Thanks so much to everyone who participated in my Thanksgiving Food Challenge this year!
I’ll be doing another challenge in December for the holidays, so stay tuned for details on that challenge if you missed out on the Thanksgiving one.
I put the names of all the entries on a tiny piece of paper and then into a bowl.
Bailey wanted to help out, so I took him up on his offer.
He reached in…
…and picked our winner.
Can you see?
The Thanksgiving Food Challenge 2009 winner is…ERICA from Itzy’s Kitchen! Congratulations Erica! Email me at thechiclife at gmail dot com to pick out your colors!
Thanks again to everyone who played and stay tuned for details on the Holiday Food Challnge 2009 (same idea as this Thanksgiving challenge, but for Christmas, Hanukkah, or any other holiday you may be celebrating in December).
I don’t know about you but when I get something new, I can’t wait to break it out and play with it. This morning, I was super excited to test out the mini pot I got for making stovetop oats.
I eat oatmeal a couple times a week, on average, while hubby only has them once in a blue moon. I’d have to talk him into having oatmeal whenever I wanted stove top oats, which was not the easiest thing to do. The other pot I have was not non-stick and too large to make a single serving of oats, so I purchased this new one on Black Friday – a 1 quart non-stick just for stovetop oats for moi. The pot is a Simply Calphalon and was originally $39.99, marked down to $29.99 and around $20 after we used a Black Friday coupon. I love a good deal!
The pot proved to be the perfect size and made delicious oats to boot! It was even big enough to make a double-serving – 1 for me and 1 for hubby.
I brought 1 cup of lowfat organic milk to a boil over medium heat with a pinch of flaxseed and pinch of chia seed and pinch of salt.
Once boiling, I stirred in 1/2 cup of rolled oats and light drizzle of agave (about 1 tsp) and cooked about 4 minutes.
I poured 2 servings of oats into 2 bowls and added some toppings:
- dried cranberries
- pecan pieces
- toasted wheat germ
- drizzle maple syrup (for hubby)
Great cold-weather breakfast! I’m so glad I got my new mini pot…here’s to many more bowls of stove top oats. Now I don’t have to talk hubby into eating them for me to enjoy! lol
Some friends, Matt + Melissa, called Saturday afternoon with a suggestion of an impromptu dinner at Basil Thai Restaurant.
Since we hadn’t seen them in awhile, we thought that sounded like a good idea.
We met our friends at the bar area where I spotted this giant container of pineapple soaking in (I believe) rum. Melissa told us the fruit and rum were used in the restaurant’s signature pineapple mojito.
Upon sitting down, I knew I had to have one so I promptly ordered one of those pineapple mojitos.
We also ordered a couple apps to split among the table: chicken lettuce wraps
spring rolls
We also ordered a soup – Tom Kha Gai – Chicken Coconut (to split among the girls…the boys got their own soup)
The soup came out in a flaming silver dish. Luckily the waitress served us so we didn’t have to risk burning ourselves.
The boys’ soup looked pretty good, too (mixed seafood)…
…but us girls aren’t big seafood fans so our coconut-y soup was perfect for us.
Group rice and Matt’s whole fish dish with an edible flower.
I wanted one of my fave noodle dishes but hubby talked me into trying the Volcano Shrimp (served over wilted napa cabbage with steamed broccoli & cauliflower). They were quite tasty, but I still like my noodles best.
For dessert, I got something I haven’t had in awhile – decaf coffee with a shot of Bailey’s on the side. Oh wow, I had forgotten how good coffee with Bailey’s is…YUM! I’m going to have to get one of these more often! I added a single pack of sugar and 1/2 the Bailey’s per cup of decaf (two cups total). I love how the Bailey’s is my creamer.
We ordered a couple desserts (they only had 2 to choose from!) to split among the table: fried green tea ice cream
…and a coconut custard. Two coconut dishes in one meal! That’s different. I can hardly find a restaurant to get ONE! lol
The green tea dessert was ok, but the coconut custard was super yum.
My dessert sampler plate had a little bit of each. Well…a little of the ice cream and half the custard.
Such a great dinner with great friends and with a perfectly sweet ending to the evening!
Hubby and I enjoyed an easy afternoon with my dad and sister before heading out of town.
My dad and sister cooked up a delicious breakfast.
Blueberry pancakes (with blueberries from our blueberry-picking trip in the summer), scrambled eggs, home-fried potatoes, and some bacon leftover from the previous day.
I had my real maple syrup on the side with a dab of real butter melted in. I love dipping bites of pancakes into syrup.
Since we had some, I put whipped cream in me and hubby’s coffees.
After breakfast, we all got ready (sans mom who was at work) and went out to see Ninja Assassin. My sister is black belt and loves these types of movies. The movie was waaaaaay more bloody than I thought it would be, but it was pretty good overall.
After the movie, we hit up a couple of my favorite things:
Henry’s BBQ. I got my usual – the regular sandwich plate with fries and coleslaw.
Though this wasn’t the healthiest choice…
I kept my portion small. I was only able to eat about half…of everything (see my “after” photo). Luckily, hubby helped me finish.
After lunch, we hit up another fave spot in town – The Chocolate Shoppe. We’ve been buying cookies and fudge here since I was a kiddo. Their chocolate chip cookies are some of the best I’ve ever had and their fudge is pretty awesome, too!
I got a free Snickerdoodle sample (yes a WHOLE cookie to sample!) when I went inside. I also got to try a pralined pecan. All so good, but I ended up leaving with 2 dark chocolate-caramel-walnut thingies (forgot the name).
My sister gave me a sample of the cookie she left with – Oatmeal (no chocolate chips, no raisins, just good ole chewy oatmeal). It was very tasty!
After our eating adventures, it was time for hubby and I to hit the road and head back home. See you next month, family!
