Man, I have had the best morning!!
Getting up at 4:45 was a piece of cake.
1) I went to bed at 8:45 = 8 hours of sleep
2) My body clock is set for 5AM already
3) I have a fun day ahead!
I was out the door by 5 to head to Karen’s and picked up this banana to eat in the car. I can’t remember the last time I hate a banana out of hand – how fun! Bananas are soooo delicious.
I drank water and ate my bananer at 5:45 after dropping Karen off and headed to the Greenway where I was meeting Emily. Conveniently the Greenway entrance is right next to Great Harvest!! Guess who was hard at work:
Just look at that dough blob!! And kegs of honey!?
I got to spend about 20 minutes watching and learning about the process. I know a lot of general stuff from being the wife of a baker, but I’m hoping to spend more time learning between now and when we hope to open our store this fall. I don’t intend to be a full-time sponge + dough or sweets girl, but I do need to know how to do the jobs and as much as I can know to be a good manager. Love how high energy Great Harvest‘s are. And being around bread and sweets just makes me happy 🙂
Check out this tub of peanut butter!!!
Emily arrived and we set out on a COLD and DARK run. We actually waited until the dawn and the sun was up within 10 minutes of our run so all was safe. Emily was feeling a little under the weather, so we turned around at 2.6 instead of 3. We finished about 5.5 miles in total.
Look what I picked up for breakfast!!
Carrot, Raisin, Walnut!
Hello Mrs. Breakfast!!
I opened this GI-normous can of pumpkin to make some cottage cheese pumpkin oats. Expect me to have pumpkin oats everyday next week because there was SO MUCH in this can!! I couldn’t’ fit the lid on the tupperware I transferred it to!
The Mix:
- 1/3 cup oats, milk, water, pinch salt
- 1/2 tbsp chia seeds
Stirred in at end:
- 1/2 cup pumpkin
- 1/4 cup Organic Valley lowfat cottage cheese
- Cinnamon
- Vanilla
Toppings:
- Handful of muffin topping
- TJs pumpkin butter
- Justin’s Maple Almond Butter
Some of you might think my oatmeal bowls look way too decadent for breakfast. While yes, I do sometimes add butterscotch chips or something "desserty" like a Biscoff, keep in mind that I never sweeten the oats themselves with sugar (or really maple or brown sugar or anything) so the base of this was all superfoods = oats + pumpkin + chia + milk. The blob of almond butter was about a tbsp and the muffin really spreads and is made with wholesome real food. The pumpkin butter is sweet, but I only used about a tsp.
I barely made a dent in this (also I sign of how big these are!)
Coffee was served in my "busy as a bee" mug from the school staff!!
Accompanied by the face of a St. Bernard (gotta get creative with the angle here!)
I’m off to Winthrop for the day and will iPhone post lunch – Lauri and I are potlucking it!!
that tub of PB is killer! wonder if i could fit into it somehow? 😉
Have a good potluck lunch! 😉
Because of time constraints, all of my oat experiences before today had either been from the microwave or of the overnight variety… but this morning was a different story! I had my first bowl of oats prepared on the stovetop, and it was heavenly! I can only say WOW! and thanks for the inspiration!
That’s what I like to hear!
That looks so delicious!!
I agree with the banana experience – I ALWAYS cook mine into my oatmeal, so when I do occasionally have one normally, it’s like a whole different fruit!
Have you ever tried microwaving it so it goes really squidgy and soft, like a puree, then covering it in cinnamon? Best thing ever!!
Have a good day 🙂
Gosh you always have the most amazing looking oats!!! I had never tried a muffin with oats before until I saw your blog and the combo is just absolutely incredible…
I found Jason’s peanut butter yesterday at Whole Foods and I can’t wait to try it!!!!
Hi – I think you’ll enjoy this presentation from Jamie Oliver on the power of food in shaping our lives.
http://www.ted.com/talks/jamie_oliver.html
Clay
Thanks! I’ll check it out
Holy peanut butter! That dough ball is huge, too! I love working with dough.
I think I may want to dump that keg of honey on my bathtub and just soak up that sweetness! Yummo!
It is so awesome that your new adventure of opening a bakery is just around the corner!
You have done so much already this morning! Wow! Love the shots of Matt baking!
Kegs of honey? That sounds dreamy.
Lovely bowl of oats this morning!
sounds like an amazing morning! Can i have a tour of your bakery when you open?? 🙂 i know Ava and I would both be in heaven! It looks WAY cool!
have a great day at winthrop.
Definitely! If you need a part time job…. 🙂
does Matt wear arm covers when he’s baking on account of the arm hair?
You know pumpkin freezes well. I portion out blobs on a sheet pan. Once frozen put them in a ziplock 🙂
Thanks for this tip! I’ve been trying to do more of the portioned freezing thing lately, for convenience’s sake, but never thought of this.
This is a great post … you did more by 8 a.m. than most people do in a week!
You have *totally* turned me on to the charms of some baked-good bits in a bowl of oatmeal. I do use a little maple syrup, and usually, it’s just a drizzle of syrup, lots of fruit, and a sprinkle of nuts. But ohhhhh … those days when I just HAPPEN to have some muffins around, or gingerbread. AHH.
Enjoy the rest of your day!
How fun that you got to visit Matt! You must be so excited for your store! And that breakfast mix sounds fabulous. 🙂
your decadent breakfasts need no defense! i’d be sad to see them ever get less fun! have a great friday 🙂
I love Great Harvest! I wish there was one in my town!
I’m convinced I need to tried cottage cheese and pumpkin in my oatmeal. I’m a little wary, but I trust you! 🙂
I love Great Harvest! I wish there was one in my town!
I’m convinced I need to try cottage cheese and pumpkin in my oatmeal. I’m a little wary, but I trust you! 🙂
I want to take a bath in that PB!!
I’m so excited to read all about the process of y’all opening your GH! So cool!
Nothing wrong with a decadent breakfast! I would have them if I had the time and energy and creativity to think one up…And half the ingredients! 🙂
Bread making seems so exciting! And I think oats by nature are healthy no matter what you do 🙂
Don’t let anyone tell you you’re breakfasts are too decadent! Breakfast is the kings meal, remember?!? I think a lovely breakfast sets me up for a lovely day, so I don’t mind adding a lot of things to my oat bowl to make it saaaweet!
whoa that really is a huge blob of dough!! this makes me want to work at great harvest 🙂
and kegs of honey??! where were those during college 😉
Owning a bakery is going to be such a blast!
Enjoy your day, Kath 🙂
i love the baking pics, who knew bread could be that huge??
I don’t think I could work somewhere like Great Harvest. I’d taste test WAY too much. So delicious!
Awesome morning! I wish we had a Great Harvest here in Orlando. Looks amazing. Enjoy your day! 🙂
1) Have totally done the same thing with underestimating pumpkin/overestimating the capacity of a tupperware container. My mother watched me do it. She thought it was hilarious.
2) When I worked in a bakery (one in a supermarket), we didn’t have giant buckets of PB … we had giant buckets of nuclear-colored icing. Blech.
The muffin sounds yummy, I’ll have ask the Great Harvest down the street if they ever make those. Your bowl of oats looks delicious! I agree with not adding any sweetener- but I do love butterscotch chips with banana oats!
That mug is adorable.
Also, isn’t the pumpkin you buy always in cans that big? That is the only size it comes in at my grocery store!
I usually buy the 14 oz but given the shortage, I’m hoarding it.
I went to buy pumpkin the other day and it wasn’t in the veggie aisle. They have it in the baking aisle. I can’t imagine that they simply would not carry it all yr round. Maybe you will find it there too….
Kath, I think your oats have the perfect amount of “decadence”. First, you’re right about the portion sizes of the extras. Second, girl needs some energy, especially when you’re working out and working! Third, if you’re going to have a little something sweet, the morning is the best time to do it!
What a productive AM! I stil haven’t tried muffin and oats together yet, but it’s on my ‘to add’ list!
I love that mug! And honestly, who’s business is it whether your oatmeal “looks” decadent or not? You know what’s healthy for you, and there’s nothing wrong with a bit of creative license and sweetness, no matter what time of theday it is! 🙂
I always eat decadent breakfasts!! And I love seeing your every day! Muffins + oats is the best combo ever 🙂
How do you store your pumpkin? I have a huge can of it too and don’t want it to go bad!
In a tupperware in the fridge
I tried freezing canned pumpkin once and it came out like a piece of felt in a puddle of water! I now only get the 15 oz cans because of that LOL.
You know, you don’t need to explain how you eat your food. I think your breakfasts are fine. I eat a bigger breakfast because I work out in the mornings, and I know some people think it looks like way more than it is. And there isn’t anything wrong with a little decadence at breakfast 😀
If the pumpkin “breaks” when you thaw it you simply stir the felt and water back together. If you are using it in something I don’t think you will notice any textural changes.
Great Harvest looks like a really fun place to be and work! I’m so excited for you guys in opening your own store 🙂 hope you have a wonderful day!
I hardly eat bananas straight up but you are right they are delicious.
I always wondered about your decadent oats. Good to know they are plain underneith to keep the sugar down. I might have to try them with more toppings and less sweetness.
Kath, your breakfasts are beautiful and appropriate for you. I love to see your creations and I’ve never once thought that they were over the top in decadence. Adding fun toppings keeps your breakfast interesting and something to look forward to.
I’m so impressed with your love of exercise! Keep up all of your hard work!
Somehow even though I’m an avid reader I’ve missed the fact that you’re planning to open a store in the fall! That’s so great! What kind of store is it going to be? (assume health food?!)
Sounds like you’ve had a great start to your Friday. I’ve heard twice this week of putting cottage cheese in oats but I’m still not buying it. I guess I like mine pretty basic but should try to expand my eats a bit more!
A Great Harvest Bakery!
grrrl you don’t have to defend your breakfast! it looks so delicious AND healthy, i’m jealous!
i always love your plates, bowls, and mugs! esp this blue one :). oh man, i would love to live inside that tub of pb!! i agree with the commenter above me, no need to justify your breakfast, i think it’s a great example of intuitive eating and sounds delicious!
Now that’s the kind of PB vat I need! 😀
Jas and I have decided to get a Frenchpress machine 😀 Yay for a run and yay for a yummy breakfast! Hope the rest of your day is just as great as your morning
You make oatmeal look sooo amazing! I made some simple oats and cinnamon yesterday and laughed when I saw how boring it looked 🙂
Kegs of honey?! Hells yes! 🙂
That muffin looks delicious! I love how unique your bowls of oatmeal are … I’ve recently started adding some muffin to my yogurt and fruit (in place of granola or cereal) – it’s delicious!
K
Commercial baking is fun, we used to do it at our market. 100 lb bags of flour and huge boxes of nuts are so much fun.
Your bowl of oats looks YUMMY! I have to try muffin sometime, looks like it belongs there. 🙂
Jenn
What a great day for you already!
I’m all about big, healthy breakfasts like yours! So much better to start your day off with a bunch of super foods than to end up starving midday and grab junk. Since I started eating a bigger breakfast I have been able to manage my hunger a lot better during the day.
I’m the same way. I don’t add sugar to my oats, so I don’t mind adding a bit of sugar on top in the form of muffins, jam, etc. Just a little goes a long way. Yummy looking oats this early a.m.!! 😀
Have a fantastic day!
Can I move into your Great Harvest store when you open? 😉 I’ll taste-test everything for quality control!
I like that you mentioned something about your oatmeal bowls. I tried your pumpkin oatmeal recipe from the other day and loved the contrast between the sweet-tasting pumpkin butter and peanut butter against the non-sweet oatmeal base. I think it’s the non-sweetness of the oatmeal that keeps it from being too cloying or overwhelming for breakfast. By the way, it made a BIG BOWL of oats–I wasn’t sure I’d be able to finish it! Whew!
Happy Friday, everyone! Hurray!
What I would kill to have a tub of PB that size in my house!! lol
being around bread and sweets makes me happy too! 😉
How exciting that you are opening your own store! I saw from previous blog postings that you are moving to Charlottesville, which happens to be where I live! Just wondering if you have a location for your store yet. I look forward to it opening in the fall!! 🙂
Seriously considering Rivanna Ridge Shopping center. If you have any thoughts, please feel free to email me!
You are hilarious when you label the shape thingy at the top of your cup of coffee. I love that part of your blog!!! I’m still loving the Ghost one the other day! Good stuff!
i’ve been having bananas on the go lately too – we have a whole bunch we need to use up. you should make microwave pumpkin pie with that giant can! i have my own version on my site that i really love:
http://theactorsdiet.wordpress.com/2009/12/14/lynn-nothing-rhymes-with-orange/
You guys are too cute!
the giant tub of pb?
turns me on a little.
okay not really. but it looks delicious 🙂 i’m glad i am not the only one to get up in the ‘4 ‘s today!! see, it’s not THAT bad . . .
Mmmmm. That container of peanut butter looks so good. What is it about peanut butter that just makes me want to get out my spoon?!
I always love how delish your bowls of oatmeal look. Yum!
Photos can be SO deceiving. Sometimes a small bowl of yogurt can look HUGE on the computer…I don’t sweeten my oats either and am the same with my toppings. Muffins do spread far!! 🙂
I’ve just recently started eating pumpkins oats… they are so yummy! I finally made the time this am and it really hit the spot! Right now I use a little honey because I usually don’t eat oats, but I think I could do without it. Either way, they’re so much better on the stovetop the “old-fashioned” way!
That bee mug is seriously just too cute — can’t get over it!! and ahhh that giant tub of pb = heaaaaaven!
I totally love to see the pics of you at the bakery! What a fun and exciting new venture.