First of all, huge congrats to my Aunt Jenny and Uncle David — IT’S A BOY!! The name is still to be determined (they are having trouble deciding on one they both like best, haha) but I could not be happier to have a new boy cousin. I can’t wait to pay a visit to count 10 little fingers and 10 little toes Fun fact: there are only FIVE girl cousins out of 20 in the entire “Bender” clan. We are the minority.

It has been a really fun and productive Saturday. I’ve been working on our wedding website — email me if you want to see the link, it’s quite fun!! — and tonight I’m attending a work event with Bobby at a great Chicago hot spot that I’ve always wanted to check out. It should be a nice time.

Another highlight of my day was breakfast. I met up with a good friend who reads the blog (and has blogged herself in the past!) named Kristie as she stopped through town for the day. She was actually the winner of the trivia contest during my Blogiversary Giveaway. It was so great to finally meet her in person after chatting back and forth via email for so long.

We originally were going to meet up at an intriguing new cafe but realized that it was actually part of a fitness center and wasn’t open for breakfast yet Instead, we wandered around for a while in the crisp fall air — it’s absolutely gorgeous in Chicago right now — and settled upon a market called Fox & Obel. I had passed by it before and it looked like it could be interesting. The foodie in me couldn’t resist suggesting we try it and, once inside, we realized there was also a cafe and decided breakfast was served.

Both Kristie and I decided to order the steel-cut oatmeal.

Doesn’t the sun make it look heavenly? This wasn’t just your average bowl of oats. It was topped with freshly sliced bananas, golden plump raisins and maple cream. I had never heard of maple cream before but it’s exactly what it sounds like: a creamier version of maple syrup that adds an entire new flavor dimension to the bowl. Click on that link above to see one way to make it!

Oatmeal never tasted so good. Between easy conversation — Kristie and I are a lot alike and coming up with topics to talk about was a breeze — and savoring each and every bite, breakfast felt more relaxing than it has in a very long time. The golden raisins lived up to their “plump” description — they were bursting with sugary sweetness that complemented the maple perfectly. The market also didn’t skimp on the banana slices: I had at least one in almost every bite right down to the very bottom of the bowl.

As if good food and good moods weren’t enough, Kristie then presented me with the ultimate gift:

GLO BARS!!!!!!!!! Kristie had placed an order with Angela recently and had a few to spare. I feel so, so fortunate for this gift. I can’t wait to try Angela’s creations — by the way, we were totally talking you up girly. We think what you are doing is amazing and so admire your courage to change careers.

After we finished our bowls, Kristie and I walked around the market, which was filled with unique and hard to find products. We both picked out a nice bottle of wine and a very special peanut butter, which I will be unveiling soon Let’s just say, I finally found it! Any guesses?

I’ve been snacking on a variety of hummus, veggies and pita for the rest of the day.

This is just the generic red pepper hummus from Whole Foods. A gigantic container for about the same price as a small Sabra container — and it tastes great. You can’t go wrong with fresh cucumber and WF mini pitas, either A fantastic, easy snack option.

The big feast will come at the work event tonight. Not sure if I’ll be able to take pictures but I’m going to try because I’m sure it will be fun to look at

Fun link: Minn. city’s get healthy effort called a success

As a Minnesotan at heart, I appreciate the efforts the town in the article went to in order to live better.

How are you “living better” this weekend?

I’m making it a priority to catch up with family and friends I have lost touch with due to my busy schedule these past few weeks. I need to know what’s going on in their lives. Yours, too!!

Abrazos,

This weekend was eggs-actly the right combination of productivity and fun. I was glad to read that so many bloggers enjoyed themselves in San Francisco! Back in the Windy City, I enjoyed watching Northwestern beat Iowa (insert evil laugh), getting out in the unseasonably warm – we are talking 70 degrees in November! – weather, organizing my apartment and meeting up with old friends. Not bad for a the shortest two day stretch of the week

My two friends and I met up for brunch at Lou Mitchell’s on Sunday. We all lived together in a suite my sophomore year of college and I had always heard how great this place was.

Apparently they saw me coming up the street and said, “There she is! Oh wait…she’s taking a picture of the outside?” Little did they know just how many pictures I would be taking! I love it.

One of the coolest things about Lou Mitchell’s is the atmosphere. It’s very family-friendly and fun – they ring a bell and sing happy birthday, wish a couple a happy anniversary, etc. They also have a great wait staff that takes the time to talk to you about life. Annnnnd while you’re waiting in line to sit, they pass out homemade doughnut holes! I snagged one on my way to the table to enjoy while perusing the menu. They also have Milk Duds for kids to sink their teeth into My mom would love it.

The ultimate decision was what to order. With so much to choose from on their menus – both breakfast and lunch are served – I knew it would be a tough call. I ended up going with the Vegetarian Omelette, which came with fresh tomato, spinach, mushroom and onion. I also added in feta for a Mediterranean touch. The omelette came out in the pan with homemade potatoes on the side.

As you can see in the picture above, they completely immerse the eggs in the ingredients so you get a bit of every ingredient, every time. The omelette was not too greasy and full of flavor. The potatoes were a nice complement – also not too greasy. I enjoyed both with coffee and whole wheat toast.

The reason for the title of this post is that when I got home from breakfast and told Bobby what I ate, he said, “But tonight is omelette night!” Oops No worries though, because as a creature of habit, I am able to eat the same meal multiple times per day. You think I’m joking…

Look familiar? Yes, it was a double dose of omelettes. In my opinion, if you’re going to eat something more than once, you may as well make it eggs, veggies and potatoes. They are all good for you (depending on your own personal stance with eggs, of course) and taste delicious.

We also enjoyed some leftover wine from the night before. On our quest to find the best cheap wine, we came across Barefoot Shiraz, which apparently earned a “gold medal” – so why not try it? The wine glass below was actually from Saturday and the stemless wine glass above is from Sunday. It definitely tasted its best when we first opened the bottle, but overall it wasn’t bad. A good, cheap choice!

To the omelettes themselves – mine was the usual 1 egg, 2 egg white combination – we added sliced ham, cucumber, red pepper and onion. It was a glorious combination of “savory crunch” and I enjoyed every bite! I topped mine with a little ketchup (couldn’t resist) and followed my rule of putting the veggies on top so that the omelette folds much easier. It saves time and hassle.

On the side we also roasted some Baby Dutch potatoes (a correction from the last time I made them and called them fingerling potatoes – Tina, you were absolutely right. Thank you for pointing it out!). Seasoned with garlic salt, pepper and Emeril’s powder, baked for 30 minutes covered and 10 minutes uncovered at 350* – they taste amazing, I promise you.

And now, on a completely non-related egg note…

The yogurt mess.

It’s BAAACCKK! It’s been a while since I had the Greek yogurt, cereal and banana combination. I had it this morning and realized it was definitely missed in my house. I topped it with some cinnamon and 1 tbsp. almond butter for an extra boost. Expect to see plenty more where this came from.

This week has been absolutely crazy so far…and it’s only Tuesday! It’s just that busy life I lead, I tell ya Seriously though, if I’m a bit out of the loop I apologize. I’ll jump back in as soon as possible. In the meantime, let’s wish this girl a happy early birthday (it’s not until Thursday but I’m just anticipating)! So happy that your Pilot is home again, Gina. Good timing!

Any other November babies out there? A very happy belated birthday to Mama Bender, who turned 20 – wait, how does that work? – on November 5. Young at heart and in spirit. Also, a happy birthday to all of my cousins, aunts and uncles. November is a busy birthday month in our family!

Around-the-Blogosphere

• Check out Katie’s Operation Chocolate-Covered Kindness (and her strawberry logo)!
• Another blogger doing good: Megan’s Pumpkins for Pink E-Book!

Abrazos,

It’s the weeeeeeeeekend! I am currently situated on the couch while blogging and watching Twilight. It’s time to get in the spirit for the upcoming release of New Moon — perhaps I should start reading again? It wouldn’t be the first time. Or the second.

The amazing Jessica — who I am chatting with on Gmail as I write this post! — recently commented that she would love to see a “daily eats” post. Who am I to say no to that? After all, that’s where my blogging roots lie and I admittedly have been slacking in the kitchen lately. I needed some inspiration!

Friday’s breakfast was “inspired” by Brandi’s recent post on banana split oatmeal.

Served with Coffee Cocoa in an autism awareness mug. I also decided to put the banana split in a corn-on-the-cob holder for a fun fit. The actual ingredients were:

• 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
• 1 large banana
• 1 tbsp. ground flax
• 6 pieces (or so) bittersweet chocolate chunks
• Sprinkle of cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice and maple sugar

Such a fun way to brighten the morning. I love playing with food! Thanks for the great idea, Brandi.

Lunch had to be super quick. We are in the midst of planning a few big events and work has been busy, to say the least! Best option in times like these = soup. Particularly split pea soup from Dr. McDougall’s. It literally takes 10 seconds for me to make this soup. We have a hot water machine so I literally just have to add the water, stir and let sit. Delicious soup in no time!

I also had a honeycrisp apple and half of a cinnamon-raisin bagel. Random combo, but it worked!

The rest of the day went buy in a rush. So, so busy! Fortunately, my very thoughtful fiancé made it very easy for me to make a delicious dinner when I got home. We were originally going to have omelettes, but since I arrived home later than expected, he saved me a chopped up tomato and a 1/2 sandwich from my favorite sandwich shop: Hannah’s Bretzel. I haven’t eaten there since August 2008. Crazy!

I cooked up the tomato with some spinach and mushrooms in a pan with some olive oil for a delicious side. The sandwich from Hannah’s was The Club, which according to their website includes, “oven dried prosciutto, free range all natural smoked turkey, Swiss Gruyère cheese, fresh avocado, organic vine tomatoes, organic onions, romaine lettuce and organic alfalfa sprouts on organic Bretzel baguette.” It was a flavor sensation — the saltiness of the meats combined with the smooth avocado and freshness of the tomatoes, onion, lettuce and sprouts complemented each other perfectly. Plus, you can never go wrong with bretzel.

After dinner, I cranked open some Halloween spirit. Yes, I’m a week late — but the fact that this ice cream has yet to make an appearance on the blog this year is shameful, indeed

Remember my good friend Frank? I felt a little guilty because Frank didn’t get to make an appearance amidst the busyness of last weekend, so he became the ice cream bowl last night. Yes, I personify by bowls, plates and mugs. Don’t hate it, embrace it!

Update: Currently watching the ending scene in Twilight. Swoon! The moment on the gazebo is total chemistry — do you think Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart are dating in real life? Total tabloid gossip here (insert eye rolls)…but what are your thoughts? I know some people aren’t fans, but I really like both of them and I think they complement each other on screen.

Hope that your Saturdays are off to a good start! I’m following everyone on Twitter via #fbzfest but equally excited about Caitlin’s hash tag, #notinSF Wish I could be seeing some of you!

Abrazos,

Time flies, huh? I took a few days off from blogging and now here we are at Wednesday already. How have you been? There’s a good reason, I assure you, but I am glad to be back

I appreciated all of the honeymoon destination tips I received on my previous post. You have all convinced me that Europe is the way to go and we are leaning toward Italy (but not necessarily the Tower of Pisa). Tough choice because a few of you suggested Spain over Italy, but we’re going to do a bit more research on costs, locations, etc. before making the final decision. I just feel very fortunate to have this opportunity!

***

This weekend was spooky, indeed. It started off with a trip up to my alma mater for the Northwestern v. Penn State game. Everything was going so well — until half time. I don’t want to hear it, Erica! We ended up getting creamed, but Bobby and I did score some awesome foam claws

Following the game, I went a little further north to visit my friend in the suburbs. We wanted to go apple picking but the orchard we had selected turned out to be closed down Instead, we took a beautiful walk around the trails near her house. It was a wonderful way to celebrate fall.

It felt so peaceful, like we were the only ones out there! That’s probably true anyway, but it was nice.

Can you count the tree rings? I think it’s at least over 30 years old

I also had the chance to try out my Cory Everson Yoga Sticky Mat from Erica’s giveaway.

It worked pretty well! Toward the end my hands were slipping so I put on weight gloves, which is a neat trick that I’ve found makes a huge difference. Don’t mind my messy apartment background as I pose in Warrior II for you all Did I mention that I’m really enjoying this yoga kick? I looked at pictures on Google and decided my chest needs to be turned a bit more, but I’ll give myself a compliment and say that I think this looks pretty good for a beginner. We could all stand to compliment ourselves more, right?

Moving right along with the randomness of this post, I would like to end by showing you what I used to refuel after my most recent yoga session. Thanks to the people at Vega, I received a sample of their new sport “performance optimizer” powder in the mail recently.

I chose the acai-berry flavor, which boasts a plant-based ingredient list including coconut oil, kombucha, yerba mate, green tea and many more that they claim will help boost athletic performance. Now, I’m not an “athlete” by any stretch of the imagination, but I do enjoy my exercise and thought it was about time to bring back an edition of Bender’s Blenders.

Wine in the background is optional Here are the ingredients I used:

• 3/4 cup orange juice
• 1 scoop Vega Sport
• 1/2 frozen banana
• 3/4 cup frozen blueberries
• 5-10 ice cubes (depending on desired thickness)

I’ve seen on some other blogs that the powder mixed by itself with water isn’t that great. However, I loved adding it to my smoothie because you could barely taste it – the hint of flavor from the acai-berry was the only part I could taste and it was not chalky at all. It made for a refreshing post-workout snack and I am already a big fan of Vega, so this is just another great product to add to the list. I would probably purchase it on my own again once I run out.

The only thing that surprised me was that it doesn’t actually have any protein in it. I would have thought being a sport powder that there would be some in there, but perhaps they know something I don’t. Does anyone have any perspective on why this would be? Just curious!

.

Nutrition Information (1 serving):

• 260 calories
• 1g fat
• 62g carbohydrates
• 6g fiber
• 3g protein

I’m looking forward to checking in around the blogosphere tonight! I have been pretty out of the loop so I’m excited to see what you’ve been up to.

Abrazos,

Thanks for all the sweet comments on the banana bread As I mentioned in that post, Nicole is an absolute genius in the kitchen, so be sure to check out her blog for many more fantastic recipes.

It’s no secret that I love soup. During the colder months, I could have oatmeal for breakfast and soup for both lunch and dinner and be content – it’s just that good. It warms me from the inside out during a time of year when I can usually be found layering on the long sleeved shirts and sweaters all day long.

So why the sudden tribute to a bowl of liquid happiness? Turns out, I enjoyed oatmeal for breakfast and soup for lunch AND dinner just yesterday via a blogger dinner with Lo and Val at The SoupBox.

After Lo recommended it as a possible option, I checked out their website and found that the restaurant features 12 gourmet soups made fresh every day – including vegan and gluten-free options. Each soup comes with a generously sized chunk of bread. You don’t have to tell me twice!

Immediately upon entering this cozy little restaurant tucked away on Chicago Avenue near Rush Street, you feel…HOT! Perhaps I’m stating the obvious here, but a soup restaurant is likely one of the “greenest” spots in the city in the winter – no heat required After perusing all the options – yes, all 12 of them – I ultimately decided on the Fall Harvest Mushroom & Barley, which came with cremini mushrooms (one of my favorites), carrots, greens and grains.

This soup was the perfect combination of light (broth-based) and heavy (chunky ingredients). So good, in fact, that all three of us ended up getting it! Served with a hunky – and I mean that in more ways than one – chunk of multi-grain bread which made for delicious dipping.

The three of us found seats near the window and spent over an hour gabbing away. It’s such a treat to hang out with my fellow Chicago food bloggers on a regular basis these days. They are all such great people and it’s never hard to find things to talk about with a shared love of food

Val’s husband was kind enough to offer me a ride home. But before we left, the three of us snapped a picture – slightly blurry since it was taken outside in the dark (not Mike’s fault, of course!), but I thought you would all still want to see it, so I’ll post it anyway Don’t mind my disarrayed jacket – it was so hot in the restaurant that I forgot to button up before we went outside!

Good times had by all When I got home, I realized that coincidentally, these are the same two bloggers whose awards I have yet to acknowledge and thank them for. I recently received the Kreativ Blogger Award from both Lo and Val. Thanks so much, ladies!

The task is to name 7 facts about me that you don’t know already. We’ll see how it goes!

1. I lived in Winston-Salem, NC for almost four years, between the ages of two and six. I loved living in the South and think it’s absolutely beautiful!
2. I have traveled to Vienna, Budapest, Prague, and Paris in Europe, as well as China and Guatemala. All of these trips were very special and fortunate opportunities that I am grateful for.
3. Bobby and I are deciding between Disney World and Europe for our honeymoon I think we’ve convinced ourselves that Disney World would be a nice weekend trip to take another time and that Europe is the best idea for a romantic getaway. Now the choice is whether to visit Spain or Italy – any suggestions?!
4. I have recently been getting more and more into yoga and have started Bobby on it, too. Expect more about this in a future post!
5. My ultimate dream is to become a published author. I think maybe some of you already know this but I can’t say it enough. I love what good writing and reading can do for people and I want to help inspire others in some way through that medium.
6. I am very shy! Most people are quick to point out how quiet I am when I first meet them. My voice is strongest through the written word – hence why I enjoy blogging so much! However, as I get more comfortable I am able to open up and let my personality show through.
7. I talk to my family multiple times per day. Whether through email, over the phone or on Gchat, I love staying connected to my mom, dad and brother as much as possible. Since we live so far apart, it’s very important for me to know what’s going on with them!

Val also gave me the Over the Top Award. Thank you!

I am so honored! As part of the award, the blogger is supposed to answer this series of questions with one-word answers. This was tough! Hope you enjoy…

1. Where is your cell phone? Couch
2. Your hair? Curly
3. Your mother? Cool
4. Your father? Corny
5. Your favorite food? Nut Butter
6. Your dream last night? Work
7. Your favorite drink? Water
8. Your dream/goal? Satisfaction
9. What room are you in? Living
10. Your hobby? Blogging
11. Your fear? Disappointment
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Loved
13. Where were you last night?  Home
14. Something you aren’t? Loud
15. Muffins?  Banana-Chocolate
16. Wish list item? Travel
17. Where did you grow up? Minnesota
18. Last thing you did? Laundry
19. What are you wearing? Robe
20. Your TV? Gift
21. Your pets? None
22. Your friends? Comfort
23. Your life? Blessed
24. Your mood? Tired!
25. Missing someone? Family
26. Vehicle? Passat
27. Something you’re not wearing? Makeup
28. Your favorite store? Grocery!
29. Your favorite color? Plum
30. When was the last time you laughed? Work
31. Last time you cried? Yesterday
32. Your best friend? Bobby
33. One place that I go over and over? Bed
34. One person who emails me regularly? Mom
35. Favorite place to eat? Home

Thanks again for the honors, ladies! I know these awards have been making their way around the blogosphere, but I encourage everyone to try out the one-word survey – it’s fun

One last very important thing to show you before I go…

Look what I received in the mail from Mara! Last names and information have been blurred for privacy reasons, but look how beautiful her wedding invitations are. Can you believe it’s coming up in just a little over four weeks?! I’m sure she can’t I was so giddy when I received this invitation in the mail and very much wish I could be a part of Mara’s special day. Her wedding is over Thanksgiving weekend and unfortunately I won’t be able to attend because my family has arranged for me to fly home to Arizona for the holiday. But I hope she knows I will be there in spirit and we are still planning on working something out that will allow me to blog some of the details of the day for all of you to enjoy!

Ah weddings. I actually created our Save-the-Date card over the weekend. It’s being finalized now and I can’t wait to share the results with you. It’s completely DIY, which has been very fun.

For those who have planned big events, what are some of your top invitation tips?

Have a great Thursday, everyone!

Abrazos,

Another weekend has flown by, but the good news is that there is plenty to show for it by way of good food I went a little “bananas” yesterday after my Northwestern Wildcats came back from a 28-3 deficit to beat Indiana 29-28. But the craziness wasn’t limited to jumping up and down in my apartment – although that certainly was a big part of it. I also decided to go bananas…with bread.

While scrounging around the kitchen  for ideas to use in a baking project, I realized we had a few overripe bananas that were begging to be put to work. I set aside some for future batches of banana soft serve and decided to use the rest to recreate Nicole’s Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins in bread form.

I have always wanted to try one of Nicole’s recipes and since I happened to have all of the ingredients on hand, I figured banana bread would be the perfect place to start.

To measure out the ingredients, I used this EatSmart Kitchen Scale that I received free in the mail to try and review. It’s a very basic model that displays in ounces, pounds, grams or kilograms. I’d recommend it for measuring out recipe components when you don’t want to dirty measuring cups.

I followed Nicole’s instructions, mixing the dry and wet ingredients separately, then combining.

I then added the batter to a greased baking loaf pan and topped everything with chocolate chunks.

The trickiest part of the baking process was the timing. I baked the bread at 350* for 25 minutes, but knew it would probably need more time as Nicole’s recipe called for muffins in separate cups, whereas my bread was all together in one giant pan (genius observation of the weekend).

I pulled the bread out but it wasn’t quite done, so I put it back in and kept this process up for another 15-20 minutes. It was probably in the oven for 40 minutes total, but I’d give it 35-40 to be sure based on the differences in oven temperatures. As always, you just want to make sure it’s golden on the top and that a knife can go through the middle and come out clean.

I was very pleased with the way this bread turned out! Nicole knows what she is doing and I loved the fact that it was vegan. I could not taste a difference and neither could Bobby or his brother, who was in town visiting for the weekend. This loaf is almost completely gone and it has been less than 12 hours

Give it a try next time you get the craving to go bananas Thanks, Nicole!

We paired our banana bread dessert with a very easy but not-so-vegan dinner. It’s all about balance, right? It was still healthy and delicious: Annie’s Whole Wheat Mac & Cheese tossed with grilled shrimp and edamame. Plus a glass of Two Buck Chuck per your recommendations!

The meal itself was delicious and the wine was pretty tasty, too! We let it sit out for a while after our initial sips and it really took on a better flavor with more time and exposure to open air.

We enjoyed our dinner while catching up on this week’s episode of The Office and Flash Forward. Has anyone else started watching this show? It’s a pretty interesting concept: what if the entire world blacked out for 2 minutes and 17 seconds and saw a glimpse of their life 6 months from now?

Some glimpses are heartwarming. Others have been downright scary! Still others saw nothing at all…

I’m always intrigued by story lines like these. I admire the creativity of show writers and am excited to see how this plot will unfold. If it’s anything like Lost, if will leave you confused and wanting more

Today I’ve just been tidying up a bit and doing some blog reading. Another relaxing weekend – check!

Around the Blogosphere

• Check out my guest post on wedding favors for my co-worker’s blog: A Batty Life
• View and vote for ZestyCook in Quaker’s Awaken Your Senses Challenge!
• Let’s continue to send our love and support to Leng – my thoughts are with you!
• Did you hear that the Smart Choices food labeling program is on hold? Thoughts?
• Some of my favorite journalists made the New York Times - check it out. They are subpoenaing students at NU for their grades, class syllabus, expense reports and emails. Insane.

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!

Abrazos,

Hi there! Happy Friday! The weekend is almost here! And apparently, I love exclamation points!

I realized this week that I’ve been using my Nature’s Pride Bread from Foodbuzz to make a lot of toasty dishes. Many of said dishes have been inspired by fellow bloggers.

The first toast goes to Rose for her endless creativity on the nut butter + jam front. Check out her House of Toast in this post. I love it. My almond butter + mixed berry jam combo never fails me.

My Coffee Cocoa is also sporting the bird mug that Rose gave me when we met last February!

My second toast goes to Meghann for introducing me to Eggs in a Basket in this post.

I loved the challenge of creating these. I used a round glass to cut a hole in the center of two pieces of bread, then toasted each slice on the stove one at a time with some olive oil. I carefully added an egg white to the center of each and waited until the bottom was completely cooked before flipping.

I couldn’t believe I could actually flip it and not have it spray everywhere, but I did it

Once the other side was done, I added a slice of white cheddar cheese until it melted. This was SUCH a good breakfast for dinner! I topped the two bread circle cutouts with more almond butter + mixed berry jam. Hey, I’m just trying to be green here and use all parts of my food!

Moving on to a non-toast topic, we have…soup.

Oh wait, you thought this post had a theme to it? My bad

Recently the people at Dr. McDougall’s offered to send me their new collection of Ready-to-Serve Chunky Soups. Being a BIG fan of their split pea soup, I enthusiastically said yes! Little did I know that they were planning to send me the most creative free sample kit I’ve ever received.

How cool is that? In the package was a big white soup bowl, napkin, placemat and ring, and a whole box of soups. I was admittedly a little too giddy for a box of food…I’m sure you understand

I decided to try out their Lentil variety last night and see how it measured up.

Each box is roughly 2 servings, doesn’t require a can opener and is very conveniently packaged. Plus, you can’t go wrong with a company who caters to health nuts: each soup is low in calories and fat, gluten free and filled with a very reasonable list of ingredients.

I ended up using the entire box for dinner and strained out a bit of the liquid to save a bit on sodium content and still get the chunkiness that I love in soup. All I had to do was put it in the microwave (covered so it doesn’t explode!) for 1.5-2 minutes, and it was ready!

This soup was GREAT! I would definitely compare it to Lentil soup that you could buy at a restaurant and it was so easy. We all know how I like quick recipes that allow me to be as “lazy” as possible! I’m looking forward to trying the other varieties and seeing how each one compares. Thanks again!

That’s all I have for you on this Friday morning. Can you believe it’s Friday already? I’m not complaining, but it does seem as though this week flew by! What are your weekend plans?

Bobby’s brother and sister-in-law are coming into town, so it will be fun to see them!

Around the Blogosphere

• Big congrats to Brandi, Brittany, Sabrina and Shannon on earning the title of Nature’s Pride Bread Ambassadors at the Foodbuzz Blogger Festival!
• Don’t forget to vote for all the awesome food bloggers vying for the Good Mood Gig!

Enjoy your weekend!

Abrazos,

Do you know how fantastic you all are? If you’re ever looking for some cheap, quality wine recommendations, just read the comments in my last post. I wrote them all down and plan to go on a scavenger hunt Last night at Trader Joe’s I bought “Two Buck Chuck,” so I’m on my way! Gracias!

Also happening last night: a blogger meet-up with Michelle from Lucky Taste Buds! We decided to grab dinner together since we both live in the city and have no idea why we don’t meet up more often.

But first…a new breakfast treat. Also known as, “this is as close to pumpkin pie as you’re going to get.”

My idea was sparked thanks to Caroline, who mentioned she wanted to try the Stonyfield pumpkin yogurt in this post. Coincidentally, I had bought said yogurt over the weekend with a coupon and from that point on, was on a quest to recreate pumpkin pie in breakfast form.

The ingredients:

• The “pie filling”: 1 serving cup Stonyfield pumpkin yogurt
• The “crust”: 1/2 cup Kashi Go Lean
• The “topping”: 1 tsp. cinnamon
• The “I bet this would make it taste even better”: 1 tbsp. Maranatha almond butter

In true Caroline fashion, I layered them into a parfait for the ultimate flavor experience. It was great!

Served with Pumpkin Spice Coffee Cocoa to make it part of an official fall balanced breakfast

Jumping ahead to the evening, I met up with Michelle for dinner at OYSY Sushi Restaurant. Are we sensing a trend here with the sushi? I seem to not be able to get enough of it these days!

OYSY was definitely very urban chic. The dim lighting and fancy menu options were very intriguing! After sitting down at the sushi bar, Michelle and I ultimately decided to split two appetizers and two maki rolls. I got to choose the appetizers!

I went with…

Grilled Salmon with Sesame Sauce

This was perfectly portioned for two to split. The sesame sauce was great and the salmon was tender. I really enjoyed it and had fun trying to eat it with chopsticks

Fun Fact: I use chopstick helpers every time a fork is unavailable. I carry them in my purse. (Dork!)

My second choice was…FOOD ON FIRE!

Dynamite

What, did you think I was joking?! It really was on fire! This dish was made up of several different types of seafood (scallops, shrimp, crab) and tossed in a very spicy sauce. It was then put into a clam shell, topped with avocado, surrounded by Bacardi…and lit on fire!

Fortunately for us, the fire did die down eventually, and we were able to eat it I loved the spiciness of this dish – quite the kick! Anything that is a combo of seafood almost always tastes amazing.

Michelle was given the task of ordering our maki rolls. She has GREAT taste.

Emerald

This one featured sauteed scallops, asparagus, cucumber, green caviar (masago), and spicy sauce. Michelle said it reminded her of Gliding Calm – I agreed

For her next trick…

Summer

This roll had masago, tuna, yellowtail, cilantro, avocado, green peppers, chili oil, spicy sauce, and lime juice. Michelle and I both agreed that the cilantro and lime were very present in each roll. Considering I’m a huge fan of both ingredients, I really enjoyed this one.

I really enjoyed chatting with Michelle and catching up on work, life, and fun stories. It had been way too long since I had seen her last considering we live in the same city! We need to do this more often Before we left the restaurant, we took a picture together (I made it B&W because I thought I was artsy). We then went to Trader Joe’s to shop around for a bit – where I picked up Two Buck Chuck for $3 – and said our goodbyes. Before she left, Michelle gave me a goody bag of treats that I was definitely not expecting. You shouldn’t have, but thank you! I can’t wait to try all of them.

Hurray for blogger get togethers!!

Around the Blogosphere

• Speaking of awesome Chicago bloggers, check out Mara’s 365 Day Giveway!
• Speaking of blogiversaries, check out Shannon’s Year Gone By Giveaway!

Like my transitions? Journalista through and through

Have a lovely hump day, everyone! We’re half way there!

Abrazos,

Pam and Jim never cease to make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside Don’t worry, no spoilers ahead if you haven’t seen the episode (that quote is featured in the TV teaser). Let’s just say it was a good one and it made the fact that Friday was October 16, 2009 – one year away! – that much sweeter. I can’t believe we are now less than a year away, but at the same time I couldn’t be more excited!

Bobby and I woke up with Yoga X on Saturday morning. This fall I’ve really started getting into yoga and could not be more thrilled to be one of the winners of Erica’s recent giveaway. I’m planning on putting that sticky mat to good use, since my current one slips and slides all over the place!

I also have a FREE week pass to CorePower Yoga. I hope to try a hot yoga class

The point of me telling you all of this is after our yoga session, I tried out a new way of toweling off:  Pond’s Wet Cleansing Towelettes. I was excited to receive these free samples in the mail because they can be used to both remove makeup and/or sweat after a workout session.

Yes, I am a dork – but we knew this already, right? I thought these wipes did a great job at cooling off my face post-workout. I have very sensitive skin and these did not irritate my face at all, which is always a big accomplishment. I would definitely buy these again, especially if I end up going to a yoga studio. These would be great to use to refresh my skin before I drive home.

After cleaning up, I sat down to breakfast while watching a disheartening Northwestern football game.

There was some Coffee Cocoa involved – although your cottage cheese guesses on my last post were equally likely, as I love that “CC,” too! I also filled up on a big bowl o’ oats, since it’s quite chilly in our apartment. The bowl featured the usual suspects:

• 1/2 cup oatmeal
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 tsp. pumpkin spice
• 1 tbsp. Maranatha crunchy almond butter
• Sprinkle of maple sugar

I love almond butter! I’ve grown to prefer it over peanut butter – the nutty flavor is better.

After breakfast, I did some writing and catching up on emails while continuing to watch the Wildcats lose. It was nice to talk to my VeggieFriend and I also had a phone conversation with a girl I was best friends with over 15 years ago…and haven’t talked to since! She found me on Facebook and we had a blast catching up. It’s crazy how Facebook can reunite old friends – I love it.

While I chatted with my blast from the past, I lunched on a delicious wrap: hummus, spinach and turkey in a Flat Out wrap. I also had a honeycrisp apple with more almond buttah.

Later in the afternoon, I decided to take a walk to Whole Foods. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to buy a small pie pumpkin I needed some fall cheer! The weather has put me in a gloomy state lately.

We watched a few episodes of The Office – all caught up now! – while sipping on some red wine that was on sale at the grocery store: [yellow tail] Merlot.

Ehhh…not my fave. We are on a mission to find cheap, good tasting wine, and this did not fit the latter description Anyone have any recommendations??

We took a break from watching TV to start dinner. I picked up a bag of fingerling potatoes at the grocery store – love them! I coated them in olive oil, garlic salt, Emeril’s seasoning and pepper. We then baked them covered at 350* for 30 minutes, then another 10 minutes uncovered. They turned out great!

Bobby worked on stir-frying the chicken in ginger + soy sauce, and I worked on the veggies. The result was a filling combination of fiber + protein. We both agreed when we were done that we were filled to the gills, but it was all good stuff

The fingerling potatoes were so flavorful and soft! Also, stir-frying chicken on the stove is so quick and easy, that it should be a crime. Apart from the potatoes, this dinner was ready in under 10 minutes!

Now I’m being lazy on Sunday morning while watching more Gossip Girl. On the agenda today:

• Laundry (and lots of it!)
• Cleaning
• Writing
• Running
• Breakfast for dinner

I love productive weekends with no plans. I’m such a homebody. [Yes, I admit it proudly.]

Abrazos,

Have you figured out the acronym?

Fact: When Bobby and I were in high school and first started dating, we used to post acronyms on our AIM profiles (do you remember those?!) and challenged each other to figure out what they meant.

I’ll spare you those sappy creative acronyms and say: TGFCC!!

In other words…Thank Goodness For Coffee Cocoa!

Not just any Coffee Cocoa, however: this is Pumpkin Spice. Just in time for fall

So lately for breakfast I’ve been following this new regimen called The Lobster Diet. It’s probably the best diet I’ve ever gone on because it involves eating nut butter + jam toast for breakfast

I am addicted to this combination. My current schedule has me waking up very early every morning, and many times I am not hungry enough for a big bowl of oats, etc. before I need to leave. This tides me over perfectly and if I get hungrier later, I munch on some fruit.

Another thing I’m thankful for today? Squash soups at Au Bon Pain. Remember when I had their butternut squash? This here is the pumpkin – paired with a whole grain baguette, of course

I was pleasantly surprised to see a little texture in the soup. It featured pumpkin, maple syrup a touch of cream and a lot of spice. It was a very hearty combination of savory and sweet.

The third thing I’m thankful for in food this week is a quick and easy dinner that’s healthy without compromising on flavor. A few days ago, I was able to achieve that with Vegetablummus Stir-fry

I sauteed an entire frozen bag of stir-fry veggies in a pan on the stove with some olive oil. When the veggies started to brown, I added in 2 tbsp. ginger-sesame sauce and a few “swirls” of soy sauce. Once they were finished, I poured everything onto a plate and topped it with 2 tbsp. Sabra hummus.

After I took this picture, I stirred the hummus in to give the entire dish a creamy like texture – almost like a veggie pasta! The combination of Asian flavors with hummus was GREAT!! I will add this to my recipes page soon – it’s the new Humbecue Gotta love name combining.

Dinner wouldn’t be complete without a honeycrisp apple. Notice the addition of pumpkin mellowcremes. I think Miss Heather can attest to the fact that those are absolutely necessary.

Though we may be experiencing weeks upon weeks of spring-like showers here in Chicago, there is no question in my mind that fall foods are here.

In the Blogosphere

• Check out Erica’s Cory Everson Yoga Mat Giveaway!
• Please keep Leng in your thoughts and prayers and show your support!

I’m sure there are other giveaways that I am missing, so feel free to let others know about ‘em

Any big plans for the weekend?

We are planning to keep things low-key. It has been a busy few weeks and I’m excited to relax!

Note: I am compiling your questions from Dr. Funk’s interview and will send as many as I can to her. Hopefully she’ll be able to answer a few of the questions you still had!

Abrazos,