Almond Silk aka Low(er) Calorie Almond Butter

I LOVE nut butters. I make them and and eat them and love them. I do not, however love the calories in them. And sometimes I need a thinner version of nut butters, but not as thin as PBU.

So I decided to tweak some almond butter and came up with the following recipe for nut butters that are creamy and spreadable with a slightly lower calorie count than straight-up nut butters. The secret? Thin with a liquid, then make it creamy with coconut flour and guar gum.

Ya think I have enough measuring spoons?

Here is the recipe for what I am calling Nut Butter Silk, and in this case: Almond Silk:

• 1 Tablespoon Almond Butter
• 1.5 Tablespoons water
• .5 Tablespoon Coconut Flour
• 1/8 tsp Guar gum
• (optional almond extract)
• (optional stevia)

Mix together the water and coconut flour to make a paste. Add the rest of the ingredients. Let sit on the countertop for a few minutes for the guar gum to stabilize the mixture and get thicker.

This batch turned out a bit thick. You can thin to desired consistency with your liquid of choice.

Incidentally if you want to go all chemical on me, you can substitute the water for sugar-free Torani or Da Vinci syrup in any number of nut flavors. The possibilities are endless.

Spread on Apples, bananas, crackers etc. Or use as a sauce for drizzling or dipping.

This recipe makes one portion and has 125 calories. Enjoy!

Q: Do you have any creative ways to “thin” nut butters? I know that PBU is quite popular!

Pimp my Flashback weekend

OK you'd think that by now, I would know my good friend/smoothie-archrival Allie's Blog site address by heart, but apparently not. Yesterday I erroneously typed "pimpmyproteinshake.com" into my browser. Look at what popped up:

SPONSORED RESULTS Purchase Boogie Pimp and Ho Costumes
Boogie Pimp suits, satin shirts, velvet hats, lady of the night dresses, Sequin disco dot shirts, feather coats and hats, and pimp jewelry.
www.nbizz.com

Whoops. Not the site I was looking for, but provided the morning guffaw nonetheless. What I SHOULD have typed in was "pimpmyproteinshake.blogspot.com". Dur.

(Incidentally, please don't click on the link above- I don't want to be blamed for corrupting innocent readers)

So today, I decided to multi-task and make this a Flashback Friday post. Now that I'm getting older (then again, so are you), time is just whizzing past, and two weeks feels like two years. So I'm flashing alllll the way back to early January 2010 when I was lucky enough to finally meet my favorite Protein Shake Pimp: Allie, and her sister on their way to a Mexican Cruise.

This was a whirlwind tour that ended all too quickly. Here is a recap:

I picked up the girls at LAX and provided their requisite afternoon PB&J smoothies. You do realize that traveling works up a big appetite!

Armed and dangerous with their PB&J shakes

First we hit up a huge Japanese market called Mitsuwa and spent hours ogling (well, OK: ogling and buying) the amazing food.

Allie in the Shirataki section.

Tofu & Shirataki heaven.

Picking out some sushi for a late snack

These were little carb-y, Chip-like snacks.

Funny that they called it "salad"...it probably had some spinach dust in it or something. And it was ridiculously overpriced. Buh-bye=Sayanara, salad chips.

Dude on the right is wondering why I would take a photo of someone in the Nori/Agar/Tamari aisle. And why she's drinking a PB&J smoothie in a Japanese market.

Have you ever tried a DRAGONFRUIT!? They look a bit scary, right?

But they are puurrty when you cut them open. Dragonfruit is mildly sweet and crunchy- Grab a spoon and eat. I've also seen some varieties that are white on the inside, with the black 'seeds'.

Next stop: The Iranian market for the world's best roasted hazelnuts and dehydrated chickpeas (unphotographed).

We did lust over these chickpea-rice cookies. Also ridiculously priced...what is it with the $5.99 price-tag today? Buh-bye=Khoda hafaz ( وداع ), little cookies. (Impressed with my Farsi? Not necessary- be impressed with my Google-skills)

(Edited to add: I changed the Farsi term for Buh-Bye, above. Darned Google)


Paying for my Persian Cukes and Hazelnuts. The cashier informed me that they were "ordinary"...then Allie realized that he actually said "organic". Woot!

Then it was home for a good old-fashioned PANTRY RAID:

Protein Sisters bonding where the magic begins

Who needs fine wine when you can just smell the magical bouquet of Torani Sugar Free Frankensyrup in Peanut Butter Flavor. That bottle was a good vintage, and quite a bit more pricey than many wines that some Klassy broads like to buy.

Sistahs

Dinner with my Dad and Derek was at our local Indian joint. The restaurant is very accommodating and the food is delish. Poor Dad and Derek. I DRAG them along to these blogger meetups. Sigh, they suffer for my cause.

The motley crew takes over the local Indian Joint

Photo op

Forget the photos...the food's here!

Me, admiring my 5'11" BFF Frenemy Arch Rival Supemodel Twin

The next morning was all about the smoothies...

Protein Girls in action

Blurry photo...but how excited were we??!

Honest, I'm not short. They are just TALLLLLLLLL!

Smoothie Sisters

Bellies filled with more PB&J smoothies, we headed to the Mecca of body building, Gold's Gym in Venice Beach, California. This is where Arnold trained when he was young, as well as loads of other pro and amateur bodybuilders. One of my favorite step classes is taught there by the fabulous Heidi, who did a guest post for me back in October.

Folding our mats per Heidi's instruction

Protein Sis, Protein Goddess, Deb and Heidi

Since 1965, yup

Allie & Sis outside of Gold's

This is one of my favorite photos of Allie

Another random dude wondering what's the deal with the photos already?

PANTY RAID!

Did I get your attention? Remember in this post when I alluded to a panty raid during Allie's visit? Well, here's how it went down. SOMEONE (perhaps a 5'11" supermodel protein goddess) discovered after her shower that there was a hole in the bag containing her clothes. Guess what, undies=awol. Luckily I have several clean spares in my gym bag (no, really, I do), so problem solved. Another commando near-miss. THAT is the story of the panty raid. Not that exciting is it? Bet it upped my male readership a notch. :-)

We drove straight to an amazing lunch at a very low-brow seafood joint near the port of San Pedro. Alaska Seafood is an order-at-the-counter, then go-pick-it-up-yourself type of establishment. And it serves some of the best seafood in the area.

Do you think we ordered enough food?

HUGE Seafood soup

We had just enough time to wander the Ports O' Call and spotted this:

Smoothie girls in front of the " Smoothie-by-the-Yard" stand. I usually measure my smoothies in gallons, not yards.

Then our lovely visit had to come to an end. I took them to their ship for their fabo cruise to a land where palm trees have special crossing zones and Jesus graciously accepts tips.

So now you might want to go over and visit Allie at Pimp My Protein Shake for her recap of our slumber party extravaganza. In it, she accuses me of channeling my inner Doctor Evil and providing a defective straw that made her drink her smoothies slower than Hot Liquid Magma. Oh wait, that did happen.

Also I hear that she might be tapping into the new niche market of all things Pimp and Ho as she's getting a lot of extra Google traffic. For the record, I would like to pre-order my Zebra-Striped Fur-Lined VitaMix cover, with extra bling of course.

Q: Do you heart foreign markets like we do? Which types are your favorites? What do you buy there?

Rope much?

I have been wanting to make a video about jumping rope for quite some time. I found a quick opportunity between LA storms to get out there and shoot it.

Why shoot a video about jumping rope?

• To share one of my favorite workouts in the hopes that it you will give it a try.
• To let people know that jumping rope is one of the best cardio activities known to mankind, and Rocky Balboa.
• To show people that if I can learn to rope, then you can too.  It took me a little while of practicing (ie weeks), but then it 'clicked.' when I took my jump rope on a trip with me and it served as my main form of cardio.
• I was having a 'Good-Hair-Day' and therefore had to make a video.

Just a note or two about roping in case you are on a 386 with dial-up and can't watch the vids:

• If you are new to roping, expect to hate it at first.  
• You will trip up about 380 times in your first attempts and that is totally normal, if not encouraged.
• Use a rope that is appropriate for your height: Step on the middle of the rope and the handles should come to somewhere between your arm pits and your shoulders- feel what is most comfortable for you.
• Do not jump high in the air.  This is a common mistake that people make at first.  Your feet should just barely hop off the ground.
• Most of the motion will come from the wrists-avoid flailing arms and elbows.
• Once you get the basic move, you'll find that it's actually EASIER to mix up your moves: scissors & jumping jacks keep things different.
• Some advanced moves: Butt-kicks, side-to-side jumping, high knees are harder and you'll get winded faster.
  
• Practice, practice, practice...then....
• All of a sudden it will 'click' for you too.  Then you'll be hooked.

So, having said all that, here are two very short jump roping videos.









Q: Have you tried roping since you were a kid? If you are a seasoned roper, how long did it take for you to get the hang of it?

Saturday/Sunday Smoothie: Maple Madness

My BFF/Frenemy/Twin Separated at birth except that she's a foot taller and looks like a supermodel/archrival / fellow smoothieholic, Allie over at Pimp my Protein Shake came up with THE. BEST. SHAKE. She calls it the Maple Cream Protein Shake. Nom.

Truth be known, I made this bad boy about 5 times this week- one day I had it twice in the same day.

So, in true sisterly fashion, I decided to just steal from her and claim it to be my own. I never had a sister, so this is my big chance. Indulge me.

Me & Allie aka the Pimpest Pimp of Smoothies, ever

I scored these stickers at the $1 Store in Banff Springs, Canada. Woot! I Heart Stickers. Yes, I know I'm too old for that, but I can't help myself.

The Lineup (I made protein Ice cream...in other words a ton of ice with a good amount of the gums):

• Ice Ice baby ~ 1.5+ cups
  
• Water ~ 1.5 cups
  
• Vanilla Protein Powder- one scoop
  
• Stevia (what I used) or other sweetener (Maple butter or Maple Sugar anyone?)
• Good sprinkle of xanthan and guar gums
• Maple Extract- few drops
  
• Rum Extract - few drops (just because- it's not Canadian. I just like the taste)
• Butter Extract (not pictured, but my new fave 'extra' to almost all of my smoothies)
  

If you don't like stevia or Splenda or chemicals or weird stuff, try one of these amazingly maple-y sweeteners. Well, not if you are diabetic.

This is Maple Butter- I found it at a health food store. It was expensive. It is like crack. It's pure sugar, somehow made into a creamy, buttery consistency. Be warned.

Maple Madness Protein Ice cream being born. I felt compelled to hold the Canadian stickers behind the blender

This is why I ate this twice in one day. Just sayin'

This is the bounty from ONE RECIPE. Guesstimate: 150 cals without any add-ins. Feel free to have some fruit on the side, or top with granola and eat with an almond-butter smooshed spoon.

Janetha Bean (not her real name) over at Meals & Moves asked peeps to send her Smoothie 'Stache photos (ie a Smoothie Mustache)...well you know I had to get on that pronto...


For more photos and a recap of what two (actually Three!) like-minded Smoothie Sisters get up to in two half-days, check back next week- I'll have a post about my fantastic whirlwind 24-hours with Allie from Pimp my Protein shake! Hint: can you say Pantry Raid?

With an R people. With an R. Sheesh, minds in the gutters.

Well, actually... come to think of it there was a Panty Raid too...but more about that next week! That'll keep ya in suspense. TTFN.

Q: Do you like Maple Syrup or the flavor of maple? If so, I beg of you to run, don't walk to your blender and make this smoothie (or Allie's version) now! Have you been to Canada and do you heart it like I do?

Thinspired in the City By The Bay

Timing is everything, no?

I needed to be in San Francisco for a continuing education course, the hubs needed to be there for a convention and my friend, the lovely Lara from Thinspired Blog just moved to the bay area from the UK. Sweet.

Like the last time we met in October in the UK, Lara and I got a double dose of each other...trust me, this is a good thing. One meeting is just not enough. A lot of jabbering needs to be accomplished and at least this time the hubses (plural for hubs, right?) knew what to expect. Last time during a rare moment of silence between sentences, Derek turned to Matthew and said, "Wow, it's bad enough with just ONE of them." Thanks Luvie! :-?

The first night we went to a fabo restaurant in the SOMA part of the city called Bacar. Luckily the hubses really get along well and we closed the place down after 3+ hours of constant chattering over a bottle of wine and amazing food (see Lara's blog for the food deets). Incidentally, Spellcheck informs me that "hubses" is not a real word. Spellcheck also informs me that "spellcheck" is not a real word. Now you know.

Derek, Deb, Lara & Matthew at Bacar

The next day was almost too exciting for words. I'm still just a bit awestruck. Derek was attending the Fancy Food show, as he is in the packaging/marketing business. He scored us tickets to go as well. But the catch was that we had to "work it" and establish contacts for him. OK, we figured that we could do that. HA!

'Thinny,' aka Lara at the entrance to the Fancy Food show

Heaven help us- look at all this bounty!

Can you say "Kid in a candy store?"

Well, send two food-lovers/bloggers into a room with an obscene amount of gourmet food products and tasting samples and all bets are off. We kept getting sidetracked scoring single serving packages (UH, DID I DIE AND GO TO HEAVEN!?) and nibbling amazing noshes. Every 10 minutes, we kept having to firmly repeat aloud to each other and ourselves... "RE-FOCUS, RE-GROUP... We are here to "work it." We are here to "work it."

Make that "Kids in a candy store"

Luckily both Lara and I ate our breakfasts late so that we wouldn't be ravenous when we walked in the halls. Good thing we did. Feast your eyes on the following photos (doh, sorry!)

I love how they tell you how many "steps" you'll take for each aisle. Sadly, 948 steps burns a mere 38 calories. Sigh. On top of that, for every 15 steps you stop and ingest 200 calories in samples. I'm NOT liking the math here.

Say "Cheese"! There were dozens upon dozens of cheese stands

There were dozens upon dozens of Olive vendors

OK there was only one ham-shaving dude

Eye candy for the tummy

The world's tiniest ice cream cone....WITH SPRINKLES!! You are witnessing one happy girl!

Life-sized football cake- see my dainty hand for size comparison (hey, where was my phone when I needed it?)

Gelato- the tiramisu taster rocked my face off

Frozen Yogurt- Lara got the berry flavor. I got vanilla. I spoke at length to the woman about "stabilizers" and gums...expect to see some new experimentation in the SmoothieGirl kitchen!!!

Caramel fountain

Energy bars up the wazoo- love the action-shot of someone grabbing a bar.

Barney has a new look and a new color scheme!

Pancakes anyone?

Yup, even Oikos was giving out it's not-yet-released Chocolate and Caramel flavors. Good thing we brought a cooler bags!

I think I developed Adult-onset Diabetes just looking at all the chocolate. Ok I may have tasted some too.

We sampled some more frozen confections...these were low-cal.

Uh, Quinoa chocolate? Yes, please! It tasted like a dark Nestle's Crunch bar.

Bob's heaven. No samples though...booo! Apparently they were going to give away much of what you see the next day-gahh!

At first we were so overwhelmed by the enormity of it all that I kept saying that I think I need to curl up in the fetal position and just quiver in the corner while I processed everything. However, after a while, the old "repeated exposure therapy" set in and we were no longer audibly gasping at tables full of high-end gourmet olives, hummus, cheese, chocolate, crackers, cookies, muffins, greek yogurt, frozen yogurt, ice cream, cakes, granola etc. With that sort of culinary bounty, it soon became easy to take just a tiny bite or share a single sample.

"OMG! I'm here at Justin's Nut Butter Booth- take my photo, take my photo!!"

However we did 'lose our cool' whenever we hit nut butter producers, and our experience at Justin's Nut Butters was very memorable. When I saw the Justin's stand, I began jumping up and down like a little girl and taking photos like a crazed fan. Eventually a big, hunky rep realized that we weren't just there 'for business' (no one in the food business gets THAT excited over nut butters). Lara then told him that we are huge fans and food bloggers. He immediately dove into his private stash and pulled out two HUUUUGGGGGEEE jars of almond butter for us. MAYJUH SCORE!

We were so excited about the lifetime-supply jar (well, ok... two weeks' supply), that we asked if we could have our photo taken with him. He graciously obliged. Then we asked him how long he'd been with the company and he began to tell us how he started making his own nut butters in his garage because he wanted to get more protein to fuel his mountain biking. Lara immediately replied "Really? You sure look like you get enough protein!" (eyelashes batting wildly). At that moment, the penny dropped and we exclaimed "Wait, you mean, YOU ARE......... JUSTIN!!???" He confirmed that yes, he is in fact Justin and we felt mildly stupid for not seeing the huge name tag around his neck. He was a total sweetheart and I believe that he was somewhat amused to see that he has fans out there. He then gave us more individual sized samples (yessss!), including a not-yet-released HAZELNUT CHOCOLATE butter. Uh, quick announcement: Lara and I are running away with Justin. Sorry, hubses.

Deb, Justin & Lara.

On second thought, three's a crowd- buh bye Lara, it's been real!

I like the fact that it says "Knead and Squeeze" in huge letters behind us :-) Hee hee. I'll just leave it at that.

Rather than have a "proper" meal, we just grazed and nibbled and probably didn't do any worse caloric damage than we would have done at a sit-down lunch. It was sheer heaven on earth and after about 5 hours, we completely pooped out. And we had only covered about half of the "regular" Gourmet wing and half of the Organic wing of the show! Amazing. We even forgot to hit the Torani stand! That's how overwhelmed we were-gah!




At the end of the show, Derek met us and dropped the thermonuclear bomb that we were not allowed to take any samples out of the halls! WHAT!!?? Why on earth would they give away all those samples if they didn't expect you to take them HOME! Nobody could possibly eat that much food in one day!

And this is no lie: Lara and I each had about 8 pounds of food in our bags. So we furiously repacked all of our most coveted samples to the very bottoms of our purses underneath used snotty tissues, wet umbrellas and half-eaten apples. This was done under the assumption that the Sample-Police would be too disgusted to dig underneath all the muck.

We were both prepared for battle, however. The phrase "over our dead bodies" came up in conversation more than once. When we finally left the exhibition halls we held our collective breath and thankfully, nobody checked our bags. I will readily admit that I lost a few years of my life and sprouted a few gray hairs over that panic attack.

Eight pounds of swag

Nut butter heaven. Pinch me, I think I'm dreaming. No really, pinch me.

We walked back to our hotel and Lara picked up some items she left in our room. After she left, I got a text from her saying that our new friend Justin was schmoozing in the bar! Hee hee!

As if the weekend with Lara was not already fabulous, I came home to find THIS from her and Matthew...waiting for me on my doorstep for my (25th) birthday on Wednesday ;-) ......

Shari- I think I love you.

Shari- I definitely love you.

Silly Samantha- may I remind you that you are a cat and you do NOT like chocolate-covered strawberries?

Droooooooooooool

Thanks to Lara for many of the wonderful photos above, for driving in the pouring rain twice to spend time with us over the course of a weekend and for being a terrific friend!

To see Lara's wonderful recap, click here.

Q: How do you approach situations where you know you'll be sampling much food? Do you eat a light meal beforehand so that you're not ravenous, or do you save up all of your calories and dive in head-first?