Hey Gang. Can I call you gang? We could be like Coolio and the Gang; I get to be Coolio, of course. I’m a great rapper, and I’d look good with braids, except I may need to grow some hair first. Minor detail; I scoff at minor details.
A not so minor detail: today is What I Ate Wednesday, sponsored by the always fabulous, Jenn at Peas and Crayons. A day of food porn for us bloggers, a day where we get to peep each other’s eats and be inspired. On that note, will somebody hurry up and do something with collards so I know how to cook mine. Thanks; I appreciate it.
I’ve got family in town this week, which means I’m foregoing a huge long intro and heading straight for the food. I’m getting right down to business, which is probably how you like it anyway. Dirty birdies.
Saturday eats and away we go (I do realize this isn’t a complete sentence):
Last week I skipped the coffee shot, disappointing more than one of you. I won’t make that mistake again. My morning began, like all my mornings begin, with a cup of joe and jar of water. An hour or two later, I had Strawberry Sour Cream Brown Sugar Soaked Oats Muffins. They are a mouthful, literally and everything I thought they’d be and more.
Side note: I break water glasses like it’s my job. Sometimes I just look at them funny and they shatter (I have that effect), so I’ve began replacing them with empty nut butter and jam jars. It works, so long as people don’t expect to drink from regular glasses at my house. I’m guessing at this point they probably don’t.
After breakfast the Hubby and I went kayaking, which translates to I worked up an appetite. I came home, cleaned up, put on some pants and whipped up a three egg Greek omelet stuffed with artichoke hearts, feta cheese, kalamata olives, and sun-dried tomatoes. I also threw in a piece of Mediterranean Herb bread for good measure and carbs: one slathered with strawberry jam to curb my sweet tooth and one straight up with butter; I’m hard-core.
After breakfast, I hit up Costco with the in-laws, not to be confused with out-laws (i.e. me), where I declined all the crazy freebies being thrown at me. I’d figured it’d be a wee bit rude, some might say uptight, to bust out the product they were hawking, read through all the ingredients, gasp at the amount of unpronounceables, and then decline said freebie. It was easier just to skip it, but I did have a snack when I got home with some of my very own Costco purchases: raspberries, Babybel, and a Sunrise Energy Bar.
Then I napped because shopping at Costco and kayaking, all in the same day, can do a number on a girl.
When I arose from my slumber, very gracefully I might add, I had some iced coffee, while relaxing in my three seasons room with my little buddy. Oscar would say hello, but he’s taking a siesta, and we all know cats don’t joke about their siestas. Neither do I for that matter.
After lounging and catching up on some blog reading, I moved on to dinner, which was a pile of veggies, cooked in a quarter cup of garlic (read amazingness) and tossed on a bed of couscous. You can’t go wrong with that combo.
There you have it. A full day of food and double the coffee. I also kept it relatively brief, which is remarkable in and of itself. No worries; I’ll make up for it with Friday’s CSA post.
How do you feel about the Costco freebies? What’s your thought on the Babybel cheese or Costco’s Sunrise Energy Bars?
Fran@BCDC says
I was at BJ’s this week and avoided everything of the free nature, went directly where I needed and was ready to leave. Of course Ralph was buying all sorts of unnecessary things…well he was paying so I didn’t care! I’ve never been to Costco, but when we get to NM that will be our only choice AND it’s 2 hours away. Stocking up will have a whole new meaning then. Dinner looks Delicious. Now I want it! Have a great day, Girlie!
Meghan says
Hey if Ralph is buying, I say let him spend. 😉
My in-laws love Costco so I think you’ll be quite pleased.
Linz @ Itz Linz says
those muffins look and sound delicious!
Meghan says
They were really good.
Alex@Veggin' Out says
I love, love, love Greek omelets!! I’ve never put sun-dried tomatoes or artichoke hearts in them though. But seeing as those are two of my favorite foods (among many), I should really try it!
And 1/4 cup of garlic?? I’m glad someone else loves garlic as much as I do 🙂 I always at least double, usually triple the amount of garlic in a recipe.
Meghan says
You should try adding artichokes and sun-dried tomatoes, especially if you’re a fan. What do you normally put in your Greek omelets?
I’m a garlic fanatic so you are in good company. Of course, my opinion isn’t really objective, but who cares.
Nicole @ FruitnFitness says
Your dinner looks and sounds amazing! I love string cheese and baby bel cheese, I think they make great snacks!
Meghan says
Thanks. I’m digging the babybel, but I don’t know much about them.
Alex @ Brain, Body, Becuase says
HOLY OMELETTE. That sounds so amazing!
Oh my goodness, cat naps are maybe the cutest things in the entire world. They get so scrunched up!
I have only been to Costco once (I had to sneak in) but the freebies were INSANE and my husband and I went bananas at each station. If I had a membership and visited more often, I’d probably try to resist more. Maybe.
Meghan says
I love cat naps. They are so freaking adorable, and I kind of sleep the same way. One paw (I mean leg) thrown here, one thrown there.
Costco was crazy; I couldn’t believe how big it was and the massive amounts of people in there.
Kathy @ Olives and Garlic says
Your dinner is right up alley. Yum
Meghan says
Thanks.
Nikki @ The Road to Less Cake says
You dinner looks delicious and pretty, so much colour.
Meghan says
I’m a big fan of eating the rainbow. Thanks for stopping by.
Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl says
I actually like the idea of drinking out of a jam jar. It seems very cozy and rustic :).
Meghan says
It’s cozy, rustic and totally necessary when you run out of glasses.
kirsten@FarmFreshFeasts says
I’ll try most anything free, especially the Vitamix demo, but what I’m missing most from my sled hockey-imposed exile from Costco is bacon. There, I said it. And cheese. Sliced organic cheddar, giant bricks of sharp cheddar, hunks of fontina, shredded Italian blend . . . you name it, I’m missing it, and that probably means we need to make a field trip to Costco soon.
And now I want the muffins again, dammit all. Thanks, though for the link–much appreciated.
Meghan says
I would have tried the Vitamix demo, but sadly it wasn’t happening.
I miss bacon too.
I bought seven pounds of cheese. 🙂
You should make the muffins again; they’re really good. If you bring me one, I’ll take you to Costco on the in-laws card.
Meg @ The Compost Cook says
Your eats=a spectrum of awesome and your writing= side-slipting funny. I’ll be sure to be back!
Meghan says
Aw thanks. I like to think I’m funny, but then again I’m not really an unbiased opinion. Hope to see and hear from you again soon.
MassachusEATS says
That omelette sounds amazing! I’m in love with artichokes 🙂
Meghan says
Me too. Artichokes are totally underrated.
Sarah Pie says
Cute pants (?) in the sunroom picture and beautiful eats all day. Those extra garlic veggies sound amazing! I’m with you on free samples, usually they aren’t GF/ are at risk for contamination (and that’s before I even get to what’s actually in them!).
I used to be a big fan of Babybel cheese (mostly because they’re so grab and go) but I’ve slowed that down recently because I kept forgetting to put said cheeses in the fridge when I got them to school and they became all sorts of unappetizing.
Meghan says
Those are actually my pajamas. I was in them at like 5, and I stayed in them for the rest of the night! Ha.
I like the convenience of the Babybel, but I’m not sure if they are sketch-free. Usually, I get my cheese locally from grass fed cows. I’m such a cheese snob.
Warm melty cheese = good.
Hot overly melty cheese = bad.
Liz says
I pass on all store samples, they just gross me out. The plastic gloves give me no assurance of the sanitary habits of the handler. And I don’t usually buy the babybel cheeses. I go big when it comes to cheese. Something about tearing open two or three wheels and seeing the wrappers just makes me feel guilty. Nobody needs that!
Did you get a recipe for your collards? I love me some collards and have an easy method for traditional style ones, sans meat, natch 🙂
Meghan says
I did buy three two pound bricks of cheese as well. Oops. 😉
Cheese should be a guilt free occasion.
I don’t have a recipe for the collards yet. Help me please!
Brittany says
My water jar (yes it can’t even be considered a glass) is a 40oz jelly jar from Costco…HAHA. I always use mason jar like jars for my water. I actually broke a mason jar once from pouring hot water in it for tea!! It was a sad…sad day. Anyway my point is once again I think we’re soul mates for reusing jelly jars. I love Costco and I love the samples, however most of them I don’t eat. When I find a sample without dairy though, I do something like this…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fEAT_3pT3s
Hahahaa.
Meghan says
Great clip (from a great show, no less).
We are Ball jar soul mates, and I like it.
Olivia @ Liv Lives Life says
I LOVE the glass jars! There’s a restaurant that I used to go to that serves their drinks in Ball jars, and I think it’s adorable and rustic.
Your dinner looks just incredible. So colorful and perfect for summer.
I’m kind of in the same boat with Costco’s freebies, only because of my allergies. People always look at me weird when I grab the boxes of the things they’re selling, look at it, and then decline. They just don’t understand.
I hope you’re having a good holiday!
Meghan says
Oh good; glad to know I’m not alone in that regard.
I think the ball jars and drinking glasses are such fun too so when I break another glass, I don’t mind. Ha.
Allie says
Pfft, forget growing hair first, you could just go for extensions! And you and glasses is me and bowls. I’m down to one mixing bowl and two eating bowls. At least it’s an excuse to hit up World Market and buy some fun new serving-ware. Or just eat out of empty Greek yogurt tubs. Not that I’d ever do that. Nope…
I do not have your control. If it is free, and Costco hands it to me, I will eat it. I won’t buy it, but I’ll sure sample. And then loop around and sample again. Costco brunch!
Meghan says
I call BS. You’d totally eat out of empty yogurt tubs. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
I like any excuse to go to world market. Pretty bowls makes pretty food, which in turn makes it taste prettier, and yes, food can taste pretty.
Jessie says
Using empty nut butter & jam jars for water… I like the way you think! I’m assuming your iced coffee you had in the afternoon is too good for one of those jars though? 🙂 Ha Ha !
Meghan says
Even better. I drink the iced coffee from the Hubby’s beer glasses, and that first shot of coffee was totally for you.
Heather @ Kiss My Broccoli says
Ohhh, those sunrise bars look delicious! The man-friend and I devised a little plan…his Sam’s club membership was due to expire soon, but instead of renewing it, he’s going to get a Costco one and then we can just use each other for our respective memberships! Can’t believe we didn’t think of it sooner! 😉
LOVE Babybel cheese…I’m currently working on a thing of Gouda! And for the record, I have a reeeeeeeeeeeeally hard time turning down free food! BUT I won’t eat just anything…I mainly scout out the booths with the baked goodies! Mmm, gimme that cookie!
Meghan says
I know you’re a sucker for a good cookie, and I can understand why. Cookies are pretty damn hard to pass up.
Sharing food clubs memberships is a pretty big step in your relationship. 😉 I’m impressed.