Author Archives: Emily

Tastes Like the Holidays

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Hello from Ohio!  The drive was long, but I genuinely love every moment I get to spend with the husband so the six+ hours flew by!  We’ve been having a great time with my family since we got here; not to make you jealous, but I kind of have the best grandparents ever 😉

Before we piled into the car we tried to make up our lack of sleep by stopping by Starbucks for some red cups.

There’s nothing I don’t love about holiday flavors/decorations at Starbucks!  This was an Awake Tea Latte with skim milk and 1 pump of gingerbread syrup.

On our 1st stop I picked up a small string cheese.

And our 2nd gas stop lead us here –

Would the husband and I like to split a small, low-fat, eggnog milkshake with local ingredients?  Yes, please!

This was so good!  No offense Starbucks red cups, but this is how you start the holiday season off right!

We arrived at my grandparents’ house after lunch so I held myself over to dinner with an apple from my snack bag and a couple dark chocolate covered pretzels.

I made up a big batch of deviled eggs (our contribution to tomorrow’s meal) and snacked on an egg and an olive while I worked.

I also had several other nibbles that escaped the camera.

For dinner my grandma whipped up a feast.

Huge, tasty, healthy; we are treated like royalty here!

Salads with toasted walnuts, blue cheese, pear, and homemade cranberry dressing.

Chicken pot pie casserole with a puff pastry top (stuffed with broccoli, red pepper, onion, and water chestnuts).

And brussels sprouts with butter, lemon, and capers.

My grandma is an amazing cook and Adam and I couldn’t stop raving about how delicious everything was.  I only stopped myself from taking seconds because I had already seen the dessert.

Oh yes, there was dessert.

Crumb topped apple pie with homemade butterscotch sauce.

Holy god.  I left behind my crust (I hate crust) but other than that I practically licked my plate clean!

And then we spent the rest of the evening getting trounced in Euchre.  ‘Twas fun.

We are heading to bed “early,” because I actually have to get up and work on Orgo tomorrow.  Boo.  Hope everyone has a happy holiday!

What food tastes like the holidays to you?

Six A.M. Wake-Up What?

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It’s almost midnight and I’m just now blogging dinner, clearly my evening and early bedtime all got a bit off-track.  I’ll say that it’s been an interesting night and leave it at that 🙂

I actually STILL have to pack(!!) so I’ll keep this quick.  Dinner –

A quesadilla with spicy grilled chicken.

End scene.

I’m not sure of my posting situation over the holiday (my grandparents’ internet is pretty slow), but I’ll try to post at least once a day.  I hope everyone has a great holiday!

P.S. Don’t forget to enter my Applegate Farms giveaway!

ThanksGiveaway

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I am thankful –

  • that my busy days really aren’t all that busy in the big scheme of things
  • for my family (and getting to see my grandparents and in-laws this weekend)
  • for my husband
  • for my health
  • for a 2nd season of “Modern Family”
  • for Cherry Coke Zero
  • that there are so many things I’m thankful for that I could probably keep this list going for pages; I am blessed

Today has been a busy day (in the little scheme of things).  My to-do’s have been taking longer than expected and I’ve been running around.  I packed a sliced cucumber to munch on in class and it was a great stress reliever.

Though I have to imagine that my seat-mates were stressed wondering why I was being so crunchy and drippy, sorry guys!

I didn’t get to pick up Adam until 1pm and by the time we got back to our apartment is was after 2:00 and I was starving.  I calmed my growling stomach with a 2% Pineapple Chobani while I put lunch in the oven.

I ended up with feast of dippable delights (all roasted in the oven) –

Green beans,

a small potato,

and some chicken strips,

with ketchup and homemade honey mustard.

The chicken strips were a free sample from Applegate Farms.  They heard me raving about their turkey bacon (so good that I don’t have to miss a thing about not eating mammals and the only kind of “fake” bacon that Adam will eat) and offered me a chance to try another product.

The strips were delicious.  They cook nice and crispy (I oven-baked) and had a nice buttery aftertaste to them.  Plus I approve of the ingredient list and nutritional stats.

And they said I could share the wealth with you guys!

Three readers will win a $1-off coupon for any Applegate Farms product.  All you have to do to win is leave a comment on this post letting me know what you are thankful for.  Giveaway closes Friday (11/26) at noon and winners will be chosen via random integer generator.

Rethinking the Classics

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Forget pumpkin pie, think pumpkin cheesecake oats!

Because there’s no way any piece of pie could be better than this bowl.  (Well, key lime pie, but we are talking seasonal here!)

cooked

  • 1/4 cup oats
  • 2/3 cup liquid (50:50 mix Unsweetened Silk Almond Milk and 1% milk)
  • 1 medium banana
  • ~1/3 cup canned pumpkin
  • 1 pinch salt

topped

  • 1oz cream cheese
  • 2 tsp brown sugar

Readers, even if you don’t listen to another word I say, please, please try this bowl!  You bring your liquids to a low simmer, then carefully stir in the rest of your ingredients.  Stir continuously with a wooden spoon (breaking up the banana with the back of your spoon) until most of the liquid is gone and you’ve reached the consistency you like.  Then top and give the entire bowl a 20second spin in the microwave to get the toppings nice and melty.  The banana endows this great sweetness, the sugar starts to brulee, and the cream cheese gives the perfect amount of tang.  It is life-changing.


So seriously, try it and report back!

On the agenda for today –

  • a single nutrition class (it’s a 2hr class and we scribble furiously the entire time, there was no way I was going to try to miss and make it up)
  • a group meeting to discuss a project
  • finding some last-minute additions to our nieces’ x-mas gifts
  • picking up the husband from school
  • a blog giveaway
  • packing, x2 (I told the husband I’d pack for him if he cleaned the shower)
  • a mini workout
  • dinner out

On the agenda for the holiday –

  • we drive to Ohio early Wednesday morning to have turkey with my grandparents
  • then on Friday we drive to PA for a second celebration with my in-laws
  • and Sunday we make the looooong drive home so I’m back in time for my huuuuuge Orgo test on Monday

What are your plans for Turkey Day/weekend?

Rain is a Proven Cause of Random

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Today was spectacularly unproductive.  It was raining sideways so I skipped my trip to campus (and class and the gym).  I didn’t do a stitch of school-work.  My carrot salad was an inedible fail.  I snacked too much and didn’t eat dinner.  I haven’t even started packing for our trip this Wednesday.

But you know what?  That’s ok (cue Stewart Smalley).  I have so much work to get done over Thanksgiving that it doesn’t really matter that I added a little more.  I’m the queen of last-minute packing so I know I’ll get it all sorted out tomorrow.  And Adam and I took the time this evening to squeeze in a 10minute strength/stretch session; booyah!

My eats today were random, and not very healthy, and delicious.  Pumpkin Pie Pudding.

This stuff was gloriously thick, I still can’t believe that I made this!

Topped with a crumbled macaroon, perfection.

A small handful of Sahale Snacks Valdosta pecans.

An ice-cream sundae.

And a bunch of Garden of Eatin’ Blue Chips,

dunked in salsa and sour cream.

At 9:30 I managed to bribe Adam into a warm-up with promises of pumpkin pie from the Co-op.  .5mile run out, .5mile walk back.  Followed by 10minutes of mat time.  Our mini workout session left me glistening with pride and sweat, so we’ve got to hit the showers and get to bed!

What are your Turkey Day/weekend plans?

Ulterior Motives

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Last night I whipped up a batch of Cooking Light‘s Pumpkin Pie Pudding.

The pudding is tasty, but I have to confess an ulterior motive: wanting leftover canned pumpkin for this –

This is canned pumpkin, 0% Fage, gingerbread flax granola, and honey.

Breakfast of champions.  Not exactly an apple though, as I’m heading to the doctor’s this morning.  I’ve had a rash on the side of my face for months and, of course, the day I’m heading to the dermatologist it’s disappeared!

I spent some time this morning making lunch…

…and now I can’t wait for noon!

It’s a good day in general though, Orgo was cancelled 🙂  I’m going to campus for one class and a gym session and then I’m free for the day!

Do you ever make a recipe just to get your hands on the leftovers?

It’s Almost Christmas! A Guide

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Actually, if I believed what marketers tell me, Christmas is coming tomorrow and I should already be gearing up for Easter!  (P.S. Christmas and Hanukkah are coming, we are equal-opportunity celebrators in this house.)

Anyway, as I was making pumpkin pudding tonight, I realized my pumpkin goodies are coming to an end and it’s time to focus on all things eggnog and gingerbread.

Here are some of the recipes I’m eyeing to try out this holiday season –

Here are some homemade gift ideas I have tried out –

PB cups (Google for the recipe).  You could use red and green (or white and blue) foil wrappers, add some sprinkles, the possibilities are endless.

Chocolate Dipped Pretzels.

Here are some not-so-homemade gift ideas I’m eyeing as well –

Whole Foods is selling a foodie gift basket that contains Sahale Snacks, the best nuts of all time.

1-800-FLOWERS.COM has some great gift offerings.  Like Frosty the Snow Plant.

Or the Poinsettia Popcorn Tin.

Or the Comfort and Joy Sweet Treats Basket.

Which 1-800-Flowers actually sent me to review.  The basket/wrapping were pretty and festive and the package came through the mail unscathed, not a single thing was crushed or broken!

The basket contains toffee, and chocolate, and a whole assortment of peppermint goodies.

Adam and I were so impressed that we think we are going to order a few as holiday gifts.

What’s on your radar this holiday season?

Be Still, My Heart II

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I thought my heart was beating fast on Thursday, but that was practically nothing compared to Friday!  I had a big presentation Friday morning and I was so nervous I thought that I was going to hyperventilate and die!

I don’t know why I was so freaked, I love public speaking.  And I was a teacher for two years – standing in front of my class, taking huge groups on field trips, presenting in front of the entire faculty; all without incident.

Anyway, I calmed down and got through the actual presentation flawlessly 🙂  Our teacher was very pleased.

But before then, I left the house without my camera.  And since I went from school to a movie to the store…no post!

So I’m sort of taking the weekend off.  But I can’t wait to see you Monday!

Do you get nervous about public speaking?