It has been a long week. A very boring week. So boring that I decided against telling you all about the things we were (not) doing, and risk boring you to death as well. With a sick kiddo in the house, we just didn’t do much. A few walks here and there, some outings to the park, but not much interaction with other humans. I think it has made me a little loopy. And so here I am, doing a random Friday brain dump. It happens.
Last night we watched the premiere of Life After Top Chef. I am a HUGE Top Chef fan so I was excited to see there was a new spinoff.
During the scenes where they were cooking at the Aspen Food & Wine Festival, I grabbed the remote and furiously rewound several times – squinting my eyes to try to see the coats on their sous chefs. Even though it blurred past in a second, I recognized the little shield from a mile away – Johnson & Wales students!
Even though culinary school was just three years ago, it feels like forever. Seeing the students working and chopping made me feel a few pangs of jealousy and nostalgia. It was such an incredible experience that I am so grateful for, and while I love being at home, I also really miss cooking in a more professional environment. Not much I will likely do about that immediately, but it’s definitely in the back of my mind.
I’ve been in a bit of a food funk recently. Maybe it’s just a seasonal rut – transitioning from summer to fall? My fridge is full, but nothing sounds particularly amazing or inspiring. Except for that chocolate almond milk – that sounds amazing several times a day, straight out of the carton.
I’m hoping to get a lot of cooking done this weekend. I’ve spent all week taking care of others, and now I’m ready for a few hours alone in the kitchen – just me, my fresh CSA box, and my Dixie Chicks Pandora station.
I’m also planning to do a trial run of Cullen’s birthday cake! I still haven’t decided on a flavor, so I thought I’d make some test cakes this weekend to see what worked best. I’m sure we won’t mind having a few extra cakes hanging around.
And even though I have been pretty boring in the food department this week, Cullen has been trying all sorts of new things. During the worst of his cold, his appetite really decreased, so I’ve been trying anything and everything to just get him to EAT.
This morning, I pulled out one of the coconut milk yogurts I bought last week. I served him about half of it with the spoon and, to my excitement, he seemed to love it! Couldn’t open his mouth wide enough. But halfway through, he decided he wanted to use the spoon himself. I handed it over and tried to guide him with it, but he shoved me away. Eventually, the spoon ended up on the floor, and the entire carton ended up in his hands…
And at this point, I announced that breakfast was OVER.
At least his appetite seems to be back! Have a great weekend!
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Aww…as yucky as he may be feeling, those last two yogurt pictures are so cute! At least some of it got in his mouth, right? :)
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That last picture is pretty priceless!!!
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lol, chocolate almond milk straight from the carton sounded amazing this week to me too…..only when no one was looking, of course :-)
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Emily @ www.main-eats.com Reply:
October 7th, 2012 at 3:58 pm
Glad everyone is back to normal over there!!! Adorable pictures!
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OMG, that picture deserves a frame!
Have a lovely weekend Emily. Can’t wait to see what you come up with in the kitchen. ;)
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Ha brilliant! So good to let kids feed themselves, helps prevent any food phobias! :) ooh I hope yo share your cake flavour ideas…a vote perhaps if you can’t decide?
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Is that the dark chocolate almond milk? I just tried it the other week, and I agree it was hard to resist chugging!
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So glad the coconut yogurt was a hit! It is a breakfast staple in our house. Now that I’m done nursing I often sneak a teaspoon of sunbutter in for added protein.
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The yogurt pictures made me smile ear to ear! Thank you for that…. just what I needed on a long Friday afternoon!
You’ve got quite the cuttie on your hands!
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Added to my shopping list….Choc Almond Milk and Coconut Milk yogurt. yum We, also, have that long drawer at the bottom of our refrigerator…Do you ever forget things are in there? We call it the Black Hole.
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I know how you feel about the food rut. I have been broke and we have been living off our freezer supply for a few weeks now which is fine but its all the same stuff. I went to a farmers market stand and shamelessly spent $20 on produce $12 going just for fruit that I know will only last me until Tuesday and I didn’t care because by George I wanted them. Keep the good spirits up and please share what you do with that acorn squash because I’ve been looking for a new recipe and was shocked you didn’t have one :-) I hope the family feels better and enjoy the weekend
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HAHA!! Oh my word!!! He had it everywhere!! Even on his little eyelashes! I get that was fun to clean up!!
Enjoy your weekend!
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We did a vegan chocolate cake for our daughter’s party. It worked out great! I took a general recipe and cut it in half, then baked 2 layers in a small 6 inch pan. Supposedly chocolate with white frosting looks the best in pictures. And while it did look great in the pictures our little lady seemed to think it tasted pretty good too! Ha.
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Oh man, those pictures of Cullen with the yogurt are hilarious! Did you take him directly to the bath tub after? My mom used to joke that she’d make us wear rain coats when we ate ice cream so she could hose us down after… :)
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Cullen is so adorable! Thanks for brightening my day. I love that he even got yogurt in his eyelashes.
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I love that the yogurt is on his eyelashes. Adorable.
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Cullen is an adorable mess :)
I loved the Top Chef show. I’m excited for the new season in November! One day I hope to be able to go to the Aspen Food & Wine Classic…but it’s so pricey!
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Wow he LOVES that yogurt!! hah. Oh that made me laugh. How amazing will it be for you to look back at these photos some day?
I go through food slumps all the time, then all of a sudden a wave of inspiration hits and I can’t write down or make my ideas fast enough. I think that is true for so many creative pursuits. have a great weekend!
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Haha! I think he has more on his hands and face than what was probably consumed, am I right? :) Such a cute picture, you should have it framed.
I miss culinary school already too–and I am JUST 4 months out (and working in a kitchen to boot). I know how it feels! :)
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Your fridge looks pretty amazing to me right now :) I’m sad to leave the summer produce behind, but I’m enjoying squash, pumpkin and sweet taters now that I’m starting to accept it!
I need some chocolate almond milk in my life. I’m pretty sure my husband is dairy intolerant and I’ve been on a mission to prove it to him – that should definitely ease the blow. Now, if only I can sneak those yogurts into his lunch. Once he tries stuff, he tends to like it…I just have to help it happen sometimes!
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Coconut milk yogurt! I need to find some! My baby has a milk protein allergy, and so far I’ve been using rice milk to make things in place of milk, but I’ve been sad that there aren’t a lot of dairy alternatives that aren’t nut based (and I’m still afraid to give that to her before a year.) I’m heading to Whole Foods tonight in search of coconut yogurt!!
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Yeah, I’ve been in a food rut lately and haven’t wanted to cook anything. It was just today that I realized my rut was because of the season transition, too. I think now that we’re moving more into fall my culinary drive is going to start picking back up.
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So glad Cullen is feeling better! The yogurt pictures are hilarious. In our house, we call them “Yogurt Mittens”. Gross, but accurate!
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What a fun mess! My cousin’s daughter is here tonight. She is almost 11 years old and still managed to get yogurt all over her shirt and hair tonight. Lovely.
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Ah yogurt baby picture! That is one for the scrapbooks! So cute! I’m glad he’s feeling better and I hope Casey is doing better too.
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Seriously that last pic of Cullen made me smile so big!
What a doll!
I have been in a food rut lately too and have eaten my weight in spaghetti squash and overnight oats!
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While I’m still a relatively recent culinary school graduate, I also really miss it! I watch cooking shows and get jealous all the time too, there is nothing like a professional kitchen. I’m not sure if you remember our brief exchange of emails last year, but you helped me make my decision to go to culinary school and I’ve never looked back, so a belated thanks :)
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That has to be the best picture I have seen all week! you definitely have to save that picture for him to show when he’s older or at a great time for major embarrassment. He is absolutely adorable!!
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Are you going to share birthday cake recipes? My daughter turns 1 on the 21st and I am going to make her cake but need a good recipe. Thanks!
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Oh my gosh that is so cute! Messy faces are always so precious until you have to clean it up of course lol.
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I have an identical butternut squash (sticker and all) sitting on my counter right now and I can’t decide what to do with it. I’m excited to see what you do with yours!
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Next time you visit your relatives in Atlanta, you should go to Kevin Glliespie’s restaurant Woodfire Grill. They have a vegetarian tasting menu.
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Emily Malone Reply:
October 8th, 2012 at 3:19 pm
Is that Kevin from Top Chef? I will definitely keep that in mind! We’ll be down there next spring. :)
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Lee Reply:
October 8th, 2012 at 4:03 pm
Yup, though I think he might be leaving to start another restaurant (also in Atlanta) at some point.
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That last picture is definitely a keeper.
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Cuuuute lil devil! Coconut milk yogurt sounds pretty amazing! Rest up, and hope everyone gets back in good health soon.
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The yogurt pics are too funny! Glad things are getting back to normal :).
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I’m a HUGE Top Chef fan; it’s the only “reality” show that I watch. I cannot wait for the Seattle season to start!
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Emily Malone Reply:
October 8th, 2012 at 3:15 pm
Me either! :)
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I just laughed out loud when I saw the picture with yogurt on his eyelashes! Cullen is absolutely adorable!!!
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