We had lots of plans for this weekend – Fridays After Five, a movie date on Saturday and two events on Sunday, but all of our plans changed.
Friday night I came down with a weird sickness. I thought I was getting a killer cold and had chills, aches and the like, but less than 24 hours later there was no cold and I was better. Puzzling! It was sort of the best kind of sickness to have though because I was just out of commission enough to get to watch a marathon of Survivor Season 16, but not so sick that was miserable or unable to care for Mazen, who kept me very well entertained.
Matt took Mazen downtown on Friday night for pizza while I rested. I put together this soup for dinner in 2 minutes: a box of Imagine Tomato Bisque, leftover orzo from a Cook Smarts meal, and two big hunks of local goat feta.
Saturday morning Mazen and I stayed home, as I was still recovering, and I got the house in order while he simultaneously spread toys over every inch of the house. NBD. Matt and I decided to cancel or babysitter in case there were still germs in the house, so we just hung around the house most of the day.
I woke up starving and craving Great Harvest pancakes, so we had them for breakfast topped with some Wild Friends Vanilla Espresso Almond Butter.
Then for lunch we ate leftover pizza and calzone, which Hit.The.Spot.
By Saturday night I was feeling 100% normal again, so we merged dinners with our neighbors and grilled out!
The first pumpkin beers of the season were sipped!! Never too early : )
We grilled pork, which Matt rubbed in southwest seasoning
Grilled a ton of eggplant and zucchini. ..
And our neighbors brought cabbage with walnuts, rosemary and ginger
And mashed potatoes!
Served with buttery Great Harvest rolls as well and a few dipping sauces they brought over.
For dessert we had Great Harvest cookies with vanilla ice cream
How do you keep from going back for more!?
Sunday morning we made a big pot of family oatmeal packed with peach, flax, milk, oats, peanut butter and raspberry jam on top.
Sunday afternoon I packed and departed for our second and final beach trip of the summer – ocean here we come! This time it’s only Mazen and me with my parents, as Matt is staying home because he’s going on a different trip by himself soon!
Shana says
I had the same weird illness at the beginning of summer. I never get sick and I thought for sure I had the flu. Thankfully, it left as quickly as it came and I was good as new after sleeping it off for a day! Glad you’re feeling better 🙂
Kori says
I’m sorry you came down with a weird sickness, but thankfully, it didn’t stick around for long! I love that turquoise tray. Where did you get it? Have fun at the beach! I haven’t been since last year, & before that, it had been a long time.
KathEats says
It’s Target Threshold!
Kori says
I love that line & wish I could afford do much of it! You have wonderful style, Kath, both in home & food! ????
Kori says
Those 4 “?” were supposed to be an emoticon that I realize must not translste on here. Whoops 😉
Ashley @ Saving Money in your Twenties says
every time you grill veggies it makes me SO JEALOUS that I don’t have a grill! I might need to break out the george forman and attempt some grilled zucchini… yuuuum!
jill says
Glad you’re feeling better! The soup with orzo looks really tasty (as does the goat’s cheese – fairly certain I could eat an entire package of that stuff on its own). We’ve been consuming a ton of zucchini lately, but I don’t often pick up eggplant… Do you have a marinade that you like or do you find that grilling gives it enough flavour?
Matt says
Easiest thing we frequently do is liberally sprinkle with some sort of Italian seasoning, or Southwest… or Cajun even. Use a lot of oil on eggplant, and don’t forget the salt! Also tasty with barbeque sauce.
I don’t do any of that pre-salting that people sometimes do with eggplant – just slice, season, and grill!
Ali @ Peaches and Football says
Hurray that the mystery bug came and went quickly. There’s some nasty stuff going around here and summer bugs are never fun!
The dinner looks so delicious – I could go for that pork and the roasted veggies! I was in the grocery store and saw Oktoberfest beer on display. I guess Fall is just around the corner… 🙁
Chrystal J says
Love the grilled pork – do you know what cut of meat Matt used?
Tonya says
No. way. I rebuke all things pumpkin in August! Toooo soon! 🙂 i don’t wanna think about fall yet! 🙁
Shel@PeachyPalate says
The pork looks divine!!! It’s up there as my favourite meat so I’m pretty much drooling right now! You also have me craving pancakes!
Katie @ Talk Less, Say More says
It’s ALMOST PUMPKIN SEASON!!!! That gets me so excited for the fall and pumpkin everything, apple picking and sweaters. 🙂
Katie @ Peace Love & Oats says
I’m glad you were feeling better by the end of Saturday! I’ve had a cough for a couple weeks that just won’t go away… luckily it only bothers me at night and in the morning. And Vanilla Espresso Almond Butter?!? YUM
Mukta Tikekar says
Wow you managed to put together quite an interesting spread there despite your sickness. Falling sick when you have a baby or toddler to take care of is a real bummer. As a mother I always feel guilty when I fall sick, like it was my fault or something. 🙂 Glad that your cold didn’t last long. Take care.
Maryea {happy healthy mama} says
Sorry you were sick, but glad to hear it was a quick hitter!
Livi @ Eat, Pray, Work It Out says
Those cookies look SO GOOD!
Jesse says
oh love that you basically had a fall dinner in summer. i am so ready for mashed potatoes!
http://semiweeklyeats.blogspot.com/2014/08/atticus-outfit-6.html
Julia says
I tried a few pumpkin beers last fall, but couldn’t find any I loved. I am almost ready for fall, and to try some more! 🙂
KathEats says
check out this post for ideas! https://www.katheats.com/the-best-pumpkin-beers
Julia says
Awesome! Thank you!!
Robin says
More than any meal picture, I loved seeing and hearing Mazen with his polar bear. Thank you. He is a beautiful child! You are so fortunate to be connected to a city that supports your bakery. We have just moved to Modesto, Calif and miss the French bakery we had at our last residence. Modesto has more than 200,000 residents and NO real bakery. It’s ridiculous. Can you imagine? The few bakeries here have only muffins and cakes and goodies–no real bread at all. There is nowhere to buy a fresh baguette or loaf of healthy bread. And I do not want to buy a bread machine! So, please–Let’s get a Great Harvest Bakery here in Modesto! It will be well supported.
Leah (goodnight cheese) says
Those cookies look so giant and so good. Also, do you measure nutbutter or just eyeball it? If so, how much do you aim to have? I feel like I could never eyeball it because I’d overestimate.
KathEats says
Eyeball it. .. shoot for a tbsp but usually get about 1.5
jillian says
i had the same bug last week! did you have the pounding headache and sore throat too? ugh, horrible! thankfully mine passed quickly too.
KathEats says
Yeah!
Hannah @ eat, drink, and save money says
Getting pumpkin beer this weekend! So excited!
Alex @ Kenzie Life says
Sorry to hear you got sick but glad to hear it passed quickly!
Casey @ Casey the College Celiac says
YUM! Your food pictures always get me drooling!! Glad to hear you’re feeling better. Quick illnesses stink while you have them, but at least they’re gone quick! 🙂
Michelle @ A Healthy Mrs says
Oh man, those cookies look SO GOOD to me right now! Especially with the ice cream 🙂
Stefanie says
Mazen is so cute, but that clip of him is just precious!! I loved being able to hear his voice and see a glimpse of his personality. What a charmer ???? Thanks for sharing Kath!
Stefanie says
Sorry… I meant what a charmer!!!
Lauren @ Dash of Soul says
I am SO into grilling vegetables at the moment…I think I might even like grilled better than roasted. That whole dinner looks awesome! I recognize that pumpkin beer too…lived in Williamsburg up until about a year ago. 🙂 Seeing that bottle makes me miss Virginia!