baneling bust gnocchi [ricotta gnocchi with basil pesto]

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When I started playing StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty, I always feared the infamous Zerg baneling bust. I would religiously scout at 10 supply so I could catch the Zerg’s fast gas. The moment I saw that, I went into full barricade mode… PULL SCVS OFF GAS! BUILD MORE BARRACKS! THIS IS NOT A DRILL! 

I remember I held off a pretty fierce baneling bust and my opponent said, “Wow, you’re one of the first to hold that. GG”. Dang, that felt SO good! Getting a compliment from a complete stranger in a video game always boosts my ego.

However, most games did not go so smoothly back then. I’d get caught off guard and BOOM, my supply depots would just explode and my entire base would be covered in baneling pesto! Err, I mean baneling acid guts. I suppose the baneling’s acid looks suspiciously similar to basil pesto, right?

UNIT COMPOSITION

blog_banelinggnocchi_ingredients

FOR THE GNOCCHI

  1. salt
  2. 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg
  3. 1 egg
  4. 1 cup of ricotta cheese
  5. 1 scoop of Quest Brown Rice Powder
  6. 2 scoops of Quest Multi-Purpose Mix Protein Powder

FOR THE BASIL PESTO

  1. salt
  2. pepper
  3. 3 – 5 cloves of garlic
  4. 1 tablespoon of pine nuts (reserve some for later)
  5. 2 tablespoons of parmesan cheese
  6. 2 tablespoons of olive oil*
  7. 1/2 cup of basil

(you may end up with extra pesto!)

*you may need to add more to get a smoother consistency

BUILD ORDER

Adapted from The Splendid Table

This recipe takes about 20 minutes to prep. Cook time is <5 minutes. This makes about 3 servings.

Each serving contains: ~36g of Protein, ~26g of Fat, ~12g of Net Carbs

OPENING

  1. In a bowl, combine your ricotta cheese with your egg. Stir until thoroughly mixed.
  2. Sprinkle in 3/4 of a scoop of brown rice powder. Stir until combined.
  3. Add in your two scoops of protein powder, salt, and nutmeg. Mix until you get a doughy consistency.
    blog_banelinggnocchi_dough

MID GAME

  1. In a food processor, combine 1 tablespoon of olive oil, basil, pine nuts, garlic and parmesan cheese.
  2. Remove about 2 tablespoons of the mixture and set aside.
  3. Continue adding your remaining tablespoon of oil or until you’re happy with the consistency of your pesto.

LATE GAME

  1. Coat a clean surface with 1/4 a scoop of brown rice powder.
  2. Knead your dough into a ball.
  3. Cut this ball in half. Add 1/2 to a bowl and mix pesto into it to create the baneling’s acid sacs.
    blog_banelinggnocchi_mix
  4. With the other half, cut it into 4 equal sections and roll them into long noodles.Then, cut these noodles into smaller 1″ portions. You should get about ~12 of them.
  5. Then, take your pesto-infused dough and create small spheres for each of the gnocchi. This dough will be much more difficult to handle due to the pesto’s oil. Attach each sphere to the gnocchi. You can also add eyes to the baneling by carefully placing some extra green gnocchi dough on its face.
    blog_banelinggnocchi_baneling
  6. Take 4 pine nuts and place them into the sides of the gnocchi.These will become the baneling’s feet.
  7. Boil your water and season with salt. Carefully drop each gnocchi into the boiling water. The gnocchi will float to the surface when they’re almost ready (should take about ~2 minutes). I recommend cooking them in separate batches so they don’t stick to one another. Remove the gnocchi using a slotted spoon.
  8. Plate your gnocchi and serve with your pesto.
  9. Eat!

GG WP!

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Mine came out a bit more squished than I wanted (I crowded the pot too much!) … but they were still pillowy soft and protein packed! :)

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If you enjoyed this recipe, please check out another one of my Zerg-friendly Quest recipes: Spawning Pools!

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This recipe was created with support from Quest Gaming. Follow them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to learn more about how other gamers eat healthy and #CheatClean.

chilly poro cheesecake bites [cookies & cream mini cheesecakes]

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You can’t resist the cuteness that is the Poro! I definitely can’t because I totally bought the Poro artist summoner icon. RP well spent.

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These little puffballs are so adorable, I just had to turn them into some sort of sweet treat. I had thought about making them into little truffles or cake pops, but I wanted to go for something on the colder side since they live in frigid Howling Abyss. That’s when I decided on crafting little “cheese”cakes in the shape of Poros!

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So why is it “cheese”cake? Well, because there’s no cream cheese in it! :) It also packs a punch with nearly 10g of protein!

So let’s chill out and whip up these cute little cheesecakes!

UNIT COMPOSITION

blog_porocheesecakes_ingredients

  1. pinch of salt
  2. 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
  3. 2 teaspoons of agave
  4. 1 cookie dough Quest Bar
  5. 1/2 scoop of Quest coconut oil powder
  6. 1 scoop of Quest cookies and cream powder
  7. 3 medjool dates, pitted
  8. 1/3 cup of almond milk
  9. 1/4 cup of walnuts
  10. 3 strawberries
  11. 6 oz of soft tofu

BUILD ORDER

This recipe takes about 25 minutes to prepare. Chill time is about 10 minutes. This makes 6 servings.

Each serving contains: ~9.8g of Protein,  5.5g of Fat and 5.5g of Net Carbs

OPENING

  1. In a food processor, combine your pitted dates and walnuts.
  2. Add in your cinnamon and a pinch of salt. Pulse until thoroughly mixed.
  3. Place 6 cupcake liners in a cupcake pan. Evenly distribute the walnut and dates mixture into each cupcake liner. Compress the mixture in each liner.
    blog_porocheesecakes_crust
  4. Clean out your food processor for the next step.

MID GAME

  1. In your food processor, combine your tofu, coconut powder and agave nectar.
  2. Add a pinch of salt, your cookies and cream powder and almond milk. Blend till thoroughly combined.
  3. Evenly distribute each the filling into each cupcake liner.
    blog_porocheesecake_pour

LATE GAME

  1. Separate the chocolate chips from the cookie dough Quest bar.
  2. Take the “dough” part of the Quest bar and microwave it for 10 seconds. Using your hands, roll it into a “tootsie-roll” shape. Divide the shape into 6 even parts. Divide each of those 6 parts evenly. Now, roll each small section into horns. If you want to add more details, take a tooth pick and draw notches into your horns.
  3. Place the chocolate chips in a small bowl. Microwave for about 15 seconds or until the chocolate has become malleable (NOT MELTED!).
  4. Mold the chocolate pieces into eyes. I did two versions — big round eyes and closed eyes.
  5. Slice your strawberries. This will form the tongue.
  6. Now, decorate your Poro faces! Place 2 horns into each cheesecake. Place the eyes in the center (using a toothpick, dab some of the cheesecake on top of the eyes). Finally, place the strawberry tongue in at the bottom.
    blog_porocheesecake_faces
  7. Let chill in the freezer for about 10 minutes.
  8. Eat!

GG WP! :) Now you have some chilly little Poros to enjoy while you ARAM it up!

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😀

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This recipe was created with support from Quest Gaming. Follow them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to learn more about how other gamers eat healthy and #CheatClean.