!  Her recipes look AMAZING and I ended up staying up to watch another episode (while totally stalking her Cooking Channel page and pinning EVERY SINGLE RECIPE I COULD FIND!)

In an era of Giada's, Contessas, and Rays ... all of which are totally valid and entertaining sources of kitchen inspiration...Tiffani Thiessen is a breath of fresh air for me.

I'm totally re-inspired to get back in the kitchen with a new little pep in my step!  Although I didn't try any of the recipes yet (this will be remedied with a grocery shop this weekend!)...The husband did get to come home to a yummy, healthy meal of BBQ Salmon, Roasted Mini Potatoes, Grilled Asparagus, Roasted Corn.....and his FAVE....made from SCRATCH, applesauce infused, secret recipe BANANA BREAD for dessert!

Check out the link to her show page and a few of the recipes below!

Are you already a fan of "Dinner At Tiffani's"? Tried any of the recipes? 

Comment Below!

xoxo-A

Dinner At Tiffani's on The Cooking Channel

Italian Breadsticks

Basil Limoncello Sorbet

Chopped Salad with Roasted Vegetables

Crab Cakes with Tartar Sauce

Blueberry-Lemon Scones

*Credit for all Images and Recipes goes to Dinner At Tiffani's*

P.S. Here's a couple of snaps of what happened in our kitchen today:

Oh, Hi! Random Recipe Post!

Oh. Hi! - Random Recipe Post!

You may or may not know this...but the fiance and I are TOTALLY addicted to True Food Kitchen at Lenox Square Mall here in Atlanta.  Between the super cool decor and ambiance, comfy booths, waiters in full on scrubs and funky looks that make for GREAT people watching.....we can't get enough.

Like, when I say ADDICTED...we go prrreetttty much every single Sunday for brunch.

Our love affair is so serious that when we sit down our waiter asks if I'm splurging on the Quinoa Johnny cakes that Sunday or not....yes.....  That's right.  We're so far in that the waitstaff is aware of my constant internal struggle between delicious food and trying to stay fit ....

So where am I going with this?

One of our FAVE things to eat there is the Sweet Potato Hash...

It's beyond delicious and has the perfect balance between sweet and salty, and totally satisfying and indulgent tasting without being crazy and awful for you!

Being that I am NEVER home before like 6:30 between the trainer and other wedding prep, (and the fact that the main things I can make are salad, pasta, or pancakes) I pretty much never make dinner.  My sweet, wonderful fiance usually has it waiting for me the second I walk in the door!!!  I mean...come on....how much do we love him for that??

Well, last night, I had an off day where I left work and didn't have anything I HAD to go do, so I decided to surprise him with a copycat True Food Kitchen style dinner.

I whipped up our standard roasted brussel sprouts, which I do make about once a week, some shaved turkey wraps on low-card, chia seed flatbread, and the TRUE FOOD KITCHEN SWEET POTATO HASH....

When I tell you it came out better than at the restaurant...I'm not lying....like he kept talking about it ALL NIGHT!

SO, I want to share this super easy, super yummy recipe with you!  Takes about 45 mins - 60 minutes total, depending on how small you cube the sweet potato pieces.

True Food Kitchen COPYCAT Sweet Potato Hash Recipe

Ingredients:

2 Large Sweet Potatoes
3/4 cup Vegetable or Chicken Broth
1/4 Large Sweet Onion (or more, depending on taste)
approx 1 tbsp of Minced Garlic in Olive Oil
2 tbsp EVOO (or other oil depending on preference)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

1. Peel sweet potatoes kind of randomly, leaving 1/2 of the skin on.  The skin contains a TON of nutrients and makes them brown up better when sauteing.
2. Chop onion into small cubes as well...I have no patience in the kitchen so just as small as you want.
3. Toss sweet potato, onion, broth, and minced garlic in a mixing bowl.  Let sit about 5 minutes.
4. Pour mixture into large glass baking dish.  Bake 25-35 minutes, until potato is soft but not mushy.
5. Warm pan on stove with about 2 tbsp of olive oil.
6. Remove sweet potato mixture from oven and toss into pan on stove.
7. Saute for about 20-25 minutes, until browned to the level you like.  I recommend letting them get a little crispy on the outside, but careful not to burn them!

And TA-DA!!! EASY EASY pretty healthy side!!

xoxo - A