Gained an Hour, Lost My Weekend
I have no idea where this weekend has gone! Here’s hoping this long post will give me some idea…
It feels like only earlier today, not Friday afternoon, that I escaped during my lunch hour for a veggie Subway sandwich. (Damn Biggest Loser product placement brainwashing!)
…and, only about a half hour later that I was reaching for a snack.
Followed by a mini freak-out around 4pm that I was hungry yet again. I spent ten freaking minutes of my life sitting there and contemplating the damn banana.
It only took me ten seconds, however, to decide on a glass of merlot later at dinner.
We went to Las Iguanas, a Latin chain restaurant, for dinner on Friday night. My photos turned out horrible, but I ordered a butternut squash, spinach, and chickpea enchilada for my entree. It wasn’t the healthiest thing on the menu, but, minus cheese and sour cream, I thought it was a decent compromise between a salad and what I really wanted, which was a grease-soaked order of fajitas. Chips and salsa were also consumed.
To see some of my other weekend eats, read on (vegetarians beware)!
After dinner we went to the home of our friends James and Vicki for some (more) wine and dessert 
Vicki is a wonderful baker and made some homemade pumpkin cupcakes. When I say homemade, I mean she actually hacked the pumpkin and made the puree herself. Libby’s is pretty much impossible to find in these parts.
Vicki’s Pumpkin Cupcakes
I had one of the mini ones in the back. They were so good that I got the recipe from her to share with all of you:
Weight Watchers Pumpkin Muffins with Soft Cheese Icing
POINTS® Value: 3.5
Servings: 10
Ingredients
250 g self raising flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. bicarbonate of soda
1/2 tsp. salt
110 g muscavado sugar, light (I believe in American-English, this would translate to brown sugar!)
2 medium eggs
1 tsp. vanilla essence
175 ml skimmed milk
50 g margarine, melted and cooled
225 g pumpkin, or butternut squash, finely grated
Icing
200 g low-fat soft (cream) cheese
2 tsp. icing sugar
2 tsp. Silver Spoon Treat Syrup, toffee, (toffee sauce) —Vicki left this out
Instructions
Preheat the oven to Gas Mark 5/190°C/375°F. Line a muffin tin with 10 paper muffin cases.
Sift the flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and salt into a large bowl. Stir in the sugar. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs, vanilla, milk and melted margarine together. Stir in the grated pumpkin or squash. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir together until just combined. Do not over-mix!
Spoon the mixture into the paper cases (they will be quite full). Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until risen and firm. Cool on a wire rack.
Beat the soft cheese and icing sugar together. Spread on top of the muffins then drizzle with the toffee sauce.
There were two noteworthy meals on Saturday.
The first being a blueberry “pie.”
Not too many of you were impressed with my faux apple pie last week, but I beg you to take a second look at these warm blueberries with cereal crunchies and Deb’s homemade brazil nut butter.
Don’t tell me you wouldn’t dig right into that baby.
The second memorable meal was a chicken that Matthew roasted for dinner. I took pictures, but that bird was especially un-photogenic. Even the end result did not do the meal justice.
Looking at the photo, the salad was completely unnecessary. But somehow it was all consumed. The veggies were delicious: roast carrots, fingerling potatoes, and swede, with sautéed garlic spinach. The swede was courtesy of Vicki, who happened to have some perfectly chopped in her refrigerator when we went over. She couldn’t believe I had never tried swede and generously gave me a batch to try. I was pleasantly surprised! It tasted very much like a turnip. It’s mild like a carrot but has a rootful flavor like a parsnip.
It is now somehow 8:30pm on Sunday night and am sad that, despite coveting an extra hour through daylight savings, the weekend has flown by.
I started today by meeting my new friend Katie (she is an avid blog-reader but does not yet have a blog herself) for a class at her gym. Katie belongs to the posh, fancy gym in the city. I belong to the local hole-in-the-wall down the road. You see why we met on her turf.
Together we took a Body in Balance class, which is a mix of tai chi, yoga, and Pilates. It was perfect for a Sunday morning because it offered some challenging moves yet was still very relaxing and zen-like.
The rest of the afternoon has been split between working on my nutrition coursework, talking with Zesty Cook about the blog’s new look, and making homemade chicken soup. Technically Zesty helped me out on that one, too 
I was trying to make it the way my mom does, but it just did not taste the same. I had never made stock entirely from scratch, but I wanted to use up every bit of the chicken we roasted last night. It was a long process and the results were only average. I need more practice 
Edible, but nothing special. Still, I had a big bowl tonight with dinner and a (what else) roast-chicken salad.
Matthew is actually working on my nutrition coursework for me in the next room, so I need to wrap this monster post up and get to it!
What was the tastiest thing you ate this weekend? I want details!
Also, make sure to check out Healthy and Sane’s Veggieful Giveaway!
No related posts.
I had a goats cheese, caramelized pear and pine nut salad at Red Peppers Restaurant last night. It was hands down the best thing i’ve eaten all MONTH! I re-created it today for lunch except I swapped the pine nuts for cashews, and I didn’t caramelize the pears either…still delish!! Have you ever eaten at a Red Peppers before??
Your weekend eats look great!!
I’ve never even heard of Red Peppers! It sounds great. I love fruit and nuts in my salads! To me, it’s what turns an ordinary salad into an over-the-top delicious salad
Daylight savings is a week early in England! We’re doing it in Atlantic Canada next Saturday. I love it because the bars are always open an hour later on Saturday night
I just informed Chris I was making him a roast chicken this week as I was reading this post. Yours in the third blog in a week I’ve seen it on and I’ve never done it before!! Hopefully it comes out as yummy as Matthew’s, I’ll let you know if I have any more luck with the chicken stock
Oh! And I’ve been craving Subway since last week’s Biggest Loser too!
Matthew says the key to a good roast chicken is fresh lemon juice all over the top and then putting it inside the cavity while roasting. Let me know how it turns out!
I love pumpkin made from scratch! Pie pumpkins are only available for a short time, then it’s canned for the rest of the year.
The best thing I had this weekend was probably the heel off of the honey oat bread that my husband baked this afternoon
Yum!
Nothing beats homemade bread fresh out of the oven…that sounds divine!
I love the new look! That Zesty is so talented.
I have had “banana” moments myself. Those are the times where you just have to tell that stupid voice to shut up. I like to quote Napolean Dynamite at those times and say, “Eat the ham, Tina!” Strangely enough, it works.
Scrumptious-looking muffins!
Tastiest thing I ate = see my blog post
I tried making some pumpkin cupcakes a couple weeks ago and they were meh. Those look much better and more healthy!
First of all, I love the look of your blog – it’s fab!
Your sweater is SO cute in the wine picture. You’re gorgeous!
Hope you have a good Sunday, dear!
Those pumpkin cupcakes look so delicious! I’ve been in a major pumpkin phase lately so I’ll have to add that recipe to my list!
the best thing I ate this weekend was a chocolate cake.. it was SO healthy but tasted SO bad for you! I came up with the recipe for my mom’s birthday and was very happy with the results!
I made my very own Korean “sushi” rolls and was quite happy with the result..yum!
I love it when a meal works out just how you want it to.
Pumpkin cupcakes look so good!! I’m a sucker for ANYTHING cream cheese, though
Best thing I ate this weekend? 3 way tie btwn sesame chicken, seaweed salad and WHITE HOT CHOCOLATE!
Although I guess my need to caps lock the last hints that it was the winner haha
SO many thoughts! Let’s see- love the granules of rice and the new sub-title on the new bloggie banner.
You were hungry 1/2 hr after subway b/c you just had a veggie sand (no fat, no prot).
Brit boys do know how to roast their chix don’t they!
I thought a swede is like a sweet potato?? Guess I stuffed that one up but guess what I finally did get my parsnip fix even though we couldn’t get it at that tea room!
Matt is getting your degree?!?! Ha! I’ll have to ask him for nutritional advice
Glad you are enjoying your brazil nut butter and thanks as always for the shout out!
Hmm, wonder what happened with the chix soup? Did you use the carcass of the chix? And a bay leaf? and other random veggies and herbs and boil on low for hours and hours?
More later…
I think a swede is more like a turnip, but I am really not sure. I know it didn’t taste like a sweet potato, and it was all white. But it was still very good roasted (what veggie isn’t good roasted, right?)!
I should clarify–Matt was checking my math on the questions that required it…I cannot add 2 + 2 without a calculator!
Re: chicken soup. I didn’t boil it down for hours and hours…only about an hour. Is that why?!
first of all i love that gray sweater. SO SO cute. second i can totally relate to banana contemplating.. and wine is usually an easier decision
i wonder why your DLS is different than the states? they should just do it all at once! i have not had anything ultra epic to eat this weekend, but i think i will have to have some ice cream tonight 
xo
I’m glad I read on, those cupcakes sound, and look DELICIOUS! Oh, and I love the new look of your blog. I’ll have to consider the Zesty Cook for a future makeover of my own. How much did he charge you, if you don’t mind me asking?
Best food this weekend; my mother’s flank steak…oh my goodness. It was perfection.
I won a makeover giveaway of his last summer, so I don’t know about his rates.
LOVE the new blog look! Zesty did a great job
Weekends go by so fast… If it wasn’t for my camera and photographic proof, I would think they never happened. I have been eating nuked apple topped with granola + Fage for years and agree that it is like apple pie. But better because it’s perfectly acceptable to eat at any time (not that there is anything wrong with apple pie for breakfast 
)
Best thing I ate this weekened…either the fat free almond cornmeal muffin yesterday or the TVP “turkey” dish I had tonight!
i have many bottomless belly moments myself! subway sandwiches seem like they should be filling for years and then they hold you for an hour. go figure. butternut squash, spinach, and chickpea enchilada sounds heavenly!!! what a great flavor combo! best thing i ate this weekend is a 3-way tie between my goat cheese/sundried tomato pizza, spicy tofu veggie rice bowl, and pumpkin/mounds bar froyo. YUMMMMM!
Oooo, I am totally planning on making Pumpkin, Spinach and Black Bean enchillads this week. They sound incredible.
Glad you had a great weekend girly!
PS- I love the new look!
PS. Best thing this weekend- Derek’s FAMOUS sherry trifle in honor of Aunt Rhoda’s bday!
Wish you could have had some!!
Wow homemade pumpkin puree! That sounds like so much work! But the cupcakes look great! I also love the new look of the blog!
Love your new look.
Great looking food. I love this: hacked the pumpkin and made the puree herself.
Girl after my own heart
I like your new pale blue background, very pretty
I have no idea where this weekend went, either! Those pumpkin cupcakes look amazing. I love pumpkin in baked goods
The tastiest thing I ate this weekend was apple spice oats. Mmmm!
Love how your comments are highlighted!!!
Those muffins look delicious – what a treat to have esp. w/ all the work of making homemade puree!
Other then tart froyo this afternoon at the mall, the best thing I’ve eaten a HUGE salad w/ avocado dressing and tons of fresh veggies with a side of brussel sprouts that were sauteed in a bit of browned butter (in front of me right now). I have been craving a huge, raw salad for weeks and finally got it (also went to Costco today and bought about $65 in produce that I need to finish this week before I leave for NYC). This means huge salads every day! lol
Yay for salad kicks! I think I am in one right now, too! And brussels in browned butter sound amazing!
I love the new look of your blog!!
Those pumpkin cupcakes look delicious.
The tastiest thing that I ate this weekend was actually egg whites and cheese on a toasted 7-grain bagel. I know that it might sound absurd that this was the best thing that I ate, but it was absolutely delicious! I’m always in search of great New York bagels, and a new place that opened up by my apartment is giving some of my other favorites a run for their money! Warm, crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. Perfect.
I love the new look!
The nicest “meal” this weekend was some wine and a small cheese platter with olives, marinated peppers and beans in a wine bar. Hubby and I had a great time without the toddler…
what is swede??
so are we calling them cupcakes or muffins? either way, the pumpkin treats look awesome.
i think that blueberry fiberrrrific cereal bowl needs to be in my tum. now.
i like the new blog look btw. well done zesty!
tastiest thing i ate this weekend was zucchini pasta thanks to my BRAND new spiralizer. im in love
Ha! I guess the recipe says muffin but I SAY cupcake!
Breaking news: A “swede,” defined by Wikipedia:
Swede, AKA Rutabaga: The rutabaga, swede (from Swedish turnip), or yellow turnip (Brassica napobrassica, or Brassica napus var. napobrassica) is a root vegetable that originated as a cross between the cabbage and the turnip. Its leaves can also be eaten as a leaf vegetable.
What a fun weekend! Yes, Katie’s turf sounds pretty sweet – great work out! haha Love your gray sweater – cute – as are those cupcakes! The tastiest thing I ate this weekend was mushroom pizza from Pepperoni’s. Amazing. I swear they make their pizza on garlic bread. Bad for the breath, yummy for the tummy. I’m such a cheeseball.
yum those muffins look awesome! and home made pumpkin puree? i bet its amazinggg! i love your little blue bowls, my mom has them at her house
I don’t think any home is complete without them!
I love the new blog-look! Your blueberry pie breakfast looks great, I’d definitely say it was note-worthy. I wish I had someone to go to gym classes with, if I belonged to a gym that is.
Best thing I ate this weekend? My breakfast on Saturday – it was exactly what I wanted and it filled me right up!
I always get random cravings for Subway – there must be something in their bread
Those cupcakes look absolutely delicious!! Thanks for the recipe! Best thing I ate? PB2/Carob topped oats. Seriously, I’m obsessed and it’s bad news!
Love the new look Lara – so much easier to read
Wow, pumpkin muffins from actual pumpkin – that’s truly homemade!
All those weekend eats look amazing! My fave thing from this weekend? HOmemade applesauce. xoxo
That roasted chicken dinner looks marvey!
Best thing I ate all weekend? A peanut butter and chococlate silk pie. It was light as air and totally scrumptious.
Your salads always look so beautiful! I’m jealous of all your greens, especially the avocado.
Love the new look lady!
Smores Luna is my favorite! And that red wine is making me thirsty!
oh my! those pumpkin muffins look sooo good!!
that body in balance class sounds great, something I would totally enjoy once ina while! I sometimes get bored with a straight pilates or yoga class, so incorporating all 3 of these arts would be awesome!
I want that cupcake and that blueberry “pie” asap!
Tastiest thing all weekend? I think it was the sweet potato ravioli I made last night. SO good!
Oh and what does “Matthew is doing nutrition coursework for me” mean?
I love the colors on your new blog layout..so pretty! I thought that faux apple pie looked delicious and now I want the blueberry “pie” too!!! It doesn’t take a lot to please me, but that would do it!
Mmmm everything looks great! I have not had subway in years….but looking at that pic reminded me of how good the first bite is
Super cute site!
uh oh
sick kid
lottsa home time.
CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES OUT OF OVEN
Ooh, your Latin dinner sounds fab!
Loving the new look Lara, and I would totally dig in to your blueberry pie breakfast.
Um, I don’t even know what swede is, and I have never cooked my own pumpkin. Impressive.
I too sometimes debate whether to eat a snack for long periods of time. So silly, no? Just eat it if you’re hungry Heather. Difficult concept for me to grasp.
I love the new blog look too! Your pie looks amazing. The best thing we had all weekend was chocolate pound cake! No worries though because it was my daughter’s 16th birthday!
It usually takes me the same amount of time to decide on the glass of wine as well. Your food looks delicious.
The blog look is awesome!!! Also, I can’t WAIT to “fall back” this weekend. I hate daylight savings time in spring, but it’s pretty sweet to get that hour back in fall!!!
Tastiest thing I had over the weekend was this yummy cheese jalapeno artichoke dip with triscuits. SO GOOD!