Food Science lab was all measuring today 
Can’t wait to do some cooking! We have to do a final project that is some kind of food experiment. I talked to my professor and she loves the idea of testing the effect of different forms of banana on oatmeal consistency! Frozen, sliced, mashed, heated, and no banana. The class will do a sensory evaluation on each type and report differences in gelatinization and texture. I may tweak the variables, but I was happy to hear that oatmeal would work because I am truly interested in this topic!
I may claim to dislike leftovers, but what I love doing is taking pieces of leftovers and creating a new dish. I bring you Tofu + Root Veggie Crouton Couscous Over Spinach!
I put it all on a bed of baby spinach, which steamed as the food heated. On top was a serving of our Near East Curry Couscous plus about 1/2 a cup of leftover potatoes and 1 slab of tofu. Plus some more of those heavenly breadcrumbs!
Plus I had about a half cup of cottage cheese topped with a drizzle of maple syrup and some Quaker Oat Squares –
+ warmth.
It was a wonderful and filling lunch!
I’m working on packing for my trip. Here’s my selection of bars + trail mix for the car ride + weekend, plus a sandwich for both my mom and I (ham, swiss, spinach, mustard, pickle) and carrots for tomorrow’s lunch. We’ll probably add an apple each as well.
**My mom and I might eat in downtown Fredericksburg, VA on Monday. Does anyone have any restaurant recommendations?**
Headlines
I cannot believe this is the exact flight I have taken many times. SO SCARY but I am very glad everyone was OK. It is amazing to hear the passengers’ stories.
Pilot praised for ‘masterful’ landing
Check This Out:
A bike lane that travels with you
Gotta go pack and get ready to leave!!
{ 48 comments… read them below or add one }
Oo fun lunch! You should test ripeness of the banana too – makes such a difference
Can’t wait to hear about the oatmeal/banana results!
That bike thing looks pretty cool.
Have fun on the trip with your mom!
That bike lane thing is so cool! Have fun on your trip.
Mmm, mmm, mmm!!
Love the bike path that moves with you!!
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again — I love beautifully re-purposed leftovers and seeing everything go to good use!
Your banana oatmeal experiment sounds fascinating. I can’t wait to hear about how it evolves.
What a colorful lunch! So pretty.
That bike lane is so cool!!!
oh my, I LOVE this lunch!!! couldn’t be more up my ally
have a great trip!
lunch looks so yummy! great care package!
Haha! Love your experiment idea! Can’t wait to hear about it!
Have fun on your trip Kath! Lunch looks so fun. I love leftovers.
zesty
Your experiment idea is great, you should test dehydrated bananas as well!
have a great trip.
That bike lane is so cool!
The oatmeal banana experiment sounds very interesting!! Lunch looks delicious as well! So scary about the plane crash…I work next to the Hudson!
http://www.missymaintains.blogspot.com
I wish you a wonderful evening tonight with the other RDU bloggers and a great trip with family. I hope to catch up with you next time.
Now that’s my kind of lab! None of this boring chemical reaction crap! Sounds like it will be interesting.
And there’s nothing wrong with leftovers, even in the exact same state as the night before!
Have a good trip
that’s such a great idea for a project! I will definitely be interested in the results! Recently, I bought the discounted bananas that were getting too brown and mushed them up and froze them. I’ve just been cutting pieces off every morning and putting it in my oats. It’s working well!
oh I can not begin to tell you how much you amaze me with your meal creations. I wish I was half as creative as you are!!
Okay I am like only an hour & 15mins away from Fredericksburg! I live in Centreville, VA!
Next time you come near here we should hook up!
hey kath,
my dad just got back from virginia and visited ppl in fredericksberg who took him to Claiborne’s – he said it was awesome so i figured i’d give you the info:
http://www.claibornesrestaurant.com/menus.html
the website says: “It’s high time you tried low-country…enjoy our eclectic menu offering a variety of fresh seafood, beef, chicken, and low-country Southern favorites.”
- anyway, i saw Baked Sweet Potato as one of the side dishes and thought of you
Kath-
Starting monday (the groceries being delivered Sunday…) I will be an oatmeal convert 
Looks amazing AS USUAL! How do you cook your tofu/for how long? I would love suggestions, I love tofu but need some suggestions on baking it, how to do it what to season it with etc. I keep sending people to your blog by the way and EVERYONE comes back saying the same thing “I had oatmeal the next day!!!!”
Bear ,
Thanks for the link, but it looks like they only do dinner
sara ,
I think I replied to your comment last night? Check glidingcalm.wordpress.com for a how-to-cook tofu page.
Kath
I’ll be interested to hear about your oatmeal project! i tend to dislike oatmeal that is gelatinous, so I’m excited to see if there’s a way to make it creamier and smoother…
Really? You’re interested in oatmeal? I never would have guessed.
That lunch looks divine. Have a great trip!
haha you interested in Oatmeal?? no!
That experiment sounds awesome!!! Maybe Quaker would publish the results…lol.
Angela
http://www.ohsheglows.com
What a fun final! Perfect for you!! You look fully prepared for your trip
Glad you’re going to get to do an oatmeal experiment.
I was so impressed when I read about the pilot’s handling of that landing!
Dude, the Self blog totally ripped off your kale chips! See link: http://www.self.com/fooddiet/blogs/healthybites/2009/01/healthy-salty-snack-idea-from.html#comments
Fun class project! When I took that class in college, I chose to test the effect of great northern beans as a fat replacement in chocolate chip oatmeal cookies! It was alot of fun testing the different variations!
An oatmeal experiement? What a great subject for you!
That bike lane thing is so cool.
What a fun way to eat leftovers.
I second Maggie’s suggestion: the ripeness of the banana is a HUGE deal with oats, in my opinion. It changes both the consistency and flavor. I prefer them to be older and dark in spots. Do you have a preference?
Jenna’s idea to use dehydrated bananas is also interesting.
It might also be interesting to see if one way of processing the banana is any healthier than the other.
looooove that bike lane gadget. very cool.
be safe and have fun!
Yummy lunch!!
Kath, thanks & sorry! I definitely may have had a blonde moment and asked again
Thanks!!
Bike thing sounds so cool!
I love La Petite Auberge in Fredericksburg. Bistro Bethem, right next door, is another good choice.
http://www.bistrobethem.com/
Sammy T’s is a great lunch spot. I went to Mary Washington, and this was a very popular place for students.
http://www.sammyts.com/
There’s also a new wine bar I’ve been wanting to check out.
http://kybeccawinebar.com/
How awesome that you’ll get credit for testing something you love to cook?!
Hi Kath!
You are in luck! I live in Downtown Fredericksburg which we locals lovingly call Fredvegas.
Based on what you like I would recommend Sammy T’s they have vegan and vegetarian options but if you sit in the main dining area it is smoking only. So asked to be directed to the non smoking entrance.
I saw that someone else recommended Kybecca and they are indeed FABULOUS but I don’t believe they serve lunch. They are worth stoping by though just for the artisanal wine and beer they stock.
There is also Truluv’s which is my personal favorite: http://www.truluvs.com/
Sometimes their service is a little slow but be prepared to get a to go box, the portions are nuts. The crab bisque is a must try and they have sweet potato fries which they dust with cinnamon sugar. YUM!
If you are looking more for a sandwich type place I would suggest Eileen’s at the Chimneys:
http://www.eileensinc.com/
Amazing pastries, sandwiches and sides.
Good luck on your drive. It is inauguration weekend and they are predicting mad, crazy traffic since we are a communting suburb of DC.
Hope you enjoy Fredvegas!
should read *commuting* not communting.
Love your bar stash! How do you like the YOU BAR?
Have a nice trip!
I love turning leftovers into something new. They never get boring that way.
Have a nice trip
That Food Science class is right up your alley!!!
I love how pretty you make my Quaker oat squares look…its like I took them to Glamour Shots!
Looks like you’ve got some great goodies for your trip!
that class sounds fabulous! I love hearing all about your education; it’s definiatly helping me weigh my own options. Lunch looks great as well. Have a great time on your trip, I’ll be in MD as well so I’ll hope for good weather for both of us!
i have a question. . . for the yogadownloads, how do they bill you for the free classes?do they send a mail to your house, even if it is free?
Have a safe trip!
Love the banana/oatmeal idea.
Your lunch is so colorful!
My son did a high school science project a few years ago on cooling foods safely. i.e. stews, chili, etc. since he had to do it with many variables, the best and cheapest similar food we could think of was oatmeal. We cooled it in an ice water bath in the sink, in a deep pan, in shallow pans, etc.
oatmeal experiments made me think of it.
beth
oooh love the bike lane, and absolutely adore the photo of your sunny lunch!
Maxine ,
They did!!!! Yum kale chips.
melissa sue,
I used to like green bananas, but now the riper the better, esp. in oats!
Laura + Olivia,
Thank you guys so much for the recs!
AshleyH ,
Thanks!
Marisa (trim the fat),
I’ve only had one and it was just like a Clif Nectar chocolate bar – very good!
Kath
That class sounds interesting… much more so than Organic Chem!
Do you take any classes on healthy eating while abroad? I’m n a third world country, and as a vegetarian who cannot eat the vegetables here (they’re unsafe), I find myself eating bread. Lots of carbs. And I’ve gained weight. It’s poopy. But I was wondering if they teach you about how to get your normal nutrition in these types of places.