Waffles and Green Smoothies

Thursday afternoon and Friday, I have spent my time catching up with personal laundry, household details that had to be overlooked in the past month, and I was also in the garden much of yesterday. I had a couple of pix from my garden harvest to share, but blogger won't let me upload. I noticed that when I post to photobucket and paste html here, it takes longer open my page. Today I'll skip the pix of the harvest and just tell you about it. Here's the lastest garden report.

FRESH SPINACH
For the past three weekends I have had nice pickings of spinach (enough to last the whole week and it actually kept until it was gone). To wash spinach (or other greens) I usually pull the stems and thicker veins off the leafs as I throw them into a sink fuill of cold water. I swish them around with my hand and leave them soak for about 15 minutes, swish, drain the water, run it one more time to repeat and then throw the leaves in a colander to drain. I let them drain for 20 minuutes or so and place it into a plastic bag, packing it down so that I can get as much of the air out as possible before sealing and keeping in the veg crisper drawer in my frig. I haven't had any go bad in a week's time... I've brought in about 4 - 5 pounds of spinach leaves for the last three weekends.

We have been eating this in salads, on sandwiches, in scrambles, and check out my latest creation below... my very own version of a NAKED superfood juice. We like it.

BROCCOLI and SUGAR SNAP PEAS (edible pod)
Yum and that's all I got to say about that. Oh, that and I am thinking of making some calzones this week using the broccoli.

KITCHEN DETAIL:
Chickpea/ Oatmeal Blender Waffles
Surprisingly awesome, I have fed these to non health concerned family members on New Years Day for the past three years without complaint.

Soak 1/2 C dry chickpeas in 1 1/2 c water overnight. If you double this recipe, I soak them separately. In the morning drain the chickpeas and add all to the blender with the following ingredients, mix until smooth, allow to rest for 3-5 minutes before using:
2 1/4 C water
1 1/2 C rolled oats
1/4 C wheat bran (not the commercial cereal)
1/3 tsp of KAL stevia or 1/2 C unrefined sugar
3 Tbsp ground flax seeds
1 Tbsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 Tbsp vanilla
Allow the waffle iron to heat and spray it with a little oil. Pour 1/3 cup batter per 4" square. Allow it to cook 8 minues, set a timer. DO NOT open the waffle maker lid before the eight minutes, these do take a bit longer to cook. These calculate to about 130 calories per waffle. I double the recipe and like to keep cooked waffles in the freezer. My favorite way to serve it is with a dallop of sweetened soy yogurt and fresh strawberries cut up. Funny but these also make okay sandwich "bread" for rotational needs or toast it up and cut into strips to serve with soup.


DORI'S SUPER FOOD SMOOTHIE
I used a magic bullet, but you could double the recipe and blend well in a blender also. Note: I add 1/2 tsp of xanthan gum to my smoothies in order to thicken them to texture that I like, esp when I have no other binders to keep the blended ingred's from separating. A flax whip, pysillium seed, or even instant clear-jel may work well also... whatever is used must have a "gloppy" result when blended. I use the xanthan gum because I usually have it on hand from baking gluten free breads and it really creates a drink that holds together.

Throw all ingredients in the blender and mix until thick and smooth:
3/4 Cup V-8 splash (or orange juice)
5 ice cubes
1/2 cup tightly compacted fresh spinach leaves
2 Tbsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp xanthan gum (this keeps it together and gives a smooth consistent texture)
2 oz silken tofu
1 tsp ground flax seed
sweetener to taste (I use KAL brand stevia)