Author Archives: Emily

1st Day Giveaway

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Today is a day of firsts.  Since we are a Christmas and Hanukkah household there is a lot of excitement in the air.  The first day of December – and thus the first day of the Christmas season – and the first day of Hanukkah all at once?  Be still my heart!

Since there is a lot to celebrate, I’m doing a lot to celebrate (erhm, mostly after my test, of course) –

  • (small-scale) decorating the apartment – Friday
  • trying my hand at my uncle’s famous latkes – tonight
  • making noodle keugal – Friday
  • blasting holiday music – today, onward
  • attempting a batch of homemade eggnog – next week
  • baking up cinnamon chocolate chip brownies – next week
  • sharing the joy with my readers – TODAY

Does anyone feel like a giveaway?

Oh Nuts! (a company I’ve ordered from before that offers a great range of high quality nuts, dried fruits, and candies) offered me a chance to give one of my readers a $25 gift certificate.

To win –

Go to either the Oh Nuts Christmas gift baskets page OR the Oh Nuts Hanukkah gift baskets page and choose your favorite gift.  Leave a comment on this post with the name and url of the gift you like most.

You have until midnight on Tuesday, December 7th to enter.

Pumpkin Stuffed French Toast

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We woke up to snow this morning, on December 1st natch!

Adam was giddy as a schoolboy, but the one of us that walks 30-minutes to school was less thrilled.

I consoled myself with a mug of mint cocoa.

This was amazingly thick (you cook it with water) and rich without being too sweet.  I’m looking for another packet asap!

I also consoled myself with this –

I’ve tried explaining to my parents that 25year-olds typically don’t get advent presents, but I’m sort of glad they don’t listen! 😉  The box was loaded with seasonal goodies and even smelled like peppermint.

When it was STILL snowing two hours later I knew I needed to bring out the big guns for breakfast.

When I got a Nature’s Pride Shipment from the Foodbuzz Tastemaker’s Program last month I shoved one of the loaves in my freezer and promptly forgot about it.

Nature’s Pride bread makes the best french toast, and Oven Classics Oatmeal is just what I needed on this blustery day.

Toast 2 slices of bread, and prepare a filling of canned pumpkin, light sour cream, cinnamon, and brown sugar.

Sandwich and dip with egg, milk, and vanilla.

Pan fry over medium heat in a dab of Smart Balance.  Topped with a bit of maple syrup and cinnamon.

Mmmmn.  This was chewy, and toasty, and eggy, and sweet.

And now it still hasn’t stopped snowing  and I’ve eaten this package of dark chocolate almond toffee.

It looks like I don’t need lunch, but I do need snow boots.  Do check back around noon for a giveaway though!

Goodbye November

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As predicted I snacked my way through the evening.  I got all of my assignments done and now I just have to worry about Friday’s major test.

There was a little of this –

A pumpkin cheesecake muffin,

a few handfuls of Terra Exotic Harvest.

But I did make time for a respectable dinner.

Pumpkin vegan sausage pasta leftovers (they are so cheesy because the cheese container exploded all over the place when I tried to open it),

and a Hawaiian roll with a smear of Smart Balance.

Goodbye, November!

Nutella Makes it Bella

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I knew my mother-in-law was a generous lady, but when she sent us home from Thanksgiving with this mostly full (huge) jar of Nutella she sealed the deal.

Yum!  When the family was taste-testing my brother-in-law came up with the perfect description for Nutella: it’s like the inside of a Ferrero Rocher!

This morning I spread ~1T of the good stuff on a toasted Sandwich Thin.

This to-go breakfast felt pretty gosh darn decadent.

In between classes I also had a Peach Chobani.

Then after class I headed the gym.  With finals coming up my goal is to become the queen of the quick workout.  Treadmill : 25minutes: 2.45miles.  Done and done.  I’m going to do some strength training throughout the afternoon as well.

Lunch was an on the spot masterpiece.  Wondering what to do with those thanksgiving leftovers?  Ponder no more.

Leftover rigotoni pasta topped with shredded turkey, cranberry dressing, a bit of parmesan cheese, and a few chopped pecans.

This dish tasted even better than the Turkey Day meal!

I’ve got a lot of work to do today and I’m still feeling hungry so I see a lot of snacking in my future….

What is your favorite thing to do with Turkey Day leftovers?

Going Out with a Bang

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Thanks so much for the encouragement on my last post!  Although, it seemed like many of you thought I was stressed; I was actually being matter of fact.  And I matter of factly failed my test this afternoon 😉 😦

Breakfast at Starbucks ended up being a success.  I got a tall, non-fat latte,

and a slice of gingerbread.

Then I brushed my teeth in the public bathroom and spit Scope in the parking lot like a total creeper 😉

My breath was fresh, but the dentist did give me the bad news that I got my first ever cavity.  I knew it was coming (they’ve been “keeping an eye on” that spot for a year and a half) but I’m still a little nervous about getting drilled.

After my appointment I headed to Wegman’s for a great hot bar lunch.

An assortment of veggies plus a few pieces of sweet and sour chicken,

with fruit for dessert.

I left my car parked at Wegman’s, which meant I got to walk to school for the slaughter (Orgo exam), and then walk back to do my grocery shopping.  I love walking so much, I hope this “nice” weather holds out!

When it was all said and done I ended up with a ‘you shouldn’t grocery shop hungry’ candy bar.

Delish, like honeycomb enrobed in chocolate!

I also ate a bowl of random cereals (Barbara’s Shredded Oats, plus Kashi H2H and Strawberry Flakes) with Silk Almond Milk.

I’m not sure why I was so hungry, but I’m glad I ate because I had a lot to do in the kitchen.

I’m at the point where I transfer my obsessive love from fall foods to holiday foods, and I wanted to end the season with a bang.  There’s no better way to go out than P-U-M-P-K-I-N, pumpkin, pumpkin, pumpkin!  (Can you tell I watched “Bring it On” during dinner?)

Hello there.

We made Rachael Ray’s Pasta with Pumpkin and Sausage.

We subbed rigotoni for penne and vegan crumbles for sausage, but other than that we pretty much followed the recipe.

Delish!

For dessert I went with more pumpkin, (and more Rachael Ray, come to think of it) Cheesecake-Filled Pumpkin Muffins.

I skipped the frosting, these babies are perfect without it!

I had two.

Now I’ve got to go to bed, go, go, to bed!

Were you a cheerleader in highschool?

So That’s Where I’m At

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Yesterday included:

* 7+ hours in the car
* 3 hours in the car without phone service (i.e. navigation or ability to do my homework)
* an entire Organic Chemistry take-home exam, due today
* lots of tears
* and the best meal I’ve ever eaten in Buffalo

It just seemed like one of those days that was better left unblogged. Plus, at the end of it all, I wanted to actually be with my husband, not just beside him on my computer.

This next week is going to include:

* an Organic Chemistry test (today) that I’m going to fail
* 2medium assignments
* a quiz
* a big portfolio assignment
* and a HUGE Anatomy exam

So that’s where I’m at.

This morning I had to wake up early to drive the husband to school (we left his car there over the weekend), and I have a dental appointment in a bit. I’m going to fill the time with orgo cramming and breakfast at Starbucks (followed by frantic public bathroom teethbrushing).

Wish me luck, hope everyone has a great Monday back at work!

Highjinks Highlights

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Turkey Day #2 was a success!  This is our last night of family time so I’m going to keep this picture-heavy and words-light.  For accountability’s sake – do be aware that I ate a TON more food than I managed to photograph, I’m just showing the highlights.

When I woke up this morning I looked over to the cutest sight on earth – the husband was holding baby niece on one side and had 5-year-old niece cuddled up on his other side!  #myovarieshurt

Before the gluttony began, Adam and I started the morning with a run.  We did a quick 1.5miles.  I was very glad to get some movement into my day.

Now the food (again, just the highlights).  0% Honey Chobani.

Our contribution #1 was deviled eggs.

I enjoyed one with some *delicious* cocktail shrimp.

Contribution #2 was this Poinsettia Popcorn Tin.

1-800-Flowers.com sent me this to review and I decided to share the wealth with the in-laws.  Butter, cheese, and caramel.

Oh.my.god.  You can assume I had many many handfuls.  Everyone agreed this was delicious, great for the holidays.

My dinner plate – white meat turkey topped with cranberry sauce, stuffing, sweet potato casserole, and veggies with dip.

My dessert plate – chocolate cake and crock pot cake (a beyond amazing recipe which I will be making on my own and sharing soon).

And lots of kisses.

Applegate Farms Thanksgiveaway Winners

Via random integer generator –

Kristisn (#2), Jess (#4), and MaryBe (#5)

E-mail me at emilyhwaxATgmail.com with your addresses guys!

Another Day, Another State

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Now we’re in Pennsylvania for Thanksgiving # 2 with the husband’s family.  We’re only here two days so I’m keeping my computer time quick to maximize family time.

My grandma made us a final feast for breakfast before we left this morning.

Scrambled eggs with turkey sausage,

and french toast casserole (cinnamon raisin bread, brown sugar, butter, rum, etc).

We hit the road pretty early, because we had a very important detour –

Trader Joe’s!  We didn’t actually do much stocking up (we mostly went to get some things for my parents) but it was fun just to be there.  On the way out Adam spotted a Joseph A. Banks and managed to cash in on a great Black Friday sale – $499 coat for $99!  He needs a new coat desperately and I had no idea how we were going to afford one so I’m stocked that we found such a good deal!

We had a 7hour drive so most of our meals were eaten in the car.  Freeze dried apples for a snack.

And Taco Bell chicken enchilada burrito for lunch.

We got to have dinner in the house though.

Sliced apple from my snack bag,

and a turkey sloppy joe.

Adam fed me a Lindt truffle for dessert but it missed my camera.  Something bit my face(!!) and I’m having a bit of an allergic reaction – I’m allergic to their cats as well – so please think unswollen thoughts for me!

*Check back tomorrow for Applegate Farms giveaway winners.