5 of My Most Popular Recipes in 2015

Looking back over the year, I realized I have posted many fewer recipes than in previous years. I have to admit to doing less experimenting in my own kitchen than I have in the past, and have been enjoying favorites that are already created, way more often.

Here are 5 of the most popular recipes I posted this year. Not only were they viewed, and Pinned quite often, they are dishes that I like to make over and over again myself... so I am going to highlight them here for you, so that you can check them out for yourself if you missed them the first time around.

They are all gluten freen,  and grain free. They may contain eggs or egg whites.  Where I call for a particular brand, use your own favorite version.  I hope you will enjoy them as much as I do myself!

In no particular order...

Low Carb Revolution Rolls

High Protein Waffles

Ultimate English Muffin

High Fibre Egg White Muffins

PB2 and Banana Waffles

What was your favorite new dish this year?  

Do you experiment in your kitchen or do you stick with the tried and true?

Pumpin Protein Waffles with Turmeric and My Golden Milk

A week or so ago, I joined a new fitness blogging group on Facebook and one of the first conversations I read and took part in, was about turmeric... it's health benefits and how to add it into our diets.

I knew that turmeric has long been considered a superfood by many in the healthy living community, and I have thought from time to time that I would like to start using it more often, but it was this FB chatter that really prompted me to act.

I purchased a 100-gram bag of pure turmeric and that same day made my first cup of Golden Milk. I thoroughly enjoyed it and have been making it every couple of days since.  I did use a recipe that I found online, but changed it a bit.   The author does not take credit for it and said that this recipe and variations have been around forever, so I am taking the liberty to share my own version.

If you don't use Stevia, you may want to put a spoonful of honey into this mixture.  It will counteract and bitterness you may taste in the turmeric and make you feel like you are having a luscious treat!

Golden Milk

Makes 1 serving.

• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1/2 cup hot water
• 1 tsp tahini
• 1 tsp turmeric
• healthy dash of cinnamon
• small dash of black pepper
• bit of Stevia to sweeten

1. Place all ingredients in a saucepan on the stove over MEDIUM-HIGH heat and stir till well-combined.  Do not let boil.
2. Remove to cup and enjoy!

Per serving.

Weight Watchers P+ = 2.

Calories 73; Protein 2g; Carbohydrate 3g; Fat 6g; Fibre 1g.

 I was pleased, too, that The Captain liked the taste and texture of it. It is quite thick and creamy.

And now I am working on coming up with more and different ways to add turmeric to our diet.  It has a very brilliant orange color, so it seems a natural to me that it would go more readily into dishes we already expect to be orange.  Don't you agree?  And because the mornings are getting cooler here, well at least a little bit cooler, I pulled a can of pumpkin out of the pantry and set about to making some pumpkin protein waffles... I knew that I could easily hide the turmeric in this batter because it is already orange with pure pumpkin....yup, pumpkin season is about to launch, and so Pumpkin Protein Waffles with Turmeric were born!

Just make sure that if you are using canned pumpkin that you select pure pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling in this recipe.  As for me, I cannot wait till fresh pumpkins are in the local markets as I do love baking and cooking with them.

I recently received some Vege Pro-7 Protein Powders from North Coast Naturals, so I chose to use the vanilla flavor in these waffles. Vege PRO-7 is very tasty and it features super foods like organic bio-fermented whole grain brown rice, organic sprouted chia, organic Canadian hemp protein, organic pumpkin seed, and other nutrient-dense proteins.  And it has no added artificial colours, sweeteners or flavours. Vege PRO-7 is also made without wheat, soy, dairy, egg, gluten or pea.  And I love it because it is also low fat and low carb, too.  But of course you should use your favorite protein powder.

I also used North Coast Naturals Ultimate Daily Cleanse to add a bit of bulk and more nutrients to my batter. You can use ground flax seeds if you like.

And, one more thing.... I understand that some people find the taste of turmeric a bit bitter, so add a sweetener to this recipe if you must. I didn't, as I think the cinnamon negates any bitter taste, and I topped my waffles with a bit of sugar free syrup and a couple of banana slices.

My recipe makes 2 servings so either share with your friend, or freeze some for another day.  You could also cut it in half.

Pumpkin Protein Waffles With Turmeric
Makes 2 servings

• 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
• 1/2 cup pure pumpkin
• 1/2 cup egg whites (4)
• 2 large fresh eggs
• 2 Tbs Ultimate Daily Cleanse or ground flax seeds
• 1 heaping tsp turmeric
• dash of cinnamon

1. Mix all ingredients together and let sit for a couple of minutes.
2. Cook in your waffle make according to directions... I used half for each of 2 double waffles.
3. Keep covered and warm till ready to serve. 
4. Top as desired.

Per serving, without toppings

Weight Watchers P+ = 5.

Calories 195, Protein 25.1g; Carbohydrates 10g; Fat 7g; Fibre 6.3g.

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Printable Recipe

Are you ready for pumpkin season too?

Do you add turmeric to your diet?  What is your favorite way?

Healthful Gluten-Free Waffles

Most of the waffles I have been making lakely have been with a mixture of protein powder and egg whites with with a pinch of baking powder thrown in...  they are really tasty, make up quickly, and have lots of protein... great on mornings when I am in a hurry to get moving.

But sometimes I like to take more time preparing a heartier breakfast... that often turns into brunch, really. That is the case with what I am calling my Healthful Gluten-Free Waffles.  'Healthful' because of the ingredients I have chosen to use in them.  And heartier because they kept me satisfied right through my normal lunch time.

I should also add that The Captain loved them... win win win!

I have had a bag of North Coast Naturals Ultimate Daily Cleanse sitting in my pantry for several months now.  It was in the last shipment of goodies I received to test and I admit to being somewhat intimidated by it... not really knowing what to do with it. But, today, when I thought I would use some ground flax seed in my new waffle mixture, I decided to open that bag and try some of the Ultimate Daily Cleanse instead. I am so glad I did!

It is a mixture of six natural ingredients:

• Ground 100% Canadian prairie flax seed (soluble & insoluble fibre & EFAs)
• Ground psyllium seed husk (soluble & insoluble fibre)
• Inulin fibre from chicory root (prebiotic fibre)
• Ground organic sprouted chia seed (superior nutrients, fibre and EFAs)
• Ground organic sprouted brown rice bran powder (soluble & insoluble fibre)
• Probiotics (1 billion good bacteria cells from non-dairy lactobacillus fermentum; provides the same healthy probiotic goodness associated with yogurt, without the taste or the dairy)

And I should add that it is dairy free, soy free and wheat/gluten free as well.... an all-natural blend that promotes healthy regularity.  You can check it out at North Coast Naturals web site if you are interested.

Okay then...

So as to start out gently and ease into using it, I substituted 2 Tbs of the Ultimate Daily Cleanse for the 2 Tbs of ground flax seed that I would have used in this recipe.  I didn't notice any taste or texture whatsoever.

I used a bit of maple syrup, some banana slices and shredded coconut to dress up my waffles.... so delicious!

Healthful Gluten-Free Waffles

Makes 2 servings

• 4 whole eggs
• 1/4 cup unsweetened vanilla Almond Breeze
• 2 Tbs Ultimate Daily Cleanse
• 1/4 cup coconut flour

1. Crack the eggs into a medium bowl and beat till fluffy.
2. Add the rest of the ingredients and beat again till the batter is smooth. It will be lumpy. Keep beating.
3. Pour half the mixture into a hot waffle iron and allow to cook about 5 minutes.
4. Remove to plate. Cover to keep warm.
5. Repeat with second half of batter.
6. Serve with your favorite waffle toppings.

Per serving without toppings.

Weight Watchers P+ = 6.

Calories 232; Protein 15g; Carbohydrate 11g; Fat 14g; Fibre 8g.

Keep mixing the batter till the lumps are gone!

Cover the cooked waffles till all the batter has been used.

And then dress them up before serving!

Printable Recipe

I did receive this product free of charge to use in my own kitchen and was under no obligation to review it.

What is your favorite way to get healthy fibre into your daily diet?

High Protein Waffles

I do love me some waffles… and I love to eat of protein at breakfast time so it was a natural that I was eventually going to mix some protein powder with some eggs whites and make waffles.  I can’t believe it took me so long…and I don’t know what else to call them… High Protein Waffles tells the story pretty much!  They are grain free and gluten free... bonus!

I have made them a couple of times now.  They get crispier the longer you cook them.  The first time I made them, The Captain could smell them from another room and thought I was burning sugar!

Mmmmm.

If you love waffles, you have got to try these.  I am sure you could use whatever protein powder is your favorite.  Make them vegan if you like.

And I promise you they will keep you full all morning… mine power me through a 7km run and cool down quite easily. 

The N.I. I am sharing is based on the North Coast Naturals 100% ISO Protein whey powder that I used.  Yours will vary of course.

High Protein Waffles
Makes 1 serving

• 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
• 1/2 cup egg whites
• 1/4 tsp baking powder

1. Mix all ingredients till well blended and pour batter into hot waffle iron.
2. Cook according to the directions on your waffle iron.
3. Remove and top with fruit of choice.

Per serving without fruit.
Weight Watchers P+ = 4.
Calories 171; Protein 37g; Carbohydrate 3g; Fat 1g; Fibre 0g.

Yep, that is a lot of cinnamon on top!

Printable Recipe

What about you? Waffles or pancakes?

Do you eat more protein on days you work out or run?

Easy Sweet Potato Waffles

Several days ago my friend, Kate, sent me a message on Pinterest with a link to a recipe for Sweet Potato Waffles… they looked fabulous!  But when I read through the ingredient list, I knew I wouldlikely never make them.

The recipe called for coconut oil, and as much as I like it, and do use it, I am not liberal with oils in my own baking and cooking. I try to limit them to a couple of teaspoons per day at the most. I prefer to get my healthy fats in food…nuts, avocadoes, eggs, olives, light cheeses, along with almond and coconut milks.

But I thought that Sweet Potato Waffles sounded like a great idea so I went ahead and made my own with just a couple of ingredients.  And yes, I made them just for myself!  Next time I will add some more spices… cloves, allspice, nutmeg and perhaps some ginger, too.

I dressed them with strawberries and some hemp seeds.  But I bet nut butters or blueberries and bananas would be lovely, too.




Sweet Potato Waffles
Makes 1 serving

• 1/2 cup cooked and mashed sweet potato
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon

1. Blend ingredients well and cook in your waffle iron according to directions.
2. Serve warm with your favorite toppings.

Per serving, without toppings.
Weight Watchers P+ = 6.
Calories 250; Protein 14g; Carbohydrate 25g; Fat 10g; Fibre 3g.

Printable Recipe

I love waffles!  Are you a fan?  What are your favorite kind?

PB2 and Banana Waffles

You know I have been experimenting several times a week with my new waffle maker!  And finding all kinds of fun and delicious combinations… The Captain is such a great guinea pig for my creations.  And if you know me at all, you HAD to know this was coming.  PB2 and Banana Waffles.  Oh my!

I never cared for peanut butter as a child. The only way I would eat it is in PB and Banana sandwiches… which my own Mother never made for us, but I do recall having them at a young male cousin’s birthday party once.  I think that may be the only time I ever ate peanut butter.  Then, fast forward to my early 20s when my first Mother-In-Law showed me how to make my own peanut butter in the blender… with Just raw peanuts.  It has been love ever since.

And now I have discovered PB2 which is just peanut flour, really.  I use it regularly in my kitchen and I have discovered it is a very good sub for grain flours sometimes.  So it was a natural that I was eventually going to make PB2 and Banana Waffles.  Hope you like them too.

PB2 and Banana Waffles
Makes 2 servings

• 2 Tbs PB2
• 1 large banana
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup egg whites

1. Mash half of the banana in a medium bowl.
2. Cut the other half into slices and set aside.
3. Add the PB2 to the mashed banana and blend in the egg and the egg whites till well combined. 
4. Spoon batter into your waffle iron and bake according to instructions. Remove them to a plate and keep warm while you cook the rest of the batter.
5. Top waffles with banana slices and a bit of syrup serve warm.

Per serving, including banana slices but not syrup
Weight Watchers P+  = 4.
Calories 144; Protein 13g; Carbohydrate 17g; Fat 4g; Fibre 2g.

Printable Recipe

Coconut Banana Egg-ffles

Ever since I bought a waffle maker last week I have been playing with ingredients… mostly eggs I admit… but I have been trying to come up with a real ‘waffle’ recipe. So far I have not succeeded, but these Coconut Banana Egg-ffles is honestly one of my better failures!

It is kinda eggy but just  not too eggy so it is worthy of a bit of syrup or a some applesauce or fruit for topping.  Give it a try and let me know what you think.  Next time I would add some cinnamon and a bit of vanilla… yes, there WILL be a next time….

My ingredients made 5 waffle ‘squares’… I just divided them between 2 plates to serve.  And if you are a vegetarian and don’t eat bacon, just don’t use it of course.

Coconut Banana Egg-ffles
Makes 2 servings.

• 4 large fresh eggs
• 1 medium banana
• 1 Tbs coconut flour
• 1 Tbs crumbled bacon

1. Blend eggs, banana and coconut flour in a medium bowl.
2. Pour approximately 1/2 cup of mixture into waffle iron, or the amount recommended for your own waffle iron.
3. Sprinkle with a few bits of crumbled bacon on the top.
4. Cook according to instructions.
5. Remove to plate and keep warm.
6. Repeat until all batter is used.
7. Serve warm with a bit of syrup or fruit.

Per serving.
Weight Watchers P+ = 4.
Calories 179; Protein 14g; Carbohydrate 4g; Fat 11g; Fibre 2g.

I used my immersion blender to mash the banana and mix the ingredients.

I don’t overfill my waffle iron with batter cause I am afraid of messy cleanups!

Revmove from waffle iron and keep warm while the rest cook.

Add some topppings and get ready to dig in.

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