Good morning :)
Thank you for your comments on my second entry for Project Food Blog!
I left you with a bit of a cliff-hanger as to what my surprise was when I got back from Paris…
I came home to a bedroom without furniture, without flooring…
Well, some flooring. ;)
and a closet without shelves and clothing!
Where were my clothes!? Oh right…they were all jammed into my suitcase… ;)
I tried to remain calm. I was working with a 12 hour day of travel, no sleep, and a stomach that was growling for dinner.
‘Surprise!!!!!’
Eric exclaimed, beaming with pride like only a man would who was installing his very first hardwood flooring.
And then he quickly added, ‘Sorry about the mess….I was planning on being finished by the time I picked you up from the airport….’
I looked around.
I think the saying, ‘So close, yet so far away’ applies here. ;) LOL!
But renos take time and of course I understood. I was just happy to have that ancient carpet gone!
On Saturday, Eric taught me a few things and I helped him lay down the hardwood. It was actually quite fun, almost like putting a puzzle together!
The tricks to laying down hardwood: 1) Don’t ever let the boards line up (within 6 inches), and 2) Try to mix and match the shades of the wood.
I left the nail gun to his guns, however.
We are almost done our bedroom and the upstairs hallway is about half done now. I really love how the blue paint looks so crisp against the hardwood. We are also going to put up a large white baseboard to polish it off.
As for our closet, we are going to put in a closet organizer– probably one from Ikea. The one that was in there previously was made from particle board and it made our clothes stink.
That’s our story and we’re sticking to it!
I don’t believe I have done a breakfast post since I have been back. Well, do I have a fun one for you today…
Meet the Pumpkin Pie Monster:
Don’t worry she’s nice. ;)
I was craving Pumpkin Pie the other morning and I dreamed up this delicious concoction:
That would be pumpkin, blackstrap molasses, almond milk, pumpkin pie spice, and ice.
It tastes like you are drinking a pumpkin pie. I kid you not!!!!
Pumpkin Pie Monster
Ingredients:
- 1 cup almond milk
- 1/2 cup canned pumpkin
- 1 heaping tsp pumpkin pie spice (or 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp ginger, 1/4 tsp nutmeg)
- 1 tsp blackstrap molasses
- 1/2 frozen banana OR 1/2 serving Vanilla Protein powder
- 2 large ice cubes
Directions: Add all ingredients into a blender and process until smooth. Serves 1.
Nutritional Info: (Without protein powder): 121 kcals, 3 grams fat, 6 grams fibre, 2 grams protein.
It tastes SO good!
I couldn’t think of a more perfect drink for Fall.
Even if there are still flowers around where you live… ;)
With my Pumpkin Pie Monster I had a craving for baked apples in a huge way. I decided to stuff my apples with Power House Glonola and some Earth Balance.
Easy Glonola Stuffed Baked Apples
Ingredients:
- 3 Macintosh apples, cored
- 1 banana, sliced into wedges
- 3/4 cup Power House Glonola
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tbsp of Earth Balance butter
Directions: Preheat oven to 350F and grab a small casserole dish. Core 3 apples and place into the dish. Now stuff them with the glonola until 1/2 cm from the top. Take 1/3 of the pat of butter and stuff it inside the top of the apple. Repeat for other two apples. Take your banana and slice it and place it into the dish. Sprinkle remaining glonola into the dish. Finish by sprinkling on cinnamon. Bake for 25-28 minutes at 350F. Serve hot or refrigerate and serve cold for a vegan overnight oats effect! Serves 2-3.
I accidently forgot about my apples in the oven and they turned into over-baked apples! Whoops.
They were so delicious. I actually liked them best after chilling in the fridge. It tasted WONDERFUL with the Earth Balance melted throughout the apple. Don’t skip this part! It tasted like a buttery applesauce + a vegan overnight oats dream. The baked banana was also delicious.
A huge congrats to my best friend Allison and husband Matt who had a beautiful baby girl on Saturday night! It is hard to believe that my best friend since grade 7 has a baby of her own now. Time sure goes by fast…
What happened to your new found love of coffee?? :)
oh my GOSH! the pumpkin pie monster will be made in my household soon. FO’ SHO’. ;)
I don’t know how I’d feel about drinking pumpkin pie…. haha. Yogurtland had pumpkin spiced pie yogurt the other day and I couldn’t stand it.
I’d be intrigued to try yours though! It sounds like fun :)
MM baked apples,, They still look amazing overbaked!
Mmm I love apples! You have my vote :)
Mmm I love apples! You have my vote :)
Angela! Wow, that floor is gorgeous! What a sweet guy to try to surprise you!
Your smoothie and apples look delicious! It’s finally starting to cool off here so I feel like I can finally enjoy fall flavors. I can’t wait to make some baked apples!
Hello! I am a fairly new reader and I really love your blog. You are so inspirational and I have truly enjoyed trying out some of your yummy recipes. I having been thinking about baking some healthy-ish pumpkin bread, and haven’t found any recipes that have wowed me. I really don’t want to put 2 cups of sugar into one loaf of bread. So, first of all, can we be friends b/c I think you are awesome? :-) And, secondly, do you have any amazing pumpkin bread recipes to share with me?
Anyone who loves pumpkin is a friend of mine! haha ;)
I will put pumpkin bread on my fall must make list…keep ur eyes peeled
Oh the wonderful fall flavors! I love the idea of a pumpkin smoothie!
Mmmmm… those baked apples look amazing! I will have to try that. Isn’t fall awesome? I am looking forward to all the different foods and flavors that fall brings. So many recipes, so little time!
Such an abundance of fall yummies.
A smoothie is one of the few things I haven’t tried with pumpkin yet! I can’t wait to give this one a try. :D
– I am so glad you’re back home! I was missing your recipe posts! The flooring looks really good! I actually like the blue walls against floors, it stands out beautifully. Stuffed baked apples!? It sounds strange, but it looks yummy!
Your flooring looks BEAUTIFUL!!! I love the colour!
oh, those apples look delicious! I have a ton of apples in the house and I am going to try that :)
Thanks for the delicious smoothie inspiration. I made one today (substituting dates for the molasses) and it was fantastic!
How long can you freeze bananas for and is the molasses for flavor or?
I like the pumpkin smoothie idea, but, since I always have other gourds in my fridge, I wonder if I could use those. Are your canned pumpkins sweetened and/or spiced? Can I use frozen butternut squash? Cuban squash? Acorn squash? Thanks and your blog is making a big difference in my push for healthy living!
Nope my canned pumpkin isn`t sweetened. Not sure how other squash would turn out, but it could be tasty! I think butternut especially might be nice. Let me know how it goes!
I’m so peeved they don’t sell canned pumpkin in Austrlia:(
I tried it with the banana first, could taste a hint of banana flavor coming through. This morning I elected to go with the protein powder, also increased the spices by a tad, and added some maple syrup for a bit more sweetness (personal preference). Thanks! Yummy recipe for a gal who loves pumpkin pie but who’s hubby does not.