Wow, today was a BUSY one! 
But, boy, did it fly by!
Let’s recap Monday’s eats!
Breakfast
I ate my favorite breakfast this morning: banana oats with ground flaxseed meal and peanut butter.
A super ripe banana makes all the difference in a bowl of oats!
With my very last dark chocolate Adora disk:
We were out of milk this morning, so I grabbed an iced coffee with soy milk at Starbucks on my way into the office.
Lunch
Lunch totally snuck up on me today. I went from diligently working to starving in a matter of minutes!
Today’s lunch was a grilled zucchini, relish, and cheddar cheese “panini.” The ingredient combo sounds a little weird, but I swear it was delicious!
With a Asian pear and Jocalat bar:
Snack
Around 3:30 pm, I snuck out of the office to grab a cold beverage. I ended up popping into the Crema Cafe for a Ginger Lemonade and a gluten-free macaroon. The Ginger Lemonade was one of the best non-coffee drinks I have ever tasted! A-mazing! 
Dinner
Tonight was the first time that I have ever (knowingly) eaten yucca. To tell ya the truth, it sort of scared me– mostly because I had no clue how to cook it or how it would taste.
Verdict: It’s delicious!
Appearance- and texture-wise yucca is sort of like a potato, but with a more starchy, mild flavor.
Yucca has a very tough outer bark, which was somewhat difficult to cut off. I thought I was going to lose a finger a few times!
After cutting off the bark, I sliced the yucca into French fry-like sticks.
Next, I tossed the yucca sticks in a mixture of canola oil, sea salt, ground pepper, and paprika, and baked them in the oven for 25 minutes on 400*F. They came out SO GOOD!
With my yucca fries, I also had a salad made with greens, grape tomatoes, broccoli, sprouts, and watermelon.
The yucca fries were AWESOME! They were even better once I dipped them in ketchup! 
And, of course, leftover wedding cake is on the menu for dessert. I’ve eaten a piece everyday for a week straight now!
J & G Giveaway Winner
Thanks to everyone who entered!
Here is your random number:
123
Congrats, # 123! Email me at tina@carrotsncake.com with your name and mailing address.
House Update
Remember when Mal and I made an offer on a house? Well, last week, we took it back. It’s a long story, but, basically, we weren’t 100% behind it. And, for that much money, you need to be 100% positive in your decision! So, now Mal and I are reassessing what to do and where we want to live. Of course, I still really want to own a PUG, so perhaps a move is in our future sooner than later! 
Only time will tell…
{ 32 comments… read them below or add one }
Those fries look amazing. I’m going to have to try them. In Miami the yucca is always REALLY fried, and here in Chicago I can never find it! I’ll have to search next weekend. Thanks for the tip!
I ALMOST guess yucca! They look delicious – glad they came out well
Mmmmm… those look so good! If yucca tastes like potatoes, I am all over it!
Sorry to hear about the house, but buying a home is a huge commitment, so you don’t need to feel rushed.
Good for you for standing by your house decision. We bought our first when we were a few years younger and not very wise and have had lots of headaches and regrets. Being 100% sure will benefit you totally in the end. Still, I know its disappointing, and I hope you are ok!
tasty dinner!
I kind of love when we run out of milk and I HAVE to stop for coffee on the way to work
- it makes my day hehe. Your grilled lunch sammy looks awesome (as does your afternoon dessert!). I will have to purchase some yucca and give it a try. Glad you guys are happy with the decision you made- I know you will find a house and a living location that you just adore.
Delicious looking eats! I need to get my hands on some yucca!
I have a feeling a move to Charleston is in order
Yay I can’t believe I won the earrings! Thanks so much! Those yucca fries look amazing!
Your Yucca fries look gorgeous! Sounds like you made the right decision on the house – that’s such a big commitment!
that ginger lemonade sounds awesome!
Good job following your heart and instincts on the house – you’re right! You should be totally behind such a big decision. i’m sure you guys will find the perfect place soon. WITH room for a pug!
Don’t worry, at the end of our condo-hunting search we came THIS CLOSE to settling, and then last minute found our current, fabulous place that we are obsessed with. I know it will work out for you!
Great day of eats! Good luck with finding a place. I am sure it will all work out, pug and all:)
the sammie combo looks great!
http://strivingforbalance.wordpress.com/
where would you find yucca? i wanna try!
Next time try them seasoned with garlic! or in a garlic aioli sauce… MMMMMMMMMM on a stick!
You always have to go with your gut and it seems like you and Mal are making a responsible decision. When the time is right – you’ll know it and it will be worth the wait
So true about the extra ripe banana in oats! That ginger lemonade sounds fabulous btw — such a great combo idea!
My husband and I were VERY young when we bought our house (20 years old!!) and I don’t think it was the best decision. My advice is always to be comfortable with your decision because it’s yours after that — and hard to get rid of.
Yucca fries?! I must try! I love anything in fry form.
Mmm, and your grilled sandwiches are making me crave one! I’m making one ASAP!
I love starting off my day with a lovely bowl of oats
In fact I did that this morning at work!
I’m from Miami, where yuca is prevalent, but is always either deep fried or boiled and covered in an oily garlic (mojo) sauce. Delicious, yes, but far from what you want to be eating everyday. Thanks for this healthy option!
Your lunch looks perfect! All the basic food groups: bread, veggies, and Larabar:)
that’s a good attitude about the house – such a huge investment….
is yuuca, like yam? oh, do you have yam in the states? looks good!
That sandwich looks so good!!!
Glad you liked the yucca!!
I’ve never seen a yucca here in Australia, looks interesting! It’s great to try new things.
Good luck with the house decision, we looked for ages, moved states, looked more and are now building! Crazy.
I went to Crema for lunch yesterday and ordered the Rosemary and Goat Cheese sandwich, per your suggestions. SO GOOD! I also bought a macaroon, which was yummy. I’m impressed by how affordable the menu items are – definitely a place to frequent!
The yucca fries look great!
In terms of the house, I think you guys made the right decision. You want to absolutely love the house you finally buy. It’s out there somewhere!
A gluten free macaroon…yumm! Good luck on making a decision Tina and Mal….just follow your hearts like you did….great going!
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It’s always best to follow your intution with big decisions… you would never have felt comfortable with buying a place if you weren’t totally on-board! Don’t worry – you’ll figure it out and it will all be for the best!
I’m glad you guys took it back if you weren’t 100% behind it. A house is a big investment and you should have absolutely no doubts when you go to make that big of a purchase. Best of luck to you both on your search!
Hey Tina! I personally think that sammy looks great…not a weird combo to me, but I eat “weird” too a lot! haha. Also lusting over that ginger lemonade, sounds so refreshing and down in here in the swealtering FLA summer I need all the refreshment I can get! haha.
Good luck on the house hunt/decision making. It’s a big one that is not to be taken lightly, as you and Mr. Mal seem to know already!