Copycat Cashew Chicken

Today’s eats have been mighty tasty.  I could wax poetic about flavors for hours, but we saved up the last two weeks of Castle and are in the middle of a very tense marathon!

Bagel for breakfast.

DSC01122

A Garlic and Italian Herb Bagel Thin (a new flavor!) with smoked salmon cream cheese.

Fruits and vegetables for lunch, split up before and after work.  Roasted broccoli with lots of melted sharp cheddar before.

DSC01127

DSC01125

Honeycrisp apple with 1/2 Tbsp melted peanut butter after.

DSC01138

The apple was good, the cheesy broccoli was better.

Dinner was an absolute success.

DSC01140

We followed this copycat recipe for Cheesecake Factory’s spicy cashew chicken.  We doubled the sauce and subbed Sriracha for cayenne pepper but otherwise followed the recipe.

DSC01148

Flipping amazing!  Served with white basmati rice,

DSC01150

and more roasted broccoli.

DSC01144

We loved every bite and are eagerly awaiting leftovers for dinner tomorrow.

Single-serve cookie dough for dessert.

DSC01154

Also amazing.

And with that, I’ve got to go – Castle is blowing my mind.

Do you watch Castle?

And We’re Off!

Today was officially my first day off (from both school and work) since January 20th!  42 days straight!!!  I didn’t even work full shifts for most of those days but it was still nice to have 24 hours all to myself for a change.

We didn’t do anything all that exciting with our newfound free-time but it still felt pretty damn nice.  We did a major grocery trip, started watching Battlestar Galactica (please tell me that the episodes are faster paced than the movie?!), and Adam currently has the guys over for poker.

Breakfast was a bowl of peanut butter and bananas, squared.

DSC01104

2% Banana Chobani Greek Yogurt topped with a sliced banana, 1 tsp of melted peanut butter and 1 crumbled Cascadian Farm Crunchy Peanut Butter Granola Bar.

DSC01099

So flipping good.

Lunch was even better.

DSC01114

I took enough Pho home last night for Adam and I to both have lunch with the leftovers.  I beefed mine up with some roasted broccoli and a soft-boiled egg.  Plus more Sriracha, of course.

DSC01118

The entire bowl was delicious and the egg yolk melting into the broth was so amazing that it almost made me cry.

For dessert we shared this plate of samples.

DSC01109

Oh Nuts! offered to send me their Passover Cake & Cookie Sampler and I happily accepted.

DSC01105

Neither of us liked the brownie piece (too dry) but we thought that the jam in the sandwich cookie and raspberry jelly roll was nice.  By the by, everything was gluten-free and kosher.

I also had an Adora calcium disk.

DSC01110

I am going to try to remember to take one every day for the next while, but I probably won’t blog about it again.

Dinner ended up being a (giant!) container of hot bar.

DSC01120

A little bit of mac and cheese and brussels sprouts and a bunch of chicken.  Apparently I was in the mood for protein.

I made the poker players some Mac and Three Cheese Cups but they were gone before I could snag one.  That’s a good sign!

What’s your longest run without a day off?

Coconut Chocolate Lavender

Howdy!  I have not been following my sleep schedule – – at all – – but I can say that today was quite productive.  Every item on my list is now to-done!

The dog has been getting in and out of bed all night long recently and between that and my usually fitful sleep, mornings have felt very difficult this week.  I barely had time to make it to work today so I had to take breakfast with me on the walk.  This Wegman’s Bean and Cheese Burrito was good but not great.

DSC01023

Something about the flavor and texture made me long for a beverage, and I ended up exploding pinto beans all down the front of my winter coat.

I ate a Honeycrisp apple mid-morning.

DSC01025

Then I spent the rest of my day holed up in the basement like a retail hermit.  We got in tons of tons of shipments on Monday and I opened and priced 99% of them today.

I never did have time for lunch at work (I kept my packed food in the fridge for an easy lunch tomorrow!) and I ended up doing double dinners.  First was Wegman’s hot bar on a mini-date with the husband.

DSC01031

Wok-seared veggies,

DSC01034

and chicken dumplings and chicken salad.

DSC01036

Adam and I are obsessed with the dumplings’ dipping sauce and the combination of the sauce stirred into my chicken salad was the bomb.com.  <– legit, it tasted so good that was the first expression that popped into my head!

I also ate a big bag of Easter candies from the bulk bins and gave myself a stomach-ache.

DSC01038

A little pain was worth it, the sugar rush totally helped me through the remainder of my internship journaling.  Minus breaks for making food and eating food, I chugged away for the remainder of the evening.

Our home dinner was vegetable fried rice.

DSC01040

In the wok (for 2) –

  • 1/2 Tbsp sesame oil
  • ~1 heaping cup peas
  • ~1 heaping cup roasted broccoli
  • ~1.5 cups leftover brown rice
  • 1 Tbsp tamari
  • 1 Tbsp rice vinegar
  • 1.5 Tbsp fish sauce
  • 1 Tbsp Sriracha
  • 3 large eggs

DSC01042

The dish had the potential to be great, but it was way too salty.  It’s been awhile since I’ve used fish sauce and I forgot what a sodium-punch it packs.  I ate a little less than 2/3 of my plate.

Dessert was a giant, delicious cookie.

DSC01047

Coconut Chocolate Lavender Cookies = this recipe for single serve cookies plus 1 tsp minced culinary lavender and chopped Sweetriot 70% dark kickin’ coconut chocolate subbed in for chocolate chips.

DSC01045

We were both big fans of the big cookies and big taste.

The winner of my Hey Shuga! giveaway is:

contest winner

(#1) Jenny, shoot me an e-mail with your mailing address.

Day One Of Thirty? {Again}

Complaints first – The chance for 8-hours of sleep passed before I even started this post.  All of my end of internship assignments are due on Friday and I’m freaking out.  I ate two snacks after dinner and I am still flipping hungry.

Complaints aside, it wasn’t a bad day.  We got lots (and lots) of shipments at work so I was nice and busy.

The morning started with smoothies.

smoothie

For two: 1 Thai young coconut, ~1 cup frozen blue/blackberries, 1 medium frozen banana, and 2 Tbsp Hey Shuga!  <– don’t forget, you still have another ~hour to enter my giveaway!

I didn’t have a lot of time for lunch so I kept it simple.  A Garuka Bar (from my yumvelope).

DSC01014

The sweet peanut butter coating was addictively good; I planned on snacking on it throughout a task but every time I tried to walk away I took another bite instead!

I also had a Fage 0% Greek Yogurt with Cinnamon Apple Raisins.

DSC01013

The flavor isn’t listed on the Fage website and I’ve only seen it at Target.  The apple compote was good, but nothing can really compare to the pure decadence of the honey and strawberry flavors.

I only had an hour between work and night class so Adam and I cashed in a coupon for Subway for dinner.

DSC01015

6 inch turkey with lettuce, tomato, green pepper, banana pepper, red onion, and honey mustard on Italian herb and cheese bread.

I knew my sandwich wouldn’t quite fill me up and I shared this peanut butter spoon with Webster when I got home.

DSC01018

Then I also had a plate of baby carrots with the last of some smoked gouda spread.

DSC01021

And a bag of Smart Fries.

smart fries

I ended up dipping my “fries” in yellow mustard.  And then I had a big glass of water; methinks I’m a bit dehydrated!

na na na na na na na na BANANA

It’s time for another two-day post.  Shhhhhh, don’t tell my mom!

The past 48 hours have been full of Bananas, but nary a vegetable has been seen.  Things haven’t technically been that busy, but it’s hard to post when you basically die into bed.

My last post left off at lunch.  After I finished up at the hospital for the day, I came home to decorate my cupcakes for book club.

DSC00456

Book club may have been hit hard by sickness and weather advisories this week, but that didn’t mean that the three of us who still got together didn’t deserve banana split cupcakes!

Banana Split Cupcakes, makes 12

Yield: 12 cupcakes; Prep Time: 30 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes

  • 1 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 3 large bananas, well mashed
  • 3/4 cup white sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/3 cup melted butter
  • 1/4 cup roughly chopped walnuts
  • 12 Tbsp hot fudge sauce
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 5 oz vanilla bean ice cream, fully melted
  • maraschino cherries
  • rainbow sprinkles
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Farenheit.  Line a cupcake tray with 12 paper liners.
  2. Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt and set aside.
  3. In a large bowl combine mashed banana, white sugar, egg, and melted butter.  Stir to combine, then fold in flour mixture and mix just until smooth.  Fold in walnuts.
  4. Fill each cupcake liner halfway with batter.  Spoon 1 Tbsp fudge sauce into each cup.  Top with remaining batter.
  5. Bake for 25-30 minutes.  Allow cupcakes to completely cool before icing.
  6. While cupcakes are cooling, use an electric mixer to beat together softened butter, powdered sugar, and melted ice-cream.  (This icing will keep best if stored in the fridge rather than at room temperature).
  7. Ice cupcakes then top with cherries and sprinkles as desired.

DSC00455

I know I’ve posted the recipe before but since almost nobody reads my blog, nobody has made the cupcakes yet.  And that is really unfortunate because they are one of the best things I’ve ever made.  I may not write a popular blog but I can write a damn good recipe!

I actually ended up eating my serving the minute it was decorated.

DSC00460

Then while my friends ate cupcakes I munched on BBQ Smart Fries.

DSC00467

But first we grabbed a quick and easy dinner at Wegman’s.

DSC00461

I got spicy crawfish chips,

DSC00463

and a brown rice California roll with a side of spicy mayo.

DSC00465

Then the three of us came back to my place for cupcakes (and Smart Fries!) and a movie.  We watched “The Perfect Family” on Netflix and all loved it.  Emily Deschanel was great as always and the entire film was surprisingly funny and smart.

I send my friends home with all of the cupcakes (except for two saved for Adam who was out-of-town the past few days) and when my sweet tooth called a few hours later I made an amazing yogurt banana split.  An Almond Coco Loco Chobani Flip topped with sliced banana, hot fudge sauce, a big scoop of ice cream frosting, and a cherry on top.

DSC00469

Maybe the best bowl of “ice cream” I’ve ever had.  The combination of tastes was amazing, and you better believe I ate another big scoop of frosting straight from the container!  This Flip was a billion times better than the key lime one; the coconut yogurt was perfection.

I only had to work a half shift today so once Adam got home we got to spend the entire day hanging out.  He’s traveled a lot this year and I’ve really missed him.  Speaking of which, I’m going to rush through Saturday’s (pathetic) eats so I can get back to snuggling.

Pomegranate Black Tea KeVita.  Have you entered my giveaway yet?

DSC00473

Mac and cheese from the co-op hot bar.

DSC00474

2% Chobani Banana topped with sliced plums.

DSC00480

Buffalo chicken pizza with blue cheese and baby carrots.

DSC00482

And a giant bowl of popcorn with melted butter.

DSC00485

My popcorn bowl was actually too big for me and I couldn’t finish it…. who am I???

P.S.  This is what’s happening beside me right now –

DSC00490

Sparkling KeVita Giveaway

If you’re here for the giveaway – scroll to the bottom.

If you’re here for Fashion Friday – have you seen me lately?!  But also, scroll to the middle.

If you’re here for the food – that’s coming up first!

Breakfast/Lunch

Breakfast is hot chocolate and mini marshmallows.

DSC00428

DSC00433

So yummy.

Since I’m doing a morning post, I can do lunch in advance.  Black-eyed pea salad,

DSC00417

with a Lemon Ginger Sparkling KeVita.

DSC00420

More on that below.  I hope everyone has a great Friday!

Fashion Friday

tuesday

DSC00369

DSC00405

DSC00429

The striped gray pants are from my emergency “oh god, I have no professional clothing” outlet mall trip and I really like them.

Sparkling KeVita Giveaway

Full disclosure – my ginger lemonade was purchased with a free coupon.  KeVita sent me a few vouchers to introduce me to their line of sparkling probiotic drinks.  KeVita features four complementary strains of probiotics: Bacillus coagulans, L.paracasei, L.plantarum, and L.rhamnosus, combined with KeVita’s signature and proprietary probiotic culture.

They recently introduced a Mojita flavor – lime/mint/coconut – and I’m dying of longing since it’s not sold in my area yet.  But hopefully it’s available near you, since KeVita is letting me share the love with you guys!

Two readers will have the chance to win three free KeVita Sparkling Probiotic Drink coupons.  Simply comment on this post by midnight on Monday (02/04) for a chance to win.

Baking Tasting

My breakfast was pathetic.  Someone {ahem!} only left behind a tiny bit of my Low-fat Coconut Chia Kefir.

DSC00403

I planned on taking it to-go and didn’t have time to grab anything else so I had to spend the morning hungry.  Even worse, I think Wegman’s isn’t going to carry that flavor anymore.

I spent my morning in the formula lab at the hospital and my afternoon in an off-site clinic and I had to drive through lunch.  I packed it simple with packaged things I could eat in the car.  Luna Blueberry Bliss Bar.

DSC00400

Normally I’m all about the chocolate flavors, but this blueberry flavor is one of my favorite Lunas.

Key Lime Crumble Chobani Flip.

DSC00397

After all my anticipation for this flavor, I actually didn’t really like it.  The yogurt was weirdly thin and every key lime Greek yogurt I’ve tried has tasted too artificial.  But I have an Almond Coco Loco Flip in the fridge that I’m still excited to try.

I didn’t realize how sore I was from yoga until my drive home.  Moving around during the day was fine but sitting for a long stretch on the highway was killer.  Last night’s practice kicked my butt.  <– I had to edit out a typo here where I wrote “butts.”  It’s a Freudian fat joke!

During the drive I also realized how hungry I was.  Days I don’t eat breakfast are a disaster because I end up eating so much crap in the afternoon.  I started with a sliced Honeycrisp.

DSC00412

And two Alexia Artisan Sweet Potato Rolls with butter.

DSC00413

But then I had to do some baking for tomorrow’s book club.

DSC00416

Adam wasn’t here this evening to help me taste-test and I did an insane amount of nibbling and bowl licking.

DSC00409

Plus I ate one of the (mostly) finished baked goods.

DSC00426

Delicious but so unnecessary.

At least dinner was healthy.

DSC00425

My black-eyed pea salad is so easy to make – BEPs, chopped green pepper, smoked almonds, chopped Kerrygold Vintage Cheddar, green Tabasco, done!

DSC00422

It’s quickly becoming my favorite dish.  There is even another serving in the fridge for tomorrow’s lunch.

I’m hoping that this weekend will include lots of baked goods and booze, but my goals for next week are bedtime, breakfast, and less sugar overload.  {and the Vegan 20 Day challenge!}

My Forever Alone Movie Date

Why am I posting at 12:30, tomorrow would have been such a happier day if I had gotten into bed an hour ago?  There isn’t much to share on the food front though, so at least I will keep this quick.

Breakfast didn’t happen at home, but thankfully my co-worker offered me her blueberry muffin (she bagged it at Wegman’s and then decided on hot bar instead).

DSC00253

I ate half.  I’m not a big muffin person but this was pretty good.

I actually wasn’t supposed to work today, but was called in last night at the last-minute.  Work = money, yay!  But I had fun stuff planned with Adam that I was really bummed to miss and I was sort of in a funk this morning.

Lunch was a 0% Pear Chobani.

DSC00247

Holy frick I love that flavor so much!  I tried one at FNCE and have been biding my time until they showed up in Buffalo.

Also a KeVita Living Green Sparkling Probiotic Drink.

DSC00251

Full disclosure – KeVita sent me some free coupons so I could sample their products.  They sent me some extras to share with y’all too; stay tuned!  I wasn’t expecting to love the drink, but then I did.  It was so refreshing!

Adam was playing poker with friends all evening, so after work I took myself to a movie.  I was seeing “Hansel and Gretel” so I didn’t even bother inviting other people.  I’m still not sure why I was so obsessed with seeing the film but I did end up enjoying myself.  I brought a .25 lb bag of candy for a themed movie snack but didn’t have time to take a picture.  It was mostly conversation hearts and they were mostly disgusting.

Dinner didn’t happen until almost 10 pm and I’m still amazed that I managed to stick to my plan.

DSC00259

2 Quorn Cheeseburger patties* topped with some Cabot’s 50% sharp cheddar,

DSC00267

and a sliced cucumber sprinkled with lots of salt.

DSC00263

I also ate these Honey BBQ Smart Fries because I was too hungry to wait patiently for the patties to cook.

DSC00258

I enjoyed the flavor but it wasn’t worth getting seasoning all over my fingers versus the classic version.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend!

*Adam ate the other two Quorn patties when he got home from poker and proclaimed them to be “very good”