What's on your plate?

[lylysa]

Hello there, ladies and gents!

Keeping in line with all the fun and interactive threads asking about your most recent halls, items you have your eyes on, what you're currently wearing, what's your hair routine, and more, I've decide to branch out and ask:

"What's on your plate?"

The beauty world doesn't just stop at skin care and cosmetics, it also goes hand in hand with your overall health and well-being, so with that, I'm curious to see what we're all chowing down and snacking on be it for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, or inbetween!

For those with apps that help count calories or to those who just want to keep a log, here's a place to share, possibly find and share some recipes, and even tips on maintaining a balanced diet.

Don't just share food items, but even drinks! I'm a huge fan of tea and at least have a cup of green tea a day (anti-oxidants) and drink plenty of water.

For lunch today, I had:

-Brown rice

-Steamed egg

-Steamed red snapper with green onion, sesame oil, and black pepper

-Gai lan (it's a type of Chinese vegetable/greens)

Now, tell me, Beauty Talk world, what do you have? 😄

[knuevekm]

This looks awesome!

[greenporchlights]

Thanks! 🙂

I didn't soak the rice noodles long enough, so they were a little firm, but the flavor was great.

[chocopudding]

Should not have browsed this thread during lunch hour. >_<

[malday]

It was raining today so naturally I needed an entire flight of ice cream. 

From L to R:

Black Olive Brittle & Goat Cheese

Avocado & Strawberry Sherbet

Almond Brittle with Chocolate Ganache

Stumptown Coffee & Compartes Love Nuts

[chocopudding]

I'm totally up for trying all new foods once, so even though I'm a little skeptical of how the first one would taste, I would totally try it. I actually really like olives and goat cheese, so...hm. Does it taste savory, in a way?

[malday]

I wasn't sure what to expect from the first one but it was the best of the flavors I tried. It has a savory quality to it but it's definitely a dessert. I'm having a really hard time finding the words to describe it. It's not overwhelmingly sweet and it still has that tang from the goat cheese. I feel like it's one of those things you just have to try.

[RandeeBT]

Olives and cheese are two of my favorite things! Where did you acquire these savory ice creams? They look intriguing! 

[malday]

From Salt & Straw in Los Angeles. There are also three locations in Portland that have different flavors 🙂

[EvangelineDamon]

How very bizarre and intriguing.

I'd try them all.

I love avocados, not sure about avocados and strawberries, but I'd eat it.

mmmm...ice cream on a rainy day

[Anonymous]

Avocado ice cream is very creamy and coats your whole mouth with something that should be compared to eggnog in texture! So if you've had the pleasure, it is more like gelato. Most people automatically think guacamole, so it does seem like a turn off.

[knuevekm]

These look amazing! yum!

[DiVWA]

I think I'd love the first one the most

[Blackwhiskey]

The first two....what??? 

[malday]

Trust me, the first one was AMAZING. As for the avocado one the strawberry was a little overwhelming in it. I mean if you think about it avocados are already kind of creamy and sweet, it makes sense to turn it into sherbet! haha.

[Blackwhiskey]

lol that's weird, noo!

[knuevekm]

I made zucchini bread. I walked away from it to let it cool and by the time I got back to take a picture this is how much was gone. haha

[DiVWA]

Yum! I thought I didn't leave any trace of my visit but I forgot about the missing half.....

Great way to get zucchini into your diet! Can you see or taste the zucchini in it?

Have you ever made zucchini brownies? I used to make them when I was baking desserts and using gluten flours. If you looked closely, you could see tiny specks of green now and then but for the most part, the zucchini was basically hidden and the taste wasn't there at all.

[knuevekm]

I can't really taste the zucchini I think because I shredded it very small but it is definitely very visible. I usually add 1 1/2 times the amount of zucchini the recipe calls for because I think it makes the bread more moist. 

I have never made zucchini brownies, but I did one time (way back in high school) make a zucchini apple pie which was so so good.

[DiVWA]

You're right that zucchini helps make baked products more moist.

Recipe for Zucchini Brownies:

Spoiler

Dark Chocolate Zucchini Brownies

The texture of these brownies is cake-like and chewy. The chocolate flavor shines through, however, and the zucchini is very subtle. Zucchini is available year-round in most produce departments, so don't wait for summer to try these!

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup whole wheat pastry flour

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

2 cups zucchini, shredded

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

3/4 cup olive oil

3 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 teaspoon instant coffee crystals

1 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350°F and lightly oil a 9x13-inch metal baking pan.

In a medium bowl, whisk together flours, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

In a large bowl, combine the zucchini, sugar, olive oil, vanilla extract, and coffee crystals. Add the flour mixture and stir until well mixed. Stir in chopped walnuts.

Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 35 to 40 minutes. (If using an insulated metal pan, bake for about 40 minutes; if using a regular metal pan, bake for about 35 minutes.)

Cool completely in pan on a wire rack before cutting.

Makes 24 brownies.

Adapted From "Olive Oil Baking" by Lisa Sheldon

[RandeeBT]

These sound really great, DiVWA. Thank you for sharing the recipe! Zucchini is my favorite vegetable but I have yet to try baking with it. It's definitely next on my to do list! 

[Anonymous]

My husband has made zucchini brownies a couple of times. They don't always turn out with a cakey consistency though, sometimes they are runnier or something. But they are SO. DARN. YUMMY! I was just saying to him a couple of days ago that he needs to find the recipe and make them again.