May2

Three years!!! Wow, that’s like twenty-one in dog years

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Three years!!! Wow, that’s like twenty-one in dog years

Three years ago today, mi Tio Paul and his lady love Laura, walked down the aisle of the Moody Gardens Mansion and pledged their undying love to one another in a ceremony of marriage in front of all their family and friends… well almost all their family. I was forced to stay home and babysit their cat, Maddie, who I’m convinced is the only kitty in history to actually be more afraid of me than I am of her. It probably doesn’t help that I sneak up and pounce on her while she’s sleeping and scare her while she’s eating’s so I can eat the rest of her kibble. And I’m fairly certain if she were able to “crap her pants” whenever I’m around, she would. But I digress.

So I would like to take this moment to wish mi Tio Paul and mi Tia Laura a very happy anniversary as well as apologize for any amount of therapy I may have caused your fur-child to need following the mental abuse I inflicted on her three years ago. I truly am sorry. However, I would like to set the record straight and clarify that her recurring bouts of constipation are NOT my fault, and I really wish she would stop blaming me for that particular issue. Just because I slipped a couple Lego blocks and a few Fibercon tablets in her food bowl while she wasn’t looking does not mean that her inability to defecate is in any way my fault. Maybe she just needs to eat more veggies and go for a walk once in a while.

Anyway, in honor of mi Tio and Tias beautiful union, I made a delicious breakfast bread containing two ingredients that are also a match made in heaven– strawberries and bananas. And because mi Tia Laura is a vegan, I made this bread completely egg and dairy free. It’s also really low in sugar and contains no added fats or oils. Perfect addition to a romantic breakfast in bed or as a dessert to complete a candlelit dinner for two.

Strawberry Banana Oat Bread

Print recipe
Strawberry Banana Oat Bread
Serves 12
Allergy Wheat
Dietary Vegan
Meal type Bread
This fruity quick bread is fat-free, low in sugar and perfect to start your morning off right or satisfy an afternoon sweet craving.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup spelt flour
  • 1/2 cup rolled oats
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 3 ripe bananas (mashed)
  • 1/2 cup almond milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 1/2 cup raw turbinado sugar (or use regular granular sugar)
  • 1 tablespoon ground flaxseeds
  • 3 tablespoons water
  • 1 cup chopped fresh strawberries

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a large loaf pan with cooking spray.
Mix the flaxseeds and water in a small bowl. Set aside and allow to thicken for a few minutes.
In a medium bowl, combine the flours, oats, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Mix well.
In a large bowl, mix the mashed bananas, almond milk, vanilla, applesauce and sugar. Add the flaxseed mixture and stir well to combine.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet and stir until just combined. Fold in the strawberries.
Pour batter into prepared loaf pan. Bake 60-70 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean when inserted.
Allow to cool 5-10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. Enjoy!
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Feliz Anniversario Po and Rara!

Apr24

They may be sloppy, but these Joes definitely aren’t wimpy

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They may be sloppy, but these Joes definitely aren’t wimpy

Fun fact: Did you know the original Sloppy Joe sandwich was invented in the 1920′s by a restaurant cook named Floyd Angell in Sioux City, Iowa as a variation of the popular loose-meat sandwich?

Or that they are referred to as “Yum Yums” in parts of the Midwest and “Wimpies” in Pennsylvania?

Or that the term “Sloppy Joe” is not a food at all in Australia but instead refers to a hooded sweatshirt with a furry fleece lining much like wool? Imagine the weird looks you’d probably receive in an Australian restaurant when trying to order a Sloppy Joe with extra pickles.

So, this past weekend I decided to use my new Dutch oven and make my own little variation of the Sloppy Joes: aka the Untidy Teenies. But instead of using ground beef, turkey or cow tongue (yeah, they use that in some parts of New Jersey…. nasty) as the main protein source, I made the animal-friendly decision to prepare them vegetarian and use red lentils and beans instead. And in all honesty, I think they turned out a heck of a lot tastier than other kind of sandwich of this variety, while still maintaining all their awesome sloppy-ness.

Untidy Teenies (aka: Lentil Sloppy Joes)

Print recipe
Untidy Teenies (aka: Lentil Sloppy Joes)
Serves 4
Dietary Vegetarian
Meal type Main Dish
These low-fat evegetarian Sloppy Joes will have your taste buds jumping for joy without making your pants burst at the seams!

Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons canola oil
  • 1 large yellow onion (diced)
  • 1 large red bell pepper (diced)
  • 2 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1 jalapeno pepper (seeded and diced)
  • 1 1/2 cup vegetable broth or water
  • 1 cup red lentils
  • 1 can pinto or small red beans (rinsed and drained)
  • 1 can fire-roasted diced tomatoes (undrained)
  • 2 teaspoons blackstrap molasses
  • 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • salt and pepper (to taste)

Directions

Heat oil in a large deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat.
Add onions, bell pepper, garlic and jalapeno and cook until softened, about 7 minutes.
Add all other ingredients and stir well to combine. Bring to a boil, cover skillet, lower and heat and allow to simmer 25-30 minutes or until lentils are cooked through.
Remove from heat and add lime juice. Serve sloppy lentils on hamburger buns topped with cheese, pickles and chopped onions. Enjoy!
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And don’t be shy about asking for extra pickles to go along with these babies. Just be sure to also ask for extra napkins. These untidy Teenies have a tendency to spill all over your fleece-lined “Sloppy Joe”.

Speaking of spills, I “accidentally” got peanut butter all over my face after sticking my head in the open jar and mi mama thinks I need a little bath. Hey, that’s what happens when you leave a jar unattended on the coffee table.

Hey can’t a guy get a little privacy!