Pumpkin & Peanut Butter!

Breaking News! I have been informed that November is Peanut Butter Lovers Month! Move over "No Shave November",  peanut butter is much better than your scruff. I feel it is my obligation and PB duty to eat a healthy dose of peanut buttery goodness every day this month. *Sigh, a tough mission but someone's gotta do it.

Apart from being a pb-onanza kinda day, it also happens to be filled with the sweet scent of ohmygoshpumpkinbread! coming from my kitchen. Pretty sure yankee should jump on the bandwagon with a candle named that.

I REALLY wanted to make pumpkin pie, but with Thanksgiving right around the corner I witheld the urge, and went to next best thing. Pumpkin Bread. Heaven.

Pumpkin Bread
adapted from Skinny Taste
serves 16 slices

1 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
2/3 cup brown sugar
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp salt
1 (15 oz) can pumpkin
2 egg whites
1 1/2 T vegetable oil
1 1/2 tsp vanilla 

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and coat a loaf pan with cooking spray. My loaf was a little short for my liking in a 9x5 so I would recommend an 8x4 pan.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, spices, salt, and baking soda.

In a medium bowl, combine the remaining ingredients. Add to the dry mixture and mix until combined.

Pour into prepared loaf pan, and bake for 50 minutes or until a knife comes out clean when inserted.

Slice and enjoy with a good dose of peanut butter of course! Or cream cheese. Yes, cream cheese. Don't knock til you try it. You'll thank me later..

Bonus news is that it's only 85 calories per slice! If you prefer a bit of a bigger slice, cut it into 12 for 113 calories a per serving. The OCD in me made me slice it out just to be sure I didn't count half the loaf as a slice. Because I would.

Eat some peanut butter and Happy Veterans Day!!





 

Pumpkin, Pumpkin Everywhere

Happy Thursday! Although I personally despise Thursdays they can still be happy. Especially when they are started with this fall breakfast gem. I'll hold you in suspense until you scroll through my blabbing.

As I lay here in bed, the thoughts of closing my eyes are slightly more appealing then suiting up for a run at the moment. I will hopefully make the move to get my rear in gear for the day. I love the random thoughts that always come to mind when out for a run. I hope someone else out there can feel for my quirky thoughts. Here's some examples:

1. OoO! Dryer sheets! Love that smell!

2. Of course a car would gun it on the corner that I'm vastly approaching.

3. There's other people walking. They must be watching me so I must run faster. Since I'm sure they're thinking, "Wow! What a great runner! She must be training for a marathon!"

4. Mmm! Charcoal grill! Love that smell!

5. Dear god, I hope that dog can't jump that fence.

6. I think I have to pee, great. Nope, false alarm.

You know have a glimpse into my mind. Be afraid.


Now for the moment you have been patiently waiting for...Pumpkin! I have made a handful of pumpkin recipes that have not lived up to my high expectations for anything resembling fall. Pancakes, oatmeal, lattes..but they either lacked or OD'ed on the spice which led to failure. With the last of my can left over, I was inspired to make pumpkin french toast. But not your run-of-the-mill Pinterest material. No, something much more...epic. That's right. Pumpkin PB & Fluff French Toast. Yeah, I went there, and so will you!

Sweet, creamy, pumpkin-y. Answer, E. All of the above. Alas, a pumpkin recipe to be proud of!

Pumpkin PB & Fluff French Toast
serves 1

2 slices whole wheat bread (I used Nature's Own, only 50 calories a slice!)
1 egg
1/4 cup pumpkin puree
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/2 tsp cinnamon
splash of milk
1 1/2 T peanut butter
2 T marshmallow fluff

Heat a medium-sized skillet over medium heat, and spray with cooking spray.

Combine all egg, pumpkin, vanilla, milk, and spices in a shallow dish.

Dip both sides of a slice of bread and cook in the skillet for about 1 minute per side. Repeat for the other slice.

Transfer to a plate, and top one slice with the peanut butter, and the other with the fluff, and stack as you would a sandwich.

Top with a good drizzle of maple syrup, and some extra cinnamon.

Eat now, thank me later.

Hooray for Friday tomorrow!!

What the Fluff?!

Happy Saturday! Big plans for the day: Grocery shopping, new circuit workout, some more cooking. Exciting, I know, but try to contain yourself. Unlike the majority of the population, I actually enjoy grocery shopping. I guess my obsession with food and cooking has only led to this, but I dedicate a good chunk of time to browsing recipes, comparing store prices, and making shopping and recipe lists. I feel like one of those crazy coupon ladies who spend 20 out of the 24 hours in a day couponing or counting the boxes of cat litter they have (p.s, most don't even own a cat). But like the saying goes, "Do what you like, and like what you do". And I like food obsessing. Make a TLC show out of me.

After a deep 2 minute convo with the roomie about Southern food I wanted to try in the midst of sinking my teeth into the beloved Southern delicacy of a Moon Pie (very disappointing I might add), the topic of Fluffernutter sandwiches came up. How we got there, probably through the 7-degrees of Kevin Bacon, but we got there none-the-less. Not a Southern food, but a food my roomie, Annedra has never had the pleasure of trying. I took it upon my self to cure this dilemma, and was inspired to relive my childhood via food.

Fluffanutta Sammich!

Being the saint I am, I whipped up a Fluffernutter sandwich for the roomie, and appropriately put it in a sandwich bag. I even drew a smile face on the bag, but the camera did not want to catch this masterpiece, so my apologies. Wait, you've never had a fluffernutter sandwich either?!  You're killing me, Smalls! Follow this equation asap to avoid any further damage to your youth: 2 slices bread + 2 T peanut butter + 2 T Marshmallow Fluff = Sugary Sandwich of Joy. Problem solved. Another day, another deed.

Ready for the lunchbox. Add juice box and gushers now.

Now that we cleared that up, back to the present. If fluffernutter (just say it, it's fun) wasn't enough for you at one meal, you can now even have it for breakfast! My beloved canvas of oatmeal has now been transformed into a bowl of fluffernutter wonder.

Melted Fluff Action.

Fluffernutter Oatmeal
serves 1
1/2 cup oats
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
2 T peanut butter
2 T marshmallow fluff.

Now I made this bowl using the overnight oat method, because when I want breakfast, I want it meow. If you want a quick make-ahead bowl, follow this recipe: Combine oats, milk, and vanilla in a bowl and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, heat oats in the microwave for 1-2 until warm. Stir in 1 T peanut butter. Top with remaining peanut butter and fluff. If you prefer you can mix in all the peanut butter, but I like a little at the top to dig in to. Also, the mixture may get a little thick, so add a bit extra milk if you please.

You can also make the oatmeal the ol' fashion way if you prefer your oats on the stove or in the microwave. If so, combine oats, milk, and 1/2 cup water in saucepan or microwave safe bowl. Cook about 5-7 minutes until done to your liking. Remove from heat, and stir in vanilla and 1/2 peanut butter. Top with remaining pb and fluff.

The only thing is i feel that the regular method loses some of the pb flavor for some reason. If you have different results I'd love to know, because a pipin' hot bowl of fluffernutter sounds excellent, but my experience was sub-par.

You are now free to ride a big wheel, play with barbies, and put playing cards in your bike spokes after this breakfast.

Enjoy the weekend!

Raindrops on roses...

and whiskers on kittens! You know it. Don't lie. Sound of music is right up there with Bridesmaids as your favorite movie.

Anyways, this segways into "My Favorite Things":

1.) Fall ( my head is spinning from all my pumpkin-related pinning) so witty, i know
2.) Yoga pants. When will they invent biz-casual yoga pants?! Get with it victoria's secret!!
3.) Peanut Butter. Literally on anything. Literally in my mouth....literally.
4.) The french word "Parapluie" meaning umbrella. And yes, every french word must be italicized.

Ok i think that was the most random list of favorite things I could come up with. But they are legit.

I've been meaning to put this recipe up for a while now, but alas my hunger and lack of ambition has prevailed. Don't fret! I have finally dedicated my 3.5 seconds to take a picture of one of my go-to favorite breakfasts for you to try. It's not quite a parfait, but more than a cereal. Mind-boggling goodness is what it is.

Shredded Wheat Breakfast Bowl
serves 1

1 1/4 cups unfrosted shredded wheat
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 banana, sliced
cinnamon to taste

Simply combine everything in a bowl, and mix until combined. If you prefer vanilla yogurt, you can of course use that and leave out the extra vanilla. I added 1/2 tablespoon chia seeds to mine this morning to help thicken it up, since I ran out of yogurt.

I like to top mine with another favorite of mine, which I call peanut butter sauce:

Start by slicing half a banana (frozen slices work best), and heat a microwave safe bowl for 1 minute, until the banana is "melty" and warm.

Stir in 1 tablespoon of peanut butter, until mixture is combined. Add cinnamon if you please.

I can't wait to try this with pumpkin with fall coming up, and even applesauce. In the words of Will Ferrell, it's gunna be "scrumtrulesant"!

Plain ol' shredded wheat is just as it seems by itself. Cardboard. But once you make this bowl, you will think twice about it's deceptively sweet counterparts. The mixture is thick, creamy, and the perfect amount of sweet. Give the wheat a try!

Warm and gooey peanut butter sauce.  Oh, yes.

I'm compiling an extensive list of fall recipes to try, which could take me a while. Some I plan on posting are Banana Bread oatmeal, yeast-free cinnamon rolls, and a veggie stew!



What are some of your favorite fall time treats?

Sweet Memories.

Well I'm officially on Spring Break. Cancun here I come!! And by Cancun I mean working every single day of break. Lucky me. I'm actually not too upset since it's only from 3-5:30, and I otherwise have no major plans in the making. I did take the opportunity to visit home for a few days, primarily for my Mom's birthday and trying on bridesmaids dresses..or in my case, Maid 'O Honor dress. Now Katie is not your typical bride, so we of course don't have your typical bridesmaids dresses either.

Sherri, Katie, Kelly, and yours truly

Ok totally kidding! Just having/making fun with the array of clearance dresses they had. Mine had a "bat wing" proven by the description on the price tag. We of course picked out the real dresses, but I'll keep you in suspense. After a day of dress fittings, Panera, and a luau (yes a luau in 30 degree weather), I would call it a successful visit home. 

A trip back home also inspired me with another twist on a classic dish, if you can even call it that. My childhood or rather high school years consisted of lots and lots of sandwiches. I can honestly say that I religiously ate PB&J everyday after school for a good year or so. I don't think I have actually had one since! I think I ate enough back in the day to not have a craving for one for another couple of years. To mix it up a bit, I would also have my other obsession of PB& Banana sandwiches. This was culinary genius when I was a kid. I didn't know something so delicious could be made with three ingredients! Of course it consists of a good helping of peanut butter, after all it is me we're talking about. Having grown up a bit (and by a bit I mean nearly none at all), I still love this combo but felt the need to sophisticate the sandwich for my adapted palette. It took a long time to develop, but I think the effort truly paid off. Be sure to take a good chunk out of your day to prepare this, as I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

PBBP (Peanut Butter Banana Pretzel) 'Wich

serves 1

2 slices bread ( I prefer whole wheat)

1 T Peanut Butter 

1/2 medium banana, sliced

2-3 Pretzels

dash cinnamon 

dash honey

PBBP. Say it. Kinda fun, huh? Well it should be, because if you couldn't already tell I'm a bit sarcastic. Just sayin'. But really, this sandwich has so much going for it. Creamy. Sweet. Salty. Crunchy. Warm. Easy. Every kind of goodness in one sandwich. The pretzels really add a salty crunch that my "developed palette" loves.

Simply slather the PB on bith pieces of bread (for maximum stick-age). Top one slice with the banana, pretzels, cinnamon, and honey. Top with the other slice and dig in! I went the extra 2 minutes and heated my sandwich in a skillet over medium-heat for the extra crunchy warm factor. Well worth it in my opinion.

I suggest slipping on some feety pajamas, watching Clarissa Explains It All, and playing Girl Talk while enjoying this sandwich. But that's just me. Enjoy this classically (is that actually a word??) twisted sandwich, as I can assure you I did.

Creamy, Crunchy Goodness.

What was your favorite kind of food as a kid?

Chocolate For Breakfast: Part Deux

Let me count the ways I love saturday mornings. No alarm clock. No 8 AM classes. No work. Just me and my oatmeal. It helps that this oatmeal is capital D delicious! Way back yonder, in the stone age of my blog I posted my Chocolate Oatmeal, but have since then discovered new ways to add chocolate decadence to breakfast.  Of course, peanut butter is involved.

This recipe is a tribute to one of the match made in heaven combos of chocolate and peanut butter. Normally, this perfect couple is bundled up in an orange wrapper of joy, but has made it's way to the breakfast table. My recipe for "Peanut Butter Cup Oats" is adapted from my earlier post for Chocolate Oatmeal, and Picky Eater's, Chocolate Brownie Oatmeal, with Peanut Butter added to the party. I used my homemade hot cocoa mix in this, but feel free to just use cocoa powder, sweetener of your choice, and a splash of milk. It will come out just as tasty! I may need another bowl after finishing this post!

Peanut Butter Cup Oats
serves 1
1/2 c rolled oats
1 1/2 c water
2 T Hot Cocoa Mix
2 T Peanut Butter

First off, make your oatmeal by combining oats and water in a microwave-safe bowl, and cooking in the microwave for 2 minutes, stirring, and then for about another minute. I like adding 1 1/2 cups of water rather than the usual 1 cup. I feel like it makes more oatmeal. After your oatmeal is cooked, add the hot cocoa mix, or your own blend.

Stir well until all the mix in incorporated. Then add your peanut butter, and swirl it around to make sure every bite is full of PB and C. I only used a tablespoon of peanut butter, but next time I would use two to feed my PB addiction. Also, I LOVE crunchy PB, but use your preference of course.

Add more PB!

Almost Done!

Ready for me to devour. 

My empty bowl and I agree that if you are a PB & C addict like me, you will LOVE this oatmeal. It's like eating a bowl of peanut butter cups, without the guilt of course. You could even make this for a dessert it is that good.

Is it really over?!