Had lots and lots of fun today! My brain feels much better.
First off, Matt and I set out on an adventure this afternoon. Karen had given me a ticket to visit the Symphony Guild 2010 Designer House (a professionally designed model-home trio fundraiser for the Charlotte Symphony).
I almost didn’t go, but decided I should use her ticket at the last minute. SO GLAD I went! It was really cool. I toured 3 condos in this building were designed to the nines with fancy stuff. The condos are on the market for over $1M so they were quite impressive. I have always LOVED model homes, so I had lots of fun (since we only had one ticket, Matt ran my errands for me while I went 🙂 )
After the tour we hit up TJ’s
You’d think I would have gotten sick of nut butters YEARS ago, but actually, I’ve been having major cravings for a plain, salty peanut butter. I still have other jars to eat, so I’ve been talking myself out of it every time I think of getting a jar of Smucker’s Natural or TJ’s PB, but today I got some. The Valencia, which I tasted at Karen’s last week and liked a lot.
Our cart
We also had a wine tasting sample while at TJ’s and a cheese cube.
And when I got home, I tried the PB for a lite snack!
Meanwhile we prepared for our houseguests and Matt poured me a taste of his beer
When Emily + Casey arrived for a casual cookout dinner, we whipped up some mocktails
Seltzer, lime and Cheribundi Cherry juice
This stuff is TART but really good!!
Get yer grill on
Casey made these amazing Spiced Veggie Burgers!!!!!!!!!! And Matt and I were in charge of veggies
Isn’t she gorgeous!?
Isn’t THIS gorgeous as well!?
The burgers were served on Great Harvest Jalapeno Corn Buns with tomato, ketchup, mustard and spinach. They were AMAZING! The touch of cinnamon was perfect, and the texture was spot on. Perhaps the best burger I’ve had this year? Even better than last week’s bison!?
Friends!
More friends!!
Dessert Date!
For YoFo!
Even Karen showed up!
It’ was FREE YOGURT day!!
Unlike TCBY, Yoforia‘s yogurt was really ALL free. We just walked right through, piled it on, and walked out. Sadly though, a lot of the flavors were out and the machines were quite slow and were overheating so we just barely got through before they had to shut them down for a while.
My bowl (halleluiah they have normal sized bowls now!) contained Taro, Tart and Dark Chocolate with Graham, Coconut, Dark Chocolate Chips, and a piece of Butterfinger!
So delish. But gone way too fast. I don’t like eating yogurt as much when it’s self serve because there are too many holes! And you know, yogurt doesn’t make me feel stuffed and make me feel sick like if I were to eat a huge piece of cake or cheesecake or something really rich. I know it’s got plenty of sugar, but it doesn’t seem to affect me the same way other desserts do. Perhaps because it’s much lower in fat?
Matt got gummi BEARS!
Goodnight!
Annie says
everything looks AH-MAZING!!
Veggielady4life says
Those veggie burgers look wonderful!! Thanks so much for the recipe!
Jenna says
What a great day!!
caitlin says
MY FUTURE FRIENDS. make sure they know i’m going to adopt them all.
Beth @ Beth's Journey to Thin says
Man totally jealous of free frozen yogurt! And I agree about the stuffed feeling of fro yo versus other sweets.. not sure what the explanation is! Looks like you had a fabulous day!
Cynthia (It All Changes) says
I can actually eat self serve yogurt as long as it isn’t too much.
Jenny says
I’m loving the Gator hat I see! Looks like an evening of great eats!
Ameena says
I love looking at model homes!
What a great, summer-ish evening. You guys make every second count and I really admire that about you!
Mara @ What's for Dinner? says
This post makes me wish my grill worked… we inherited a gas grill that just won’t heat up. Not cool!
Lauren says
Free yogurt?? YUM! Looks like a perfect little dinner date with your friends.
Wei-Wei says
What a delicious-looking dinner! Grilled veggies = LOVE!
And man… free frozen yogurt? That’s WILD! It’s sort of expected that the machines would sort of malfunction, right? Too much frozen yogurt goodness going on right there. 😀
Have a great night! 🙂
Wei-Wei
Stacey@http://stacey-healthylife.blogspot.com/ says
Free frozen yogurt yay. I love TJ’s, your cart looks similar to mine.
kate says
Those burgers almost look as good as that free froyo…almost!
Natalie @ Keep It Sassy says
Oh man, I wish the NW was as in love with froyo as the rest of the United States seems to me!
Michelle @ Give Me the Almond Butter says
ahhh i love fro yo! It almost makes me want to walk to a fro yo place down the street!
Stacy Grows Healthy says
Those burgers look amazing and free fro-yo what a nice treat!
Diana @ frontyardfoodie says
Those veggie burgers look great! I need to start making them since grilling season has come. I like the black bean variety but looking at this makes me want to branch out!
Jenn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) says
I love TJ’s!!! In my top favorite stores. Funny, when I first went to it, I didn’t care for it at all. Now we travel 75 miles to go to one, haha.
Kath, you look really great. You are radiating health and light. 🙂
Jenn
Kath says
Thanks Jenn 🙂
caronae says
Social weekend nights are the bestest! As are dessert dates with friends (or husbands). Happy Sunday!
Camille says
That is one yummy looking veggie burger, I will have to try the recipe!
Freya @ Brit Chick Runs says
Awh it looks like you had a really good evening!! I wish my family had a big bbq grill like that – it looks SO good! As does that fro-yo..I had my first taste of some the other day; amazing 😀
Anne @ Food Loving Polar Bear says
Great BBQ! and I would like to try my yogurt with gummi bears as well 😀
Hannah says
That burger looks o-mazing… as does the frozen yogurt. And I wouldn’t care whether frozen yogurt was self-serve or not or full of holes or not, if only there wasa SINGLE store selling it here in the capital of Australia! *gripe gripe* 😛
Callie @ OneLittleOnigiri says
That self-serve frozen yogurt place looks really cute! I wish we had something like that around here – I’d be there all the time 🙂
Simply Life says
Oh what a perfect night!
Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down) says
Mmmm…the veggie burgers look divine! What a fun day! 😀
I used to always put gummy bears on my icecream…it’s especially good with hot fudge and whipped cream. 😉
All the pics are very cute! 😀
Melissa says
What a fun night!!! I’m totally going to try to make those burgers asap. Thanks Kath and Emily (and husbands!)!!
Jessie says
I think you are waaay too excited about that nut butter! Just kidding, very cute 🙂
The grilled food looks delicious – I love how the buns are grilled, too!
Lauren says
I really wish they would put a frozen yogurt place like that where I live in PA. We have ice cream joints everywhere, but nothing like this.
Sarah @ cocoanutshakes says
those burger buns sound amazing!!! as well as the burgers!
if you like the valencia pb from trader joes you might like Power PB (at GNC) or Naturally More (at health food stores). they both have that delicious flax seed thing goin on and are crazy addicting (not to mention extra protein and fiber!).
Kath says
I’ve tried Naturally More. It’s good, but not my favorite.
M says
Emily is gorgeous!
rustique says
TJs trips are too fun–I know I’m getting older when I type things like this. And I’m the same with froyo; it’s delicious but I’d much rather have a fattier dessert than something that’s just sugar.
You look amazing by the way!
Jessica @ The Process of Healing says
Is Karen wearing a USC Upstate t-shirt?! I went to college there for almost 4 years!
Kath says
Yeah – she used to work there as an event planner! In the early 2000’s
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says
I love looking at homes! I wish I could make a living just walking through looking at homes!!! I am so glad you got together with friends! I know you really needed that! Of anything I can’t have now due to my dairy issues, yogurt is what I miss the most, especially frozen. It is the perfect treat since it is not too sweet and it just made me happy. Have a great Sunday Kath!
Heather says
sounds like a fun day! Those condos look beautiful!
Lisa says
TJ’s hummus is my favorite!
Amber K says
The fro-yo looks fantastic! A piece of very rich cheesecake is in my plan for today. Sounds soo good, I can’t wait. =)
lynn (The Actors Diet) says
i’m surprised you could take pix at trader joe’s! they’re notorious for shutting the cameras down.
Lee says
The Yoforia that’s near me isn’t self serve and they don’t have all the flavors. Boo. But the one near my office is!
Sheila Viers | Live Well 360 says
I love Trader Joe’s Valencia PB. They also have almond butter (with flax) now too. Altho… Naturally Nutty is quickly becoming my favorite.
Sheila says
Did you put anything on the veggies before you grilled them?