Baby Plotnik in Portland

Portland may be one of the only places where we weren’t ready to come home after three full days. From the scenery, the food, the people, and everything in between, I can confidently say for the both of us that we instantly fell in love with Portland.

If I can choose walking over any other transportation I will. Being 30 weeks pregnant on our trip that didn’t stop us from walking over 20,000 steps the first day and not too much lower the next two days. Portland has a lot to see and I didn’t want to miss out by being in a car!

Here’s a lowdown of how we spent our three days BabyMooning in Portland:

Day 1:

From the airport we went straight to our hotel to change before heading out for breakfast. We stayed at the Ace Hotel Portland and we could not have been more happy. The vibe was so cool and I highly recommend staying there. Or at least in that area because we were walking distance to so many sights and food. For breakfast we went to Pine State Biscuits where all my biscuit dreams came true. I went for the class biscuit, sausage, and egg combo while Joel went all out with a biscuits and mushroom gravy. Was the perfect start to our Portland eating adventure!

We then walked north to Good Coffee to hangout before walking east on Hawthorn Blvd to House of Vintage, Crossroads, Jackpot Records, and other fun shops. We then stumbled upon Laurelhurst Park and sat there for about an hour eating some snacks we picked up from a local grocery store. From there we too an uber to Eb & Bean Frozen Yogurt.  I ordered the Salty Pistachio & Mexican Chocolate (both dairy free) topped with crumbled vegan waffle cone. Holy no-cow that was good!

We ventured back to the hotel for a quick rest before walking to Powells Books. Really surprised we didn’t get lost in the store because it’s HUGE. We found our way to the children’s section and bought Baby Plotnik a Dr. Seuss book as a souvenir. We were there to celebrate her after all! After wandering Powells we worked up an appetite and walked  to Dicks Kitchen. Dicks Kitchen is a paleo dream come true. We aren’t Paleo but we can definitely appreciate a delicious grass-fed burger. I ordered the Thai Burger Bowl, Joel got the Zizou Burger (with a margarita on the side), and we split an order of sweet potato fries. I’d walk 30 minutes for this burger bowl multiple times! We popped into Whole Foods after dinner for a night-cap, aka a Gingerade Kombucha to split at the hotel.

Day 2:

We woke up ready to take on another day of eating. We have Blue Star Donuts in LA but since it came so highly recommended we had to make a stop! We split the Raspberry Old Fashion donut and regretted not getting our own five minutes later. Blue Star Donuts went way beyond our expectations. We live dangerously close to the one in LA and I know we’ll become frequent customers. After our donut we went to Heart Roasters to grab some much needed caffeine. I went full caff on this one and got their homemade macadamia almond milk latte. Usually I don’t notice a difference in homemade milks and store-bought but this one you could totally tell! The latte was creamy and absolutely perfect.

From there we walked to Waterfront Park enjoying the water and finally found Mills End Park, aka the worlds smallest park. You really can blink and miss this in the middle of the street. As silly as it seems, I’m so glad we stopped for a photo because it makes me giggle every time I see it! It’s worth the stop if you have a spare second. We walked back inland to Pioneer Square where there were multiple food trucks lined up. I saw a bright yellow truck named “Fried Egg I’m in Love” and knew we had to eat there. I ordered the “Smells Like Protein Spirit” with veggie sausage and Joel got the Sriracha Mix-A-Lot. They have a special hot sauce that set Joel’s mouth on fire! That’s saying a lot coming from a man who loves everything spicy. They have a few trucks around Portland so stay on the lookout!

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We made a pitstop at a random Stumptown Coffee for a decaf coffee before relaxing at Ira Keller Fountain Park and a photo opportunity at the White Stag Sign. The White Stag Sign was difficult for us to locate because we were under the bridge! The security guards we saw were super helpful and directed us to the top of the bridge. Was a bit difficult to get a photo because there was so much traffic but we got it!

Since my husband is a video game lover (secretly me too but don’t tell anyone 😉) we headed to Ground Kontrol, a classic Arcade that serves alcohol and food. Plus it’s attached to a music venue and you might like to see someone who’s playing! After gaming our hearts out we walked to another one of Joel’s favorite things, cookie dough. Portland has a Cookie Dough Cafe and all their cookie dough is egg free making it safe for all to consumer, especially this mama-to-be! I got the Vegan Brownie while Joel got the classic Chocolate Chip. We tried about 20 samples each so one scoop each was all we needed!

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After some downtown at the hotel we felt ready for dinner. One thing I’ve craved my entire pregnancy is pizza. I could have pizza everyday, for every meal, and be completely satisfied. We could see Sizzle Pie from our hotel room and we could not wait to check it out. Sizzle Pie filled my high school soul with heavy metal music and food puns for pizza names. I ordered the “Cops and Robbers” vegan slice and the “Rabbit” salad with vegan ranch while Joel ordered the “Mad Men” meat slice, the “Bandit” veggie slice, and the “Caligula” salad with vegan caesar dressing. The crust was thin, just how I like it, and the salad was fresh. Highly recommend Sizzle Pie if you’re a pizza lover! After pizza we went to Clyde Common (adjacent to the Ace Hotel) and enjoyed the rest of the evening with my sweet husband. He got a fancy whiskey drink while I filled up on sparkling water. Kind of wished we were still hungry because their food looked incredible!

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Day 3:

Our last day was bittersweet. We had another full day planned but not before taking photos in the photo booth at the Ace Hotel. I’m a sucker for photo booths and this is such a nice memory to have! We grabbed some coffee and a piece of banana bread with cream cheese from the Stumptown connected to our hotel before we were off to breakfast!

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We took an Uber over to the Tin Shed to enjoy a hearty breakfast. I ordered a few sides: a toasted english muffin, two over hard eggs, and chicken sausage and Joel ordered “The Stay”- potato cakes with sweet potato hash, collard greens, scrambled eggs, and a rosemary mushroom gravy. The Tin Shed is very dog friendly, they even have options for dogs on the menu! We had plenty of time to spare after breakfast so we walked about 45 minutes to Coco Donuts to enjoy a Carrot Cake Donut with a donut crumb topping and Joel ordered a Raspberry tea to sip on.

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After charging our phones we walked around Mississippi Ave. up to Mississippi Records then all the way to Swift and Union for Joel to enjoy a cocktail. Their food looked amazing but we had our hearts set on Cultured Caveman for an early dinner. The atmosphere was casual but the food was 5 star. Cultured Caveman is Portland’s first paleo-friendly restaurant and I’d go paleo if I could eat here everyday. I ordered the lamb Shepard’s Pie with a cabbage jicama coleslaw and Joel ordered the pork carnitas on coconut flour tortillas with a side of bone broth soup. We ended up splitting both meals because we were each bragging about how amazing our meals were. Really wished we had time to go back again because the coconut chicken tenders were calling my name. We made one last stop for a breath of nature at a park nearby before heading to the airport. Portland really surprised me with how many flowers were throughout the city! My heart had never been so happy being surrounded by nature and city life.

Portland was good to us and we will definitely be back, but next time with Baby Plotnik in our arms instead of my belly. #WhatRobinEatsForTwo #BabyPlotnikInPortland

 

Dark Chocolate – Anytime of the Day- Cake

Eating cake for breakfast can be something to be proud of. 🤤🙏🏻🍰

Chocolate cake at 6am has been one of my best decisions in life. Made with @kodiakcakes, @drinkkoia cacao bean plant protein drink, cacao powder, dark chocolate cocoa powder, bananas, and egg whites. Basically pancakes. 🤓🥞🍫
Dark Chocolate – Anytime of the Day- Cake:

Cake-
* 1/2 cup @ripplefoods unsweetened original
* 2/3 cup greek yogurt (can sub oil)
* 2 cups @kodiakcakes dark chocolate pancake mix
* 1/4 cup cocoa powder
* 1/4 cup unsweetened dark cocoa powder
* 1 1/2 cups @drinkkoia cacao bean plant protein drink
* 2 tsp apple cider vinegar
* 3 egg whites (can sub applesauce, I was out!)
* 1/2 mashed banana
Almond Cream Cheese Frosting-
* 8oz. room temperature almond cream cheese (or regular)
* 3 tablespoons @ripplefoods unsweetened original
* 2 tablespoons honey
Peanut butter filling-
* 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
* 2 tablespoons @kodiakcakes buttermilk pancake mix
* 2 tablespoons powdered peanut butter
* 2 tablespoons honey 👩🏻‍🍳🙌🏻

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and spray one 9-inch round cake pans and set aside.
2. Mix Cacao Bean Koia plant protein drink and apple cider vinegar in a large mixing bowl, let sit for a few minutes. Then add greek yogurt (or oil), egg whites (or applesauce), mashed banana, and Ripple Foods milk and beat until frothy.
3. With a hand mixer, mix in the Kodiak Cakes, cocoa powder, and dark cocoa powder.
4. Pour batter into sprayed pan and bake for 35-40 minutes
5. Prepare the almond cream cheese frosting in a medium size bowl by combining all the ingredients using a hand mixer. You may need to microwave the cream cheese for 10-15 seconds depending on consistency. Set aside.
6. Prepare the peanut butter filling by warming the peanut butter in a small microwave safe bowl, about 15-30 seconds. Mix all the ingredients together using a hand mixture. You may need to add more liquid depending on the desired consistency. Set aside.
7. Once the cake is finished baking and cooled completely. Cut the cake into two equal parts (top and bottom), coat the bottom slice with the peanut butter filling, place the top on the cake onto, and frost. Top with crushed dark chocolate chunks for an extra chocolatey kick. Enjoy! 🍫

Pumpkin Cake Brownies

Brownies are completely acceptable for breakfast when they’re filled with pumpkin, vanilla greek yogurt, cacao, and topped with Halo Top Creamery pancake & waffle ice cream. 🤤🍫

Y’all know how much I love my Kodiak Cakes. Their pancake/waffle mixes are so versatile and I can’t see myself going back to regular flour ever again. Let’s just say, worth the gluten! 🐻😍🙏🏻

Pumpkin cake brownies-

Ingredients :

• 1 cup dark chocolate Kodiak Cakes pancake mix
• 1 cup dark chocolate chips, divided
• 1/2 tablespoon Sweet Leaf Stevia pumpkin spice drops
• 1 cup pure pumpkin
• 1/3 cup Epic Seed vanilla greek yogurt (I left out the chia seeds)
• 1/2 cup raw pumpkin seeds
• Powder peanut butter frosting 

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8x8x2-inch baking pan with parchment paper leaving the sides overhanging and spray with cooking spray.
• Place Kodiak Cakes in a large bowl and set aside.
• In a microwave safe bowl melt 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips, 20 second increments and stirring in between until smooth and melted. Whisk in the pumpkin spice, pumpkin pure, and yogurt.
• Fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.
• Pour the batter into the pan and spread evenly. Sprinkle the remaining chocolate chips on top and bake 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick in center comes out with a few moist crumbs but not wet batter.
• Cool for about ten minutes. Lift using the parchment to a cutting board, frost, sprinkle raw pumpkin seeds, and cut into squares with a sharp knife.
• Top with Halo Top Creamery Pancake & Waffle ice cream if desired. Enjoy! 😍

Baked Pumpkin Cake Donuts

“there is
nothing left
to worry about
the sun and her flowers are here.” -Rupi Kaur ☺️🌻

Late night Pumpkin Cake Donut making happened and I couldn’t be happier! Topped these babies with a peanut butter glaze, figs, and raw pecans. May I mention that they smell like a Fonut? 😱🍩

Pumpkin Cake Donuts: (Makes six)
* 1 1/4 cup Kodiak Cakes Pumpkin Mix
* 2 eggs
* 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
* 1/4 cup Siggis pumpkin spice yogurt
* 1/4 cup water (give or take depending on consistency)
* 1 teaspoon vanilla
* 2 tablespoons coconut sugar
* 1 tablespoon flax seeds
* Cinnamon * Nutmeg
Peanut Butter Glaze:
* 1/2 cup powdered peanut butter
* 1/4 cup Ripple Foods unsweetened original
* 1 tablespoon Nature Nates honey
Additional toppings:
* Sliced figs
* Raw pecans
Directions:
* Preheat oven to 350°F.
* Whisk eggs in a medium size bowl, add remaining donut ingredients, and mix until smooth.
* Divide equally into a sprayed donut pan and bake for 20 minutes (or until golden brown on top).
* While donuts are baking prepare the glaze. Combine glaze ingredients in a small bowl, adding more liquid if needed. Should be thick but spreadable.
* Once donuts are finished, cool for 15-20 minutes before adding glaze and toppings (the glaze will melt if the donuts are too hot). Paired with an iced coffee with Moon Deli Mushroom Adaptogens. Happy Friday! 👩🏻‍🍳🍩🍂 #whatrobineats

Sammie Smackdown – When Pigs Fly

“Life is like a sandwich, you have to fill it with the best ingredients.”

Sandwiches! I’ve yet to meet someone that doesn’t love a sandwich. There’s something comforting about two pieces of bread (toasted preferably) filled with goodies. Sandwiches are lovable for multiple reasons; convenience, versatility, comfort, mess-free (exception of the drippy-egg), and endless combinations. This is why I literally ran to the kitchen after Canyon Gluten-Free Bakehouse asked me to create an epic sandwich for their Sammie Smackdown competition. The opportunity to put my “Strange but Good” kitchen skills to the test could not be missed!

The Canyon Bakehouse Sammie Smackdown campaign is more than mouthwatering sandwiches. The Sammie Smackdown allows four gluten-free bloggers like myself to create their tastiest sandwich ever to compete for fan votes! The blogger with the winning sandwich will receive a $10,000 donation to their charity of choice. In choosing a charity, I wanted it to pertain to my life.

Growing up I competed in scholarship pageants. Enhancing my social skills onstage and in interviews, personal growth, becoming involved in my community, and being awarded educational funding were just a few of the many aspects of scholarship pageants. The Council for Youth Empowerment (CYE) believes that young people are our greatest natural resource and that their education and commitment to service is the cornerstone of a strong and successful nation. With a mission to promote family and community, the Council for Youth Empowerment is continually striving for a brighter future and is well deserving of the $10,000 donation.

Miss Greater San Diego Teen USA 2008

Miss San Diego America 2009

Miss CA U.S International 2010

Throughout my pageant years I adapted a healthy lifestyle, learning that a strong body equals a healthy mind. With a pageant title comes the responsibility to encourage others to live a healthy lifestyle trough fitness and nutrition. Thus sparked my interest for all things food and how to enjoy my favorite foods while living a healthy lifestyle. What Robin Eats has grown to be more than a fun hashtag to post under my food photos. What Robin Eats has become a platform to encourage everyone that eating healthy does not have to be boring! I am not sure that I would of discovered my passion for a healthy lifestyle if it weren’t for pageants.

I wanted to create a sandwich that would catch your eye and be drool worthy. Stacked with mouthwatering ingredients like BBQ pulled pork, kale pesto hummus, sprouts, tomato, and topped with an egg in a hole bread piece, the “Flying Piggy Pesto” would stop anyone in their tracks! Now this is where you all come in, head over to https://canyonglutenfree.com/bread/sammie-smackdown and vote for the “Flying Piggy Pesto”. CYE awards over $30,000 in scholarships annually and it would be an honor to win the Sammie Smackdown. Your vote brings me one step closer to winning $10,000 for the Council for Youth Empowerment. 

*UPDATE* Thank you everyone who voted! My “Flying Piggy Pesto” won the Sammie Smackdown. Could’t have done this without all of you. Hugs to everyone. 🙂 

Fluffy Kodiak Cakes

Pecan Pumpkin Pancakes

If you haven’t heard, Kodiak Cakes make pancakes, waffles, and crepes So easy. The Protein Packed Waffle mix is a huge staple in our home. Just add equal parts water to the dry mix and you are good to go!

But how do you make these easy cakes more fluffy?

Two words: Coconut Flour.

The mix taste great on it’s own, but I’ve always wondered if they could be more fluffy. Adding coconut flour, and a few other ingredients, to the mix made a huge difference.

Now get your fluffy pancakes on!

Ingredients: (Makes 6 small Fluffy pancakes, Calories 323, Carbs 38g, Protein 25g, Fat 9g)

• 1/3 cup Kodiak Cakes protein packed waffle mix
• 2 tablespoons Coconut Flour
• 1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin spice
• 2 tablespoon pumpkin pure
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 egg white
• 1/4 cup greek yogurt
• 1 teaspoon baking power
• 1/2-1 cup water (desired consistency)
• 1/2 tablespoon crushed raw pecans
• 1/2 tablespoon Glazed Donut Muscle Butter
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup

Directions: (Be patient! Coconut Flour pancakes take a little longer than regular pancakes)

• Combine waffle mix, coconut flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and pumpkin spice in a medium size bowl, set aside.
• Whisk together 1/2 cup water, egg white, greek yogurt, pumpkin pure, and vanilla extract in a small bowl then combine with dry ingredients. Adding more water if desired (I used about 1 cup water, adding in 2 tablespoons at a time, making 6 small fluffy pancakes).
• Heat skillet on medium-high heat and spray with cooking spray. Let skillet warm for about 5 minutes before cooking. Spoon batter using a 1/4 cup measuring spoon, letting the pancakes cook 3-5 minutes on each side (golden brown). Repeat until batter is gone.
• While pancakes are cooking, put Muscle Butter in a small microwave safe dish and heat for 20 seconds. Stir in 1/2 tablespoon water with Muscle butter to get a drizzle consistency.
• Stack cooked pancakes on a plate, decorate with Syrup, Glazed Donut Muscle Butter drizzle, and crushed pecans.

Bonus tip: You could also make these as banana pancakes subbing out the pumpkin for banana… but I am sure you’re not tired of pumpkin this early on into fall. 😉 Cheers!

The Peanut Butter Drizzle of Life.

Dark Chocolate Cream Cheese and Banana Stuffed French Toast

If I’m ever in a coma, just drizzle this peanut butter maple syrup over my body. Theres no way I won’t wake up after that. 😉

Ingredients: (Serves 1, Calories 334, Fat 9g, Carbs 47g, Protein 19g)

• 2 pieces Ezekiel Low Sodium bread
• 1 egg white
• 2 tbsp unsweetened almond milk
• Cinnamon to taste (I use A LOT)
• 2 tbsp Kroger greek yogurt cream cheese
• 1/4 large banana, mashed
• 1/2 tablespoon Hershey’s Special Dark Chocolate cocoa powder
• 1/2-1 tablespoon water
• 1/2 tablespoon Trader Joes Flax and Chia seed peanut butter
• 2 tablespoons Sugar free syrup, or any syrup of choice

Directions:

• Whisk together egg white, almond milk, and cinnamon, set aside.
• Warm greek yogurt cream cheese in a microwave safe bowl for 10 seconds, just until soft. Mix in Cocoa powder, mashed banana, and a little water to softened cream cheese. Stir until combined. Adding more water if needed, this helps the cocoa powder dissolve better. Consistency should be spreadable.
• Sandwich the dark chocolate cream cheese mixture between the two pieces of bread. Dip sandwich into egg white mixture and let soak for a few minutes on one side, then flip.
• Heat skillet on medium heat, spray with cooking spray, and cook french toast. Roughly 8 minutes on each side. I like mine crispy.
• Microwave peanut butter in a small ramekin for about 20 seconds. Stir in syrup one tablespoon at a time, continue stirring until desired consistency. Aka perfect drizzle consistency.
• Plate cooked french toast and drizzle your life away.

Bon Apetit!