This summer I’ve had a new (to me) problem in training.  Cramps.  Mostly in my calves.  They are pretty much constantly on the verge of charlie horsing…and Tuesday’s longish ride was no exception.  A big part of this is my crappy job keeping up with electrolyte replacement.  A big part of this is also that it was one-million degrees and I sweat like a pig (sidenote: a co-worker’s husband saw me running on the treadmill last Sunday and remarked to my coworker that I sweat an abnormal amount.  lovely).

Anyway, the whole time I was riding and hot and sweaty and cramping, I fantasized about bananas.  Wonderful potassium to heal my ailing calves.

By the time I got home, I was drooling thinking about the creation I was about to make for dinner.  And that creation was Bananas Foster Cottage Cheese Pancakes.

Ingredients:

• 3 bananas
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 3 tsp cinnamon
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup unbleached flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup cottage cheese
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• Canola oil cooking spray

1. Combine cottage cheese, eggs, milk, oil and stir until combined

2. Mix in dry ingredients (minus the brown sugar and cinnamon) and two sliced bananas

3. Plop some of the batter on the griddle.

4. When little bubbles begin to appear on top, flip pancake and allow to cook through.

4. In a saucepan, melt butter.

6. Add cinnamon and brown sugar

7.  Allow the sugar and cinnamon to dissolve, and add the last sliced banana, vanilla, and a cup of water.  Cook until a syruppy consistency has been reached.

8. Top pancake with syrup.

9. Eat.

10. Lick plate.

I’m currently pretty overwhelmed at work. Way too much drama. Way too much to do. Way too draining.

So I came home last night all grumptastic and ready to do what I do best: nap. Napping is my nonproductive way of dealing with things. I’m an avoider. Always have been. I’m REALLY good at pretending that unpleasant things don’t exist. And when I can’t do that, I nap. I could sleep away entire days to avoid unpleasant feelings. Which typically for me means, most any feelings. I don’t like feelings.

But, being the burgeoning self-aware adult that I am, I decided to forego the nap for something a little more productive and equally (if not more) efficient at taming my anger and anxiety.

And that is cooking.  With dough that has to be kneaded.  Or…in my case…pounded.

I also had 5 CSA hydroponically grown tomatoes in my fridge and wasn’t sure what to do with them.  For the last couple weeks, they’ve been all dressed up with nowhere to go.

So, I decided that tomatoes + kneaded dough of some sort = tomato tart.

The best dough always starts with butter. Lots and lots of butta.

Enough dough for two more dishes…just freeze and thaw!

Roasted tomatoes with fresh picked basil and oregano

Goat cheese mixed with a splash of milk, minced shallots, sea salt and pepper.

Was I successful in quelling my urge to punch a wall when I got into work today?  Yes.  Was my belly full and my mouth delighted?  Yes.  Did I use up all the tomatoes? Yes. Win. Win. Win. Win.

Emotional Cooking > Emotional Eating…don’t you agree?

Alrighty folks, time to go water my SOD!  Yay!  I finally got grass!  It only took me 13mos. in my new house to accomplish that.

And then, schluffy time.