C to the A

Heyoooo from the sunny(ish) state of California.  Yes, I am finally home after a painful flight home.  I gave the flight attendants quite a scare with my near-fainting.  They kept saying how pale I looked, and I kept telling them that was my baseline color, but I felt SOOO miserable, I don’t think I was too persuasive.  Either way, I slept through the first half of the crack of dawn flight (which was my goal), but woke up around 10 am feeling like I was going to spew my guts.  Lovely, no?  I thought maybe my lack of glucose was the culprit, but 3 bites into my apple made me feel WAY worse.  Hmmm.  Since the bathrooms were all occupied, I set up shop on the floor in the back of the plane.  Cold compresses and 20 questions later, I was sipping a HFCS loaded Sprite in the flight attendant’s seat.  High fructose corn syrup?!?  Yes, THAT’S how sick I was. 

I never really got my bearings back, but I managed to stumble off the plane and board a BART train to arrive home at 11 am West Coast time. 

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I dug into this AS SOON AS I stepped in the door.  Literally, I hardly even said hi to my parents’ new puppies.

Be prepared for a million and one Trader Joe’s products because when I come home, that’s ALL I want.  And if you have any suggestions on things I must try from the foodie mecca that is TJ’s, holler to a hippie, ok?

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The photo is not as pretty as it tasted.  After demolishing half the box of crackers, we played with these guys.  Remember when Milo was this tiny?

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Could there BE any more toys in the house? (There’s the Chandler for you Lara)

I could have raced around the backyard with them forever.  Geez, I miss having a yard.  But, eventually Target was calling my name.  You like how I cram in all my fave stores while I am home?  You can BET your a$$ I’m going to Costco later, too.

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While making dinner, I snacked on some cherry tomatoes fresh from my Mom’s garden.  The pic on the left isn’t to make you jealous Averie – it’s just to excite your inner wine-o 😉

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Dinner was a curry dish that was a fave from my youth.  It was always my “birthday” dinner of choice.

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Raw.

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Cooked.

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Plated.

Ingreds were not measured, but here’s what went into the dish:

  • chickpeas
  • onions
  • mushrooms
  • apples
  • golden raisins
  • peas
  • flour (to thicken)
  • curry powder
  • vegetable stock

Usually I would top this dish over rice, but the aroma of the loaf (below) was so intoxicating, I decided I couldn’t wait to try it any longer. 

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Trader Joe’s organic crusty bread.

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Why lie so myself and start with one slice?  No, clearly this was going to be a half-of-the-loaf kind of meal.  Mmmm.

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Comments (47)

  1. Abby

    HUGE TJ’s woven wheats fan! Your chickpea dish looks delish!!

  2. Tabitha

    Oh that chick pea curry is going into my tummy on Saturday night, it looks amazing.

  3. carolinebee

    OMG i didnt know ur flight home was such a disazzz! I hope u feel better, i cannot wait to go home and frolick in target and TJ’s and FRO YO all within walking distance!

  4. blueeyedheart

    That sounds like the flight from hell. (Better than the flight to hell, I suppose…)

    You have something against NY TJs / Target / Costco?! 😉

    <3 <3

  5. devan

    that curry looks AMAZING!
    and i love your dogs! so cute 🙂

    that flight sounds SCARY :S ah!

  6. Marianne

    Yummy! chickpeas and curry…can’t go wrong!

    Love the pics of the pups! I have a 6 yr old german shepherd and they sure do make the cutest puppies….love it when their ears are too big and tip sideways.

    marianne

  7. Nellie

    boo to the flight, yay for being home!!!

    oh trader joe’s, love of my life! i’ve recently become absolutely obsessed with their vegetable masala burgers, you would LOVE! oh and frozen edamame soycutash (edamame, pepper and corn) is ah-mazing in salads!

  8. verbalriot

    Ahhh so jealous of how nice the weather must be! I’m FREEZING!

    Those puppies are adorable 🙂

    Sorry about your flight troubles! I take Dramamine and try to pass out, I get so sick on planes!

  9. Bri

    I’m hoping you brought an extra suitcase with you so can bring back all your food purchases home with you! Ah man sucky about the in flight blahness. Lovin’ the curry dish to the max!

  10. Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga)

    So much to say and in my usual LONG comment form here goes…
    1. Air sickness. Girl I have been there. As a child I would get mercilessly car sick and airplanes were just double the fun. Even as an adult I get a little woozy sometimes. I refuse dramamine and any of that other crap as it makes me feel drugged & tired but still vomitty. I hate to break this to you but….I was horribly sick with morning sickness most of my pregnancy and it felt like air sickness. It “only” lasted 7 mos. The first and last mo of pregnancy I was spared. I actually blogged a few shots from my pregnancy on my blog today. I hope your air sickness is nothing of anything to come.
    2. The treats from yesterdays post…well yeah, I can understand if my parents lived in Sonoma that I wouldnt be itching to go back to my NYC life. Ha! I’m so there with ya!
    3. The pic of your vineyard today…OMG I am drooling. I am seriously in love with vineyards, wineries and the whole lifestyle. OMG I cannot tell you how enchanted I am by it and just wanna do that whole scene.
    4. It was to the point that even when I was living 2000 miles away, I dated a guy who lived in Marin County and flew to see him once a month so that he could take me to Sonoma. I am that obsessed. And I prefer Sonoma to Napa 🙂
    5. Your chickpea action looks delish but the other pic steals my heart 🙂
    6. Enjoy your time with your family and being home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    xoxo
    averie

  11. katecooks

    yay for being back in ca!!! sorry about the plane sickness. that happens to me alllll the time when i fly coast to coast. i am the girl with her head between her legs taking deep breaths so i dont get sick. SO awkward. im glad the HFCS could do its job on you 🙂

  12. The Foodie Diaries

    being sick on a plane is THE WORST. sorry about that.

    but glad you are back to your normal eating self–and reaping (er, raping) the TJs goodies!

  13. Jenny

    you poor thing! I hate being sick in my own bedroom — I can’t even imagine how miserable it must have been 5,000 ft above ground!

    hope that curry dish (nom, BTW) was just what you needed to turn that frown upside down!

  14. Allison

    Ohhh noooo! 🙁 Thats terrible that the flight was such a disaster… ughh I’ve got motion sickness on everything. boat, car, train, plane you name it… so I feel your pain!

    But at least now you’re home and happy!!! 🙂 Hope it’s a wonderful vacation

  15. ksgoodeats

    Aw my E-bay-bay! I’m so sorry you almost got the pukes on the plane. Being confined in that tin can when you’re illin’ it is the worst 🙁

    The pupperbeans!! What cutie pies! Glad you got to frolic with them! No shame in 24/7 TJs – crunchy PB granola bars are amazing, that’s all I’m saying!

  16. Katie

    Yum. That curry dish looks so easy and so dang good. Can’t wait to try it out – have fun in CA!

  17. Emily

    haha! “Half the loaf kina meal”…love it!

    Sorry the plane ride was so yucky…hope you’re feeling back to tip top shape!

  18. Peanut Butter Bliss

    aww girlie I am sorry to hear that your flight was so miserable!! but at least you made it cali safe and sound 😀

  19. The Voracious Vegan

    I hope you are feeling better!

    Everything looks delicious, especially that beautiful curry! YUM!

    I miss Target SO MUCH! Other than decent groceries stores that actually keep the basics in stock, Target is the store I miss the most in the states.

  20. J

    I’m so sorry you got sick on the flight. I wonder what that was about. A virus maybe? Possibly , your body just needed a break after a hectic few days.

  21. broccolihut

    Quick! Gimme some of that crusty goodness!

  22. Ada

    I’m glad you made it home safely!!! Sorry you became so ill though:(

    Your curry looks amazing, I will definitely replicate that soon. Have a fun time!!!

  23. Clay

    There is nothing like coming home, and i totally miss my favorite stores. I have never been to a TJ’s but i guess its like the way I feel about central market when im in texas. I guess im lucky they have a La Dolce Vida just about everywhere you go, lol.

    I think im gonna open up some chickpeas and go to town on that wonder you made tonight. Maybe even make it into a stew and serve it with another slice of bread.

  24. julie

    Damn girl! You were a trooper that plane ride. I would have for sure asked the pilot to turn around and take me back. Actually I lie, if I was going home I would not have.

    Deej demands that you try her Cats from Trader Joes. She says Chawwwcolate is her favorite but the Ginga is also so freakin good. Haha I’m partial to them but I’m starting to believe they’re the reason she wakes up.

  25. Steph

    I just recently moved close to a Trader Joe’s and I get most of my food from there…I love it too!

    Your curry dish looks awesome!

  26. lilveggiepatch

    DIEDEN VINEYARD?! Elise. It’s time to party.

    I like TJ’s Masala burgers a lot, and their flattened bananas are fun for breakfast “sushi.”

    Have fun at home!

  27. Lika

    I would recommend the following health (junk) foods 😉

    – Peanut butter filled pretzels
    – tapenade – any
    – crispy snap peas
    – thai flavored cashews
    – organic popcorn with olive oil

    Hope you get to try these!

    Lika

  28. Lara (Thinspired)

    Oh, I’m so sorry about the bad flight 🙁 Sounds like you had a similar experience to my last one. I think you commented on that when I had my Sprite that you need Sprite on flights, too 😉 I’m glad you’re back safe and settled. YAY for CA fun!

  29. Tabitha

    OK I made the eponymous hungry hippie curry last night – loved it! That’s a once a weeker now, even hubby loved it and went back for thirds.

  30. jenngirl

    Definitely one of those times when Sprite was probably a GOOD call 😉

    Glad you made it safely, and certainly enjoyed delicious things!

  31. elise

    yeah!!! so glad you liked it 🙂

  32. elise

    omg. PB filled pretz = heaven THX!

  33. elise

    i got the bananas!!!

  34. elise

    i KNEW you were going to suggest the cats. hahha. love it 🙂

  35. elise

    i hope you do (did) because i cant get enough of it!!

  36. elise

    who knows, but im glad i didnt suffer the same fate on my flight back…

  37. elise

    i know. i miss it and i dont even have NEAR the distance factor you have. its such a great palce. i think we will register there for our wedding!!

  38. elise

    it was!

  39. elise

    that was definitely me. ick. that queasy feeling is the worst. we both need to get something to knock us out for flights i think! (except im such a wuss id never take it)

  40. elise

    i forgot to comment on this so long ago…those preggo pics were insane. you look like i do after a few pounds of hummus. crazy!lets hope our shared motion sickness issues DO NOT translate to morning sickness. bah! adoption here i come!!!

  41. elise

    i couldnt find that soy-cutash!!! boo.

  42. elise

    im in l-o-v-e with german sheps. my old dog (from childhood) was a german shep too…soo cute!

  43. elise

    i DO have something against nyc’s ONE TJ’s…dude, open another store already!!! those lines are not ok.

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  46. caloricandcrazy

    The curry looks delicious! Especiallt the peas!

  47. Elise (Post author)

    it is! one of my fave recipes 🙂

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