Recipe Test: Cream Cheese Pancakes

Credit: ibreatheimhungry.com

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INGREDIENTS:

• Cream cheese
• Eggs
• Stevia (I left out)
• Cinnamon

Seriously that is IT!  The pinner said they taste like cheesecake ... I disagree with that but they are some pretty yummy little pancakes.  I doubled the recipe and it didn't make much.  Hubby LOVED them but then I think it may have just been that he loved me not only making him dinner but also making him breakfast.   (Oy!) 

I forgot to take my own picture but here is the one from the recipe: 

Recipe Test: Spinach Crepes with Ricotta, Tomatoes & Basil

Credit: cinnamonspiceandeverythingnice.com

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INGREDIENTS:

• Spinach
• Salt
• Milk
• Eggs
• Butter
• Basil
• Flour (I used whole wheat pastry flour)
• Olive oil
• Tomatoes
• Garlic
• Ricotta
• Parmesan cheese

This dinner took some time because you have to make the crepes first ... then stuff them ... then heat them again.  I went a little too heavy on the butter .  Next time I may try more spinach in the batter, more tomatoes inside and less butter in the pan!  They were damn good though.  Hubby thought they were bland but that was easily taken care of with a little salt & pepper. 

Recipe Test: Mediterranean Chickpea Salad

Credit:  dashingdish.com

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INGREDIENTS:

• Chickpeas
• Parsley
• Red bell pepper
• Tomatoes
• Olives
• Feta Cheese
• Red onion
• Lemon
• Red wine vinegar
• Garlic
• Yogurt
• Salt & Pepper
• Stevia (I left out)
• English cucumber

Hubby was out of town on business so this was my bachelorette dinner night.  An easy salad.  Once again my picture sucks compared to the one on the original site:

 But alas I'm no photographer.  I mean seriously ... how do all these blogs have what look like professional photographers on staff?   Nope - not me!  No photographer here ... just little old me.

 Dinner was eggplant dip (previous recipe- yummy!) with whole wheat pita and this salad.  Pretty good & Hubby scoffed down all the leftovers as soon as he got home so the extras didn't go to waste.

 Speaking of scoffing down leftovers ... My fat boy below raiding what his little (though bigger in terms of height) brother left in the food bowl.   Just like his momma this boy needs to get OUTSIDE and get some activity to slim down!!!

Recipe Test: Roasted Veggie Ratatouille

Credit: afoodcentriclife.com

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INGREDIENTS:

• Bell pepper
• Onion
• Eggplant
• Zucchini
• Tomatoes
• Garlic
• Thyme
• Herbs de Provence
• Olive Oil
• Salt & Pepper
• Parmesan Cheese
• Brown Rice

Chopping up veggies is the toughest part of this meal.  It would be very easy to make ahead or prep ahead and then throw together.  Simple & yummy.   I can't wait to try it with GRILLED veggies this summer!

Recipe Test: Sweet Potato Brownies

Credit: morethanpaleo.com

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INGREDIENTS:

• Sweet potatoes
• Dark chocolate (I used 100%)
• Honey
• Eggs
• Cocoa
• Vanilla or Almond extract (I used almond)
• Coconut flour
• Coconut oil
• Baking soda
• Salt
• Nuts (I used slivered almonds)

Photo Credit:  morethanpaleo.com

They look good right?  I continue to make deserts each week on purpose.  I've got one hell of a sweet tooth and I know it is one thing that if I don't satisfy I'm more opt to seek out the sugar filled addictive processed crap!   And here I can say it contains a vegetable too so woo hoo!

Easy to prepare ... smelled great.  I took a little lick before it went in the oven and was worried that the batter didn't taste sweet.   I was sadly right to worry as they were decidedly NOT sweet.   I'm guessing because of just "dark chocolate" I used 100% cacao.  That leaves just the potatoes and the honey for sweet. So I decided to get creative!  I whipped up a twist on primal fudge using just coconut oil, honey and peanut butter and poured it on top ... in the fridge you go & when firm:

The bottom adds the chocolate flavor and the 'fudge frosting' adds the sweet.  Still not as good as plain old primal fudge but does the trick.  (and I can still tell myself I'm getting veggies!) 

Recipe Test: Green Reset Smoothie

Credit:  ??  Found on Pinterest - says "Photo by Joao M. Fernandes"

Recipe:  Two handfuls spinach, 1 apple, 1 banana, 1 cup yogurt, 5 strawberries & 1/2 orange.

Okay ... so my picture looks oh soooo edible!  (sense sarcasm?)   Well, since the only credit I can give on this one is the photographer I may as well also show you the picture.  It looks a heck of a lot better than mine!  

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kamikun/4254826122/

It was a good smoothie.  I am still not used to room temperature smoothies as before this journey of mine I've always used some kind of frozen fruit.  I may use a frozen banana next time but it was still refreshing.  A great way to get fruit & veggies!

Recipe Test: Lazy Sunday Casserole

Credit:  kayotic.nl/blog

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INGREDIENTS:

• Sausage
• Potatoes
• Carrots
• Bell Pepper
• Onion
• Fennel 
• Garlic
• Oil (I used Olive)
• Pepper
• Italian herbs
• Chicken broth
• Balsamic vinegar

A cold day with more snow and this was the perfect dinner!  I've never had fennel before - it smells like licorice!  Not a strong flavor of it though - pretty interesting.  This was easy to make.  really the chopping of the veggies was the most work. That and just the in and out of the oven part.  Worth the effort though! 

Check out the swirls of steam I captured coming off it!  It smelled GREAT coming out of the oven.

The sausages turned out a bit dry but otherwise it was perfect!   I was worried the balsamic vinegar would overpower the flavor like some of the other veggie dishes I've made lately but it didn't.  The feeling this mean gave me was definitely one of 'comfort food'.  Hubby approved and requested it be on the 'rotation'.   We have a rotation?  News to me!   I approve too though so will make again.