Sweet Eats + Sweeter Company

Written by on in Breakfast, Dessert, Dinner, Tidbits and Treats

Hello, hello!

Thank you for all the feedback with regard to the FTC issues and blogging from my last post. It seems that we are all pretty much in agreement that as long as a blogger is honest about what they are reviewing and where they got it from, the reviews can be pretty helpful. Personally, I know that a lot of the dietary changes I have made over the past 2 years have been as a result of blogger-recommended foods, and that includes both recipes and products. I am very grateful to the bloggers/PR professionals who do their research and know that the food they are reviewing/sending out is in line with the overarching theme of their sites.

As a result of all the hubbub, I am adding a disclaimer to the right side of my blog. From now on, any time I eat something that has been sent to me as a sample, it will be highlighted in green. That way, you all will know that I have not paid for it, whether it is the first time I try it or the fifth. Capish?!

‘Nuff said 🙂

~*~

I’m so excited to finally tell you about my weekend with Sarah! With all the BlogHer excitement, I wanted to make sure I could do it right. Two weeks ago, Sarah came to stay with me for the weekend. We have been blog/email/phone/Facebook friends for a little over a year now, and we thought it about time to meet “in real life” 🙂

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(That’s us on a Chicago architecture boat tour!)

Sarah arrived on Friday night and we immediately got to gabbing about pretty much anything and everything. The next day, Saturday, was jam packed! We woke up around 8:00 and went to the gym before heading to Whole Foods to pick up some dinner supplies and sample some delicious gelato 🙂 When we finally returned, I made  Ebleskiver pancakes!

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This was the first of two sets. I followed the recipe to a T and Sarah and I decided to fill half of them with blueberries and the other half with nut butter, per Aimee’s recommendation. We both agreed that the almond butter filling was definitely our favorite – thanks, Aimee!

After our filling breakfast, we headed out to explore the city. Our day included:

  • The Harry Potter movie – I’m in love! Time to read the books all over again…
  • Tour of Michigan Avenue (including The Bean!)

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Last but not least, we also made a stop at YOGEN FRÜZ!

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Holy delicious. Mara isn’t kidding around when she raves about this place on her blog! They had so many options to choose from. You can either blend it or top it (“it” being tart yogurt). I chose to blend plain tart yogurt with blueberries and blackberries, topping the whole thing with that just right amount of white chocolate chips. It was out of this world. They are moving near my apartment, too…uh oh! There goes the paycheck 😉 Just kidding, Bobby!

After our full day of fun, we headed back to my apartment and crashed. But the next day was just as fantastic – we woke up early and went for a nice 2-mile run around the city, came back and headed out to Tempo Cafe for breakfast. I’ve blogged about this place in the past – it is phenomenal.

Sarah and I both decided to go for the 3-egg omelettes, which arrive still in the pan! My choice was the Greek version, with feta, spinach and tomato.

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The omelettes come atop a bed of delicious hash browns, and the whole meal is served with Greek toast and marmalade. You always leave this restaurant feeling satisfied!

After our meal, we walked around Michigan Avenue and made a stop at a few of the stores. We both picked up a cute new outfit from Forever XXI. Then it was time for the architectural tour!

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I have been on a boat tour before, but the great thing about Chicago is that there is so much to look at, every tour has a slightly different twist to it. I learned a lot of interesting new tidbits. For example, did you know that Merchandise Mart (a single building in the city) has its very own zip code?

Before we knew it, our day was over and it was time to head to the airport.

Oh, but we made one very important stop along the way…

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The new, GIGANTIC, Lincoln Park Whole Foods (click that link to see just how huge)! It reminded me of IKEA in size and scope – they even had those little cart escalators to get from one floor to the next. But the highlight for Sarah and me was the Make-Your-Own Trail Mix Bar. There was so much to choose from – everything from nuts and dried fruit to chocolate, ginger, and coconut…the list goes on! If you’re as crazy about Whole Foods as I am, you must pay this location a visit when you’re in town!

I had an absolute blast with Sarah, and although we never did get to make the dinner we picked up from Whole Foods, Bobby and I ended up using the ingredients for our own meal the next night.

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(Teriyaki-glazed salmon with seasoned asparagus, red peppers and goat cheese).

I didn’t really use a recipe. I coated the salmon with 2 tbsp. teriyaki marinade, 2 tbsp. soy sauce, pepper and a dash of salt, then cooked it up in a skillet with olive oil for roughly 5 minutes, skin side up. I then flipped the salmon and waited for it to be completely firm – it turned out great! Meanwhile, Bobby cooked the asparagus and red pepper together in a pan with olive oil. Once they were done, I topped my veggies with goat cheese. It was a fabulous meal and took less than 20 minutes.

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Sarah is a salmon extraordinaire, so I hope it met her criteria 🙂

Word in the ‘Sphere…

  • FitnessMagazine.com is currently featuring a complete guide to yoga that includes workout videos, photos of the positions and answers to common yoga questions. Check out some of these crazy moves by clicking here. I don’t know if it’s possible for me to bend that way! Thanks to Nathan for letting me know about it.

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How's the view? (Sorry, can't help myself!)

I hope you all have a terrific Tuesday!

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43 Comments

  1. Looks like you had SO much fun! I thought Harry Potter was great, now I’m gonna have to re-read the last book twice since it comes out in two parts 🙂

    The Whole Foods has a trail mix bar?! That sounds amazing! I wish my whole foods had that.

  2. DANG! I wish I’d been free that weekend because it looks like you had SO MUCH FUN!! I love Tempo, and you KNOW how much I love the Fruz. i think soon, you and the boy need to come out by me, we should go for sushi and fruz! Love you! So glad we finally got to hang out!

  3. Hold up – does our S. Loop WF have a gelato tasting station I don’t know about?!?! I remember hearing back when they built it 3 years ago that it would have something like that but I must be blind because I’ve never seen it….

    I do wish ours had a juice bar too. Either way I’m still a WF addict, I can spend hours in there!

  4. Sarah rocks and it looks like you two had SO much fun. Isn’t it incredible how you can “meet” blog friends online and then when you meet them in real life, its like you’ve known them forever?? You guys had so many good eats but I’m really loving that froyo! I think Josh and I need to go out for some this weekend 😉

  5. oh.. how I missed that Merchandise Mart when I went to Chicago! it looks fabulous! 🙂
    love all the food that you’ve been having!

  6. I have to make it to that whole foods the next time I’m in Chicago! Make my own granola bar? SIGN ME UP! haha! 🙂

  7. my gosh it’s the whole foods mecca! i need to get my butt down there soon.

    sounds like you guys had a fun visit! i love the yogen fruz 1) for its name 2) for it options. i wonder how many different yogurt places there are now…

  9. That looks like such a fun weekend! Yogen Fruz actually has a line of yogurt-flavored gum that they sell at Whole Foods. Isn’t that bizarre?

  12. That looks like such a blast!! I MUST try YogenFruz next time I’m out there. I’m 95% sure that’s the WFs my cousin goes to (it’s by his work) and I’m really jealous. That place is GINORMOUS!

  13. Chicago gets better and better with every post I see I swear 😀 Sounds like u two just instantly clicked that is awesome!! I mean obviously Foreva XXI brings everyone together….glad you’re having a great summer love!

  15. OMG That Whole Foods is humongous!! I want to go!!

    I agree with you on learning about tons of new foods from different blogs! It keeps me motivated to stay healthy when I read about new, interesting healthy foods on blogs!!

    Your omelets look great!!

    And I think I commented on everything I wanted to. There were so many times throughout your post that I was like OH I WANT TO COMMENT ON THAT! 🙂

    http://roseyrebecca.wordpress.com/

  16. I’m so jealous of that Whole Foods. We have a nice little one about and hour and a half from us that we hit up about once or twice a month. But I would LOVE a bigger one! They have so many options for healthy things that our normal grocery just doesn’t have.

    Looks like you had fun!

  17. How awesome that you and Sarah got to spend so much time together! 🙂 That omlette breakfast looks incredible!

  19. Isn;t that forever 21 the best?!! Did you go to the one on michigan ave. ? ITs like THREE stories! I LOVE IT

  22. It looks as though you showed Sarah a lovely time! Glad you all had a great weekend.

    And, Chicago looks like so much fun! I have to make my way up there soon, especially now that I know about the trail mix bar. Seriously though, a make your own trail mix bar is like a dream come true for me. 🙂 And Yogen Fruz sounds yummy as well.

  25. What an awesome weekend, oh my gosh!
    PB filled pancakes? YUM.
    Giant omelettes? YUM.
    Yogen Fruz? YUM. (Definitely trying some topped with white chocolate chips next time I get it!)
    GIGANTIC Whole Foods? CRAZY. I’d probably NEVER leave.

    So glad you had such a good time! Have a great week Jenn!

  28. Oh man that sounds like an amazing weekend… I can’t wait till the next time I get to go to Chicago… I need that WF in my life!

  29. Wow, what a fantastic weekend! Those Ebleskiver pancakes sound amazing, as does the Yogen Fruz. Have a great week!

  31. you re so freakin cute.

    I love that now I HEAR your blogposts in my head as I read …. since I finally met you in person.

  32. What an awesome time! If you ever come to Pittsburgh to visit Sarah, let me know!! So glad that you liked the nut butter filling.

  34. Looks like a blast!! Isn’t great meeting bloggie friends. Its so great meeting someone and already knowing you have a shizz ton in common. Great eats 🙂

    ~Justine

  35. I find the whole FTC issue so interesting and weird! I don’t understand how they could ban free samples like that ? It actually makes no sense to me whatsoever! I am 100% on the blogger side of the issue!

    YOUR FROYO looks amazing!! And I was IN LOVE with the HP movie too! It was by the far the best one…I need to see it again and again!

  37. ahhhhhhhhhhh you got to spend time with Sarah!!! how funnn!!! I bet that was SUCH a blast!!!

    love the salmon meal and the fro yo action!! and your pancakes are adorable!!!!!!!

    wuv you!!

  40. Love the comments about Yogen Fruz. Just tried acai-blueberry and its great! guilt-free for sure with its antioxidants.

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