Blogger Firsts
Guess what I just did? Had my first ever blogger meet up! With the lovely Shanna of Shanna, Like Banana and I can honestly say, I had so much fun.
I was so nervous all day and felt like I was going on a first date, but Shanna is a genuine and fun person and we had so so much to talk about. It’s so nice to go out to dinner with someone and feel no shame in whipping out the camera as soon as the food hits the table.
Side note: check out my new car.
Hello, early grad present. There’s nothing like new car to make commuting much more enjoyable.
I had picked a Mexican restaurant for Shanna and I to go to but there was an Italian place a few doors down called Via Baci. It had me at pizza and vino, although I let the wine expert choose a glass for me. With the wine situation taken care of, we moved onto food. We passed on the mussels (ew) and the artichoke dip for something a little lighter: hummus. Did you expect anything else from me?
Then we each got a pizza.
Truth be told, I like Shanna’s better. Green olives on pizza? Why haven’t I thought of that before? Lucky for me, I got to take home the leftovers 🙂
I had no idea how much we had in common (did you know we are both former dancers and were on high school dance teams?).
Could I be any whiter? Don’t answer that.
My throat is dry from talking so much and I’m beat, but it was worth it 🙂
Happy Thursday, friends.
Soup is Simple
Enough said, right?
If someone came up to me and asked what they could make that would be simple, healthy and sure to please I would answer: soup! I swear some of the best things that have come out of Joey and I’s kitchen this past year have been soups. The only thing I will miss about Winter is the excuse to make piping hot soup to keep warm.
I’ve been making soup at least one, if not twice a week since early Fall and I’ve come to realize it versatile is.
Last night I made a roasted butternut squash soup but spiced it up by serving it over cous cous (the food so nice they named it twice — I can’t stop saying that) and added some pumpkin seeds (for crunch!) and goat cheese on top and it took the soup to the next level.
Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
- 2 butternut squashes, peeled and cubed
- 2 T olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
- 5 cups vegetable broth
- Peel and cube squash then place on a baking sheet and toss with olive oil, salt and pepper. Bake 50 minutes or until soft.
- Add roasted squash to a pot with vegetable broth and use an immersion blender to puree the soup.
- Adjust seasonings to taste.
**If you don’t have an immersion blender, either A) go get one because it will make your life insurmountably better or B) puree in a blender but you’ll have to do it in batches.
My gosh, I knew that soup was easy but writing the directions out just makes me realize how easy it is. You won’t believe how flavorful this soup is for having such few ingredients. I’ll miss you come summer, my beloved butternut.
At this point you could just eat the soup but why not add some bulk and serve it over some carby goodness? Quinoa, rice, millet, cous cous (the food… I’ll let you finish that sentence on your own). Who knew cous cous was so easy to make? Or maybe I just bought some instant brand. Either way, it was done in 5 minutes. I doubt even Joey could mess that one up.
Soup assembly went like this:
1. Fill bowl with cous cous
2. Cover with soup
I promise the cous cous is under there somewhere. OH, right, there is is.
3. Top with goat cheese and pumpkin seeds
4. Bask in the glory and simplicity of your creation, aka take numerous pictures and pretend you think everyone wants to see multimple pictures of your bowl of soup.
Oh and in case you were wondering, and I know you were, this happened again today.
How I had time to make pancakes, walk Tonka and get ready for school in an hour (thanks for not going off, alarm clock) is beyond me. Tonka wakes Joey up at god awful hours of the morning to go out but I’ve been the one waking him up while Joey’s been gone. Tonka knows who’s boss.
One test and one paper down, only one more test to go before Spring Break.
If that’s not a reason to smile, I don’t know what is.
Panclogs and My Plea
A prize to anyone who can tell me the movie I’m referencing in my title.
Just kidding, there’s no prize. But I’ll be impressed and I’ll like you. A lot.
This happened today.
Can you see my reflection in the left hand bottom corner of the plate? It’s hysterical. Or embarrassing. Same thing.
Who knew pancakes could be so easy to make? Apparently Angela did. Oh and Caitlin too. Isn’t it weird when you see someone else in the blog world eating the same breakfast as you? Except for that part where I used whole wheat flour instead of spelt. Minor details.
This batter is just a simple mix of flour, cinnamon, salt, baking soda and almond milk. Easy right? The fun part is adding the mix-ins and toppings.
I added bluebs and banana slices on one side then flipped but I think the fruit interfered with the panclogs pancakes ability to cook on the other side. Good thing there wasn’t anything that really needed to be cooked in there. Plus I don’t mind dough.
Grilled banana inside a pancake? I’m in heaven.
The best part about the simplicity of this pancake recipe is that it allows for extra decadent toppings. Like peanut butter or chocolate hazelnut butter or granola or maple syrup.
And when I say or I mean and because I definitely added all of those things.
Pancakes should always be stacked. This is a new rule I’m enforcing in my life.
Oh, my.
Told you they were doughy.
My roommates are cooking something in the oven right now and it smells like pancakes and I’m about to start drooling. Thank goodness breakfast comes every day. It’d be better if it came several times a day, but I’ll take what I can get.
I’m pretty sure these pancakes set the mood for the day, because for some reason today just seemed really really good. I was so productive! Probably because I had a test to study for and a paper to finish. I’m really good at getting everything but school work done…
I’ve gone on a total of 3 walks and one 4-mile run. Wind sucks and as much as I dislike Tonka and his constant desire to yank my arm out of the socket when I walk him, I do like being forced to get up and move a few times a day.
My Plea: I’m leaving for vacation this coming Friday and I’ll be in New Orleans for a little over a week in May. Rather than try to post while on vacation (I’ve tried it and I just can’t do it, or maybe I just don’t want to :P), I’d love to have some guest posts but that means I need guest posters. So if you think you can crank out a post at least by this Thursday or if you’d rather wait until May, please email me at laurenadorsey@yahoo.com.
Make me happy friends, and don’t make me feel like a blog loser who can’t round up any guest posters. Yeah, I bet you didn’t know I was a talented guilt tripper.
Off to go on dog walk #4. Happy Monday.
Lauren Loves Good Food 