Long, fun day!!!
We packed up lunch and took it picnic-style to the greenway to eat because we were kicked out of our house! (Also why I didn’t blog lunch 🙂 ) We are not even sure if anyone came by to see the house. The shower curtain in the guest bath was pulled back so we think so. Didn’t see lots of footprints though 🙁
But we had such a nice day for a picnic!
Matt was in charge of packing up while I got dressed. His creation was perfect!! He was also in charge of being the hand model in my photo shoot
We each had a folded over Food For Life tortilla stuffed with half a homemade lentil burger (from Friday night), a Laughing Cow cheese and some jalapenos!!
Spicy yum!
We also had a whole container of apples and celery to dip into….
The last of a jar of Justin’s Maple Almond Butter! There was probably 4-5 tablespoons left and we polished it all off 😳
Tazo Zen to drink! Loved all three of these new stevia-sweetened iced teas!! I think this was my favorite – it was minty!
Attempt at better lighting!
Dessert:
After lunch we planned a long greenway walk to kill some time. Here’s me starting out! So natural, right!?
We walked for over an hour! It was such a nice day and we just kept going. Plus, Emily + Casey were there running (crazies running the day after our half but they have a marathon to run soon!) and we met up with them for the last 25 minutes or so.
After our walk we hit up Trader Joe’s. I haven’t been in ages! Great Harvest is right next door so Matt usually picks up items when we need them. But today I got to browse. I wanted to buy tons of things but I’m trying to eat down our food stock a bit and resisted.
Once back at home, I snacked on two clementines (which were so cheap at TJ’s!) and a Coconut Banana bar by Teens Eat! They sent me a few of these with that pumpkin bread. Still very impressed by these ladies’ culinary creations! I think they will share the recipe on their blog 🙂 Matt proclaimed: "We need to sell these at our bakery!"
For dinner this evening we had a date with Karen!! [Matt’s mom]
We headed to a new eclectic exotic cuisine restaurant we’ve been wanting to try called The Blue Taj. Go check out their menu!
We dined on the patio – very cool ambiance!!
Karen and I split a sparkling water. She gave up wine at Christmastime yet we both love the feel of drinking something "special" from a wine glass. Sparkling water with lime is such a great compromise.
Matt drank a brew, per usual
A dazzling [that’s for you Cara!] amuse-bouche was brought to our table upon cracking open the menus. This was pear, cranberry and some kind of dressing.
We ended up getting a handful of dishes to all share around the table. A few appetizers, bread and 2 entrees to split 3 ways. Everything was SO GOOD! Tons and tons of flavor. We were all very impressed.
I requested the Peri Peri Cauliflower with a Honey-Pear Riata 🙂
SPICY!!
Plus the apricot-thyme Tandoori bread – like an apricot spread pizza!!
Vegetable Croquettes with a 3-lentil stew topping
Kaffir-Lime Shrimp with Zesty Tomato Crush
My collection
The main course was the perfect portion for sharing –
Norwegian Salmon with Allepy Ishtew Sauce and Spinach
And "New Dehli Style" Chicken. How GORGEOUS is that color!?
Basmati rice on the side. I had forgotten how delicious plain white rice is!! (Although I think there was some butter involved 😉 )
My plate! Everything was SO flavorful. I could tell there was rich cream in the orange sauce because I had to go back for more. It was really, really good!
We turned down dessert at the restaurant because Karen had brought over some nutty cheesecake she made this weekend!
Enjoyment was mandatory. The crust on this bad boy was out-of-this-world. Almost like toffee!? I loved the chunks of pistachios too! Sadly Karen did not like the recipe herself and threw it away! (However, there was nothing healthy about it either. Just good old cheesecake.)
‘Bout to start a 6-day workweek! This Saturday I have to get up at the crack of dawn again. But not for an exciting race – to drive an hour and a half to Columbia and attend the South Carolina Dietetics Association meeting as part of my internship. It’s going to be a loooooong week with only one day of rest and a big trip on the weekend. And on Sunday we already have plans for both meals! Yikes. Better implement operation stress-free living.
Starting now!
Nite!
Jocelyn@JocelynEatsFresh says
dinner looks fabulous! Everything looks well presented and creative 🙂
Your lunch picnic also looks fun! How can you resist the last few tbsps of justin’s nut butter 🙂
Gabriela @ Une Vie Saine says
What an amazing looking dinner! Small plates are so much fun, I love being able to taste a bunch of different things! Looks like the perfect Sunday…hope you have a great Monday!
Food Makes Fun Fuel says
That cheesecake looks delicious!
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is says
That is a gorgeous color!! And the tandoori looks amazing!
Mara @ What's for Dinner? says
Your dinner looks like something I’ve had in my head for a while to cook… the red sauce looks like Tikka Masala sauce, which does have cream in it, but MAN is it good!
Cara says
Haha, that DOES look dazzling! But I must say, the cheesecake looks dazzling-er ( <–does that work? Nope, I don't think it does…) P.S. AWESOME job on the race yesterday!!
Lauren @ eater not a runner says
Looks like such a fun dinner!
Erin (Travel, Eat, Repeat) says
Everything looks delicious — what a day of good eats and beautiful weather. Love weekends, they just go too quickly.
Cynthia (It All Changes) says
I’m loving how you taste little plate of stuff to share. Allows you sample many things and not get to full.
Janet (pantrybites) says
Great recap of your afternoon. I LOVE Indian food with their spices and herbs.
lynn (The Actors Diet) says
ha ha the pic of matt adjusting the bag for lighting reminds me A LOT of me and my hubby (mine is a producer/director and he is always being a camera geek)
Estela @ Weekly Bite says
It was the perfect day for a long walk!! So glad you got to enjoy it 🙂
Lisa says
” I could tell there was rich cream in the orange sauce because I had to go back for more”
ahahahhaha. obviously! :o)
you are too funny!
stacy says
hey kath 2 quick overnight oats questions whenever u get a chance!
1) do you put the oats in a sealed tupperware? or just a bowl in the fridge uncovered?
2) do the oats “go bad” if you don’t use them the next day or can you still eat them a couple days later?
thanks!
Kath says
1) Either
2) No – but I would use within 2 days
stacy says
thanks!
Stacey@http://stacey-healthylife.blogspot.com/ says
What a fun day. A 6 day work week, yuck. Just take one day at a time and think about the fact that it’s only for this week and it will be over soon enough. Get some workouts in also to help you de stress.
Kat says
i LOVED this post! all the food looks so amazing!!!!
M says
Love Karen’s outfit!
Lisa @bakebikeblog says
What a lovely looking dinner 🙂 And that cake….YUM!
jenna says
looks like a great day ended with yummy eats!
jenna
Allie (Live Laugh Eat) says
Karen is the Kween of desserts–I want her as my MIL too 🙂
I shielded my food with a cloth napkin at the Nasher Cafe today for better lighting…worked like a CHARM!!!
Heather @ Side of Sneakers says
What unique food- and great pictures! I love the names of the dishes 😉
Veggielady4life says
What a fun dinner! Everything looks so tasty! Sounds like you have a busy week ahead of you… I feel ya’. I start my pediatrics rotation tomorrow.
Hope to hear that everything goes well… I’m sure it will! 🙂
Heather @ Health, Happiness, and Hope says
What a great way to end the weekend. That picnic sounds like so much fun… even if it was forced. 😉
Rachel says
Wow – that dinner looks and sounds so amazing and fresh. I am glad you had a great day. It looks like you had beautiful weather. Good luck with your busy week. It will be over before you know it – deep breaths and just take it one thing at a time. Sometimes it is better to focus on the immediate future vs. the big picture!
kellyO says
Picnic looks great. My LONG week/weekend just ended. Five days of work plus commitments for ten hours Saturday and seven on Sunday. So tired! If anyone can sail through a six-day work week, it’s you! You inspire me!
Michelle @ Give Me the Almond Butter says
The feeling of the restaurant looks so cool with those sheets 🙂
My mom makes spectacular cheesecake. Too bad its on the unhealthy side, oh well, nothing wrong with a little indulgence?
teens eat says
YAY! I’m so happy you guys liked the bar 🙂
Katy says
You look amazing Kath! You look like you’re in such great shape right now!
Kath says
Thanks 🙂
Meg says
Sometimes a nice slice of cheesecake, healthy or not, is the best way to close an amazing weekend 🙂
Hope you have a relaxing night!
Runnergirl says
Does anyone know where to get the new Tazo’s? I can’t seem to find them anywhere!!
Kath says
I’ve seen them at EarthFare so I’d imagine your Whole Foods or similar store would have them.
Jessica @ The Process of Healing says
YUM!!! Your dinner sounds amazing and that restaurant looks really cool!! Charlotte seems to have the BEST restaurants!
Janice down the veggie road says
All this looks like amazing food today – and I was wondering about your ” overnight” oats as I have breakfast “issues” (recovering brkfst skipper) so will ck back on that response also;)
Also I wanted to ask you – I have some kiwis too bad to do anything with but throw in a smoothie and i saw the other day that you ate one skin and all so before I go possibly ruin a smothie tomorrow have you added skin and all kiwi to a smoothie ?
Thnx 🙂
Kath says
I’ve never tried a kiwi with skin in a smoothie. I’d think you would need a really, really good blender. while I love the skin, I don’t think I’d want to encounter chunks of it.
Janice down the veggie road says
Oh yes agreed … I just wondered 😉 thnx
Eileen says
You are really blessed with a great restaurant scene in Charlotte! I live in a major metro, but it doesn’t seem to have nearly as many cool, eclectic places.
Your MIL is very cute!
Have a good week.
Midgetkeeper says
Dinner looks like an amazing meal. So jealous!
Tara says
The IDA meeting is this weekend. Hopefully they are both good ones!
Jenn (www. j3nn.net ) says
Wow, the food from the restaurant looks divine! I especially love the way the shrimp look. I love little samples of everything—perfect!! 😀
Karen’s outfit is super cute!
Jenn
Laura @ youngDCliving says
Hmmm…that food looks excellent. Indian is one of my all-time faves!
katie@ Fab.Fit.Full. says
I saw Justin’s Almond Butter at Marshalls today for 8 bucks instead of 12 like it usually is, just an FYI to anyone who buys it 🙂
Maria says
Love the Tandoori. Have fun in Columbia! I got my Bachelor’s at USC. California Dreamin’ is a fab restaurant near the campus. Have a great week!
Heather (Heather's Dish) says
i want everything spicy that you had today…holy yum! go spicy or go home, right? 😉
Anne @ Food Loving Polar Bear says
Wow, those cauliflowers look so good! 🙂
Diana says
Wow, that food looks delicious!
Hannah says
Oh my heavens, every dish I saw there, I wanted more than the last. I love Indian food and spices, and cheesecake is one of the only desserts I find impossible to resist! Toss-up between the cheesecakes and cauliflower for must lusted-after food… mmm…
Freya @ Brit Chick Runs says
Eating lunch outside – I cannot WAIT for that to be an option over here\!!
Your dinner looks totally fabulous, I’m glad you had fun 🙂
Anusce@ Ciao-Chow says
I love love love the presentation of the dishes! Especially the pear and cranberry one! So pretty to look at!
Tara says
Hey, I’ll be at SCDA too! Have a great week.
Kath says
Oh fun!! Look for me!!
I’m going to the Sports NUTR workshop
Lea says
I would love to read a special blog entry about your game plan for dealing with long, potentially exhausting weeks like the one ahead for you. I’m not great at dealing with similar situations myself, and it’s nice to get some ideas from other people.
Yummy looking food from yesterday!
Lauren says
I really don’t know how I missed you guys yesterday. I was in Trader Joe’s for like an hour in the afternoon and I was looking at all the people on the Greenway wishing Will and I had went for a walk. Next time!
I take it you loved th Blue Taj? I can’t wait to try it out!
Have a great week!
Susan says
Have to give props to Karen for rockin’ the cute outfit! Love the leggings look!
melissa says
wow the plating is so beautiful!
steff from www.steffsays.com says
ooooh, indian food is my favorite, and that looks to be some particularly awesome indian!
Jess @ MTL Veggie says
That Indian food looked amazing!! Apricot Naan- who’d have thought? It looks to do die for!!