SO MANY THINGS to talk about!  🙂

 

Fat Talk Free Week

 

First of all, and most importantly, this week is Fat Talk Free Week.  Fat Talk is negative self-talk and it has NOTHING to do with being overweight, average weight, or even underweight.  Like Operation Beautiful, Fat Talk Free Week has everything to do with how you see yourself and treat yourself.   Take the pledge this week to stop all forms of Fat Talk.  Watch the new FTFW video for more:

 

POM Wonderful!

 

I’m up so bright and early because I’m going to Fresno, California today!  I’m spending three days with POM Wonderful to tour their facilities, romp around their pom fields, and learn more about POM Wonderful.  A few other bloggers are going (Gina, Tina, and Roni, to name a few).  I’m quite excited (and a little nervous) to see everyone/meet everyone.

 

Can’t wait to share my adventures in Cali with you guys.  :)  I’ll be back this afternoon with a recap of a California run with my Tina. 

 

Blogger Secret Ingredient:  Pancake Mix WINNER!

 

I had a lot of fun hosting this week’s Blogger Secret Ingredient competition.  :)  I hope Pancake Mix was a unique and accessible ingredient… these submissions look AMAZING and it was hard to choose a winner.   Without further ado, here are the entries:

 

Beth (aka Biz at the Biggest Diabetic Loser) entered Poor Man’s Cheese Beer Bread.

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Beth said, “Tastes more like a biscuit loaf, than bread, but pretty good!”  Check out the recipe on Beth’s blog.

 

Jessica entered Chicken-Pot Pancakes.

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She said, “I loved that it turned the ingredients of a traditional pot pie into a savory pancake with pan sauce brown gravy!” The recipe is available on Jessica’s blog.

 

Christie entered Gluten Free, Vegan Mushroom Pot Pie Recipe.

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Christie said, "I wanted to make a pot pie and knew that it needed to be gluten free and dairy free. I was a little stumped at first but after some brainstorming, I came up with a recipe that worked beautifully. Despite there being no dairy in the recipe, the filling is rich and creamy with a lovely hearty texture from the mushrooms. The dear husband gobbled it up and even went for seconds!” The recipe is available on Christie’s blog.

 

Julie entered Streusel Topped Pumpkin Loaf.

Festive Fall Loaf

Julie said, "The aroma was unbelievable. We could hardly resist having a slice when I pulled it out of the oven.” You can check out the recipe on Julie’s blog.

 

Yasmin entered three recipes, including Baked Pancake-Beer Battered Onion Rings:

INGREDIENTS:

  • 2 large Vidalia onions (or any other sweet onion), sliced into rings
  • 1/2+ cup milk
  • 1 cup beer
  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • 1 egg white
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
  • 1 cup pancake mix
  • 1/4 teaspoon mustard powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder

DIRECTIONS:

  • Pre-heat oven to 400F.
  • Slice large sweet onions into rings. Separate rings. Soak in a small amount of milk for 10 minutes.
  • While it is soaking, mix beer, pepper, mustard, salt and onion powder and oil in a food processor.
  • Pulse until combined.
  • Add pancake mix last, and process only until mixed.
  • If batter is too pasty, add a teaspoon of water at a time until mixture has the consistency of a pancake batter.
  • Whisk egg white until frothy in a shallow bowl.
  • Gently stir in contents of food processor, mixing until combined.
  • Retrieve soaked onions.
  • Drain and lightly sprinkle with onion powder, then dip in batter.
  • Grease a cookie sheet, and arrange dipped onions.
  • Bake for 20-30 minutes or until golden brown, flipping the rings every 10 minutes.

 

Curried Vegetable Pancake Pot Pie:

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 egg
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 cup pancake mix
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup cheddar cheese (optional)
  • 1 cup carrot shreds
  • 1 cup diced and peeled rutabaga
  • 1 cup thinly sliced parsnips
  • 1 cup diced canned beets
  • 1 cup thinly sliced sweet potatoes
  • 3 cups canned curry sauce
  • 1 cup sour cream (I use greek yogurt)

DIRECTIONS:

  • Preheat oven to 400 F (200 C).
  • Combine carrots, rutabaga, parsnips, beets, potatoes, curry sauce, and sour cream/greek yogurt.
  • Spoon mixture into a casserole dish evenly.
  • In a medium bowl, combine egg, oil, and milk; mix well.
  • Add pancake mix and cheese; stir to combine.
  • Pour over vegetable mixture, making an even coat covering everything.
  • Bake for 45 minutes or until golden.

 

Moist Pumpkin Pancake Pound Cake:

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 cup pancake mix
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 4 tablespoons butter, cut into pieces
  • 1 heaping cup pumpk puree
  • 1/2 cup evaporated milk
  • 1 egg
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
  • (optional) 1/2 cup walnuts (or anything else)
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon

DIRECTIONS:

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease a loaf pan.
  • Mix pancake mix, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt.
  • Blend in butter until smooth.
  • In a separate bowl, mix together pumpkin, evaporated milk, egg, and vanilla.
  • Pour pumpkin mixture into the pancake mixture.
  • Add walnuts.
  • Pour into greased bread pan.
  • Sprinkle cinnamon and sugar over the batter.
  • Bake for 25-35 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean.
  • Allow to cool.
  • Serve with vanilla bean ice cream! (optional)

 

Anne entered Secret Ingredient Falafel with Cucumber Yogurt Sauce.

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Anne said, “I enjoyed two of of the balls for dinner on top of a brown rice wrap (from Trader Joes.. these would also be awesome in a pita if I hadn’t just had one for lunch!). I drowned them in cucumber sauce, added some fresh cucumber, tomatoes, and spinach, and I was ready to rock!”  You can check out the recipe on Anne’s blog.

 

Christina entered Bisquick Pecan Chicken & Oven Roasted Asparagus.

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Christina said, “as fork-tender and really juicy and flavorful. The nutty pecans in the breading really complimented the nuttiness that oven-roasting brings out in veggies.”  And her Husband called it “orgasmic.” You can check out the recipe on Christina’s blog.

 

Amanda entered Multigrain Oatmeal Apple Crisp.

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Amanda said,” It seriously tastes exactly like French Apple Pie but is much healthier than the traditional version. One serving of this version has just 150 calories and is full of whole grains and fiber and just a little bit of butter – real butter! Which we all know makes everything taste better.” You can check out the recipe on Amanda’s blog.

 

The WINNER of BSI: PANCAKE MIX is… Anne with the Secret Ingredient Falafel with Cucumber Yogurt Sauce. It was so hard to choose a winner.  I still remember what chicken tastes like so I felt like I could judge the non-vegetarian entries, too. 🙂 But Anne wins for creativity and presentation.  I feel like Falafel is a really odd thing to make with Pancake Mix.  But it looked GOOD!

 

And the Host of BSI Week 53 is…. MEGAN!  Megan asked me if she could be BSI Hostess next, and since no one else asked, she wins!  :)  Head over to Megan’s blog to see what ingredient she chooses as the BSI.  

 

I’ll see you in California!  🙂

{ 43 comments }

 

  • Nicole of Raspberry Stethoscope October 19, 2009, 6:36 am

    I saw the chicken pot pie recipe on Rachael Ray last week…

    • caitlin October 19, 2009, 6:40 am

      don’t worry, jessica acknowledged that on her blog. 🙂 it does look delish, though – right? i want a vegetarian version STAT!!!

  • Michelle October 19, 2009, 7:04 am

    Have fun in cali. WOO HOO! Bring on the sun. will you have time to see Jenna?

  • Susan October 19, 2009, 7:12 am

    Congrats to the winner!! 🙂 I gotta say though, I think those chicken pot pancakes look fabulous. I’ve never thought of savoury pancakes before! (with gravy to boot)

    Have a safe trip Caitlin!!

  • Marisa (Trim The Fat) October 19, 2009, 7:24 am

    Wow, such great recipes! Very creative bloggers out there!

    Have a great time on your trip! Can’t wait to hear all about it!

  • Estela @ Weekly Bite October 19, 2009, 7:34 am

    Those are great recipes! Very creative!!

    Have a great trip!

  • Simone @ P:T October 19, 2009, 7:36 am

    Great video, great recipes, great way to start the week!!

  • Jess (Fit Chick in the City) October 19, 2009, 7:37 am

    Have fun at the POM tour! Looking forward to seeing everyone’s photos! The video is fantastic and so are all these recipes!

  • Anne P October 19, 2009, 7:53 am

    wooohooooo!!!!!!!!!!! 😀 i’m excited. 🙂 lots of awesome recipes and i’m honored to have won!

  • Paige (Running Around Normal) October 19, 2009, 7:55 am

    You’re gonna have so much fun in CA!! 😀 So excited for you.

    Those recipes look delicious! I’m trying the falafel one. Awesomeness.

  • Stacey October 19, 2009, 8:01 am

    Have fun in CA! Yay! Now I have a ton of new recipes to try out!

  • Sara October 19, 2009, 8:10 am

    Have fun in California! Travel safe!

  • Emily (Emily Eats and Exercises) October 19, 2009, 8:10 am

    Thanks for posting all those ideas – I’m excited about the apple crisp, veggie pot pie, and falafel one. Yum. Plus, all those new blogs to check out.
    Have fun on your trip – sounds like a blast.

  • Erica October 19, 2009, 8:19 am

    Have so much fun on the trip! Sorry I never go tmy entry in…such a slacker (hangs head in shame!!). All of the entries look awesome and congrats to the winner

  • christie @ honoring health October 19, 2009, 8:37 am

    Congrats to Anne, that is a crazy good idea!! I love fallafel!

    Have a safe trip, Caitlin!

  • MelissaNibbles October 19, 2009, 8:41 am

    Congrats to the winners.
    Have fun in Cali! Can’t wait to see what trouble you bloggers get into!

  • Megan @ Megzz Wins At Life October 19, 2009, 9:19 am

    I can’t wait to try some of these recipes!! Have fun in Cali!

  • Stephanie October 19, 2009, 9:28 am

    I love the creativity in these recipes, fabulous!

  • Sarah @ See Sarah Eat October 19, 2009, 9:40 am

    As I was scrolling through, I definitely thought I would choose the falafel, haha. Congrats to the winner! Have fun in California Caitlin 🙂

  • Jessica @ How Sweet It Is October 19, 2009, 9:40 am

    Cheese beer bread???! YUm!

  • Jenna October 19, 2009, 9:54 am

    those all look great! have fun in fresno 🙂
    jenna

  • Diana October 19, 2009, 9:59 am

    That video is awesome 🙂
    Congrats to the winner!

    Have fun!

  • Yasmin October 19, 2009, 10:02 am

    So much creativity!

    I’ll have pictures of my recipes on my bog, soon… http://prettylittlesteps.wordpress.com/

    Have a safe trip!

  • Julie @ Peanut Butter Fingers October 19, 2009, 10:18 am

    i love all the pics of the secret ingredient posts! 🙂 thanks for posting mine, too. i feel so special. 😉 enjoy your trip!!!

  • Evan Thomas October 19, 2009, 10:21 am

    Wow such great recipes and creative readers!

  • Lara (Thinspired) October 19, 2009, 11:20 am

    These all look great–you got some good entries with that ingredient! I always love Biz’s recipes!
    Have a fun, safe trip to CA, Caitlin!

  • Nikki T October 19, 2009, 11:23 am

    What a moving video!
    It makes me feel like, even thought I had to be extra sneaky, my Diet Clinic OB note post yesterday afternoon was really worth while…I hope at least someone saw it, and maybe it made someone’s day, before it got taken down…

    Can’t wait to hear about the POM wonderful tour!

  • Tay October 19, 2009, 11:29 am

    Everything looks delicious! Congrats to Anne! And have a safe flight 🙂

  • Biz October 19, 2009, 11:29 am

    Thanks for hosting this week Caitlin – have a safe trip!

  • Amanda (modernation) October 19, 2009, 11:33 am

    Wow! Everyone was so creative! I had so much fun thinking up a recipe. Congrats Anne! Thanks for hosting and posting, Caitlin!

  • Gabriela October 19, 2009, 11:44 am

    Lovee Fat Free Week, what a great idea! Have a safe trip!

  • angieinatlanta October 19, 2009, 11:48 am

    LOVE the fat talk free week! I often find myself indulging in that sort of talk in my head and it’s sooooo disheartening! I deserve better!

  • Ellen October 19, 2009, 12:18 pm

    I totallly need to quit the fat-talk. I do it so much that I don’t even realize it until my sister or a friend points it out to me! Eeek.

    (http://www.firednfabulous.blogspot.com/)

  • Ali @ Food, Fitness, Fashion October 19, 2009, 1:18 pm

    I took the pledge!!! I hope you guys have a great time in CA!

  • Jana October 19, 2009, 1:49 pm

    I love that it is fat talk free week! As a college senior, I am surrounded by body hate everyday…it is so important to remind women everywhere that it is up to US to stop the fat talk, so stop criticizing your own body and start loving it!!

  • Lauren October 19, 2009, 2:15 pm

    Great recipes!!! Have fun in Cali!

  • Anne Marie@ New Weigh of Life October 19, 2009, 2:40 pm

    Love the new end fat talk video. Have a great time in Cali!

  • Becky October 19, 2009, 7:19 pm

    All that food looks amazing! Have fun 🙂

  • Christina (Dinner at Christina's) October 20, 2009, 1:30 am

    Congrats to the winner! This was a great week of recipes! I love the savory pancake idea, I might steal that!

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