This weekend was fun be”cuz”…

Written by on in Tidbits and Treats

Be”cuz” I was able to spend two wonderful days with my cousin, Lisa! We had a great time and packed many different activities into every hour we had together. And the best part is, she was more than willing (and wanting) to go on some foodie adventures with me! How great is that?!

FRIDAY!

I’m going to skip straight to dinner, since that’s where Lisa and I first met up. Bobby and I met her and my dad (who was in town on business!) at a local fish restaurant. It was SO. GOOD. We started out with an order of Oysters Rockefeller, which is basically oysters mixed in a creamy spinach sauce.

The group also shared an order of blackened calamari, which was seasoned with a bit of spice for a nice kick, and was honestly some of the best calamari I’ve ever tasted.

As for my entree, I went with the broiled walleye, which came with a cucumber dill sauce on the side (which I really liked), as well as beans and rice (in the bowl). The beans and rice were really good – red beans with red rice and pieces of sausage mixed in – YUM!

After dinner, my dad and Bobby parted ways with us so we could enjoy some girlie time 🙂 We watched some old videos of the two of us when we were younger (at Christmas and family gatherings) and also started to watch Pride & Prejudice (with Keira Knightley) – on of my favorites. Lisa introduced me to the Stretch Island Fruit Co. bars, which are basically fruit leathers! I tried the Orchard Cherry – it was really good. You can get them at Costco and they come in several different fruit flavors!

We also shared a bowl of frozen red and white grapes while watching!

SATURDAY!

We started out our morning with a trip to Walker Bros. Doesn’t get much better than that 🙂 Lisa and I decided to split two of their best dishes in order to try a little of each. We started out by splitting the gigantic Mediterranean baked omelette, which came with spinach, feta, tomato and mushrooms.

We also split the even more gigantic Dutch Baby pancake. It’s actually one of their lightest pancake options, if you can believe it! It’s completely hollowed out, so the actual pancake itself is quite thin.

We added powdered sugar, strawberries and bananas to the top of ours.

After breakfast, we were obviously pretty full 😉 But we enjoyed a nice walk to the gym and got in a good workout before coming back to get ready for the best part of the day – a trip to Whole Foods! By the time we got there, we were ready to eat our lunch/dinner, so we made a trip to the hot bar! I started out with a Pomegranate Iced Tea from Sweet Leaf.

Then came the goodies! There is so much in this bowl! I tried the bok choy, sweet potatoes, mushrooms, kale, red potatoes, carrots, turkey meatloaf, turkey meatball, maple-glazed tofu, Greek salad, cranberry quinoa, broccoli stir-fry, garlic, artichokes, hearts of palm…that probably covers half of it 😉 But seriously, it didn’t disappoint – the hot bar is just too good to pass up!

Of course along the way I picked up some goodies to bring home! I’m especially excited about the new bars in the picture!

Which leads me to my next find of the weekend. I’m not sure if it’s already been discovered by other bloggers, but I was SO.EXCITED. to see that Clif ZBaR has a NEW FLAVOR: Blueberry!!!

I was so excited, in fact, that I couldn’t wait to try it out, so I had it that night! Let me tell you, it was a great alternative to the normally very chocolate-y flavors that I associate with the ZBaR! It tasted a lot like a blueberry cobbler!

We spent the evening at the theater, where Bobby, Lisa and I saw Dark Knight – again! Lisa hadn’t seen it yet, and Bobby and I knew we wanted to see it again, so it worked out well 😉 It was just as amazing the second time around!! When we came home, Lisa and I had our dessert that we picked up at Whole Foods. It was an amazing lemon meringue tart, which I ate in about two bites!

SUNDAY!

I knew I wanted Lisa to try one of the pancake recipes I’ve made in the past. We decided on Ebleskiver pancakes, because they are just too cute not to 🙂 I made two batches – one with blueberries and one with white chocolate chips in the middle. They came out better than ever!

I just love the fact that you can get so many pancake balls out of this recipe. And the cottage cheese adds extra protein, so they have great nutritional value!

After breakfast, we headed out to the main event of the day – Veggie Fest! We couldn’t believe our luck in finding this festival while she was visiting – what a great idea 😉 An event dedicated to healthy food? We’re on it!

There were several different booths at the festival, many promoting different healthy living options such as meditation and homeopathy. But the best part was obviously the FREE FOOD! Lisa and I enjoyed so many different samples!

First, there was manna bread from Nature’s Path, which tasted absolutely amazing!

Then there was some Gorilla Munch cereal.

A piece of organic blueberry toaster tart!

Some really good instant oatmeal!

And a curry-flavored lentil dish that was made right in front of us!

Then Lisa and I stopped at a booth where they were selling fresh smoothies. We picked up two mango smoothies, which were made with mango, apple juice, ice and honey. A little too much honey, unfortunately – the guy making them just wouldn’t stop adding it into the blender! It was extra sweet, but still good. I somehow managed to drink it all regardless of the sugar content 😉 It was tough, let me tell you.

After our smoothie break, it was back to the FREE FOOD! We went to another booth where they were having a cooking show, and tried out some eggplant parmesan and pasta primavera.

Then we couldn’t believe our luck, because we managed to hit up all the other booths just as their cooking shows were ending – so we got to try out the final products all at once! We started with some “Chik’n” cacciatore with a mix of veggies.

There was also a South of the Border booth which had a fresh tortilla topped with seasoned tofu and fresh peppers. Lisa and I didn’t like this one much – we both agree that the eggplant parmesan was our favorite!

After the festival, we came back to my place and played some Mario Kart on the Wii with Bobby. I was kicking some serious butt, if I do say so myself 😉 I don’t know how it happened, because usually I’m not very good at that game! But I got first place the majority of the time!

A few hours later, it was time to have one final foodie adventure before Lisa’s flight. We headed over to Cosi because she doesn’t have them where she lives and wanted to try it out! I got the Pasilla Lime Shrimp sandwich on whole grain bread. The guacamole they served with it was amazing – definitely not the tainted stuff we’ve been worried about! It also came with chips on the side.

The best part is, I ordered my 10th entree – which means the next time I go to Cosi, my entree will be free! I think that means a Cosi trip is in order at work this week, don’t you?

Whew! I’m exhausted just writing about all the incredible things we did this weekend! This post captures most – but not all! – of the fun we had, and I am so glad that Lisa was able to visit! I’m looking forward to doing it again in the future 🙂 But I also can’t believe the weekend is over already – yikes! Where, oh where does the time go?

I’m off to get ready for work now! But I’ll be back later to answer questions in the comment section of my last post, and also to get started on catching up on what went on in the blogging world over the weekend! I’ve missed you all 😉 Have a great Monday (if there is such a thing)!

31 Comments

  1. Ah….I just ate breakfast and I’m hungry again after reading your post 🙂

    I live sort of in the sticks right now, but we will moving soon- I can’t wait until we do so I can attend fun festivals like your veggie fest!

  4. everything looks great! The fruit bar looks like a healthy fruit roll up! i cant wait to try one. when you picture items does that mean that you ate everything on your plate?

  5. looks like you have a great and fantanstic-feast-filled weekend! those little pancakes balls have stolen my heart. i’m going to make some of those this week!!! i need to get the griddle thing that you made them in…
    everything looks wonderful and i’m glad you have fun with your cousin!
    have a good monday!

  6. what a grrrrrreat foodie weekend! tony the tiger anyone? haha, so glad we’ve gotten passed sugary cereals and onto bigger and better things… like pancakes, and oatmeal, and omelettes, and… glad to hear you had fun with your friend! good luck with the upcoming week 🙂

  9. Oh.My.Gosh.

    That’s the best looking (and I’m sure best tasting) foodie weekend ever!

    I’m so glad you guys had so much fun (and yummy food lol). 😀

  10. Veggie Fest!!! How great is that? Did you just stumble upon it while your cuz was there? Very good timing!

  11. Sounds and looks like you had an amazing weekend. I am jealous that you got to try the blueberry z-bar. I saw that you bought the cinnamon raisin peanut butter…I just bought that this weekend and it is pretty tasty…wish it had more raisins.

  12. Wowowowowow, what a weekend!! I’m so elated that you and your cousin had so much fun :0)

    Ahh, Veggie Fest looks like it was a blast!! And delicious ;0)

    My dad loves that blueberry z-bar flavor, haha; and oohh, that lemon meringue tart looks stunning!!

    Happy Monday, girl!! 1 DAY!!!!!!

  14. I am new to the blogging world but I have always read your site… all those samples look great.. and I just recently picked up a box of the fruit leathers at costco cause they are great to have during a run to give you the blood glucose you need to maintain the intensity.

  15. What a great weekend!! I think I would have eaten my weight in food at the Veggie Fest. 🙂 And those pancakes look so good! I think I might make them this week!

  16. Erica ~ That’s exciting that you’re moving soon! Festivals aren’t too hard to come by once you’re in the big city 🙂

    Erin ~ Thank you! 🙂

    mi ~ Haha, it looks good 😉 And thanks!

    Amanda ~ Good question! Most of the time it does, but when I go out to restaurants, I tend to take pictures of the appetizers and meals as a whole. For example, at the fish restaurant, I only had one of the oysters and a small bread plate full of the blackened calamari. And at Walker Bros. I ate the full omelette pictured, but only 1/3 of that puffy pancake. I will do my best to remember to be more specific next time – sorry about that! But yes, usually I eat everything I take a picture of 🙂

    fitnessista ~ Yes! Do get an Ebleskiver pan, they are so awesome and you won’t regret it 🙂

    Danielle ~ I’m very glad to be past the sugary cereal stage, but definitely still appreciate a Tony the Tiger reference 🙂

    Heather ~ Thank you! 🙂

    Fit Bottomed Girl ~ VeggieFest = genius! They need to have more festivals like that!

    All Vegged Out ~ Haha, thank you! 🙂

    Rose ~ It was great timing! A little birdie told me about it, and I couldn’t pass it up!

    Megan ~ I’m with you on the Cinn-Raisin PB, but once you get to the bottom the raisins are definitely more prominent. I usually get to the bottom sooner rather than later 😉

    VeggieGirl ~ Yay I’m glad your dad likes the Zbar! And YES! ONE DAY 🙂

    totaltransformation ~ You are just a jokester, aren’t ya? 😉

    Christie ~ Thanks for reading! And great tip on the fruit leathers – I will definitely keep that in mind next time I work out!

    chandra ~ Yes, there were SO many samples, I definitely ate plenty 🙂 Let me know how you like the pancakes if you try them!

  18. Wow, the weekend with your cousin seemed like it was really fun! Your pancake balls look so cute and delicious.. I totally want to try them. And, I really want to try the Blueberry Z bar, I knew they had it out, but I haven’t been able to find it yet.

  19. Your weekend seems like SO much fun! I’m jealous! Of course all the food looks amazing, but really, when is food not amazing? That’s one thing I’ve realized from blogging—99% of the time I’m raving about how good everything tastes!

    I wish there was a Veggie Fest around here–there is nothing I love more than yummy FREE food! And when you just have 1 bite, there are no calories, right? ; )

    I definitely think I’m going to give the frozen grapes a try soon—I like things that take a while to eat because it helps me really enjoy it and not gobble it up (as I usually do!)

    And Blueberry Z-bar! Yessssss! I need to find one SOON. Speaking of blueberries…TJ makes chocolate covered dried blueberries. A-mazing.

  20. i’m so jealous of all those great samples you had at that fair!!!! i wish we had those kinds of things around here; the closest thing i get to that is the farmer’s market, but i have to buy the food! Haha

    and BLUEBERRY Z-BAR!!!! O.M.G. i need to find that, PRONTO! i’m so glad you liked it, cause i’m sure that means i will….i can’t wait!!!

    and i’m glad you had such a great time this weekend! looks like some great foods (and the pancakes are so cute!).

  22. Wow–what a great post!
    1) I’ve always wanted to go to Walker Bros. My parents talk about how they used to eat there in law school!
    2) I love it when I discover new flavors of my fave foods–that Z Bar looks great!
    3) I am so jealous of that Veggie Fest. I need to move to a bigger city that has cool events like that…
    Glad to have you back!

  24. Mmm…. that Dutch Baby Pancake has my name written all over it!

    I bought the Blueberry Z-bars too!!! I’m excited to try them, but I told myself I would get through my peanut butter ones first. 🙂

  25. Foodie ~ Thank you 🙂

    eatingbirdfood ~ Good luck with the ZBaR search – it’s totally worth it!

    Sarah ~ I know! There are rarely ever any bad reviews on my blog 😉 And one bite totally means 0 calories. Thanks for the tip on the chocolate covered blueberries! I will look for those next time I go to TJ’s!

    Melissa ~ Haha, I still am wanting to go to a farmer’s market! Maybe we can swap for a day?? GET THE ZBAR!

    VeggieGirl ~ Got it 😉

    Caroline ~ You will definitely have to come to Walker Bros. if you’re ever in town. And try the ZBaR too! Both are amazing and will not disappoint!

    Kelly T (Grounded Fitness) ~ Thanks! 🙂

    addicted2pb ~ Dutch Baby = pure deliciousness. And sneak one of those blueberry bars in between all the peanut butter 😉

  26. I LOOOVE the blueberry Zbars! And I didn’t used to love the Zbars! I’m not a big chocolate fan and I just thought that they weren’t authentic enough for me… Plus not having much protein, fiber or healthy fats… WELL… I LOVE THE BLUEBERRY! I spotted it at work last week, as well as the new Apple Cinnamon which is pretty good too! But Blueberry = BOMB-tastic 🙂 The smell sent me over the edge and I was in love!

    So happy that you had such a wonderful weekend with your cousin Jenn! That’s so nice!!! 🙂 And that Veggie Fest looked incredible! Lucky Ducky 😉

  27. Julz ~ I’m so glad you like the blueberry ZBaRs! I haven’t seen the apple cinnamon flavor yet, I’ll have to look this weekend!

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