Happy Binary Friday!!

10.01.10

October 1st of 2010 a.k.a. Binary Friday!

How is everyone doing today!? I'm doing amazing.

I had such a good day yesterday, and today is looking to be a pretty awesome day as well.

Let's take a look.....

Yesterday

I didn't have school. I didn't have work. I didn't have obligations.

I did whatever I wanted. Pretty perfect day if you ask me :)

I woke up. Looked in the mirror and laughed at the ridiculous mop atop my head I call hair.

Then ate my new favorite breakfast:

Chunky peanut butter and honey toast, topped with 2 fried egg whites. 1 Vegan sausage pattie. Pineapple with cottage cheese. Orange juice & skim milk followed with a cup of coffee.

While I ate breakfast I watched my favorite short lived television show...yep you guessed it:

Pushing Daisies!!

After about 3 or 4 episodes I started craving sweets.

I thought to myself "what better do do on my day off then bake?"

So I got my table all ready for my early morning bake....

And I began to do my research...

Remembering that my mom bought cans of pumpkin puree - I decided to make my delicious Pumpkin spice cookies !!

but I didn't have eggs, I didn't have vanilla, and I didn't have powdered sugar -these are necessities when making my pumpkin spice cookies! So I headed to Kroger to get my supplies....and ended up buying a lot more than I intended. (There was a clif bar sale: 10 for $10!! I couldn't resist lol)

Even though I spent a lot - I saved $9.02 with my Kroger plus card!! Woot woot!

Twas time to bake!!

Like my cupcake apron? It was a present from my aunt for my birthday :) I love it!

I'd like you to meet my one and only....

Isn't she beautiful? Best. Christmas present. Ever.

I mixed up the batter...

Used an ice cream scooper to put them on cookie sheets..

And of course - I taste tested the unbaked/raw batter as I went (take that salmonella!!)

While my cookies baked I made lunch:

A smoothie consisting of....well....just about everything in my kitchen lol.

Milk, yogurt, total cereal, apple, banana, blueberries, spinach, lemon juice, honey, cinnamon, vanilla....I think that's it lol.

Yummmmmmmmm. Loved it. Delicious.

After my smoothie I still wasn't satisfied.

I wanted tomatoes. But not just any tomatoes. I wanted to eat the tomatoes right off the vine.

Where did I go to do this?

In my backyard of course!

(Yesterday was such a beautiful day- I was so happy!)

This is one of two tomato gardens we have.

I helped myself to a couple of these....

A few of these....

And several of these...

When I stepped back into my house from my tomato tasting - my nose was flooded with delicious goodness.

I could tell that my cookies were ready to come out of the oven! (A few minutes earlier than I anticipated)

I've been asked how I take such good pictures of my food. I always answer 1. Natural Light 2. Lines 3. Extreme measures

Yes...that is me- on top of my kitchen table- in a dress- taking pictures of my food.

Doesn't everyone do that? No? They Don't? Really? Just me? Ok.....Im embarrassed....I'll get down now..

It's kind of funny though? Right? No? It's unlady like? Hmmm....ok....

I still think it's funny. I'll probably keep taking pictures like this. It produces the best results. I just won't document it ever again....or do it in front of other people....or do it in a dress again lol :/

While my cookies cooled - I drank the other half of my smoothie and read up on a couple of my favorite blogs.

After my cookies cooled it was time to put the glaze on!

These are quite beautiful if I do say so myself!!

(Thanks to my wonderfully extreme photography skills lol)

Not only are they beautiful - they're super delicious as well!

I spent the rest of my day:

watching television on my couch.

Making/eating homemade pizza.

Having a sleep over at my friend Kims.

Kim and I baked chocolate chip pudding almond cookies.

Kim and I watched 'Marie Antoinette'.

We went to sleep.

Today

Woke up.

Drove to the 'Ohio Coffee Co.'

Ordered hot Apple Cider (sooooooo delicious).

Went to Art 101 class with Kim.

Then we ate breakfast at Butter.

(My favorite: French toast kabobs!)

After breakfast I napped.

I got caught up on all of the television shows I've missed this week.

Then I made myself dinner.

What was on the menu? Breakfast. One of my favorite breakfasts to be exact:

Grilled peanut butter, honey, and banana sandwich!

As a part of the Foodbuzz Tastemaker Program, I received a coupon for any 'Nature's Pride' bread of my choosing (Thank You!!) So I bought 'Double Fiber 100% Whole Wheat' bread and used it in substitute of my usual bread for my grilled pb&honey sandwich!

Oddly enough - I've never tried any of Nature's pride products before today! I was very pleased with the results of my grilled pb&h sandwich! This bread gave so much texture and flavor to this already delicious recipe! It was a perfect addition:)

I know I've already featured this particular recipe before - but lucky you - I'm featuring it again today!!

Just scroll to the bottom of this very post and collect your new and delicious recipe :)

Well - I've talked enough. It's time to bid you all farewell. I really hope you give the aforementioned recipe a go (You won't recret it!) and I hope you have an amazing weekend!

Let us begin...

[[Today’s music]]

(1) FEIST – I FEEL IT ALL

“Oh I'll be the one who'll break my heart

I'll be the one to hold the gun”

(2) ST. VINCENT – THE PARTY

Girl Crushhhhh.

If I could sing, I'd want to my voice to sound like like Annie here.

And...I'm jealous of her curls. Damn you Annie - why do you have to be so awesome?

[[Today’s restaurant]]

SYLVIA’S – NYC

[[Today's blog findings]]

While going through my daily "blog check" (which is where I peruse through the many blogs I follow) today I came across a lot of pictures that I find interesting, funny, cool, beautiful, and/or wonderful in one way or another:

[[Today's kitchen gadget]]

OIL MISTER

[[Today’s news]]

(1) FRANCE’S GOURMET SCHOOL LUNCHES

This video is absolutely amazing. Watching it just makes me want to move to France even more than I already do.

America- you really need to step it up and impress me somehow, or I'll leave you for my hypothetical handsome and brilliant French chef husband without hesitation! I won't ever look back!

But I digress....

Once again – this is amazing.

(2) DOMINO’S FRANCHISEE TRIES OUT BREAKFAST PIZZA

"Not content with robust business from the late-night, post-drinking munchies crowd, the nation's only 24-hour Domino’s Pizza is going after breakfast, too.

The new Domino's unit in Dayton, Ohio — which franchisee Tristan Koehler opened in time for the start of the fall semester at the University of Dayton — is offering a breakfast pizza featuring eggs and cheese on a pizza crust for $7.99. The price covers up to three toppings, and recommended combinations include ham and bacon; sausage, onions and jalapeños; and onion, green pepper and mushrooms. The breakfast pizza is offered all day.

Manager Carami Macken says breakfast business at the restaurant, whose morning menu also includes coffee and orange juice, has been decent. “It’s definitely picked up now that it’s gotten some media,” she said. “It’s not super-busy, but it’s definitely making a difference.”

The Domino's in Dayton is the only U.S. branch of the chain to stay open 24 hours a day. A Domino's spokeswoman said the chain would be monitoring the store's performance. “We’ll be watching the store closely to see if it’s something we can expand to other stores,” she said.

Three 24-hour locations currently operate in the United Kingdom, she added. "

http://www.nrn.com/article/dominos-franchisee-tries-out-breakfast-pizza

::Let me say one thing. This particular Domino’s pizza is 15 minutes from my house and 1. I had no idea it was the only 24/7 Domino’s in the country…hell I didn’t even know it was open 24/7 period! And 2. I had no idea this was the only Domino’s that sold breakfast pizza! How interesting. Only a mere 15 minutes from my house too! Maybe I should give this breakfast pizza mumbo jumbo a try?::

[[Today's random]]

(1) FOOD ART

(2) OH, ANDY! THE WARHOLIAN EXHIBITION RECAP

“The Warholian is an exhibition of photos, film, portraits and objects by Andy Warhol and various artists inspired and influenced by his work. The exhibit features a variety of Warhol-inspired pieces by artists such as Takashi Murakami, Richard Prince, Jeff Koons, and Damien Hirst, celebrating the great pop artist’s deep effect on contemporary art. Curated by Eric Shiner, The Milton Fine Curator of Art at The Andy Warhol Museum, the exhibit features some of Warhol’s most recognizable original artwork including “Marilyn” (1967), “Electric Chair” (1971), “Dollar Sign” (1981), and “Flowers” (1970). Images of opening night are offered below, with the exhibition available for all to see until January 31st, 2011 at Royal/T in Culver City, California.”

http://hypebeast.com/2010/09/oh-andy-the-warholian-exhibition-recap/

[[Today’s food clip]]

(1) DYLAN LAUREN OF DYLANS CANDY – HOW TO MAKE PUMPKIN AND OWL BROWNIE POPS FOR HALLOWEEN

(2) TOP SECRET COFFEE CAKE

[[Today's curly head]]

BROOKE SMITH

[[Today's recipe]]

GRILLED PEANUT BUTTER, HONEY, AND BANANA SANDWICH

(using Nature's Pride Bread!)

::ONE QUICK NOTE::

A lot of these methods and ingredients are interchangeable. I use chunky peanut butter, but you can use creamy. I use honey, but you could use jelly. I grill my sandwich, but you could fry the holy hell out of it. (etc. etc. etc. blah blah blah) The whole point is: I just want to give you some basic guidelines. Have fun with your food – if you mess up just laugh it off and start over. No one likes a curly head throwing tantrums over burnt bread. Trust me. I would know.

::Ingredients::

2 slices of Natures Pride Double Fiber 100% whole wheat bread

2 tablespoons chunky peanut butter (I always use 'Smart Balance' brand)

1 tablespoon honey

1 large

::Directions::

-First toast the bread just a little bit – if this step is overlooked, then the bread might become too mushy (yes mushy is a very technical term).

-Spread 1 tablespoon of peanut butter on each slice of bread

- This would be a good time to turn on your grill. You could also griddle or fry this sandwich, but grilling is the healthiest route (you will find I usually take the healthy route).

-While your heat source is doing it’s thing- drizzle honey over the two slices of peanut butter bread.

- Cut the banana into slices – however big you so choose (I cut mine about a quarter of an inch thick)

-Lastly- Cover both pieces of peanut butter bread completely with the banana slices. If you have any left over banana slices just use them to top off your sandwich, or snack on them while the sandwich is grilling

-TIME TO GRILL!

- It’s hard to give much direction here: just grill/griddle/fry as long as your little heart desires!

Cut and enjoy!

Attention ALL curly heads!!

Want to be recognized for your beautiful, crazy, and all natural curls?

Then sign up to be a featured curly head!

You must provide:

- Your: Name, Location, Occupation

-Tell me why you love being a curly head.

-Fill me in on what makes you a unique curly head.

-Give any tips or secrets you might have about maintaining hair like yours.

-And send 2 photos – so you have a chance to put your curls on display!

(If you would like me to provide a link to your blog, facebook, myspace, twitter, etc. for the rest of my readers to see – then also throw that in there! The more exposure you get the better!)

Don’t be shy J Go right ahead and apply!

Please e-mail your application to: Jennablack8@gmail.com