Dinner was a total disaster!

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Per the Learn to Luv Veggies Challenge, I tried to make Eggplant and Potato "pancakes," but they just ended up a gooey, sticky mess!  I won’t even share the recipe for fear that someone else will create them and have to eat them! 🙂

 

My Eggplant and Potato Pancakes included (two servings):

 

  • 4-inch portion of eggplant
  • 8 small potatoes
  • 1 tablespoon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon garlic
  • 2 piece of toast

 

All thrown into the food processor (I grilled the eggplant and potatoes first), shaped into pancakes, and cooked on the griddle.

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I also had a salad and a cup of Butternut Squash soup (Wolfgang Puck brand) on the side.  I ended up smothering the pancakes in ketchup, which helped. 🙂

 

Major fail!  Oh well.  That’s what happens sometimes when you experiment in the kitchen!

 

Other snacks of the day included crackers and cream cheese:

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And unpictured handful of granola.

 

And a plum:

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I’m pretty hungry still, considering my hard run this morning.  I might go back for some granola or PB toast.

 

When I got out of class today, the sun was still out!  Always an awesome feeling (on Tuesday and Thursdays, I’m there until 9 PM!).

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And I posted this Operation Beautiful note in a bathroom (yes, I rock sunglasses inside).

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POM Wonderful Harvest Tour!

 

Fun announcement!  Towards the end of October, I’ll be traveling to Fresno, California to visit POM Wonderful.

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We are going to see the pomegranate trees and tour the factory!  I love POM Wonderful juice; plus, POM Wonderful was a Healthy Living Summit sponsor! Go, POM! 

 

Fun facts about POM Wonderful:

 

  • A 2005 study published in the American Journal of Cardiology showed improved blood flow to the heart in patients drinking 8oz. daily of POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice for 3 months.
  • Many scholars now suggest that it was a pomegranate, not an apple, depicted in the biblical Garden of Eden.
  • POM Wonderful is packed with antioxidants! Emerging science has shown that diets rich in fruits and vegetables that contain antioxidants, along with regular exercise, might slow or help prevent the development of cancer.
  • And in case you need a little something-something in the bedroom… Compared to participants taking a placebo, those men drinking 8oz. of POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice daily for four weeks were 50% more likely to experience improved erections.  Wahoo! 🙂
  • Ancient Greeks believed it was Aphrodite that planted the first Pomegranate tree in Cyrus.  Many cultures consider Pomegranates to be a symbol of love and fertility.

 

Three cheers for POM Wonderful!  I cannot wait to see the "vineyards" of Pomegranates!

{ 30 comments }

 

  • Lauren September 30, 2009, 5:20 pm

    Sorry your pancakes were a bust. They sounded promising, but sometimes, our ideas just seem better in our heads then in our tummies. 🙂

    I tried to make Mashed Veggie Latkas once and they were a MAJOR disaster! Seemed like such a brilliant concept at the time, but it was definitely not worth the effort.
    Hope you had a great day Caitlin! Enjoy the rest of your night hun.

  • Evan Thomas September 30, 2009, 5:22 pm

    Aww sorry about the dinner disaster. It happens some times, but that’s when you really learn your way around a kitchen. And a trip in a pom harvesting plant sounds incredible!

  • Lauren September 30, 2009, 5:26 pm

    Don’t worry-I had one of those dinners last night. It’s always a learning experience!

  • Anne Marie@New Weigh of Life September 30, 2009, 5:29 pm

    Sometimes “fails” happen in the kitchen, but at least you know what NOT to make in the future. How fun with the POM trip-I bet it’ll be exciting!

  • Kirsten September 30, 2009, 5:34 pm

    I had an eggplant disaster this week too – its such a fickle veg! I love it when it’s good though

  • Justy2003 September 30, 2009, 5:38 pm

    Sorry about the kitchen fail 🙁 At least you’re trying new ways to incorporate veggies though!
    I noticed your quick-paced run this morning! Got me wondering…do you think you run faster since you’ve gotten the Garmin and can constantly look and see your time? I’m hoping to get one for Christmas and am thinking it also may improve my pace a bit because I’ll have that constant feedback. Thoughts?

    • caitlin September 30, 2009, 5:54 pm

      yes – totally. sometimes i think im going faster than i really am, and then i check the garmin for a dose of reality. its a great training tool.

  • Weekly Bite September 30, 2009, 5:41 pm

    I’ve never thought about making an eggplant potato pancake… bummer the recipe didn’t work out… Have a great time this weekend on the POM Tour!

  • haya September 30, 2009, 5:46 pm

    blerg to the pancakes. kitchen fails frustrate me more than they should.

    i squealed with joy at the supermarket the other day when i saw that poms are BACK BABY!!! gosh it has been too long. since january, probably.
    poms definitely soften the blow that is winter.

  • Madeline @ GreensAndJeans September 30, 2009, 5:47 pm

    eggplant and I just don’t get along, but I am sorry about your dinner fail! unfortunately, you never know if something is going to work until you give it a shot, right?

  • Stephanie September 30, 2009, 6:04 pm

    POM tour sounds fabulous! Sorry your meal didn’t turn out as planned, but if you never try than you’ll never know right 🙂

  • Joelle (The Pancake Girl) September 30, 2009, 6:11 pm

    Those “pancakes” sounds savory and delish.. sorry about the kitchen fail- happens to me often!

  • Matt September 30, 2009, 6:11 pm

    Sorry about the dinner fail! It doesn’t hurt to at least try something right?

  • angieinatlanta September 30, 2009, 6:17 pm

    I’m sorry about the fail but you’re totally right – ketchup saves all!

  • Jessica @ How Sweet It Is September 30, 2009, 6:24 pm

    Hmmm…the toast sounds good…lol.

  • Jolene (www.everydayfoodie.ca) September 30, 2009, 6:28 pm

    Ahhh crappy that dinner didn’t turn out – maybe next time you could try eggplant lasagna!

  • Lizzy September 30, 2009, 6:39 pm

    aw failures in the kitchen only lead to bigger and better things next time! 🙂 you tried and thats what matters!

  • Jenna September 30, 2009, 6:52 pm

    sorry your dinner was such a bust!
    have fun in the vineyard!
    jenna

  • Deb (Smoothie Girl Eats Too) September 30, 2009, 7:36 pm

    Ha! My girlfriend is a lawyer at Pom. I should get her to sneak me into the tour! 😀

  • Morgan @ Life After Bagels September 30, 2009, 8:15 pm

    I love that quote in your OB notes! I should think of it more often.

  • Amanda (Two Boos Who Eat) September 30, 2009, 9:24 pm

    I am jealous! I want to see a POM harvest! How fun!

  • Whole Body Love September 30, 2009, 10:26 pm

    Last year, I tried to make my own version of some zuchinni pancakes I saw in a cookbook and they were tasteless and ugly. I love to cook and consider myself decent in the kitchen. I think we all have our cooking disasters 😉

  • Rebekah September 30, 2009, 10:40 pm

    I lived in Fresno for 8 years and never got to do anything as cool as a POM tour! I’ll be touring vicariously through you!

  • Diana September 30, 2009, 11:39 pm

    It’s ok to fail sometimes eheh I don’t even know how to cook so… I’m actually thinking about starting, because it’s just useful! But I bet I’ll have lots of fails in the kitchen before I get it right 😉

  • Paige October 1, 2009, 4:53 am

    Your pancakes look good? Sorry they didn’t turn out. That’s so awesome that you’re going to Fresno for POM Wonderful. That’ll be SO much fun. 🙂

  • Jac October 1, 2009, 5:58 am

    Well.. better than not trying! your dish i mean.. why not try breadcrumbed eggplants? i’m sure they’ll be good..

  • Rachel October 1, 2009, 6:08 am

    You should try the pancakes again. Try shredding the potato then rinsing in water and patting dry (KEY!) and mixing with everything instead of throwing it in the food processor. Not sure about the eggplant, but the potato for sure whent all glopy-gooey from being processed that way.
    I’d try to do the same thing with the eggplant, I think. Mix together with your flavor ingredients and a binder (egg usually) and then pan fry for delicious crispiness!
    I’m not sure about the eggplant (never worked with it), but the potato for sure doesn’t need to be pre-cooked. Just shred, rinse, dry and use! When you pan fry them, the potato will cook up just fine. 🙂 Sorry for the long comment. Food excites me! lol

  • Laura@FindingAHealthyBalance October 1, 2009, 7:35 am

    Don’t you hate it when dinner doesn’t turn out quite like you hoped……I know I do! =( They looked good. And, I love the crackers & cheese, YUMMY, I want some now.

    I had no idea POM had so many great benefits, I have to get my Hubby to start drinking the stuff, not that he needs it but hey it is good for you! =O

    ~Laura @ Finding A Healthy Balance

  • Jalita March 7, 2010, 2:16 am

    Those crackers look homemade, are they?

    • Caitlin March 7, 2010, 1:36 pm

      nope – they are from costco.

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