**In response to questions about tempeh on the last post, I want you all to know that I loved it! It had a grainy, chewy texture to it that made it different (in a good way) from tofu. I am looking forward to experimenting with it in other ways now that I know I like it. Sorry I forgot to mention that part in my last post 😉 **
The weekend is here – wahoo! Actually, I’m not entirely sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing because I do have a lot of homework to do. I’m so jealous of all of you semester-ers – as Kailey can probably attest, the quarter system and the fact that we go way longer than all of you makes me super jealous when the weather FINALLY gets nice!
I’ve got some blog house cleaning to do today – a lot of link love and a lot of thank yous! First of all, I’ve received several exciting packages in the past few days.
The top one was the one I was most excited about 😉 Yeah, I’m biased. These were the White Chocolate Chip (Macadamia) Lime Cookies that I won during Meghann’s Blogging Bake Sale II from Heather! She sent me two batches – one with macadamia nuts and one without – along with a very nice card.
Of course, that meant I immediately had to try one.
I loved the way the lime was hinted subtly throughout, and I ended up eating 1/2 right out of the bag and the other 1/2 heated up in the microwave for 15 seconds. Both methods were delicious! I told Heather that I knew I made the right call when I decided to become a “repeat buyer” 😉
The plan is to freeze some of them so that they last for a long time! Thanks, Heather!! And a big thank you to Meghann for hosting such a successful and delicious bake sale!
In addition to the goodies from Heather, I also received some samples from Rena at Arnold Bread:
Arnold is currently having another contest: Arnold Best in Class Sandwich Challenge. It’s a great contest for kids that runs until May 4. Here’s some more information:
“Until May 4th, kids living in the designated contest area (noted in the rules below) can enter the Arnold Best in Class Sandwich Challenge, a contest to make a creative and well-balanced sandwich recipe using Arnold 100% Natural Soft Breads. Four winners from separate age groups will receive a $5,000 donation to their school and a $1,500 savings bond. Recipes should be submitted at www.ArnoldSandwichChallenge.com.
In addition to entering the contest, kids and parents can play together on the Arnold “Best in Class” Web site, a fun and interactive resource for visitors to learn how to make well-balanced lunch choices in record time. In a game, visitors are prompted to select a character of their choice, and then invited to pack a lunch using the food offerings available in the pantry and refrigerator. Points are earned for selecting wholesome options and preparing the meal before the bus arrives. Widget functionality allows the game to be easily shared and embedded on social networks. The Web site also offers a quiz to determine your sandwich personality based on a series of fun lifestyle questions.
I’m really excited to try the bread samples. Thanks, Rena!
Last but not least, I received a gigantic package from Foodbuzz. And inside…
Some v. fancy looking ravioli from Buitoni! I’m looking forward to trying this, too. Thanks, Foodbuzz!
Whew! It seems as though when exciting things happen, they happen in insane amounts. There are also several great things happening around the blogosphere:
- Jasmine of Sweet and Fit is hosting a giveaway to benefit her Lupus Walk!
- Erin of I Walk In This World will be hosting an auction/bake sale this Tuesday!
- Megan of Megan’s Munchies is giving away a Betty Crocker gift basket!
- Check out Honey Nut Lo’s giveaway if you’re a Twilight fan – and if you’re not, enter anyway and send the Twilight-themed winnings to me 😉
I can only imagine there is much, much more out there!
So as to not be completely devoid of a meal in this post, I wanted to show you what I had for lunch today! During my foodie adventure with Mara, I bought a garnet yam and was told that it was even more amazing than my beloved sweet potato. I put it to the test today with some cottage cheese + salsa.
It was awesome!! There was definitely a lot of similarity between the two, but for some reason this yam became softer and even easier to eat than my sweet potatoes usually do. I’m officially a fan!
Speaking of my adventure with Mara, it was featured today: This Week in Blogs, Volume IV.
I look forward to those posts every week! I can’t wait for the new blog, Nate! Oh yeah, and happy belated birthday! I smiled at the fact that you found me intimidating because of my P90X workouts 😉 Guess what! The 90 days are UP! I will have a full review of the program, my challenges, and my successes soon!
Have a fabulous weekend,
Delish package contents and YAM!!! 😀
I’m excited for the wrap up!
Oh wow, what an awesome package! Mmmm, cookies.
I’m currently filing a lawsuit against Google Reader because I missed your last post.
I’m glad you like tempeh, just like I’m happy that a lot of people like Harry Potter. I can’t say I’d be happy to see either again.
I’d write a longer comment, but my fingers hurt from all the link clicking. Have a good weekend, Jenn!
Those cookies look amazing!!!
The sweet potato w/cottage cheese looks good. It might even get me to like cottage cheese! How did you get something from foodbuzz?
These packages are fantastic! And I love all the flavor combos on that sweet potato!
Have a good weekend 🙂
YUM!! WCMN cookies are one of the very few cookies I’ll eat! They’re so good!!
I see you in your spoon! Does that make me sound like a stalker? Oh well 😉 What a DELISH meal – orange spud, CC, and salsa!
that cookie looks phenomenal!!! yum. great job on winning them! the fodbuzz goodie looks exciting (even though i don’t eat mushrooms!)
Love P90x! I still can’t do 1 stinking pull up though and have to use the bands 🙂
I want one of those cookies!!!!
Your garnet yam looks delicious and I was just wondering how you cook it?? Are you a micro fan or do you bake it in the oven?? Either way… how low do they take to cook???
Lindsay ~ I’m a big microwave fan because I want to eat as soon as possible, haha! I basically wash the sweet potato and/or yam, then wrap it in a paper towel and put it in the microwave on high for 4 1/2 to 5 minutes. It comes out hot, so be careful! But it should be very soft and ready for consumption 😉 Let me know if you try it!
thanks for your thoughts on tempeh. I have always “wondered” what it tasted like:)
Seriously, the packaging on that ravioli was ridiculous! My roommate thought I was lying when I showed her how small the item inside was.
have a great weekend!
about the pasta – could you believe how BIG the box was? I thought there was going to be like 10 packages of pasta…not 1 🙂
I like the mug you posted in your last post, does it say something on the other side?
Aimee ~ The other side says “Smarty Pants” 🙂 The brand is Our Name is Mud: http://www.ournameismud.com/
I love it!
Lots of awesome treats in the mail! Those cookies look yummy!
Thanks for the shout out!
i got my foodbuzz package today too! totally excited to try !
can’t wait for the 90-day recap 🙂 mmm, yummy cookies! i was totally gonna make some veggie girl blondies of that flavor… if only i find some time!
TOLD YOU those yams ROCK!! I cooked ours on the grill last night and they were just amazingly sweet, and you’re right, much softer and less fibrous. Don’t you love that our adventure was on Nate’s post!! I did like his bucket theme idea…
Happy weekend my dear!!!
Whoa – You’re done with P90x? Now I’m really intimidated! You are totally Angelina – Tomb Raider Style. Glad you enjoyed the Chicago references. I can do more/better with AZ. Seems like we’ve lived in the same places. Thanks for the bloglove.
Those limes look fabulous! Hmm, I need to try those yams, I’m curious!
HI jenn!!! I can’t wait to read about your workout results and see those super-ripped pics. 😀 heheheh Maybe now’s a good time to indulge yourself and splurge on some sexy workout outfits!
I totally love when great things come all at once! I got the pasta today too and was SHOCKED that such a big box carried such a little package of goods. hahaha NOT very efficient, but hey i’m not complaining!
OOOH Yams are HUGE in hong kong!! We like ’em better than sweet potato’s cuz they’re sweeter and SOOO good roasted. 🙂 Hope you have a faaabulous weekend hun!!
So many goodies in here! I’m kind of jealous 😉
I’m definitely going to try your SP combo with the salsa soon! I bet it was a nice tangy-ness with the creamy cottage cheese. I think cottage cheese is so versatile!
Have a great weekend, Jenn!
I have yet to try tempeh and I’m pretty much 100% vegan! I’ve eyed it a couple of times at the organic shop I go to but just never actually bought it. Rest assured though, I will! 🙂 Great packages, getting packages always lifts my mood and makes my day better! 🙂
Getting packages is just the best! Especially when they contain delicious looking cookies mmm lime 😉 Can’t wait to hear what you think about the bread too. I am always looking for new varieties for Josh’s daily sammys. Hope you have a good weekend- good luck with the work!
I’ve tried that Soft Honey Wheat bread and it’s a nice change from the more hearty, grainy breads. I’m a big fan of the plain-jane pb&j sandwiches on plain old bread though 🙂 Hooray for lots of packages with yummy food!
i love packages!! im curious to hear what you think of that bread…i generally avoid that kind because it looks and tastes so fake. at my house we call it ball bread because you can literally smoosh it into a ball in your fist and it stays that way. natural? hmmm…
Blasted quarters! My motivation is dwindling as the temperatures rise.
Shooot look at those packages! I’m jealous, fo sho. I haven’t had that Arnold bread before, but I’ve tried a different soft whole white wheat kind and it was delicious. I felt like I was being naughty eating Wonderbread or something, but it really wasn’t all that bad for me. AND it was just so darn good!
Have a lovely weekend, and good luck trying to get anything finished. Cuz so far, it’s not happenin’ here. 🙂
Those are some good looking cookies. What a great person that Heather is. I kid.
I am not quite sure I’ve ever had a garnet yam, but I will pay closer attention next time I am at the market.
Nate’s right. I know you have big guns under there!
yay for packages! That is the second time I have seen those “ravioli”…yum! I have got to try a sweet potato dressed up that way!
AH Heather’s macadamia lime cookies! YUM.
[…] Jenn eating some delicious looking White Chocolate Lime Cookies that she purchased at Meghann’s Bake Sale. […]
oh wow so much awesomeness going on here!
those cookies are definitely making crave something sweet with lime right now. haha.
I have been so curious about the P90X. I even thought to try it myself, so I am seriously looking forward to your review on it!!
All my friends are currently SWEARING by P90x as well.
Im a rebel.
Ive avoided it (and tempeh :)) so far.
Im caving on both…
You really wanted those cookies, I’m so glad you won them! Did I tell you you actually out bidded my aunt for them? lol!! But it’s good to hear they were worth the bidding. Enjoy!!
Those cookies look awesome!!!
Thanks for your review of the Tempeh…ive been meaning to try it!
yams, sweet potatoes. watever. sall gravy to me!
beautiful cookiesss! hurray!
can’t wait to hear what you think of the pasta! I can’t remember if I signed up for one myself. Fedex couldn’t leave a box for me on Friday, and now since they are poppin up all over, I wonder if it is from Foodbuzz?
confused.
HAPPY SUNDAY LOVER DOVE.
cant WAIT to hear about your reviwe for p90x!!
[…] Last but not least, I just want to give another big THANK YOU to Heather, my personal baker. […]
Jenn,
Yeah, I was on the quarter system at Auburn. I loved starting school in late September, but it was always hard to watch my friends end the year in early May while I had another month of school left. At least there was never any work to do over spring break!
Heather’s cookies look so good – I’ve been eyeing that recipe for a while, and I cannot wait for your full review of the P90X workouts. I bet you’re looking buff!