It has come to our attention that we have A LOT of food that needs to be eaten! From stocking up over the holidays, etc., we have decided to eat what we have before going to the grocery store – I plan on spending about $30 on fresh fruit and vegetables, but other than that, it’s using what we have – you may see some interesting meals!
Tony is just happy that we happen to have king crab legs in the deep freeze! 😀
I have had a jones for biscotti! I had half a can of pumpkin leftover from my pumpkin pancakes, so that was the base. I had craisins in the pantry – one thing I didn’t have? EGGS! So I decided to see if I could make them without – I had 1/2 a can of skim evaporated milk leftover from the brocoli/cheese potatoes, so I used that as my liquid. The verdict? They were delicious!
Biz’s Eggless Pumpkin Cranberry Biscotti
- 1.5 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup pumpkin
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup fat free evaporated milk
- 1/4 cup craisins
Preheat oven to 350. In a large bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder and salt. In smaller bowl, mix all the remaining ingredients. Add to flour mixture and mix just until combined.
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Shape into a log and bake for 25 minutes. Remove and let cool 20 minutes. Cut slices and put on cookie rack on top of cookie sheet and bake an additional 20 minutes. The one thing I forgot to do was to push down the center as it puffs up when cooking – but they turned out great!
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Since we didn’t have any eggs yesterday, I ended up having a container of 0% Fage, 2 ounces of Sophia’s awesome granola with 1/2 a banana. I can’t even remember the last time I had a banana!
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Since I had cooked Smart Taste pasta, and leftover chili, and an opened can of black beans, it was chili 3 way for lunch!
Our office recently got a cappuccino/espresso machine, so I decided on coffee and my biscotti for an afternoon snack:
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Before dinner Tony and I split a beer – Boddingtons – which is the best canned beer! Remember when I told you I got Adobe Elements Photo software? I am slowly figuring it out – but this effect is called “fresco”
Isn’t that cool! It looks like a painting!
Anyway, I have to laugh at myself, because while I always enjoy party pizza Friday, um Tony? Not so much. So I kind of say “what do you feel like for dinner?” His response? “I know I am getting pizza, so why do you bother to ask!” Well last night, I used my inspiration from my pantry and freezer and decided to make Mexican pizza! I’ve made this before, with my base being refried beans mixed with enchilada sauce – two things I didn’t have, but I had canned black beans and salsa!
I used a different dough recipe – from Chef Novelli from the Bravo show Chef Academy. But I am not sure the directions are right – it called for 1 pound of flour and 4 cups warm water – it was like flour soup! I had to add another pound of flour to get it the right consistency! My secret – at the end I always add corn meal and the dough doesn’t stick to the sides while kneading in the stand mixer.
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I sectioned off 1/3 of the dough for our pizza – I liked how it felt!
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I used my stick blender and combined 1/2 cup of black beans with 1/2 cup of salsa for our base:
I had frozen ground beef, so while the dough was kneading in the stand mixer, I made taco meat, which was the next layer:
Next layer was from the pantry: corn and sliced canned potatoes, which I tossed in cumin:
Next layer: CHEESE! Reduced fat colby jack:
Then I dressed it up after it came out of the oven! Final layer – shredded lettuce, crushed tortilla chips and pickled jalapenos – can you tell which side is mine?
I mixed 1/4 cup fat free sour cream with 1/4 cup taco sauce and put a dollop on top of my pizza – delicious!
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Stats for Friday:
- 1,799 calories,
- 67 fat
- 223 carbs
- 79 protein
- 33 fiber!
- 5 minute warm up, 41 minute 5k on the treadmill!, and 5 minute cool down
Plans for the Day:
- lunch and a movie with Tony
- laundry
- inventory/clean: the pantry, all three freezers (two refrigerator freezers and the deep freeze) and both refrigerators
And maybe shovel the deck?
That’s some pumpkin lovin right there!
The biscotti looks wonderful! I love the idea of biscotti but the texture doesn’t do anything for me 🙁
My husband was JUST saying how much food we have in the pantry. I’m planning to only buy the needed ingredients for 2 meals this week and we’re wingin’ it the rest of the way to thin out our reserves!
Hope you had a great lunch and movie date with Tony!
Holy mole! You go girl! Love the biscottti recipe. Good work cleaning out those cupboards.
Wow, that effect IS pretty cool!
Ah, my granola is SO pretty too. Haha! ;-p
I’m loving the looks of that biscotti. Even without the egg, it looks really good and crunchy, perfect for dunking into hot chocolate or coffee.
And brrr….It looks FREEZING! I’m shivering in my t-shirt and flip-flops. x-p
Okay, I’m buzz off before you smack me now.
Pretty genius substituting for the egg.
you are so creative! i am impressed with your improvised biscotti and that pizza. i think it’s great you are trying to use up pantry/fridge items…i am trying to do the same thing! i know i need fruit and veggies fresh but i have so many other things that i should eat before buying new food LOL. i just cant help myself when grocery shopping sometimes!!
I really need to clean out my freezer. There is so much junk in it. Might make this my project for tomorrow. It is too cold to do much else.
it’s funny, i just had this conversation with my husband about how we really need to eat what we have before i buy any more stuff (especially from costco!).
i’m loving that biscotti!
OMG everything looks amazing! Your family is so lucky that you create such delicious foods!
I cleaned out my fridge and freezer ayer…I keep opening my fridge to see how pretty and clean it is ha
Wow, I am impressed that you went ahead with the biscotti without the egg. That is very brave.
Oh my goodness! Both the biscotti and the pizza looks incredible! I love how creative your meals are! Brr- the snow is making me cold 🙂
Who knew you didn’t need eggs for biscotti??
I love the 3 way chili, I have to do that sometime!
Call me when you get a chance! what movie are you guys seeing?
Mmm, mexican pizza is delish!
Wow, I love the espresso and biscotti! Yum! Way to be creative w/o an egg! I always hate when I realize I’m missing an ingredient like that!
That taco pizza looks delicious!! Johnny loves Connie’s pizza and he said they used to have a Mexican pizza he liked, but they don’t anymore. Plus, he couldn’t have it now anyways b/c they put Doritos on it and they have 3 kinds of whey. Maybe I’ll try making this from scratch w/ healthier ingredients than they would have used anyways!
I cleaned out our fridge and pantry last week and it was unreal. SO much stuff and I hate to be wasteful.
I made some chili con carne last night for my hubby after seeing your blog about it this week. It was so good!! 🙂
Glad it turned out Jessica!
the picture of your biscotti belongs on tastespotting =)
I was just thinking about how much I need to use up all the ingredients/food I have on hand back home before I head out and buy even moooore stuff!
I love the stats on brekkie – great breakdown!
I submitted it, but we’ll see – usually they come back “unflattering composition!”
Ohh Mexi pizza sounds yummy!
I think we’ll do the operation clean pantry/freezer too. We have a variety of stuff and Kev can whip anything together.
I have the same goal, but for an entirely different reason…
And i always love your food… not a single diet word abounds, but great eats
I love how the table top looks with the snow covering it!
You are so creative – from your biscotti to the Mexican pizza, I am constantly amazed at what you come up with!
Your mexican pizza looks awesome!! So creative and mouth watering!! 🙂