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You are here: Home / Lifestyle / Life’s About The Journey, Not The Destination

January 13, 2009

Life’s About The Journey, Not The Destination

I’ve got to repeat that mantra the next time I don’t want to bike to the gym. I was freezing (obviously!) and didn’t want to venture into the mid-30* weather, but my car was just as cold, and I remembered that the last time I biked there in the cold I was so glad I did, so I bundled up in a scarf, gloves, extra pants and my Land’s End jacket and off I went. And it was SO beautiful!!! Biking there is so much more than environmentally friendly. It’s like I’m working for my workout. And I watched the most beautiful sunset on my way home!! (While there I spent 40 minutes on the elliptical in the nice heat). It was a nice workout, and I’m glad I waited until the afternoon because I could enjoy my time more.

After my shower (finally!) we headed over to Karen’s for the husband’s birthday dinner. Last year I cooked him BBQ Chicken and it’s our tradition to cook each other a requested meal on our birthdays. But we’ve been so busy this week, and tomorrow (his real b-day) he’s going to be at work when I get up and asleep when I get home, so Karen (his mother) cooked! It was a wonderful dinner (and as she would say in a strong southern accent “A fattening dinner!” 🙂 )

We shared a bottle of the best pinot ever: Mark West. I had two half glasses to equal a full glass, one while we put the finishing touches on dinner and the second with.

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On the menu: Chicken Parm (traditional, breaded and sauteed with cheese, sauce and parsley) served over Whole Wheat Pasta, Spinach Salad with Walnuts, Craisins + Homemade Dressing and GH Country French Bread, toasted with EVOO.

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That giant slice of bread with the birthday boy’s!

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I ate all of my salad + bread and about 1/3 of the chicken + pasta (and I have the rest to have as leftovers!)

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It’s not a birthday without dessert! We had Brownie Pillow Cookies from Fresh Market served over B&J Cookie Dough Ice Cream –

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And some sugared peanuts, which I had about 3 small handfuls of and probably didn’t need –

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Tomorrow is my extra long day – 8-8. I don’t have a break for dinner and my original plan was to have lunch at EarthFare and pack a dinner, but I realized I didn’t even have time to eat it AND I wouldn’t have a way to refrigerate it so my options would be limited. So my new plan is to have lunch at EF with my friends and then have a substantial snack (LaraBar + apple?) around 5pm inbetween my classes and have a small thrown-together dinner when I get home around 8:30 (the husband will be in bed). We’ve eaten at 8:30 lots of times, so I should be OK as long as I have a bigger snack.

Goodnight moon!

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Comments

  1. Sam says

    January 13, 2009 at 9:06 pm

    haha we have the same birthday

    Reply
  2. Maggie says

    January 13, 2009 at 9:06 pm

    What a great birthday dinner! That dessert looks delicious 🙂 Soft cookies are the best.

    Reply
  3. Victoria says

    January 13, 2009 at 9:07 pm

    That dinner looks wonderful! And it’s even better that someone else made it. Good luck tomorrow!

    Reply
  4. Anna says

    January 13, 2009 at 9:08 pm

    Happy Birthday to the husband!! January 14th is the best day ever to be born….it’s my birthday too! 🙂

    Reply
  5. Oh She Glows says

    January 13, 2009 at 9:08 pm

    Wow what a great birthday dinner!! Yum 🙂 Those pillow cookies look great- what’s in them?

    Good luck with your long day tomorrow. Sounds like you have a great game plan already.

    Angela
    www.ohsheglows.com

    Reply
  6. Amanda says

    January 13, 2009 at 9:13 pm

    Wow and yum!

    Reply
  7. zestycook says

    January 13, 2009 at 9:14 pm

    WOW – Cook for me Kath! Happy Birthday Matt

    Reply
  8. sarah says

    January 13, 2009 at 9:23 pm

    mmm the chicken parm looks amazing!

    your plan for tomorrow’s eats sound good 🙂

    woo for biking to the gym – I HATE being cold, I don’t think I would have done it! lol

    Reply
  9. haya (living and learning) says

    January 13, 2009 at 9:28 pm

    that is hardly a fattening dinner! i mean, maybe a little, but it’s still pretty healthy, with the whole wheat pasta and that big salad.
    brownie pillow is a divine sounding name for a cookie. i want one. right now! i bet they were fantastic with ice cream. a perfect birthday meal.

    Reply
  10. Bridget says

    January 13, 2009 at 9:31 pm

    That brownie pillow cookies looks awesome! Happy almost birthday to the husband!

    Reply
  11. Nicole says

    January 13, 2009 at 9:31 pm

    Happy Birthday, Matt! It looks like a great night.

    Reply
  12. Marisa says

    January 13, 2009 at 9:33 pm

    Wowza, that looks terrific. You had me captivated by the brownie pillow cookies and sugared peanuts!!! YUM!

    Reply
  13. Mel says

    January 13, 2009 at 9:36 pm

    Happy early Birthday to Matt! Your birthday meal makes me jealous! It all looks amazing!

    Reply
  14. Rachel says

    January 13, 2009 at 9:48 pm

    Those brownie pillow cookies are AMAZING! I really like the almond ones too.

    Reply
  15. K says

    January 13, 2009 at 9:49 pm

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY MATT!!

    Your plan for tomorrow sounds great – why must school get in the way of our delish eats?!

    Reply
  16. Lee says

    January 13, 2009 at 9:54 pm

    I want a brownie pillow. *runs to fresh market*

    Reply
  17. Stephanie says

    January 13, 2009 at 9:54 pm

    His birthday dinner looks fit for a birthday, and 100% delicious. Yuuum.

    That cookie/brownie looks insane. I’d like one right now. 🙂 Happy birthday to your husband!

    Reply
  18. Meg says

    January 13, 2009 at 9:59 pm

    Brownie pillow cookies! YUM!

    Dinner looks delicious!

    Reply
  19. Julie says

    January 13, 2009 at 10:22 pm

    Love beautiful sunsets, huh? Almost makes the cold worth it, but not quite! Your dinner looks great!

    Reply
  20. SH says

    January 13, 2009 at 10:27 pm

    Your mother-in-law looks like a really good cook! What a nice birthday meal!

    Reply
  21. Sara says

    January 13, 2009 at 10:35 pm

    Wow, the birthday boy’s dinner looks fabulous! Happy birthday to the husband.

    Reply
  22. Raspberry Runner says

    January 13, 2009 at 10:37 pm

    what a great looking dinner!! and good choice on the cookie dough ice cream!

    Reply
  23. carolyn says

    January 13, 2009 at 10:39 pm

    Kath,

    Just had to tell you that I roasted up some broccoli tonight and drizzled it with the Williams Sonoma balsamic that you mentioned last month. Fabulous! I am already planning to make more tomorrow night!

    Thanks for all your great food ideas!!!!

    Reply
  24. Andrea (Andrea's Eats) says

    January 13, 2009 at 10:40 pm

    Dinner looks great! Happy Birthday to the Husband!

    Reply
  25. jenner says

    January 13, 2009 at 10:42 pm

    hey Anna, Happy Birthday, it’s my birthday too!! Whooooo Jan 14th’ers!!!!

    mmm Kath, you absolutely must try the almond pillow cookie if you haven’t already!

    Reply
  26. HangryPants says

    January 13, 2009 at 10:48 pm

    Happy Birthday, Matt. Love the chicken parm. Enjoy the leftovers.

    Reply
  27. Jenn says

    January 13, 2009 at 11:00 pm

    Oh my gosh, that whole meal has me literally DROOLING! Being pregnant and perpetually hungry does not combine well with reading food blogs!
    Happy birthday to the husband 🙂

    Reply
  28. ashley (sweet & natural) says

    January 13, 2009 at 11:00 pm

    Whoa! Brownie pillow cookies?! Is that a cookie filled with a brownie?! Incredible!

    Reply
  29. theoddbod says

    January 13, 2009 at 11:54 pm

    that meal looks amazing. wow!

    Reply
  30. Sarah (lovINmytummy) says

    January 14, 2009 at 1:30 am

    That looks like an amazing birthday spread! Hope your hubs loved eating it as much as I loved drooling over it!

    Reply
  31. Marianne says

    January 14, 2009 at 1:40 am

    Looks like the birthday dinner was success, and that cookie looks amazing!

    Have a good day tomorrow, even if it is long.

    Reply
  32. Leah says

    January 14, 2009 at 2:03 am

    Looks fabulous!! What was the salad dressing made of? I’m always looking for new recipes!

    Reply
  33. Lara says

    January 14, 2009 at 4:38 am

    Happy Birthday Matt! There’s nothing like Mom’s homemade food–looks delicious!

    Reply
  34. seelee live (for the love of peanut butter) says

    January 14, 2009 at 5:13 am

    happy bday MATT!!!!! what a cute din din, real chicken parm for a real woman!! love it 🙂

    Reply
  35. Fancy says

    January 14, 2009 at 6:49 am

    Ryan Seacrest said that same quote (your post title) on American Idol last night 🙂

    Reply
  36. Katie says

    January 14, 2009 at 8:15 am

    YUMMY! What a delicious dinner! It all looks wonderful.

    Reply
  37. thepinkpeppercorn says

    January 14, 2009 at 8:15 am

    mmm! Nice birthday dinner!!

    Reply
  38. Sarah says

    January 14, 2009 at 8:16 am

    Karen looks like a fab cook? What was so unhealthy about the dinner though…was the chicken fried? It looks relatively healthy and delicious.

    Reply
  39. JENNA says

    January 14, 2009 at 8:21 am

    karen seems like such an awesome cook!! Everything she makes you looks really good! I lover her veggie lasagna recipe!!

    Reply
  40. Kath says

    January 14, 2009 at 8:34 am

    carolyn ,
    Glad to hear it!

    Leah ,
    A mix of aged balsamic, olive oil, mustard, salt, pepper, and garlic.

    Sarah ,
    Yes, the chicken was breaded and fried in a big puddle of butter and oil – and topped with lots of cheese. Not horrible, not, but not low-fat either.

    K

    Reply
  41. Andrea (Off Her Cork) says

    January 14, 2009 at 9:05 am

    Oh that dinner looks amazing! YUM!

    Reply
  42. Elina says

    January 14, 2009 at 9:27 am

    Oh man, handfuls of nuts is totally my weakness.
    What a beautiful dinner your mil made! It looks better than a restaurant meal!! Great job on just eating a little bit. You’re so good about portion control… I wish I was this good!

    Reply
  43. Ally says

    January 14, 2009 at 10:01 am

    Ugh, am I the only one that really does not care for that Mark West Pinot? I feel like it’s the house pinot everywhere I go and I’ve had it a couple times and just not liked it much at all. Do you think I’ve just ended up having it from a bottle that was open too long? I definitely prefer the Mirassou pinot as a pretty comparable option.

    I love, love, love the Ponzi Williamette Valley Pinot Noir. It’s my favorite wine right now. It’s a slightly higher price point but so worth it to me.

    Reply
  44. Hilary says

    January 14, 2009 at 10:11 am

    Oh my gosh that cookie looks heavenly!!!

    Reply
  45. Missy (Missy Maintains) says

    January 14, 2009 at 11:09 am

    Dinners looks amazing! I love chicken parm! And the cookie!

    www.missymaintains.blogspot.com

    Reply
  46. The Duo Dishes says

    January 14, 2009 at 12:53 pm

    That cookie looks to die for. Just die.

    Reply
  47. runjess says

    January 14, 2009 at 1:33 pm

    Looks like a great birthday celebration. Love the dessert.

    Reply
  48. Greta says

    January 14, 2009 at 8:07 pm

    I used to ride horses up in Mark West! It’s such a beautiful area of the wine country, I’m glad to hear that their pinot is tasty.

    Reply
  49. Meredith says

    January 14, 2009 at 9:59 pm

    What a great birthday dinner! Happy birthday Matt!

    Reply
  50. supermom says

    January 16, 2009 at 4:52 pm

    So, I know that those cookies aren’t exactly health food, but could you share that recipe. They look too good.

    Reply
  51. Kath says

    January 16, 2009 at 10:31 pm

    supermom ,
    As I said in the post, the cookies are from Fresh Market, so I don’t have a recipe.

    Kath

    Reply

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