My mom came to visit last week and we took an adventure to Baltimore to visit my grandmother and to NYC for the day for an event for Smucker’s that I’m working on! It was strange to go from the end of a weekend to a fun and exciting visit to another weekend. Weekends bridged by fun! We had so much fun that this is the only photo I managed to take of my mom with Mazen despite the fact that they played and played for 4 days straight!
I did capture her teaching M to drink out of my silver baby cup she kept all of these years. He liked it and even learned how to share with a bear!
Here are some of our meals before and during her visit –
French toast with peaches, coconut and almond butter
Scrambled eggs with toast and peach (it’s alll peach around here these days!)
Egg sandwich with more peach
A frozen waffle breakfast! I’ve been craving waffles and have been debating buying a waffle maker. Instead I found these Julian’s Recipe waffles at Whole Foods – simple ingredient list, 100% whole wheat and Belgian style. Two thumbs up!!
Served with scrambled egg, peach and a bit of butter and Maine maple syrup
Mom had never tried overnight oats before!! She loved them prepared with berries, almond butter and granola.
Loved this tomato-heavy salad with avocado, almonds, cheese and Apple Scrapple on the side
A sandwich lunch with tomato, basil, cheese and avocado with …you guessed it….peach!
Lunch at Eppie’s. We shared a veg plate with beans, mac and cheese, sweet potato and broccoli and split the Santa Monica salad. So good!
And so baby friendly too.
Another new find: Trader Joe’s butternut squash ravioli. They tasted like butterscotch!!
Served with baked okra and parmesan zucchini
When we arrived home from our long car trip, Matt and Karen were waiting with a beautiful dinner in the works.
Fresh pasta with garlicky shrimp, grilled corn on the cob and okra fries.
I’ll be back tomorrow from more photos from our adventures!
Oh wow – the grilled corn on the cob and pasta… that dinner looks absolutely amazing!
It’s so wonderful to have time to visit family especially when they don’t live close enough to see every day. Growing up, all our relatives lived in different states so we only got to see our grandparents once a year! It’s great Maze gets to see them more often!! I have discovered that I take less pictures when I break from my normal routine even if those tend to be the most picture-worthy. Not sure why, maybe too busy just enjoying the moment?
It’s ALLL peach around here these days, too! Someone donated a million fresh peaches to my husband’s work, so he brought home a massive bag full of them. Can’t get enough.
Good job, Matt! That dinner looks amazing.
I now have a craving for a peach, preferably grilled!!! Gorgeous eats as always! Can’t believe your mum had never tried overnight oats!!!
I want a peach now! Your breakfast always looks so good!
Wow! Matt & Karen looked like they outdid themselves! What a delicious looking meal!
yumm
Tis the season for peaches! They are just perfect right about now. I can’t help but eat them everyday 🙂
That grilled corn! Ah, I love grilled corn!
look delicious – all of it! I love seeing what Mazen eats to compare to my 11 mo old Little Gal. She also loves broccoli, sweet potato and beans..mmm.
I’m not one to buy food specific appliances because of the space issue however, I received a waffle maker last year and use it just about every week. Love it! I usually make a whole box of batter on the weekend, cook the waffles, then have them for easy before school breakfasts for my son. I have this one and really have no complants. http://www.amazon.com/Calphalon-HE400WM-Belgian-Waffle-Maker/dp/B001CHL3Q0
Also loving TJ’s butternet squash ravioli!
Hi Kath. First timer here! Been trying to lose weight and would love to try all those almond butters but unsure how it would affect the weight loss. Any input? (We visited Williamsburg last month from AZ, VA for the first time for us, and loved it. Would love to move to VA. We have a GH here in Tempe and love their products.) Really enjoy your blog 🙂
Hi Tracey! So long as you are replacing something else in your diet you should have room for nut butters. So instead of walnuts on your oats use nut butter instead or add some at breakfast and hopefully you won’t need a mid-morning snack
that pic of mazen drinking out of the silver cup is too cute! also, every food pic looks delicious! mmmm 🙂
Well gosh, now I want okra!
I’m excited to read about your trip in the city; I just moved back and I’m sure you ate somewhere I’ll want to add to my ever-growing list.
Grilled corn on the cob is best. I would be a happy camper if I could have one a day for the rest of the month.
I just grilled peaches for the first time with a little bit of cinnamon and coconut oil. Can’t wait to try it on french toast!
What a cutie with that silver cup!
Those waffles look good! Do you put them in the toaster? Also surprised your mom never tried overnight oats before then! 🙂
Yes, a toaster oven
I am totally on the peach train – I have been eating at least one (okay, lets be honest, two) a day since they have come into season. I can’t get enough!!
Everything looks great and it sounds like you had a fun time in the city!
Oooh, I’ll have to try that butternut squash ravioli. The raviolis I’ve tried from Trader Joe’s have been a little hit or miss but those sound (and look) tasty!
How did they do those okra fries?! I’ve done veggie fries before and just roasted them at like 450 til they kinda dried and got crunchy. Is that how those were done?
Yes, just grilled whole and then dipped in ketchup
I have been a daily reader for more than four years, and this is the first time I have felt the need to comment. I know you will likely filter/remove, but I hope my feedback reaches you, Kath.
Smuckers? Really? That is a company that primarily sells products containing high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, artificial dyes, and carageenan. Even their classy-sounding “preserves” have HFCS. They are known for purchasing smaller family-owned businesses (like After the Fall juices) through one-sided trust arrangements.
This is such a complete 180 from the direction your blog was taking back when the emphasis was on health and balance. I will not return.
The product I’m working with is 100% natural with all real food as ingredients.
I’d be interested to know what product it is. I don’t ever remember you mentioning that you eat Smuckers.
It’s their new Natural Fruit Spreads. I haven’t had them before because they are brand new, but yes, I have bought Smuckers before.
“100% natural with real food as ingredients”. That is technically true, but only if you count white refined sugar as a real food. After browsing Smucker’s website, I am definitely pleased to see they are offering a slightly more “natural” alternative, but half of their Natural Fruit Spreads list sugar and juice before actual fruit. Compare that to Jam According to Daniel, which has “a pound of local fruit in every jar”, little sugar, and no pectin.
I’m sure it will come up if/when you write a post on your trip, but the “real food” idea seems to get stretched a bit thin sometimes. I am all about homemade baked goods and I definitely use sugar in my house, but I’m a bit confused as to how a jam made with sugar before any fruit puree is “real” compared to, say, a 100% fruit jam. I’ll be interested to see your take on it, and to see if the jam is any good!
Kath has definitely mentioned enjoying the Smucker’s Natural peanut butter before (my personal fav nut butter)! The ingredients in that are only peanuts and salt.
I have to respectfully agree with Rhea Allt’s sentiments. Even if Smuckers is promoting its “natural” preserves, Smucker’s primary market lies in its decidedly non-natural products.
I’ve been toying with the idea of a waffle maker too! We have a large gift card to Crate and Barrel from last fall that I’ve been sitting on until we moved into a new home… this might be part of my gift card purchase!
The french toast with the peaches as well as the pasta and shrimp look really yummy! I wish I could get my husband on board with okra, but it is too slimy for him, otherwise those okra fries sound awesome!
Isn’t peach season the best season?! Aside from pumpkin season…. 🙂
Yay for overnight oats! I need to get my family to try it too. It’s my favorite breakfast thanks to you 🙂
Peaches have been amazing this summer, and we actually got to buy a bunch of Georgia peaches on our road trip. So juicy and sweet!
Looks like you’ve had a lovely time with your Mom!
🙂 If you ever decide to open your home as a bed & breakfast….ha…lunch and dinner! Sign me up!
Guests must be SO excited to come over to your house for a dinner party, lol! Your meals look so healthy AND delicious! I LOVE butternut squash ravioli by the way…;-)
Also, isn’t Mazen’s bib fantastic?! I wish I had found one like that when I had my son! I use it now for the daughter…the best part is when she tries to pull it off (which she ALWAYS does!) she can’t! lol!
I got a waffle maker when I was in about 6th grade and it has lasted ever since. It was the best gift! Waffle maker is easier than pancakes a lot of times. I wrap up the extras in batches of 2 and put in the freezer for homemade toaster waffles.
Wow, those breakfast pictures!!!! Look so tasty!!!!
Your meals look fabulous!! And yes, it is definitely peach season…yum!
How did you make the parmesan zucchini? Thank you!
I sliced it thinly and then sprinkled it with some sea salt and grated Parmesan and baked for about 20 minutes at 400* until the cheese began to brown
I tried making Ellie’s (from food network) parmesan zucchini the other day and it was a total flop! Probably because of the unnecessary bread crumbs….definitely going to go with your much simpler recipe for it next time.
The TJ ravioli sound like something my family will enjoy! Were they frozen or refrigerated Kath? All your food looks awesome as always, And I love peaches too!
Ana
They were in the refrigerated section
Thanks Kath! I will look for them!
Ana
Grilled Corn for dinner … that look tasty
Great Kath ! You done a fantastic job.Well done.
M is so sweet. I hope you had a great day. Also, Happy new year to you and your entire family.