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 š 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 š
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 š
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 š 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 š
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 š 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 š
Have a lovely hump day, everyone! We’re half way there!
Abrazos,
I love your pumpkin pie parfait! It looks delish. And all of the sushi has my mouth watering!
that yogurt breakfast looks great! what a fun dinner š If I’m ever in Chicago, you’ll have to take me out for REAL sushi, for sure.
Get your boot-ay to Chicago, STAT! š
I love Oysy!! My fiance and I went there for new years dinner last year in Chi Town!!! I love Chicago, he is from there, we are going there again this new years for 3 days : ) I LOVE your blog!! YOur Pumpkin Parfait is awesome!!! What a yummy creation!!! I hope you have a great day! I am doing a giveaway on my blog if you would like to enter!!
Katie xo
love the breakfast parfait!
jenna
OMG. I want that for breakfast!
That salmon looks amazing!!
JEALOUSSSS!!!! I love both of you and am SO glad you’re hanging out š Oysy is among my favorite sushi places too… we still have to go to Tank!
Thanks for linking back to my giveaway š
What a delicious breakfast! I have been wanting to try that pumpkin pie yogurt- maybe I’ll pick one up at the food store today. Glad you guys had fun at dinner- the food looks AWESOME and I have always wanted to meet Michelle- she seems like such a sweetheart
Isn’t it funny that you can say, “This reminds me of _____.” and its about someone that you’ve never met? I do that all the time!
I need to find a way to vegan-ize your breakfast, it looks incredible!
You lucky foodie you! Caviar covered sushi? How indulgent!
First of all, the breakfast? So much pumpkin, I love it!! How festive!
What a great bloggers meet up – bloggies are the best to go out to eat with. Now that I’ve finally tried sushi and know how delicious it is, I don’t blame you for not getting enough of it these days š
whoo! what a great dinner!!! i’m still jealous of the sushi and seriously need to come up there and try…i’m saving my $$$ now!
and yay for tj’s 2 buck chuck!!! i can’t wait to get home and get my hands on some!!
you and your taste buds are soooooper lucky! espech after that pumpkin pie-esque parfait.
that restaurant sounds like a fire hazard waiting to happen… but looks tres gourmet nonetheless!
Happy hump day to you Jenn!
Looks like such delicious fun! Now i want sushi!
And that breakfast–divine!
Hope your Wednesdays going well, love š
i dont even like pumpkin but that breakfast has me drooling! three cheers for not burning your mouth š i know i would have!
Wow! Your “breakfast treat” looks gourmet!
i love 2 buck chuck. trader joes in general has such a great selection of cheap wine. also, u you have a bev mo by you….they are having a 5 cent sale right now. buy one bottle of wine and get the second for 5 cents. they do this sell about 4 times a year. its awesome!
Love the food on fire! And I’m totally getting some chopstick helpers because I can’t use the sticks to save my soul.
Omg sushiii everywhere! I miss sushi.
I just got back from Chicago on Sunday night!!! Next time I go, I’ll have to try that sushi place. I went to Friends Sushi and thought it was good…have you ever been there?
Your pumpkin parfait looks yummy!
Yogurt + Kashi Go Lean is just a magical combination. I can’t imagine ever eating that cereal with milk again – it marinates in yogurt so much better! Especially when I supplement with extra kamut puffs. š
Jenn!!! š You are one fast mama! You make me look lazyyy bad. I had such a blast last night too!!! I’m worried it’ll get too cold and we’ll wanna hibernate before we meet again! Let’s do something with Mara. š Perhaps somewhere closer to you?
I’m loving that pumkin parfait. It is DEFINITELY up my alley…now i just have to go buy some pumpkin yogurt huh? Happy Wednesday my dear…halfway through the work week!! yay!
omg girl i went there last tuesday!! that dynamite is freaking awesome!! lets meet up next week š how about Yolk? it a kitchy breakfast/brunch place š
xoxo
Lo
or karyns is always great!
i need to find that stoneyfield pumpkin yogurt š what a parfait!! thanks for the link love š faaaabulous sushi!
I recently made a Vegan Bananas Foster and lit it on fire. It was pretty fun in my kitch that day! I would love to go out for fire lighting sushi with you next time I’m in Chicago!
Good deal on the Three Buck Chuck, I think I told you to pick up some Two Buck Chuck in my last comment. Great minds think alike!
And a bit of housekeeping for you…your Twitter Follow Me button leads on a fast track to someone else’s page…not yours. It’s Twitter/YourLink whoever that is..but it’s not you sweet Jenn š
Holy guacamole – thank you! I didn’t even realize the link wasn’t correct. It’s fixed now š Two things: yes, we definitely need to have fire lighting sushi when you come to Chicago and yes, it was you who told me about Three Buck Chuck. Thanks so much for the tip, I can’t wait to try it!
What a fantastic breakfast–all my faves in one dish–pumpkin, GoLean, and almond butter! I am proud to have inspired such a masterpiece:) Must find that yogurt ASAP!
oh baby girl!!!!!! you are so sweet! both of you! to think of me!! no wayyyyyyy.
soo fun that you met up with the lovely Michelle! I’m kinda jealous over here, but someday maybe we can all sit down for a treat!
that meal looks delicious, and your pumpkin pie breakfast is TOO cute for words. I had pumpkin yogrut this morning too š
love you jeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeennniferrrrrrrrrr
I’m so jealous of your meet-up with Michelle! I bet that was a tasty night indeed–you both have such great taste in food!
I’ve been having a similar breakfast lately but with pumpkin butter….SO good!
AWESOME meet-up fun! š
Oh yum, that summer roll looks awesome! And I love how the other one is all green š
That looks like a funnnn place! I always go to hole in the wall sushi joints but I need to class it up š I heart Michelle so much, I only know her thru blogland but she calls me hilarious nicknames and I love it! I am soo there next time..
That is pretty darn close to pumpkin pie! LOVE! Sounds like you had a blast at dinner. That place looks cool!
Hey, so this is the first time reading your blog (you have really nice cups and bowls and such haha) but what exactly is coffee cocoa and how do I get some? Those are like my two favorite things in the world and it bothers me that I have waited this long to hear about them being together.
Hi Andreaaa š
Coffee Cocoa is a completely made up recipe that combines my two favorite things in the world of hot drinks! You can see how I make it here: https://eatingbender.com/sunday-brunch/coffee-cocoa/
Hope that helps! Glad you stopped by to visit!
Looks like I need to get my hands on some of that yogurt!! Yum š
hi friend!!! just catching up on your life now that i’m back in valdizzy for good š
looks like you’ve been up to some awesome thing as usual
i love the meet up and that food on fire looks right up my alley š
wish you lived closer so we could drink some vino together! maybe in az??
hope you have a great night!
xoxo
Yummy creation! I love layered treats–they’re fun to eat š Ok, so not trying to rhyme there!
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