Today I ended up eating both lunch AND dinner out- which is not so healthy, but oh well. Every once in a while doesn’t hurt, right? For lunch my mom and I picked up my dad and headed to Cafe Brazil in Deep Ellum. This place has amazing breakfasts (we take Chloe there sometimes) and really good coffee, but I’ve never been too excited with any of the lunch/dinner options. So brunch it was.
I had the Vegetarian Tacos, which consist of “Zucchini, Bell Peppers, Tomatoes and Button Mushrooms tossed with Scrambled Egg Whites, served in two Wheat Tortillas with melted Cheddar and Feta Cheese, served with Rosemary Potatoes and Homemade Salsa“:
And I split a Chicken Empanada with my dad, who was good and ordered a fruit salad (booooooring) and then proceeded to polish off my mom’s fries. “Just making sure they’re not poisonous!”- right, dad?
I spent all afternoon finishing the last book in the Twilight series (So good. I’m in mourning right now because it’s over- what to read next??) and then cleaning, so for dinner we headed to that local seafood place I wrote about a few weeks ago. I ordered a bowl of gumbo with a side of red beans and rice.
I’m kind of obsessed with red beans and rice- not because I love the taste, though. When I was in third grade, our science teacher told us that if we were ever stranded on a desert island and could only choose one meal to have for the rest of our lives (’cause that could totally happen, right?), we should ask for red beans and rice. Something about the combo being a complete protein… I don’t really remember. I was probably too busy trying to decide which splatter painted hairbow (crafted by my mom) looked best with my rad perm.
The gumbo was good, but the waiter told me that there was no meat in it- just seafood. However, my tummy is now informing me that he may have been mistaken. Ugh. Good thing I only ate half 
In keeping with this week’s theme (PUMPKIN!!!), tonight I whipped up a batch of Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread.
The original recipe is here, but I changed it up a little:
- 2 Cups Canned Pumpkin
- 1 Cup Splenda Sugar Blend for Baking
- 1/2 Cup Coconut Oil
- 1/2 Cup Unsweetened Applesauce
- 4 Egg Whites
- 3 Cups Whole Wheat Flour
- 2 tsp Ground Cinnamon
- 1 tsp Nutmeg
- 1 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Baking Soda
- 1 Cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
Combine first 5 ingredients and mix well. Combine next 5 ingredients in a separate bowl and mix. Add dry ingredients to wet and mix until just moistened. Fold in chocolate chips. Bake at 350 for 22 minutes for muffins or 55 minutes for loaves.
This makes 2 loaves or 24 muffins. Or 1 loaf and 12 muffins (what I did).
I haven’t had any yet because they’re too hot… but they smell good, so that’s nice.
I love how you are my source for fall inspiration. Pumpkin Bread!
It’s funny that you still remember that random fact about rice and beans from your teacher. It really is a great combo.
Also, my dad will do things like that, too!
The veggie taco sounds good – I love homemade salsa. I am pretty sure you are correct with the complete protein meal – red beans & rice. How is Chloe doing? I just love when you post about your cute little girlie.
Great eats today. Those tacos look super good.
Phrases I will remember from today’s post: “splatter painted hairbow” and “rad perm”. Golden.
I use to love those hair bows! haha
um now you can read midnight sun… the first part of the book was leaked… and it’s on stephenie meyers website. it’s the first twilight book from edwards perspective.
Heather,
Midnight Sun is really good. It might even be better than Twilight even though it’s only a partial draft.
Also, has anyone read The Host by Stephenie Meyer? I’ve been wanting to read it.
Sammie- Chloe is great! She’s actually still in bed right now, burrowed under the covers (it’s 11:00am, btw). I’m sure she’ll do something random today so I’ll try to get a photo up
Jill- Oh, Brian is going to be SO mad that you told me that!!
So wait, is this book eventually going to be published? Maybe I should wait…? I hated the little next book teasers in the back of the Twilight books.
You still have some of those Gina hairbows, don’t you? I bet you wear them to work.
Y.A. Heather (hehe)- Haven’t read The Host yet but I’m curious about it… I’m going to go check out the amazon reviews.
Mmmmm, pumpkin bread with chocolate chips.
I’ll be right over……..
yummmm those little muffins look awesome
So I forgot to mention PR last week…yay as to who got voted off, right?! No more whining!
I wish i was more excited about 2nite’s episode, but this season is beyond boring. Gosh..sorry to be so negative, but i think u feel the same!
And I’m intrigued by your obesession with this Twilight series you speak of… i was so into all the RL Stine books when i was younger (i probably shouldn’t admit to this) so i’m thinking i may like them. Do you HIGHLY recommend?? Thanks…i need a good book series to get into!
Ange- NO JOKE! I was actually really shocked at how gracefully Stella took being kicked off. She seemed so much nicer telling everyone goodbye than she had through all of the episodes. Weird.
Oh my god, RL Stine! Fear Street! I loved those and the Christopher Pike books. You should definitely read the Twilight books- they’re a super fast read. I own the first 3, so email me if you want to borrow them…
really, you wait till they cool? haha