How I Spend My Days Off

I had today off of work so I had big plans to cook, eat, exercise, read and eat some more.

The morning started off on a bad note when my mom, my sister and I showed up at Udi’s only to find that it’s closed all week! 

Back up plan = Mimi’s Cafe.  A chain but pretty good nonetheless. 

I started out with a pumpkin spice latte.

In an attempt to eat something as close to what I would have gotten at Udi’s, I ordered the Pacific Croissant (minus bacon, tomatoes and cheese).  It had scrambled eggs, garlic spinach, avocado and basil pesto aoili.

With potatoes on the side.

I’m pretty sure I was too busy blabbing (sorry Mom and Beanie!) to notice that I barely touched my potatoes.  The sandwich was okay, but nothing compared to Udi’s.  I boxed half and now Joey has breakfast for tomorrow.

Beanie and I picked at the muffin but boxed most (and by most I mean all but two bites) and sent it with my mom to work.

Beanie (the Little Bear) dropped my mom off at work then met me back at my place where cookie baking ensued.  We broke out my new aprons and I felt like a real pro 😛 

I requested my mom’s chocolate chip oatmeal cookie recipe because everytime she makes them I can’t stop eating them.  But as usual, nothing I make comes out as good as my mom’s.  Oh well, even when these cookies aren’t the best, they’re still pretty darn good!

I’ll put the recipe up if anyone’s interested.  By forewarned that there’s lots of butter involved.

They came out a little too flat for my liking.  I’ll have to talk to my mom about it and hopefully get a more serious answer than “The secret is that I spit in the dough,” which is what she told my sister.

I hope I have some cookie loving friends because I have a TON of cookies.

And while the oven was hot I thought I’d make something I’ve wanted to make for MONTHS AND MONTHS.

Almond butter.

But not just any almond butter.  Ashley’s Roasted Maple Cinnamon Almond Butter.  You can find her recipe here.

I’ve tried to make this once before, but I didn’t have real maple syrup and I only had a mini cuisanart.  Needless to say, it didn’t work out.  I was determined this time!

These smelled so good but being the weirdo that I am, I just wasn’t it a tasting mood.  I set some aside for later, though.

Then it was time to butterize.

It got buttery then thickened up when I added the cinnamon but it smoothed back out after I added the oil (I used safflower).

To say I was excited, is an understatement.  I was elated that this turned out!!

And I definitely tasted this butter.

Yum, can’t wait to top some oats with this!

What’s that you say?  You’ve seen enough pictures from me for one day?  Well, too bad.  Feast your eyes upon this butternut squash soup.

So simple and tasty.

Candlelight yoga tonight!  For some reason I’m both excited and nervous.  Hope it’s fun.