I’m probably breaking every jinxing rule in the book but…ohbygollythejobisreallycool!

That’s all I’m going to say for now.

Alright. Okay. Fine. I’ll tell you a little more. Part of the ‘interview’ was to drive over to the bakery and be semi-undercover.

I need to stop!! I don’t want to get too attached (um too late…?).

While undercover at the scene of the crime , I got a decaf coffee. The one thing I really wanted, the pecan bar, had pistachios. Boo allergy.

***

On the way home, I stopped by Target, Trader Joe’s and Wegman’s to entertain my sweet tooth. As you know, I’ve got a raging sweet tooth.

Every day is Halloween for me .

Look what I found…Chocolate covered candy corn!

I actually ended up putting it back. Don’t worry–read on!

Taylor Swift’s new album. I rarely ever buy full albums but come on, it’s T. Swee! Worth. every. penny.

(I love it!)

***

I got a carton of Pacific Natural Foods Organic Almond Milk from TJ’s for $1.69. I don’t typically get this brand because I’ve only seen them for $2.50+ (too much!).

Pacific is ranked #2 in my Almond Milk Ranking.

***

From top to bottom…1) a 29 cent chocolate bar, 2) chocolate mint candy, 3) candy corn and…

4) Chunks of Energy Chocolate Chip Almond. I’m addicted. Apparently these don’t last in my possession because they disappeared before my eyes once again.

***

I got the candy corn to make my OWN chocolate covered candy corn.

I’m sure you now have a sugar coma just from seeing those photos….it’s time for some REAL FOOD.

Pumpkin oatmeal pancake with hazelnut cream cheese and dried cranberries.

(1/3 cup oats. 1/4 cup pumpkin puree. 1/4 cup egg whites. Cinnamon. Water)

I cracked open a can of 365 pumpkin for this. The verdict? Still not as good as Libby’s but much better than TJ’s (sorry, Teej)!

Libby’s Pure Pumpkin > WF’s 365 Pumpkin > TJ’s Organic Pumpkin

***

Does Allie eat salty food…ever?

Believe it or not, yes!

Salmon. Tilapia. Shrimp. Tomatoes. Asparagus. Spring Mix.

And that’s that. Gotta go!

It’s gonna hit 75 degrees today. Is next week really the beginning of November? Really?!

***

Tell me: Chocolate covered _____ are the bomb!

I say pecans. That was easy.

I finally got to eat some pancakes yesterday–Oat Bran Danish Pancakes to be exact! I changed a few ingredients from my original recipe: I added 1 T ground flaxseed, used 1/4 cup whipped cottage cheese, and left out the baking soda (actually, I forgot to add it but it didn’t make a difference in the end).

The last time I made these, they were super U-G-L-Y so I wanted to make them extra perty this time around.

The batter is very thick because it’s essentially like cooking a bowl of oat bran. The batter doesn’t ‘pour,’ so it can be difficult to form a pancake shape. The trick is to put a dollop (or 3) of batter on the pan while it’s COLD and flatten it down. Then turn on the heat. Don’t flip until the pancake slides around.

Topped with yogurt, apricots, shredded coconut and a drizzle of maple syrup.

I also had a shot of wheatgrass with orange juice to get me revved up.

I had an interview yesterday so I snuck in a quick workout first thing in the morning. I ran 1.3 miles outside and then ellipticalled for 15 min. I had worked out the night before so this was mostly to clear my head and sweat a little.

Post-interview I went to the mall nearby where I got some tart frozen yogurt. I didn’t bring my camera with me, but it looked identical to this one!

***

I got a little lazy with the photos yesterday because my eats were a bit random. I did have a big bowl of Puffins with almond milk and I must say they tasted much better that way.

I also made my favorite trio of protein: egg whites, veggie sausage, whipped cottage cheese and avocado on a slice of whole wheat bread with a dollop of ketchup for dipping.

This combination is c-c-c-crazy good. A must try!

Now for some bad news.

I think I’m allergic to dairy….again. (Can you hear me crying?)

Recently, I’ve noticed that my stomach starts churning after I eat dairy. It makes me a bit bloated and uncomfortable. I’m guessing I’m mildly lactose intolerant. When I was 12, I became moderately lactose intolerant for about 2 years and then it went away….and now it seems to have returned. Some dairy foods are worse than others. 2% Greek yogurt, ice cream, and cheese are the worst offenders. Perhaps it’s the fat too?

As you can see I’m still eating dairy. I’m trying to moderate it a little bit (keyword: trying) but unless it gets really serious, I don’t think I will cut it out of my diet completely. This is because I get a large amount of protein and calcium from dairy foods, not to mention I love them to death. I am THE Dairy Queen after all. I might try cutting it out for a week or two (okay, maybe just a week) to see if it makes a huge difference in the way I feel. Perhaps I’ll give it a go after I finish off the cottage cheese, yogurt, and kefir in the fridge. I may also try eating goat milk products because I’ve heard they are easier on the tum tum. Considering my love for goat cheese, I don’t think that would be difficult for me.

I have so many random food (and non-food) allergies. I should be crowned the Allergy Queen!

Tell me: What are you allergic to?

***

Now for some good news….I’m going back to the Legg Mason Tennis Classic tonight. Andy Roddick is playing as well as a whole bunch of top seeded players!! Yipee!

U-G-L-Y you ain’t got no alibi….you’re TASTAY!!

Meet the ugliest pancake in the whole wide world. I intended on making mini pancakes but I accidentally dumped all the batter in the pan and it made for difficult flipping! While ugly, it tasted great–just like baked oatmeal hot outta the oven.

Oat Bran Danish Pancakes

• 1/3 cup oat bran
• 1 egg white
• 1/3 cup cottage cheese
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• splash of almond milk
• cinnamon

Topped with Greek yogurt, pears and kumquats (I was trying to cover the ugliness ).

The ‘pancake’ was crumbly yet soft and cake-like. I essentially cooked a bowl of oat bran!

French press coffee

It was a beautiful day, so I went for a 30 min. walk while reading for my Entrepreneurship class. I have problems focusing when I read indoors. I cannot last more than 10 min. without finding something else to do. However, when I read outside, I can easily read for 30 min. straight.

A Whole New Mind talks about letting your creativity shine by enhancing your right-brain’s functionality. The way most school systems are structured favor left-brain thinking i.e. standardized tests, cutting out music and art classes, grades, etc….Pink believes that utilizing both the left and right hemispheres of your noggin’ is the key to success.

Did your schools emphasize left-brain thinking (sequential, literal, analytical, textual) or right-brain thinking (aesthetic, metaphorical, simultaneous, contextual) or both??

***

For a late lunch, I made a Grilled Pear Salad w/ pecans, almond cheese, and broccoli slaw.

I grilled the pear slices on the panini press:

The pecans MADE the salad.

I planned to go to the gym at night to watch the Duke v. UVA basketball game, so my afternoon munchies came along and were rather fierce!

I calmed them down with some snax: plantain chips, cranberry almond biscotti, and chocolate chips.

Lemon Ginger Green tea latte

While reading (blah), I had a spoonful of Naturally More Almond Butter.

I used to eat almond butter by the jar! I could finish a jar in a mere 4 days. I had to limit the number of jars in my room because they would disappear so fast! Well, at some point I got a hold of that wild addiction and now I have it on english muffins, with my oats, with fruit, or just a spoonful at a time.

Naturally More, however, has super charged my addiction! I love this stuff. I just want to take a spoon to it like a pint of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream .

At the gym, I ellipticalled for 60 min. while we crushed UVA. Wahoo!

I came back and broke out the ugliest banana ever. It’s the shade of my place mat!

I made a protein green smoothie:

• 1 cup spinach
• 1/2 banana
• 1/2 cup almond milk
• 1/2 packet of vanilla protein powder

AND I finally got to eat an Ezekiel English Muffin w/ cottage cheese, bananas, and cinnamon.

I swear, I wake up every morning and think about eating an Ezekiel English Muffin. I have to say no sometimes because not only is it boring for the blog, it’s quite pricey.

I continued my post-workout eats with pumpkin ice cream, crumbled Carrot Ginger Muffin and Naturally More almond butter:

Then I chatted with my roommate until 1 AM while eating choco chips. Work? What?

Hope you’re having a great start to the week. It’s in the 50s and sunny today. Too bad it’s supposed to snow tomorrow and Wednesday!…..I’m ready for Spring and Spring Break!!

I fixed Ecto!!! Whew! What a headache that was. Thanks to Miss Kelsey for the help.

Yesterday, April McGregor, the owner of Farmer’s Daughter (a local farm-driven artisan food business), came in to my Culinary Cultures class to do a biscuit-making demonstration. She talked about her experiences growing up in a small town in Mississippi as well as her pursuit of a career in food, despite getting a graduate degree in Geology.

There seems to be a common theme here. I keep meeting women who have pursued their passion–first my professor, then the Pie lady, then the bakery owner, and now April. I think it’s a sign .

***

I’ll show you the biscuits she baked in just a few photos but first, breakfast:

Strawberries ‘n’ Cream (Greek yogurt)

Cinna-raisin Ezekiel English Muffin topped with 2 egg whites and cottage cheese:

Chock full of protein!

Necessary cup o’ joe because I got up suuuuuper early to try and fix my blog problems.

I kept it light knowing we would be eating in class.

Two people brought in food for the class:

1. Sweet Pancake

This had peanuts inside so i did not have any (allergic).

2. Homemade vegetarian gumbo with rice

The flakiest butter biscuit hot outta the oven!

April brought in some of her preserves–on the left is a pear preserve and on the right is sorghum. I also had a dip of some chocolate gravy (which tastes like hot chocolate sauce)!

Her homemade preserves:

After class, I went to the gym to work off some steam/frustration. It worked like a charm! I got there totally flustered and came out calm and composed. Exercise is a wonderful thing.

Work Out:

• 3 mile treadmill run–it felt great but I had slight shin pain by the end
• 35 min. elliptical
• 30 min. full body strength training and ab work

I ate this Chocolate Heart Thrive between cardio and strength training to get some sugar in my blood stream.

Pre-shower snack: my muscles needed some fuel and fast!

Sandwich round with pumpkin butter and mozzarella almond cheese:

Spring break is in ONE week and I am now realizing that I have A LOTTA food to eat up!! Let the fridge cleaning begin.

I’ve got to finish off:

• Greek yogurt (no worries)
• Kefir (definitely no worries)
• Cottage Cheese
• Broccoli Slaw
• Eggs
• Strawberries
• Pears
• Artichokes
• Almond Milk
• Kumquats
• Tofu

Got any ideas for meals/snax using these ingredients?

***

I took a stab at my list for dinner:

Salad w/ eggplant, artichokes, broccoli slaw, cucumbers, and tzatziki sauce dressing.

Tofu cubes with ketchup–surprisingly great combo. Try it!!

For dessert I nibbled my little mouth off:

Plantain chips and dried pineapples with Naturally More Almond Butter:

Pumpkin Ice Cream with biscotti. It looked just like this:

Chocolate chips and a green tea latte:

I ended the night by watching the Olympics (Apolo!) and heading to bed early (12:30 AM haha). I had an early wake up call to go to the bakery!

I’ll be back with a bakery recap (including the 5 layer wedding cake) and footage of our blogger meet up tonight at Guglhupf Bakery, Patisserie & Cafe!!

As predicted, I was h-h-hungry this morning. I think my late-night workout continued to burn throughout the night. Despite being hungry enough to eat anything, I wanted to make something special this morning. You know…change things up a bit. Yes, I could eat kefir + Greek yogurt bowls all the live long day (check out the tutorial if you missed it!) but I had a hankering for pancakes.

I referred to my recipe for Multigrain Butternut Squash Banana Pancakes but used OAT BRAN instead of GROUND OATS. Oh and I added a lil’ kefir . I simply couldn’t resist.

Butternut Banana Oat Bran Pancakes

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup oat bran
• 1 egg white
• 1/8 cup whole wheat pastry flour
• 1/2 cup butternut squash
• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 TBSP kefir (!!!)
• 1/4 cup water or milk
• Stevia
• Banana slices
• Toppings

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients (except banana slices)

2. Pour 1/4 cup of batter into skillet

3. Gently press banana slices into pancake

4. Flip

5. Top pancakes with whatever you want!

My toppings included….

Almond butter and Agave Nectar Drizzle

Apple slices.

Whipped Cream Greek Yogurt and cinnamon.

I think I hit every food group with this breakfast.   IHOP’s got nothin’ on me!!

***

After walking + reading (simultaneously) for ~30 min., I popped a squat at this picnic table to sip some half-caf coffee and read/write for class.

I had to take advantage of the sun + 60 degree warmth because it’s supposed to SNOW on Saturday!!! Whaaaat!?

After class, I went to the WaDuke Trail for a 5K run. I was SO JAZZED UP for this run because I had been looking forward to it since I checked the weather last weekend. The weather did not disappoint me but my legs did. UFFF my legs were dragging. I tried to take it easy on the crazy roller coaster hills to avoid injury, but even so, I was not feeling the endorphins.

So I decided I would hit the elliptical to finish out my workout. After 10 min. I made the crazy/awesome decision to go to a CARDIO DANCE class at our gym.

Despite being POOPED to the max, it was SO MUCH FUN!! I was a sweaty beast afterwards. It did not feel like a workout at all. Just fun aerobics-style dancing. I was honestly surprised my legs survived the hour long class!

(before the class, I had a handful of dried sugary fruit)

***
The pancakes I made for breakfast held me over for sooo many hours. I snacked on some almonds throughout the morning and together they kept me going and going.

For dinner, I decided I would continue my breakfast craze…

An omelet (1 egg+2 egg whites) w/ mushrooms, broccoli and BRIE cheese!

I’m still chipping away at these mini bries I got from Costco back in October!! See? That’s exactly why I love these tubs. I can never finish a whole huge wedge. These are perfect because I can have fresh brie at my own pace.

I was too optimistic about stuffing my omelet with veggies so it ended up being uncloseable

That’s okay because now you get a peak at the inside!

Panini-pressed sweet potato discs with ketchup.

Salsa w/ avocado chunks.

Panini-smushed toast.

All together now.

I have a scary amount of work due tomorrow morning. Gotta get crackin’!! I’ll probably have a green monster w/ Kashi Go Lean soon since my stomach is already calling for food. I blame cardio dance

I’m excited for my Culinary Cultures class tomorrow!! We’re making something exotic, I hear. Okay WORK TIME!!!

I hit up the Fab Four today: Target, Trader Joe’s, Harris Teeter and Whole Foods. They are all within a 1 mile radius from my parents’ condo! I spent a lot of time buying very little–just browsing around mainly.

For breakfast, I tried remaking my Multigrain Butternut Squash Banana Pancakes sans b-nut squash and banana. T’was a bad idea because the pancakes really needed some squash/pumpkin for moisture. As a result, they turned out a little dry.

Oh well, the toppings made up for it! Chocolate chips, unsweetened coconut flakes and almond butter drizzle. With a side of maple syrup.

YAHHHMM!!

While shopping, I sipped on a half caf coffee from Starbucks w/ 3 pumps of Pumpkin Spice Syrup—Mmmmm! This is officially my favorite hot bevvy. (repeat photo)

I spotted THIS at Target!!!

They’re forgetting the most important part: EAT!!!!

When I came back I had a Stonyfield Pumpkin Pie yogurt that I got at Harris Teeter using my coupon from HLS! It was double the value because coupons under 99 cents get doubled at HT.

50 cents–> $1 off! Cha-ching!

I liked it! I’d heard mixed reviews around the blogworld so I didn’t know what to expect. It had a pleasant pumpkiny flavor. Definitely different from my pumpkin mixed into yogurt creation though.

I snacked on 1/2 a bagel w/ almond butter before hitting the tennis court for ~ 1 hour with my Momma. No photo!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I stopped by Whole Foods to get dinner since my parents went out with their friends. Parents OUT. Allie AT HOME. Ya gotta love this picture.

I got some veggies from the salad bar (I’ve been lacking some leafy greens since coming home).

• Seafood including shrimp, scallops, and calamari
• 3 cubes of tofu

I like putting grain salads into little sample dishes so they don’t get lost in the box of salad. That way I can actually taste them!

• Butternut Fregola Salad
• Hazelnut Wild Rice Salad
• Multigrain Tabouleh Salad

All eaten on top of my salad!

I also had some butter pecan ice cream x2….perhaps 3 There’s a reason why I use a small dish!

Off to…

• Watch the American Music Awards
• Pretend to do homework
• And then watch My Sister’s Keeper (FINALLY) w/ my Momma ($1 from the Red Box!!).

Thank you to the following ladies for submitting such scrumptious almond (peanut) butter entries this week! The unique entries show just how versatile (and awesome) almond butter is…and why it’s a part of my daily diet!

Check out these amazing entries:

1) Errign’s Healthy Peanut Butter Cookies

2) Lauren’s AB-PG Sammie (Almond butter, spinach, sliced pear, goat cheese)

3) Krista’s Almond Carrot Cake Bread Pudding

4) Erin’s Mighty Morphin’ Pumpkin Power Pancakes

5) Nicole’s Creamy Nut Buttery Fig Panini

You can tell Fall is upon us, huh?

Choosing ONE winner was so hard, especially because they were all such different recipes.

Before we get to the winner, I’d like to present the PRIZE!

Now, I ate one of these yesterday but I didn’t want to reveal what it was until tonight because the BSI prize for this week is: My Aprican Almond Butter Bites….with cranberries!!!

So APRI-CRAN?

What an appropriate prize right?? I’m lovin’ the addition of cranberries! The recipe is seriously so easy and simple.

I know, I’m totally pulling a Ryan Seacrest right now…

After much deliberation, I have chosen Krista’s Almond Carrot Cake Bread Pudding as the winner!!  I loved how original her recipe was and putting a twist on my favorite dessert in the whole world (carrot cake) may have helped

The new host of BSI is going to be Caitlin from Healthy Tipping Point. Be sure to check out her blog for the new secret ingredient!!

**Last chance to enter my Oikos Giveaway!!  I will be choosing a winner at midnight EST tomorrow!

My ability to eat went out the window today after a visit to the dentist!! I went in for a check-up/cleaning and the 2 cavities I had from last time were still there. My dentist always says ‘we’ll take care of it next time’ as if they’ll go away (?!?). But today, he finally had the time to fill them so I said a reluctant ‘okay’ as I surrendered my life ability to eat.

I got not one but TWO horrendously painful shots of novocaine, one on EACH side of my upper gums. He went a little bit low so my entire tongue was numb and I could barely talk. I definitely had a lisp and started drooling when I was talking on the phone to my BFF, Katherine. Attraaaaactive!!

Before getting my poor little toothies drilled I had a Multigrain Butternut Squash Banana Pancake Breakfast for one! Say that 5 times fast!!!

My pancakes basking in the morning sunshine

I made the pancake batter from scratch using these ingredients:

• 1/3 cup Rolled oats (ground to a flour consistency)
• 1 Egg white
• 1/6 cup of Whole wheat pastry flour (the mysterious bag in the photo)
• 1/2 cup Butternut squash puree (leftover from muffin making)
• 1 tsp Pumpkin pie spice
• 1 tsp Baking Powder
• 1 tsp Vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup Water (didn’t have milk!)
• Stevia

I used my Magic Bullet to grind the rolled oats (YES, I brought this guy home with me for the weekend. Very necessary.)

The batter! I could have popped this in the microwave for some oat bran-like porridge….

But I didn’t.

TA DA!!!

I topped the 4 pancakes (can you spot the 4th pancake!?!?) with pumpkin butter, agave nectar, almond butter drizzle, and some berries for perty-ness!!

With a side of glowing honey dew and papaya!

All together now:

.

.

.

Then came the death of my mouth for a span of 5 hours. I got out of the dentist’s office expecting to be starving but had absolutely no appetite. My mouth was in so. much. pain. and I was dizzy and had a massive migraine (?) It felt like I had surgery or something!! I couldn’t OPEN my mouth. It was that bad.

So I chatted mumbled with my parents while waiting for the pain to subside. I had some (unpictured) kefir chia pudding that I coincidentally made last night. My mouth (and stomach) liked that one! I’ll make it again for y’all to see.

I went downstairs and ellipticalled for 60 min. while watching [Hey Y'all] Paula Deen add 2 sticks of butter and a cup of sugar to everything she made. I also watched Bring it On All or Nothing. Some things should just go un-blogged

I came home and made myself a salad but my teeth were still a bit raw from earlier. So I made a massive Green Monster instead. Virtually the same thing just in liquid form right?!?

• Frozen spinach
• Frozen berries
• Greens+ Superfood Mix
• Kefir
• Stevia

I also baked up the rest of the sweet potato fries with a light coating of EVOO and ate them with some organic ketchup I found in the fridge.

Mmmm Mmmm Mmmm!! Nice and soft for my toothies!

I snacked on some papaya and honey dew while writing this up. My hunger is definitely catching up now that my gums aren’t screaming at me. I think I’m gonna go venture off to find some more grub!

.

.

.

Quirky Qs

1) Have you ever had a super-painful dental experience? What did you eat? I had head gear and braces back in the day so I had my fair share of soup and yogurt only WEEKS.

2) What’s your favorite pancake flavor/recipe? What are your favorite add-ins? The pancakes I made today were definitely high on my list!

~~~~~~~~~~

I’m off to go prepare my BSI post!!! Coco chose me to be the next host!! I’m super excited for this…stay tuned for the secret ingredient.