Strictly Business – Spinach, Salmon, Pumpkin and Peanut Butter

This post is all business, for the moment.  no fluff.  no fillers.  just recipes.

we’ll do fluffy end of year, looking forward to next year, unrealistic 2013 resolution blog stuff later

actually, there will be no unrealistic resolution stuff.  I don’t do that.  I DO do goals.  so we’ll do dreaming big, goal stuff later.

4 Recipes

Let’s get this done

By the time you are finished reading the recipes, you will clearly understand why I do not post more recipes.  my “directions” are pretty horrendous.  my pictures are terrible and unappetizing, but hopefully the end product tastes great.

SPINACH BREAD

As always, none of my recipes are exact because I have an issue with exact measurements.  even when I try, it just doesn’t happen.  so all of my “measurements” listed are more like “guessturements”.  so funny.

the loaf

Ingredients:

Pizza Dough (I used whole foods whole wheat dough)

Fresh spinach (2 cups) (you can use frozen and cook, it just tends to be a little more watery at the finish)

1/2 – 3/4 lb. Chicken Sausage (I started with 1 lb. and my little helper ate at least 1/4 of it)

1/2 c. mozzarella or italian blend shredded cheese

1/2 c. fresh grated parmesan

Garlic salt

Salt and pepper to taste

Let dough sit at room temp while you prepare the filling

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Cook chicken sausage in skillet, set aside

I used a pampered chef stoneware bar pan to cook – I guess a pizza stone would work as well

Spread dough out on stone, brush lightly with olive oil

Spread shredded cheese and parmesan

Top with about 2 cups fresh spinach and then cooked chicken sausage

Garlic salt, salt and pepper to taste

Roll it up!

Scramble an egg and spread over the top using a pastry brush

Bake 30-35 minutes

SALMON BURGERS

recipe taken from a dear friend:)

Ingredients

3/4 lb wild salmon

1/3c scallions, chopped (I use one bunch of scallions)

1/3c any type of mayo

1 egg

2/3c panko breadcrumbs (you can use gluten free, but must be panko)

3 Tbsp soy sauce

salt and pepper to taste

Bake salmon at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes, until done

(I season the salmon a bit with garlic salt – not necessary, but I like to)

Put baked salmon in mixing bowl and mix it up, so it looks like tuna salad

add in the rest of the above ingredients and mix together

Form into patties

coat in panko bread crumbs

Quick Cooking version:

coat baking sheet with olive oil, bake patties in 450 degree oven for 10 minutes – flip and broil for 5 minutes

Longer version:

sautee patties in olive oil in skillet on stove top, 5 minutes each side over med-low heat

PUMPKIN BREAD

WITH CHOCOLATE CHIPS

because any type of “bread” should have copious amounts of chocolate chips in it

2 3/4c flour (I use whole wheat)

1c brown sugar

1Tbsp cinammon

1tsp nutmeg

1 Tbsp baking soda

1 can pumpkin (15 oz)

2 eggs

1c unsweetened almond milk

1/4c honey

1/4c vegetable oil

almond or vanilla extract, optional

Mix together first 5 ingredients

add in the rest and stir it up

add in copious amounts of chocolate chips and stir

Pour into two loaf pans

Bake at 350 degrees, 40-45 minutes

PEANUT BUTTER ALMOND VEGA CRUNCH BAR

for the almond lover

Ingredients

1c peanut butter

(or almond butter, or other nut butter.  never tried “seed” butter, but go for it and let me know how it turns out!)

1/4c nutella

2Tbsp coconut oil

1/3c honey

splash of almond extract

3 scoops Vega vanilla almondilla smoothie powder

2c flax cereal, or any “crispy” cereal

1c oats

microwave first 5 ingredients in large bowl for 90 seconds

stir

add in vega powder

stir

add in cereal and oats

stir

“pour” (it won’t really pour, more like “dump”) into 9×9 pan

put a sheet of wax paper over and press down

refrigerate and cut into bars

There you go.  I hope you can follow at least one of them.  It’s pretty hard to mess any of them up.  just keep adding stuff, like I do, if it doesn’t look right.  maybe you will come up with a new fun creation.

Next up – running goals for 2013, a ladder workout, training goals for 2013, and the big “D” talk to kick off the new year.

I dressed more appropriately for my very short run yesterday.  live and learn my friends.

Happy New Year, my FRIENDS!!!

I’m glad I started this blog a year ago, and I’m thankful for the “blog” “friends” I have made.  Hopefully, at some point in the near future, I will figure this little blog out, why the spacing is always so whacky on these posts and such – I have no control over that.  it bothers me.  I think it is nicely spaced, then what do you know.  it’s not.  It has a mind of it’s own.

anyway, I’m looking forward to a fun filled, exciting 2013!

one more thing, just had to post this little cutie I found hidden on the computer…baby girl #1, christmas 4 years ago!

No questions today – enjoy the last day of 2012!  ok, one question, what was your favorite moment of 2012??