Good morning, friends! š
I receive a lot of questions over here at Carrots āĖN’ Cake, so I thought it might be helpful (and fun!) to introduce a new feature called Three Questions Thursday where I respond to three questions that I’ve received from readers in the past week. So, here’s the first edition of 3QT!
For the OOIAJ, I am confused about the actual jar. Are you using a jar that you just finished or are you washing jars and re-using them as bowls?
Overnight Oats in a Jar (OOIAJ) are just regular oats, soaked overnight, in a mostly-empty nut butter jar. The oats absorb the liquid (soy milk, almond milk, water, etc.) that you add to them, so in the morning, you have a cool, mushy mess of oatmeal to enjoy. The base is typically oats, but you can also use oat bran, spelt flakes, granola, etc. in the mix. The toppingsĀ are endless, and you can add them to the jar the night before or the next morning (both ways work). I add all of my ingredients to the jar the night before, letĀ it sit in the fridge overnight, grab a spoon, and enjoy my OOIAJ the next morning. Once I’m finished, I throw away (recycle) the jar, and wait patiently for another one to get close to empty!
Who is your ex-boyfriend on Parks & Recreation?
He played Jean-Ralphio in a bunch of episodes.
You haven’t talked about running very much lately. Are you still training for the Run to Remember?
Well, technically, yes. I still plan to run it this coming Sunday, but I’m nursing a knee injury, which is why I haven’t written about training much lately.
Just yesterday, I met with a coach from the Boston Running Center, who seemed really optimistic about getting me back to good health.
As you probably know, my hips are misaligned (from scoliosis), so I struggle with all sorts of imbalances when I run. My left hip is rotated forward, so when I run those muscles work much harder than the right side, so my body is all out of whack. Long story short, the coach is putting together an individualized plan for me.
I actually want to thank you guys for encouraging me to nip my injury in the bud. A number of you left comments on my running injury post suggesting that I deal with my alignment issues now, so I can continue to run for many years down the road. At first, I didn’t want to spend the money to see a specialist, but now I realize that my health (and running!) is worth it. I’ll be sure to update you guys on my progress.Ā
Last Night’s Dinner
Can we talk about this sandwich?!? My goodness, it was amazing!!!
Ham, Egg & Cheese Panini
Makes 2 sandwiches
Ingredients:
- 2 eggs
- 2 egg whites (or 1/2 cup liquid egg whites)
- Splash of milk
- 4 thick slices challah bread
- 8 thin slices deli honey ham
- 2 pieces of sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Butter
Directions:
- In a small bowl, whisk the eggs, egg whites, and milk together.
- Coat a large skillet with cooking spray. Add egg mixture and cook over medium heat until eggs are completely cooked.
- Combine mustard and syrup, and then spread on one side of each of theĀ four slices of bread, and then butter the outsides of the sandwiches.
- Layer scrambled eggs, ham, and cheese inside bread slices.
- Cook sandwich on a prepared skillet (or panini maker) until bread is browned and cheese is melted.
- Cut each panini in half to serve.
Recipe inspired by Prosciutto Egg Panini.
Simply amazing. This is probably the best egg sandwich I have ever made. The combination of flavors and, of course, the toasted challah bread was to die for! Put this recipe on your To Make List!
After dinner, I satisfied my sweet tooth with a special treat from Foodzie. I received a Tasting Box with all sort of goodies inside as part of the Foodbuzz Featured Publisher Program. Of course, I went for the cookies first!Ā
The Traditional Alfajores are classic shortbread cookies filled with creamy dulce de leche caramel and dusted with powdered sugar. These South American treats have been described as ālittle bites of heaven,āĀ and I definitely know why now! Holy yum! I wanted to eat them both, but I shared with Mal. He loved the cookie too!
Breakfast
There’s been some really good eatin’ in the Haupert household lately!
This morning’s breakfast was pretty awesome tooāā thanks to gift from my friend Cynthia. At Fitbloggin’ this weekend, she gave me a jar of Vermont Avalanche Peanut Butter, which is creamy peanut butter mixed with white chocolate. Oh, yes. And it’s deeeeelicious!
I added the peanut butter to toasted challah bread and then topped it with banana slices. I also drank an iced coffee with soy milk.
Question of the Day
Have you ever met a celebrity? If so, who?!
P.S. What are your opinions about the new American Idol?
162 Comments
Haha I thought Jean-Ralphio was hilarious!
I’ve always been friends with a lot of musical people, so most of the famous people I’ve met are in bands. I think my most exciting brush with celebrity was Shirley Manson (from Garbage, a band I loved, loved, loved at age fourteen). I’m still excited about that…fourteen years later.
Other than that, I have a habit of routinely walking by famous people in New York, and being totally oblivious. Not cool. This happened about a year ago with Chris Noth — my boyfriend spotted him, but I didn’t! Interestingly, I encountered Drea de Matteo last night — I only took notice because she was walking with her absolutely adorable baby daughter. They were so cute!
I LOVE alfajores! I used to live in South FL and always went to local bakeries that sold those, they are so delicious.
In NYC I’ve gotten the chance to see/meet a lot of celebs! In the past week I have ran into Mike Myers 3 times, he must live in my neighborhood, haha. I’ve also seen Hugh Jackman (so hot in person, oh my), Kim Kardashian, Ice-T and CoCo (haha that was a funny one), the Olsen twins, I could go on and on…they are everywhere!
No, never met a celebrity š And I did not watch American Idol this season but I do love country music!
And… omg that sandwhich looks like heaven! I need to try a vegetarian version asap!
I don’t even like ham and your sandwich has me salivating! Also, your banana looks ghostly white in that photo haha — I kept looking at the one I was eating to see if it was that pale.
I’m glad you’re addressing the injury issues now so that you can not only continue to run, but so you won’t have problems later. Often injuries can cause problems in daily life down the road, so hopefully this will prevent that. Good luck!
You dated Jean-Ralphio!?! Haha – I think that fact just made my morning (in a “that is so awesome” type of way)!! Parks & Rec is one of my favorite shows and he’s hilarious on it!
Glad you’re getting that knee taken care of. It is better to get things fixed as soon as you can so they don’t cause bigger problems down the line. Fingers crossed you feel good for R2R!
Oh, and Vermont PB is the absolute best PB out there! Have you tried Good Karma (dark chocolate)?! It’s hands-down my favorite PB ever created!
@Lauren: The John Ralphio comment DEF made my morning! My fiance and I LOVE parks and rec so I had to text him immediately and tell him about Tina. hahaha.
@JillToday:
Ahhh…!!! I just read that too – amazing!!! Love Parks n Rec.
Tina – your food is insane. Looks so good!
I blogged about food trends a while back and alfajores were on the list of foods that are supposedly an up and coming food for “yuppies.”
I want the PB!
Yes I’ve met a few celebrities…I danded with that guy Ben McKenzie from the OC at a club in Hollywood..haha
I once met Steve Tyler at my knee doctor’s office…he wandered into my exam room with bare feet and said “hey.” Then I fainted.
I also once played Facebook scrabble with the guy who played Moes on the Office…he’s married to Regis Philbin’s daughter too…
I was just in a store on Church St. yesterday and saw that peanut butter. It looks awesome!
Other than my family member who is on CSI, I have met mostly rockstars- Eddie Vedder, Maynard James Keenan, Jerry Cantrell. To me, those are the ‘real’ celebrities. Love it!
@Stephanie: Jerry Cantrell was one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. Love him!
I met Mickey Rourke at a bar in Winter Park, FL. Yeah, I know everyone is jealous.
@Krystina (Organically Me): Your comment made me LOL!
I’ve met the guys from the band Social Code and the Bassist for Marianas Trench last summer during Grizfest. This year I hope to meet Fefe Dobson when she’s here for it.
cool your ex is on parks and rec! i’ve got a few friends on that show too – it’s one of the perks of working in the industry that everyone i know i get to see on tv and movies!
I actually thought about you last night because as I was teaching my aerobics class I could feel my knee throbbing and I have basically just been putting off getting it looked at…it might be time now! š
I get to work with Cindy Crawford since she has a line with my company…
and every once in a while the Olsen twins come into the office for meetings on their line as well…sometimes being in the retail industry has it’s perks!! š
With my job, I’ve met tons of celebrities. My favorites were John Lithgow, Kevin Spacey, Stephen Colbert, Dane Cook, and Charlize Theron. š
I love paninis! Toasty, crunchy bread makes any sandwich taste amazing! And I was so confused about OOIAJ the first time I saw it. I’m so glad I understand it now, though! The best treat ever š
I met Daniel Baldwin about ten years ago. He’s the oldest of the Baldwin brothers. I was a high school senior volunteering at a children’s museum when he came in with his kid. I was dressed as a clown, he was a close-talker. Creepy.
Ahhh I can’t believe you dated Jean Ralphio form “Parks and Rec!” I’m a huge fan of that show, and he’s such a funny character.
I actually met Pauly Shore in line at the hot bar at Whole Foods in Milwaukee last year. I almost didn’t recognize him, until he started talking about how everything looked “really yummy” in that signature Pauly Shore “Weasel” voice. I couldn’t believe I was so starstruck over this ’90s has-been, but I was! After chatting about all the “tasty grindage,” he then proceeded to totally hit on the cashier (who had no idea who he was), and invited her to his comedy show in town that night. It was my closest brush with a celebrity!
Ahh Jean-Ralphio!! I love Parks & Rec – that’s a great fun fact to have in your back pocket!
At my bachelorette party last month, I spotted Lance Bass at a bar in PH and got my pic with him! God bless him for dealing with a bunch of obnoxious bachelorettes who loved him from our jr. high days!
yum your dinner last night looks super good!!
i hope your knee is back in good shape for saturday!! take care.
I’ve run into a lot of celebs over the years, in my travels… John Travolta in Savannah; Richard Marx (who remembers him?!?!) in O’Hare airport; in NYC I usually always see celebs… Mario Cantone; and “Seamus” from Harry Potter; and once ate dinner next to, and chatted with, Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara (parents of Ben Stiller). Also lots of British celebs – as I lived in London for a couple of years and dated someone in Jamie Oliver’s group of friends. That led to a lot of star-studded events in those days.
We LOVE Parks & Rec!! Jean-Ralphio is insane on there. Too funny. I too, had to text my boyfriend to tell him about that “Carrot blog girl” (he doesn’t understand my blog world!) and Jean-Ralphio! ha,ha.
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Not really meeting but…back when the TV show Moonlighting had just ended, Cybill Shepherd was on the Larry King show on CNN. I called in and got to ask Cybill a question. I was obsessed with Moonlighting so I was thrilled to ask her that since Moonlighting was over if she was going to do live stage any time soon. Not that I really cared…I just wanted to ask a question. LOL Otherwise, I’ve run into a lot of politico types here in DC and I saw Kelly Ripa, Carla Hall (Top Chef) and Al Roker at the White House Easter egg roll this year.
I went to Vermont last summer and got that same peanut butter. Soooo good.
That sandwich looks epic!
I once saw Gabriel Macht (from Because I Said So, Love & Other Drugs, etc) at my hotel in Montreal. I think that’s been my only celebrity sighting!
see a ROLF-er for your allignment issues. usually it’s the pelvis that dictates the spine and not the other way around. you and caitlyn continue to nurse these injuries and dont have the knowledge required to dig in deep and fix them rather than abating the symptoms. ten years max, and you’ll be out of commission entirely.
@ashley: Clearly, you didn’t read any of this post. Your assumptions are totally wrong.
I’ve met a lot of celebrities because of my career…just last week I met Larry Flynt! Madeline Albright is perhaps my favorite, though. Her and Ruth Reichl.
@Taysa: Ruth Reichl. I’m jealous. I read most of her books while pregnant – her food descriptions got me through when I couldn’t really eat anything except mangoes.
Oh my! You’re right….lots of delicious eats in your house! I want that peanut butter!
American Idol was kind of weird for me this year. I’m not a fan of country music so it’s hard for me to appreciate who won. That being said, I do think he has a great voice! It’s just hard for me to watch hime when he’s singing. š
OHHHH MY GOSH. That panini looks like it was made in a restaurant! You go girl! Way to keep a positive attitude with that injury. By the way, along with smoothies, I’m currently obsessed with overnight oats in a jar. YUMMY.
Celebs? Gavin Rossdale. I partied with him one night. Yeahhh that was my one and only groupie night š
Oh, wow so much to say today. First, I can’t believe you went out with Jean-Ralphio!! Secondly, came back from Peru not so long ago and became obsessed with alfajores, so good…the sandwich also looks AMAZING!
As for the question of the day I’ve met quite a few but the best would have been the lead singer of the music band Rooney. I ended up running into on a few occasions and gave him directions into manhattan from JFK via the subway. He was so cute and I was shaking so much.
Most of the “celebs” I’ve met are really politicians since I’m related to one. The biggest two that I met would probably be Bill Clinton and Jesse Ventura. I also met Genevieve Gorder from Trading Spaces haha
Wow, that panini looks amazing!
I’ve walked by P. Diddy once and ran after Chuck Klosterman (a pop culture author and SPIN writer) on the street once…
@Olga @ Healthing It:
Sooo jealous! I LOVE Chuck Klosterman.
@kelly:
YES, I’m so glad you know who I’m talking about! He passed me by and I ran after him and then we had a semi-awkward conversation about him buying shoes (because that’s what he was doing when I attacked him.)
He was really nice though. And really tall š
@Olga @ Healthing It: Haha, I’d absolutely do the same thing! He’s my favorite author. I would love to meet him. And drink with him, haha.
@Olga @ Healthing It: Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs! Love it.
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Glad to see your plans for running and the individualized plan! I hope everything works out well for you! š
The only celebrity I have ever met is Shwayze.
I’ve met some Red Sox players over the years and the only other celebrity I can think of that I met is Jon Favreau – who is way mre famous now than when I met him. He had been in Swingers and played Monica’s boyfriend on Friends at the time and was filming the Replacements in Baltimore.
I love Parks and Recreations! Jean-Ralphio is hilarious. That’s so cool you have a celebrity connection.
Good luck with the specialist Tina!!! I met Vern Yip from HGTV at a home show once (well, “met” in that “he signed a Trading Spaces book”) and I saw Stanley Tucci buying wine.
Ben Schwartz! I’m from LA and I see him do improv all the time! He was always one of my favorites, then he showed on Parks and Rec, and now I find out he’s your ex. That’s so weird!
Aww man this sandwich makes me want a grill pan so bad. It looks great and filling. I have met and/or encountered a bunch of famous people when I lived in NYC like Susan Sarandon, Julia Stiles (and her family who were all really nice), various musicians and the one that I am the most giddy over… still to this day… Elijah Wood!! He is as adorable in person as he is in movies and on TV. Good question of the day, I love hearing about people meeting celebrities especially if they are nice. Good luck with your recovery!
I met Brian Regan last October….and he is AS FUNNY in person as in real life. His laugh and voice were SO great in real life! ha.
Love your idea of a great dinner. Sometimes paninis are THE way to go!
okay, give me a minute to freak out….
YOU DATED JEAN-RALPHIO!?
i’m almost embarrassed to admit how insanely awesome that is. it seriously just made my morning hahahah i am obsessed with p&r, and that little fact is the bomb.com!
i won a meet & greet with rascal flatts a couple years ago so i got to meet them and have my picture taken with them!
i was also out with a group of friends and met and hung out with the band gloriana after we saw one of their concerts in green bay (it’s not a very big city – not surprising we saw them out)!
I’ve met Hanson.. the 90s boy band!! Haha.
PS: That sandwich looks really good!
It’s so ironic that I read your post about Jean-Ralphio today because I just watched my first episode of Parks and Rec last night and he was on it. My boyfriend and I were just saying how hilarious he is!
I have met a ton of celebrities while working as a reporter for E! Entertainment for the past three years. Some of the nicest…The Jonas Brothers, Jeff Bridges, Zoe Saldana, Morgan Freeman, Kristen Stewart, Kellan Lutz, and Maggie Gyllenhaal.
Worst…Jimmy Kimmel, Ewan McGreggor, Kim Kardashian, and Heidi and Spencer!
I’ve met the CEO of The Meat House…oh wait…is that not celebrity enough?
That peanut butter sounds amazing!! It would be perfect for OIAJ!!
I’ve met the President! Through my dad’s job, we got to go meet him for an awards presentation last year. He’s one of the coolest people I have ever met, bar none.
Hugh Hefner and the “girl next door” when it was still on!
I am from the same town as Zach Galifinakis and he is super nice. His parents go to the same church as mine so when all the parents are talking about their kids and what they’re up to his mom one ups all of our stories. haha
I didn’t technically meet him, but my favorite celebrity that I’ve seen is Alex Trebek. I saw Jeopardy being taped a few years ago and he lets the audience ask him questions during the breaks. I got to ask him about his former mustache… it was awesome!
I’ve met a few, but my favorite celebrities were Isaac, Taylor and Zac Hanson! I met them once in 2004 and once in 2010 and they are definitely getting better with age š