Healthy Breakfast Recipes: Chocolate Waffles

bliss (blĭs) n. a state of profound satisfaction, happiness or joy.

Oooooh yeah. Dean Martin (the epitome of coolness) tunes playing while the intoxicating scents of fresh perked coffee and chocolate waffles fills the house.

Now THIS is the way to start a morning.


Shelly's Chocolate Protein Waffles

1 cup Almond Flour
1/2 cup Chocolate Protein Powder (I use whey isolate)
1/2 cup Multigrain Pancake Mix
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon
2 Tablespoons Unsweetened Cocoa
2 Eggs, beaten
3 Tablespoons Sugar Free Vanilla Torani Syrup
1 Tablespoon Canola Oil
1/2 cup Vanilla Soy Milk
Electric Waffle Maker
Pam nonstick cooking spray.

Variation: add 1/4 cup Unsweetened Toasted Coconut to the batter to make "Almond Joy" pancakes.

Heat waffle maker according to manufacturer's instructions. Mix all ingredients together till well combined. When waffle maker is heated. Spray lightly with Pam. Pour batter onto iron (amount according to your makers instructions). Put lid down and cook till done. My waffle stick maker has a darkness setting I set between 3 & 4 and it beeps when it's done. My maker makes 2 and 1/4 batches from the recipe (so about 19 waffle sticks.)

They freeze well. I wrap them in foil and then place them in a freezer Ziploc baggie. Just pull them out and toast them like you would Eggo's or any other frozen waffle. Smear 'em with Peanut Butter, Almond Butter, or sweetened Ricotta Cheese for a quick breakfast on the go.

Optional Toppings:
Sugar Free Maple Syrup
No Sugar Added Homemade Whipped Cream
Sliced Strawberries or Bananas
Peanut or Almond Butter
SF Torani or Maple Syrup sweetened Ricotta Cheese
Sugar Free Jam
Sugar Free Caramel Syrup

Oh and you can bet when the weather gets warmer I will be topping one of these with a scoop of Protein Ice Cream.

Toasted Coconut Banana Pudding

You know my love affair with Toasted Coconut goes waaaaay back. So I'm always looking for weight loss surgery friendly ways to enjoy it. Here's the latest...

This is the kind of yummy, old–fashioned dessert that cutie Guy Fieri would be served in some kitschy diner off the Interstate by a lady (wearing a hairnet) named Alice.


Shelly's Toasted Coconut Banana Pudding

2 Bananas, sliced
1 batch of Warm Toasted Coconut Custard (recipe below)

Layer 4 ramekins 3/4 the way full with bananas.

Top with layer of warm toasted coconut custard.

You can eat it warm or put them in the fridge to set up for 1/2 hour. I let them chill and topped them with a squirt of Sugar Free Land o Lakes Whipped Cream.


Shelly's Warm Toasted Coconut Custard

2 Tablespoons of Bird's Custard Powder
2 cups Milk
2 Tablespoons Sugar Free Coconut Torani Syrup
1/2 cup Unsweetened Coconut, toasted

Mix powder into a smooth paste with a little of the milk. Heat the remaining milk to almost boiling and pour onto the custard mixture. Return the mix to the pan and heat till thickened (it will bubble). Remove from heat and put Sugar Free Syrup and toasted coconut in. You can eat this as is warm (my favorite) poured over slices of my 5 Minute Cakes, Crumbs and Protein Souffles or chill it and it will firm up like pudding.

Simple and sooooo good.

"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."

Beans & Boobs

I lived on this kind of thing the first few weeks after surgery and after 8 weeks of mushy stuff in the pureed phase I remember I never wanted to see it again but it is really yummy and makes a quick side dish that goes great with beef, chicken, fish, shrimp. I love to serve it now with Shrimp Kabobs. It gives me my garlic mashed potatoes fix but with a lot more nutritional value.


Shelly's Cannellini Bean Mash

2 cloves Garlic, grated
Grated zest of 1/2 lemon
1 (15 oz.) can Cannellini Beans, rinsed and drained
Kosher Salt to taste
a few twists of Black Pepper
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil (I used a Garlic infused one) or storebought Pesto Sauce that has been warmed (thinned) in the microwave.

Heat olive oil with grated lemon zest and garlic. Drain and rinse beans. Add to pan mashing and squishing with a wooden spoon till warmed through. Season with salt and pepper and drizzle with olive oil or pesto sauce.

Any leftovers heat up great with an egg for breakfast or can be used to thicken a soup.

OK You've got your potato fix. How about an Eggface pasta-less pasta fix?

Highlights of the Day:

* Ha. Still not sure if this was a highlight or a lowlight. I'm in Costco and this old man pushing his cart stops, looks directly at my chest and says, "Oh my, Mamma Mia" and walks on by. I looked over at my Mum and we both burst into laughter. We weren't near the DVD section so I don't think he was talking about the movie ;)

* I made an AMAZING but super simple dessert. I'm on a dessert kick lately (must be all that damn Valentine candy in the stores.) I'll post the recipe and food porn manana.

* Right now. Listening to tunes. Sipping a cup of coffee with a splash of Sugar Free Caramel Torani Syrup. Loving the rain... it's a nice change. I get to wear fuzzy sweaters again. Yay.

Listening to: "Have you ever seen the rain?" CCR

Bento Box Picnic

I heart picnics. They are one of my absolute favorite things to do. At the beach, at the park, under the electric stars in my backyard, heck on the living room floor is great too.

I saw this super cool bento box the other day and I had to have it. I figured I'd better break it in today because after a week or so of absolutely beautiful 80 degree weather it's supposed to get cold and rainy for a stretch.

I packed up some weight loss surgery friendly treats and my Mum and I walked to the the lake near my house. We found a table with a view, ate our lunch and enjoyed the last day of sunshine and warmth we'll be having for a bit.


Pink Box (top left): Mixed Nuts, Dried Apricots, Chocolate Protein Donuts
Orange Box (top right): Turkey & Roast Beef Roll-ups
Blue Box (bottom left): Variety of Cheeses, Jumbo Shrimp w/ cocktail sauce
Green Box (bottom right): Broccoli & Baby Carrots w/ Caesar Dressing below

"Life is like a coin. You can spend it any way you wish, but you can only spend it once."