The Newest Thing

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Remember cake balls?

Of course you do, everyone and their mother made them.

Forget about those.  Cake balls are tired.  These are the newest thing –

Cookie balls.

When I made funfetti sugar cookies for Adam to bring people as a thank you gift last week, I was under the impression that Adam ate sugar cookies.  Apparently not.  I don’t either, so it appeared that the other half of that 48-cookie batch was going to waste.  Apparently not.

Cookie balls

  • 15 sugar cookies (preferably ones with sprinkles)
  • 1/3 cup vanilla frosting
  1. Use a food processor to pulse cookies into large crumbs.  The mixture doesn’t have to be perfectly homogenous, but should resemble rough sand.
  2. Pour cookie crumbs into a bowl and use your hands to combine with frosting.  Roll into balls and freeze.

I was going to dip these in chocolate originally, but they were just so darn good I couldn’t stand to mess with them!  They taste like creamier sugar cookies and take on the crumbly texture of pecan sandies.

You’re welcome.

Confessions V, Road Trip Edition

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Click here to read Confessions part I, II, III, and IV.

Confession # 1 – In St. Thomas we drive on the left side of the street (but in American-style cars, the steering wheel is still on the left).  My first six years living in the states, driving on the right felt uncomfortable and I would get slightly confused pulling out of parking lots.  Now driving on the right feels natural to me, and that makes me a little sad.

Confession # 2 – When I was a little kid my parents weren’t allowed to talk to me in the car.  That’s because I was in the back seat ‘telling stories.’  St. Thomas has no highways and most of the roads cut through mountains thick with underbrush, the perfect scenery for story telling.  Usually I was Caddie Woodlawn, running through the bush with my brothers.

Confession # 3 – I’m afraid of cars.  I’m a good, calm driver, but that doesn’t mean that cars aren’t giant killing machines.  I think driving should be a privilege, not a right.

Confession # 4 – When Adam and I moved from Brooklyn to Buffalo two years ago, I had to drive the Pontiac on my own and I was a little nervous.  I was following my brother-in-law in the moving van but it was pouring rain and there was lots of construction.  Plus it was the first time I’d driven in the states (on the right) in two years.  I spent the first 100 miles sobbing and eating an entire sleeve of Pringles.

Confession # 5 – When I’m driving by myself I have to skip through the following songs on my playlists because they make me cry –

  • “How to Save a Life,” The Fray
  • “Cat’s in the Cradle,” Harry Chapin
  • “In the Sun,” Joseph Arthur
  • “Good Life,” Francis Dunnery
  • “What a Wonderful World,” Isreal Kamakawiwo’ole   <– our wedding song!

Happy 4th of July

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America the beautiful.

Adam and I had a great July 4th, I hope you guys and your families did as well.

Apparently my husband is a bad influence; I was dressed in running clothes when he pulled me back into bed this morning!  It got too hot outside to run so instead we ate leftovers on the couch.

Cheesecake Factory’s spicy cashew chicken might actually be better the 2nd day.

We had to grocery shopping this afternoon and I snacked on an (American as apple pie) apple along the way.

Like my red, white, and blue?  Being able to dress in theme colors is my favorite part of any holiday.

We celebrated Adam’s day off for the holiday with our favorite activity – a nice long walk.  Midway we split a Sprecher Orange Cream Soda.

Soon enough it was time for red, white, and dinner.

Blue corn tortillas, filled with crumbled tofu cooked in red enchilada sauce, topped with (white) sour cream.

We used this Frontera red chile enchilada sauce and it ended up being pretty flavorless, boo.

Plus some roasted brussels sprouts.

Sadly it was a kind of meh dinner overall.

Normally this wouldn’t have been near enough food for me but thankfully we did a lot of baking today, and I did lots and lots of nibbling!

Kath’s honey crunch peanut butter –

My newest invention that’s bound to be the new big thing (I’ll tell you more tomorrow) –

4th of July cupcakes –

The cupcakes were simple white cupcakes with vanilla frosting, turned festive when dyed red, white, and blue and swirled together.

So fun!

Also fun?  We’re watching “Newsies” this evening!

Home Again, Home Again

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Another 7 hours alone in the car later and I feel I’m a bona fide road tripper.  When Adam and I had to go from Pennsylvania to Miami back in college I drove about an hour total because I kept falling asleep at the wheel, but this trip flew by without incident.  And yes, I really did go home today!

As proud of my driving prowess as I am, my food-on-the-go skills were seriously lacking.  I’m the girl who brought bagged salad on an airplane, but today my traveling eats fell short.

I had a zero calorie Monster this morning but that was the only food I brought with me (minus the coffee cake my grandma packed for Adam in the trunk).

I stopped only once to gas up (holy gas mileage, Batman Pontiac Vibe!) and the rest stop was pretty much devoid of sustenance.  I made a “mocha” with half super caffeine coffee and half hot chocolate.

And I ate 90% of this bag of Chex  Mix Muddy Buddies on the 2nd half of my drive.

Ugh, this did not make me feel so good.  Sugar rush and hunger pains make a bad combo.

I was practically light-headed while I unpacked this afternoon so I made myself a slice of sourdough with Smart Balance Light.

Much better.

Adam ate through our stores this last week so we headed to the Cheesecake Factory for dinner.  We knew the meal we planned on splitting was light of veggies so we actually swung by Wegman’s hot bar first for a healthy “appetizer.”

What’s shown was my serving.  Plus more bread with butter.

We split the spicy cashew chicken, our very favorite CF dish.

The lighting makes this look gross but I promise it was great.  Adam and I each ate about 1/3 and we’ll have tasty leftovers tomorrow.

Do you get tomorrow off of work?  Any fun plans for the 4th?

Psych!

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I know I said I was going home.  As I got into my car this morning I thought “I could be fun to stay longer…,” so I did!  I’ll go home tomorrow.

I think my delicious breakfast helped to put me in the vacation mood.

0% Plain Greek Gods Yogurt with berries, plucot, and the last of the Great Harvest Granola.

So sad!

My last bowl with it was fantastic though.

I was super glad I stayed when we ventured to a great outdoor mall (I snagged the perfect shoes for my hospital rotation) and spotted this –

First we had lunch.  This is a half portion (I split with my mom) of poached eggs with hollandaise, potato, spinach, asparagus, and artichoke.

Pretty good, but dessert was better.

I seriously don’t know what I’m going to do in Buffalo for the next year without froyo?!

After some more family time, we headed to dinner at Ruby Tuesdays.  I snagged one of these cheddar biscuits.

And went seafood delight for dinner.

I was seriously shocked by how good this food was; I must have exclaimed how much I enjoyed my meal at least five times during dinner!

Grilled green beans,

grilled zucchini,

and grilled bbq salmon with shrimp.

Yum, yum, yum; the zucchini was my favorite.

Ok, now I promise to go home tomorrow!

Grog Not Groggy

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After my run this morning I joined my parents for an hour and a half bike ride.  I burnt the crap out of my forearms yesterday so I ended up biking in 85* weather in this –

Worth it.  We rode all around the path and over some gorgeous bridges.  I so wish I’d had my camera but I couldn’t figure out a place to put it.

We came home for a refreshing breakfast.

0% Plain Greek Gods Yogurt with a strawberry honey straw, blueberries, peach, and Great Harvest granola.

I have maybe a half serving of granola left and my heart is breaking.

Getting lunch was not my strong suit today and I will admit that I was a little cranky this afternoon.  We did do some fun things though, like explore a neat farmer’s market.

I grabbed an iced coffee from a stand at the market.

But traded iced in for hot as soon as I saw this –

Grog style coffee?!  With a little skim milk.

I swear it did taste like buttered rum!

We also traveled to the mecca.

I bought sushi (spicy and regular brown rice California rolls) for lunch but I only ate three pieces.

Yucky City, way too much (mushy) rice.  If I had been closer to the store I would have returned it but I was eating on the car ride home.

I split these Sunkist gems with my dad for dessert.

Yum City.

My grumbling tummy was very happy when dinner was served.

Side salad with peas, radishes, spicy ranch, and dill cheese curds.

Corn on the cob so tasty it blew the corn I bought in Buffalo out of the water.

And quesadilla with sautéed onions and peppers, turkey sausage, shredded chicken, and colby and sharp cheddar cheese.

With a small turtle blizzard for dessert.

I’ve been pretty well fed this vacation.  Nonetheless, I can’t wait to go home to my husband tomorrow and hear about his first week back at school!

My Abusive Relationship

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Get ready for the tabloid post guys, because I’m about to talk about my abusive relationship with running.

Running makes my lungs feel like they’re on fire and my legs feel like jello.  Running has me questioning my sanity.  Running can make me feel lazy and worthless.  But I can’t give it up.

Sometimes I stray.  I can’t resist the call of the warm, safe couch.  I get complacent and forget about running for a while.

But running is so exciting, it always pulls me back in.  I think “this time, things will be different.”  They never are.  Running always punishes me for my lack of loyalty.  It’s my fault; think if I was faithful, running would stop hurting me.

Even during the bad times, I still love running.  There are good times.  Running can be my rock during stressful periods.  Running doesn’t ask for much, just my sneakers and a bit of time. 

When I stick with it, running makes me feel like I can do anything.  Running helps me feel the breeze against my face.  Running helps me clear my head and think.  Running makes me feel strong. 

I ran 1 mile in 9:15 this morning.  It sucked.  And I can’t wait to do it again.

My Aching Ischium

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Ow!

I wish I could blog more about today but it’s after midnight and I am just so tired!  Time to keep things cursory.

I started my morning with a version of my new favorite breakfast.

Great Harvest granola (essential!) with berries, 0% Plain Greek Gods Yogurt, and a blue raspberry honey stick.

Delicious, and totally fun looking.

Then my parents and I headed out for a 3 hour bike ride.  Hence the aching sit-bones!  My plan was to run but my leg is sore (from accelerating of all things) and I think I ended up getting a better workout anyways.

After our three hour ride a big lunch was key.

It doesn’t look like much but that’s a vegetarian rice bowl from the burrito place down the street.  Rice, black beans, creamy hot sauce, tomatoes, corn salsa, guacamole, lettuce, cheese and pineapple.

It was a totally ridiculously delicious combination of flavors.

I also had this light Arnold Palmer.

We ran some fun errands this afternoon including a little farmers’ market,

and then headed to dinner at Beppo Uno.

I started with a side Cesar salad,

and ordered the baked zitti for dinner.

I can’t believe my nacho-obsessed self can even say this but it was a little too cheesy for me!

I only took a few bites but gulped down my shockingly good garlic bread,

and a slice of my mom’s shrimp and pesto pizza.

I guess I’m carbo-loading for tomorrow’s bike ride?!

I’m blogging so late because my parents and I went to see a 9:20 showing of “Bad Teacher.”  <– Cameron Diaz meh, Jason Segel hubba hubba!