Lunch and dinner today had a lot in common; both involved beans and both were inspired by some of my favorite bloggers. I think my favorite thing about blog-land is all the fun things I’ve been inspired to try. Green monsters, running a half marathon, Greek yogurt, nut-butter crusted parsnip fries……
Lunch came from Caitlin at Healthy Tipping Point.
I love sweet potatoes and I love baked beans, but I don’t think I would have come up with pairing them all on my own. I used one big sweet potato (13oz) and 1/2 cup of baked beans.
The flavor combination was perfect, I prefer sweet potatoes sweet to savory (i.e. with butter and brown sugar to ketchup or salsa) and this was the perfect blend. Plus I loved how much it looked like a papaya 😉
I spent my afternoon cleaning, confirming that I don’t have skin cancer, and running errands; all whilst listening to Regina Spektor, who(m?) I’m obsessed with. I did not get ready for our trip tomorrow, but that’s what tomorrow is for, right?
Dinner was supposed to be a bean burger recipe that Allison of Green Dog Wine raved about. But one of the reasons I’m obsessed with Allison is that she does cool things like go out to restaurants in the middle of the week, so when the husband begged for suggested Cheesecake Factory I wasn’t too hard to convince.
The best thing about CF is the bread.
I had one slice of each type. As well as one of the husband’s avocado eggrolls.
For dinner I went with the spicy cashew chicken.
This meal is sooooooo unhealthy but we got to CF like once a year so I’d rather get my favorite thing.
I only ate half of my meal though, because I knew we were ordering dessert.
White chocolate caramel macadamia cheesecake.
The husband and I split it, minus the whip cream.
It was great to go on the mid-week date with the husband! And my food was delicious, but honestly when it was all said and done I wished I had just ordered a salad. I’m finding it’s harder to enjoy “splurges” when everything I eat is unhealthy (duh!). I am so ready to get back to the old me!
Veggies eaten today: 1.5cups, not exactly killing this goal
What is your favorite item from the Cheesecake Factory?
Eating Chalk 
we used to have the cheesecake factory here in town but a few years ago it was replaced by a steak house LOL.. but i loves the strawberry cheesecake!!!! addicting!
I’m not the biggest cheesecake fan… but you had me at white chocolate! 😉
OMG i just love you to pieces! That comment just made my week, I could hug you right now! 🙂 I wish we lived closer (I feel like I say that you on a fairly regular basis) – do you know how much trouble we would be?! 😛
Ditto!
Loved the title of this post! I think mid-week dates are so fun 🙂
I LOVE CF salads. They have a great Sante Fe salad that I order without the chicken. Yum. 🙂
The chocolate chip cookie dough cheesecake. I don’t go to CF without ordering it or taking some home. In terms of entries, I think the Miso Salmon was my favorite, but there is a ton of stuff there that is good! Last time I was there I tried to be “healthy” (stupid… get what you want!) and got the Thai lettuce wraps… and then found out that meal has over 1,000 calories. and decided then and there that I will always get what I want!!!
Yeah, even the healthy stuff there really isn’t so you might as well go big.
Those avocado eggrolls are so dang good. I always order this big sandwich on frybread (I can’t remember the name) when I make it to CF…although I haven’t been since college. Your post makes me think I should go again soon.
I love, love, LOVE their Luau Salad. Totally not healthy (it’s layered with giant fried wontons and is covered in sugary dressing) but it is delicious and contains lots of fresh veggies which makes me feel better about the fried parts.
Unfortunately, I can’t eat their cheesecake anymore. Last time I was sick for days. (Lactose intolerant FAIL.)
That’s the frustrating thing about CF, they have a “healthy” section with salads that are 500calories or less. Seriously, your healthiest SALADS have 500calories or less?!?