two posts in one day? weird. but stranger things have happened.
i almost wasn’t going to be able to post tonight because evelyn was hogging my laptop looking at kitty porn.
BUSTED!
eventually she managed to tear herself away from the screen.. but it took some convincing and belly rubbing!
i just couldn’t wait to post about the glorious dinner i made tonight! but first i will recap the start of my free day.. which, on the body for life plan, means a day off from exercising and no real rules about what to eat.
well after a rough night of sleep.. little evelyn was pawing at me all night long!.. we finally managed to head to einstein’s bagels around noon. they now offer egg white bagel sandwiches which i was excited to see. i went with an egg white & ham sandwich on a whole wheat bagel with a smear of chive cream cheese.
along with some coffee.
mmm, nothing like a soft, warm, chewy bagel on a sunday afternoon!
after einstein’s we came home and i posted yesterday’s riff raff and hung out with the kids.. i can’t just say “the dogs” now since there is now a feline in the family.
you can see randy in the corner hanging out in his own chair. so antisocial.
animals are the best. well before i knew it we were heading to b town to my parents’ casa! why is it that sundays fly by soooo fast? not cool sunday, not cool.
marshall was a sweetie and helped with dinner today. thanks mister!
yes i am wearing the same shirt as last night, don’t hate. at least averie digs it!
lots of hard work and love went into the making of this dish :)
in my last post i mentioned the menu.. well, here it is:
garlic pumpernickle bread & garlic french bread
spinach salad with pearlini mozzarella, avocado & grape tomatoes
served with a balsamic vinaigrette i made up from scratch~
broccolini & asparagus
and the star of the show! penne with pumpkin & italian sausage
with grated romano for the top!
it was quite the spread!!
it was hard to not dig into my plate before snapping a photo.. mmmmmmmmm
usually i have pumpkin in sweet eats such as oats, pancakes and cookies. it was nice to use pumpkin as a savory ingredient today!
almost everyone went back for seconds on this delectable penne pasta. i will be posting the recipe in my recipe section when i get a chance!
i was surprised to hear that my mom nor marshall care for pumpernickle bread! i loooove the stuff. not only does it have a gorgeous color, the taste is remarkable.. especially when topped with garlic and broiled for a bit!
oh man. i was so full after this glorious autumn dinner! i LOVE to cook for other people.. but my only stipulation is i don’t want to do all the clean up. i am known to make quite the mess when i cook.. i leave the kitchen looking like a tornado hit!
this wasn’t even the half of it.. but you get the idea. sorry mom, thanks for cleaning up after me :)
no feast is complete without dessert! well, i mentioned that some vanilla bean ice cream would be finding its way into my mouth. i have pulled this semi-homemade trick with the ice cream before and it was delicious…
put some store-bought ice cream in the kitchen aid mixer with a whole lotta cinnamon and blend on high for a few seconds.. voilà! instant gourmet cinnamon vanilla bean soft serve :)
i am not kidding when i say i could eat ice cream for every meal for the rest of my life and never get sick of it. it is hands down my favorite food. ever.
aaaaand one more for good measure ;)
mmmm. perfection in a teacup.
well needless to say i didn’t eat anything else the rest of the night! we were going to hit up sunday movie night but marsh wasn’t feeling well and i wanted to FINALLY catch up on the new office. i never watch TV when it is actually ON TV. hah. so we watched the first 2 episodes of the new season and also the second to last episode of true blood, which we are way behind on. what can i say, there is just never time for TV it seems! it is nice to have a relaxing night and watch some good stuff though.. sans commercials at that!
well now it is almost 11 and i have to get up at 5:30 so i better jet, sorry to keep this post a tad on the boring side and not full of a lot of content, but at least i brought some incredible eats to the table!
oh yeah, and the whole catching up on google reader thing? well i totally failed on that. it is currently at 141 :P i also have a whole bunch of emails and comments and questions to reply to.. and haven’t yet, eep. i also appreciate all the new readers that have been commenting and sending emails, i promise i will reply soon. will have to catch up with you all tomorrow! sorry for the sunday slackage! sometimes it is just necessary, especially since i am in a food coma!
i hope you all enjoyed your weekend and that your monday is as fabulous as you are!
Qs!
1. do you like to cook for people/yourself or do you prefer someone else cooking for you? i loooove to cook for myself and others! i also like to know what is going into the meals i eat so cooking is nice in that sense as well.
2. what is your all time favorite food? i know. hard question. but i answered! (ice cream, in case you missed it) so you have to too!
xo. janetha b.
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JANETHA BENSON. When are you inviting me over for dinner?!
KITTY PORN! XD I laughed my ass off!
I feel like some bagel now…and the pumpernickel bread looks really good! I love dark breads…. yumm ^^
I’m really digging the ice-cream; cinnamon is perfect for everything now! I don’t know why, but I think it’s such a cinnamonny time now (I guess it’s an autumn/winter thing).
Like the balsamic vinagrette too (balsamic is my favourite vinegar!)
1. I love cooking for myself and others too! (I have a food blog as well, come one :P… that wasn’t difficult to predict). I like cooking for others more, because I love it when people can enjoy something I’ve made :D
2. You are one tough chick, Janetha… that’s a pretty difficult question to ask… If I HAVE to answer, I think I’d say smoothies because it’s so versatile and I think smoothies gives me a wide range of eatage (new term?) – frozen smoothie = ice cream :P (I cheat, I’m evil), I can add PB, chocolate, cinnamon… anything! I could eat smoothies everyday for the rest of my life!
Love you! :D
P.S. Understand the crotch pain from the last post XD… have issues with that myself, whenever I spin…
I love to cook for others! so fun. And I like to hear if they like the food :-)
2 of my very favorite food items were in this post – pumpkin and ice cream!! Speaking of which – I LOVE pumpkin ice cream. Mannnn.
I am so in love with Evelyn- she is my dream cat- if you or your mom don’t take her, I’m driving up an getting her- ya hear!?!
Your meal looked frickin wicked! That pasta, that ice cream. Jeez! You must be proud!
I like to cook for others- once I became less afraid of cooking, it was fun.
I could eat popcorn every day (oh wait, I DO eat popcorn every day!) or ice cream/fro-yo. It’s a toss up- depending on if I’ve got that creamy/sweet craving, or the crunchy/salty one. Sometimes if I’m really full, I don’t need it. If I’ve got just a weeee bit of room, then those would be my choice.
Seriously lov elove love love Evelyn!
I love to cook for other people: family, friends, co-workers, anyone! I also prefer to cook for myself so my meal is just how I like it ;)
i love to cook for others, i just don’t like figuring out WHAT to cook
Kitty porn lol! Love the animal pics! I wish I had some to cuddle with!
That spread looks amazing!
Thanks for the shoutout girl, and yeah, I totally love that shirt! I just got some green and white new nikes and I am diggin the green right now. And with your blond hair, oh la-la, you look great!
And I totally re-wear clothes without washing and/or multiple days in a row. Some shirts I have on for 1 hr to wear to Target, come home, and I’m not gonna wash it…I just save it and put my grubbier “house clothes” back on. Which are clothes that I can cook, clean and be a mom in and I dont care if I mess em up.
I love to cook for others. I dont allow anyone to cook for me. Well, my hubs that is. No family or friends within 500 miles and since we dont eat out, it’s me or bust girl. I am a gluten and soy free high raw vegan. 95% of the reasons are for food intolerances/allergies so I can’t be gettin dairy, soy, or gluten in my food and most people don’t get that and are careless so I’d rather cook it myself and not end up in the hospital with a food reaction, ya know :)
xoxo
HA! Love the cat blogging photos :-D And I LOOOVE the pasta dinner!!
1.) I loving cooking for others – so fun and rewarding.
2.) Sweet potatoes with guacamole.
Awww, I love the kitty photos! It looks like she actually gets along with the dogs? That’s pretty rare, most cats flip out…
Delicious looking dinner!!! Savoury pumpkin is actually my fave way to have it. It’s sooo good just chopped up and roasted :)
1. It depends on who I’m cooking for :P I love cooking breakfast feasts for people. But beyond that, I think I actually prefer cooking for myself. It’s hard making meals for people when you’re trying to satisfy so many different tastes!
2. Yogurt. Or apples. I dunno, that’s just the first thing that came to my mind :P
You are quite the gormuet chef! The pumpkin pasta looks sensational.
Glad everything went great! I wish I could have been there with you because your family dinners seem like a blast! :)
Pumpkin pasta? You’re killing me!!!! I know that wouldn’t be approved for me LOL!
I love to cook for whoever wants to eat!
Chocolate fudge brownie…mmmm……
I put cinnamon in my iced green tea the other day and it was yummy!
i think i love your cat! how adorable! :)
I love to cook for others, but i for some reason have a problem with “time management” and seem to never get things done at the same time. weird right?
my favorite food includes anything with chocolate!
http://saladdiva.wordpress.com
evelyn is just too darn cute! i want a fur baby so badly!! i will definitely be checking back periodically for that pumpkin penne recipe, it looks too good to be true!! yum!!
my favorite food is anything with chocolate and hazelnuts- think nutella and lindt :)
Mmm…pumpernickel is my FAVORITE! I actually love to get the pumpernickel bagels at Einstein.
Yeah. I think I wear the same outfit for three days straight on the weekend, so don’t feel bad about the one night repeat :)
OMG your kitty is SO pretty. Love <3
Great job on dinner, Janetha! That pasta dish looks out of this world! And the vanilla bean soft serve looks amazing! Hope you have a great weekend!
Your kitty is so so so so so sooooooooo cute.
I love to cook for people, but I also hate the clean up!
My favorite food is probably sushi, but I love too much to really choose! :-)
Holy smokes, that looks awesome! Love your mom’s kitchen BTW…it’s so much fun to cook in big kitchens :D I have worn the same top for 3 days…shhh.
1. do you like to cook for people/yourself or do you prefer someone else cooking for you? I like to do the cooking. Then I can do exactly what I want and have an excuse to let someone else clean up!
2. what is your all time favorite food? Oh. Chicken salad wraps. I could eat them for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day and never get sick of them.
oh. my. god. I can NOT wait for the recipe! another reason to use pumpkin…yeahh baby!
I love love love cooking for other people! I would so much rather cook things for people then actually not even eat them haha:)
Favorite food? hmmm I think I’d have to say mint chocolate chip ice cream :) or APPLE PIE.
i love all the animal pictures!!!! so cute :)
and that pumpkin pasta looks awesome – I can’t wait to see the recipe.
1. do you like to cook for people/yourself or do you prefer someone else cooking for you? BOTH :)
2. what is your all time favorite food?
all time favorite food? Hmm….I guess oatmeal would have to be up there somewhere.
hahah kitty porn made me chuckle! and that soft serve looks divineeee!
hmm favorite is definitely hard but, I would say … anything that involves pasta, i’m a sucker for carbs. yumm!
What an awesome day of food. I can’t wait for you to post that pumpkin penne recipe. It is definitely making it into my fall rotation of meals.
I LOVE cooking for others. It goes with the whole people pleaser side of my personality.
As for favorite food ever? That is tough. English muffins are up there, yet boring. Artichokes and red tomatoes from the garden are high on my faves list.
Great tip with the ice cream!
Wow what a feast you prepared! Your family is lucky :)
I love to cook, especially for my family!
My favorite food changes all the time, but I’d have to say that my constant go to food is oatmeal. I’ve had some food allergies and oatmeal is one thing that has never upset my stomach.
Wow that ice cream looks incredible!!
My favorite food changes all the time! But I never tire of bananas, peanut butter, or any dessert!
1) I love to cook, mostly because I like to know exactly what is in my meal. And I love to take not so healthy recipes and make them healthier.
2) Hmmm….favorite food?? It’s a toss up between oats, bananas, and almond butter!
JANETHA – WE ARE TWINS. my favorite food hands down is ice cream, and yes, i could eat it for EVERY meal. arrrr…why must distance separate us?
i am loving that spread, loving your keyboard cat (pleae youtube this if you don’t know what i am talking about) and loving you!
(1) love to cook – i made a huge easter brunch earlier this year for my fam and it was FABULOUS!
(2) fave good? obv ice cream :)
Cute kitty, I love her long hair and the fuzzy belly shot. :)
That spread looks amazing, lots of good homemade food to choose from, and in my household whoever cooks never cleans! It’s the way it should always be…
1) I love cooking but I’m always afraid no one will like my creations. I’d rather cook for myself and bake for everyone else! Baking I can do!
2) All time fav food? If health is not an issue I would say it’s either my mom’s chocolate zucchini cake or this cornbread made at a local restaurant here…so good!
I can’t wait for the Pumpkin Pasta Recipe, it looks amazing!!
1. do you like to cook for people/yourself or do you prefer someone else cooking for you? Cook myself!
2. what is your all time favorite food? Pizza :)
ohmygod i love your owl shirt!!! i am slightly obsessed with owls. pumpernickel is my favorite kind of bread. i remember thinking it was chocolate bread as a kid because of the color and hating the taste (disappointment!) but now i love it.
i like to cook for myself but that’s only because so few people can cook for me since of all my “crazy restrictions” (my boyfriend’s excuse). but most of the time, i prefer to do it. hello, control freak!
all-time favorite food is probably pizza or burritos, but the healthified versions :)
That pasta looks delish! I can’t wait for the recipe!
Evelyn is so cute! She totally looks like she’s in trouble in that second picture!
For the most part I like to cook for myself. After working really hard to make something it always tastes so much better! The only exception is salads and sandwiches. Those are always better if someone else makes them!
My favorite food? Ice cream for sure! I could eat it every.single. day and never get sick of it! Yours looks really good!
Hahah Ice-cream is probably also one of my all time favorite foods. I love your idea of mixing vanilla bean ice-cream with cinnamon! What a great way to spice up your food! (no pun intended…hehe ok maybe a little)
I like when people cook for me if I’m stressed out or pressed for time, AND if I get some say in what I get to eat. Hahah Otherwise, I’m a simple person when it comes to cooking for myself!
That rye bread is rocking my world right now. It’s so hard to find that fresh, soft, and warm rye bread… it’s so counter-intuitive, but the only place I can think of is the Cheesecake factory in Chicago. hahha
Pumpernickel is DELISH!! Your mom and Marshall are crazy ;)
That ice cream sounds fantastic! Kind of snickerdoodle cookie-ish! YUM!
1. I LOVE cooking for others! Mostly because I’m partial and think that the world should discover amazing foods like hummus, tiramisu, vegan baked goods, etc. This way I kind of force them to eat it :D
2. Favorite food? Hummus.
Dang that’s a pretty darn gourmet looking meal! Pumpkin pasta sounds awesome…I’ll be looking for that recipe.
Seems like you did a little better than me keeping your free day under wraps….ah well live and learn!
mmmmm ICE CREAM! Mint chocolate chip more specifically, but I could eat it every day. Every day.
I am loling at the kitty porn. Too funny!
two posts in one day? danggggg.. a girl could get used to this!
pumpernickle is the holy grail of bread – I’m witcha boobear!
1. I love cooking for myself (control issues..)
2. rhymes with smeanut putter…take a wild guess.
mad mad love to you homegirl!
mmm bagels… the boyf and i got some on the way to his moms once. it was glorious!
you got a kitty eh??? i love kittehs! love love! i have 2. they are the best! one is a little she devil but the other is the best kitty evah!
your dinner looks fantastic.
omgs i think pumpernickel is gorg but i dunno if i like it.
hehe my google reader is 117 somethin this morn… yep. marking all as read in a few.
1. i LOVE cooking. just need the time!
2. um like frosting. totally. maybe sushi too . . . haha. AND BLACKBERRIES!
-muffy
I love the animal pictures :)
I love to cook for myself mostly, because other people really don’t appreciate when I make them something. But I cook often for other people, it makes me happy
OMG – that meal is blowing my mind – it looks so amazingly delicious – can I please come over and you’ll make it again? :)
lol – silly pets :)
OMG Evelyn is so cute! I want her!
That meal looks so good! I wish I could have been there to eat some.
1. I love cooking for people the most, but I won’t turn down a home cooked meal either ;)
2. I’d have to say pizza, but that’s too hard!
Haha! Kitty porn. I love it.
1. I love to cook for others. As far as for me though, I am lazy and can just find something to eat.
2. Favorite food??? How in the heck am I supposed to pick one? Well, I would have to say PEANU T BUTTA!!
AMAZING Janetha! That pasta looks all kind of delicious – please post the recipe asap!! I am all about that pumpernickel garlic bread. Wowzeroony.
i love to cook for people around me! but usually my parents, because I know what they like!!!
that ice cream, and pasta dinner is just GORGEOUS!
HAPPY MONDAY JANETHA!
What a fabulous day off :) Love the pics of kitty and puppers. I haven’t had a GOOD bagel in forever. I need to find a place near us that actually makes yummy ones. LOVEEEEEE the pumpkin in your pasta and that spinach salad looks fantastic. You make some jammin din dins!
OMG THAT KITTY IS JUST THE CUTEST PATOOTEST!!!!
How can you even think of not having her as part of your furry family!
(and yes, the pasta looked delish too!)
oooh kitty pictures! I love.
Also – that ice cream!! Oh.My.Goodness!! There is a tiny little place in Boulder, CO that makes cinnamon ice cream and I sometimes drive up there for it when the mood strikes me – WHY DIDN’T I THINK OF SEMI-HOMEMADE MAKING MY OWN!?!?! You are a genius.
One more thing – I used to make a Rachael Ray pumpkin penne recipe and loved it, I totally forgot about it until this post. Thanks for that!
Pumpkin pasta?! REALLY? That’s fantastic.
I’m with you on the pumpernickel… it’s pumperdelish.
I can’t wait to see the pasta recipe! I am so into pumpkin this year but don’t really know what to do with it!
I love to cook for myself and others. I am definitely into that motherly, nuturing role. And my fave food is cheese. I would eat it with every meal, preferably with a carb!
You are quite the chef, lady!! Feel free to come cook for me any time. :) Everything looks awesome!!
Ahhhhh your kitty is so cute! I love your dinner spread, and that’s such a great ice cream trick.
1) it depends. When i’m busy and stressed, I’d rather have someone else cook. Sometimes I do get into a fun cooking groove though! I just bought an eat clean cookbook, so hopefully that’ll give me some inspiration.
2) all time? cheesecake. for sure.
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