Tag Archives: Laughing Cow

Brought to you by the letter "C"…

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C is for Coffee …foamy!

After anxiously ripping open the package that ZonePerfect generously sent my way (and of course, posting about it!), I couldn’t wait to try the bars.

My first impression was that this totally reminded me of a miniature version of those slice and bake cookies – you know the ones with the little designs in them? Holding it in my hand, it truly felt like cookie dough.

Taste: Loved it! – obviously, I had to go for the Peanut Butter one first. It definitely did not disappoint!!  I really look forward to trying the other flavors: Chocolate Chip and Oatmeal Raisin!

Texture: Awesome – they really got the doughy, firm texture spot on. It brought me back to scraping the bowl as a kid……. okay, let’s be honest – I scrape the bowl now.

While these don’t have the shortest ingredient list around, the PB bar was definitely delicious, and it held me over for most of the morning! Win! I’d definitely purchase it myself.

  • C is for Cheese & Fruit on Toast

Sprouted 7-Grain from Ezekiel covered in Laughing Cow Light Swiss and some Raspberry Jam. I went light on the jam this time…not sure if I’d really like it… but so good! Reminded me of when putting cream cheese and jam on bagels.

C is for Chainsaws outside of my window….

Bye, bye tree

C is for Channa Masala with Chobani

Dessert? TBD…but probably…. Chocolate.  :)

Tea for Two….

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…and two for tea.

Anyone else remember that line from Full House? …little Michelle Tanner, how you were cute and somewhat annoying at the same time. haha I forget what episode that’s from…but it’s a line I remember, for whatever reason.

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Anyway…afternoon everyone! I know, what is this? Afternoon posts?

I was up bright and early this morning….construction next door really left me no choice.

Even though it was slated to be a warm day (it’s 85 now), I brewed up some coffee and enjoyed along with some cold cereal that I forgot to photograph. In the words of the great Chelsea Handler, “Whoopsie!”

I compiled a list of stuff I needed from the grocery store. I knew it would be expensive…darn spices. At least they’re foodie-investments though.

Noooote my spelling error with jalapeno haha

Though the weather was decidedly summer-like…the ground told a different story. Crunch.Crunch.Crunch!

One very successful (and slightly expensive) trip to Shaw’s later…


Proudly – I only picked up two things that weren’t on my list. The butternut squash (though, it should have been) and the cheddar Babybel - nom…cheeeese. Oh, and I stocked up on Blue Cheese Laughing Cow…hahaha. Though, I didn’t get chocolate chips…they didn’t have any dark…at all. Disappointing.

With my new spice purchases (meant for a certain channa masala recipe), my spice collection officially outgrew it’s space in the cabinet…in comes the bread box.

I cleaned (maaajorly) my entire apartment, and then caught up on my Google Reader…all while munching on a Doctor Kracker Pumpkin Cheddar flatbread smothered in a wedge of …what else?… blue cheese LC. …it almost looks frosted. haha


Figures…hottest day of the week and choose hot beverages – but I also made up a pot of tea. Also…obviously where Michelle Tanner jumped into my head.

I’m off…I need to shower and get ready for dinner tonight – hence my early post. We’re heading to a lovely little restaurant (I’ve mentioned it before)…but I’ll tell you alllllllllll about it later!

Everyday Exotic

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Happy weekend, bloggies!

It feels so nice to know that I have a weekend of rest and relaxation (well…and course work, too) ahead of me.

I started off on a cool note…per usual. Iced coffee…suspended.

In order to reach the weekend, I had one small hurdle in the form of a 50 minute class this morning. It was more of a struggle getting there than I anticipated…leaf-peepin’ season is seemingly beginning early (and before the leaves even really start to change). The sidewalks were filllllled with tour bus upon tour bus of little white-haired folks.

At a more leisurely time, I would have found them adorable…however, in my sprint to class…their pace was simply frustrating! haha

Throughout class…I munched on Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip goodness. …okay, let’s be honest – it was gone in about 15 seconds…perhaps even before class started.

I made it to the gym today – the leg feeling much better after an awesome bath last night – and I punched out a really great, sweaty (tmi?) run. Only awkward thing…this dude kept turning around and looking at me and it was weird.

I didn’t think much of it at first. I had just walked up to my machine,and before I even started working out he turned around and looked at me – almost like he thought he knew me for a second. However, he then proceeded to turn around 3 or 4 more times throughout his workout….super awkward.

Once home (weeekend!), I made myself some unpictured cheese and crackers (LC blue cheese, of course). Trust me, there was no chance of photographic evidence…I was ravenous.

However, after doing some laundry (there’s not much better than clean sheets!) and errands, I settled in to make some scrambled eggs. I know – I’m suddenly alll about these…but they’re just too easy. Eggs, cheddar cheese, red onions, peri-peri sauce (Nando’s), and ketchup found their way into or onto this mix.

Dinner was on the exotic side…depending on your definition of exotic. Until recently, Indian cuisine was a mystery to me. It was something that I knew I wanted to try, but I just never found the opportunity. In came Trader Joe’s frozen Channa Masala. Delicious. I mean – talk about textures and bold flavors (not to mention a stellar fiber count!).

I am determined to make this myself…and luckily, Jenna has what I’m sure is an absolutely amazing recipe!

I hope you all had an amazing week – and are looking forward to a lovely weekend!

We’re going out (2nd time around) for my brother’s birthday tomorrow night…delicious Italian. I cannot wait! :)

  • What’re your weekend plans?

x.o.

My Main Man

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Evening, loves. I’m so happy to see that some of you are still lurking out there. :)

It has been a heck of a week, but it feels really good to be able to sit down and blog again.

First off, I want you to know there is a new man in my life…his name is Justin.

I know, I know…I’ve professed my love for him before – in Maple Almond form…but this is love rekindled.

Now – we all know that I love Nutella…I have no issue with it (in fact, I adore it!!), but… it is sweet. It’s a treat…however, Justin’s makes my hazelnut and chocolate addiction acceptable for everyday life. haha Yay!! Who else is in love with Justin’s? I’m okay with sharing this one. haha

In other news, my life has been a jumble of classes, homework, gym (Rumor has it that CJ from the Real World is a trainer at my gym? I’ll keep an eye out), and time out with friends. My meals have been pretty much leftovers of all the stuff you saw me making a week-or-so ago!

However, not tonight. The weather has cooled down…and with the cool weather comes my craving for warm, toasty, comforting food. Trader Joe’s Channa Masala boxes take up a good 1/3 of my freezer. I’d love to try and make it myself…anyone know if Whole Foods carries Amchur powder (Mango Powder)?

Anyway, tonight I carried on the tradition of comfort eats with an experiment…that both worked and didn’t work. You’ll see.

Now, I’ve been obsessed with Laughing Cow’s Blue Cheese wedges ever since they appeared in my grocery store…and Chobani is a staple in my fridge. I thought of combining the two, with milk and a little pepper to make a blue cheese sauce and baking rice in it (reminiscent of my Mom’s green rice)…in my mind – WIN!

The sauce came out great…it smelled sooo delicious.

1/4 cup of milk, 2 Tbsp Greek Yogurt, 1 wedge of LC, pepper

I poured it over brown rice and a little cheese, stirred and stuck in a 375 degree oven for about 30 min. Forgive the orange cheese…I wanted cheddar…and it’s all they had when I went!!

Texturally, it was exactly what I wanted – SUCCESS.

However, somewhere in the baking process all traces of the blue cheese flavor went missing! Definitely something I’ll fiddle with…because it was super easy and really satisfying (even with the missing blue cheese!). The sauce will just have to be stronger in flavor next time around!

I hope you all are wonderful!!!

The power of positive thought

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I said it would all work out…and it did! :) Oh, the power of positive thought. It truly is what got me through the week — it was tough to try and stay positive, but just telling myself “You can do this, Jil” — was so helpful. Plus, as I mentioned before — you guys rock, and threw a lot of positive vibes in my direction! But now…it’s the weekend!! YAY!! I have NO plans. I am okay with that…lots of sleep is in my future. haha

I grabbed my usual skinny hazelnut on the way to class this morning. I probably could have gone for a larger coffee, and my body was pretty much yelling at me to stay in bed this morning…but I got a small because I knew that I would be heading back to bed the moment I got home. haha

Once, I got home…I did just that. Okay, so I made some breakfast first actually: yogurt mess: NF Fage, Blueberry flax, sunflower seeds and honey. I may not have crashed right away, but I did sleep — very soundly — from about 11-2pm. It was glorrrrious!

Purple yogurt mess! haha

For lunch, I split up some Trader Joe’s sushi. I had 4 around 2:30 and then the rest around 4pm.They were alright. They tasted fine they were a little … dry? though. I don’t know…I usually don’t by prepacked sushi, but I didn’t have any food in the house so I just grabbed them the night before.

I then got productive! haha I made a run to the bank, and to the grocery store. Lots of success at the grocery store — however, I was disappointed because I could NOT for the life of me…find the tahini. I wanted to make my own hummus (put that food processor to use!), but FAIL. I literally looked every place I could think that it “might” be…but nope. haha Oh well, another day…another store…I WILL find it.

My goodies (yes, I also got Febreeze and body wash haha):

The cashier literally DROPPED my sweet potatoes everywhere when she was trying to bag them. I internally cringed a little, but she felt so bad…all I could think to say was “Don’t worry about it they’re tough little suckers.” haha I’m lame. :)

I got home with every intention to do my laundry…but so did everyone else in my building. Laundry will have to wait…however, I did clean up my apartment and make a ton of rice!

For dinner, I used the brown rice, that I had just made, Laughing Cow, Salsa, roasted corn and spinach.


For dessert? Hmm…I’m thinking of digging into this sucker… :) Yumm. Dark Chocolate Dreams. One BIG spoonful. Yummm.

Everybody’s workin’ for the weekend…and it’s finally here! Enjoy everyone!

Peace, Love & Munchies.