Honey Wheat Biscotti

First, some recent eats! 

With the amazing warm weather we’re having this week, I am so excited to once again crave a nice cold protein shake!!  I love shakes, but never want them if I’m feeling the least bit cold. 

I had a somewhat late breakfast yesterday so I whipped this baby up for lunch/snack:

• 3/4 cup skim milk
• 1/2 frozen banana
• frozen strawberries and blueberries
• protein powder
• 1 T of chia seeds!

Refreshing and filling.

Breakfast this morning.

I totally went to the grocery store a little hungry recently.

And with that comes things I don’t need.

I don’t really know what the difference is between these “Breakfast” thins and any other “thin”.

They aren’t bad, but once you toast them they pretty much become crackers.

Still I enjoyed my 100-calorie Breakfast Thin with half butter half cream cheese.

Siggi’s vanilla yogurt with berries on the side.

 

Then it was time to bake!

I blame this on my mom, but more often than not I crave a baked good with my morning coffee (in her case, tea).  I wasn’t always like this, but its just getting worse and worse.  Something about a fresh baked….anything…with a rich cup of coffee…it’s a match made in heaven.

So that is why I try to make my baked goods more wholesome and healthier.

Biscotti is great.  It’s hard, so you eat it slower.  You can dip it in your coffee or tea.  And generally they have less fat, as they don’t need a delicate or moist texture like other baked goods.

These biscotti are made with white whole wheat flour and all purpose flour, olive oil, a little sugar and a little honey.

I wanted to make some with nuts, and some without for a friend.  So before I added any of the mix-ins, I divide up the dough and went from there.

Honey Wheat Biscotti (with nuts and/or dried fruit)
Based on this Ellie Krieger recipe and this recipe.

• 1.5 cups white whole wheat flour
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1.5 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 T honey
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• zest and juice from 1/2 lemon
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/4 nuts (almonds, pistachios, walnuts…your choice)
• 1/4 cup chopped dried fruit (cherries, cranberries…your choice)
• 1/4 cup white or regular chocolate chips

Pre-heat oven to 325

In a mixing bowl, combine flours, salt, and baking powder; whisk together.  In another bowl, beat sugar, honey, eggs, oil, lemon juice and zest, and vanilla.  Beat until well combined.

Gradually add dry ingredients to wet, forming a sticky dough.

(here is where I divided the dough into two separate bowls.)

Mix in your nuts, fruits, and/or chocolate.  Use your hands, its easier. 

I did 1 log with almonds

and the other with chopped dried cherries and white chocolate chips.

Can I just say these are the best dried cherries ever! (from Trader Joes)

Shape dough into two logs, approximately 2” wide by 8” long.

Transfer logs to a baking sheet lined with a sil pat or parchment paper.

Baked logs for 25 minutes.

Cool on a wire rack for about 15 min, and reduce oven temp to 300.

Then slice logs into 3/4” pieces on the diagonal.

Place cut cookies back on baking sheet, and bake for 10 min.  Flip cookies over, and continue baking for 8-10 min.

Let cool, and enjoy!  

They are dry like biscotti should be, but at the same time they won’t break your teeth if you try to bite into it! 

You can ever so slightly taste the honey.  I bet Ellie’s original version with pistachios would be awesome!!

Really looking forward to coffee tomorrow morning :)

These were really simple and straight forward, plus I love all the possibilities for mix-ins.  They also made for a nice little gift when placed in a clear bag. 

Biscotti fans out there?? 

Dancing on the Sidewalk

Yes, you read that right!

Today I was part of a Flash Mob!  We performed right in front of the Beehive restaurant in the South End…and it was SO MUCH FUN!!

I found out about it through a Facebook fan page, and then there were some set rehearsals, here and there since the winter, and today it came to life!

It was a pretty random thing to do.  I didn’t know anyone else doing it, and just decided to go to the rehearsals to see what it was about.

I’ve danced my whole life, and I was kind of expecting to see more “dancers” at these rehearsals, but surprisingly it was mostly people with little or no dance experience who just wanted to be in the Flash mob!

It all started at noon today, and since I had to head straight up to NH for another dance rehearsal, I decided to plan a brunch with my bff and my mom before the performance!

We met at Stella, also in the South End.

I opted for the Eggs Benedict…shocking, I know.

Stella Eggs Benedict / English muffin / Prosciutto Cotto / Spicy Hollandaise / Home Fries .

I ordered it with scrambled egg whites, and in turn they put the hollandaise on the side.

It was good!  Not amazing, but good.

However, my mom’s dish and my friend’s were REALLY good!!

Mom got a Duck Confit hash!  I can’t find the official description, but she had it was 2 poached eggs on top.

Jocy got:

Frittata / Chorizo / Sweet Corn / Herbed Ricotta / Home Fries

This was SO flavorful with the chorizo, I really liked this!! 

I kind of had food envy since I liked theirs better, but my nerves were kicking in from my impending public performance so I wasn’t all that hungry.

Then…it was time.

I had my mom record it on my phone.

Things to note:

• My mom recorded it…therefore it’s very “Bridget” focused haha…typical stage mom ;)
• The very beginning it cut off…it started with a little duet by the 2 people that organized it
• If you want to see LOTS more videos of the whole thing…check out the Facebook page!!
• Um, my pants felt like they were falling down a little…not used to dancing in jeans haha!  So you may see some adjustments
• It was a little cramped…
• Ok, I’ll stop giving excuses…just me being critical of me!

Ok, here’s another one I stole off YouTube…better view of the whole thing.

 

Another fun note!  Camera men from Channel 7, 4, FOX, and NECN were there and I was front and center in the clip on Channel 7’s news this evening!!  So cool!!!

Can’t wait for the next one!!

Breakfast: The Delicious & The Healthy Tip

First, the Delicious!

We had one more drool worthy meal while up in Maine this past weekend!

While packing up at the hotel the morning after the wedding, a friend let us know that there was a really good breakfast spot only 1 mile down the road from where we were in Ogunquit!

It literally was a 5 minute drive, and I hate to say we almost missed out on this meal when we drove through the downtown area and I spied a bakery :)  What?  I have a thing for stopping at bakeries!

But we continued driving…30 more seconds, and reached our destination:  Bintliffs.

Being the skeptic that I am about restaurants, I quickly looked up the menu online while sitting in the parking lot to make sure it was going to be worth it…oh yes it was!

Just check out this Menu!!

(iphone photos ahead…)

It was a rainy muggy day, and although not particularly warm, I was still craving a refreshing iced coffee.

Bonus that it was served in a wine glass :)

Brian got an OJ.

Making our breakfast decision was pretty hard…there were so many delicious sounding options.  I almost went with a lobster Benedict, but at the last minute I made a better choice…

One of their House Favorites:  Veggie Homefries

Our famous blend of potatoes, seasonings, and seasonal variety of garden vegetables sautéed together with fresh Parmesan served with two eggs, any style. 

I chose an English muffin on the side, and added a side of hollandaise so I could have that Benedict flavor for a few bites. (btw, so glad I didn’t get the Benedict as the hollandaise was just so-so)

This was AWESOME!  I’ve never seen anything like this on a breakfast menu!  The veggies were so fresh and there was such a variety.  Underneath the mound of veggies was a shredded potato cake with nice crispy edges, and the parmesan cheese added great flavor. 

I’d love to make this at home, and think I’d rather mix an egg into the potato for a more potato pancake, instead of eggs on top as the veggies really stole the show.

Because my dish was savory, Brian went with sweet.

Orange Graham French Toast

Thick cuts of homemade bread, orange batter glazed and graham cracker crusted, served with whipped cream and blended maple syrup. 

Once again…DELICIOUS!  The thick break was awesome and nice and chewy.  The graham and orange flavors were subtle and didn’t overpower.  I stole many bites :)

My only complaint with this place was the $4 charge for real maple syrup.  REALLY??!  We’re in Maine?!  I know it’s expensive, but c’mon!  And since I can’t stand fake syrup I’ll always pay the extra for the real stuff. 

So happy we took our friend’s recommendation!  If you’re ever in Ogunquit or Portland (their other location) I would most definitely suggest a trip to Bintliffs!  I hear they also have a fabulous Bloody Mary menu which I want to try next time. 

Now for a Healthy Breakfast Tip!  Cereal Medleys.  

I would first like to thank my friend, Jess, for really introducing me to cereal medley’s when we lived together right out of college.  We’d use 3, 4, even 5 different cereals at a time to make a delicious breakfast bowl!

Since then I can’t seem to just have one type of cereal in my bowl.

I’m always mixing them, and the best part about mixing is that you can pair an extra healthy, high fiber, low sugar, (maybe not as tasty) cereal with another more flavorful, maybe higher sugar, cereal…to make a balanced bowl that you’re excited to eat!

For me, not only is this a healthy method, but sometimes I can’t even stomach a whole bowl of a cereal that’s too sweet…but a little added to a not-so-sweet version makes the perfect blend.

Kashi Go Lean Crunch Honey Almond Flax (aside from having the longest name EVER), is one of my favorite mixers!  It’s high in fiber and protein with an extreme crunch that lasts forever in milk, but honestly it’s not my favorite just plain by itself.

It’s actually really good with Trader Joe’s Honey Crunch ‘n Oats!

Yep, Autumn Wheat is another fav…very subtle sweetness!

So go ahead and sprinkle some Frosted Flakes on your fiber sticks :)

What are your favorite “healthy” and “not so healthy” cereals?!  I mentioned my healthy ones above, but growing up I loved Apple Jacks and Lucky Charms…still do.

Running & Wedding in ME/NH

Finally home relaxing on a Sunday night.

It was another crazy weekend, but we had a great time up in the Seacoast area of New Hampshire and Maine, and saw a lot of college friends!!

We also had a 12-mile run on the schedule, so we decided to go up early Saturday morning so we could run around the Portsmouth area…one of my favorite places ever!

We fueled up en route, with a trip to Bagel World!

Brian had an egg bagel with tomato, egg, and cheese.  I stole a few bites :)

I always have nut butter + carbs as a pre-run meal, so I packed a little container of PB with me, and ordered one of their Energy Bar bagels which is chock full of nuts and dried fruit!

And an iced Snicker doodle coffee of course…

12 miles were a SUCCESS!!  AND my 12-miles were faster than my 11 miles last weekend! 

We did 12-miles in 2:06:33!  Averaging a 10:33 pace.  Last week my 11-miles were done in 2:00:38, but I was also running solo.  Running with Brian definitely makes me go a little faster :)

I had one goal after running…Lobster Rolls.  If you don’t know Portsmouth, NH, it’s just a quick hop over the bridge from Kittery, ME…and from there, other great Maine coastal towns. 

The first place I set out to find wasn’t open for the season yet (we missed that by 3 days), so we continued and eventually ended up at the Lobster Shack in Ogunquit, ME. 

It was kind of a chilly cloudy day, so I was also in the mood for chowder.  When we walked in, we started looking at the menu until we were told the special today is a free cup of chowder with a lobster roll….DONE.

It was actually a fish chowder (I was kind of expecting clam) but still it was really good!  Nice big chunks of fish.

Then they came…

I’ve never been a big fan of mayo, but I do enjoy it in “salads” (chicken, tuna, lobster).  I probably could of done with a tad less on this one, but it didn’t overpower the lobster which is the most important part.  This was a classic roll, lobster and mayo only on a nice buttery toasted hot dog roll.  

So simple.  So delicious.  I devoured it, and probably could of eaten another one if it was in front of me :) 

Next, it was time to shower up for the wedding!

Our friends from college got married yesterday at Clay Hill Farm in York ME.   

The ceremony was outside, and luckily the rain held off.  It was a little chilly but not too bad.

The wedding party getting ready…

Married!

 

The venue is a fine dining restaurant so the food was AWESOME.

I got the lobster stuffed haddock….DELICIOUS!  With roasted potatoes and snap peas.  Brian had the chicken picatta which was also REALLY good. 

Favors:

 

Homemade blueberry Jam!  Made by the bride :)  Hmmm, breakfast tomorrow??

And no cake…but Blueberry Pie instead!

I’m most definitely a cake person, and pretty picky about my pies…but this one was awesome.

Per usual the rest of the night was filled with dancing, friends, and fun!   

Congratulations to my friends!!