Things I Learned This Week
Warning: The amount of winter-ness in this post may scare anyone who’s still in denial that winter is indeed coming… this includes myself.
1. 5 pound acorn squashes do exist.
And in case you need something to compare its size to…
2. It is extremely difficult to hold a 5 pound squash in one hand while you use your camera with the other. Especially if that squash doesn’t actually fit in one hand.
3. It’s okay to fill your plate with all yellow foods.
But it’s highly recommended that you include some red… ya know, for dipping purposes. Hint: I’m talking about ketchup.
4. No matter how long you’ve lived in Colorado (cough all my life cough), it’s still crazy to have 75 degree weather during the day and snow in the evening.
5. Wet snow and trees full of leaves don’t mix.
6. Puppies in sweaters are adorable.
7. But puppies in socks are even better.
8. Puppies would rather eat those socks than wear them.
“Who, me?”
9. It is extremely difficult to photograph a dog while they are racing around your apartment, sock in hand mouth.
10. And this one is important. If you leave your favorite pair of sleeping shorts on the floor and turn your back for 5 minutes, your mom’s dog will eat them.
Wah. Wah.
11. If you decide to paint your dining room red, you should be prepared to put at least 4 coats of paint on. And you will consequently have to spend more money than you had anticipated on multiple cans of red paint.
But when all is said and done, it looks pretty good.
12. If the Beach Boys come on while you are painting, you will immediately rush over and change the song.
Is it just me or do snow and the Beach Boys just not mix? I was really tempted to play Christmas music… don’t judge! But to be fair, the only Christmas song I have on my iPod is by Chris Brown and it’s just plain good at any time of the year.
13. I was a squirrel in a past life.
This container of nuts and cranberries won’t last me long.
14. Snow and chocolate oats just go together.
Unlike snow and the Beach Boys.
15. It is officially too cold to take pictures on your patio in the shorts and t-shirt you slept in.
Brrrr.
16. It’s going to be a fun weekend.
Complete with Halloween movies, pumpkin carving and bar hopping as the Pink Panther.
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What did you learn this week?
Are you dressing up for Halloween?
WIAW: A Day of Firsts
Mother Nature must have known I planned on writing a post about firsts because she just sent us our first snow storm on the season. Every winter, I whine that “I hate it here and I’m moving!” I hate being cold and I hate driving in the cold even more. And I have to be at work early in the morning. In other words, kill me now.
But no more complaining. It’s all about the WIAW partay.
This would mark the first WIAW where I’ve posted super early. In fact, it’s Tuesday night as I’m writing this. It was either super early or super late tomorrow and since I’m usually late, I thought I’d surprise everyone (myself included) and be early this once 😛
Breakfast First:
First time microwaving my oatmeal.
I’ve been sleeping like a log lately! I always set an alarm and never sleep long enough to need it, but the past few days I’m in such a deep sleep until my alarm goes off. No idea why that’s been happening! To make a long story short, I got a slow start this morning and by the time I got back from my run for breakfast, it was late and I wanted to eat fast. Solution: the microwave. I feel like it’s taboo to cook oatmeal in the microwave, but you gotta do what you gotta do right?
Microwaved pumpkin oatmeal.
Topped with chocolate chips, peanuts and peanut butter.
Aka current favorite combo.
Lunch First:
First tempeh parmesan sandwich.
Herb crusted tempeh on a toasted bun with melted cheese and marinara.
Grilled zucchini on the side.
Dinner First:
First time cooking beans.
I never cook my beans, I just buy cooked canned ones, but I was making chili with cranberry beans (??) and we could only find dry ones. I don’t know why I’ve never cooked my own beans before, it was so easy! Time consuming maybe and you have to be able to plan ahead, but maybe I should try cooking them from now on?
Cranberry Bean Chili with Winter Squash and Swiss Chard
Unpictured tortilla chips on the side.
Fact: I love chili.
And it was the perfect day to make it, given the weather. Insert grumbling.
Now I’m finally going to bed!
As always, thanks to Jenn of Peas and Crayons for hosting the WIAW party and for doing it early so I don’t have to wake up any earlier tomorrow 🙂
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Have you had snow where you live yet?
Have you ever cooked your own beans?
What’s your favorite cold weather comfort food?
Restaurant Review: Snooze in Boulder
If you live in Colorado and you don’t know what Snooze is, you most likely live under a rock.
Please remove yourself and head into Denver, Boulder or Fort Collins ASAP.
And good news for you Californians… they’re opening a San Diego location soon. Rejoice!
All I need is unique pancake flavors and the option of picking three different flavors to eat in one meal for my life to be complete.
Consider it officially complete. And in case you’re doubting my enthusiasm for Snooze, you should know Joey just told me to “stop typing so fast, you’re scaring me.” I’m all fired up.
If you’ll recall, I’ve been to the Snooze in Denver before, but the Boulder location recently opened and it was about time I tried it.
The Good:
- Everything. Okay, just kidding, it’s not fair to say that since I only tried my dish, but a flight of pancakes may be the best idea ever. Especially if it means I can have a pineapple upside down pancake, a sweet potato pancake and blue corn pancake on one plate.
- Butter. Cinnamon butter, ginger butter and pinon butter to be exact.
- The decor. The table we sat at was too cute — the whole restaurant has a whole 1950’s feel and what could be better than listening to Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini while
diving head first intoeating a plate of pancakes. - Quality. Everything is homemade and they strive to use natural, farm-raised, free range ingredients, plus as many local items at possible.
- It’s not just pancakes. Corned beef hash, heuvos rancheros, peaches ‘n cream French toast and even a brunch menu!
My mom, the corned beef connisuer, claimed her hash was really good. Her cleared plate had me convinced.
- They can do gluten-free pancakes too!
- The pancake menu changes throughout the year. The quinoa and corn pancake topped with pumpkin sauce, candied pumpkin seeds and maple syrup that I had last October was un-be-lievable.
The Bad:
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Umm, this is going to be hard.
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This place is BUSY. If you go on the weekend, be prepared to wait a while. Like two hours. Believe me, I’ve seen it firsthand. Twice.
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My sister didn’t think her huevos were as hot as they should have been. But they sure looked nice.
That is all.
In other words, I love Snooze.
Pineapple Upside Down Pancakes
Caramelized pineapple chunks with house made vanilla crème anglaise and cinnamon butter.
Sweet Potato Pancakes
Sweet potato buttermilk pancakes topped with homemade caramel, pecans and ginger butter.
Blue Mesa Pancakes
Blue corn and buttermilk pancakes made with fresh summer corn and topped with pinon butter and chili-spiced maple syrup.
Behind last year’s pumpkin pancake, the sweet potato takes the pancake.
Pancakes make me happy.
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What pancake flavor would you like to see on a menu?
What’s the best pancake you’ve ever had?
What’s your favorite breakfast restaurant?
Lauren Loves Good Food 