Laptop-less
After an eternity frustration, I finally gave in–I handed over my laptop to the Geek Squad. For several months now, my screen has been cranky, flickering white at any given moment. This made blogging and reading e-mail a constand struggle of adjusting and re-adjusting the screen’s angle. I didn’t get it fixed sooner, well, because I am far too devoted to my laptop than any human being should be. As a food blogger, I am somewhat attached to it: composing posts, storing recipes, and responding to e-mails all require the assistance of my precious laptop. Are you as laptop-dependent as I am? Have you ever been denied access to it for some period of time?
Aside from mourning my laptop-less state, I have managed to feed myself well this weekend:
Friday
This shake is making me think that I should try plopping a strawberry in my next s’more.
strawberry S'more shake with S'more Spirutein, soymilk, crumbled Newman's Arrowroot Cookies, & chocolate syrup
Saturday
When Katie announced her dessert pancake contest, I was so psyched–I make pancakes with considerable regularity. I almost always use a vegan banana pancake recipe as my base and add mix-ins for fun and flavor. What dessert features bananas so prominently? A banana split, of course. Hence, I made banana split pancakes; each cake is mixed/topped with a different “sundae topping:” shredded coconut, slivered almonds, strawberries, & dark cocoa powder. These made my mouth happy all day. (I’ll post the recipe soon ASAP).
strawberry & coconut pancakes, pre-flip
cocoa & almond pancakes, pre-flip
(vegan) Banana Split Pancakes, drizzled with vanilla agave nectar
I made another hummus salad for lunch, this time using a combination of regular hummus and roasted red pepper hummus. This is a classic example of Caroline having far too much fun plating her food.
Hummus Duo salad with farmers' market squash & tomatoes; apple & PB; whole wheat pitettes
Burgers were on the menu for dinner, so I whipped out one of my faves: Amy‘s Bistro Burger. I amped up the “bistro” factor by adding roasted red pepper, fresh basil from my garden, and caramelized onion. Instead of a salad, I just had some sliced tomato from the farmers’ market.
Bistro Burger with roasted red pepper & basil; green beans; tomatoes; plain yogurt with wheat germ & butternut squash
the red pepper looks creepily tongue-like, no?
I’ve finally decided why I like this Vanilla Almond granola so much–it tastes like the Rice Krispies Treats cereal from my childhood. Did anyone else eat that? My uncle used to work for Kellogg’s so we frequently received free samples; we enjoyed a case of that cereal for a few months, as I recall. Anyway this is a much healthier version, I assure you!
peach-blueberry smoothie with berry HempShake, soymilk, & Vanilla Almond granola
Sunday
Pumpkin-banana oatmeal has become a staple on food blogs (including my own!), so I surmised that butternut squash would work just as well. It was a success! Why am I craving fall-ish foods when it’s 90* outside?!
butternut squash oats with banana, almond milk, vanilla, cinnamon, & pecans
I promise, I do eat other foods besides hummus. Sometimes.
grilled hummus sandwich with salsa for dipping; grapes; salad with lemon-mango vinaigrette
hummus + salsa=love
Another purchase from the farmers’ market yesterday was okra. ..so of course vegan gumbo was on the menu tonight.
black-eyed pea gumbo with tomato paste, onions, roasted red peppers, okra, & whole grain couscous; salad; apple & almond butter
The Next Food Network Star is calling my name! C. Yode, out.
Filed under: Meals
Hello and welcome! I have created this blog for people who love food, especially healthful, vegetarian food.
I have just graduated from Duke University with degrees in English and psychology. I plan to pursue a master's degree in nutrition starting in Fall 2010. Ideally, I would like to combine my love of food and the written word someday as a health writer.
Me without my laptop = me without air. Not possible, haha
TNFNS = watching it right now.
Oh yes, oh yes… Butternut squash & naner oatmeal is my number one favorite combo!!! I quite like what you’ve done with the yogurt/b-nut squash side dish as well. Great idea! Love the shakes! I also love your banana split quadruplet of pancakes…so cute and clever.
Oh yeah, I am a big laptop addict. I lug it around everywhere too. I’m only without my pink vaio laptop when I’m on church retreats!
Yum! Love all the fun toppings and they’re sooo cute! You have much talent plating your food–everything’s always perfect and pretty.
LOL, the red pepper does look like a tongue! Delicious looking burger though
Mmm hummus + salsa is one of the best combinations ever.
hoy moly those pancakes look absolutely amazingggggg! And bistro burgers are the best ever…such great flavor and thickness! I love the addition of caramelized onions, peppers, and basil…perfect combo!
And my laptop is my baby…i’d be so bummed if it had to be taken away for a little while!
haha ew tongue! I hope your laptop issues get resolved soon, that is the worst! I love oatmeal in summer- i think it’s bc i just started eating it a few months ago….but then i get super hot and bothered afterward
I’m horrible with laptops! I’ve broken every single one that I’ve owned so now I’m hooked up with a desktop
I am pretty dependent on it though. Yum to your hummus lunch – that’s delicious! Wait, that grilled hummus sandwich is even better! Oozing with yumminess 
I used to be a cereal FIEND when I was a youngin’. Rice Krispies were definitely on the menu for a while.
No laptop?! The horror!
Eek! I don’t know what I’d do without my beloved laptop ~ it’s the only computer I’ve had that’s ever worked *knocks on wood* and it’s like an extension of my arm…or a makeshift child ; )
Your food presentation is exceptional ~ kind of makes me feel guilty for just plopping my meals on a plate…
hi caroline!
thank you! after months and months of eating this granola, i have now figured out what it reminds me of – rice krispie cereal. right on!
wow, banana split pancakes! love it.
xo brooke
Your strawberry S’more shake, banana split pancakes and grilled hummus sandwich all sound so delicious! I’m quite hungry now!
Where oh where did you find the S’more flavor Spirutein? I am hooked on their cookie dough and choc pb flavor.
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