Labor Day

September 6, 2010

Hi, there! 8-)

Mal’s afternoon adventure took us to Marylou’s Coffee! :mrgreen:

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I’ve lived on the South Shore for nearly 5 years now and have never once tried Marylou’s Coffee. Apparently, I was really missing out!

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Mal has been raving about the Girl Scout Cookie iced coffee for weeks now, so he finally took me to try it this afternoon. It tastes just like Thin Mint cookies!! It was delicious, but too sweet for me, so I only drank about half of it. I still really enjoyed the iced coffee and want to go back to try other flavors! :-D

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We spent the rest of the afternoon sitting outside, sipping our iced coffees, and doing crossword puzzles.

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It was a nice way to spend Labor Day.

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We also listened to a bunch of Toucher & Rich podcasts and got a little silly with the pug.

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Murphy, what’s up with all of this extra skin?

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Dad, seriously? Get it together.

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These two crack me up! :lol:

Dinner

For dinner, I tried a new recipe from Real Simple: Creamy Fettuccine With Leeks, Corn, and Arugula.

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This meal turned out wonderfully and took just 20 minutes to cook– just like the recipe said it would. Don’t you hate it when recipes say the meal will take 30 minutes, but then it takes more than an hour to cook (e.g. Rachel Ray)?! :evil: This one really took 20 minutes to make from start to finish.

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Like always, I didn’t follow the recipe exactly. I used low-fat milk instead of heavy cream, grated Parmesan instead of pecorino, spaghetti instead of fettuccine, and 15 ounces of canned corn instead of one cup. (What can I say, we like corn in this house! ;-) )

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The recipe called for dry white wine, so I poured myself a small glass to go with dinner. I mean, the bottle was already opened! ;-)

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And, for dessert, I enjoyed one of these:

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Oh, yes. Sometimes, my husband has really bad good ideas! ;-)

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I hope you had a wonderful Labor Day! 8-)

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{ 91 comments… read them below or add one }

Heather (Heather's Dish) September 6, 2010 at 6:50 pm

i maintain that leeks can really just MAKE a dish! i love how amazingly they mix into creamy pastas…yum!

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Jasmine @ Eat Move Write September 6, 2010 at 6:51 pm

I didn’t realize Rachel Ray’s recipes took longer than 30 mins! Who knew? A coffee that tastes like a thin mint sounds problematic for me!

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J. September 6, 2010 at 6:55 pm

Wow, what an awesome way to spend the holiday! I want to try that pasta now, it looks so epically delicious. <3

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Morgan @ Life After Bagels September 6, 2010 at 6:56 pm

I have to say, I am REALLY concerned that those doughnuts are going to go stale before someone eats them all!

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Arlene @ Adventures in Weight Loss September 6, 2010 at 6:57 pm

Now if I had that box of doughnuts near me, I couldn’t eat just one.

That pasta dish looks delish! (And I’d love to try that Thin Mint coffee … wait, maybe not. If I did, I’d probably be wanting one every day.)

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Gabriela @ Une Vie Saine September 6, 2010 at 6:58 pm

Awww love the pics of M&M!! So sweet. Looks like a wonderful way to spend Labor Day!!

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Lauren September 6, 2010 at 7:01 pm

I loved flavored iced coffee and one that tastes like a thin mint sounds fantastic! Glad you and Mal enjoyed such a fun, relaxing, and playful Labor day!

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Faith @ lovelyascharged September 6, 2010 at 7:01 pm

Nice, nice! Thin mints are SO inappropriately named…those things are crack! A coffee version sounds beyond epic!

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Julie @SavvyEats September 6, 2010 at 7:03 pm

Um, we may need to go here when I am in town!

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holly @ couchpotatoathlete September 6, 2010 at 7:03 pm

Ugh- I know what you mean about RR recipes — for the most part they are true to their “30 min” claim, but not always!

Thin mint coffee sounds good, but I’d probably only be able to drink a little bit too. I like black coffee, the sweet stuff is too much for me!

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Ananda September 6, 2010 at 7:04 pm

Nice. I’ve already emailed myself the link to that recipe so I can print it. I LOVE leeks.

Glad y0ur family had a lovely Labor Day weekend :)

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Liza @ Health Nutting September 6, 2010 at 7:06 pm

Wow! I would looove to try that coffee– yum! I’ll have to get there some time when I’m home in Boston!
Quick, healthy, and delicious meals are a necessity but hard to find sometimes! This one looks great. :)

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Kati September 6, 2010 at 7:06 pm

Pasta and donuts. Both look delish!!!

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Courtney @ Bread & Bokeh September 6, 2010 at 7:11 pm

What a fun adventure!!! Congrats on the seller accepting your offer on the house!!! That is sooooo exciting!!!

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Jenn@healthyhoofbeats September 6, 2010 at 7:11 pm

haha murphy is so cute! That iced coffee sound so yummy :)

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Erin September 6, 2010 at 7:13 pm

That iced coffee sounds INCREDIBLE. I can see how it would be overwhelmingly sweet, though.

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Mary @ Bites and Bliss September 6, 2010 at 7:14 pm

Looks like the perfect Labor Day! I used to do the same thing with my puppy- squishing his face up like that. :P

Random question, but where’d yo get your emoticons? They’re cute!

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Julie September 6, 2010 at 7:18 pm

you’ve never been to marylou’s before today?! tragic! it’s the best coffee in town!

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Julie September 6, 2010 at 7:20 pm

ps – donut king in the Q has pretty good coffee too, they aren’t all fancy-like, but it’s delicious! (IMO)

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Lauren at KeepItSweet September 6, 2010 at 7:20 pm

haha i haven’t had entanmann’s donuts in years

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Estela @ Weekly Bite September 6, 2010 at 7:21 pm

What a great day & dinner! That ice coffee sounds incredible!

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Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) September 6, 2010 at 7:21 pm

I really hate it recipes call for a cup of something and it leaves the rest of the can for you to figure out what to do with. I guess frozen would have solved that, but I am with you…we like our corn. Looks like a great day with your boys. Glad you could enjoy it. Have a nice relaxing evening!

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Staceyhttp://stacey-healthylife.blogspot.com/ September 6, 2010 at 7:25 pm

Great looking dinner, it looks so fancy.

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Brenda September 6, 2010 at 7:25 pm

The pasta looks delicious! Unfortunately I haven’t checked your blog in a while since you changed your layout. I really miss reading your blog everyday but I don’t have the patience for your new layout. I hope you change it back…

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Halley (Blunder Construction) September 6, 2010 at 7:26 pm

This pasta dish is brilliant. I know for a fact that leeks are coming in my veggie delivery this week. I haven’t used them before and I think this will a good start. YUM, can’t wait to try!

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Heather September 6, 2010 at 7:28 pm

That does look like a delicious dinner!

I have had the Thin Mint Iced Coffee from MaryLou’s before – I don’t normally like coffee but I do love her flavors.

Looks like a perfect way to spend the day!

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Jessica@tastyandtrim September 6, 2010 at 7:30 pm

Girl scout cookie iced coffee sounds heavenly! I love me some thin mints ;)

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Katie September 6, 2010 at 7:37 pm

Marylou’s is one of my favorites along with Coffee Break (can’t go wrong with the Chocolate Banana). If you visit Marylou’s again I recommend the Hawaiian Chocolate Nut – it’s incredible. Happy Labor Day!

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Tami September 6, 2010 at 7:41 pm

Oh that pasta dish does look good. I like fast and easy recipes!

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Kristen @ That Hoosier Girl September 6, 2010 at 7:41 pm

Yuuuum Thin Mint iced coffee sounds delish!

I’m with you on the wine :) I love when a recipe calls for it…it’d be a shame to let the rest go to waste!

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Nicci (Nifty Eats) September 6, 2010 at 7:42 pm

I love pasta, were having lasagna tonight! Those softees look delicious, don’t think we have those in Texas. Plain doughnuts are sooo good. :)

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The Wife of a Dairyman September 6, 2010 at 7:47 pm

Your pasta dish is picture perfect and looks delish. Glad to hear it really only takes 20 minutes:)

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Michelle September 6, 2010 at 7:50 pm

I love Marylou’s! You have to try Twix and Mocha Mint.. so good!

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Laura @ Foodies Not Fatties September 6, 2010 at 7:54 pm

I’m with you on Racheal Ray recipes! I tired a stuffed french bread pizza recipe of hers that took me close to an hour!!
That pasta looks amazing; it looks totally do-able!

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Tina September 6, 2010 at 7:55 pm

I haven’t had an Entemans doughnut in soooo long. I do love a doughnut from a local shop close to us though. They make amazing creations – like my favorite of Lemon Meringue. Oh I have a craving now. LOL

I can’t do coffees that are TOO sweet either. I think the sweetest I go is the pumpkin ones in the fall and the peppermint ones in winter…but even those sometimes push it. Which is funny because I have a serious sweet tooth otherwise.

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Kelly September 6, 2010 at 8:01 pm

Haha I can’t believe you hadn’t tried Mary Lou’s til today. I heard about it a bunch in college and always thought it was a bar haha (sounded like Mary Ann’s at BC I guess haha). Anyway, I’ve had it at the Cape. My husband likes the Twix flavor, but they are all pretty sweet I think!

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Lizzy @ LBBakes September 6, 2010 at 8:04 pm

I’m not sure which looks/sounds yummier, the iced coffee or the pasta! I love anything with arugula so this one might need to be tried. ;)

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Lindsay Perrone (goodiesgalore) September 6, 2010 at 8:04 pm

who buys the plain donuts! at least get the variety pack!! now those are dangerous.

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Cynthia (It All Changes) September 6, 2010 at 8:21 pm

The Murphy face is perfect. The caption is exactly what I can picture him saying in the voice of the pug from Men in Black. If you haven’t watched since getting Murphy you should totally watch it again :-)

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Michelle @ Give Me the Almond Butter September 6, 2010 at 8:22 pm

Yummmm!!!! Donus and thin mints iced coffee?! A definite win.

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tina September 6, 2010 at 8:25 pm

looks yummy! I might have to try this with some GF noodles so I can indulge in one of those “not GF donuts” that are now calling my name.

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Julie @ Pickley Pear September 6, 2010 at 8:26 pm

I need to try the recipes from Real Simple! The pasta looks wonderful and easy. You guys are so cute…I need a man to do crossword puzzles with :)

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Jessica @ How Sweet It Is September 6, 2010 at 8:33 pm

I haven’t had those donuts in years!

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jassy September 6, 2010 at 8:38 pm

nice looking donuts! :)

as always…murphy is being adorable…is he that kind? or does he bark at strangers? we had a dog before that didn’t bark–a very quiet,weird dog :)

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Heather September 6, 2010 at 8:40 pm

that iced coffee sounds so good!
LOVE the pics of murphy. so funny, I love them, always!

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Tina September 6, 2010 at 8:45 pm

@jassy: He’s super sweet. He occasionally barks at strangers, but as soon as they approach him, he stops and wags his tail. He loves every person and dog he comes into contact with.

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Kristy September 6, 2010 at 8:52 pm

That iced coffee sounds delicious! Murphy is adorable!! :)

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Kel September 6, 2010 at 8:54 pm

Ah a childhood memory awakened. We used to eat those donuts smeared with peanut butter!

Better have a glass of milk handy if you try it!

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Michelle (The Runner's Plate) September 6, 2010 at 8:54 pm

I love cross-word puzzles! (I wish my husband liked them as much.) I hate it when a recipe takes longer to make than it says it will. As bad as those doughnuts are, they sure taste good!

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Kate September 6, 2010 at 8:57 pm

The thin mint iced coffee sounds ohhh so good. That’s my favorite Girl Scout cookie by far.

Totally feel your frustration with the recipe timing thing. When I’m home in the summer I usually cook with my mom in the kitchen too and sometimes it takes longer than the stated time, even with the two of us chopping, stirring, etc. So annoying.

Also, Murphy is so cute. Haha :)

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