Friday, January 29, 2010 at 03:57 PM

Hello, Weekend!

Wahoooo! My weekend has officially begun!! Well, technically, I have a call about a potential new opportunity, but after that, I am home free! :mrgreen:

Lunch

I had a 3-hour meeting at NuVal this afternoon, so I munched on lunch during it. I started with a salad of raw veggies and homemade croutons.

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And, then ate a Jazz apple and a lemon cranberry Cinch Bar. (The lemon cranberry Cinch bar is delicious! It’s my favorite out of the bunch.)

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Homemade Croutons

Oh my gosh, homemade croutons. How did I miss out on them for so long?! They are AMAZING– and delicious, SO easy to make, and a great addition to a regular ol’ salad. Plus, you don’t have to waste old bread!

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Ingredients:

  • 1/2 loaf of day-old French bread
  • 1/8 cup olive oil
  • Garlic powder

Directions:

  • Preheat oven to 400*F
  • Cut loaf into “crouton-size” pieces
  • Add bread and olive oil to a large bowl; coat bread with oil
  • Add garlic powder (or your choice of seasoning)
  • Spread croutons on a baking sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes
  • Allow to cool before serving

Makes 2-3 cups

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Best croutons ever! :-D

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After NuVal, I hit the road to head home. There was quite a bit of traffic for a Friday afternoon, but when I got home, I scored a sweet parking spot right out in front of our apartment.Check out my parallel parking job! Sharp, right? Living in Southie has made me an expert with this driving skill!

(I just hope one of those cars moves by the time I need to go somewhere. It’s gonna be tough getting out of it! :-? )

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Snack

For an afternoon snack, I made myself a 3-Minute Cookie with chocolate whey powder and peanut butter smeared on top. Mmm!

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Agenda for the rest of the day:

  • Conference call
  • Looking at another apartment
  • Dinner and drinks
  • Friend’s art show

Enjoy the start of your weekend!!! :mrgreen:

Posted by: Tina 45 comments

Posted in: recipe

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45 Comments on “Hello, Weekend!”

  1. #1 Heather (Heather's Dish) Reply to this comment
    on Jan 29th, 2010 at 5:02 pm

    hope the call for the new opportunity goes well! i’m so ready for the weekend, can’t wait :) have a good night girl!

  2. #2 Ameena Reply to this comment
    on Jan 29th, 2010 at 5:04 pm

    Great job on the parallel parking…I can barely get my car into a regular spot! I never should have skimped on the parking distance sensors. :)

  3. #3 Samantha Reply to this comment
    on Jan 29th, 2010 at 5:06 pm

    I still haven’t made one of your cookies!! I am planning on making some of your Fuel bars this weekend though. And yes, homemade croutons are the shiz-nit!!

  4. #4 Sofia Reply to this comment
    on Jan 29th, 2010 at 5:06 pm

    I’m impressed by your parking skills. Have a fun evening & weekend!

  5. #5 Foy Update - Cook. Garden. Write. Repeat. Reply to this comment
    on Jan 29th, 2010 at 5:10 pm

    Three hours is a long meeting! Sounds like you earned your cookie and you weekend!

  6. #6 Kloé Reply to this comment
    on Jan 29th, 2010 at 5:14 pm

    Awesome // parking job… seriously! I’ve been wanting to make my own bread… so I guess with that I’ll be making my croutons too :-)

  7. #7 Madeline @ greensandjeans Reply to this comment
    on Jan 29th, 2010 at 5:16 pm

    My mom makes the best spinach feta croutons that I actually used to get in lieu of cookies in care packages when I was in college!

  8. #8 Karla Reply to this comment
    on Jan 29th, 2010 at 5:21 pm

    Hope the call goes well!
    What a star parking job!
    Have a great night!

  9. #9 candice Reply to this comment
    on Jan 29th, 2010 at 5:23 pm

    Yum, homemade croutons sound like a delicious alternative to, gasp, throwing out stale bread. Thanks for the recipe! :) I bet you could make a thousand different versions of this…

  10. #10 Lauren @ Eater not a runner Reply to this comment
    on Jan 29th, 2010 at 5:30 pm

    Seriously great parking job, I’m impressed ;-)

  11. #11 Tay Reply to this comment
    on Jan 29th, 2010 at 5:31 pm

    My friend would always make homemade croutons for her birthday salad and I was obsessed. They are super easy to make, yet have never made them myself!! Sooo good.

  12. #12 Lynn (The Actors Diet) Reply to this comment
    on Jan 29th, 2010 at 5:32 pm

    i love the idea of homemade croutons!

  13. #13 Kristen @ Change of Pace Reply to this comment
    on Jan 29th, 2010 at 5:34 pm

    I love making homemade crutons! So much better than store bought! :)

  14. #14 Denise Reply to this comment
    on Jan 29th, 2010 at 5:37 pm

    You are officially addicted to 3-minute cookies ;) ! Just saying…
    I have to tell you the story about my first 3-minute cookie: I wanted to try them because I love love love cookies. Well, I read the recipe, kept it in mind and went into the kitchen. I remembered all the ingredients but the THREE minute cookie made me think it needed 3 minutes in the microve…The result: a broken bowl and a rock-like cookie. :D

  15. #15 Cynthia (It All Changes) Reply to this comment
    on Jan 29th, 2010 at 5:40 pm

    Living in a city really did make me an expert parallel parker.

    And your croutons look great and so much healthier than the weird ones in the bags.

  16. #16 Heather @ (The Single Dish) Reply to this comment
    on Jan 29th, 2010 at 5:44 pm

    Great use of leftover bread! I love croutons. yum. Enjoy your Friday night, sounds fun.

  17. #17 Nicole (dishin') Reply to this comment
    on Jan 29th, 2010 at 5:44 pm

    Those croutons look awesome! Happy weekend!

  18. #18 Estela @ Weekly Bite Reply to this comment
    on Jan 29th, 2010 at 5:48 pm

    I’ve never made homemade croutons before… why… don’t know.

    I’m totally making them!

  19. #19 Erin (Travel, Eat, Repeat) Reply to this comment
    on Jan 29th, 2010 at 5:49 pm

    Every time I see the 3 minute cookies on the blog, it makes me want to make one, but then I never think to actually do it!

  20. #20 Shannon (The Daily Balance) Reply to this comment
    on Jan 29th, 2010 at 5:50 pm

    LOVE homemade croutons! yet I always forget to make them – thanks for the reminder! art show tonight sounds fun! ENJOY ;)

  21. #21 Freya @ foodfitnessandfreya.wordpress.com Reply to this comment
    on Jan 29th, 2010 at 5:52 pm

    You’re lucky you can parallel park so well…that’s the hardest bit of driving for me! I would wither away if I lived in a cirty – I’d have to park in some field in the countryside to avoid it, lol I’d never get anything done!!
    I’m going to order some whey protein powder soon so I can do a 3minute cookie :p what would you say is the best flavour?

  22. #22 Julia Reply to this comment
    on Jan 29th, 2010 at 6:01 pm

    omg what a tight spot!
    I lived in a college town where parking was so sparse, it wasn’t unusual to see cars parked literally on top of each other (ie; squeezed in so tight they actually overlapped the other car) yowza!
    And I agree homemade croutons are bomb

  23. #23 Kelly B. Reply to this comment
    on Jan 29th, 2010 at 6:08 pm

    Woot Woot on the awesome parking job! I can not parallel park to save my life…thankfully where I live there isn’t a huge need! :)

  24. #24 Hillary @ Nutrition Nut on the Run Reply to this comment
    on Jan 29th, 2010 at 6:22 pm

    One of my new year’s ‘resolutions’ is to learn how to parallel park =) Great job!

  25. #25 Morgan @ Healthy Happy Place Reply to this comment
    on Jan 29th, 2010 at 6:33 pm

    I’m excited to hear about your potential new opportunity!!! working in Chicago has made me a pro parker, too. After I got over being terrified of it, of course :)

  26. #26 Wendy (Give Love Create Happiness) Reply to this comment
    on Jan 29th, 2010 at 6:38 pm

    Please give me a parking lesson, because that was seriously awesome! Those croutons look fabulous, and made me smile because for some reason I remembered the similar looking croutons from U on the caesar salad days that I loved. Happy weekend!

  27. #27 ellen eats beets Reply to this comment
    on Jan 29th, 2010 at 6:48 pm

    Boston has made me the best parallel parker!!

  28. #28 Fallon Reply to this comment
    on Jan 29th, 2010 at 6:52 pm

    haha nice parking skills!! I’m awful at parallel parking =P

  29. #29 Naomi (onefitfoodie) Reply to this comment
    on Jan 29th, 2010 at 6:52 pm

    the parking in boston has made me a great parallel parker as well! great job with that :)

    homemde croutons are the best!! you can even customize them, add cinnamon for sweet ones or cayanne for spicy ones :)

  30. #30 Danielle (Coffee Run) Reply to this comment
    on Jan 29th, 2010 at 6:59 pm

    I’ve also gotten really good at parallel parking ;)
    The homemade croutons look delicious!

  31. #31 Jessica @ WHY DONTCHA RUN Reply to this comment
    on Jan 29th, 2010 at 7:40 pm

    I probably would have curled up in the fetal position and cried before attempting to make it in that parking space. haha. You’re awesome!

  32. #32 Michelle B Reply to this comment
    on Jan 29th, 2010 at 7:57 pm

    Oh NOM! Those croutons look delicious! I can’t be trusted around french bread though so I doubt I’ll be able to try those. LOL

  33. #33 Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg Reply to this comment
    on Jan 29th, 2010 at 7:58 pm

    I’m with you– homemade croutons are the BOMB!!! :-)

    Enjoy your weekend!

  34. #34 Cole Reply to this comment
    on Jan 29th, 2010 at 8:17 pm

    Those croutons look so crunchy and delicioius

  35. #35 Laura Jane Reply to this comment
    on Jan 29th, 2010 at 8:28 pm

    Wow, that parallel parking job is impressive!! I used to be decent at parallel parking when I first starting driving ten years ago (wow, I feel old) and I practiced a lot. But now I’m horrible at it. I avoid it at all costs. I make my own from-scratch sourdough bread. That stuff goes stale pretty quickly because it doesn’t have all the preservatives that the store bought stuff has, so I love to make croutons out of it. You are right, so much better!!! I just munch on them by themselves. Only problem is, I have to be careful not to eat too many!

  36. #36 Jessica @ The Process of Healing Reply to this comment
    on Jan 29th, 2010 at 9:17 pm

    I LOVE croutons. They are one of the small things in life that make me happy.. good croutons.. yum! but i’ve never made them at home before.. what was i thinking? I will have to get on that.

    And awesome parking!!! I detest parallel parking. With a passion.

  37. #37 Ashley Reply to this comment
    on Jan 29th, 2010 at 10:43 pm

    The lemon cranberry cinch bar sounds good! I’m always looking for better bar flavors, most don’t sound that good to me. What is the texture like? Or could you take a picture next time you have one? Are they available in stores? Thanks!

  38. #38 Heather @ Get Healthy With Heather Reply to this comment
    on Jan 29th, 2010 at 11:07 pm

    Nice parallel parking job!! I wish I was that good at it. Homemade croutons are the bomb :)

  39. #39 Jenna Reply to this comment
    on Jan 29th, 2010 at 11:19 pm

    Croutons look great!

  40. #40 Sophie Reply to this comment
    on Jan 29th, 2010 at 11:28 pm

    Parallel parking skills are clutch — it took me years to learn! I love going to art openings, hope you have a blast!

  41. #41 Liane Reply to this comment
    on Jan 30th, 2010 at 12:03 am

    I never mastered the art of parallel parking until I moved downtown of my city. Now I’m a pro, although I am way better at parking on the drivers side then the passenger side. Totally bizare!

    and those croutons look amazing! I will have make them next time I have left over bread (which would be a miracle to start with, left over bread?!)

  42. #42 Hannah Reply to this comment
    on Jan 30th, 2010 at 12:27 am

    Oh my golly, did you get out of there okay? I’m so scared of parking in places like that.

  43. #43 Tracie (@hollafoodzone) Reply to this comment
    on Jan 30th, 2010 at 3:21 am

    I love homemade croutons – my problem is I eat them all before they ever make it on to my salad!

  44. #44 Danielle Reply to this comment
    on Jan 30th, 2010 at 5:56 am

    You totally read my mind! I had a loaf of bread sitting on the counter and I was planning on throwing it away until I read your post.. Croutons are currently in the oven!

  45. #45 Rachel @ Working Out Wellness Reply to this comment
    on Jan 30th, 2010 at 12:00 pm

    Homemade croutons are THE BEST. I don’t think I’ve parallel parked since my driving test, and I didn’t want to do it then!

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