Hi guys!! Sorry for the delayed post – sometimes on Sundays I just lump lunch and dinner together to get more done throughout the afternoon.
Brunch today was awesome!!! The husband and I devised a plan to get us uptown to brunch and to the grocery store all by two wheels and rail. Charlotte is still in a gas shortage and given the beautiful day today, it only made sense to get there any way but car.
After we digested this morning we went out on a 4.5 mile run, came home, showered, hopped on our bikes and rode to the lightrail (about a mile). My biggest complaint with biking places is that I can’t wear cute outfits or shoes. But today I wore biker shorts under my dress and compromised with flats instead of heels! It worked out perfectly. I also packed a change of clothes for when brunch was over to finish all of our biking.
On the lightrail:
Once we arrived at Pewter Rose, we were starving. But we were immediately greeted with the most delicious scone I have ever had: Butterscotch Toffee. Good thing they brought them to the table because had there been a basket of them I probably would have eaten 2-3!
For lunch I ordered a cup of Butternut Bisque (complete with almonds and some shortbread crackers)
And the hummus platter complete with flatbread (I had about 2/3 of them), delicious hummus (I only ate about 1/3 of it – shared the rest), kalamata olives (had about 7?), pickles, tomatoes and jalapenos (picked at all of these).
Coming from a huge sharing family, I also had a few tastes of the husband’s biscuits and gravy and eggs, my mom’s apple panini (Mmmm!!), a fried green tomato, and Karen’s fruit!
The lunch crowd, minus the husband, who took the photo, and poor Larbs who indulged in too much alcohol last night and didn’t even make it to the brunch!!!
While I didn’t feel like I ate poorly (sans the dessert scone), I was quite full when we left. Looking back, that was probably a 1000 calorie+ lunch, so no wonder I was full all afternoon. Eeeks! At least it all tasted great and was in good company.
And there’s nothing like a bike ride to counteract a full stomach! So after brunch and changing clothes, the husband and I set out for the grocery store, which was about a 40 minute bike ride, followed by another 30 minute ride home after that. Here’s our bounty:
We also had quite the prep day with wheatberries, garbanzo beans and lentils cooking for this week’s meals:
Dinner tonight was inspired by a recipe I am standardizing and adjusting for Foodservice: Fish with Bacon Grease + Dandelion Greens. We have to take a “wild” recipe (as in not measured, strange ingredients) and make it suitable for a hospital serving 237 portions. I decided to cook my updated recipe to test the cooking times.
Trout (really fresh and really good!) with salt, pepper and sage, baked at a 450* oven for 10 minutes.
Plus dandelion greens cooked with bacon. I would not recommend trying these greens. They were REALLY bitter. I decided to change my Foodservice recipe to collard greens!
And lastly, some leftover toast points from our tailgate with some whipped butter.
And for a sweat after-bite, TJ’s baby meringues and chocolate chips –
I’ve got a hard Organic quiz in the AM so I need to go study for that. We’re planning an early morning gym trip too. Night!
Cyclist Kate says
You look so cute in your dress with your bike! I agree that sometimes sacrifices must be made to ride a bike (sometimes makes me sad that I have to wear practical shoes and clothes–poor me!), but usually it’s worth it. Also, you’re obviously becoming adept at finding ways around it!
Your dinner looks fab. I’ve never had dandelion greens but it’s a bummer that they were so bitter. I tend to prefer milder greens that I can dress up with other flavors–it’s easier to eat lots of greens if they’re not making you pucker your lips!
Have a great night and good luck studying!
shawna says
Wow, I’m always amazed at how much you get done in a day! Great food all around!
Good luck on your quiz tomorrow!
melissa says
That dress is so cute! Where did you get it??
Megan says
Good luck on your quiz!
Glad you had fun with everybody! That scone sounds absolutely amazing. The soup looks delicious!
Cute dress!
yadi says
Your dress is sooo cute! And I love scones, yum!
Biz319 says
What a fun day! Smart thinking about the outfit!
What do you use on your stovetop to get it so clean?!
Scones, hands down, a favorite of mine – I used to love getting Starbucks cinnamon chip scone, but they are still high in calories.
I’ll have to put baby scones on my “to do” baking list (that grows by the day!).
Fleur says
Cute, and practical, outfit for biking and brunch!
Sorry you didn’t like the dandelion greens – personally, I love them, though I know that most people find them really bitter the first time they try them. Cooking them with squash/carrots/sweet potatoes will make them taste less bitter, so you might want to try that one day if you decide to give them a second chance.
magpie says
Good luck with the quiz! I was going to ask what kind of meat/fish you had wrapped in paper in the pic of the groceries, but it must have been the trout 🙂
kristie says
yummm, butternut squash soup is one of my favorite things to eat, i love autumn foods!
Grounded Fitness says
ugh public transporation in Seattle sucks. I live about 15 minutes away from the heart of downtown, but never go because parking is impossible and expensive and the musses are disgusting and dangerous.
Kelly Turner
www.groundedfitness.com
Meghann says
That scone looks resembles HEAVEN 🙂
I really wish I had a bike and lived in a more accessible biking area. Unfortuantely, I live right off of a busy interstate 🙁
Jaclyn says
I recognize that dress because I just bought it last weekend. It’s from Old Navy 🙂
mh says
aww you all look so cute! I was like Larbs saturday am- I feel your pain! haha! Enjoy your night Kath
ttfn300 says
never tried dandelion greens, but thanks for the review! i’m not so much into the bitter, so now i know 🙂
emmy says
Forget the dress; I think the shoes are cute! I had no idea the Carolinas were such a food haven before your blog (it’s one of the areas we are looking at for relocation).
Camille says
Wow! i LOVE YOUR DRESS! where did you get it? You look awesome in those pics Kath. Very toned and healthy, which is EXACTLY the kind of physique I am working towards from my wobbly “skinny fat” mess. Mmm, that butternut bisque looks delicious. It’s so great to see someone that really does enjoy exercise and food.
Have a great week! And…back to classes. *sigh*
Karly says
Hey Kath,
My name is Karly and im from Sydney Australia. Im just writing to let you know that i LOVE your blog!!!
i read it every day without fail and you inspired me to start my own.
check it out at www.aussiegirleats.wordpress.com
Thankyou so much for writing such a good blog. Keep up the good work!
Christie I. says
The brunch looks great!
Sorry you didn’t like the dandelion greens, I have never had them. But I love collard greens!
Kath says
Re. Dress,
Is is indeed from Old Navy (thanks Jaclyn!) and I just got it a few weeks ago so it’s still in the stores!
Biz319 ,
We use scouring pads to scrub it clean. I can’t stand it when there’s caked-on burn spots!
emmy ,
You should relocate here and join our growing group of cool blog friend couples!
Camille ,
Thanks for your nice comment 🙂
Karly ,
Wow, all the way around the world! It’s a small one. Good luck with the blog.
Kath
Andrea (Off Her Cork) says
I haven’t tried the greens but have heard they can be bitter. I wonder if a pinch of sugar would help? It would be awesome to be able to bike to places. All the places we could bike too are on super busy streets with no sidewalks and like you, biking on the road makes me nervous. I’m determined to figure something out though because I want a bike! LOL
madison (follow my weigh) says
cute dress and yummy looking scone!
bobbi says
I too am being green, haven’t driven my car in a while because it broke down. But it has caused me to ride my bike and take the bus, and I am loving it! Good idea with the bike shorts and dress:
emily says
Hey Kath – I know this isn’t a fashion blog but you have looked so cute the past few days! I love the outfits.
Kath says
Thanks Emily 🙂