Check out my progress on Gift Weasel
I have one rule when it comes to gift-giving: give only gifts that I would like to receive myself. Not only does this ensure that I give quality gifts (read: no cereal box prizes allowed), but it also means that I can enjoy said gift should the recipient not want it. I know, my selflessness is remarkable:) I employed my gift-giving policy most recently for my dad’s birthday in that I gave him a gift certificate to MixMyGranola(reviewed here); one of his favorite breakfasts to order on vacation is a big bowl of muesli, so I figured he would enjoy making his own mix. Well, I guess the process of choosing his own ingredients was far too troublesome, so he decided to just order three pre-made mixes. They arrived over the weekend, and the three canisters have remained on the kitchen counter all week…so they called to me. My raisin-snatching is a hard habit to break–I’ve been snagging the goodies out of them. I hope Papa Stevesie doesn’t mind that I am a bit of a gift weasel. What’s your gift-giving style? Do you generally give things that you like yourself?
Now that I’ve divulged my sneaky ways, I’ll get onto the grub:
Monday
One of the aforementioned granolas made for a delicious smoothie topper last night. Even though it was a not a post-workout snack, it still hit the spot.
Did someone say hemp seed?
raisins ready for snatching!
berry smoothie with strawberries, blueberries, Nutty Berry Burst Spirutein, soymilk, & Equinox Mix
Tuesday
Oh pumpkin, it’s been far too long. I don’t care if you make my hands orange–I love you.
despite its turd-like appearance, that is walnut butter gracing the surface of my oat bran
pumpkin-banana oat bran cooked in almond milk, maple extract, and topped with cinnamon & raw walnut butter
I got creative with my hummus again today and whipped up a deliciously sweet and smoky combination. Check the hummus page for details.
Mango Curry Hummus; cuke; tomato; mushrooms; Triscuit Thin Crisps; dried figs
As my time at home dwindles, I am craving comfort foods during these last few days of summer. What could be more comforting that cashew-ginger goop?
Cashew Ginger Tofu (ED&BV); whole wheat couscous; salad; broccoli slaw & zucchini; pluot
Off to assemble my list of things to pack for school…this could take a while. Good night!
Filed under: Meals
Caroline Yoder, dietitian-to-be and all-around foodie.
haha, i love your gift giving method! i usually get something that i would appreciate myself too actually, but also something i know the recipient has been wanting. if i don’t know what they want.. then i wing it. caroline i gotta say you are one of the best chefs, of all the hundreds of blogs i read, your creations never cease to amaze. you should have your own TV show!
I always thought that I gave gifts that I thought the gift-receiver would like. Now that I think about it, the last 3 gifts I gave were something that I would’ve liked. So, maybe I do buy gifts that I might like
Pumpkin, maple, and cinnamon oats? I feel the Autumn flavors coming out already. I’m not a fan of the season, but I must say that I adore Autumn foods (Autumn flavors and Summer produce are my favs).
Mango curry hummus sounds deeelicious!
Yup. That is my gift giving style too. I buy things that I like, yet too “splurgy” to buy for myself. I have no problem buying it for other ppl tho.
people generally like what I like so i tend to try to think in the same mentality as you…get them something I would love and be willing to spend good money on. At other times, however, I definitely think outside the box and try to place their interests and likes with the gift I get for them. It all depends on who, what, when, and why haha
And mmm those pumpkin oats totally rock my socks!
pumpkin’s one of my favs!!
as for gifts…I usually try to get something the person has said he/she would like. otherwise, it’ll be something i’m quite sure the person would like, or, it’ll be something i think is nice. then again, every time it’s the last option, i’ll always feel a little bad thinking ‘what if, this person hates it…!’ =\
I like to give good gifts to my lovely friends and family, but only to those that I really want to give the gift, never do it by obligation. And I pick up what they most likely to like.
The cashew ginger tofu looks wonderful!!
I love your gift giving secrets…ha.
I’ll have to keep them in mind next time I purchase a gift. 
Love that pumpkin oat bran
When it comes to gifts, I try to pick what the other person would like regardless of how much I’d like it. I don’t know anything about golf, but my dad loves golf. So I might do a little research and observe to see what involving golf he would like.
I really want to try the ginger cashew goop- i mean tofu!
Very nice gift giving method! I do that same thing!
Mmm Pumpkin! It’s already starting and fall is not here yet!
I’m on the same page as you right now…packing, packing, packing. Is it sad that the thing I’m going to miss most next year is not my family or my home or my friends but my kitchen????
That cashew tofu looks SO GOOD!!!
Maple extract sounds like something I would love, and with walnut butter and pumpkin?! That sounds like one fantastic bowl of oats.
haha…your raisin snatching reminds me why we never kept ‘Clusters’ at home (do you get that in the US?) They would quickly turn to just flakes…no clusters to be found
I try to make gifts as unique to that person as possible.
I can’t believe summer is over! Colleges here don’t go back for 6-7 weeks yet!
Your pumpkin oatbran sounds fabulous!
yumm that pumpkin banana oatmeal looks awesome, and so does the EDBV tofu recipe, i’m going to have to try that! good luck packing up for school!
Your hummus plates are just a delight! Sure beats my method of just bringing a carrot and packet of hummus to work! Gosh, I need to work on my presentation skills…haha.
I love your gift-giving style: can’t believe that you are such a naughty raisin snatcher though!
Gift giving is hard. I know a lot of my friends/family wouldn’t like the same stuff as me so I actually try and do the opposite and get them something I know they would really like – even if I’m not into it!
Love you oats bowl girly!
i find that homemade gifts aren’t the way to people’s hearts haha!
Any meal that revolves around hummus is a good meal in my book! Hope you got your school packing started/finished – I can’t believe it’s that time of the year again!!
I’ve been trying to save pumpkin for the Autumn, but my inner pumpkin fiend is screaming for some NOW! Your oat bran looks delish… as does your hummus. You should put together a hummus ecookbook will all of those amazingly creative recipes!
I try to give gifts that we both appreciate. It was hard for me to understand, at first, that not everyone wants a food processor or cupcake pan for their birthday. I like to put a lot of thought into gifts and I always stress out that the recipient won’t like it!
That’s definitely a good gift giving technique. Especially when it applies to someone who lives in the same household as you
I just try to recall something the person might have said they liked, wanted or needed. Or I’ll just ask what they want. I’m a terrible gift buyer, I get so stressed out about it!
I can’t get over how perfect your bowls of oat bran look. The pumpkin one is just gleaming, “turd” and all.
Good luck with the packing!
i am pretty sure this is the PERFECT day of eats. seriously. i want to live your life today. there is nothing more to say. i want all of that!
http://thehealthyeverythingtarian.wordpress.com
haha looks like your gift giving paid off in the end..you raiisin snatcher you!
Mmm, I’m looking forward to the fall so I can have pumpkin oat bran and try your carrot cake oat bran! Your mango-curry hummus sounds fantastic too.