I have something that I feel I need to share. The current status of my peanut butter stash:Yep. 7 Jars! My favorite is the Natural Crunchy. The roasted flavor of the peanuts is amazing. It is hardly sweet, which I think brings out the best peanut taste. Of my 4 Peanut Butter & CO jars my favorite is….oh such a hard choice, however; I have really been loving Mighty Maple. (I know, I thought it would have been Dark Chocolate Dreams too…but the stuff is SO good!)The entire nut-butter collection–10 Jars. Don’t judge! My jars of Dark Chocolate Almond, Coconut Butter and Sunflower Seed Butter are on their last legs.

Nutty,

Nora

Are you a creamy or crunchy nut-butter (any variety) person?

If I really want to I can have a few cups of coffee in my favorite mug while reading old copies of Bon Appetit and planning my day.I can do nothing but relax all morning. Have a snack. And go for a run. A slow run, so I can look at the scenery and appreciate every second of it, since I do not have time to exercise during the week.Mixed Nuts, Dates, one lonely Fig

I can have whatever I am feeling like for lunch, and go back for more yogurt since my refrigerator is mere feet away. I have no meetings to run to and housework can wait.Last of my baby spinach, leftover roasted pumpkin with cinnamon, 1 diced apple, roasted Brussels sprouts and 1 cup Greek yogurt, gingersnap granola, cinnamon and apple butter.

And lastly, I can take a spoon straight to the dark chocolate peanut butter jar, and declare lunch a victory.No one has to know that I took an extra “finger swipe” before closing the jar .

Happy Weekend,

Nora

What is your favorite part about the weekend?

Making this wild rice blend is a labor of love. It takes almost an hour! In the mean time I started brainstorming ways to make it more beautiful. I decided to make a rice stuffing with boozy mushrooms, hazelnuts and dried cherries. I wish I had some fresh thyme to make it even more “Thanksgiving” like!The cheap bourbon I bought to make my bourbon-apple pie was put to good use! Now I don’t regret not splurging on Maker’s Mark. I added about 1/2 TBS butter and 2 TBS bourbon to my skillet and cooked the mushrooms in the mix until it reduced. The earthy mushrooms took to the sweet flavor extremely well.Creamy. YUM.I had ~2 TBS hazelnuts on hand and decided to put them to good use. I really think this nut ‘made’ the dish. If I used walnuts or almonds it wouldn’t have been as flavorful.

For dessert I really wanted something with a peanut-butter and chocolate flare. The only thing I had on hand was Dark Chocolate Dreams (chocolate peanut butter spread–SO GOOD!). I pit my thinking cap on and whipped up 1 frozen banana in the food processor and topped it with the chocolate peanut butter. Hello lover. Usually I am an pure ice cream gal, but this really hit the spot tonight!It kind of looks like ice cream doesn’t it?

Happy Fall,

Nora

Do you cook with wines and spirits? What are your favorite dishes?

I love the combination pumpkin pie, chocolate and cream. I think it has something to do with the ginger in the pumpkin pie spice. I always put mini chocolate chips on top of pumpkin pie along with a big scoop of whipped cream. Can Thanksgiving please come sooner?Truffle woke me up at 6am but then let me sleep until 9. I never sleep that late! I thought I should treat myself. I gave her some chicken scraps for being a good kitty.Fluffy pumpkin pancake, creamy Greek yogurt, tart dried cranberry, crunchy pumpkin seed, silky banana and chocolate peanut butter. BEST. BITE. EVER! I think I loved this a little too much.She calls.

Pumpkin and Pie Season (yes please),

Nora

What is your favorite “special” breakfast?

**Note one of my favorite “special” breakfast items ever was the pecan cinnamon raisin sourdough french toast I made earlier this year. I still think about them sometimes…

1/4 cup rolled oats, 1/8 cup instant oats, 1/2 TBS chia seeds, 1/2 banana, 1/2 cup vanilla soy milk, 1/2 cup water, cinnamon, nutmeg, dried cranberries, sunshine raspberries, crunchy almond butter, dark chocolate peanut butter.

Patience is a virtue…that I need to learn.

I’ve been making my oatmeal in the microwave in lieu of the stove top because I haven’t had the time or patience in the morning. This is becoming a problem. My tongue and hands are burned to a crisp. I’ve been rushing around, egar to eat and don’t allow things to cool. Hot cermaic mugs and piping bananas and nut butter are not good for the palate. I’m probably going to have zero taste buds by the end of the winter.

My parent’s are coming up today so I’m on a cleaning rampage. In my “rushing around” state my apartment has become filed with papers and piles of clothes. Complete disorder. My brother is coming up later in the day and we are going out for my dad’s birthday dinner. Italian is on the menu, and for good reason–Half-marathon is TOMORROW! I’m nervous.

Slowing Down,

Nora

It has been such a busy week. I haven’t had time to post many of my foods. I have had this exact bowl of oatmeal for breakfast every morning and avocado, spinach and tomato sandwiches on whole wheat every day for lunch. It’s getting repetitive.

Part of me wanted to make something new for dinner tonight but I still had leftovers that I refuse to waste. I have plans to go out to eat a bunch of times in the next few days and had to use them up. I put my leftovers to good use and made pan-seared chicken breast topped with the last of my San Marzano tomato sauce, sauteed kale with Parmesan cheese and butternut squash with a nice glass of Zin.I couldn’t call it a night without some ice cream . Ice cream will never get old.

It was my dad’s birthday today…HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!! My parent’s are coming up tomorrow to help with more apartment things and celebrate my dad’s birthday. My dad and I are running a half-marathon on Sunday and I just started to get extremely nervous about it. Tomorrow is going to be a light day of rest and food.

Enjoy The Weekend,

Nora

For breakfast this morning I was feeling a little cool, crunchy, chocolaty and sweet. I made a mix of oat-goodness to satisfy .

Chia-Banana Overnight Oats (1/3 cup Rolled Oats, 1/3 cup 2% Greek Yogurt, 1/3 cup Vanilla Soy Milk, Cinnamon, 1/2 TBS Chia Seeds, 1/2 Banana) with Dark Chocolate Dreams, Crunchy Almond Butter, Berries and Honey.

For lunch, I ate what I planned on having yesterday. I didn’t end up eating this because we had a few celebrations in the office and lunch was FREE! I never turn down free food, or a party. Instead, I had whole wheat turkey and cheese wrap with a nice big slice of yellow birthday cake with the best vanilla frosting EVER. Sugary goodness I tell you!Guacamole Salad: Homemade Guacamole, Black Beans, Goat Cheese, English Cucumber, Cherry Tomatoes and Spinach.

Along side, I  packed a tart Zestar Apple and a Kashi Pumpkin Pie Granola Bar. Random, I know but I like having something sweet and some carbohydrate at lunch. I love this guacamole I made. My avocado to jalapeno ratio was 1-to-1. I like  guacamole spicy with lots of lime, cilantro and tomato for sweetness. No red onion.

Endless Possibilities,

Nora

What “twists” do you put on your favorite dishes to have it your way?

Overnight Oats: 1/3 cup Rolled Oatmeal, 1/3 Cup 2% Greek Yogurt, 1/3 cup Vanilla Soy Milk, 1/2 TBS Chia Seeds, Cinnamon, 1/2 Banana, Blueberries, Blackberries, Dark Chocolate Dreams, Crunchy Almond Butter, Sunflower Seed Butter, Honey.

One nut butter in my oats is satisfying.

Two nut butters in my oats is dynamic.

Three nut butters in my oats is a flavor party.

Breakfast today was a celebration of my nut butter love. I decided not to mix all of them together and ate my bowl section by section (I know…I’m weird haha). It was as if I was having three of my favorite overnight oats combination at once. I can be indecisive at times and this flavor party was beyond my wildest dreams.

Now time for a packing party. I have a half-day at work and meeting my parents for lunch. I’m really hoping that we can get a lot done today so this weekend won’t be awful!

Best,

Nora

What is your favorite nut butter? Can you even just pick one?!

3/4 of my peanut butter collection. You better believe I have a jar of Natural Creamy Peanut Butter in the refrigerator!

Sadly, breakfast was the only meal I was able to get on film today. Lunch was a throw together salad, similar to dinner last night, and a Pink Lady apple the size of my head. Snack was a trusty Honey Graham Z-bar. Dinner was a lovely—LOVELY grilled spinach wrap with chicken, red pepper, artichoke, asiago, and balsamic vinaigrette. I also had a side of German Potato Salad and an Octoberfest beer (SO good!). I had a late dinner with my brother after moving some things into my new apartment. When I got back I had a fake ice cream sandwich to clean out my freezer a bit .

I apologize if my pictures are sparse for the next day or so. Truffle and I should be all settled by the weekend. My parents…aka the expert movers, are coming up tomorrow to help me do some serious moving.

Meow,

Nora

“Hot Feet run in the morning, then cold brews in the afternoon.”

YES PLEASE! I was having a crazy day so his  message was really appreciated. I spent much of yesterday driving to appointments, running around at work and making phone calls. Did I mention that it all started with an 8am fender bender? It was nothing serious. I was rear-ended at a traffic light and my bumper has a few scratches. I’ve never had to deal with something like this before and spent a good amount of time on the phone with a lady from my insurance company. Despite the craziness, all was not lost. I think I found an apartment with a real kitchen . Is it weird that I already have a list of goodies I want to make? At the end of August my blog will become a LOT more interesting. I can’t wait!

I went for a run this morning to prepare for my Sunday. I am planning to run about 10-miles so preparations are necessary. I fueled with a Super-Charge-Me Cookie and ran a light 3-miles. I have been playing around with a few “pre-run” foods and think I am going to wake up early and have peanut butter and banana toast before my long run. The best fuel for me seems to be some combination of banana and peanut butter.

When I got back I made a Green Monster Smoothie in a Bowl. I love cooling down with a refreshing breakfast. And this one had Dark Chocolate Dreams!

Blender: 1 frozen banana, 1 cup vanilla soy milk, 1 scoop Dark Chocolate Dreams PB, 1 Scoop Vanilla Whey Protein Powder, 2 handfuls of spinach, cinnamon, ice.

Toppings: Vanilla Granola, Coconut Butter, Handful of Blueberries (at the bottom of my bowl haha).

Lunch today is another “whatever-isn’t-spoiled-in-my-fridge” production.

Salad: Spinach, Cucumber, Tomato, Radish, Olive Oil/Balsamic

Sandwich: Thick slice of 8-grain 3- seed bread, sunflower seed butter, Crofter’s Europe Superfruit Spread.

I actually was really satisfied with lunch yesterday. I had a small snack later in the afternoon but it held me over quite nicely. The 8-grain 3-seed bread is really dense and hearty. A thick slice with nut-butter filled me right up! Amazing and delicious.

Planning a little treat for dinner tonight, can’t wait!!

Weekend Plotting,

Nora

Do you make weekend plans during the week?

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