Well hi friends! Happy Sunday! What are you up to today? Rob and I are having a BBQ so I’ve been up since 4:30 (not on purpose) baking and stuff. He’s smoking a brisket so he’s been getting up every two hours throughout the night to baste it, add coal, etc.
We are seriously committed to good food!
Onto yesterday. You may remember that I had a wild night of Cranium on Friday. As a consequence, I only slept for four hours. But that can work sometimes, as you all know! I got up at 5:30 and made a bowl of oatmeal before going grocery shopping. I love getting it out of the way so I have the day to work, hang out, clean, etc.
I had the standard 1/2 cup oats, plus a cup of defrosted frozen berries and 1/2 cup ff cottage cheese.
I hit the stores, came back and unloaded everything, and had a snack. I was excited to try a new PB that Gina mentioned on her blog: Naturally More! It has flaxseeds and egg whites in it so it’s higher in protein than regular PB. It’s also slightly lower in fat and very slightly lower in cals. I had 2 T with a honeycrisp apple.
Delicious!
I took my little pudding pie to work and hit the gym. I did 20 minutes of intervals on the stairmill and a rather hefty lef workout. I LOVE THOSE. When I work my legs I am usually sore for days and days afterward, even though I stretch, so I decided to do 10 minutes on the elliptical when I was done in order to distribute some of the lactic funk throughout my body and hopefully decrease the inevitable pain.
When I got home it was time to refuel the ol’ bod. I made a salad and toasted two pieces of the best.bread.eva (almost gone)!
Salad:
- 4 oz grilled chicken
- lotsa spinach
- even more broc slaw
- T golden raisins
- 1/2 oz feta
I loved the feta/raisin combo. Salty and sweet. Yummy!
Needed Wanted lunch dessert, so I ate five chunks of frozen mango with a little ff Redi Whip.
After I ate, I totally got into bed, still all sweaty and gross. It’s Saturday, so who cares, right?! We change the sheets on Saturday so we coo.
I planned on a little nap but ended up sleeping for three hours. I got up in the middle of my nap and ate a box of yogurt raisins and a few prunes (not pictured), then went back to bed.
I slept from 2 to 5. When I woke up Rob was home from work and I felt 100% whacked out. So I took a shower. About time! Gross.
I worked for a couple hours, hung out with my hubcap, then decided it was a good enough time to hang all the pictures that have been propped up against the wall in our guest room. Is that weird? We’ve lived here for a year and suddenly I was ready.
I finally ate dinner around 7:30. I just wasn’t in the mood for some reason.
I made a salad identical to the one I had for lunch, but with a couple additions: jalapenos and cider vinegar. I also had a big pile of spaghetti squash topped with a combination of stevia, cinnamon, and chili powder. I have this in a shaker and always forget to use it.
After dinner, I called my friend Goali and we had a nice hour long convo. We talk every weekend for at least an hour. I look forward to it all week. 
I’ve mentioned her before on this blog, but we worked together in the honor society during undergrad. Here’s a pic of us at graduation with hat hair:
Note the may-juh cute J.Crew purse with the wooden handle.
After that, I dusted and vacummed the house, changed the sheets, (why am I telling you all these insignificant details?!) and sat down for my dessert of trail mix around 10:00.
I’ve decided to detox from the mix for a week, just cuz. It’s a serious addiction.
I popped into bed, read for school, passed out.
I have no idea why I got up so early today, but whatever! I immediately started working on an apple crisp using a cool corer/peeler I got as a bridal shower gift.
It totally looks like something straight from the middle ages! And it’s so effective. Look at this!
After I put it in the oven, I started working on breakfast using the Blogger Secret Ingredient. I came up with: Butternut Pancakes! Actually, they’re butternut oatmeal protein pancakes, but that sounds like a really long title.
I baked the squash last night using the same technique Jenn did. Microwaving it for a few minutes made it really easy to cut. After I let it cool, I scooped out the squash and put it in the fridge.
This morning, I used my mini food processor to combine the following:
- 1/2 cup oats
- 1/4 cup ff cottage cheese
- 1/4 cup egg whites
- 1/2 cup butternut squash
- stevia, vanilla, cinnamon
Preheat a nonstick pan on med-hi for a couple minutes. Spray the pan and add some batter. Wait until bubbles appear in the batter, then flip. If you’re making a big batch, keep pancakes warm in a 200 degree oven.
This makes about 3-4 pancakes. You can also make one enormous pancake, but it’s much harder to flip!
This would be good with a number of toppings: applesauce, syrup, butter, powdered sugar, etc. I topped mine with sf syrup and a blob of whip.
The squash flavor is mild and adds a nice texture to the pancakes.
Time to do a mani/pedi and watch Rachel Zoe. She’s like my Sunday morning cartoon. What shows do you like to catch up on over the weekend? In addition to Rachel, I have the Hills and Project Runway to watch.
Have a beautiful day!
Posted by VeggieGirl on October 5, 2008 at 5:43 am
Sounds like you have a fun Sunday planned – I’ll be studying for an exam, and meeting up with a friend/former classmate whom I haven’t seen in quite a while.
I LOVE HONEYCRISP APPLES!!! And frozen mango, spaghetti squash, those butternut pancakes… holy yum.
Such a lovely photo of you and Goali!!
Love how that apple looks, after being cored/sliced!! So artsy!!
Shows that I like to catch up on over the weekend = Project Runway, ANTM, Top Design, The Rachel Zoe Project, Gossip Girl, SNL, The Office… yeah, the guilty pleasures list goes on, haha
Posted by Christie I on October 5, 2008 at 5:43 am
Erin, I am sure you get told this all the time and it has been killing me until know. I just realized who you look like, Anne Hattaway and I hope you take that as a compliment. She is, as are you, gorgeous!
Posted by Sarah on October 5, 2008 at 5:46 am
i don’t even know where to start.
1) you guys are SERIOUS about your food. I’m impressed.
2) FF REDDI WHIP. DROOOOL
3) Mini box of yogurt raisins=best invention ever! I always eat waaay more of those than I should when I just buy them from the bulk bins so this is bloody brilliant.
4)Those long naps are the best, except I always wake up from them totally disoriented and feel kind of strange the rest of the day too.
5) JCrew is the best. And I just found out they give a 10% student discount. WHY did I not know this before–I could have saved myself tons and tons of money.
6) I want an apple peeler/corer. I think I mainly want to get married just so that I can get all sorts of fun gifts like that. Now I just need to find a guy…
7) Pancakes look SO GOOD!
Have a great day : )
Posted by wholefoodswholeme on October 5, 2008 at 5:53 am
i agree with christie – you really do look like anne hathaway!!! and my friend and i were just talking about how beautiful she is the other day, so techinically, we were talking about you
i have never seen anything cooler than that corer/peeler. i am so requesting that as a bridal gift, in 873861 years. and those pancakes!!! i am now completely craving them and it’s only been a couple of hours since lunch, not even…..
Posted by Megan on October 5, 2008 at 6:02 am
Love the pancakes!
Cool apple pic! I love that gadget!
I love that PB! I like the texture that it has!
Posted by jenngirl on October 5, 2008 at 6:26 am
Mmm pancakes!
I’ll admit that I watched three episodes of gossip girl online yesterday. in a row…Damn those dramatic high school shows.
Have a great Sunday!
Posted by hk on October 5, 2008 at 6:26 am
a list
1. butternut pannies- devine!! love the idea
2. naps rock…I can’t take them, what’s my deaL??
3. jcrew is bomb…and you’re a teacher (?), which means you get 15% off, it’s totally under the radar, but as long as you have an ID card from your school, you’re all set- stellaar!!
4. serious about your brisket, that’s hot! have a fun bbq
5. detoxing trailmix…worst idea ever!!!! haha totally know what you mean, I’m almost going to have to do the same, but i can’t quite make myself yet
6. i want an apple pealer…that would make me eat apples all- day long, even if i wasn’t baking pies and crisps…weird?
7. HAPPY SUNDAY! hooray for being a sweaty stinker on saturday, i’m doing the same today and looking forward to a lovely shower…but that’s much later in the day, I’ve gotta go get my gym funk on!! see ya!
Posted by eatingbirdfood on October 5, 2008 at 7:01 am
Rob waking up every 2 hours and check on his “baby”, I mean brisket shows some serious dedication. I hope it turns out GREAT!
Your pancake recipe looks fab and I love you apple corer/peeler. The apples come out very fancy looking. ohh-lala
I still have yet to find the naturally more PB, but I’m still on the look out. I had a honey crisp apple yesterday as well. Fuji is my go to apple, but honey crisp is pretty much the best one. I like hard crispy apples that are sweet and obviously honey crisp fits the bill.
Have fun at the BBQ.
Posted by eatingbirdfood on October 5, 2008 at 7:01 am
ps. love the pumpkin banner.
Posted by eatingbender on October 5, 2008 at 7:58 am
Ohmagah!!! Butternut Pancakes are like SO totally may-juh!! It’s like buttermilk pancakes to a whole new level – niiiiice!! These are awesome, Erin – and they turned out so perfect looking, like in a magazine! Sweet
Thanks for participating, yay!
So in regard to the rest of your post…I want to find that PB! I would love to get even more protein since I eat PB as though it’s my life.
Frozen mango and honeycrisp apples!! I loove both right now! They are stocked up in my fridge and freezer!
I love long naps, too
Waking up from them kinda makes me groggy, but the actual nap process itself can’t be beat!
Rob’s brisket = dedication to the max!!
Enjoy your Sunday, Erin!
Posted by Melissa S. on October 5, 2008 at 8:17 am
wow, those pancakes sound so good! i’m glad you were able to use the secret ingredient with them!!!
and i did the same things with naps in hs…would do a workout for x-country after school, come home, pass out for 2 hrs all sweaty and stuff, then get up and do hw…haha…lovely sweaty naps!
Posted by Andrea on October 5, 2008 at 9:48 am
I’m so glad I’m not the only one who thinks you look like Anne Hathaway! Speaking of AH, I’m have to catch up on her appearance on SNL from last night. I saw the very beginning re: the debates – too funny.
Yesterday was a crazy day! I had a household crisis that sucked up my whole first half of my day and threw me all out of whack. I’m going to post tonight after I finish this busy day. It’s 9:30 on a Sunday and and I’m at work. ’nuff said.
Posted by Nicole on October 5, 2008 at 10:04 am
I love that apple peeler! So neat.
Posted by magpie on October 5, 2008 at 11:36 am
I love your butternut squash pancake idea
And I’ve been meaning to try Naturally More since I saw it on a blog recently.
Have a great day!
Posted by bobbi on October 5, 2008 at 11:43 am
love the pcakes going to have to try them!!! and that pb too never heard of it.
Posted by glidingcalm on October 5, 2008 at 12:47 pm
you reminded me that i should watch some tv today. it’s been TOO LONG. that apple is the coolest thing ever. pancakes look amazing. jealous of the PB!
happy sunday homez!
Posted by Christie on October 5, 2008 at 1:11 pm
Those are lke NO JOKE pancakes.. great idea on chopping it all up, you should have theown some of the apple peal and apples in it… i cant wait to make this.. thanks so much!
Posted by ChocolateCoveredVegan on October 5, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Hehe I love the title… and butternut squash is basically the best stuff on earth (after chocolate, of course).
Posted by Hangry Pants on October 5, 2008 at 5:06 pm
She kinda looks like a cartoon, so it works. No, but really, she has a lot of haters, but I don’t get it. Yes, she has a big head and a little body, but who cares. No, she is not working to solve the world’s problems, but she loves clothes and found a way to make a career out of it. Good for her. I am talking about Rachel Zoe by the way.
Anyway, love the pancakes and the lunch dessert. I need to get on that.
Good luck with the trail mix detox.
Posted by Kristie on October 5, 2008 at 5:25 pm
Mmm feta and raisins. Good salad topping choice.
It takes me forever to feel “ready” to get around to doing household tasks like that too. No idea why. I never seem to get the motivation to do random chores like that.
I love what that apple peeler gadget does to apples. How cool is that?!
And those pancakes sound amazing. I just bought a butternut squash today. I can’t wait to bake it up!
Posted by lauren on October 5, 2008 at 5:45 pm
those pancakes look great! and I have another small butternut squash to use…hmmm. oh and I have one of the old fashioned apple peelers too!
Posted by Carrie on October 5, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Definitely making those pancakes next weekend! Looks easy enough and seem super filling!
Posted by rose on October 5, 2008 at 6:14 pm
those pancakes look awesome-adding protein with the egg whites and cottage cheese is a great idea and i am assuming the oats lend a nice texture. i typically shy away from pancakes because i feel like they’re usually so heavy and bland, but i’m going to try a version of these asap!
Posted by Meghann on October 5, 2008 at 6:31 pm
Butternut squash pancakes?!?! I think we have a winner!!
Posted by Betta Banana Bread, Big Bites + BSI « eating bender on October 5, 2008 at 8:14 pm
[...] Erin – Care to Eat – Butternut Pancakes [...]
Posted by Erin on October 5, 2008 at 9:11 pm
Liz – Studying, ew! I see we share some of the same guilty pleasures!
Christie I – You are SO sweet. Yes, I have heard that, and some people think I look like Mary Louise Parker. I think it’s the big brown eyes because otherwise I bear no resemblance to her.
THANK YOU!
Sarah – I love your comment. It made me smile.
Mi – Awwh! Wow! I’m blushing (seriously)!
Megan – Yeah! Little crunchies in the PB are great!
Jenny – No shame in Gossip Girl.
Hope – CRAP! How come I didn’t know about this discount when I lived near a J.Crew? I even got my wedding dress from there. #@(*%
Brittany – I love Fujis too!
Jenn – MAY-juh! I know. I eat PB like it’s my last meal! I can’t wait to see what you pick. I just looked at there are some seriously kick-ass entries!
Melissa – They’re gross, yet satisfying! Glad I’m not the only one who doesn’t mind laying in her own funk.
Andrea – What happened?!
Nicole – It’s from Bed Bath & Beyond!
Magie – It’s great PB. I’m a convert!
Bobbi – I found it at Wal-Mart, oddly enough!
Em – Thanks friend!
Christie – Good idea!
CCV – Chocolate definitely beats out squash.
Heather – I need all the luck I can get!
Kristie – Yay! I’m excited to see what you do with it!
Lauren – It’s awesome.
Carrie – VERY filling. Over four hours!
Rose – Hi! I hope you love them! You’re right, the oats add a great texture.
Meghann – Well, they’re certainly a winner in MY eyes. (Corny!)
Posted by ttfn300 on October 6, 2008 at 5:38 am
omg i LOVE those pancakes!!! Definately making those
so clever!
Posted by ttfn300 on October 6, 2008 at 5:42 am
ps- i have that peeler, too, i think my mom gave it to me
i always forget i have it though and wind up cutting them up myself… 
Posted by Jordan on October 6, 2008 at 5:56 am
I’m pretty sure I need one of those apple peeler/corers. I didn’t know they sliced it, too.
Posted by Rose on October 6, 2008 at 6:13 am
Naturally More is good PB! I haven’t found it in stores down here yet, but I’m probably not looking hard enough
Love that apple core “machine” – It looks so pretty!
Regarding TV shows… we usually rent a season of what we haven’t watched yet (usually shows on Showtime because we don’t get the channel). Recently, we’ve sat through tons of episodes of Dexter, Weeds, Lost – you name it.