Yep, another one!! Man, my stomach was so full on the ride home I didn’t think I’d be able to pedal. But somehow, we made it. I tried to talk the husband out of biking to Michelle and Ben’s – about 4.5 miles each way – but since it was a mild day for November, he convinced me we should. And I’m so glad we did. Except these little pumpkins made my stomach hurt the whole way home! I must have had at least 10 of them. They are way better than candy corn because of the chew factor!
I was so ready for a glass of wine after our 4.5 miles there. It was a long day of working! I pretty much finished my foodservice project – it just needs proofreading.
I dug into the appetizers – candy corn and a great spread of veggies and dip. I probably had about 5 each of pretzel sticks and carrots with dip.
Next came Charles Shaw Chardonnay Rounds I and II. I actually loved the Two Buck Chuck! I love wine, but I am not at all a snob about it. If I like it, I like it!
And Round III. I started with small pours.
Michelle made a fantastic dinner! Turkey Meatloaf, cinnamon glazed sweet potatoes, garlicky almond green beans and some Great Harvest Spinach Feta Bread that we brought.
Her sweet potatoes were some of the best I’ve ever had ! It was the cinnamon. The secret ingredient.
Seconds on bread and taters
Mas vino!
Their little scruffy dog Cooper was the star of the show too in his Halloween sweater and monkey hat (that’s hard to see) 🙂
Dessert!! I split this with the husband, but ended up having another half gingerbread brownie and more M&M’s and pumpkins!
Still going!
And going…. (split this one too)
My stomach is mostly stuffed from the water I’ve chugged since I’ve been home. I was SO thirsty on the bike ride home but I’m too full to fit water in my stomach! Hate that.
Thanks to Michelle and Ben for the awesome evening of friends!! I found out I’m pretty good at Nintendo Wii tennis!
Off to bed……..zzzzzzzzzzzzz
Maggie says
I love those pumpkins but haven’t had one in forever! Definitely chewy 🙂
It sounds like a great night, and great friends. Enjoy your night and have a great Sunday!
Maggie says
Oh I forgot to mention – I think Bobby and I are going to do your challenge, but make it $100 and not include Thanksgiving. I’ll probably post about it tomorrow. Thanks for the idea 🙂
Hil says
I love Wii Tennis! Although my personal favorite was always bowling. I always got tremendous satisfaction out of creaming the husband and his gamer friends at Wii bowling. 🙂
Lisa says
Those green beans look amazing!
Moran says
I LOVE sweet potatoes! And cinnamon! So the combination sounds delicious!
coco says
those little pumpkins are so cute~~~~~~~
and sweet potatoes…….. always taste good.
Kath, have you tried kabocha squash? it’s squash but actually has the texture similar to sweet potatoes.
Lee says
Two Buck Chuck is definitely our go-to wine. It’s good and you’d never know how cheap it is.
Christina says
That food looks soooo good!
VeggieGirl says
Haha, those pumpkin candies are classic – I remember those!! 😀
Aww, Cooper!! 🙂
SWEET POTATOES!!!! Mmm…
Happy Sunday!!!
Brittany says
You are such a trooper when it comes to biking. My boyfriend always tries to get me to ride places with him on out bikes, but I always make excuses.
Your dinner looks fabulous and I feel you on liking wine but not caring about the cost. If it tastes good and is cheap that is the perfect combo.
Lee (seelivelee) says
The dog looks so cute and tiny! I love when small dogs dress up… for some reason i find it irresistible. One year i put my Field Hockey Jersey on my yellow lab…she didn’t like it all… i feel like small dogs are definitely more willing and open to things like that!
Glad you had a nice dinner have a great sunday!
Fig says
could you get the recipe for the sweet potatoes from her?
HangryPants says
Isn’t wii fun?
The sweet potatoes do look good. Did she just bake them with cinnamon?
Have a good Sunday.
Courtney says
Hey Kath (and others),
I just read your post about the Thanksgiving challenge and I wanted to give a tip. I saw this lady on Oprah a couple of weeks ago who has a website called couponmom.com. She tells these amazing stories about how she literally cuts her grocery bills in half. You should check out her website b/c you seem like someone who would be organized enough to do it. Good Luck!
Oh She Glows says
Those candy pumpkins (along with candy corn) are my absolute favourite Halloween treat! I don’t knwo what it is, but they taste like heaven! I have yet to have some this Halloween- maybe I will have to check out the candy sales this week. 😉
Ansley says
Candy pumpkins are so sneaky. I can eat 20 and feel like I’ve only eaten one. Something about the melty sweetness in your mouth.
Hmm.
Great costume, by the way. :]
Megan says
So many yummy eats! I love the cinnamon glazed sweet potatoes and the gingerbread brownie!
zestycook says
Kath, Those sweet potatoes do look great along with everything else!! Have a great sunday!
Mara says
Gingerbread brownies sound like little bites of heaven!!
Kinder says
Yummy – dinner looks great! I love the idea of your budget for food for the next month. For a family of five (In canada, where food is more expensive) we spend way too much on food. It is easily our biggest expense. I would love to learn how to cut that back, and yet still eat really yummy, healthy, fulfilling foods! No way could I shop for groceries for $126 though…not even for a week….
Dale says
Oh my gosh, those pumpkins are the BEST! I’ve tried to find them twice at my grocery store but they haven’t had them. So sad!
WendyF says
Those candy pumpkins brought back some memories for me. The sweet potatoes looked great. We do something similar to your challange here, with a slightly different twist, we try to only buy produce, meats locally (within 100 miles). Still raining here so no outdoor bike rides for me.
emmy says
just so you know, we’ve decided to do the challenge as well! You’re starting a good trend Kath!
http://eatingchalk.wordpress.com/2008/11/02/eggtastic/
Michelle says
I love those pumpkins!!!
Diana says
Great photos, Kath!
I love those little pumpkin candies, too.
🙂 Diana
Kath says
coco ,
I haven’t tried that squash. I’ll look for it – hope it’s not expensive!!
Fig + Hangrypants ,
She said she just covered them in cinnamon, a little brown sugar, and some olive oil and baked for 30-45 minutes.
Courtney ,
I saw her on Oprah! I dont’ think the site is very user friendly though. Maybe I wasn’t looking in the right places.
Kath
amy a says
Hey Kath- Have you tried Edy’s Pumpkin Ice Cream?? I know you had their Eggnog before, and this is another limited edition one. They had had pumpkin, peppermint, and eggnog at my grocery store — and they had regular and slow-churned. The pumpkin is yummy!! Hopefully I can practice portion control!!
WendyF says
I second the kombacha squash. It is one of my favorites after the carnival. We are making a stew instead on tonight. (it aslo makes a really delicious ice cream as well 🙂
WendyF says
Correction to my last post. We are making a stew inside the kombacha sqush tonight. 🙂
Kath says
amy a,
I haven’t had the Edy’s Pumpkin. I decided to only stick with all-natural icecream this summer. I’m not sure what’s in the ingredients list. I’d eat it if someone gave me some, but I probably won’t go buy it.
K
Cat says
Love those little pumpkin candy corns as well!! I just spotted them in my office. It seems one of the moms here brought in the overflow from their kids’ candy haul this weekend. I’m trying to resist the urge…
I’m doing your Turkey Day Challenge too, but with $100 because I’m only buying food for one!
http://stevianspice.wordpress.com/2008/11/03/the-100-challenge/
runjess says
‘Tis the season for full tummies!