Gooooood morning sunshine!
I couldn’t wait to make my favorite bowl of oatmeal this morning – whipped banana oatmeal with pumpkin, cottage cheese, vanilla, sunbutter and coconut. Fab. u. lous. And super filling!
After breakfast and morning feeding, Maze and I walked to the gym in the BOB and did an elliptical workout followed by a Core class with friends. After 5 minutes of crunches and sit-ups, I thought “There is NO WAY my baby body abs can handle this.” And then suddenly it got easier. I think it’s pretty clear that my abs are caput and I’m hoping to get them back! Somehow, I managed to finish the 30 minute class only cheating on a few exercises. Ahem, planks, I’m looking at you!
When I went to pick Maze up from the kids’ zone, I assumed he would be crying. I don’t know why, but I assume the worst when we are apart. But I found him ASLEEP in a SWING! I asked the kind woman watching the infants how she did it and she said he got drowsy and she put him in, he watched the birdies and he fell asleep. I try this ALL the time at home with no luck! I think he knows I like to hold him and teases me. Or perhaps our swing’s turtles and dragonflies just aren’t as fun as the birdies at the gym.
MY OTHER RECIPES
[Afternoon nap attempt – no dice.]
Karen actually intercepted me at the gym and asked if I wanted to join her for lunch at the Greek festival going on at our local Greek church.
I’m always up for a food adventure, so I said yes and walked over from the gym.
The place was packed with people enjoying delicious foods. Karen and I both got the Traditional Plate
This was by far the best Greek food I’ve ever had (I used to go to the Charlotte Greek festival every year too).
The lasagna-looking stack (which I’m guessing was the item called “Pistachio” above??) was INSANE! The top layer was something that I couldn’t decide on – either mashed potatoes or a custard – plus ground lamb (I think?) and noodles. So good! Loved the spanakopita and the green beans as well. Even the roll was great! I ate almost the whole plate (was famished after my workout). It was not a light lunch….
Because there was a long line of incredible looking pastries, and Karen and I selected 3 to try.
Galatoboureko, Kataifi (my favorite – the shredded one!) and Finikia.
The custard (left) was a bit bland, but the other two were awesome!
Maze slept in his stroller the whole time (thanks little guy!) and then we went back to Karen’s to nurse and then finally home for a much-needed shower.
I don’t even remember what we did this afternoon. Nursing. And ?!
Around 5 Matt and I met Karen downtown for the Market Street Wine Shop weekly tasting. We were looking for a few bottles for Thanksgiving.
We bought two of these!
Back home, Matt and I put together dinner –
Butternut Squash Ravioli with Sautéed Tofu, Wilted Spinach, Pre-Roasted Butternut Squash, Shredded Cheddar and Crumbled Bacon
All drizzled in some Dr. Pete’s Praline Mustard Glaze from the bakery
Happy Weekend!
What does the ravioli taste like and where did you get it from?
S/n: gained 4 pounds. Hadn’t been working out and was still tailgating. Now I have the flu. But I’ll be back on it this week.
It was Whole Foods brand. Hope you feel better: (
I love how pretty your food looks and hthat you eat it with such a positive mindset and take pride in everything you do from how amazing and orderly your house is, to great camera angles and maze is really getting some character it’s great to watch, keep on keeping on its a joy to check in and see!
Thanks Lucy!
Go Maze for falling asleep at the gym! And next year, with some notice, Dad and I will bop up for the Greek festival!
I have always wanted to check out the Greek festivals around town when i see them advertised…now after looking at that food I will! So yummy looking…even at 7:30am.
The Greek festival looks awesome – I always want to go to the one here but I”m usually out of town. Hopefully someday!
Another delicious looking day…one of these days I am going to work up the courage to stir cottage cheese in my oatmeal. How does it affect the taste? The reason I hesitate is because it seems like it would turn it savory…I like mine sweet with bananas, Peanut Butter &Co Cinnamon Raisin, and a dash of cinnamon sugar. My question: does the cottage cheese add its own distinct flavor or does it blend in (just adding protein)?
It makes it taste like a cheese Danish. It shouldn’t change the sweetness
Mmmmmm. Interesting. This makes me wonder if it would taste good with some cherries mixed in. Like a cherry cheese Danish, maybe…Now I really do want to try it.
I absolutely loooove Greek food! When I first moved here to Chicago I went out to eat in Greek town all the time because I’d never experienced Greek food other than a Greek Salad. So many great dishes!
A greek festival sounds so fun! There was a delicious greek restaurant by my college that was a favorite place to meet friends for lunch. YUM!
I think the top layer of the pastichio is a bechamel sauce. It has been a while, so I can’t be sure!
Mazen is doing what all kids do; I remember going to parent teacher conferences and hearing how kind and polite my oldest was. I asked “you are talking about the right kid, aren’t you?” They always behave differently than they do with their parents.
They know mama’s love is unconditional :).
Love Greek food! That dinner looks perfect.
We tried a pastry that looked similar to the shredded one at a Turkish stand in Montreal except it was filled with a rosewater marazpan – so good
Hi Kath, I think the first layer of that Pastichio is like a bechemel sauce. There are some good recipes for it out there if you search. Definitely lamb in there too. Enjoy a fabulous weekend. We’re gonna spend the day at the library and a coffee shop nearby.
Hello! Long time greek reader here:) The top layer of pastichio is traditionally a bechamel. On the bottom you have pasta and usually ground beef. Glad you liked it, it does look delicious on the picture!
Love your blogg and your fab photos.
Being a working out mom of two I just wanted to suggest that you go easy on the crunches so close to giving birth. Static exercises like the plank are soooo much better for building core strength, but also for your stretched and separated abdominal muscles to find their place and form again.
Keep up the good work
/Cecilia (from Sweden)
Those Greek pastries look fantastic! There is a Greek festival in St. Louis every summer, but I’ve never been. Maybe I’ll finally go some year.
I tried the whipped banana oatmeal and it was a pleasant change!
So nice that Charlottesville has a Greek festival and I’m trilled you loved the food! The top layer of the pastisio you had is a bechamel sauce which is what makes it so delicious 🙂 My family traditionally uses a mixture of ground beef or veal but a lot of families use lamb.
Have a great weekend!
Pastisio… Did they have a typo on the menu?! I was wondering about that. But yes, delicious!
I think Pastitsio or Pasticchio or Pastichio are all acceptable spellings. Not Pistachio. Pistachio is a nut. 🙂 It says Pastichio on the menu you posted.
Ahhh. My eyes flipped the letters. I was so confused looking for the nut!
Kath, I am Greek! Glad you liked the lasagna type dish. It is covered in bechamel and oh so good.
Every time you mention the Dr. Pete’s Praline Mustard Glaze – I want it!
And I love Greek festivals and fairs and they always have the best homemade, authentic, made my little old ladies type of food – which is the BEST kind 🙂 The whole plate looks great! What I wouldn’t give for some homemade authetic baklava right now!
I’ve been silently following your blog for a while now but just had to comment on this post when I saw the wine you bought for Thanksgiving since I grew up in the town where that family business is located! Nice to see their product getting out to other parts of the country and being enjoyed!
Fun! We love Petit syrah!
I adore Greek food but rarely eat it! Greek pastries are to die for.
Love your food pics! It’s so much fun to try new foods & the Greek food looked so good!! 🙂
The picture of you and Karen is adorable 🙂 I wish we had something like that wine shop around here with weekly tastings! Though I am sure I would end up accumulating more wine than anyone should have since we seem to buy multiples every time we taste…
Hi Kath, have been a blog reader for about 3 years. Just had to comment that the name of that dish can be spelled both “Pastichio” (not pistachio) and “Pastisio.” It is trans-literated from the Greek language so it’s difficult to have everyone spell it the same way. It is traditionally topped with a creamy bechamel sauce that, when cooked, has a custard-like consistency. As someone who is Greek, glad you enjoyed the food so much! I like to think it feeds both the belly and the soul :).
Look at that hunk of feta cheese! Everything looks delicious. My kids are always different in the kid care at the gym. They are always well behaved and do anything the ladies ask of them. That’s the way little ones work 🙂
Dinner looks amazing, did you make the ravioli?? The pastichio is traditionally just topped with a thick and creamy bechamel, the sweet pastry’s look good!
Well done on getting through the abs class..I guess it’s the same with anything if you stick with it gets easier…the first ten minutes of working out is sometimes the worst part until you get the blood flowing 🙂
I LOVE little culinary adventures like that. And don’t worry, I can’t do planks either and I’ve never had a baby. Maybe that means I should do them more often…
Great job with the workout! I just started getting back into strength training, and the abs are the hardest for me. But nothing beats that post workout feeling. 😀
I love Greek food! Especially spanokopita. Spinach, onions and cheese in pastry is sublime.
Every time i read your blog it reminds me that i need to get some pretty fabric napkins!!!
I went to Greece this past summer and was suprised to learn that a Traditional Greek salad has NO lettuce, so I am puzzled as to why yours has a huge chunk of lettuce. Nothing like planks to remind you there is always room for improvement!
I LOVE that Petite Sirah (so close to my name, how could I not try it) and I love the looks of your dinner. Yum!
Actually, the lasagna-looking stack is called “Pastichio”.
I love Greek salads! Yumm!
I love Greek food! I wish we had some type of Greek festival like that, I would definitely make an appearance. 🙂
There’s a Greek Orthodox church in my town that puts on a Greek Festival too! It’s a lot of fun, I dragged my friends. I absolutley love spanakopita (sp?)…couldn’t get enough of it when I went to Greece!
Goodmorning from Greece!!The noodle plate that you ate is called Pastitsio, a traditional comfort food in Greece!My grandma used to make it for us on the weekends because the recipe is a little complicated!The top layer is a thick bechamel sauce and usually we sprinkle grated cheese on top. In the authentic greek recipe we use ground beef, but this recipe is so versatile, you could use whatever you like e.g.ground lamb, chicken or even fine chopped veggies (mushroms are excellent). You can even find recipes online for a lighter version of bechamel!!
The foinikia and kourabiedes that was on the menu are the traditional sweets we make here in Greeece for Christmas and are very addicting!!
Kataifi and galaktoboureko are baked sweets with fyllo, stuffing and syrup and galaktoboureko is made with a rich cream filling and cinnamon but I guess the version you ate wasn’t succesfull!Come to Greece and I’ll be more than excited to give you a foodist tour!!
Wish all the best for you and your family!!
P.s As a big bread lover, I always salivate whenever I see photos from all those baked goods from your bakery!!Keep up the good work!!
🙂 I would love to visit someday
If you ever decide to come and visit, I will be more than glad to help you with your trip and most of all meet you in person!!!
Dinner looks delicious! I keep trying each year to get to the Greek festival, but never do. That one looks like fun!
Pastichio is my absolute favorite Greek dish! One of my bosses is from Greece. Sometimes when we have a day of training he’ll make lunch for us. This is by far the best! He also makes us spanikopita, a Greek salad that is so big it is literally served out of a rubbermaid storage container and baklava. I just have to tell you how adorable Maze is! I see so much wonderment in his eyes.
How are you able to drop your little one off at kids zone? I now have two littles, and for the life of me, cannot do it! Any tips on letting go? Especially during flu and sickness season?
I get sad every time I leave, but it’s good for him to grow and good for me to exercise. He hasn’t cried and seems to do well.
I lived in Greece for about 5 months and I miss it so much. The food was amazing and I had spanikopita or vegetarian gyros several times a week along with the best hummus in the world and crisp farmer’s market veggies. Ah, the good ol’ days