HAPPY SATURDAY, LOVES!
I just finished breakfast and am about to head to the farmer's market downtown.
Market Mission: BERRIES.
This weekend I have every intention of filling my belly with copious amounts of bloobs. And if there are any leftovers come Monday (IF!), they'll be made into a cobbler that looks just like this:
Drool. Someday…Someday I'll have both the camera and cooking skills to claim ownership of a tasty treat like that! 
Until then, I'll settle for sharing two not-quite-as-beautiful-but-still-pretty-bangin' recipes with you.
I'm not sure what hit me yesterday, but my eats certainly excited my taste buds!
Let's begin with lunch: Butternut Croquettes
This was a complete surprise meal. By that I mean I didn't really know where I was going with it until started cooking.
You see, after my sweat-fest at the gym, I was HANGRY. And not just hungry for anything…I wanted sweet potatoes. Ideally, sweet potato falafel.
However desperate rummaging through the fridge revealed the fact that there were no sweet potatoes en casa.
I did, however, find this:
Pureed butternut squash is definitely underrated. It's much creamier than pumpkin and packs quite a nutritious punch.
I defrosted the squash and spooned half into a bowl. To it I added:
one egg, whisked
1 T. coconut flour
a pinch/squirt of:
garlic powder
salt, pepper
cinnamon
agave
I then heated a griddle and spooned the thick mixture into little cakes.
Actually, let's call them croquettes just for the sake of sounding fun and fancy schmancy.
I let the croquettes cook for about 3 minutes per side and then served them on top of a bed of spinach dressed with Galeo's dressing and sauteed onions.
I sighed a big mmmmmm after taking my first bite. Heaven.
These were fantastic on their own, but since I eat Laughing Cow with just about everything, I couldn't resist the urge to spread a few bites with a Blue Cheese wedge.
The croquettes were crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside–a definite make-again meal!
Now on to a sweet eat: No Bake Brownie Balls
After polishing off a kitchen sink-type dinner last night, I wanted a satisfying dessert.
As a recent Larabar convert, I'm intrigued by the fact that the simple combination of fruit and nuts can yield such delicious treats.
I've seen plenty of homemade Larabar recipes on the internet, but decided to wing this one, using my memory to create similar ingredient ratios.
In the Cuisinart I combined:
1 cup toasted almonds
20 pitted dates
1/2 cup cocoa powder
2 T. agave (honey would work too)
2 T. water
I used my hands to form the mixture into 1-inch balls, and then rolled them in powdered sugar.
Such an easy sweet fix! Next time, I think I''ll try substituting some of the cocoa with protein powder.
**A little side note**
Over the years, I've become reliant on the nutritional information that accompanies recipes. In fact, there was a time, not so long ago, when I wouldn't cook something unless I knew how many calories it contained. This self-imposed rule prevented me from enjoying many foods/recipes.
Once I figured out how to calculate the nutrition stats on my own, I extended my recipe repetoire to any healthy-sounding dish. However, this turned me into a number crunching diva who grew anxious when ingredient lists/measurements were complicated and difficult to tally.
Yesterday, however, I threw the calorie calculating in the trash and enjoyed both of the above recipes without adding numbers. Man, it felt good. And it tasted even better.
**Side note ended**
I enjoyed a few brownie balls while watching The Blind Side with Nora. I'd forgotten how much I love that movie! The acting is undeniably great, but the true story is what makes the film so touching. The Tuohy family displayed LOVE and humility when they took in Michael Oher. In doing so, they provided a safe home environment that enabled him to reach his highest academic and athletic potential. Imagine what an amazing world we'd live in if everyone had compassion like the Tuohy's!
We are called to help one another, yet we often turn our heads and think, Oh, someone else will do it.
Today I challenge you to reach out to someone in a way you usually wouldn't. That may mean a gesture as simple as giving a friend a hug, smiling at a stranger on the street, or cooking a tasty treat for a relative. Even small things make a difference.
ENJOY YOUR WEEKEND! I'm heading to my cabin in the mountains tomorrow for a one-night getaway! Can't wait!
Do you count calories and/or calculate nutrition information for recipes?
