Monthly Archives: October 2012

Coconut Egg Creams

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I’ve loved egg creams ever since I was a little girl.  My father might not have ever taken me to synagogue, but he did teach me to appreciate a chewy bagel, a well-made blintz, and a good deli.

Sidenote – I actually did attend synagogue on my own for years.  My best friend was the rabbi’s daughter which meant I sat in the “important” seats reserved for the rabbi’s family.  I loved every minute of the services but never did learn any of the prayers and had to mouth “watermelon, cantaloupe, watermelon, cantaloupe…” whenever it was time to sing!

Anyway.  When I was a little girl, my family went to dinner at Parkway Deli every single time we visited my aunt and uncle in DC.  The Deli had a front room stocked with desserts, a vending machine out front shaped like a giant chicken that clucked as it gave you your prize, and a pickle bar with the best bread and butter pickles I’ve ever eaten.  Also, the Deli sold me my first (and 2nd, and 3rd, and 4th…) egg cream.  It was love at first fizzy sip.

When I put “eat an egg cream” on my birthday list I didn’t think it would be much to accomplish.  But after much Googling and asking around, I have determined that I will not be purchasing an egg cream anywhere near Buffalo.  The next time I head into the city it’ll be one of the first things I get, but for now I have to make it happen on my own.

Coconut Egg Creams, serves 2

  • 1 cup seltzer water
  • 1 cup light coconut milk
  • 1/4 cup chocolate syrup (u-bet if you can get it!)
  1. Divide the seltzer evenly between two glasses.
  2. Stir chocolate syrup into coconut milk.  Pour chocolate coconut milk into seltzer.

Easy enough, and a check on my goal, but nowhere near as good as the real thing!  The coconut was just too thick.  I’m glad I tried, but I will be eagerly awaiting my next trip to the Deli.

Have you ever had an egg cream?

Caramel Apple Squares

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I realize that it’s Pumpkin Month now, but I couldn’t skip over the caramel apple themed goodie that I’ve been dreaming about since September.

Chewy apple bars with a square of caramel in the center?  Don’t mind if I do!

Caramel Apple Squares, yields 12 servings

  • 1 cup applesauce
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/4 cup canola oil
  • 1/4 cup skim milk
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 and 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp cinnamon
  • 12 caramel squares, unwrapped
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Farenheit.  Prepare an 8×8 inch baking dish with baking spray.
  2. In a large bowl, stir together applesauce, sugar, brown sugar, egg, canola oil, skim milk, and vanilla extract.
  3. Fold flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon into the wet ingredients.
  4. Pour batter into prepared baking dish.
  5. Picture a 3 x 4 grid creating 12 squares on top of your baking dish.  Place 1 caramel into the center of each “square.”
  6. Bake 40 – 45 minutes, until firm.

I’m Going To Philly!

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By the time you read this, I’ll be in a car that’s bound for Philadelphia!  Two friends and I are making the drive so that we can attend FNCE (Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo), the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ national conference.  There will be loads to learn, and hopefully some swag too.  And with any luck, I’ll find time to eat another vegan cheesesteak.

For people who actually want to read about me every day (hi, mom!) –

I will not be blogging from FNCE.  I am unable to bring my laptop and I’m not sure that I’m comfortable taking pictures of my food at a professional conference (i.e. 75% of what I’ll be eating this weekend).  I will do a highlights post of any amazing eats when I get back.  Keep your eye out for a few recipe posts that I’ve scheduled to pop up early next week!

For people who are down with the technology (bye, mom!) –

I will be making somewhat of an effort to be active on Twitter and Instagram (my user name is “emilywax.”  Are you following me yet?

For other Dietetics students –

I’m going to be at FNCE with a great group of students from Buffalo State.  Shoot me an e-mail if you’d like to hang out and please say hi if you spot me!

I’ll be back on Wednesday.  I’m going to miss you guys!

I’m Packed, With Pizza

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In less than 12 hours, I’ll be headed to Philly!  Guess I should be getting in bed, huh?  Between clinic, packing, and baking what felt like a million things, it was a busy day.

Food at the hospital.  GoGo Squeez cinnamon applesauce packet and a vanilla Stinger waffle.

1 serving of Vanilla Almond Special K with Tempt vanilla hemp milk, chopped plum and nectarine, and 1.5 Tbsp chunky honey peanut butter.

Taste-test #1; look for the recipe on Monday.

Here’s a hint –

Taste-test #2; look for the post on Tuesday.

Taste-test #3; my Buttered Rum Raisin Cookies.

Actually, I “tested” two cookies.  Adam and I have decided that these cookies are the best I’ve ever made!  My friends and I are staying with a high school friend of mine for a night before the conference starts and I’m saying “thank you” with a big box of cookies.

Grocery store sample.

Adam and I split this plate of carbs and veggies (lasagna, mac and cheese, kale, tofu, and broccoli).

I ended up mostly sticking with the greens.  I realized two bites in that the “vegetarian lasagna” was loaded with pork!!!!  So sad; but on the plus side we got our food comped so Adam ate for free.

I tried again with pizza plate for dinner.

Veggie slice, buffalo chicken roll up, baby carrots, and blue cheese for dipping.

When was the least time you ate something you didn’t mean to?

Even My Food Was On The Move!

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Oh boy!  I don’t have a lot to show for today because the whole day was crazy.  I was running around like a chicken with its head cut off from 7 am to midnight.  Going out-of-town for five days will make your to-do list a little insane.  And I haven’t even started to pack; mostly I was taking care of school errands.

Breakfast was an energy drink during class.

And I drank 4oz of Chamaeleon Cold Brew coffee over ice with skim milk and a chocolate pb magic straw on my walk to work.

Solid food didn’t happen until dinner; I was honestly too busy to eat all day!

Thankfully dinner was fun, filling, and a line through my to do list birthday goal list.  Adam came into the store just before we closed and told me to hurry because he had a surprise for me.  My bosses guessed a new puppy (if only!), I figured it would be something pumpkin flavored, and my co-worker had her money on booze.

None of the above.  He hurried me over to Delaware Park because he had spotted Lloyd’s Taco Truck and knew a food truck visit was on my list.

Thanks, honey!

I ordered the Tricked Out Nachos and was not disappointed.

White corn chips served with salsa roja, homemade Lloyd queso, chimichurri sour cream, brined jalapeños and pickled red onions, topped with stewed black beans.

Even with a day’s worth of hunger I couldn’t quite finish that monster serving!

For dessert we split the Puddin’ Cup.

Rich chocolate puddin’, dulce de leche caramel, and pumpkin seed brittle.

I guess I got my pumpkin after all!

Are you a food truck fan?  What’s the tastiest item you’ve gotten on the go?

Hello, Pumpkin Month!

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I realize that open season on pumpkin began a few days ago, but work with me here.  My first day of the month was so fabulous that I couldn’t skip blogging it, even if a few days have passed.

I did, however, have my giant (soul-crushing) exam that morning so I started my day with a coffee energy drink from the vending machines.

But then I moved on to the juiciest, crunchiest, crispiest Jazz apple of the year.

Once home, I put the first wave into the fridge.

And made myself a salad.

– romaine topped with a heaping Tbsp each ground flax, buckwheat groats, and peanut sauce –

And soup.

– seaweed ramen –

I picked up a short, non-fat pumpkin spice latte on my walk to work.

Adam met me at the end of my shift and we walked over to Blue Monk so I could get the beer I’ve been coveting since September.

Southern Tier’s Pumpking!

It is sweet and squashy and smells like the best dessert you’ll ever eat.  <– which is funny because I actually hate pumpkin pie

And then I was wasted because apparently I’m a light-weight like no other.  In spite of my obnoxiously loud giggles, we forged ahead and got food too.

An appetizer of marinated olives and pickled veggies with sourdough bread.

I ate ~25%.

And we split the veggie burger.

– Artichoke and chickpea patty with fresh tomato jam, cilantro aioli, on a whole wheat bun and sweet potato fries –

I ate 50%, minus most of my bun.

On the walk home we stopped at Spot for fallish desserts.

My caramel apple cupcake was old and stale (I ate ~33%), but it was still a fabulous end to the evening.

….

And then Tuesday was my first clinic day at the hospital and it was ridiculous and I ate all of my meals on the go, with no camera, the end.

Brain Overload

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Holy frick, guys, this weekend.  It was not the weekend that I was hoping for.  What I needed was to cram for today’s exam (<– the exam so hard my teacher warned us all that we should probably quit our jobs!).  But after a week of little-to-no sleep and several major assignments, I also needed to catch my breath.  In the end, I caught up on relaxation and sleep and hoped for the best.

Today’s exam was not “the best,” but I’m hoping that I didn’t score so poorly that I can’t make it up over the rest of the semester.  Fingers crossed.

I won’t be blogging next weekend either, since I’ll be in Philly for a professional conference.  Eeeeee!  But the rest of the week I’ll be posting on a normal schedule.  Monday through Thursday, here I come.

In the meantime, here are some nutrition-related articles I though y’all might enjoy –

Study shows that physical activity programs are not getting kids moving:  http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012/09/27/physical-activity-programs-fail-to-get-children-moving-study-says/57849062/1

Five things to know about pediatric supplements:  http://www.stonehearthnewsletters.com/5-things-to-know-about-supplements-and-children/pediatric-health/

Is it possible to improve self-control with practice?:  http://psychcentral.com/news/2012/09/27/decision-to-make-healthy-food-choice-hinges-on-brain-competition/45211.html

Are celebrity health endorsements a good thing?  (I say no!):  http://www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/la-heb-celebrity-health-endorsements-20120925,0,2744476.story

Gluten-free diets are not for weight loss:  http://lubbockonline.com/health/2012-09-26/local-health-experts-gluten-free-diet-treats-medical-conditions-not-weight-loss

Tips for discussing weight with children:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-checkup/post/tips-for-talking-weight-with-kids/2012/09/24/6db37136-069d-11e2-9eea-333857f6a7bd_blog.html

The bacon shortage is unavoidable:  http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-pork-bacon-shortage-20120924,0,5901787.story

Teenagers who cut back on sugary drinks slow weight gain:  http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012/09/21/heavy-teens-who-cut-out-sugary-drinks-slowed-weight-gain/57821198/1

HFCS is misunderstood:  http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Science/Cardiologist-High-fructose-corn-syrup-is-one-of-the-most-misunderstood-food-ingredients