Now, stuff you mixture into the broiled peppers, top with the cheese, and return the peppers to the oven for about another four minutes.

As you may know by now, I'm terrible at plating my food, so sorry for the awful picture (does the fact that it tasted AMAZING make up for the picture? ;)

I admit that I always have a sweet tooth.  Not one of those really sweet teeth - it can often be satisfied with a spoonful of peanut butter, a piece of extra dark chocolate, or a bowl of fruit.  But sometimes, it takes a little more.  Take Friday night for example.  I was craving an ice cream sundae!  Of course, one of my passions is to take classic dishes and turn them healthy, so that's exactly what I did.  And lo and behold, the Ice Cream Friday:

For the ice cream, I used the coconut ice cream that I blogged about in my grocery haul post.  Instead of fudge or caramel sauce, I used unsweetened applesauce.  Wheat bran was subbed for sprinkles and the whole thing was topped with a blueberry versus a cherry. Even with all the substitutions, the little bowl above was filled with so much delicious goodness!  I will definitely be having it again and again (and again ;)
When Saturday rolled around, the sweet tooth had returned!  After seeing this recipe, I knew that I had to try a carob version, and so try a carob version I did!  I can't put into words how much I loved it, so instead of even trying, I will just be lazy and post the recipe so you can try it for yourself.  I haven't actually tried it with chocolate yet (shame on me!), but you definitely can - I'm sure it would be just as amazing!


Carob Fudge Batter (serves 1)

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons carob chips
1 tablespoon carob powder
2 tablespoons almond milk
Dash of vanilla extract
2 tablespoons peanut butter (coconut butter might be good in this!)

Directions:
Melt the carob chips in the microwave and then stir in the remaining ingredients.  Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for about an hour before digging in!

Because I used the same bowl for mixing as I did for eating, the picture isn't the prettiest. But you can't judge carob fudge batter by it's picture, right?  

My sweet tooth is now satisfied.  Wait!  My sweet tooth is never satisfied.  But at least it's in control, for now............


The daily question:  Do you have a sweet tooth?  How do you satisfy it?

First, the oats:

I dedicate the following bowl of Almond Joy oatmeal to Heather of Heather Eats Almond Butter as it was her birthday yesterday!

I cooked 1/2 cup rolled oats in 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup almond milk.  When they were done, I stirred in a spoonful of almond butter and then poured the oats into the bowl. Next, I topped it with coconut butter and sprinkled it with carob chips (of course, chocolate chips would work too).  Mmmmm... Heather's birthday allowed for a delicious breakfast for me :)


Happy birthday, Heather!  I hope it was as wonderful as you deserve!


Now, for the flops (I'm telling you, that smoothie was bad luck ;)


Flop #1 : I attempted a pumpkin-peanut butter cup:

It seemed logical.  I mean, anything involving pumpkin and peanut butter has to be at least decent, right?  Wrong.  The little cup above literally had no flavor.  At all.


Flop #2 : I tried my hands at empanadas.
Before being baked (looks kind of like a stegosaurus):

Done and on my plate:

Talk about bland - that little boat above was even worse than the pumpkin-peanut butter cups!  I wanted to use the trash can as a hoop and play basketball with the empanadas, and my dad suggested that I use them as a defense weapon against burglars.  In the end, however, I kept them.  I still don't know what came across me - I guess I just didn't want to waste them.  But now I have nine more of them to eat!  I spot some suffering in the near distance ;)  
Of course, my mom was so sweet about both flops.  She said that the pumpkin cups were all right (with an encouraging smile), and she told me that the empanadas were pretty good and maybe just needed a little salt.  (Aren't parents the best comforters?)

One (or two) final pictures:

My horsey!!!!!!!!

The beautiful Rockies!!  



The daily question: Have you had any food flops lately?
Mine normally come about because I try to make the food too healthy, the food sticks to the pan (this happens to me every time with waffles!), or sometimes, it just plain doesn't work.

Well, it's officially 2011!
I decided to start of the new year with something green and healthy (By the way, does anyone know how to flip pictures?  I had a much prettier picture of my smoothie, but I couldn't make it strait.  Any help is greatly appreciated! :) :

Ya, not the brightest idea I've ever had.  I would tell you what's in it, but I do NOT want any body else to experience the discomfort of trying to drink that "thing" pictured above.  Let's just say if 2011 turns out to be anything like that smoothie, it's going to be one bad, ugly year.
On to the better stuff...... as of yesterday, I have coconut butter (sorry for the lack of picture; I still can't figure out the flip thing)!!!  My dad got it for me yesterday when we are at Whole Foods, so I would like to say: Thanks dad!  I love it and you!  
Now, calling all coconut and carob lovers.  I know of something you guys need to make asap:


Coconut-Carob Cups!

All you need is the following ingredients:

The first step is not melt some carob chips, spread them into a small muffin cup (mine was mini!!!!), and stick it in the freezer.  It should come out looking something like this:

Now the coconut butter comes into play.  Just melt some, pour it into the carob cup, and back into the freezer it goes.  This time, it should come out looking like this:

Next, melt some more carob chips and attempt to spread them on top.  Expect the coconut butter to start melting from the warmth of the carob chips and to leave you a marbled affect that might look something like this:

Not the traditional look but still kind of cool, right?  Unwrap and.......... devour!!! 


Tomorrow, I'm going to post about last night's feast, but I just couldn't go a day without telling everyone about the coconut-carob cups - they're so good (again, only if you like carob; if not, time to break out that chocolate!).  And, if you don't like coconut, make carob-peanut butter (or any nut butter really) cups! I made the peanut version yesterday, and they were delicious too!


The daily question: How was your New Year's Eve?  Did you stay up long enough to welcome the new year?
I don't think I ever have, and this year was no exception (ya, I'm boring).  But I did stay up till about nine!  That's pretty good for a girl who is usually in bed between seven and eight (I need my beauty rest :)

Happy last day of 2010 to everyone!  I don't know about you, but this year literally flew by for me!  It was Valentines' then summer break then Halloween then Christmas and now it's all over and time to welcome a new year.


I've never really made any "lucky" food for new year's before, but this year I decided to try some black-eyed peas (poor little fellas - it sounds like they got beaten up :( .  I wasn't sure if they would turn out if I tried to cook dried peas (then they probably really would be beaten up ;), so I was super lazy and bought canned ones.  Perhaps some day I'll give the dried version a go, but not this year........


Lucky Black-eyed Pea Salad
Serves 4

Ingredients:
2 cans black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed
1 large tomato, chopped
1 avocado, chopped
1/2 small red onion, finely chopped
1/2 packed cup cilantro, coarsely chopped
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 heaping teaspoon ground cumin
Sea salt/freshly ground black pepper, to taste (I didn't need to add any salt)
1/2 lemon, juiced
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon agave nectar

Directions:
Simply combine all ingredients in a large bowl.  Allow to sit for as long as possible before serving in order to allow for the flavors to combine.

Here's what you're going to need:

Everything in the bowl and time to employ a bit o' arm power:

All done and ready to sit (oops, I think I missed that last part as I started devouring it as soon as the last stir was stirred)!

I'm sure that black-eyed peas is a myth, but I'm not going to spoil the fun.  Let's just say I felt lucky while eating my lunch yesterday.

Now, I had originally planned on saving the salad to eat for today, but I just couldn't resist. The avocado made the salad creamy, the agave made it slightly sweet, and everything else just made it delicious!  Between my mom and I, we nearly polished it all off by yesterday evening (perhaps it really serves two?).  But that's okay.  We just got our luck a little early, right?


And, for all the carob lovers out there, you must try this!

One cooked sweet potato chopped up a bit, spread with a bit of coconut oil, and sprinkled with carob chips.  Truly divine (if you like carob chips, that is; if not then try it with chocolate chips as chocolate never disappoints).


The daily question: Do you have any New Year's plans?
My mom and I are making tamales tonight, and we're going to church tomorrow.  But, other than that, we have nothing planned.  I hope this New Year will find everyone doing well and enjoying lots of yummy foods!