Quick Tasty Experimentation

I made an effort to use up my waffles after having an excess post waffle-testing (and having to leave for home).

This was a bit of the standard set up: Toaster-ovened with or without the Blueberries and Cacao Nibs at the same time, and accompanied/mixed with Vanilla Vegan Protein Powder mixed with just enough water and PLENTY of Cinnamon. Hot Cocoa for occasional dunkage.

Then I had an idea...

Gluten Free French Toast Waffles? Taffles?

After seeing so many delicious egg/quinoa bakes and other similar bakes in the food blog world I decided to just throw some of my favorite free range eggs in the toaster oven with my waffles. Definitely an easy and delicious way to enjoy a French Toast like waffle providing the essential morning fat, carb, and protein! Cinnamon and Cacao Nibs included. A little soggy and a little crunchy for the win.

Another morning I tried out making some high protein more blueberry muffins to use up the last of my brown rice flour and quinoa.

They were a little dry, but rose the right amount. Super sweet, tart, and delicious blueberry clusters were epic (I used a lot!).

Melting coconut oil all over the top makes up for a bit of the dryness and is super tasty.

Epic Blueberry Insides

I don't know if the recipe is sharing but I'll include it anyways for inspiration/if you feel like using up some brown rice flour and quinoa flour or quinoa. And lots of Blueberries!

• 2 Eggs
• 1c Blueberries
• 1/2c Brown rice flour
• 1/4c Quinoa flour
• 1/4c Whey protein
• 2g Baking soda
• 50g Olive oil
• 20g Agave nectar 40g Brown rice syrup
• Dash of Salt
• Cinnamon 6g
• Contents of 1 Vanilla Bean

Baked for 27.5 minutes at 350ºF.

All of these Gluten Free treats make me extra happy because A) I've discovered that the less wheat I eat, the less my knee tendonitis bugs me when I ride (no advil or rocktape needed) and B) Aaron Gwin (best American mountain biker ever thus far, just truly came out of the woodwork this year and won the world cup overall) is gluten free!

Waffle Testing

Although using my super easy protein waffle/pancake batter to make waffles is ideal, sometimes an even faster breakfast is in order. And I was out to find the best.

I looked online first at various gluten free freezer waffle options, and none will be as healthy as making your own due to the use of vegetable oils and potato starch, but on occasion the best of them all will suffice.

I narrowed it down to two brands based on the best ingredients and here's how it went.

This Nature's Path Buckwheat Berry Waffle was good, I would prefer it without the berry flavor but all around I can't complain.

It paired perfectly with 'Protein Yogurt' (Just mix powder with less liquid) made with Vanilla Vegan Protein, Coconut Milk, and some extra Cinnamon of course. I could eat it for days. I dabbed a little coconut oil to melt on as well.

I also toasted the waffle with some berries from the freezer, and they got nice and tart/on the verge of explosion! Some were just enjoyed fresh as well to mix it up.

I've been on a hot cocoa with the weather in Canada going from summer to winter in <24 hours (85º to 45º). This is the healthiest best i've had, no sugar. Just Unsweetened Dagoba Cocoa w/ Hot water, a little Coconut Milk and 3-4 drops of Stevia. Even better tasting than the decadent version.

At first I instantly thought, wow this van's waffle is truly plain and less good than the nature's path buckwheat (where the buckwheat really makes a difference for a fresher more whole real waffle taste) but then I realized it tastes like an eggo! Ironic?

They are about equally healthy, so in the end if you want a slightly berry flavored, more whole wheat real tasting waffle go with the buckwheat, and for an eggo substitute go with the van's. I care for both!

Sometimes I just feel like munching on a ton of steamed vegetables. Extra soft, with sesame oil and seeds on my squash. Hummus as well, and some tender lightly spiced with herbs chicken breast, melt in your mouth with a hint of coconut oil...

And some more experimental cookies! Pretty successful this time qith quinoa/brown rice flour, and Japanese sweetened red bean.

 Cherries and Cacao Nibs go so well together...

Blueberry Bliss

This post is all about breakfast. With Blueberries. Probably so delicious because of the in season Pemberton Blueberries! 

 Blueberry Coconut Muffins

 Since my Paleo Diet kick i've meant to try some grain free recipes. This worked quite well (with some availability based-modifications of course).

• 1/2c Coconut Flour
• 1/2t Baking Soda
• 2T Cacao Nibs
• 2T Dried Cranberries
• Some Sea Salt
• 3 Eggs
• 1/3c Coconut Milk
• 1T Vanilla
• 4 Mashed Dates
• 1c Blueberries

I've been using eggs with the yolk since grocer's here carry free range organic, so they are excellent sources of Omega 3's and I'm also siginificantly less worried about cholestorol and saturated fat now. The other modifications were simply what I had on hand.

I've been loving my cooked blueberries soft and on the verge of explosion!

They really made a nice moist muffin! A yummy mushy base of coconut flour and egg, with sweetness from the best blueberries, cacao nibs, and dried cranberries. The crunchy bitter cacao nibs compliment the soft tart blueberries well. An easy grain free-low carb-healthy fats and protein breakfast/snack for sure. Also good toasted with some nut butter.

 Just a quick image of one of the eggs here because they are so good! Super orange yolks and so delicious. 

Blueberry Power Waffle Time

 The other side

 I took my pancake batter to the waffle maker! Minus the chocolate and chia seeds.

With Blueberry Sauce and Melty Coconut Oil (and a plain taste test bite)

  I experimented with a Blueberry Coconut Sauce which was delish, also making up for the slightly drieness of the waffles when eaten plain, which are vanilla-blueberry coconutty and excellent. Good texture and crispiness.  Make the sauce or simply slather with coconut oil / coconut butter.
For one waffle:

• Some Coconut Water and Coconut Milk 
• 1 Scoop Vanilla Whey
• 1-2t Vanilla 
• 1/2c Blueberries (some for sauce some for waffle)
•  2T Coconut flour 
•  1 Egg

 For the sauce just boil a bit of water with the blueberries (I could have used a lot more) and then top it on the waffle with coconut oil sort of mixing together.

I'll admit I also enjoyed the extras later on toasted with So-Delicious Cookie Dough Coconut Ice Cream. So decadent and so good. (Think I prefer Coconut Bliss but it's not available here currently)

Waffle Wednesday, Fish.

OK I've been SO behind with the beginnings of summer. I'm more busy than with school! I am going to have to hit some consistent but smaller posts otherwise i'll never catch up. Here we go:

Waffle Wednesday! New and improved.

Before Topping

 My adapted power pancake recipe worked perfectly for the batter. Just enough for 1.5 waffles, perfect for 1 breakfast.

•  1T Coconut Flour
•  4T Buckwheat Flour (coffee grinder)
•  1/2t Baking Powder
•  Some Agave Nectar or Stevia (maybe 1/2t?)
•  1/2t Vanilla Extract 
•  1/3c milk of choice (I used coconut)
•  1t Cinnamon
•  1 Egg White

The waffles are great on their own but I topped with:

• Strawberry, Raspberry, Blueberries
• Nonfat Greek Yogurt
• Coconut Yogurt
• Maple Syrup

Remember my Greek Yogurt kick? Well this is part II. It is just like whipped cream on waffles. So good. I tried Coconut yogurt as well which was not as creamy but almost as good. Depends on the mood/what your into.

Last Supper: Fish.

I went to one of my favorite restaurants Fish (been on this blog many times) with my mom before heading to Oregon for the weekend.  I usually get Ceviche or the White Bean and Tuna Salad but tried their Sturgeon over a bed of salad, and split some sides of Sautéed Green Beans and Radish as well as Zucchini, Root Vegetables, and Leeks. Tons of Olive Oil and Lemon for the win. The sides at fish are always changing seasonally and I often enjoy them even more than the mains! I also officially like sturgeon. It was kind of like the grilled chicken of fish. Solid.

WAFFLES! and Cafe Del Soul

Saturday Morning!

Tried out a new recipe! Healthy Oatmeal Waffles. Nonfat yogurt instead of buttermilk, thick rolled oatmeal, a bit of soymilk, whole wheat flour, and cinnamon make these puppies delicious!  Enjoyed with maple syrup and banana on top and a glass of soymilk with a shot of homemade apple juice.

Some Cafe Del Soul to go with watching Micetro at Redwood!

Curry Sol Good Wrap: Spinach, brown rice, whole wheat tortilla, mustard curry sauce, spinach, almonds, dried cranberries, and tofu

My Passionate First Date (Smoothie): Passion Fruit, Low fat Yogurt, Banana, Mango, Dates

-Sweet potato

-Broccoli w/ Hummus

-Herb Balsamic Chicken

-Some random sauteed vegetables

This no bake granola bar from before for snack was so delicious! Can't wait to make another batch with even better proportions and new ingredients.

Some more Nutmeg Dried Cherry Banana Oatmeal with Soymilk, Blueberries, and Almonds.  Also had some Red Ginger Tea w/ some homemade apple juice for sweetener! Hot apple cider/tea concoction...mmm