Cookbook # 68 Cook Yourself Thin Faster

I don't know why I have this cookbook, except that I've caught the show a few times and really enjoyed it.  Nothing earth shattering--it's all pretty common sense changes to make the recipes a bit healthier.  Sadly, none of the recipes acknowledge the beauty of chia.  I fixed that.

The cookbook promises over 75 new recipes I can make in a flash.  While it was the White Pizza with Roasted Mushrooms and Pineapple Mojitos recipes that caught my eye--I gave into the siren call of the lemons on my counter. On one hand, anything with lemon is divine.  On the other hand, I can't get enough raspberries when they are in season.  Put your hands together and you have Raspberry Lemon Tea cake.  Sigh.

 

It all starts off with a bit of chia seed gel (pureed instead of whole this time) and a bit of yogurt straining.

Raspberry Lemon Tea Cake

Adapted from Cook Yourself Thin Faster

1 ½ cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
Pinch of salt
¾ cup strained plain yogurt
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla
¾ cup sugar
Zest of 2 lemons
1 pint raspberries, washed
1/3 cup pureed chia gel

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Oil and flour loaf pan
In a small bowl whisk dry ingredients
In a medium bowl whisk yogurt, eggs, vanilla, sugar and lemon zest. Stir in dry ingredients taking care not to over-mix. Fold in raspberries and finally, chia gel.
Transfer batter to baking pan and bake for 50-55 mins or until golden. Cool for 5 mins before running a knife around edges and flipping loaf onto cooling rack.

A Little Bit Dramatic

Could this turn into one of those blogs where I post pictures of my pets ad naseum?  Potentially.  But trust me here--these pics of are far more compelling then a picture of the takeout chopsticks accumulating on my counter, which would be the extent of my food experiences recently.  If I actually were to do a food post, it would be about this fascinating:

Night one: order takeout from Sushi Kazu

Night two: order takeout from Pho Saigon

Night three: order takeout from Thai Lotus

Nights four through six: Consider throwing Hoong's Palace into the mix, but instead repeat above cycle.  Again.  And again.  And again.

In the puppy world, we did attend our first Super Puppy class this morning. Girlfriend is Mensa material.  I'm just saying is all. 

Socially, it was a whole 'nother story.  As we passed pups around the circle to socialize them to people, someone asked "Is Brooklyn is going to be all right?" And there she was shaking uncontrollably in some stranger's arms while her dramatic mama had tears in her eyes.  We'll see if Brooklyn or Mary toughens up first. I'd put your money on Brooklyn. 

Puppy class is exhausting.

Brooklyn Soho Midtown Bronx

I know, it's been awhile but I really do have a good excuse this time around.  Or a couple of mediocre excuses at least.  See, About a month ago, I gave my notice.  A couple of weeks ago, I started a new job.  That's a lot in and of itself.  And just this week, a new roommate moved in. 

While some roommates are helpful, Brooklyn is not.  In fact, she's quite a bit of work.  But as she reminded me...when I was 9 weeks old, I was far from perfectly trained myself.  We'll let her play her cuteness card for a bit.