I just started to get hungry for lunch before we boarded our plane and grabbed an apple and a salad to take on board. [So impressed by all the healthy options at JFK!!] SO glad I did because I was ravenous within 20 minutes of taking off!
This salad was incredible!!! Candied walnuts, cranberries and two nice hunks of goat cheese – plus a packed bed of greens.
Dessert came by at just the right time!!! Biscoff tastes even better at a cruising altitude of 30,000 feet!
Lucky us, Karen [Matt’s mom] gave us the celebrity treatment tonight! She picked us up from the airport and had a full gourmet dinner packed to unpack when we got home!
Homemade chicken + white bean chili (topped with Oikos and cheese)
A gorgeous rainbow of a salad
And homemade cornbread!
She brought over this fun bowl her friend Julie gave her to feature on the blog
Love the shape!
We celebrated Matt’s birthday last week with a Snickers Cheesecake!
She 2/3ed the recipe, so it wasn’t the most visually appealing, but it tasted great. [Sorry I don’t have the recipe, but it was a pretty traditional cheesecake with Snickers pieces embedded inside]
I was so full from dinner I couldn’t finish my slice, but it was awesome. Snickers is my favorite candy bar!
***
Open Sky has had such an incredible response to their "Helping Haiti" initiative, that they’ve decided to extend it for a few more days. Many shopkeepers [including KERF] have also volunteered to donate any profits.
***
SQUEAL –> 
***
As soon as I answer> a few emails I’m headed to take a bubble bath, fold laundry and get in bed nice and early. I’ve got to be at work really early tomorrow, so I need my beauty sleep ASAP.
P.S. The air smells sweeter in the south. Seriously.
Maggie says
I believe it! NYC never really has a smell I’d describe as “sweet.,” but this weekend has been pretty good. Just wait till you come back in the summer 🙂
Rainbow salad is beautiful! And such great news about the Open Sky initiative.
Sarah (OC2Seattle) says
How sweet of Matt’s mom to have dinner all ready for you! And so nice of you to donate proceeds from Open Sky to Haiti.
Christy says
Oh my, your eats today look so awesome. Both the salads look delish!
Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg says
What a sweet MIL 🙂
That salad looks so gourmet! Great for an airport!
Morgan @ Healthy Happy Place says
my favorite kind of salad is greens + Dried fruit + goat cheese+ whatever else i can find in the house.
YUMMM!!!
Casey says
I love Matt’s mom!!!
Estela @ Weekly Bite says
So glad you made it home safe! That is truly the gourmet treatment! That snicker cheesecake looks sooo good!
Food Makes Fun Fuel says
Oh man that cheesecake looks amazing!
Adrien says
Welcome home! Looks like you had such a great trip!
Bought $30 worth of Nutzo from you today in support of Haiti (that and donated to red cross- the nutzo butter I needed and open sky is being so great!)
Lauren @ eater not a runner says
Your salads look amazing!
Angela (The Lady Loves to Eat) says
I love cheese cake and I think I would probably love it even more with snickers in it!! Glad you guys made it home safe!
Jil says
Ohh, that cheesecake sounds awesome – and that salad is beautiful!! Love Biscoff — yummm, and that salad from the airport looks awesome.
Lauren says
AWww, poor Karen! She looks soo cold! 🙂 Haha, girl, I think it’s time to turn on the heat. 🙂
No just kidding with you. I am so glad you had a great trip and I am so happy to see that you made it home safely.
Enjoy your evening!
Marisa (Loser for Life) says
Your salad looks terrific! Way to travel in style 😉
Snickers = yum! My favorite, too!
Jamie says
Candied walnuts AND goat cheese? I’m surprised you didn’t die and go to salad heaven (what a terrible pun…) Anyway, I agree that traveling with healthy food makes the experience SO much better. I’m traveling for my job starting in the fall and I’m so nervous that I’ll have a tough time finding healthy, delicious things to eat!
Amanda (Two Boos Who Eat) says
Snickers is totally my favorite candy bar too although I seriously can not remember the last time I had it! LOL
I bet it’d be awesome in a cheesecake!
Sarah @ See Sarah Eat says
Thank God for warmer weather! And welcome back 🙂
Heather says
Yummy dinner how nice of her~ do you think Matts mom would share her Chicken and White Bean Chili Recipe?
Thank you~
Heather
Ashley says
I second this Kath–I’d love to have her recipe. It looks amazing!
Gretchen says
I already posted a request… but I “third” this! LOL!
Eve (Nutrition by Eve) says
Yes – JFK really does have great choices!! I’m finding that most airports have some healthy option these days. That was so nice of Karen to pick you guys up and have dinner, and that cheesecake – looks amazing! Well how could you go wrong with the combo of cheesecake and snickers?!
K says
That bowl is so funky – I like! Feel free to ship some of that cheesecake to Michigan 😉 What a lovely dinner!!
Cole says
I love salads with goat cheese in them. So perfect.
And I’m definitely glad that the southern weather is returning. The cold was awful!
Mama Pea says
I don’t know which made me feel dumber: the fact that I thought you got that amazing salad on an airplane or the fact that I didn’t know Karen is Matt’s mom!
lynn (The Actors Diet) says
so sweet of matt’s mom! it’s nice to come home and have things prepped for you like that.
Allie (Live Laugh Eat) says
We have a Balducci’s near my house. I’ve only been inside ~3 times because it is $$$$$$!!! Those slabs of goat cheese look incredible! Glad you made it back safely.
eliza says
LOVE the Southern smell..even as someone from the North, I know what you mean!
Do you know the Hendersonville area at all??
Kath says
No, not really. But I’ve been there.
Erin (Travel, Eat, Repeat) says
I can’t believe you’re going to hit 65 — major jealousy! 😉
Looks like a gorgeous dinner – I’m sure you’re happy to be back home in your own bed. That’s always the best part about returning from a trip.
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is says
Snickers cheesecake!! OMG!
Jessica @ The Process of Healing says
Snickers cheesecake… can you say incredible?!
Julie @savvyeats says
How sweet of her to send you home with a delicious, healthy, and gourmet meal!
ashleigh says
What an awesome dinner Karen put together for you two! and the cheesecake… jealous!! Have fun with the nice weather tomorrow!
Cynthia (It All Changes) says
Those are some serious chunks of Goat Cheese.
And it’s awesome that you have a lovely chaffeur and person chef. How nice to have such a good relationship with your MIL.
Mara @ What's for Dinner? says
So glad you made it home safely, and that dinner looks fantastic! My mom is constantly finding me new bowls and plates to feature… too bad they’re all breakfast dishes!
Jenna says
Salad looks great and I am glad you had your biscoff cookie;) we all know how much you love them! Did you get some extras? Ha.
Lovely dinner made by the MIL and cute bowl!
Yummy snickers pie!
Jenna
Kristen @ Change of Pace says
Oh my Snickers cheesecake! YUM! It really does smell sweeter in the south… Especially when it’s 70 degrees in January!!! Lovin the weather 🙂
Foy Update - Cook. Garden. Write. Repeat. says
That salad does look amazing. I heart goat cheese. What was the dressing?
Katherine says
Snickers cheesecake? Yes please!
Mae @ OhhMay says
Booooo. You southerners stink with your nice weather!! I’m excited when we get past 32* in the winter!!
Airport food has improved a lot over the last 10 years. Last time I took a flight I found a hummus and veggie whole wheat wrap, kashi bar and fresh mellon! It’s nice to know you don’t have to cart a diaperbag full of food and rely on nutrition bars while traveling. The only deterrent is the high price!! I believe the wrap was around $9! Eek.
Enjoy your sweet air and 65* day Kath!!
Jac says
snickers + cheesecake? can it get any better than that!
Lindsay says
it sounds like you had a great night with your hubby and his mother!! I also think that the cheesecake looks awesome!! But your mother in law looks a little cold!! Do you guys turn down the heat when you leave town??
Kath says
Yes and it was just coming back on
Heather says
Both salads look amazing – I love craisins!
Karen is so sweet to have made you and Matt such an amazing dinner. That cornbread and cheesecake look delicious!
Paige (Running Around Normal) says
That salad looks so freakin’ good! Very impressive 🙂
So lovely of MAtt’s mom to treat you to that fabulous dinner spread!
Get some rest, chica!
Mom says
Looks delicious. Good picture, Karen!
jessicaamc says
Oh wow! That salad looks absolutely delicious!
I got really excited when I saw the temperature image. Then I remembered that I live in Canada and you live in the south 🙁 If you thought NYC was cold..that was nothing compared to here !
Gina says
What a beautiful dinner! How nice!
Gretchen says
can you post the recipe for white bean & chicken chili? that sounds delish!
Jenn (www. j3nn.net ) says
Love your lunch salad, that’s perfect! Just needed a hunk of bread to go with. 😉
Matt’s mom is awesome, what a great return home meal. 😀 Snickers cheesecake? DROOL! lol
Jenn
Heather @ Health, Happiness, and Hope says
LOVE those healthy airplane goodies!!! I’m totally impressed by the healthy airport selection.
Wow, that dinner honestly looks fabulous! Lovely rainbow salad and I’m craving that cheesecake right now. 🙂
Danielle says
That snickers cheesecake looks delish!
Have a great day tomorrow!
Carolyn says
Cheesecake with Snickers! Yum!
AnnQ says
Ummm, Snickers AND Cheesecake? Yeah, I really don’t think you can go wrong there! 🙂
Karla says
Wow what an amazing dinner! I wish I had that tonight (frozen veggies for me, not fun). Glad you made it back safely!
Deva (Voracious Vorilee) says
I’m not hungry and both of your salads are making my mouth water! Snickers is one of my all-time-favorite candy bars. I love the peanuts in it!
Hillary @ Nutrition Nut on the Run says
Your airport salad looks great, but I bet it cost a small fortune =/ Envious of your semi-sunny weather. Enjoy!
Penny (Blonde Bibliophile) says
Wow, that salad looks great.
Heather (Heather's Dish) says
what a great dinner! that really is all-star celebrity treatment 🙂 glad y’all made it home safely!
Run Sarah says
I’ve never had a white chili – I’m interested to make a tofu / white bean version!
Freya @ foodfitnessandfreya.wordpress.com says
awh what a lovely In Law you have! That must’ve been great to come home to such a nice meal, you’re very lucky 🙂 I loovvee cornbread too, so you were especially lucky!
Lisa @bakebikeblog says
oooh Kath – all that food looks wonderful! love it! Thankyou for sharing 🙂
Kath says
Ask And Ye Shall Receive (but you guys are so demanding!!!)
WHITE BEAN CHILI
Bring to boil, then simmer until done (20 minutes?) 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts in three cups water. Remove chicken and chop. Return to broth.
Saute one cup chopped onion, 4 cloves chopped garlic in 1 teaspoon olive oil. Then add to broth.
Add to above:
juice from one squeezed lime
approximately 18 ounces frozen white shoepeg corn (can use yellow if can’t find white)
one whole chopped jalapeno
2 15-ounce cans Great Northern Beans (drained)
1 tbsp cumin
4 oz can chopped green chilis (drained)
Simmer all approximately one hour. May need to add some more canned chicken broth if it’s too thick.
Top with tostitos, jack cheese, sour cream, salsa, green onions, olives, the kitchen sink!!!!
TXMommy2 says
Thanks Kath! You rock!
Kristin @ Iowa Girl Eats says
SIXTY FIVE degrees?!?!?! Ugh, what I wouldn’t GIVE to see 65 degrees in this frozen tundra known as Iowa!!
And you’re right – as much as I love NYC – most air smells sweeter than that place! 😉
The Paris Food Blague says
i’m glad something in JFK impressed you….because otherwise it doesn’t have a great track record
Heather @ Side of Sneakers says
Wow that salad looks awesome!! Check out those hunks of goat cheese!
Heather (The Single Dish) says
That chili looks fantastic! I made a white bean soup with sausage and kale last night- yummy.
Katy @ These Beautiful Feet says
Oh the Carolina air, I would always get out of the car and be like “what is that smell??” in a GOOD way! The fresh air there is so sweet and wonderful, I am in Florida even more south and the air is not that sweet here.
Nicole (dishin') says
That snickers cheesecake looks amazing!! I bet the combo is awesome!
Amanda @ Cakes and Ale says
I’ve been so impressed with airport healthy dining options lately… At OHare in Chicago they’ve opened up this place Cibo Express that has all organic, good-for-you eats and treats… perfect for grabbing before I hop on board!
Kelly says
I’m beeming over this lovely weather in Charlotte. Running outside has been awesome this weekend. 🙂
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says
Wow, that’s a nice spread to come home to! What a great mother-in-law!
Heather @ Get Healthy With Heather says
That is so sweet of your M.I.L to pack such a yummy looking dinner for you guys! I love that she chose to use the gifted bowl just for the blog… awesome