Today was long, but it went by quickly. So much to absorb! So much to taste!
Actually we won’t be tasting that much this week, but today we went to the GH kitchen to do a little sampling.
First, feeling flour grinds. All Great Harvests grind wheatberries into whole wheat flour every day – freshest flour around! [And best tasting too, I will add!]
Next up was honey
Licked off of Matt’s hand!
And then a Goldilocks selection of breads – too dry, too doughy (no such thing!), juuust right
SO delicious!! Matt and I are still in GH withdrawal, so we can’t get enough of the stuff.
Our final event of the day was “networking” at the bar next door.
This place was a fly fisher’s heaven!
Perhaps Mr. Don here, who I met and told about KERF, had been out fishing today?
I decided on Kettlehouse Brewing’s Cold Smoke Scotch Ale – loved!
After our drinks (and an exciting discussion of nutrition between the two RDs and the rest of the crew!) we all peaced out. Matt and I decided that relaxing in our hotel sounded better than eating out, so we decided to do one of our homemade meals since tomorrow night is a group dinner.
Welcome to my kitchen!
It’s located just at the end of this long passageway in the lobby of the hotel
We brought broccoli – which I tore off the stalk with my hands – and sweet potatoes to microwave. Both were easy and required no cutting board, knives or can openers (which I realized when planning our dinners would be required for opening a can of beans! At $13 a piece, we opted to choose a different meal)
The potatoes were microwaved after poking holes in them for 6 minutes followed by another 3 and were perfectly done
The broc went in next for 3 minutes and was seasoned with breakfast bar salt and pepper. Then we carried them back through the negative 0 temps in a paper bag with papertowels to try to keep them warm. It worked!
Another romantic dinner for two. We actually have a pretty good time eating these meals!
We had originally planned to have a tin of sardines with this meal, but we both agreed after the bread and beer we weren’t super hungry so we saved them for another night. Instead I put a little almond butter in my potato a la Meals + Miles.
And we had sun-dried tomato hummus from the Good Food Store – it was awesome!
Plus that carrot – just for a third component!
I am thinking a hot shower would be ideal right now. We walked about 3 miles today – not much – but my legs feel pretty tired! Perhaps all that snow or our early morning exciting race to get to breakfast. Tomorrow we don’t have to be in until 8AM and I’m already excited about peanut butter toast!!
Lee says
I had peanut butter on a sweet potato tonight. Such a good combination!
Stacy @ Every Little Thing says
That bread looks amazing! And I would love love love to sample honey 🙂 Have a great day tomorrow!
Sana says
I love how easy it is to microwave a potato! It is done in less than 6 mins!
Namaste Gurl says
Sweet potatoes and nut butter sound like my kind of meal anytime! Glad you were able to enjoy a nutritious meal in the comfort of your motel 🙂
Dorry says
I love your addition of the carrot! That’s a great example of eating healthy on the go. I’ve been in that position before and I look for cans with the tab on top so I don’t need a can opener. GOYA beans have the tab top….but then I suppose you’d need a strainer to rinse them. 🙂
Emily @ One Sweet Vegan says
Clever hotel homecooked meal! I like Matt’s “Eat Tofu” shirt. Looking forward to seeing what you’re up to tomorrow.
Camille says
I love Matt’s shirt!
Chelsey (Cookteen) says
That looks so yummy and super simple! Taste testing is my favorite part of any baking adventure…
Katy (The Singing Runner) says
I never thought of bringing my own veggies to a hotel and using their microwave to make dinner! That would save me so much money on meals!!! 😀
Maryann says
I love the tips for home-made dinners while traveling. Looks like you two had a fun little dinner! I am addicted to sweet potatoes right now!!
Sarah @ See Sarah Graduate says
Aww, that looks like the cutest/most fun dinner ever. 🙂
Kate (What Kate is Cooking) says
I sampled honey at Pike Place Market and it was soooo good! It was like a dream 🙂
The Robertsons of Mumbai says
Perhaps shockingly, it has never occurred to me to bring a sweet potato to a hotel, but that’s a [email protected] fine idea! Thanks! They are also great with coconut oil drizzled on top, but you most likely already know that!
Angela says
I saw that you loved the Kettlehouse Cold Smoke beer… before you leave, you need to go to Big Dipper Ice Cream…. one time, they made the newspaper for making ice cream out of that same beer. They have very cool flavors… here’s their website:
http://www.bigdippericecream.com
Glad you’re enjoying Montana! It’s a great state!
Kath says
OH wow – just looked at the flavors! Not sure if we’ll have time in Missoula again, but we’ll try!
Christine says
Sounds like an fun day — I want to make bread now! For a second I thought that the honey in the measuring cup was attached to the string around your neck. ….
Alaina says
What a yummy MO-tel gourmet meal.
I just love going to a restaurant/bar and seeing a whole line of taps that I had never seen before. Sampling new beers is a lot of fun. 🙂
Hannah says
The best thing is knowing how passionate you guys are, and will be, about your business. if only all business owners were like you guys!
Erica D (Gratitouille) says
Where did Matt get his shirt?!
Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga) says
love the recap of your day!
and all that honey…mmm, good! licking if off hands? Sounds fun 🙂
and i love that you rocked an entire meal in the microwave! yay for microwaves, they are a tool, and i do not fear or shun them!
[email protected] says
I am giving a presentation to my daughters 2nd grade class on healthy eating next week (including a demonstration on grinding whole wheat into flour) and I think they would love the sweet potato/almond butter combo. Love Matt’s shirt!
Heather (Heather's Dish) says
i bet your legs are tired from clenching because of the cold! i know mine get that way…they work way harder than they normally would. dinner sounds perfect…fresh foods sound so amazing these days!
Kat says
Looks like your having lots of fun.
ps I love Matt’s t-shirt
Cara Craves... says
I made peanut butter hummus the other day…it rocks on top of a sweet potato.
Kendall says
Your trip is looking like so much fun so far!!
What kind of boots have you been wearing? They are awfully cute and look functional 🙂
[email protected] says
I love adding nut butters to sweet potatoes… melty goodness!
Christine (The Raw Project) says
What a fun trip, so lucky. The bread looks wonderful and such a creative, resourceful dinner – nice! Eating out gets so pricey.
Beatrix @ Beaglebea says
Hmm… almond/peanut butter on a potato? Would have never thought of that..may have to try it soon.
Allie (Live Laugh Eat) says
You are right…NO such thing as too doughy. My latest loaf was the doughiest of all. You could see the stretchy lines. Mmm.
J3nn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) says
I agree, no such thing as bread that’s too doughy!! 🙂
Your motel meals look like fun! I think Dustin and I would get a kick out of them, too.
Lauren at KeepItSweet says
I wish I had a Great Harvest near me! I will be near one this weekend, though, so I might have to stop by!
Meaghan @ OhReillyWrites says
I love microwaved sweet potatoes, but I never thought to try almond butter on them!
Katie says
Peanutbutter and toast is worth the excitement ; )
I have to say I LOVE that color on you, you look beautiful and that sweater is pretty as well!
Glad everything is going good!
Kerry says
I think I see a market for beans packaged in a bag, perhaps similar to the way that tuna is packed in bags. Very creative travel dinner!
stacey-healthylife says
Mmmmm tasting bread and honey, what a good day.
faith @ gracefulfitness says
The broccoli reminds me of when I “cooked” in our hotel room in Tibet last year. We had one of those electric kettles and I stuffed it full of broccoli and carrots with a little water. It sort of worked!
If you need some dinner protein you could do eggs in the microwave.
Kath says
Good idea!!
Carrie says
Ahhh! I cannot believe you set your eating utensils on a motel table!
My boyfriend makes me remove the comforter first thing, throw it in the corner and then he puts the remote in a plastic bag… even in very high end hotels. That’s what watching too many of those TV specials will do to you. LOL.
Your trip looks like so much fun!
Kath says
oh well!
whitney says
I really like your sweater. I microwave my sweet potatoes all the time.
Simply Life says
I seriously am so impressed with your meals in the hotel -I usually feel good bringing bars and snacks for breakfast but this is much better!
Katelyn says
I love your creativity! Seriously, if I had to cook in a hotel room my mind might explode. Lack of fresh vegetables = crazy Katelyn.
Kath says
Matt’s shirt is from Twin Oats Tofu where we visited this fall, and my boots are the Ugg Broom’s from Fleecefootware.com, a gift from them for my birthday
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says
I love cooking like that at hotels. Most people think we are crazy, but there is something completely comforting and romantic about eating in a hotel with your husband and just relaxing. I hope you slept well last night and have a great day today!
Meagan says
That’s cute about dinner 🙂 I would definitely be stuck with other food if I wasn’t eating out because I HATE microwaves.
Michele @ Healthy Cultivations says
Looks like a good day. This is a really exciting time for you!
Allie says
Props to ya for creating a homemade meal at a motel AND keeping it warm! Plus it looks delicious 🙂 Hope you are having fun!
[email protected] Sweet Life says
I’m impressed that you put that meal together sans kitchen-and kept it warm! Hope you had a restful sleep.
Hope says
That is great how you were able to have a homemade dinner at your motel! Very impressive! I can’t wait to read about the rest of your trip!
Jennie @ Designed to be Fit says
Just reading these last few posts is making me cold!
Justeen @ Blissful Baking says
I would have loved to sample some honey! Looks so good! 🙂
Haleigh says
I’ve never tried the almond butter+sweet potato combo before, sounds interesting! Your trip to GH sounds like it is going to be so much fun! Enjoy 🙂
Tracy says
I read your blog every single day but barely ever comment (Don’t know why!!). But anyway – you guys are so resourceful! Hope you have a great trip and enjoy your time in Montana, I love it there!
Lauren says
Your enthusiasm really comes out in this very exciting time for both of you. Nuking the food then walking back in those temperatures is fun because of this new venture your on. I really enjoy reading about your experience and look forward to your opening.
Lauren
Leah @ a lil of this.. a lil of that says
I LOVED the motel dinner. Whenever I travel I end up eating out ALL THE TIME!!
Mary @ Bites and Bliss says
Delicious dinner for a motel making!!! And glad to see you guys had a fun networking time. 😛
Maria @ The Fitted Apron says
What a romantic dinner. You are so lucky to have a guy who’s willing to eat Mo-tel style instead of heading to some random greasy restaurant. My hubs would do the same 🙂
Penny says
Where did you find Matt’s shirt? LOVE and MUST HAVE.
Karen says
Me too! It doesn’t look like they sell the t-shirt per their website, though.
Raya @ RayaRuns says
I am in complete agreement about the bread-there’s NEVER any such thing as “too doughy!!!!”
Sabina says
great idea for a healthy, wholesome dinner! i like that you’ve planned ahead and are using the hotel’s microwave and fridge.
i have a small tip for you – bring camping forks and camping plates (i.e., reusable, thin plastic plates); waaay better than disposable plates and cutlery. i do this when i go on trips. 🙂
Tina says
Oh wow, the bread you had for breakfast looks so heavenly. I’ve never had GH bread, apparently there is one an hour away, next time I head that way I’ll have to check it out.
Ty says
We developed a ‘Road Trip Kit’ we take in the car. It includes a can opener, kitchen knife, couple of plastic bowls, table flatware, coffee cups, small coffee pot and a toaster. We generally take pre-measured quick oats in zip lock bags, instant coffee and creamer, cocoa mix packets.