People will eat anything.
I know I’m all #strangebutgood, but some take it way to far. To the point of #strangebutnasty.
Pizza seems to be the most common canvas for strangeness. Sometimes it works – I love a runny egg on my socca (it’s also delish on my cauliflower pizza crust).
However, some things just shouldn’t happen. Like insane stuffed crusts. I ran across this article listing the “12 Craziest Things Mankind Has Stuffed Into Pizza Crusts.”
That is a cheese burger crust. A.K.A. Heart attack waiting to happen.
This next one I must admit is creative. But come on. Do you reallllly need buffalo wings in your crust?
Moving on to something less nauseating… it’s another green WIAW! Eating a high protein diet doesn’t mean sacrificing veggies! I have a fruit or veggie with every meal, so I’m especially glad Jenn decided to rock out with her green out this month.
Check out my 7 veggie-laced, protein-filled meals below, and then click here to head over to Jenn @ Peas and Crayons to get to see how everyone else is green-ing up their food this month!
Meal 1:
Predictably, I began my day with a cocktail (apple cider vinegar, water, Glutamine, and Fitmixer Aminos).
This morning I went savory. Remember this Spaghetti Squash Pie? Today I made it Mexican and ate it for breakfast. I prepped the meat and squash the night before, so it was easy to compose and throw in the oven first thing in the morning. #strangebutgood 
I LOVE this combo. It’s not so weird to have eggs, cheese, and salsa in the morning… so why not add some ground chicken and squash and call it a pie?
I used salsa in this version and added bulk using black beans. After it cooked, I added fresh avocado to the top – I wouldn’t recommend skipping this step.
Recipe at the bottom.
Meal 2:
Spicy baked chicken had become something of an addiction. I baked this with a TON of Indian spices – ginger, dry mustard, cinnamon, garlic, onion, coriander, cumin, garam masala, turmeric, cayenne, and fenugreek.
Eaten with perfectly ripe mango. Sweet + Spicy = Addiction Strange but good?
Meal 3:
Lunch was a post-leg workout meal. Let’s pretend I was more creative… but no. I brought my old favorite to the gym. Carrot Cake Protein Batter. Made with french vanilla Designer Whey and topped with brown rice crispies. After 100 hack squats, I would have eaten my first. But this probably tasted better. 😉
Meal 4:
The salt-free deli turkey addiction continues. Today I made little cucumber open-face sandwiches and topped them with avocado, red pepper flakes, and freshly ground pepper.
I mayyyyy have also done a little quality control for a cake I was baking. This is my first attempt at gluten-free baking, so it had to be tested. I made a mini confetti cake:
Meal 5:
You guys know my friend Kat who guest posts here every Thursday? It was Kat’s birthday yesterday! She had a potluck dinner at her place, so I enjoyed everyone’s home cooked dishes at dinner. We had kale salad, roasted sweet potatoes, beet and orange salad, nuts, hummus, GF chips, and peanut M&Ms. All the basic food groups. And wine… heart health is important, you know. 😉
Plus cake. Kat is gluten-free and requested a GF confetti cake. I happily obliged and made a cake based on this recipe, plus some boozy hazelnut icing.
The flavor of the cake was awesome; it was just enough vanilla to have a distinct flavor. I was especially happy that it remained moist. However, the texture was a bit gummy. Anyone know how to fix that? Or is that just common in a GF cake?
The icing was a win. Nutty and creamy, it was just the thing against the vanilla cake.
Frangelico (Hazelnut) Frosting
- 3 C confections sugar
- 1 stick (1/2 cup) salted butter, room temperature
- 4 T Frangelico (hazelnut liqueur)
Whip butter with electric (or hand) mixer until light and fluffy (~3-4 mins). Slowly add powdered sugar, a few tablespoons at a time (adding slowly means it’s less grainy and requires less sugar to thicken).
When the frosting looks thick enough to spread, drizzle in the Frangelico and whip it until combined. If this makes frosting too thin, add another tablespoon of powdered sugar.
Meal 6:
Ha! There were no more meals. I ate 5-7 at the party, and enjoyed celebrating with Kat!
How awesome are the photo bombers?!
Kat is guest posting again tomorrow – don’t forget to come back by and wish her a happy belated! Teaser: I think her post is going to be related to the Ultra Marathon she ran last weekend!
Mexican Spaghetti Squash Pie
- 1 small spaghetti squash, pre-cooked (about 3.5 cups, easy microwave instructions here)
- 1/2 C egg whites
- 1/2 C fat-free ricotta cheese
- 1 tsp dried cilantro
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 8 oz. ground chicken
- 1/4 C red onion, chopped
- 1 jalapeno, seeded and diced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 C salsa
- 1/2 C black beans
Preheat oven to 350 degrees, and prepare a pie dish.
Stir together the spaghetti squash and egg whites. Pour evenly into the pie dish as the crust (note: this will look too runny, but it isn’t – the egg will solidify in the oven).
Mix together the ricotta cheese, cilantro, cumin, and garlic powder. Arrange evenly over the spaghetti mixture, leaving ~1/4 in space around the edge to preserve the “pie” look.
In a large pan, brown ground chicken with onion, jalapeno and garlic (can also use olive oil). Add salsa and beans, allowing to cook over medium until warmed (~6-7 mins).
Evenly pour the chicken and sauce mixture on top of the ricotta layer in your pie dish.
Bake uncovered for ~45 mins, or until most of the “jiggle” is gone.
***
The protein count for the day: I don’t know… I definitely did well but I wasn’t about to measure everything at a birthday party. Let’s just say my leg day was fueled.
We all like brinner (breakfast for dinner), but do you ever eat dinner for breakfast?
Do you ever make a “tester” when you try new recipes?
Hmmm, I don’t think that I’ve ever had dinner for breakfast. I don’t think although some Chinese food concoctions that my mom would make me definitely qualify in the dinner category than breakfast. That spaghetti squash pie looks delicious. And I do love sweet and spicy together. YUM!
I used to eat cold chinese for breakfast in college! 🙂
GAAH now I want cake! I have been craving cake for a while, I think it is time to make one.
adding SODA (soda water, anything fizzy like coke, 7 up…) makes a cake more fluffy, in addition to the xanthan gum. gf cakes are usually more … dense.
I still want cake. even if it is a little gummy 😉
I think you deserve cake!
Soda… hmmm… I may be making another cake…. all in the name of science!
I love using ricotta cheese in recipes, looks delicious.
Me too! Broccoli Heather got me on that kick.
That tester idea is brilliant! I need to do that, too.
I remember having leftover pizza for breakfast. Oh, college days.
I ate the last slice of my first sparhetti squash pie cold for breakfast. Brought back memories.
Chicken wing stuffed crust?! Ewww! And it even looks like they used bone-in wings! That’s not a trip to the emergency room waiting to happen or anything!
Rock out with your green out!! Haha! LOVE IT!
I also love your Mexican spin…so many of my egg dishes always get a little Mexican flay-vah…well unless, I’m going strangebutsweet! 😉 I might have just enough squash left over from the big guy I cooked last week to make this…we shall see! And funny you mention dinner for breakfast, because I totally made a savory sweet potato for breakfast the other day! I used some of the extra meat from making your other spaghetti squash pie along with some ricotta, bell peppers, and plenty of nooch!
The article did specify that they are NOT bone it. Talk about an accident waiting to happen… LOL!
I love sweet potatoes for breakfast with cottage cheese, cinnamon, berries, and bacon sprinkles!!! Now that you mention strangebutweet… I’m wondering f this could be tunred into a giant spaghetti squash cinnamon roll???
YES!! …with bacon sprinkles!!!! 😀
Yum! I can’t even handle a basic cheese-stuffed crust, let alone those other ones. No wonder the western world has an obesity problem!
Right?! What’s wrong with regualr pizza? I’m moving to Italy.
I’ve got to make the spaghetti pie-all versions! On the menu for next week! I love breakfast for dinner! It’s on the menu once a week for those crazy nights when I need to pull things together fast.
Please let me know how you like it!!! 🙂
I have not crossed over into the dinner for breakfast world yet. I’m intrigued though . . . because I’m not opposed like some are, I just never think of it. But I’d try it. It’s got to be satisfying, right? And if I make delicious dinners, why wouldn’t it be delicious in the morning, too? 🙂 Love that spaghetti pie!!
It’s not bad! I get in the mood after I have too much sweet stuff.
Wow I’m all for creativity but the idea of a hot dog-stuffed crust is a bit too much for me to handle- ick! Although an onion bagel crust sounds pretty fabulous…great now I”m craving bagels ;)! That cake looks awesome..and don’t worry about the gummy texture. I’m pretty sure no one noticed since there was HAZELNUT icing involved- I die!
The onion bagel I could handle. But yeah, that hot dog made me want to barf.
OOOH I NEED TO START MY DAY WITH THAT COCKTAIL TOO!!!
It adds a certain luxurious feel to the day. 😉
Yum, your food always looks awesome.
Hm, I’ve never done the whole Dinner for Breakfast! I don’t think I’ve ever have tried it!
It’s kind of fun! I thought about doing a whole day backwards.
now i’m thinking it was the xanthan gum. hmmm, let;s party again with kat and make another cake! i’ll come!
Yes! Maybe I’ll make a Blend cake!
I always make a tester when I try new recipes! I would be so embarrassed if I made something that was awful for others. The cake looks perfect! The pie looks delicious too! YUM! Have a great Wednesday!
Thanks Sarena! I may need your help on the gluten-free baking though. 🙂
I have a HUGE spaghetti squash and need to make the pizza with it – if I can get to the store for egg whites. And you reminded me that I haven’t made socca in ages. Happy Spring!
Me either! We need a socca party.
Always gotta test with a new baking recipe!
I don’t know if it was on that list, but I remember seeing a hot dog-stuffed crust a while back. Now that is just weird.
Yep – that one was one there. Along with a cream-filled cone crust. Ick.
Yum! I have spaghetti squash with eggs for breakfast almost every morning!
Like in a scramble? I love that idea!
I read that pizza crust article yesterday too. Gross. I can honestly say that I’ve never had a stuffed crust pizza period.
My breakfasts are almost always savory, but I don’t think they don’t quite venture into dinner for breakfast category yet.
YUMMY!! That mexican squash pie looks amazing– and so does that cake!
Thanks! They were pretty tasty. 🙂
The frosting on that cake sounds incredible! And happy birthday Kat!
I would definitely eat that for breakfast! Mmm. Looking forward to hearing about Kat’s ultra, too!
Is there an Ultra in your future???
Dinner for breakfast is my favorite! I’m pretty much eating leftover chicken, avocado and greens each morning, which, last time I checked, was a pretty standard dinner. I want to make this crust, but I guess spaghetti squash is out of season? I can’t find it anywhere!
And wine and peanut/chocolate are my two favorite food groups…
It’s still everywhere here… but we get winer squash more or less year round.
Not beer???
OK, I stopped in my tracks at buffalo wings in the crust – HOLY CRAP! Do we really have to – unbelievable!!!
OK – lots of strange but good here!!! You did it well! 😉 The cake looks amazing though!!1 Leave it to me to focus on the cake & not the greens! 😉
I did 100s workouts in my young days – not sure i want to go back there! 😉
I rearely ever do 100s… but when I do… whoa. Even sitting hurts right now. 😉
I am drooling over the girls in the photo, I mean the Mexican Spaghetti Squash Pie! tee hee! this looks amazing! SO want to try making it! No really you girls are both gorgeous and the photo bombers are hilarious, looks like you had fun celebrating! Mexican Spaghetti Squash Pie on my table ASAP!
LOL! Thank you!
Let me know if you do the pie – would love to hear how you liked it. 🙂
CHICKEN WINGS IN THE PIZZA CRUST!?!?! whoa! haha. I love new creations but like you said, it may be a little to much! On the other hand, your mexican squash pie looks delicious which gave me the idea to use my spaghetti squash that is sitting in my kitchen right now! Looks like I have dinner for tonight!
Thanks!!! Would love to hear how you like it. 🙂
hey twin!
sorry i haven’t commented in a while 🙁 i feel so bad, but i got really busy. no excuse, i know.
i totally had a mexican breakfast this morning – still twins!! love you!
No wories! Same here. We need a vaca! 🙂
Oh my that confetti cake looks amazing!!!
Meal #4 looks mighty tasty!
I will occasionally have leftover dinner for breakfast but i have never intentionally made dinner for breakfast. The GF confetti cake looks great, I love the idea of making a mini one first!
Thanks! I say I do it for testing… but really I just want a bite hot from the oven. 😉
thanks for the recipe- it looks da bomb…happy wiaw!
Thank you!!!
I could totally go for that for breakfast and I love the idea of meat slices on cucumber with avocado, perfect bread free way of enjoying them all at once and getting lots of crunch!
Thanks! I always have to have some crunch with meals. It’s more satisfying!
ok so after seeing all the food porn of your spaghetti squash pie all over Instagram I have decided to jump on the band wagon and make it too!
would you recommend the original or the mexican for my first go? i can’t decide!
Awesome!!! That’s such a hard call… it really depend if you’re craving Mexican or Italian. I loved them both
(I know that sounds like a cop-out, but the flavors are so different)!
Ooh those cucumber turkey sandwiches look so good… Hmm I will need to make those some day
Basically, you’re my hero today for posting that spaghetti squash pie – looks AMAZING!
Awwww… thank you!!!
LOL at buffalo wings in a pizza crust! If I was still working at a pizza shop, I would totally mention that to my boss! He would have thought I was a genius.
Hazelnut frosting sounds BOMB!!
Haha – he would think you were a revolutionary!
Well, for we who abhor the texture of straight avocado, skipping that step is probably a good thing. I’ll take the frosting by the spoonful, though.
Oh Hannah… no orange OR avocado? What do you eat with your beets???
I’ve never eaten beets in my life. But I do adore beetroot with feta, with dill, on its own, roasted, stirred through risotto, pureed into a dip with cumin and chilli…. 😉
I *knew* you were going to say that! 😉
Bahahahaha!
I want to say “I need to make that spaghetti squash pie since everyone else is” but as it took me about 400 months to actually make (some version of) your cauliflower crust, we can look for that in, oh, say, 2018? 🙂
I had forgotten about this Carrot Cake Protein Batter. Doing it. I swear.
LOL! But it was worth the wait, right? The batter you must try. With all your yogurt bugs, you would love it.
I’m a HUGE brinner girl, but I don’t think I’ve ever reversed the idea haha! Mornings are pretty bland foods because that is all I’m ready for.
That cake was beautiful! I’ve never baked a tester of a small cake, but I have no problem quality-control-grabbing-a-piece-off then covering it with frosting. 😉
I will take Meal #4 to go please. 😉
Some mornings I am the same way – I can never plan breakfast though. I never know if I’m going to want sweet, savory, or something super-simple.
You know I love alcohol in my food, so I love the idea of the Hazelnut frosting – yum! And now I want to put something crazy in my next pizza crust…have to think on that one!
Yaaaay!! Happy birthday to Kat!!! Lately I’ve been getting away from eating meat (unintentionally, but it has just been grossing me out recently) but all your yummy meat-eats are making me want to get back to it. Especially these pies…….. yuuuummmmmmmmmm
And yes- I like dinner for breakfast! I actually did it this morning… and ate some of my mushroom tarts! Sometimes you just want something savory and hearty in the morning!
I love that you ate the tarts for breakfast! Shiitakes are on my grocery list this week. 🙂 I bet the filling would make a great omlette… hmmm…
I could never eat dinner for breakfast! I love breakfast to much!! That pie looks amazing I will defiantly be making that!
Can I just say…I love that you are normal and eat cake. I know that’s a weird comment but seriously. Hard to come by in this blog world consumed by lean protein and steamed veggies (not that I have anything against those things). I’m also very happy that we agree on M&Ms being a food group. I thought I was the only one who organized my pyramid that way.
Happy birthday, Kat!
Not weird at all! What is weird is people who DON’T eat cake. 😉
Eugh. I’ll pass on the buffalo wing crust, thanks much. And I’m going to have to pass on the dinner for breakfast thing as well. I love starting my day on a sweet note way too much and there’s no way I’d be willing to give that up.
Haha – I get it. Some days I just want spice though! 🙂
Ok, so I’ve never had spaghetti squash but I’m always tempted (and scared). I got into a “squash makes me gag” phase that started last year after a squash o.d., so I’m scared that if it tastes like butternut squash, I’ll die. But this looks SO SO SO good, that I may jump back into the waters and try it out!
It is TOTALLY different that butternut. It’s a pretty neutral taste – maybe closer to acorn?
man, oh, man the mexican pie looks delicious! not to mention, i want a slice of the cake. nice work, friend! 🙂
I’ve been seeing your famous spaghetti squash pies all over the blog world recently. And now a mexican version? Sounds great!
Happy Birthday to your friend Kat! Lucky girl with that awesome looking cake. Sprinkles! 🙂
Thank you!!!
Kat’s birthday was the best – I’m lucky to have such a great friend. 🙂
Hahaha my boyfriend and I were laughing about that BuzzFeed article yesterday morning at breakfast! it’s SO WEIRD!!! (Cream cheese cone crust?! What?!) That’s too funny. Your pie looks good though 🙂
That one was SO nasty! I didn’t post the pic becasue it grossed me out too much. LOL!
Oh-mah-gosh that Mexican Spaghetti Squash Pie looks soooooo good!! Must. Try. 😀
Thank you! Let me know if you do – I love feedback!
The squash pie sounds fantastic, Laura!
Thanks Fran! I bet it is really low on WW points!
So I had all these great comments running through me head while I was reading today’s post, but then you said nutty and creamy and I lost every single comment. You totally distracted me, other wards I might have said some really funny shit. Now all I’ve got is nutty and creamy.
LOL! I do that ALL the time. Not to worry – you still make me laugh, you nutty girl.
Gluten free goodies that result in a gummy texture usually depend on the flour mix you use and the xanthan gum. Typically most recipes call for WAY more than what you truly need in a recipe. I would recommend following the recipe for vanilla cupcakes on elanaspantry.com and adding your own funfetti sprinkles next time. 🙂
Thanks for the suggestion! You should come taste-test for round 2. 😉
That spaghetti squash pie looks delicious!! A little tweaking and I can probably make that so I can eat it. 😉
I posted some modification ideas in the original Italian recipe… let me know if you try it! I love different ideas. 🙂
Breakfast is the best time to test for me 😀
And cake sounds like the perfect thing!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
How did I know you’d like that?? 😉 You HAVE To read tomorrow’s post. Have to.
Just so you know… I drool all over my phone every time you post your food. I’m dying to make this!!
Salmon and fruit???? I must try! I still have to try your TVP recipes too. Can you just come cook for me???
Hee hee… I love the excuse to look back at posts! 🙂
And yes… if you feed me wine and freeze our dessserts.