Cupcakes aren't my Thang ...

My hubby bought me a cupcake on Friday.  He told me that everyone needs cake on their birthday.

I didn't eat it Friday, Saturday or Sunday.  Finally last night he told me I had to eat it before it went bad.  Can you believe I didn't even want it!!!??  I am not a cake person at all.  If would have been a slab of bacon or a chunk of Gruyère, I would have gladly devoured it Friday night.  I grudgingly ate 2 bites, and forced the rest of this lovely cupcake upon the husband:

Breakfast yesterday was really lazy.  I had some rice crispies, and a glass of OJ:

Lunch was 1 cup of leftover stew, and an apple:

For dinner I made chicken in mushroom sauce, on orzo with brussels sprouts:

This morning I had 2 eggs with some homemade Irish toast:

Lunch was a turkey, lettuce, cheese, mustard, pickle, and hot pepper sandwich on rye, with an orange.

My dad took me out this evening for a belated birthday dinner.  

We went to The Keg where I had ribs and a baked potato:

So now, if you had to choose ... would you pick a cupcake or bacon?

Do you have a sweet tooth or a salty tooth?  

I like salty or umami flavours best.

Birthday Celebrations and BIG News!!!

had a wonderful birthday celebration on Saturday.  The hubby made me a lovely breakfast of a tomato and cheese omelet on half a bagel.  We then spent the afternoon playing Laser Tag with our friends.  It was SO much fun, even though I got a major Goose egg in the second game and had to bail out early.  After the Laser Tag game the hubby and I split a small pizza to hold us over until dinner.

We had dinner with a bunch of friends at a Japanese steakhouse called Teppanyaki.  This is a fun place to go with friends because the chefs cook the food at your table, do tricks with the knifes, and joke around with the guests.  I sipped a few drinks, and enjoyed delicious fare.

Gyoza and 1/2 salmon roll (split these with the hubby)

Egg drop soup

Salad with orange dressing

The rest of my meal included veggies, rice, steak, shrimp and chicken.  I was stuffed!

Someone tipped off the waiter that we were celebrating my birthday and they brought me a little treat.  

I shared it with my sister.

We ended the night with a bit of dancing, and lots of laughs.

This morning we had a family brunch at the hubby's aunts house.  I had some eggs, 2 sausages, 1/4 of a cheese bun, some fruit, a piece of cheese, 2 mini quiche and coffee.

My mother-in-law made one of my favourite meals for dinner this evening - Creme Chicken with rice:

Dessert was half of this piece of lemon cake with creme cheese icing:

Exciting News!

In 3 weeks I will be going to San Fransisco for the Foodbuzz Festival (a food bloggers festival)!! 

I just finalized the plans, and booked my flights and hotel on Friday!! I am super excited!!  I cannot wait to meet some bloggie friends in person, and spend some time eating gourmet food, and hanging out with other food bloggers. As a featured publisher with Foodbuzz, my ticket for the festival was free, but I am still forking out a big chunk for the flights and hotel - I think it will be worth it!

Are you going to the Foodbuzz Festival? What was the highlight of your weekend?

I went to bed Thursday night ...

 

And woke up 1 year older.

I am officially 28.

Celebratory oats were in order.

Behold the ice cream sandwich oats:

Made with regular quick oats, banana soft serve (1 frozen banana, 4 T milk), 1 tsp PB, and 1 chocolate wafer (from DQ - thanks to a relative that runs one).

We had a fundraiser lunch at work (take out from Western pizza).  

My hubby took me out tonight for dinner and a movie.  We went to one of my favourite restaurants, Korea House.  I had my usual - Bee Bim Bop.  We then when to "Life as We Know it."  It was cute.

Tomorrow we are going out to celebrate the big 2-8 with some friends! 

Foodie Confession *GASP*

 

I LOVE Cheese Whiz.

There, I said it.

I love it on celery.  I love it stirred in to piping hot pasta shells.  I love it poured over broccoli.  I love it mixed with salsa for chip dip.  I think it is a glorious food plastic spread, and I am going to savour the miniature jar I just had to buy.  Cheese Whiz is a rare treat in our house :-)  I think this is the second time I have had it in the home in 6.5 years.

I had some after work today.

 

I put it on celery, because that makes it a health food.  Don't argue.

 

I was jonesing for some nutrients this morning so I blended up a smoothie with: 1/2 a banana, 1/2 cup frozen berries, 1 cup of milk, and 1 t of hemp seeds:

I also had 1 slice of toast with cinnamon raisin PB:

Mmmmmm, I love PB&Co.  Have you tried their PB before?

Lunch was the last of my turkey noodle soup.  I also had an apple, and a few crackers.

I went to the spa this evening for a 1 hour massage.  It was pure bliss.  I go for massages quite regularly from October - December as it is always my busiest, and therefore most stressful time of year.   

Do you ever treat yourself to a massage?  Does your health plan cover massage?  

I am lucky that my health plan covers massage, and I be sure to take full advantage of it!

For dinner this evening I made a quick beef stew (with organic stewing beef):

This is more of a cool weather meal ... I wasn't expecting it to be so beautiful today!!!  I will take it though!  We are experiencing unseasonably warm weather this month, and I am reveling in the sunshine, enjoying it while it lasts.  It is supposed to be +19 C tomorrow - and tomorrow is also a special day so it makes it even better :-)

I had 2 eggs later on in the evening for a snack.  

I topped them with sriracha (AKA liquid love) hot sauce.

What do you have planned for the weekend?

I have an AWESOME weekend planned!!  I will let you know more tomorrow.

Creme Brulee Oatmeal

Creme Brulee Oatmeal

 

It's what's for breakfast.

Tuesday morning I was back to work after a long weekend, and I wanted something special to get me going.  I dreamed up creme brulee oatmeal, and it was divine.  It was made with 3/4 cup creme brulee flavoured coffee, 1/4 cup milk, 1/2 cup quick oats, 1 tsp almond butter, and 1 heaping tsp of brown sugar, which melted on top.  

For all other meals on Tuesday I had turkey noodle soup ... because what else would I eat after Thanksgiving weekend!!??  

served with a homemade dinner bun

Tuesday night after doing loads of homework, I fueled my brain with a couple eggs and hot sauce.

This morning's breakfast was a cabbage roll:

Lunch was more soup of course.  And dinner was pizza.  

I really need groceries, because I am totally craving a Green Monster!

We haven't gone for groceries in almost  2 weeks, and we are out of everything.

Do you ever make chicken or turkey noodle soup?  

Do you get sick of Thanksgiving or Christmas leftovers?  I don't :-)

I am going to go make a giant bowl of brussels sprouts for a snack - g'night!

Gobble Gobble

 

appy Thanksgiving to all Canadian readers!  

I had a wonderful 3 day, Thanksgiving weekend with the people I love.  We were out of town Friday night visiting my mom.  Saturday morning we went for a late breakfast.  I had a Mexican omelet with rye toast and hash browns.  It was WAY too much food, so I ate half:

I also ordered had 3 bites of this mini pumpkin pie blizzard, and the hubby ate the rest.  

It tasted JUST like pumpkin pie:

When we got home on Saturday evening we made coconut rice, and green curry with shrimp. 

On Sunday morning the hubby made pancakes.  I had 3 with syrup to dip.  The pancakes kept me full until dinner where I enjoyed a thanksgiving feast at my in-laws:

I had some wine and beer throughout the evening, and spent some time dancing with my best friend, my sister-in-law, and some other friends later on in the night.

Brunch this morning was a cabbage roll.

Exhibit A:

Exhibit B:

I had a tall, half sweet, non fat toffee latte from Starbucks this afternoon, then headed to my dad's for another Thanksgiving feast:

I am always impressed by how well my nearly 70 year old dad can pull off a full turkey dinner with all the fixings on his own without seeming the least bit frazzled.  It is quite amazing actually.  Everything is always perfectly cooked, and on the table hot and ready all at the same time.  I am thankful to have two parents who are both excellent cooks.

My sister made a frozen pumpkin mousse pie for dessert.  It was fab!  

You can find the recipe HERE.

My adorable nephew wanted to help with the dishes, so he gathered some clean pots, put about 1/2 cup of soap in the sink and started washing.  Hehe.  He is the greatest.

Thankfulness

I have so many things to be thankful for, and I feel such gratitude today and everyday for all that I have been given in this life.  I am grateful for a loving family, wonderful friends, and the most amazing husband in the world.  I am blessed to have a job that I love, an education that I value greatly, and a happy home.  I have a blog that keeps me sane, and supportive readers whom I consider friends.  

Today, and everyday, I am thankful.

"In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit." -Albert Schweitzer 

"Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough." -Oprah Winfrey 

What are you thankful for today? 

Heat Exhaustion and Fun News!!!

I had every intention of blogging last night.

I had a piece of mushroom and olive strata for breakfast:

 I packed a lunch for my field trip with my class.  We went for a hike in the dirt hills:

ham sandwich, strawberries, and coconut bar

 I discovered that this is my new favourite bar:

It was +33C outside (91 F)!!  We were lucky to get such beautiful weather in October in Saskatchewan.  After a full day of hiking in the heat, I was wiped. 

I barely had enough energy to make dinner.  I was almost falling asleep standing up.  I made tuna casserole, and I also had a side of brussels sprouts:

Immediately after eating I fell asleep and slept for a solid 12 hours (from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.!!)  I couldn't even hold my eyes open to watch Grey's, and believe me, I tried!

This morning I felt well rested, and refreshed.  The administration at my school made breakfast for the staff this morning.  I had sausage, eggs, and a 1/4 of a cinnamon bun.  We went for lunch and I had a half order of veggie pasta. 

The hubby and I went out of town this evening to visit my mom.  We shared some pizza for dinner.

We are staying in a hotel tonight, and heading home tomorrow for a Turkey-filled long weekend!!  Monday is Thanksgiving Day in Canada!!

Fun News ...

At the end of August I was contacted by Alicia, an editor at Canadian Grocer Magazine.  Alicia informed me that she had came across my blog, and really liked it.  She was writing an article about Chocolate, and was looking for a passionate foodie's perspective (in addition to the perspectives of chocolate manufacturers and store owners). I did a phone interview with her back in August, and the article is out now in the current issue of Canadian Grocer magazine!!  Check it out if you come across it!

Do you have a long weekend this weekend?  

What are your plans?