Butternut Squash Protein Pancakes

I know some of you out there are just as bummed about the lack of canned pumpkin available on the shelves at the grocery store lately. How are we supposed to make pumpkin pie protein smoothies or pumpkin protein pancakes without the key ingredient?

Well, I have one can of pumpkin remaining in my cabinet that I am hoarding and saving for a special day when a pumpkin craving really hits! Since I am saving that can, I figured I could try to recreate my pumpkin protein pancakes with pumpkin’s sister squash, little miss butternut.

My first attempt was a mega-fail, which made Sadie quite happy (she enthusiastically ate up my unsuccessful attempt), but my second go was much better.

While the ‘cakes were cooking on the griddle, I sliced up a nectarine to enjoy along with the butternutty goodness.

After topping the protein pancakes with the nectarine slices and sweet syrup, I dusted the plate with nutmeg for some added flava-flav.

Breakfast is Served

This breakfast came together quickly, but seemed more intense, like a weekend-worthy breakfast or something.

My belly was happy.

'Cakes + Nectarine + Syrup + Nutmeg

And Again

Along with the butternut squash protein pancakes, I downed a tumbler full of Barnie’s French vanilla and nutmeg coffee that I snagged for free as I was leaving the gym this morning.

You can't tell by looking, but my throat is on fiiiire...

Not only was my throat on fire in the above picture, but my head was also throbbing from that headband. Too bad I didn’t take it off sooner because I am now forced to wear it all day because I have the “headband bump” if I take it off, and we all know how cute that looks. 😉

Butternut Squash Protein Pancakes

Ingredients:

• 1/2 c. canned butternut squash
• 2 egg whites
• 1 scoop protein powder (I used All the Whey cinnamon bun protein powder which tastes like sewage in a shake, but is perfect in recipes)
• Cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice, to taste

Directions

Blend ingredients together using an immersion blender. Spray pan or griddle with cooking spray and cook pancakes for a couple of minutes on each side. Top with syrup, peanut butter, fruit or desired toppings.

Note: The pancakes will not have the same texture as fluffy pancakes made with flour and will be thinner and “eggier.”

Of Possible Interest

• Simple Way to Make Healthy Snacking Easier (FitSugar.com)
• Overcome Your Carb-Phobia (Health.com)
• Sarah (SkinnyRunner) mentioned me on her blog and she’s flippin’ hilarious. If you haven’t read her blog already, you’re seriously missing out.

Question of the Morning

Pumpkin vs. Butternut Squash: Which do you prefer?

Pantry Scrounging Dinner

Tonight’s dinner was created from staples I always have on hand:

• frozen veggies
• soup
• bread
• cheese

I knew I wanted to use the box of V8 butternut squash soup that has been haunting me everytime I open my cubbard.

Box of Soup

As indicated by the severely torn box of soup in the above picture, I’ve  clearly never opened a box of soup before. I felt quite ravenous hacking away at the box. Just gimme my soup already! I let Sadie lick it clean and tear it up for good measure when I was done. Who’s the boss now, huh soup box!?

Butternut Squash Soup

Thank you to the readers who gave me suggestions as to what to do to transform my butternut squash soup craving into a meal. I followed your suggestions and decided to pair the soup with the old stand by: a grilled cheese sandwich.

Grilled Cheese

I made mine on a whole wheat Arnold’s sandwich thin and Ryan’s on Publix light wheat bread. His and hers grilled cheeses. 😉

We also split a box of Green Giant Healthy Vision frozen veggies.

Green Giant Healthy Vision Veggies

Grilled Cheese and Veggies

At the dinner table Ryan and  I concluded our dinner was fit for a five year old. 🙂 We loved every last bite. The soup in particular was really, really good. I’m a fan!

Low Calorie Christmas Cookies

Ryan affectionately calls me his little cookie monster because I’ve been known to polish off an embarrassing amount of freshly baked cookies on more than one occasion. They’re just too darn delicious!

I love baking Christmas cookies for Santa (and myself 😉 ). Nerd alert: My sister and I always bake cookies to ‘NSync’s Christmas CD. It’s amazing. There’s just something about that song “Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays” that makes me wanna sing and dance!

Were you a Backstreet Boys fan or an ‘NSync fan… or just a hater? I definitely preferred ‘NSync. I love my Justin Timberlake (though J.C. was my fav at the time…  I had a soft-spot for Joey, too!) .

Annnyway, in my latest Examiner article, I’ve compiled a list of low calorie Christmas cookie recipes. Click here to check it out!

A Fetchin’ Good Night

Orthodontist Appointment and Wedding Talk

I left work a little early today for an invisalign appointment with my orthodontist. Yes, I am 24 and am going through braces (albeit clear ones) for the first time.

My orthodontist is awesome (she went to Haaaa-vard) and is a fellow bride-to-be. I ended up staying after my appointment for half an hour or so chatting with her and oogling over Orlando wedding photographer’s photo albums online. All the wedding talk made me super excited for this weekend when Ryan and I head to St. Petersburg to stay with my parents and check out some venues. We’re not sure whether Orlando or St. Pete will be our location of choice, but I am ready to start lookin’ at some places!

Entertaining the Pup

Sadie was ready and rearin’ to go when I got home. I tossed a load of laundry in the washing machine and leashed her up for a trip to the dog park.

Don't Forget

I loved that sign posted on the doggie bulletin board. Nice and to the point. Pick up the doodie people!

Sadie took off and found a ball within 2.5 seconds of our arrival to the park.

"This is the best ball EVERRRR!"

She enjoyed several rounds of fetch and lots of time in the lake.

Just Keep Swimming, Just Keep Swimming...

Got it!

I love watching her run around and just be a dawg!

Regal Sadie

Dinner

Dinner was a remix of leftovers. I used the roasted butternut squash and onions from last night’s butternut and apple pizza and tossed them with broccoli florets and portobello mushrooms.

Lots of Veggies

I added some yummy egg noodles to the mix to create a tasty pasta dish.

Pastafied

Yum!

Tonight I’m off to continue checking chores off my to do list… laundry, dishes, paint my nails… fun!

Butternut Squash and Apple Pizza

When I arrived home from work today a sorry sight greeted me.

Sorry Lil' Pumpkin

It looks like Grimace the pumpkin has officially kicked the bucket.

Fortunately the other Halloween decorations are not perishable.

Outdoor Decor

Dinner

Oooooh yum. Dinner tonight was D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S.

Butternut Squash and Apple Pizza

First I plucked a small butternut squash from our produce basket, peeled and cubed it. After cutting up a red onion, I tossed the veggies in olive oil and salt and baked them for approximately 20 minutes at 375 degrees.

Butternut Squash and Onion

After the veggies were toasty, I crisped a Joseph’s lavash bread in the oven before topping it with the cubed butternut squash, red onion, chopped spinach, sliced Honeycrisp apple and goat cheese.

Yummy!!!

I ate the whole thing and licked my fingers clean.

I’m off to continue my Gossip Girl marathon with a tasty cup of hot chocolate.

Beefin’ Up the Beef

Sometimes I get annoyed by the food that sits in our freezer. It mocks me everytime I add something new. Tonight’s dinner was a “clean out the freezer” dinner. I pulled out a package of frozen butternut squash and frozen spinach and put my thinking cap on.

Butternut Squash

Frozen Spinach

I first unloaded the butternut squash into a pot with a bit of water on the stovetop. I then scoured the fridge for ideas to incorporate the spinach into our meal.

Beef! It’s what’s for dinner. I decided to use the chopped spinach to beef up the lean ground beef we planned to make into burgers this week. I combined the spinach with the meat, a couple squirts of barbeque sauce and some garlic salt and sent Ryan off to grill ’em up!

Spinach and BBQ Burgers

The pop of green really made the patties look pretty.

Grilled Burger

Ryan’s gettin’ pretty good at creating those wonderful grill marks.

I placed my burger on a whole wheat Arnold sandwich thin with sliced tomato, ketchup and mustard. I wish I had some lettuce…

Spinach Burger

Juicy Burger

The butternut squash was a great side dish. I added cinnamon and nutmeg to the simmering squash which made it look a lil’ poopy, but it still tasted wonderful. 🙂 I topped mine with some soy nuts for that crunch I just loooove.

Cinnamon and Nutmeg Butternut Squash

Soy Nut Crunchies

This dinner was the perfect balance of salty and sweet. Yummmm.

Off to read more of The Lost Symbol with Ryan… this book is fantastic!