Why yes, I did do a Google search for songs about pasta to come up with a title for this post. I came up with this one, to be sung to the tune of “On Top of Ol’ Smokey”:
On Top Of Spaghetti
On top of spaghetti all covered with cheese
I lost my poor meatball
When somebody sneezed.
It rolled off the table and on to the floor
And then my poor meatball rolled out of the door.
It rolled in the garden and under a bush
And now my poor meatball is nothing but mush.
So next time you eat spaghetti
All covered with cheese
Protect your poor meatball
In case of a sneeze.
Anywho, the song has to do with my Hump Day dinner. We’ll get to that later since there’s some other stuff I’d like to show you first!
Thanks to everyone for the comforting words regarding the job search yesterday – plus the great yoga and wine tips! I’m going to check into what my school offers for yoga classes in the fall and see what I can come up with. I’ll keep ya “post”ed – Ha, Erin 😉 You know what I’m talkin’ ’bout.
BREAKFAST
An omelette was on the menu this morning! I haven’t ventured to make one in quite a while, so I decided I was overdue. Plus, we had some extra salad leftovers that made the perfect “insides” for the omelette, so no chopping required!
I spread the omelette with a Laughing Cow cheese wedge (!!) when it started to get cookin’ and then added in the salad mix, which had lettuce, black olives, cucumbers and red peppers. I topped it all with Worcestershire sauce. I’m not really sure why. It was an impulse, and it didn’t do much for me – I don’t know if that’s what the sauce is meant for anyway 🙂 I probably wouldn’t do it again.
There was also some Coffee Cocoa involved – you can probably guess whose mug this is 😉 I stole it from him today.
I was still hungry after the omelette, so I grabbed a Pumpkin Chococonut Mini Muffin. Would you believe me if I told you these are almost gone?! Makes me happy!
I spent my morning doing some more job research. I’m feeling much better about the whole thing now because I realized that it just takes time and that I don’t have to freak out too much – yet 😉 We’ll save that for later in the school year, ok?
LUNCH
Costco does it again today – how is it possible for one store to have so many wonderful options? It’s fun to get prepared meals from there. Today we tried the dim sum.
It’s a variety of veggie and seafood dumplings served with a teriyaki soy glaze. They are served over a bed of cabbage with pea pods and carrots. I had two of each.
I think my favorite is the shrimp dumpling in the top left part of the picture. But honestly, they are all really tasty when you heat them up – such a great idea, Costco!
I went back for more cabbage and peapods afterward. And I may have had one more shrimp dumpling 😉 We noticed that there were some extra after splitting them up, so we each got to pick our fave! I love sharing!
After lunch, I went to the gym and did 40 minutes on the elliptical, plus an arm workout that consisted of 2 sets/15 reps of each of the following:
- Bicep curls with 12 lbs.
- Tricep kickbacks with 12 lbs.
- Chest press with 15 lbs.
- Upright row with 12 lbs.
- Shoulder press with 10 lbs.
- Pull-up machine (aka Gravitron)
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I came back and refueled with some grapes. Aw, I missed these little guys.
DINNER
And now we’ve reached the significance of the post title! Yes, Papa Bender was at it again tonight. By the way, he wanted me to point out that he usually wouldn’t make quite such elaborate meals – he’s playing it up a bit for the blog 😉 I think he’s just being modest!! I’ve always grown up thinking his meals were exceptional **cue cheesy music** Either way, our whole family has been benefiting – my mom and bro can’t complain, either!
Tonight’s dinner was our choice of spaghetti and meatballs or seafood spaghetti. My bro, being the growing boy that he is, opted for the meat-lovers special with plenty o’ parmesan cheese. The rest of us went with the seafood version – holy moly, I’m SO glad I did!!
There is absolutely nothing bad to say about this dish. Angel hair pasta topped with a shrimp and clam sauce made with olive oil, white wine vinegar and clam juice. And on the side, clams and mussels – straight from the shell. Honestly – I was in foodie heaven!!
The pasta was paired with a delicious cabernet sauvignon called Chimney Rock.
And on the side was another delicious salad (same ingredients as this morning’s omelette), which I topped with a miso viniagrette.
By the way, I thought it was about time you saw the chef in action.
Ok, not really “in action” because this was totally staged 🙂 But you get the idea! Looking at that picture makes me homesick, and I haven’t even left home yet!
NIGHTTIME SNACK
I nibbled on some frozen grapes to round off the evening.
It was truly a delicious day. Plus I feel like I got a lot accomplished, too. I’m thinking I owe Papa Bender a dinner, though. But I wouldn’t know what to make for this guy, since he’s way better than me! Any ideas?!?!?!
It’s Thursday, which means it’s almost Friday! That’s not really good news for me, but I’m sure many of you are rejoicing! I hope you have a great day 
I love hearing about papa bender, and so glad that tonight we get a picture of him in action:) That would be so sweet for you to cook for him!!
All your food looks amazing. Yeah for Papa Bender! Love all your mugs…I am a mug addict and my collection is growing, but yours are much cooler than mine!
Hello Papa Bender! Maybe you could make one of his childhood favorites with a modern twist? I don’t know though because my dad can’t cook AT ALL and is often more interested in quantity than quality!
My kids sing that song sometimes during our morning song and dance (to wake up the mind and body)!
AHH JENN! So many of my favorites!
First of all, I used to sing that song with my Mam (on the piano) ALL THE TIME. I adore it.
Secondly, DIM SUM IS MY LIFE. I don’t like most Chinese food because it can be really greasey and sauce-y (ha!), but DIM SUM is so light and perfect!! You have to go to a true Chinese style dim sum brunch…they have these carts with racks and racks and just keep coming around and you point what you want and your table keeps piling up with plates of about 4 pieces of each type. It’s a good thing to do with a big group of people!!
And wow the seafood pasta looks out of this world!!! Tell Papa Bender he never ceases to amaze me 🙂
I hope you have an amazing Thursday!
That song brings me back to my childhood – I LOVED it, haha!! 😀
Yet another cute mug (from Papa Bender, I assume); and I love the mini muffin! Yum!
GREEN GRAPES!! Oh yes, how I love thee.
Hooray for Papa Bender making an appearance on your blog!! Make him any dish that he loves – I’m sure it’ll be appreciated 🙂
HAPPY THURSDAY!!!!
Papa Bender!!! He’s knows he’s a foodie legend here in the blogworld, right? I mean steamed mussels and clams…It’s 6 am and I want seafood for breakfast. That takes talent. 🙂
Hey Jenn – NU has a yoga/pilates package called Mind & Body…or something like that. I did it spring quarter senior year and loved it! It was my first attempt at yoga. 🙂
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Ash ~ Thank you so much for the tip!
aww, papa bender! I know he will appreciate anything you make for him 🙂
oh, i forgot to add that i was totally singing that in my head, and now it’s stuck!!!
I would have never thought to put leftover salad in an omlete.
The Dim Dum looks FANTASTIC. And nice to meet Papa Bender!
Oh my gosh, that song brings me right back to kindergarten!
That dim sum looks fab. Costco never fails.
Your dad is so cute! I am forever impressed with his superb culinary skills. I can’t believe how good that seafood spaghetti looks. I want some right now!
pappi bender! wonderful to see you in action!
too cute jenn! and that dish looks like something out of a restaurant!
yay for thrusday because it’s that much closer to the weekend; boo for thursday for you because it’s that much closer to school 😛
aww what a great day! that picture makes me homesick too and i don’t even know your dad! can i come visit please because that dinner looks AWESOME. Like seriously restaurant worthy. I bet it was even more delicious than it looks!
Way to go costco–I’m impressed!
I’m not sure if you’ve tried this before, but putting salsa in omelets is so good! I’m sure you would like it better than worc. sauce—I had to admit I was a little confused when I saw you put that in there, it seemed a little strange, but hey, it was worth a try. no risk no reward, right? let’s just hope this means next time you take a chance on a new ingredient combo you’ll get more of a reward!
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Sarah ~ I will definitely try salsa in my next omelette!
Such a great post!
Good luck with the job hunt- you are smart by getting such an early start! When do you graduate?
It may take a little while, but don’t get discouraged- something will come through. I’ve started to realize that the job search is tough but in the end it all works out. So noo worries lady!
That mug totally describes your house, especially after seeing what Papa Bender made last night. The seafood pasta looked amazing.
And, the Costco Dim-Sum – I have never seen that there before, yet it looks delish!! I might have to grab that next time I go to stock up on toilet paper and paper towels.
Have a great Thursday!
Great job with the workout…food looks awesome as always. Good luck with your job hunt! A positive attitude is contagious! 😉
An omelette filled with salad fixings – Interesting, never would have thought of that!
That mug is certainly fitting for your dad! I am so impressed with the seafood spaghetti dish – it looks absolutely amazing, gorgeous, and SCRUMPTIOUSLY DELICIOUS!
LOVE your coffee mug, perfect!
Your Papa Bender is amazing, definitely playing it up for the blog, what a great dad 🙂 (he’s so cute in the pic!)
I’ve never tried mussels and clams and such…I’m a little fearful (new to the seafood world), but that plate ‘o’ spaghette does look delish. And I love how you’ve got a wine to match these amazing dinners! JEALOUSSS…
You should definitely do some sort of fun dinner for the Papa one night, that would be fun! You could do some sort of international themed night (with a wine pairing of course). Maybe Italian, with “make-your-own” personal sized pizza? I dunno, haha it could be fun 🙂
Happy Thursday!
Haha- I remember that song!!
What a great food day 🙂 The dim sum looks yummy and the pasta looks AWESOME! I love mussels.
Your dad is so cute! Looks like the culinary skills run in the family!
All that food looks great! Love how the shrimp looks.
I never thought of putting salad in an omlette.
i LOVE dim sum.
i HATE clams.
The end.
Kelly
http://www.groundedfitness.com
the face behind the culinary creations!! i LOVE it! papa bender never ceases to amaze me. i want some seafood pasta!! and that wine….. oh man….
i’ve never had dim sum before but totally would like to try it! costco rocks 😀
hope that you have a great night!!!
I think I love your dad. He’s SO CUTE. And he has the cheffin’ skills.
Move over Mom!
I KID. I’m a kept woman!
This post was so great I read it three times today Jenn!
First of all, I love your creative omelet (you know I love to spell it that way)!
Second the dim sum looks heavenly. (I like sharing too, but I like NOT sharing even more!)
Third, I love that you shared your workout! I’m a two set kind of girl too!
Fourth, the dinner and your genuine love and joy for your family make me smile.
And fifth, you hollered at me! High five for the cornball humor! 🙂
I remember that song from when I was a kid!
That seafood spaghetti looks un real! What an amazing chef :). I bet he will love anything you make! Whats his favorite ingredients?
Haha you’re so funny with the song XD
Argh I can’t believe you had DIM SUM for lunch! This is me and I am jealous! I’m drooling buckets over here…
For your dad…if you’re stuck for ideas on dinner, you can always just make him breakfast instead! 😀 [less options to choose from! I never know what to make for dinner 😛 ]
Aww your dad is so cute.. I am a daddys girl.. but my father does not cook. I have to suggest maybe making some sort of healthy bakes lasagna dish.. I feel like men usually love that.. you can make one with veggies and part skim ricotta and LF mozz cheese and than have some kind of salad you know the ones with like fruits and nuts (pecans and strawberries and a nice vinegerette)
aw how cute! your dad is such a sweetie, and looks like a great cook!
how about you make him something he is too lazy or strapped for time to make? maybe a lasagna or a special dessert like tiramisu ?
Your dad is adorable. His meals look absolutely glorious and I’m now craving seafood. Can you make him a breakfast for dinner type meal? I don’t know–maybe blueberry wheat germ waffles or pancakes and some homemade turkey patties? Good luck deciding on a meal!