how do I top thee?

I made bread today. Well, my bread maker did while I was viewing online lectures for my summer class.

I chose whole wheat cinnamon bread with apples and raisins, a combo I’ve been thinking about for awhile now. To heck with the fact that it’s not ideal meat-and-cheese sandwich bread! Or is it? (I’m betting it’s fantastic, but then, I’m an adventurous eater surrounded by wimps. Humph.)

Andrew’s out biking in the sunshine, so I was in my own for dinner tonight. This is what happened:

My textbook (I couldn’t run the risk of cracking the third Hunger Games book open; I’m too close to the end to stop!), two slices of bread (I couldn’t bear to waste the heel after I cut myself a piece, so I decided I’d just eat it, too), and fruit and veggies with homemade ranch dip. I use ‘homemade’ loosely, since it’s just the last of the cream cheese and the last of the ranch dressing mixing together, but whatever.

My quandary? What do I put atop my bread? Will plain butter allow the bread’s own taste to shine best? What about the classic strawberry jam? Or my usual, a nut butter? And what about this craving for honey, I’m having…?

Here they are people, in order or appearance:

Strawberry jam, blueberry nut-flavored honey, crunchy almond butter, and plain butter.

The verdict? On toasted bread, I’m going to go with plain butter, and a pb&j sandwich would be excellent as well. The flavored honey was way too sweet, but the jam was nice.

Can’t wait for toast tomorrow!

vindicated!

Ok, so I know I’m a pretty adventurous eater. Not that I’m into anything weird and if traveling in an Asian country I would probably be pretty cautious, but I’m certainly not afraid to try new things.

Coconut on oatmeal? Sure! Ginger maple syrup? Definitely! Cranberry ketchup? Tasty!

Anyway, one of my favorite combos is a little peanut butter (or other but butter)on a waffle with a little maple syrup for breakfast. It’s fantastic–I almost feel a little guilty–and it’s a great way to get a little protein in while decreasing syrup intake.

Andrew never fails to give me the usual eye-roll about it. While he’s come a long way, he’s still not a very adventurous eater.

Anyway, (and to the point of this post) Andrew announced this week that he was sick of yogurt for breakfast (the same day as he spilled it in his truck–go figure). I told him in. I uncertain terms that he needed to have a protein, somehow, some way, in his breakfast.

I hesitantly asked if he’d be willing to try my peanut butter/waffle/syrup combo, fully expecting him to refuse, despite the fact that he does, indeed, like all of the ingredients.

Surprisingly, he agreed.

I prepared a waffle for him, slathered it with sunflower seed butter (it’s what I have open at the moment), and drizzled it with a generous helping of maple syrup (he isn’t counting HIS calories!). Then, I cut it up for him and sent him off to work with it.

Imagine my surprise when, mid-morning, I receive a phone call from Andrew, and I quote:

“It was… (pause for effect) …amazing. I just thought you’d want to know.”

Yes, yes it is. Which is why I’ve been enjoying it for years now. And yes, I did want to know. Thank you for telling me, and I WAS RIGHT!

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!