The Subway, Yoga, Coconut, Family Recipes

One of my favorite things about Pinterest are the quotes, both inspirational and humorous. This is one I came across the other day and felt that it justified my unpredictable conversational and blog topics ;)

So, now I will explain how all the items in the title of this post relate, or at least I'll try.

Last weekend, I attended a yoga retreat. I would like to say it was relaxing, but rejuvenating would better define the experience. To start the weekend, we hiked "The Subway" in Zion National Park. It was simply incredible.

While on the yoga retreat, I had time to flip through some of my old, neglected magazines. I came across this recipe and made it for breakfast this morning. It was a very welcome change to our regular oatmeal. I used fresh peaches and skipped the sautéing. I think toasted, slivered almonds would be yummy on top.

Coconut Breakfast Pudding

Bleggi Family Recipes

A few months back, my sisters and I started working on a blog to share some of our favorite recipes with each other. I've posted a few things, but intend to keep adding my favorite recipes to the collection. Some are healthy, some are quick and easy, and others are just tasty. Sometimes the photos aren't always beautiful, but that doesn't mean that the food isn't delicious! If you have a recipe request, let me know and I'll post it.

Maple Syrup and Waffles

Around here we are total Maple Syrup snobs. We haven't bought a bottle of Aunt Jemimah in at least 8 years after discovering "real" maple syrup. Trader Joe's got us hooked with their real, honest to goodness Grade B Maple syrup. Then we moved away from TJs :(

So, we started buying Maple Syrup from Costco. It's Grade A. Not the same. Grade B is dark and thick and rustic. So, we turned to amazon.com or an occasional Trader Joe's import when we can get it. I think we are stock piled enough to last us until the Salt Lake City grand opening.

Now, I'm not ignorant to the fact that maple syrup is EXPENSIVE. I have a couple of ideas to help alleviate some of the extra financial burden that this may cause.

1. Buy a small, olive oil bottle (small because they tip over easily and you need to store it in your fridge.) The spout helps just a small amount drizzle out and doesn't leave a mess or waste dripped down the bottle. Even the smallest waffle-eaters can handle the drizzle. (P.S. I got this idea from Pinterest. Someone recommended coffee syrups in olive oil bottles. It's revolutionized breakfast time at our house.)

2. Use Grade A for baking and for the kids. Hoard Grade B as an adult-only condiment!

3. Bake the maple syrup into the waffles and convince your kids that it's already in there.

Here's our favorite waffle recipe and don't forget about these delightful Whole Wheat Oat Buttermilk Pancakes.

Maple Bran Waffles

adapted from the Joy of Cooking

Preheat a waffle iron. Whisk together in a large bowl.

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 cup whole wheat flour

1/2 cup coarse wheat bran or wheat germ

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

Whisk together in another bowl.

1 1/2 cups buttermilk

1/4 cup maple syrup (or honey)

1/2 cup butter, melted*

2 eggs

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the wet ingredients. Combine with a few swift strokes of the whisk.

*I often reduce this or sub with coconut oil. However the butter, makes them really tasty.

Sugary Easter Weekend

After a fun Easter Brunch with some friends, I taught the kids to play Annie-I-Over. They thought it was hilarious to yell, "Annie come back!" When I was a kid, my dad told me that he made up the game. Turns out, google knows all about it ;)

For the brunch, we had Baked French Toast. It was a big hit. So delicious, but definitely packed full of sugar.

Baked French Toast

•   1/4 c. butter
•   4 eggs
•   2/3 c. milk
•   1/3 c. sugar
•   1 tsp. cinnamon
•   8 slices bread

Melt butter in cookie sheet or 9 x 13 pan. Mix sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle evenly into pan. Mix eggs and milk; dip bread into mixture, soaking well. Arrange in pan. Bake at 400 degrees at 10-15 minutes. Lift out sugar side up on platter.

BTW, I've started what will be a bi-annual sugar detox; the day after Easter and the day after Halloween! This is timely since I came across THIS today.

Speaking of sugar... Here is a photo from our annual Bleggi Family Easter Egg Hunt. Isn't this a gorgeous view? It's near Woodland Hills, Utah. Turns out that my little niece wants to join our family. Sorry M, as cute as you are, five kids would send me over the edge. The baby is happiest when snuggled on Papa's lap.

We dyed eggs. For years I've been meaning to used natural dyes. This was the year to live and learn. The kids helped me brainstorm colorful foods. We used grape juice, beets, spinach, paprika, turmeric, and blueberries.

Whole Wheat Oat Pancakes on Menu Monday

I had another fun weekend trying some fun new recipes and using some good ole standbys.
* = new recipe
:) = recommended
:( = not recommended

Dinner tonight...
Left-overs! Yipee. :) :) :)

Dinner Sunday night...

• *Insalata Caprese Salad with homemade mozzarella = :) (I'll explain the homemade mozzarella in another post. So easy, so yummy!)
• No Knead Bread
• *Asiago Frisco = :) :) :) 
• Parmesan-crusted Chicken Breasts = :) I didn't follow the recipe exactly, but you'll get the point.
• Tomato Basil Ziti
• *Dessert/Lemon Curd in Phyllo Tarts and Chocolate Dipped Strawberries = :) (If you don't have the Joy of Cooking, trust me you would love it!)

Breakfast Saturday...
*Whole Wheat Oat pancakes = :) :) :)
Strawberries

Dinner Saturday...
Sushi with friends
Tuna casserole for kids. me = :) kids = :(


As promised, here is a favorite recipe. I adjusted this from a family fav that my kids call "Papa cakes." Every time we stay at my parent's house or cabin, my dad makes pancakes for my kids. They love them. I just tweaked the recipe to make them a bit more hearty.


Whole Wheat Oat Pancakes 

• 1 cup oat flour
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups buttermilk or sour milk
• 2 eggs
• 1/3 cup coconut oil or canola oil
• 1/4 cup agave nectar, honey, or sugar

Combine dry ingredients. Combine wet ingredients. Mix to together. Adjust consistency with more buttermilk or flour. Top with fresh fruit. Enjoy!


Makes about 24 pancakes. So we eat left-overs on Sunday morning! = :)


*Note: You can just omit the eggs. The baking powder, soda, and buttermilk make them raise just fine. I usually cook a batch without eggs for my little one, then add a couple of eggs for extra protein for the big kids.

Must-haves, Issue 1

I love this awesome griddle. In fact, I've used it twice today! See recipes below. It was relatively inexpensive. In fact, my sisters gave it to my for my birthday a couple of years ago. I just wipe it clean (sometimes!) I don't really use the grill side because it's hard to clean, but I have. It works.

I use it to cook tortillas, quesadillas, pancakes, french toast, reheat pizza, grilled cheese sandwiches, defrost meat, etc, (It's like magic. Chicken defrosts in like 30-45 minutes just sitting on the cold griddle!) Can you tell I watch way too many infomercials?

I have a gas stovetop and just leave it out all the time. See my last post for a photo of my stovetop.

Click here to get one for yourself! But don't get sucked into Crate and Barrel. You'll want one of everything! I just went to the actual store on Saturday and had to leave before I started adding stuff to my cart. I wouldn't have been able to stop.

Toad in the Hole Recipe

1 slice of whole wheat break

1 egg

butter

salt & pepper

1. Turn on griddle and smear with a bit of butter.

2. Cut a hole in the slice bread.

I use a sippy cup. It's a good size.

3. Place bread on griddle.

4. Crack egg and pour in hole.

5. Cook for a while.

6. Flip and season.

7. Cook for a while longer.

8. Don't forget to throw your circle on the griddle for extra toast.

9. Feel sad that your baby can't eat a Toad in the Hole :(

Darn alleries!

10. Make recipe #2 so that your baby is happy.

Here's the smoothie we ate today. No recipe, just tips.

Chocolate Banana Blueberry Smoothie

Avery said it was the best smoothie EVER! Kudos to myself :)

I sometimes use Quik, but as of late just cocoa powder and sweetener

2 cups of milk

a banana

frozen blueberries

2 T cocoa powder

3 T honey

1 cup strawberry yogurt

2 T ground flaxseed

1 t fish oil

I am going to start using the last two ingredients a little more just to give my kids a super-charge of brain power.

If you are wondering what on earth I'm talking about, Read this. It's such a great book on the importance of childhood nutrition.

The NDD Book: Nutritional Deficit Disorder

P.S. Buy it from half.com for about $7.

Food for thought...

I’ve recently been following a creative blog that has focused on food recently. The author shares her philosophy on eating. It’s so similar to mine that for a minute, I thought I’d written it. So rather than reinventing the wheel, read this.

One of her commentors, Gram, commented “... where did we get this girl? .. very good ideas, but hard to change old ways of eating.” I get that from my family and friends a lot. And to Gram (and the rest of you unbelievers), I say, it’s baby steps. You can do it!

I have to admit that my list of organic produce has decrease since moving back to Utah. It’s not as readily available in my neck of the woods. But, with all of the recent hype, I’m back in the saddle. This week I’m in search for local poultry and meat.

Here are a few things we do to increase the nutritional value of food at our house.

Canning… Thanks to my parents and grandparents, I have learned the art of canning. During the past couple of years, I’ve canned my peaches and pears in white grape juice. Then, my kids can drink the juice (well technically they could drink the sugar water!) You can buy canned fruit packed in juice. Just keep your eyes open. Walmart has it.

One of our favorite breakfast foods is Oatmeal with canned peaches sweetened with the juice and cinnamon. Maybe a dollop of plain yogurt!

Another breakfast idea…. Smoothies…. Some people call this a green smoothie. We make these when we are in a rush and we need to slurp down a nutrient-dense breakfast quickly. My kids gulped one down before hitting the slopes after lunch

Rough Recipe
Orange Juice or pineapple juice
Banana
Frozen berries (the darker the better), I use the frozen blend from Costco or frozen blueberries
Fresh spinach (a couple of big handfuls)
Huge scoop of plain yogurt

My kids and husband love these smoothies and, yes, they even know that the spinach is in there.