WIAW #48: Behind the Instagram

This WIAW is all about the eats I’ve been showcasing on Instagram lately, and telling you the stories behind the Instagram of mouthwatering photos. Like this one of a typical at-the-office breakfast for me, a Baked Quinoa Flax Cake with chocolate chips and peanut butter. I tend to enjoy this alongside a cup or three of decaf coffee, with some fruit to follow. I’ve always enjoyed dessert for breakfast, and now that I’m off oats I thought I’d be trying all my oatmeal cake flavors out with quinoa flakes, but I’m still not tired of the PB&C combination.

 

 

 

 

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Banana Peanut Butter Chip Breakfast Sundae

Hello and happy Friday! Today I’m dropping in before I head off for a whirlwind weekend in Florida to share the “recipe” for a breakfast I posted on Instagram on Monday morning. I say that in quotation marks because I don’t really think of it as a recipe, just a bunch of ingredients I mix together to have myself a little dessert for breakfast. But a friend and follower put in a request, so those who want to enjoy a blend of bananas, peanut butter, chocolate chips, and sweet creamy goodness at the start of the day, you’re in luck with this Banana Peanut Butter Chip Breakfast Sundae.

 

 

 

 

WIAW #38

This WIAW is all about my eats on the (third) to last day of 2015, one I spent in Connecticut relaxing with some old friends from growing up and preparing to greet the arrival of the new year. The day kicked off with a big slice of my Pumpkin Apple Spice Loaf, made with a little less flour and a little extra coconut oil for an especially moist and doughy treat. I had it with a yogurt with peanut butter and blueberries and a mug of decaf coffee, as well as half an apple.

 

 

 

Grain Free Dark Chocolate Fudge Brownies

There’s been a lot of chocolate around this blog lately – dark chocolate to be specific. I’ve shared my Double Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cake for breakfast, Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake Bars and Decadent Dark Chocolate Cupcakes for dessert, and Cocoa Chocolate Chip Muffins and Paleo Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies for snacks anytime. Today’s recipe takes all that chocolate to a new level of intensity. These grain free Dark Chocolate Fudge Brownies are so dense and delicious, you’ll feel like you’re taking a bite of a solid dark chocolate bar, if that bar had the texture of fudge.

 

 

 

Thinking Out Loud 9/17/15

This Thursday, I’m thinking about lots of random things. Like my recent trip to California. I’m still so happy I got to run the Dumbo Double Dare with my cousin and good friend, and experience Disneyland for the first time. And eat lots of delicious food.

 

WIAW #19: Breakfast, Brunch, and Brinner

 

Welcome to another WIAW. I thought to mix it up, I’d showcase a weekend day of eats instead of a weekday – and then I realized, since I’m still studying for the bar, and it’s two weeks away, my weekdays and weekend days are pretty much the same. I run, I eat, I study, I walk Sasha, I eat more, I study more, I procrastinate, I watch Netflix. Super exciting, huh? Anyway, I realized there was one thing that made this Monday, actually, a little snazzier, and that was my unintentional dining on breakfast foods all day long. I’ve done it before, and I’ll do it again, but without further ado – I give you breakfast, brunch, and brinner. A day of eats approved by the one and only Leslie Knope, obvs. 

 

For a pre-run breakfast, I had a Peanut Butter Puff-in-a-Mug with some iced coffee and strawberries. It was actually regular coffee and not decaf, for once. My mom made an early trek to Dunkin’ and brought this back. To beat the heat and get a long-ish run in early, I woke up and ate at 7am so I could digest and be out the door before 8, which meant I could drink caffeine.

 

 

WIAW #18: Sweet Summer Eats

 

Welcome to another WIAW. It was muggy and rainy, so I took it as a sign I needed a rest day, and focused on food instead. And Sasha, and studying (*cough* maybe not enough *cough*). I mean, it took Sasha awhile to want to come inside after her morning walk, my only exercise. We barely beat a big storm into the house! Afterwards, there were a lot of sweets to beat the heat, starting with a breakfast treat. 

 

 

Double Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cake

I’ve mentioned now and again how, although I love dark chocolate, I’m not really a fan of chocolate flavored baked goods. The only way I really like them is if they taste like actual dark chocolate. Which usually means they’re crammed full of dark chocolate chips, which melt gooey and deliciously and would tempt even the most dedicated vanilla aficionado. That’s how I made my Cocoa Chocolate Chip Muffins and Decadent Dark Chocolate Cupcakes, and became the inspiration for this latest rendition of my baked oatmeal cakes. I used unsweetened cocoa powder and real 70% cacao dark chocolate chips to make this delectable dark chocolate treat, and although it tips the the dessert-for-breakfast scales dangerously… I won’t tell if you won’t! This gloriously gluten free double chocolate chip oatmeal cake is bursting with dark chocolate in every bite if you use a liberal tablespoon of dark chocolate chips, and is perfect for any morning you’re craving chocolate for brekkie. I hope you’ll enjoy it, and stay tuned for the next editions…Cookie Dough and Peaches n’ Cream are in the pipeline for June!

 

 

From Memorial Day to Wrapping Up May

This May seems like it really flew by, with a highlight reel including the end of law school, time with friends and family, some awesome runs, fun new recipes, and treats while out on the town. On Monday we will be ushering in June, so although there’s still a full weekend left (including a 10K race for me tomorrow!) I figured it was high time for a recap of this month. 

 

 

 

On May 6, I took my last ever final exam of law school. After four years of high school, three years of college, and three years of law school, it’s all over. I could hardly believe it when it happened. It felt so surreal. And on May 21st, I graduated! I went through commencement with my family in attendance, wearing a ridiculous outfit and loving every minute.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dinner with My Dad at Luc’s Cafe

Fairy lights make everything magical

 

One of the best parts of spring break was getting to spend quality time with my dog Sasha. Another was enjoying leisurely dinners with my dad (he would agree with this order – she’s got the whole family trained!) We share a love of art and history, and I probably got so interested in both because I grew up tagging along to galleries with him by day and watching documentaries on TV together late at night. One night, we decided to head over to Luc’s Cafe, a French brasserie close to Main Street that’s always bustling. The outdoor area is really pretty, with twinkly lights all around.

 

 

 

 

Bistro accoutrements

 

Inside there are photos all around of classic French scenes, and there’s a large map of France on the back wall. I like the decorations here because they blend in with the atmosphere, and aren’t too garish. Just enough to be quaint!

 

 

 

 

 

Mussels + frites

As the snow melts and hope springs eternal that winter is falling away, my dad figured it was his last chance to get a steaming mug of French onion soup and a toasty croque monsieur. I’m always happy to have mussels marinière. It combines one of my favorite seafoods, mussels, with a delicious white wine and garlic sauce – and a little butter, because everything tastes better with a little butter! My portion came with frites, of course, which were cut shoestring-style. Everything was quite tasty – I couldn’t partake in his dishes, of course, but he helped me polish off that giant vat of mussels!

 

 

Dark chocolate is heavenly

 

We were a little full for dessert, but after heading home and taking an evening stroll in the neighborhood with Sasha, we each found room for a delectable piece of dark chocolate from Bridgewater Chocolates, another Connecticut institution. I went for a square of dark chocolate filled with sea salt and caramel. Yum!

 

 

 

 

 

All in all, it was a delicious meal and some great daddy-daughter time. What’s your favorite memory with you and your dad?

 

 

 

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