Spick And Span
That’s the most ridiculous phrase, if you ask me. Does anyone actually know what it means? I feel like I could do some funky research with my linguistics background but–meh–it’s a holiday and I’d rather be lazy 🙂 Anyway, that’s what we’re doing right now: Making everything “spick and span” for our guests soon to arrive. That’s as opposed to last night when I was throwing pillows everywhere, emptying salt containers on the counter, and rustling the leaves from out Christmas tree just for fun. JK! But I was in a mood to try something new.
Dark Chocolate Q.Bel Wafer Rolls In Raspberry Chobani
Correction: I tried 2 new things. To get some more probiotics in my day, I gave the raspberry Chobani a try. Yum! I am soooo excited for this flavor to hit shelves. I would grab the pomegranate one soley because it reminded me of raspberry. However, I’m majorly depressed sugar beats out raspberry on the ingredient list 😦 That’s not the case on any other Chobani fruit flavors, so I can’t help but wonder why here?
The other thing I tried was Q.bel‘s dark chocolate wafer roll. Again, yum! But then again, what dark chocolate isn’t? I liked how this was more sweet than bitter, but only because of the wafer part. In my mind, I was hoping for more of a hard chocolate coating but a soft, flowing syrupy center(I can dream, can’t I?). That wasn’t really the case, but it was still good. After that I was exhausted and wanted to go to bed early. My mind, however, had other plans.
Vegan Whole Wheat Cinnamon Roll With Smart Balance Peanut Butter
I really think they’re lying on the ingredients or the nutritional info here because these are simply too good. Is cinnamon roll envy a viable reason to spark an investigation against a company? I think so, and I’m not above that. To make it more “night time appropriate”, I slathered on some healthy nut butter and picked out all the raisins.
Leftover Raisins
Definitely didn’t need that sugar before going to bed. I’m actually not a big raisin fan at all(hence leaving them out of my cinnamon roll recipe). That is unless we’re talking about Rum Raisin Gelato, in which case all bets are off 🙂 I thought I was waking up earlier this morning after listening to a few songs on the radio and shutting my alarm off but as it turned out I woke up at 7:40, again. Oh well, I’ll save that change for the new year. Eventually I got around to drinking more coffee than I’d care to mention and making a breakfast.
Pumpkin Oatmeal With Pumpkin Cream Cheese And Walnut Butter, Fat Free Greek Yogurt With Banana Pineapple Rum Jam
My last breakfast of 2009, to be exact(I really hate always thinking about that “last” thing). I didn’t have any pumpkin yesterday so clearly that erupted into my bowl of oatmeal. I love the pumpkin cream cheese/walnut butter combo because the cream cheese has speckles of walnuts in it. I was soooo happy to have something other than 2% yogurt after 2 weeks. Even “plain” as a flavor can get old. Fast. Afterwards I got spick and span myself in the shower and started the party plating.
Pad Thai Hummus And Sunny Hummus
My two hummuses I made yesterday. I’m predicting the Pad Thai Hummus to go over really well with this crowd. I also baked, of course.
Gluten Free Peanut Butter And Chocolate Brownies
Since one of the people coming is perhaps the biggest chocolate fan I know I decided to make gluten free chocolate mint brownies. This time, however, I made the chocolate and peanut butter by swapping out vanilla extract for mint and using 2 tablespoons chocolate chips and 3 tablespoons peanut butter chips. The peanut butter chips weren’t gluten-free certified but none of the ingredients should have gluten. And since it’s not a genuine health concern of anybody, I figured it’d be fine. I decided I was hungry for lunch at 12 and ended up spending 45 minutes making a meal. I think that’s a new record for me. Oh well, it was worth it!
Pad Thai Hummus With Green Pepper, Brussels With Steak Sauce And Tempeh Bacon
Chocolate Avocado Pudding
I caved on the hummus a little early because I’m not much of a snacker at parties and like to just eat things in meals. Now I can recommend it and have had my full 🙂 I was looking for a more smoky flavor with the brussels than the steak sauce has so I added a strip of pan-heated tempeh bacon and plenty of salt. Really, though, the pudding was entirely what I wanted; and it was sooo good! I pureed 3oz avocado with 2 tablespoons cocoa in my food processor. After that I used a fork to add 3 tablespoons coconut milk kefir, stevia, and vanilla powder. The result could not have been more perfect. All it is(besides delicious) is fat and fiber. And look how nicely the day is turning out!
Snow
I was dreaming of a white Christmas New Years and it looks like we’re getting one! I can’t bellieve it. I also can’t believe that a) my mom hasn’t been stressed out by company being here in a few hours and started yelling yet and b) that the decade is now almost over. After listening to the DJ’s on the radio reminisce and think back myself, I think this decade was best for two things: American Idol and Survivor. I hardly ever voted for American Idol these days, but who can deny that it has given us so many great artists? Besides that, Survivor is just my favorite show on television, and I imagine the same for others since it’s going into its 20th season. It totally built the world of reality television. What will you remember the decade for?
Food Makes Fun Fuel 
Haven’t tried the raspberry Chobani yet, but I grabbed some plain and Vanilla while home in Minneapolis. The pineapple is my favorite though!
Your pad thai hummus sounds good especially with brussel sprouts and green peppers, some of my favorite veggies!
Good luck in the snow, we have over 24 inches here in sucky Iowa!
Leianna
December 31, 2009
pad thai hummus?! sounds great and those brownies look awesome!
happy new year Evan 🙂
Naomi (onefitfoodie)
December 31, 2009
How did you like the pudding? I tried making it in my crappy old food processor and it was too avocado-y (and I love avocado, but coca avocado taste? Not so much). I am thinking about making some in my new food processor but don’t want to waste a good avocado if that is just how it will taste! Lol.
Kristie
December 31, 2009
Honestly, it’s one of the best desserts I’ve had. I don’t know why I haven’t made it since August! It definitely needs a little liquid to be creamy but not thick. And I suggest not being shy on the sweetener. But besides that, it’s pretty perfect
P.S. Adding vanilla flavor is a good idea but not if it’s alcohol based.
Evan Thomas
December 31, 2009
I am going to, sadly, remember this decade for 911. It is like for my parent’s generation they can tell you exactly what they were doing when JFK was shot…for me I will always remember that moment when I became aware of the twin towers falling. Sorry to be a downer….
Kelly
December 31, 2009
the nerd in me totally knows where “spick and span” comes from. it has old norse roots (which obv have evolved through other various languages to give us the english) but the old words “span-nyr” or “span-newe” actually mean “a fresh chip of wood” which is wicked new and fresh.
the spick part comes from “spike” in the old dutch word “spiksplinternieuw” which means a newly built ship. so a complicated expression definitely!! and one that doesn’t really make sense on face value because none of the words it originated from are still circulated in their languages anymore.
whew! that was a long explanation haha
marathonmaiden
December 31, 2009
Brussels with steak sauce! Hello, dinner! Thanks Evan 🙂
I think I’ll remember 911 for obvious reasons, plus it was also my freshman year in college so that led to other very distinct memories of the decade! A lot has happened in my life since then – very cool to think back on! Happy New Year’s Eve! Have fun with the clean house and the visitors.
Erin
December 31, 2009
I love how you stuck those wafers in the yogurt!!! YUM! Happy New Years!! 🙂
Jessica @ How Sweet
December 31, 2009
haha I love senseless phrases. Like, “whatever floats your boat”.. what does that even mean?!
Jenny
December 31, 2009
raspberries can be pretty sour-maybe the sugar comes first cause otherwise between the tartness of the yogurt and the tartness of the berries it was too much? that’d be my best guess…
eatingmachine
December 31, 2009
i hate thinking about things in terms of ‘last” too. i prefer “grand finale.” mm chocolate avocado pudding– at this raw vegan cafe near my house i had something very similar and it was amazing! i’ve also tried their key lime pie version made with avocadoes, that may be worth trying to recreate 🙂
Stef @ moretolifethanlettuce
December 31, 2009
Ok so this is an amazing foodie post!
The Rum Raisin Gelato mention. nice.
The Choc & PB GF Brownies. You are such an amazing host/cook to think of someone’s needs/preferences and cook special for them. As someone who has to be this way, most people “dont get it” and think “a little wont hurt” but the aftermath sucks and it rocks that you did this for them!
And of course the Pad Thai action. Nice. No, amazing work!
Oh and I got the Tru Whip certif today..thanks again Evan!
Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga)
December 31, 2009
K.. not sure where to start.. everything looks freaking great, Evan.. esp that Pad Thai Hummus With Green Pepper AND those brussels… YUM.
Id be stoked to come to a party at your house! Happy 2010..
Abby
December 31, 2009
Hmmm…best thing of the decade?? I can’t remeber the past year LOL!! No, I agree with you on those TV shows…I also think it’s been the decade of increasing “Celebrity” and “Holly-wood-lization” (?yeah, I totally made that word up)…it just seems the media/magazines/TV, even politics – look at how many celebs are like best friends with Obama haha oprah, etc…- are celeb-crazed….
Oh and technology – blackberrys, cells, iphone, ipods, mp3’s, GPS’s…good Lord – I’ll stop now 😉
Did you do a Goals/Resolutions post? Any running goals or Foodies specific?? Blog?
eatmovelove
January 1, 2010
That chocolate avocado pudding sounds scrumptious! A whole pot of that, and that’s dinner for me! 😀
Happy, Blessed, Joyful New Year!!
burpexcuzme
January 1, 2010
Happy New Year.
I just hope it doesn’t get referred to as the decade of facebook and myspace!! 😉
Kristen
January 1, 2010
[…] really wanted to wait until I could try Evan’s idea and get my hands on some Q. Bel to create a dark chocolate raspberry treat, but I wasn’t that […]
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