super sunday

What a weekend I’m having!

Saw good news on the scale this morning; only FOUR more pounds to go!

We tried a new church today. We sat under a tent (something they are doing for the summer) and there was some decent music. Not sure we really liked it, so the search continues.

Here’s my post-workout breakfast:

OIAJ!

It was fabulous! Here’s what I used:

– 1/4 C old-fashioned oats

– 1/2 C water

– 1/4 C milk (added after cooking to thin the oatmeal out)

– 1.5 tbsp leftover Trader Joe’s Sunflower Seed Butter

– 1/2 tbsp flax seeds

– 1/4 C blueberries (YUM)

– 1/4 C Great Harvest Groovy Granola (double YUM)

Andrew and I enjoyed our breakfasts (I made him a mango/peach/orange juice smoothie) in the car on the way to church.

Afterward, we toured a friend-of-a-friend’s house that’s coming up for sale soon. We aren’t excited about it; it isn’t really what we want and it’s above our price range. It does have potential and a great location, but still.

We’re going to a local German Festival today; here’s to German beer and great German goodies!

pancakes, bacon and a new camera technique

In my continuing efforts (a.k.a. obsession) to empty our freezer of the food we brought with us, I decided this weekend would be a great time for pancakes and bacon (the freezer item), and BLT sandwiches, since I had everything on-hand.

We ended up sleeping in on the 4th, obviously much-needed since all three of us made it to 9:30 with just one potty break for the puppy at 6:30, so our breakfast became our lunch.

Of course, just as I was finishing up cooking I realized I should be documenting, so I hurriedly grabbed the camera and started shooting away while flipping the last of the pancakes. While I was multitasking in the kitchenette, Andrew started eating and offered a tip he’d gleaned from my new photography book, Plate to Pixel. (I haven’t really even opened it…it’s on my to-do list for this week, I think.)

Anyway, apparently if you hold a napkin (or other lightweight, lightly colored fabric) over the flash it keeps the subject from looking washed-out. I handed the camera over so I could start eating and he could take some photos.

Here’s the kitchenette, with flash:

Here’s the same shot while holding a napkin over the flash:

It seems to soften it up a bit.

Here’s the rum (yes, RUM) before:

And here it is after:

Much better, although I don’t know if I like how dark/orangey the photo is. It may also just be our lighting here in the hotel.

(If anyone is wondering why in the world I had rum out for pancakes, it’s because the recipe from The Foster’s Market cookbook calls for it. They’re called Panama Pancakes and they are, hands down, the best pancakes you’ll ever eat. Of course, you can sub vanilla extract for the rum if you had to, but the tablespoon it calls for really makes these babies.)

Here’s the rest of the feast:

Some of the bacon got a little crispy since I used my grill pan, but they should be perfect for BLT’s tomorrow night!

SO SO SO glad I brought my skillet. I really only use it to make pancakes, but it’s perfect for the job.

A not-so-great shot of the infamous Foster’s Market cookbook. Susy introduced me to the recipe awhile back and after flipping through it I knew I had to have it. It’s full of fresh food and delicious baked goods. I made the coconut cake for Easter a couple years ago at Andrew’s grandmother’s house and it was amazing.

And me 🙂 About to enjoy the fruits of my labor. (I wore the hat to keep the yucky bacon smell from getting into my freshly washed hair. The whole how-do-I-keep-the-hotel-room-and-myself-from-smelling-like-bacon dilemma had been bothering me for the last couple days and it wasn’t until I was ALREADY IN the shower this morning that I realized I should have made the bacon BEFORE showering…) No problem: I had Andrew prop the door open and I had the hood vent going full-blast while I cooked them up. Only a slight hint of smoke remains…

And, the grand finale…

…a sink full of dirty dishes!

OIAJ!

I made my first OIAJ today! Actually, I made it last night. I read about it on KERF and have anxiously awaited my chance to enjoy some as soon as I got to bottom of one of my nut butters.

That day was yesterday 🙂

I used the remaining tablespoon of peanut butter with half a banana, 1/4 C old-fashioned oats, 1/4 C plain yogurt (homemade!), 1/2 C milk and 1/2 tablespoon flax seeds. Mixed all those together last night, covered it up and stuck it in the fridge.

Today AFTER my run (chose to have just coffee and half a banana before–lesson learned!), I grabbed it, added some toppers: 2 tablespoons of Susy’s granola and some Honeyville whipped pumpkin spice honey. I nuked it for just 30 seconds to take the chill off, and the lukewarm oatmeal is actually pretty good, since it’s getting warmer here. OIAJ is SO good! I love the extra peanut butter flavor!

On a side note, see my chives? They are actually growing now since Zorro (one of our two cats who are currently living up in Buffalo with Andrew and his parents during our move-process) isn’t here to snack on it!

I’ll be taking a short hiatus this weekend…going to visit Andrew in East Aurora and visit some open houses! I’m bringing the camera so I can document some of our weekend and post when I get back home. I’m really excited to drive up with Andrew’s mom and sister, Abigail, who just finished her freshman year at Penn State!

Heather will be home holding down the fort for me and enjoying some much-needed quiet time.

For all you praying people out there (and I know most of you are!), please say a quick prayer for our house! We have a second showing Saturday morning and our first open house Sunday.

Happy Friday!