Yumm

Since moving to Eugene, I have become more and more obsessed with Cafe Yumm and their Yumm Bowls.  Cafe Yumm offers healthy fast food.  My lovely husband doesn't love the Cafe Yumm like I do, so I order it a lot when he goes out of town.  Typically, I order the Edamame Bowl without olives and add Tempeh.  It is really the perfect veggie meal: brown rice, beans, cheese, tomatoes, avocado, edamame, seaweed, sour cream, grilled tempeh, and the most important ingredient: the Yumm sauce.  It sort of reminds me of a tahini sauce.  There is a knock off recipe online, but I haven't tried it.  I recently made my own Yumm Bowl at home and was able to purchase a jar of the sauce to use.  I feel like this will be a great meal to fuel me through my half marathon training.  Lots of lean protein and fiber.  I actually want a Yumm Bowl right now.  I think it's time for lunch.

Home From the Big Apple

What did we (or I) do in New York?
Ate pizza, ate croissants (well, that was just me), ate pickles and reubens at the Carnegie Deli, went on a carriage ride in Central Park, saw the sites, caught up with friends and family, went to the Met, saw the Statue of Liberty, visited the World Trade Memorial, nursed a head cold, jogged, went to a yoga class, missed my puppers (who is currently sleeping off a puppy spa hangover), cooked dinner for my brother, watched Moot Court Madness, saw Wall Street and the Brooklyn Bridge, walked around Times Square, took my friend's dog to the dog park at Washington Square Park, finished my book club book, went to Chelsea Market.... and I'm sure there's more, but I can't think of it now.

NY or Bust

Well, readers, it's off to another vacay I go.  I realized when a man I work with told me that he has never been on a subway that I am pretty lucky to get to travel across the country as much as I do.  I leave at 5 am tomorrow (gah) and Jim heads out on Wednesday.  Trooper will be going to his fave vacation spa, Opportunity Barks.  Until then, I imagine the two of them catching squirrels and living like ferel animals.  Let's hope they make it. 
I'm excited to see my brother and his family as well as my in laws.  It will be a jam packed week, but should be a good time!  I'm also looking forward to Jim being DONE with Moot Court!  And when I return I start half marathon training and have 17 miles to run during my first week of training. 
Also, if you are looking for a good weeknight dinner, try Ina's Weeknight Bolognese.
I'll be back to blogging after Feb. 26!

My Valentines

Awesome Enchiladas

A friend gave me this Enchilada recipe from one of the Denver Junior League cookbooks and we LOVE it.  It's more of a Sunday dinner as there is a lot of chopping and other prep, but it makes a giant pan and has great flavors.  (Judy, Jim wanted you to make sure to try this one.)  Instead of boiling the chicken, I bake it a la Ina (at 375 degrees for about 35 minutes with olive oil and salt and pepper) then shred it.  I also don't have the tummy for an entire can of chipotles (even though Jim does.)  (My chipotle trick is to divide one can into zip lock bags and freeze the ones I don't use.)  If you like spicy Mexican food with yummy melted cheese, make these.  And if you want them less spicy, just decrease the chipotles to your liking.
I've also stumbled upon this super cute blog, Idle Fancy.  It has inspired me to tackle a new pattern: Cynthia Rowley's Simplicity 2215.  I'll keep you updated on how it goes! 

Too much fun

This weekend was too much fun!  Book Club, Beer Fest, Truffle Shuffle.  Woo!  I'm pooped.  Until I have the energy to post again, here's a home made granola bar recipe I'm trying to perfect.

Happy Weekend

I can tell that the days are getting longer.  I get about a half hour of light after work, which is enough time to take my sweet pup on a jog.  He's been a little of what one might call a "rascal" lately, and we wonder if he's acting out because his dad is absent a lot.  He's never a really bad dog, just a little bit of Mr. Mischief.  (I secretly like it sometimes because it makes me feel like he's still a puppy.)  Jim was in Portland last night for a symposium so it was just doggie and I.  There isn't a day that goes by that I'm not thankful for having Trooper with me in Eugene.
Tonight is Book Club night!  We are discussing the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, which is a sweet historical novely about WWII.  I recommend it.  Tomorrow is a busy day: spin in the morning, watching my LS's basketball game, then the KLCC Microbrew Fest!  And Sunday is the Big Brothers Big Sisters Truffle Shuffle.  Then one week til NYC.  Fun times!

Pupster Photo Shoot

 Am I obsessed with my dog?

 Do I sometimes take dozens of pictures of him at one time because he's doing something cute?

I think the answer is clear.

Puppy Bowl

First of all, I'm sad that we don't get Animal Planet to watch the Puppy Bowl.  It's a far better game than the Super Bowl.
Second, I haven't blogged in forevs!  Sorry readers!
We had a nice weekend that went by too fast, as always.  On Friday night, we got take out from Little Big Burger, a Portland based burger place that just opened in Eugene.  It was pretty yummy, but next time Jim is ordering himself two burgers. 
The other big event was our little Super Bowl party!  We had about 9 of us at our apartment to watch the game.  Luckily, none of us were that into the game, so we just had a laid back time eating snacks and drinking beer.  I made Tyler's Curry Lime wings and Jim made a ginormous pile of nachos.  Our guests all brought awesome snacks, including chocolate goat cheese truffles!
Jim also set up the bunny ears (yep, antenna!) to watch the game.  We get an HD signal, but the funny part was that when anyone stood in a certain place, the screen would get all jumbled. 
In all, a fun Super Bowl party.

Cookie Crazy

Jim and I both have a major sweet tooth.  This creates an inner debate with my health concious side.  I have been trying to look for healthier alternatives for treats.  I found this easy and tasty recipe for no bake cookies online.  It also contains our fave combo: chocolate and peanut butter.  I used semi sweet chips because I had them, but you could make it slightly healthier by using dark chocolate chips.  Either way, a good sweet treat.