oat bran

Work, Presidents, Costco

I was going to try and throw down a quick recap of this “holiday” weekend, but alas, my ramblings got the best of me…it may be picture dense, but it’s not so quick.  Saturday was the main event, if you will, but Friday was pretty sweet too.  Kyle and I made a Costco run – always dangerous when you’re a foodie living on a student budget. Key purchases worth noting… Almond Butter (this jar is the size of my head) Sabra hummus x3 including spinach artichoke and roasted pine nut flavors plus individual mini tubs… Read more >

Hearts and kisses (& a giveaway winner)

And all that mushy LOVE stuff. Right?  🙂 Truth be told, I’m pretty neutral on the whole Valentine’s thing…love it, hate it, love to hate it, whatever!  I think it’s cliché either way you look at it.  Side note: I used to think Valentine’s was so lame, so for the first two years that Kyle and I were dating I wouldn’t go out with him on the 14th because I just felt so hypocritical changing my tune once I had a BF.  This year, I consciously requested the day off of work, but I still… Read more >

We be Jammin’

Last time I was home, my mom taught me how to make freezer jam (in the microwave no less).  She was all done with the raspberry and apricot batches by the time I decided to document the process, but she still had the plum left to go. And so I present to you, my mom’s simple (read: fool proof) method for making freezer jam.  *Freezer jam doesn’t require sterilization, so the jars must be stored in the freezer or consumed immediately after being made.  Ingredients fruit (raspberries, plums, apricots, peaches, anything) pectin (my mom uses… Read more >

Home-made soynut butter

I’m poor and nut-butters are pricey, so why not? Turns out, it really isn’t that hard to make.  Ingredients soynuts water extra virgin olive oil salt* agave nectar* *optional (I used both) First, soak the nuts in water so they absorb the moisture (fill the water level to just above the nuts).  It doesn’t take too long and after a few minutes, they should have soaked up much of the water.  After a few minutes add a bit more water until it’s higher above the nuts again. Then, transfer to blender (I used my Magic… Read more >

I’m back (and it’s cold)

After a fairly miserable red-eye flight, Kyle and I returned to our 10 degree apartment Monday morning.  🙁 With a list of errands longer than the Gettysburg address and a brain still on a mental vacay, it goes without saying…I felt a bit overwhelmed.  It didn’t help that I couldn’t stop shivering for the first 2 hours.  I finally had to take a shower to get my body temp back to a normal range.  After a piping hot cup of cocoa (the apartment is coffee-less!!) I unpacked, laundered, made a grocery list…and STILL felt like… Read more >