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Appetites and Adventures

Maple Bacon Pancake Cookies

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Cheating gets a bad wrap.

 

Cheat day, that is.  That cheatin’ man doesn’t deserve a second look.  

This cheat day weekend was a little spread out… but I had trainer-blessings in my quest to gain more weight.

 

Saturday was Take Your Mom to the Gym Day.  This Saturday Mom joined me at my gym for a workout, and scheduled time with my trainer to being a program of her own.  Mother-Daughter Beast Mode = ON.

 

 

Mamma has gotten on pain relief (she was sidelined for a long time after a bad surgery), and has decided to refocus on fitness and building muscle.  I am SO proud of her!

 

 

After out workout we headed to Buford Highway, Atlanta’s ethnic food mecca, for a refuel.  Korean BBQ at Hae Woon Dae (5805 Buford Hwy., Doraville, GA 30340, 770-451-7957).  If you’re in ATL, I highly recommend it – don’t be scared by the fact that you practically have to turn into a “Gentleman’s Club” to get there.

 

 

If you’ve never experienced an authentic Korean BBQ meal, I cannot recommend it enough.  They cook the meat over charcoal at your table (they also have tofu), and serve it with a boat-load of tasty sides like cabbage kimchi, cucumber kimchi, pickled radishes, sprouts, lettuce, and soy bean paste.  Also, don’t skip the Korean pancakes.  The egg and flour-based pancakes are traditionally laced with scallions, but often include other add-ins.  Ours also contained carrots, zucchini, and kimchi.

 

Sunday my friends Summer and Annette had a baby shower celebrating the impending arrival of TWINS!

 

 

I had the honor of creating a few desserts… I may have gotten a little carried away with the baking, but it is fun to cut loose and get creative with the full-fat sugar-loaded treats every once in a while.

If you follow me on Instragram, you may have seen this shot of my grocery basket on Friday night:

 

 

You may have also seen the following scene as I cooked.  This is what happens when you’re frying bacon, creaming an obscene amount of butter and sugar, and it’s time for your 20g of protein (yup – that’s salmon).

 

 

The bacon and the creamed deliciousness were for 2 things that I could eat 24×7 and never tire of (though my waist line may say otherwise):  Maple Bacon Pancake Cookies and Banana S’More Nut Bars.

 

 

These S’more Bars are the best I’ve ever had.  I only wish I could take credit for the recipe!  They are the ingenious work of Eric Wolitzky from Cake & Ale in Decatur, GA.

The restaurant serves some of the best food in Atlanta (they are responsible for getting me to like seafood), but their bakery was recently recognized by Bon Appetite as one of the best in America.

 

 

The only liberties I took were to replace the milk chocolate with dark, use plain peanuts instead of salted, and toast the marshmallows before mixing them into the fudge-y chocolate-banana-peanut butter fudge.  Next time you have the occasion to go all-out with a dessert, MAKE THIS.  Click here for the full recipe.

 

Creation #2 was my own.  A pancake in cookie form.  It’s like breakfast for dessert.  I cooked bacon for the first time in years (I’m not actually a bacon fanatic as this post would indicate).  The only downside is that my condo STILL smells like bacon. 🙂

 

 

Maple syrup is a must with pancakes, so I added extract to  mine to acheive that deep sweetness.  I wasn’t sure I’d want to add anything else, as bacon is potent stuff… but I decided to stir in some dark chocolate chips.  What’s better that chocolate chip pancakes?

 

 

Sweet, salty and indulgently amazing, these chewy cookies are fit for any cheat day.  I’d say my trainer agrees since his sample were gone almost as fast as I could hand him the baggie.

Recipe at the bottom.

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First we need to recap what I did to EARN that incredible day of cheats!  No huge news to recap this week.  It was a good week of workouts, and I’m excited to keep seeing gains as I keep pushing and amp up the protein.

I don’t ever get to see my back, so I recruited Mom to take a pic while we were at the gym this weekend:

 

 

Workout Recap (9/4 – 9/9):

  • Tuesday – Shoulders/Butt, 1.5 mile walk
  • Wednesday – Chest/Biceps, Calf raises, 100 push-ups
  • Thursday – Legs (with trainer), 2 mile walk
  • Friday – Back/Triceps, Calf raises
  • Saturday – Shoulders/Butt
  • Sunday – Chest/Biceps, Calves

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Maple Bacon Chocolate Chip Pancake Cookies

  • 1/2 C butter, softened
  • 1 1/3 C granulated sugar
  • 2 Large eggs
  • 2 C pancake mix
  • 1 tsp maple extract
  • 12 oz bacon, cooked and crumbled
  • 1/3 C dark chocolate chips

 

Cream butter and sugar together in large mixing bowl. Beat in egg and maple extract, mixing well.

Slowly stir in pancake mix.  Fold in the crumbled bacon and chocolate chips.

Drop by the spoonful (~1.5 T) onto parchment-lined cookie sheets and bake for 12 mins.

Makes 2 dozen cookies.

***

Back on track!  I’m determined to make this the cleanest week ever, and to keep increasing my weight.

What is your favorite “cheat?”

Have you ever had Korean BBQ?

 

Tuesday is the New Monday

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It’s hard to believe it’s all over!

 

Christmas seems to have flown by.  While I’m always ready for the rush to be over, it’s a little sad too.  I love the lights and anticipation… and the baking. 🙂

 

I have to go out of town unexpectedly this morning, so today’s is a photo recap.  I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanza, or Merry Un-Affiliated Holiday Weekend!

 

Christmas Eve Breakfast - Toad in a Hole with white truffle salt and greens

 

Bacon Spread = new favorite WF discovery

 

The best cake I've ever made

 

Round 1 of desserts

Mom, we're out of 'nog!

The calm before the storm Christmas Morning

My favorite present

Too much excitement for this tired puppy!

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The fitness recap is a day late too… but I managed to NOT take a day off this week.  Saturday was a little light, but I still got moving.  That’s sometimes the hardest part this time of year – making the time for yourself to get out to do even a little fitness.  Once I do it I’m so happy I did.  It’s true what they say – you never regret a workout!

Two things to highlight:

  1. I’m still digging Body Rock – it’s a great resource when you only have a few minutes to squeeze in a workout
  2. I went running for the first time in a month – the worst part about not running is how very hard it is to get back out there.  My legs felt like sandbags.  I won’t be taking that much time off again!

Workout Recap (12/19 – 12/26)

  • Monday – P90X Biceps/Back, 100 push-ups
  • Tuesday – This BodyRock, Kickboxing, Legs
  • Wednesday – P90X Triceps/Chest
  • Thursday – This BodyRock (again), 4.5 mile run, 100 push-ups
  • Friday – Kickboxing, Elliptical
  • Saturday – All 3 of these BodyRocks, 100 push-ups
  • Sunday – This BodyRock (again), P90X Shoulders and Arms, Ab Ripper X
  • Monday – TRX suspension class, 100 push-ups

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Later this week I’m going to share Christmas brunch and the details on that cake… it was insane.  I wish I could take credit for that recipe!

What was the best present you received?

Are you a little relieved the madness is over?  Maybe just a little sad too?

 

High 5 for Friday

By

Hold on to the ones who really care
In the end they’ll be the only ones there
When you get old and start losing your hair
Can you tell me who will still care?
Can you tell me who will still care?

 

Can you guess the song?  Maybe the super-complex chorus will help…

 

Mmm bop, ba duba dop
Ba du bop, ba duba dop
Ba du bop, ba duba dop
Ba du

 

If you said Hanson’s Mmm Bop, you are correct!  The prize?  Hanson Beer.

 

 

That’s right.  According to Eater and other sources, the cute little teenage boys are reportedly going to be releasing their very own IPA beer – cleverly named Mmmm Hop – to be released in 2012.  Can this be for real?

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This is just one of the many items I’ve been meaning to share on the blog this week.  Thanksgiving threw me off so today is a “catch up” day.

 

#1

I’ve been meaning to give a shout out to Sarah @ The Smart Kitchen.  This rockstar lady received an job offer she couldn’t refuse… but it had her moving half way across the country on short notice.  What is a foodie to do with the stockpiles of goodies in her pantry?

Share!

 

 

I was one of the lucky recipients of Sarah’s Random Snacks of Kindness (pictured above).  Those arbol chilis in my Pumpkin Tempeh Chili?  Those are thanks to Sarah.

She also included my favorite – Biscoff Spread!  In sample sizes, which make my travelin’ heart happy.  The Hatch Chili Salsa also made me smile.  Spicy food is my BFF.  there was a lot more to it, but those are the items that I’ve consumed first.  Thanks for moving, Sarah!

 

#2

My best friend’s baby is the cutest thing in the world.  I’m not just saying that… truth be told I’m not a huge baby person (insert horrified gasps here).

 

Jackson is an exception.  He also has good taste – we shared a Whiskey Sour and edamame (I’m KIDDING… he can’t chew yet) at Top Flr, one of my “go-to” restaurants in Atlanta.

 

 

#3

The Warhol exhibit at Atlanta’s High Museum was great (albeit small).

 

 

They are running a show called “Picasso to Warhol” right now, so he had to share billing with several artists.  I’d love to go see a full exhibit one day!

 

#4

You all seems rpetty amazing by the bacon weave on the mac ‘n cheese at my “Bargiving“… I can’t believe I didn’t share bacon dish #2.

 

 

Pig Candy.  (Some call it candied bacon… I think pig candy is more fun.)  You coat bacon with brown sugar (and perhaps a sprinkle of cayenne) and cook it on a baking sheet in the oven until crisp.  It’s pretty amazing stuff.

Now that I’m back on the healthy-eating train, we won’t mention how much I appreciated it or how well it pairs with a crisp ale.

 

#5

Last Sunday I was lucky enough to see Kristian Bush (of Sugarland fame) play at my favorite local venue, Eddie’s Attic.

 

 

Long ago he had a band called Billy Pilgrim – this show brought back the days of seeing him (or Jennifer) play teeny venues with my elbows on the stage.  Ah, memories.  

This night he played “in the round” with his brother, Brandon (on the right), and singer/songwriter/storyteller Ellis Paul (on the left).  Perfect end to the weekend.

Does that mean that he didn’t attend Jennifer Nettles’ secret wedding last weekend?!

***

You can thank me later for Mmm Bop being stuck in your head all day. 😉

Will you try the Hanson beer?

Did you ever follow a band/musician before they made it “big?”

 

Pumpkin Rum Bread Pudding

By

One Thanksgiving meal isn’t enough.

It only comes once a year – why limit yourself to just one wonderful meal on that day?  Especially if you’ve just run 13.1 miles.

Friendsgiving part 2 occurred at one of may favorite local haunts – Diesel.  It’s more of a bar, but does serve up some tasty food.  Except on Thanksgiving.  This holiday they were serving drinks and the feast was a potluck.  BYOF.

Potluck Thanksgiving in a bar = BEST idea ever.

We had 21 feet of food (yes, measurements were taken).  3 turkeys (the spicy dry rub was wonderful), a duck, soups, stuffings, collards, mac ‘n cheeses, desserts… if you could imagine it, someone had brought it to share.

Those Tostidos didn’t get opened

Incredibly, most of the food was homemade and quite good.  Better than average, in fact.  I went back for seconds thirds.

The most fun to look at dish of the night:

Mac ‘n Cheese with a Bacon weave

Despite being totally stuffed, dessert remained my weak spot.

Let’s pretend I didn’t sample all of this

My contribution was pretty tasty, if I do say so myself.  In fact, I made it twice over Thanksgiving.  Both times to an enthusiastic reception.

As soon as I laid eyes on chocolate chip Panettone I knew it was going into bread pudding.  Pumpkin bread is better with chocolate chips… why not pumpkin in chocolate chip Panettone pudding?  In the bar-potluck spirit, I added some booze – dark rum was made for sweets, IMHO.

Pre-bake photo opp

Half-baked

The pumpkin made this pudding especially creamy and the dark rum brought out the sweetness of the Panettone.  Because it is a sweet bread, you don’t have to add a ton of sugar to this recipe – just 1/2 a cup in total.

I’ll even go out on a limb and say this is one of the best dishes I’ve ever made.  I don’t say that about just anything!

My dish on display at Bargiving:

It’s all I can do not to make it again right now…

Pumpkin Rum Bread Pudding

Pumpkin Rum Bread Pudding

by Laura Hall

Prep Time: 20 mins

Cook Time: 45 mins

Keywords: bake dessert Panettone pumpkin rum Christmas Thanksgiving fall winter

Ingredients (16 servings)

  • 1 chocolate chip Panettone, cut to ~2 in cubes (~7 cups)
  • 1 C heavy whipping cream
  • 1/2 C milk
  • 1/2 stick salted butter (melted)
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 1/4 C pumpkin puree
  • 3 T dark rum
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1/4 C brown sugar
  • 1/4 C sugar
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 C chocolate chips (optional)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place cubed bread in 9 x 12 pyrex.

In large bowl, whisk together wet ingredients. Add sugars and cinnamon and stir until combined. Pour evenly over bread and toss to ensure cubes are all covered.

Place in oven and bake for 40-50 mins, until pudding is set and top is beginning to brown. Allow to cool ~10 mins before serving.

Notes: You can use other types of breads, though you will want to increase the amount sugar (Panettone is a sweet bread). If you don’t like rum, you can cut back or omit it entirely.

Powered by Recipage

***

Coming back to work this week was a terrible shock after 4 days off!

Are you still eating leftovers?

What is your favorite variety of bread pudding?

Obesity Outbreak

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HALF of U.S. adults will be obese by 2030.*

Half.

We aren’t talking about a few extra pounds here.  Obesity is a serious problem.

That’s a mug… made of bacon… filled with cheese.

My co-worker and I were running through an airport the other day and he commented that he judges people that are clearly at an unhealthy weight who are eating Big Macs and riding on the moving walkways in airports.

His point is that they are adding to healthcare costs and, in turn, costing everyone.  It may be controversial, but I can’t say that I disagree.

Relax – you’ll never be more than a 145 mile drive from the nearest B’Mac.

 Source: Data Pointed

The other thing that bothers me?

Denny’s new sandwich offering is a 1650 calorie gut-buster: The Mac ‘n Cheese Patty Melt.

The contents?  “A hand-pressed beef patty topped with new creamy Mac ‘n Cheese, melted cheddar cheese, and zesty Frisco sauce on grilled potato bread.”

I get it’s their prerogative and people have the right to choose.  But really Denny’s… is this necessary? 

*As reported in the Washington Post, and according to a report released Thursday on the international obesity crisis in the British medical journal the Lancet.

***

This week of living at the mercy of hotel and airports have driven home the point that it’s not always easy to find healthy options.

Are restaurants being irresponsible serving items like this when half of our population will be at dangerous weights in less than 20 years?

Blue Cheese-Stuffed Bean Burgers

By

In Atlanta we have weekly events called “Screen on the Green.”

 

They put up a giant screen in the city’s largest park and project classic films.  Everyone comes out early with their Frisbees, dinner, and bottles of wine.  It’s a lot of fun!

Last night’s movie was Imitation of Life.  My beverage of choice was a beer from one of my breweries – Hitachino.  I noticed on of their beers on a menu at The Porter and had to try it, as I’d never seen a Japanese white ale!  They make a fantastic ginger ale as well – unlike many gingers, it isn’t too sweet for my taste.

Last night I tried the Red Rice brew for the first time.  I really liked it!  It is a light, crisp red beer with a bread-y taste and a refreshing hint of strawberries.  YUM.

It was fun hanging out with my friend and celebrating (almost) making it through another work week.  Too bad we can’t do this every night!

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Wayyyy back in the day (translation: college), I used to eat burgers weekly.  I also ordered the bacon-blue cheese version.  With fries and a side of ranch.  It’s been a while since I’ve eaten that much red meat in one sitting.  I’ve nearly cut the stuff out of my diet completely.  Way before cutting out the red meat, I did stop the blue-cheese-bacon-bomb burgers.

Fast-forward to the healthier life and I’ve learned to love homemade bean burgers.  One of my favorite parts about a good burger has always been melty cheese and a salty-spicy bacon taste.  I’ve come to realize that my lifestyle change doesn’t mean I can’t still enjoy those flavors!

 

Top 3 Tips for Bean Burger Enjoyment:

  • Use high-quality blue cheese – the flavor is more pronounced, so you don’t need such a massive amount
  • Add paprika for a spicy-smoky taste that satisfies almost like bacon
  • Add other fun flavors to make the bean burger more “fun” – make them spicy, herb-y, Mediterranean-inspired, Italian… beans actually allow added flavors to shine more so than beef does.

My blue cheese of choice?  Montchevre Chevre in Blue.  It was suggested to me by Matt, who has never led me astray in the cheese department!  Roaring 40’s Blue would also be great, or a cheese from another family.  I’m thinking a sun-dried tomato herbed goat cheese…

 

As far as the fries and ranch… I think I grew out of that (ranch now sounds soooo unappealing to me).  I enjoyed my burger with my Butternut Rosemary Hummus and celery.  And a side of work.

Then, after a tricep/chest workout, I went back for Round 2 with a fried egg on top.  Gotta get that protein!

 

Tomorrow I’m going with a side of sweet potato chips to compliment my leftover burger.

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Blue Cheese-Stuffed Black Bean Burgers

  • 1 can black beans, rinsed
  • 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 C walnuts
  • 1/4 C whole wheat flour
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1/3 C cilantro
  • 1/2 C red pepper, chopped
  • 1/4 C onion, chopped
  • 1/2 tsp paprika
  • S+P, to taste
  • 1 oz blue cheese

Preheat over to 400 degrees.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.

Pulse black beans, vinegar, walnuts, flour, cilantro, and garlic together in food processor until beginning to stick together. Add red pepper, onion, paprika, salt, and pepper and lightly pulse until just mixed (can also mix by hand).

Form 4 patties, leaving ~1/3 of the mixture behind.  Place patties on prepared baking sheet.  Top the burgers with blue cheese, keeping the cheese closer-ish to their centers.  Add remaining bean mix to the top so that the cheese is covered and press lightly to mold together.

Bake 10-12 mins on one side.  Using a spatula, flip and bake an additional 5-6 mins.

Makes 4 burgers.

***

A few hours to go before fun, sunshine-filled weekend!!!

***Updated to urge you to check out Act Fast Chef and the Friday Edition love she gave me!***

Do you like bean burgers?  

Do you prefer to make your own or order out?


Food Heaven

By

The sign says “The end is near.”

 

While the Rapture never took place, this weekend I died and went to food heaven.

The first (hopefully annual!) Atlanta Food & Wine Festival ran from Friday until Sunday.  My friends weren’t into going, so I decided to go it alone.  In the end, I am SO glad I did.

Doing things alone really forces you to get out of your comfort zone and meet new people.  Which I did – lots of very cool fellow food and wine lovers.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Day 1

Friday night I glammed it up to attend a party at The W Hotel called “Break the Rules.”

Pre-event, hoping someone will talk to me

The food was created by Nathan Lippy and his team.  Nathan is an up-and-coming chef and video blogger from FLA.  He, his wife, and sister were nice, down-to-earth, fun people.  They even let this loaner tag along with them through the tasting tents! 🙂

Everything was delish AND I found people to hang with, no problemo.

Check out his blog here.  Nate has some out-of-the-box food and media ideas.  He also hosts the world’s first interactive cooking show!

My Top 3 dishes of the night:

1. Cereal Milk Pana Cotta – Nate’s pana cotta was flavored with cereal.  And yes, it tasted like cereal milk.  In a good way.

Check out the serving tray!

 

2. Beer-Battered Fried Pineapple with Avocado Chipotle Cream – This one was my favorite, mostly for the spicy avocado cream (you know I’m a sucker for spicy food).  The serving tray method added to the cool factor.

She let me have seconds

3. Bacon, Fried Bananas, and Vanilla Ice Cream with Maple-Rum Sauce – Sweet, salty… need I say more?!

Bacon. It’s not just for breakfast.

There was SO much to taste, but I somehow managed.  I’d like to thank my  5-mile morning run and my second stomach.

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Day 2

Saturday the Foodster group trekked out to Wonderland Farms where we hung out with the owners, Sheldon Fleming and Deborah Summerville.

These two are in incredible pair – it is so rare to met people so passionate about their work.  Wonderland Gardens is located in a lower-income area of Atlanta where obesity and related diseases are prevalent.   Sheldon and Deborah bring in local youth and adults to educate them on nutrition and wellness.  They even offer hands-on education!

Speaking of hands-on… I farmed!  Sort of.  We tilled the land, planted a few veggies and herbs, and even braided garlic.  I couldn’t use a camera while farming, but Nate came by to take some pics (check out his FaceBook page for more shots!).

Talking with Sheldon

Then it was lunchtime.  We feasted on BBQ courtesy of Nathan Lippy and the guys at Community Q BBQ (1361 Clairmont Rd. Decatur, GA, 404-633-2080). The group was also treated to cold beers and a brief education from Atlanta’s own Sweetwater Brewery.

@BBQGeek makin’ ribs

The summer pea salad was my favorite side

Dried cherry slaw, summer peas, marinated cucs, hedge hog mushrooms, a rib (they still creep me out), and smoked chicken.

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As if that wasn’t enough, I hauled it back into the city just in time to take part in a Sommelier Roundtable.

Buuuutttt… I have to get on a plane, so more on that (and some awesome, affordable wine suggestions for you!), as well as the tasting tent extravaganza tomorrow.

***

I’ll never hesitate to go to an event alone again – I had the BEST time this weekend!

Would/have you ever gone to an event alone?  How about dinner or a movie?

The Best Chocolate Around

By

The Atlanta Rollergirls 2011 Season is about to begin!!!

Who’s coming to the opener on Feb 26th?! The Sake Tuyas will most certainly defeat the Denim Demons in the 730p home opener.  (Can you guess which team I’m on? 🙂 )

Get your tickets now – we will sell out.

If the 2 hour endurance practice we had last night is any indicator, this season will be a fast-paced, action-packed show!

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I am willing to bet we can agree on at least two things:

  1. Rollergirls are awesome
  2. Chocolate is delicious

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution says the combo is the Best of Atlanta.

ARG’s most bad-ass skater, Demi Gore, also happens to make the most bad-ass chocolate in Atlanta at Chocolate F/X.

If you are a meat-eater, eat the bacon toffee.  Your mouth can thank me (errr… Demi) later.

Source: Chocolate F/X

The ganache-centered deliciousness will melt in your mouth.  Cayenne FTW.

Source: Chocolate F/X

You can order online!!!

***

Your action-items for the day:

1. Order some Chocolate F/X for yourself on Valentine’s Day your Valentine.

2. Buy tickets to the ARG season opener.  Watch Demi and the rest of the all-stars on the Dirty South Derby Girls team @ the 5p bout and the Sake Tuyas take on the Denim Demons at the 730p.

Its BYOB, people!

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