Last night’s dinner was a burger lover’s dream. When I say that, I’m talking about ANY kind burger you can imagine (well, 7 to be exact). The restaurant my mom was “raving” about is called BluBurger Grille, and the ambiance matches the name.
Upon confronting the menu, you are faced with 7 delicious options:
- Kobe?
- Bison?
- Angus?
- Salmon?
- Triple Mini?
- Turkey?
- Organic Veggie?
Something for everyone 🙂 You also can choose from a variety of “hand crafted buns,” cheese, veggie toppings and special sauces. Drawing my inspiration from one of Sarah’s recent posts, I decided to be adventurous and try something new. I went for the Bison Burger on a whole wheat bun with gorgonzola cheese, spinach and mushrooms. On the side, I had some sweet potato fries.
The verdict? I loved it. Plain and simple. I hardly ever eat red meat, so I think it makes the instances where I do have it that much better. This burger had incredible flavor and bison is a very lean meat, so it didn’t weigh me down. The gorgonzola cheese topping with veggies gave it even more variety. I ended up eating about 3/4 of the burger and 1/2 of the bun. It was huge! I also had 3/4 of the sweet potato fries. Those were perfectly crispy and not greasy at all. Overall, I would get this meal an A+!
Transitioning into this morning, I realized that we have several ripe bananas that need to be used up in the next few days. A few of those bananas are being saved for a delicious recipe I will be cooking on Christmas Day, but I spared one for today’s breakfast: 2 cups of Kashi Go Lean, 1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk and 1 sliced banana.
This breakfast was a big step for me. When it comes to cereal, it is almost impossible for me to stop at just one bowl. It just doesn’t fill me up the way oatmeal does. So this morning, I decided to go ahead and serve myself 2 cups – or 2 servings – right away to see if it made a difference.
It really worked!
Not only did it take a heck of a lot longer to eat – it also left me feeling perfectly full by the time I reached the bottom of the bowl. So I guess my advice out of all this is that if you’re like me and have a tendency to sneak some extra handfuls straight from the bag, embrace the inevitable and pour it in the bowl in the first place! On the side, I had the usual Coffee Cocoa.
After breakfast, my brother and I headed to the gym. I did my interval elliptical workout (I’m planning to create a workout page when I have a free moment) for 40 minutes followed by an ab workout that included the following:
- 3 sets of forward planks (35 seconds each)
- 2 sets of side planks (30 seconds each side)
- 2 sets of ab lifts (15 each – like this guy)
- 3 sets of ab twists (12 reps on the oblique machine)
I felt good afterward! I definitely slack when it comes to abs, but since it’s one of the biggest parts of my brother’s workout, I have an incentive to get my butt – er, abs – in gear!
We came back and I made a delicious lunch featuring this beauty:
Trader Joe’s Greek Yogurt! I have to thank Gliding Calm for introducing me to this brand. I never would have stopped there and picked some up if she hadn’t sworn that it was worth it.
It truly was – this is by far the creamiest and thickest Greek yogurt I have ever had. I didn’t need to stir it at all and I was even able to eat a few bites “plain.” That’s big for me because I usually need to have something else on the spoon in order to be able to enjoy it!
Along with the yogurt and raspberries, I microwaved an egg white and topped it with some Mexican blend cheese.
And to satisfy the post-workout sweet tooth – aka the sweet tooth that I always have after any meal – I had another of Sarah’s Secret Santa gift – the chocolate and M&M covered pretzel stick from Sarris.
I took a picture of 1/2 but then laughed at myself after I finished it – um, of COURSE I am going to eat the entire thing! I don’t know what I was thinking 😉 I quickly polished off the other 1/2 and decided that the sweet and salty combination of chocolate and pretzels is one of my all-time favorite treats.
Speaking of “treats” 🙂 My brother and I did a little cookie baking this afternoon! My mom specifically asked for K’s Peanut Butter Blossoms after seeing them on my blog, so this afternoon we set out to make a batch. We made one dozen with Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Kisses.
And another dozen with the new Milky Way Caramels – those things are dangerous!! My mom absolutely loves caramels and loves these because they aren’t sticky enough to ruin your teeth.
Of course, I had to designate a tester. I was still a little full from lunch and chocolate covered pretzels, so I graciously offered up a substitute.
With a full mouth and wide smile, it appears as though he likes them! By the way, he spent the majority of the “cookie baking” time laying on the couch. It’s hard to find good help these days.
Once the cookies were cooled and stored, I settled down with Twilight – ahh yes, I am officially re-reading the series. I read for about an hour before my brother decided he wanted to watch Santa Claus 2. I love the Santa Claus movies! We watched the first one last night (which is my favorite), but the 2nd one is good, too. Which of the three is your favorite?
For dinner, we kept it reasonably simple with some grilled chicken breast topped with a cream of mushroom sauce. I’ve fallen in love with cream of mushroom recently. I know it’s not all that good for you, but it adds a rich taste to any savory meal.
On the side, we heated up some Southwest Turkey soup that my mom had brought home from the grocery store. It was good – filled with a lot of veggies and black beans.
It was definitely one of those days you look back on and smile at. I think it’s pretty obvious at this point that my bro and I are very close. I try to spend as much time as possible with him when I’m home. He never fails to crack me up and is almost always smiling. School breaks are the best. Why am I a senior?
I thought it might be fun to start doing some funny, random questions at the end of the posts. I found a cool one to start off with on this site.
Are you wearing socks right now?
Currently, I am not. But I usually ALWAYS am because my feet get so cold. I have several pairs of those super soft fuzzy socks!
i am NOT! But OMG i always wear those fuzzy socks aorund the house and to bed, and one always comes off during the night. What a sweeeet burger place, that’s so cute that u and your bro are so close! I’m an only child 🙁 wa waa, haha no worries though..and I’ve had a few of those pb blossom cookies, didn’t know that name? But WOW they are deadly! 😀 have a great night
i am wearing socks! my feet get soooo cold!
i love the smile on your bro’s face 😀 i would be smiling too, to be munching one of those incredible cookies! i need to check out the recipe for those– might be one to add to our baking fest
the sweet potato fries look delicious! i never tried bison back in the meat-eating days, but i’ve heard a lot of great things about it!i’m totally the same way about cereal– maybe next time i’ll pour two servings in hopes that i won’t keep going back to refill the bowl
hope you have a wonderful night!
Wow, everything looks so delicious – especially those lovely sweet potato fries, tasty!
I’m not wearing one pair of socks, but actually TWO! I double up on socks!
I never watched the Santa Clause movies!!!
I want those cookies Bender! YUM!!!
What a fun dinner at the burger place! Glad you were adventurous and found something you liked!! That chocolate covered pretzel with the m&Ms looks out of this world! I haven’t had a lot of Christmas treats yet and I cannot wait to have some!
those fries look awesome! love all the baking – your brother’s face says it all = yum!
that choc covered pretzel w/ m&ms looks so yummy – maybe ill make them for my fam!
I love peanut butter kiss cookies, and I just posted the ones that I made over the weekend. This is the only cookie I got to bake so far. I think I’m taking tomorrow off work and hopefully can bake some more!
It looks like you are enjoying your break:)
Oh and Sarris’ is so great! The chocolate factory even has a ice cream parlor attached, which could get dangerous:)
That burger place looks SO good! I love TJ’s greek yougurt….SO CREAMY and awesome flavor!!
I am wearing socks! It is WAY too cold in the midwest right now to not be wearing socks! Love your blog 🙂
oh my, now i want a burger!! i am the same way with red meat, but crave a good burger 🙂
i am making pb blossoms today with HOT COCOA kisses… da bomg 🙂 Love these suckers!!
i am NOT wearing socks right now, I hate to! Even though my feet are always cold, i just hate having things on my feet 🙂
Yep. Always have them on my feeties in the winter. Brr. Hate cold feet.
Sweet + salty = heavenly
It’s so nice to hear about your little bro! I think it’s great that you two are close. 🙂
I think you might have fully convinced me to buy TJ’s plain Greek. It looks so good with those berries.
I always wear 2 pairs of socks in the winter…unless I’m wearing fuzzy socks then it’s just one =)
YUM! Your treats look so good! I agree with you about cereal, it just doesn’t fill me up to have one serving. I usually have one serveing as a snack not a meal!
Socks! I love you 🙂 Yes my feet are cozy 🙂
Oh….your eats look SO good…especially that M&M pretzel! YIKES!
I’ve heard that bison is pretty darn tasty. I’ll have to get brave and go buy some!
Wow -g reat post. There’s good food all the way through it!!!
omg i am wearing super fuzzy pink socks 🙂 it’s my fav part of winter hehe. loooove that pretzel – don’t think i am skilled enough to make one though haha. caramel milky ways are delicious
Yes, I’m wearing socks AND these fake ugg slippers and my feet are TOASTY!
I’m a fan of the original Santa Clause – the other two don’t even come close in my book!
Great restaurant review!! Can’t go wrong with sweet potato fries – mmm…
Okay, those treats from Sarah, along with your cookies, are soooo tantalizing!! Wowza.
HAHA!! Priceless photo of your “tester” 😉
I’m ALWAYS wearing socks since I freeze so easily, haha 😀
I am at work…so I am wearing socks! 7 burger choices! WOW!
Love all the fun stuff in this post!!!!
That burger place reminds me of a similar place we have around here.. I should really revisit one of these days.
That pretzel/m&m contraption looks amazing! Chocolate covered pretzels are my all-time favorite candy/treat.
lol, I hate socks, so nope, not wearing any!
That meal sounds totally awesome. Then again, any meal that includes sweet potato fries is a winner in my book!
I guess I’m going to have to do the double-up cereal serving trick too because cereal handfuls from the box are one of my weaknesses. It’s addictive stuff!
Your cookies look completely perfect and I think I’m now going to go do some baking. RIGHT away. Maybe that’s a dangerous thing to do on an empty stomach though.. so perhaps breakfast first haha
I didn’t even KNOW there was a 3rd Santa Claus movie! The first is definitely my fav out of the first and second though!
AND I definitely share the cream of mushroom love. Hey, they have it in low fat and/or low sodium and it really doesn’t end up being too darn bad for some creamy deliciousness. I love your idea of adding it to chicken though, mmm.
Brothers are totally the best.
As was this post! Clearly there were about a million things that were noteworthy in it. Not that that’s any different from ANY of your posts. So clearly you’re too darn interesting!
To FINALLY end this comment, my feet are currently bare! Happy HOLIDAYS!! 😀
I always feel like I have so much to say abuot your posts. 🙂
1. The burger place looks AWESOME! I don’t eat re meat either, but I really enjoy bison when ever I have the chance to order it
2. I always make my bowl with two servings of cereal. It’s really not much calories wise and the two servings is really trick to keeping you fuller longer
3. Yum! Cookies!
4. Live up being a senior while you can, its all downhill from there. 🙂
5. I am not wearting socks, in fact I’m wearing flip flops at the moment. The only time I wear socks is when I’m working out because basically that is the only time I wear shoes. 🙂
My favorite of the Santa Clause movies is the first one! I went to my folks’ house in Scottsdale, this past weekend and my parents and I watched it. Love it! You’re cookies look delicious. I’m at work now(unfortunately), and I’m wearing black “dressy” socks. 🙂
what an interesting restaurant to go to! interesting pick w/ the bison…my brother had it once and really liked the tenderness…if you can say that about a burger.
oh man, those cookies look so good…esp the milky way caramel ones….i heart milky ways forever…
I am currently not wearing socks because our new dog just stole them off my feet. now i’m cold. 😀
oh so much to say about this post!
1) your burger dinner looks pretty much identical to mine the other night, haha. i’m glad you liked it! I’m definitely going to try bison sometime soon. and sweet potato fries are the BEST
2) good idea serving up a bigger bowl of cereal. it makes so much more sense to just pour a little more and ENJOY rather than eating the same amount by munching straight from the bag and then feel guilty about it. one of the things my nutritionist talked about is not being tied to serving sizes. just because the box says 1 serving is 1 cup that doesn’t mean anything! if you’re extra-hungry just have more, no big deal!
3) i’m so glad you like the sarris pretzel—those things really are the best. i actually haven’t even had one yet, i need to get on that!
4) those cookies look awesome. great idea using milky ways, i never would have thought of that but i bet it tastes great!
5) yes, i’m wearing socks. I pretty much ALWAYS am because i’m always cold. i even wear them to sleep!
Awesome choice on the burger AND sweet potato fries! Hooray for PB blossom cookies – you know I love them too! And I am not wearing socks right now. I just got out of bed and I really don’t like to have them on when I sleep!
Sarris chocolates are THE BEST.
Good for you, being adventurous!
Your cookies came out perfect, it looks like! And your bro is a celebrity now!
Yes, I am wearing socks right now 😉 and they are nice and cozy!
I haven’t had a chance to reply to your email, but I plan to!
I always wear socks, too, because my feet are always cold!
Hmm, bison burger? How adventurous of you! I have heard good things about it, too, so had I been a meat eater, I would also have given it a try.
Baking! My, I haven’t done that in a while.. guess I should bake something up soon. You’re cookies look great!
Mmmm, bison burger and cookies! Yum!
Yes I am AND slippers! My toes get too cold in the winter if I don’t have stuff on my feet. 😀
I love Sarris candies! I’m originally from that area so it’s a very common treat. The chocolate covered pretzels and the PB eggs are the best! Mmmm
I agree with the red meat. I also eat it rarely, so when I do I think it tastes amazing.
http://www.seejessrun.wordpress.com
I hate wearing socks, but I do in the winter because my feet get so cold. 🙂 That burger sounds delicious!
YUM that burger looks great – I have yet to try bison, but I have heard good things! I think it creeps me out because my college mascot was a Bison haha!
I am not wearing socks, but tights … I am at work. You should see how funny I look on my commute when I wear black tights with Uggs .. anything to stay warm!!
Enjoy those cookies! The Milky Way ones look especially awesome. And have fun with your brother … I can’t wait to see mine over Xmas 🙂
Bison burgers always get an A+ in my book. I rarely eat red meat either, but I love bison…and cream of mushroom on any and everything.
I buy the TJ’s Greek yogurt because of the price, but I still crave Fage. It’s my favorite, but twice the cost 🙁
Your brother is too cute – I can tell from reading your blog that you two are quite close 🙂
Yes, at the moment I am wearing my favorite pair of SmartWool socks.
I also love the Trader Joe’s greek yogurt, it is by far my favorite brand in taste, texture and price!
I am wearing sock right now, kind of a limey sagey green color.
ooo that pretzel stick looks amazing! and probably pretty easy to make. I think I found prject for me neice and nephew tomorrow
Kelly Turner
http://www.everygymsnightmare.com
Your day looks SO fun! Love the picture of your brother, and the treats look great–as always 🙂 I have to wear socks all the time, unless I’m in heels 😉 since my extremeties are usually cold when I’m not working out! PS: Bison burgers ARE good. I usually don’t go with the red meat, but I enjoy that every once and a while.
wow all your food looks amazing!!!
those cookies look great too =]
That burger sounds incredible! Actually, all of the food in this post looks great! 🙂
I am wearing socks right now. I’m always cold!
Just now catching up on my blog reading – its a nice distraction after my last four days!
My daughter and I finished up the last of the shopping and stopped for lunch. I had a jalapeno burger that was AMAZING! Forgot my camera though!
I love red meat, and most places won’t cook medium rare – but this was nice and pink and juicy – yum!
Hahaha! What a funny question! Why yes I am, and sneakers too! I still haven’t taken them off. Usually I’m in my slips right now.
Good cereal advice! That’s the way I feel abut trail mix actually. And PB!
The burger sounds delicious! And pretty gourmet.
Well, I practically cried when I saw your bro’s sweet face. He’s such a love pie. Your relationship with him just warms the soul!
Have a beautiful night sweet Jenn!
All of your treats look soooo good!
I am wearing socks right now. They are both inside out. I never ever turn my socks right-side out and I just wear them the way they come out of the wash. It’s weird. Sometimes one is right and one is not, sometimes both are right, and sometimes neither.
The Burger Grille looks amazing!! I am coveting those fries.
The original Santa Clause is definitely my fave–Charlie was such a cutie back then!
I am most certainly wearing socks–Christmas socks that say “Jingle Bells” in fact. My feet are always cold at night.
No socks, just took mine off. D-d-d-damn, girl, your eats look great today. LOVE the pretzel stick! Made me laugh b/c its so different. The bison burger looks perfect; kudos for trying something new! The candy cookies are making me hungry–love caramels!
-that chocolate pretzel looks amazing! And your cookie baking sounds delicious and looks gorgeous too! mmm milky ways were always a fav of mine!
-I love that burger too! And can’t go wrong with SP fries!!
-Thank you sooooooo much for the shout out too Jenn! I’m so glad you got to try TJ’s greek. It really is godly.
Take careeeeeeee!
That burger place looks awesome! And I want your cookies…mmmm, peanut butter and chocolate.
And I am currently sockless…and my feet are freezing!