I am a big fan of trying new things.*
*Unless those new things are Dad’s Nads.
I’ve been really good lately about working through recipes/ideas I’ve noted to try. This week I have made 3 new dishes already this week!
Side note: I’m really excited/flattered that so many people tried my Citrus Chickpea Cilantro Salad! Check out this rendition by Sarah @ Quotidienne Moi.
Back on track: with all the fun new recipes, this What I Ate Wednesday is more like “what I’ve eaten so far this week.”
Breakfast:
Great morning workouts leave me ravenous and in need to protein. Kasey @ PowerCakes created this “Power Pumpkin Roll” that I knew I had to try. This monster is ~450 calories and packs 45g of protein!
I followed her recipe exactly, though next time I may add another 2 T of pumpkin and leave out an egg white. I’m curious to know if it would work with flax eggs… that’s a lot of egg though!
Even if you don’t make the roll, make the Chia Vanilla Frosting. I don’t often think yogurt tastes like dessert, but this one really does!
Lunch:
It must have been the week of orange, because my lunch was even more vibrant than the pumpkin roll! This miso-laced carrot soup was as delicious as it looks! Recipe to come Friday!
Served with a giant arugula and celery salad, which I dressed with hot sauce from the Mexican grocery store (the only place to go shop you are serious about heat), nutritional yeast, cumin, and a squeeze of lemon juice.
Dinner:
Last night I had a couple of my favorite over for dinner. My favorite Sports Glutton, Jed, recently shared a link to his Sweet Potato Nachos that I’ve been drooling over ever since.
One of my dinner guests is gluten-free, and we all make an effort to eat clean. This dish is a much healthier alternative to your typical nachos, particularly with some modifications!
I used dried black beans… though I was a bit panicked when I realized I forgot to soak them. Some Googling lead me to a cool method by The Paupered Chef that involved a quick boil followed by 75 mins in the oven. I have never heard of cooking them in the oven, but it worked perfectly! Click here for the details.
Post-oven, I let the beans rest until it was time to re-heat for company. Jed simmered his beans in beer… I am fresh out, so I added the following (post oven-bake) to flavor my beans over medium heat:
- 1/4 C veggie broth
- 1/2 yellow onion
- 2 Chipotle peppers in adobo
- Dashes of paprika, garlic, parsley, red pepper, cayenne pepper, and oregano
While that cooked I prepared the sweet potatoes… the easy way with Alexia’s Sweet Potato Waffle Fries. Nom.
When the fries were done I topped them with tomatoes, serrano peppers, and queso. Back into the oven on broil then went while I sliced an avocado and minced cilantro.
Remove, decorate, and devour.
Oh yes, there was also wine. A Roquevale 2005 Portuguese Red (Alentejo) blend of Aragonez, Alfrocheiro, and Cabernet Sauvignon. This was a big, fruity, dark wine that I could drink all night long. Arguably a little heavy for a spicy Mexican-ish meal, but I love a big wine.
Also exciting: I got to use my chalkboard wine art glasses!
I was the lucky winner of a giveaway at Ancient Fire Wine and received 4 bottles of wine from Tapena. The Garnacha we tried was delicious! It was approachable without compromising body. We picked it as an earlier wine (thinking it would be lacking), but it was great! I’d drink it anytime!
Dessert:
For dessert we nibbled on the vegan, gluten-free dessert I teased you with last week… I’m finally posting the recipe tomorrow!
We also have another dessert nibble courtesy of Callie – she sent over some Rawxies to sample and OMG are they ever good.
My favorite was the Cinnamon Walnut Raisin. I love how the cinnamon came through – so often the taste gets lost in the sweetness of desserts.
Raw, gluten-free, and vegan… and totally worthy of a dessert platter to share with friends. I may have enjoyed one as an afternoon snack as well… 🙂
***
Those Sweet Potato Nachos would be a GREAT addition to a Super Bowl spread!
Are you watching the Super Bowl? Any fun dishes planned?
What’s the best thing you’ve eaten so far this week?
Liam @ "Is butter a carb?" says
Your interpretation sweet potato nachos made me drool everywhere. I love black beans! Great post! Have a Happy Wednesday 🙂
Laura says
Always happy to inspire a drool. 🙂
Tiff says
That pumpkin role looks great. Thanks for linking up; I may take a swing at it. Of course your dinner looks pretty awesome too. Don’t you just love Google and its infinite wisdom?
Laura, RD @ Against The Grain says
I absolutely love soups like that when it’s cold out! We are headed to Disney today and I’m hoping Boma will have something like this pumpkin soup! After seeing yours I need it!!!
Laura says
Lucky you! I love Disney… but that soup isn’t pumpkin… it’s miso carrot! 🙂
Parita @ myinnershakti says
SO excited to see that recipe!!!
And I love sweet potato nachos – Lindsay at the Lean Green Bean posted a recipe once so I tried it out. YUM!
Lee says
You never know, the Dad’s Nads could be delicious!
Tiffany says
Orange week sounds great! And on the menu for super bowl… a) buffalo tofu, b) some sort of dip, c) a fun take on potato chips, d) something sweet involving puff pastry, peanut butter, and chocolate! LET’S GO PATS! 😀
Laura says
Can I invite myself over for your Super Bowl dinner? All of that sounds wonderful!
Fran@ Broken Cookies Don't Count says
The pumpkin roll looks delicious!!
Alayna @ Thyme Bombe says
Wow, so many tasty looking things in one post! You know I’m most excited by that carrot miso soup, sounds incredible.
CrazyCookingCouple says
Keep seeing nutritional yeast, what is it!? haha and does it work like regular yeast?
Laura says
It’s really good – don’t expect it it to taste like cheese though (many use it as a sub for cheese). It has a sort of nutty taste. Nutritional yeast is not like active baking yeast; it is grown only for nutritional value. Great source of B12!
Stephanie says
I also live in Atlanta! I can’t wait to try the pumpkin rolls!
Laura says
So nice to meet another Atlantan! We have a pretty large blogger community here – in fact, we’re planning a meet up on Saturday evening. Let me know if you’d like to join!
Lisa ♥ Healthful Sense says
Wow were do I start… with the pumpkin protein roll w/ chia frosting or the sweet potato nachos?!!
Both sound amazing =)
Oh and the Rawie bars!!
sportsglutton says
So happy you enjoyed the nachos Laura and love the tweaks you made…especially the fries (Alexia’s are sooo good). And of course thanks for the love!
Laura says
Thank you! This is going to be in constant rotation at my house now.
Nada (One Arab Vegan) says
Ah that carrot soup looks incredible! I have new faith in your recipes thanks to last night’s amazing chili so will definitely keep my eyes peeled for it. Those wine glasses are super cute too.
Laura says
Thank you!!! I’m so happy that you liked the chili. 🙂
Candy @ Healthy In Candy Land says
My husband and boys are *really* wanting nachos for the Superbowl. I am very excited about the idea of sweet potato nachos!! I wonder if they’ll go for it. If not I can make some just for me!
Amazing looking food, as always!
Laura says
I can’t imagine how anyone wouldn’t love these! Let me know how it goes over. 🙂
Carol @ Lucky Zucca says
Sweet potato nachos! YUM! I love all the creative things you share.
Christin@purplebirdblog says
Still giggling about the Dad’s Nads… too funny. Nacho anything makes me a happy camper, and those sweet potatoes look divine.
Allie says
Oh my gosh that roll looks amazing. If you do try a vegan/flax version, I want to know if it works!
Laura says
I may half it to try the flax egg… it’s just a lot to sub so I’m nervous!
Callie {rawxy} says
Yay – so glad you love them! I also like the CWR – I use a special ‘sweet’ or ‘true’ cinnamon that in unlike any cinnamon available at the grocery stores… pricey, but SOO good!
Laura says
Good to know! It’s it just straight from the cinnamon stick? I ground up some sticks once and the taste was insanely good.
P.S. I left my dinner guests try the Rawxies too – they were in love with them all, but the favorite was Cinnamon Walnut Raisin. 🙂
Heather @ Better With Veggies says
Great to hear the Rawxies were delicious, I’ve been eyeing those for a while! Your glasses look so cute in the pictures, I can’t wait to see them in person. 🙂
Corey @ Learning Patience says
So many yummy things in this post..now I’m hungry! I am planning on trying out some new recipes for Sunday. I can’t wait to try a spicy chicken baked mini wrap thingys….hopefully they are great and I’ll post all about it next week! 🙂
xoxo from Trinidad
Lauren @ What Lauren Likes says
Great eats! Happy WIAW 🙂
Cucina49 says
J’adore nachos, but I hardly ever eat them because I like them cheesy and with real tortilla chips, not the baked kind. Great idea to simmer the beans in beer.
Laura says
I’m the same way, but these were a really satisfying alternative! I mean… it involves fries… how can you go wrong? 😉
Sharon @ Bit of the Good Stuff says
That pumpkin rolls looks amazing!!! And the sweet potoato nachos sound totally delicious! Thanks so much for the tip about black beans and for the links to all those great recipes. I can’t wait to check them out. Happy WIAW! xx
StoriesAndSweetPotatoes says
I want to try that pumpkin roll but it seems like a lot of work. I might just put the frosting on pancakes, lol 🙂
Laura says
It wasn’t as bad as I thought – I made the “icing” the night before and baked the pumpkin before I went to the gym. I rolled it up and let it cool while I worked out so all I ned to do when I got home was ice it and cut it up!
But yeah, that icing would be good on anything, any time. 🙂
Hannah says
There is simple too much deliciousness here for me to cope with! That pumpkin roll looks incredible 🙂
Tessa @ Amazing Asset says
AHh so many good things going on in this post! The pumpkin roll makes me swoon and also the nachos and sweet potato business? Oh yes mam to that!
Sarah says
Thanks for the include, lady! P.S. great minds think alike-I have been dreaming in sweet potato nachos, totally ready for my super bowl sunday meal!
Laura says
Any time, friend! Thanks for braving the recipe. 🙂
Laura says
I try to make new recipes every week too! Before kids it was several per week, now I’m lucky to get in more than one. That pumpkin roll looks awesome… I make the old-fashioned dessert kind at holidays, but I LOVE the idea of a healthy version. And can’t wait for tomorrow’s dessert recipe, yum!!
Stephanie @ Eat. Drink. Love. says
Wow, there are so many delicious things about this post! First, pumpkin roll, oh my word, that looks incredible! And sweet potato nachos? Genius!
Laura says
This made me realized the entire day was orange. LOL! It was tasty though! 🙂
Kiri W. says
Oh my, those sweet potato waffle fry nachos look AMAZING. Like. MUST HAVE NOW. Oh wait, I can’t, I am stricken with gastritis and am not allowed spicy or acidic foods. Nooooooo!
Nooo, God no, I hate football. Sorry to say. Those pants are just not right. (And yes, being German, what do I know?)
Hmm, the best thing this week would have to be lemon pepper crusted yellowfin tuna with artichoke hearts and sundried tomatoes. Before I knew I had gastritis.
Laura says
Oh no! You could use different spices to keep it more mild. Maybe turn it into cheese fries? It would be great with just some herb sprinkled on.
That tuna sounds amazing and I don’t even eat seafood!
Jenn L @ Peas and Crayons says
Pinning that soup so I remember to stalk you for the recipe friday!
annnnd I totally have a SP nacho recipe that i’ve been wanting to post FOREVER but my photos are vile and I’m too chicken to post! lol =) regardless – life changing right? orange veggies + cheese + beans = heav. en.
love you hooker!
Laura says
Post it anyway!!!! Or just make it again and bring me some. 🙂
xoxo
Alexia @ NamasteYoga says
45g protein in your breakfast? that surely is for power queens! wow, i need to recreate that power roll!!!!
Laura says
For real! It was fabulous…. I was barely hungry by lunch! 🙂
Linda says
Clever you using those sweet potatoes!! I think I’m going to do exactly the same!! And that pumpkin roll looks to die for!!
Zoe says
I’ve never heard of carrot with miso before, I’ll have to look up the recipe as I am a huge lover of miso soup!
Laura says
I posted it here: https://www.sprint2thetable.com/2012/02/super-foods-miso-carrot-soup.
The sweet carrots were sooo good with the salty miso!