Mattakah
Today I had grand plans to announce that I was going to go old school and do a photo journal all of my eats this week until Friday. However, Mr. Thinspired got a new lens for our camera and I SUCK at using it. On top of that, I have broken our little compact Casio, so I have no choice but to learn how to use the new lens. This is the best photo I could get of breakfast:
Pumpkin oats with banana, raisins, and walnuts
Lunch photos aren’t much better. I only have a picture of half of it.
Two-egg omelette with spinach, peppers, onion, and cheddar
I also had a cup of homemade chicken & vegetable soup that I made last night. This is my second time making chicken stock from scratch, and I think I’m getting better. I think the key is boiling the chicken for a long time. I’ll get a photo of the soup later this week because I have lots of leftovers!
This week we are celebrating Mattakah. Mattakah is our name for the celebration of Matthew’s birth. This year, we are sort of celebrating all week, because on Sunday, he turns the big 3-0.
Yesterday was Day 1 of Mattakah. It kicked off with a bacon and egg breakfast sandwich (him, not me), and a roast chicken dinner. You see, it all involves food 
Today I thought I would make some cookies. Thanks to Ellie, I found canned pumpkin at Waitrose. Canned pumpkin can be tricky to find here! I decided to work from this recipe for Protein Power Pumpkin Cookies from Megan’s Munchies.
Protein Power Pumpkin Cookies
I had to use some wholewheat flour for half of the oats because I ran out of oats. They still turned out great. I used vanilla protein powder and added a little extra agave nectar for sweetness. They will be a great semi-healthy treat for Matthew’s lunches this week! Thanks, Megan!
I may have had a few of those babies warm out of the oven. You know, to make sure they were okay to eat.
Dinner was quick and easy. I made a salmon salad loosely based on this Cooking Light recipe for a Southwest Salmon Caesar salad. I added a bunch of other goodies though, like black beans, broccoli, and avocado.
It was perfect with a bowl of Amy’s tomato soup! (Another Waitrose find for my UK friends.)
Many of you commented asking about the sticky toffee pudding featured in my last post. Here is the definition according to WIkipedia:
Sticky toffee pudding is a British dessert consisting of a moist sponge cake, sometimes made with finely chopped dates or prunes, covered in a toffee sauce.
Here is the my definition:
It is deliciously gooey and sweet. Try it.
Please bear with me as I learn how to use this new camera lens! I really want to blog all of my eats this week but I’m not sure if that will be possible.
I’ll be back tomorrow with (hopefully) the day’s eats!
But first, a question: What is your favorite way to eat pumpkin? Recipe? Now that I have some, I am excited to use it up!
Possibly related posts:
- Tuesday Truths Today has been a day full of realizations, big and...
- Mattakah Coursework Our night in London was wonderful, and Mattakah is in...
- What’s For Dinner? My meal planning resolution is going well so far! On...
- Keeping Up Appearances Hi, it’s Mr Thinspired here again! Lara has been somewhat...
- A Case For Produce I woke up this morning to the realization that we...
Yay Mattukah! Enjoy your celebration! What are you guys doing for Thanksgiving?..
The cookies look great- I have the recipe bookmarked to make soon. My current favourite use for pumpkin is either Eating Bender’s “pump it up” muffins, or microwaveable pie in a bowl (1/2 cup pumpkin, 2 egg whites, cinnamon + sweetener, poured into cereal bowl and microwaved for 2 mins)
Sticky toffee pudding sounds amazing!
I am so jealous of your Waitrose. I just checked and they have pureed pumpkin online, but everytime I order anything {like Riceworks Rice chips} they don’t have it, and my happy grocery day mood is ruined!!
I would totes make pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin oatmeal, pumpkin pie, vegan pumpkin pie glo bites and pumpkin muffins. I LOVE PUMPKIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BTW: I had sticky toffee pudding last Christmas with my Dad’s brandy cream sauce. Gaaaah. It was to die for. I got drunk off the sauce, no lie.
Good luck with the new camera lens!!
I might be old fashioned, but I think my favorite use for pumpkin is in pumpkin pie
May I humbly suggest the Pumpkin Caramel Carob Loaf recipe on my blog?
Holy cannoli- carob!?!? I’m THERE!
Sorry, accidentally signed in under the hubs pseudonym!
Those protein power cookies look super delicious.. I need about a dozen right now.. lol
A week long birthday? Score! My husband’s b-day is the day before mine, sounds cool but it really sucks. He and most of our friends are always all partied out by the time my b-day comes around.
I know I’m going to food-blogger hell by saying this but I frickin hate pumpkin!! Actually no, wait. I like pumpkin beer, does that count?
Yay for Mattakah!!! Mmm…I have tried those cookies before; they are good!
Hope Matt has a great celebration!
Oh man a pudding made with prunes?? that’s my kind of dessert!
I always have to sample my baked goods.. they are the best right out of the oven!
I have gotten really bad at photoing all of my eats and I feel kinda unhealthy! How have you been doing without it?
OMG, I already copied that pumpkin protein cookie!!! I may be sharing this on my blog! YUM!!!! I will link to you when I do!
I get so hungry looking at the food pics! I want it all!
Pumpkin ice cream! I stick 1/3-1/2 c. in the freezer for an hour or two, then stick it in my blender/food processor with a few spoonfuls of sliken tofu, vanilla extract, cinnamon and stevia. I put a little granola and/or almonds on top. I’ve been eating this for dessert every night since September.
Every one of your eats looks delicious. Especially the pumpkin oats!!
Have a wonderful Mattakah week!
I love pumpkin cheesecake (but I only try to make one per season as it’s not very healthy…).
Shush, your photos aren’t bad! I actually really love the second one
ohhhh i remember the trials and tribulations of trying to get canned pumpkin in london! i made my mom fedex me a can of libby’s so i could make a pumpkin pie on thanksgiving..
Pumpkin oats have to be a must! Just add 1/2 a cup when the oats are done cooking and warm through. I also add a little brown sugar and cinnamon to the cooking water for the oats. Top with toasted nuts, maybe a drizzle of maple syrup – or cranberry sauce to get into the holiday spirit! Yum!
I’ve never had pumpkin – i’m not help to you!
I love when you take pics – I’ve never done a day of ALL my eats! Your omelet looks so good – I love all of that spinach!
Oooh pumpkin. Pumpkin bread, pumpkin oats and of course – so predictable but just my absolute fave – pumpkin pie…
What are you talking about?? Your photos look great?!!
OK guess I’m dense. Really. Can you explain Mattukah. Is it Hannuka and Matthew? I’m so dorky sometimes!
Hmmm. Pumpkin. I soooo wish I could send you my cans!! I’ll admit it for everyone to see- I don’t love canned pumpkin. I love love love Real fresh pumpkin, but not cans! I did see on Hungrygirl.com, she uses it in place of ALL oils, eggs in CAKE. Buy a box of cake mix and add pumpkin and NOTHING else. If you’re interested I can forward the recipe.
Happy Mattukah!!
PS. I know it’s all b/c of his birthday. But I’m still so confused. remember I told you my friend calls me a natural blond!
I think the lense looks great! Your pictures are looking good as always.
My hubby beleives in celebrating his b-day all week too. Ha, if it were up to him, we would be celebrating all month! Oh those boys are so modest arn’t they.
But they do deserve to be honored for being so wonderful, so I hope Matt has a FANTASTIC week!
Oh, this is WAYYYYY to hard of a question to answer because I don’t think I have a way to eat pumpkin that’s not my favorite. Seriously, every single time I eat pumpkin, whether it be in oats, in smoothies, in soup, in pancakes, in casseroles….it’s awlays my favorite!!!
Pumpkin pancakes!! MmMmmmmMmMMm
And that toffee pudding….looks AMAZING! I’m going to London next week..I might have to try it!
I think your photos are just beautiful! I’ve always been a “pumpkin belongs at Thanksgiving” person, but this year I have been cooking with it and am loving it! Pumpkin muffins are delicious!
Haha, I love your definition
Sticky and gooey sounds good to me.
dude your pictures look GREAT to me
so no stress on that part!
ugh pumpkin is like the best thing in the world. I looove making pumpkin cakes and I just take a half a cup of pkin with 1 egg white, some cinnamon and stevia and vanilla extract and nuke it for like 3 minutes then “ice” it off with some greek yogs or cottage cheese. mmmmmmm mmmmmmm
I cant eat eggs but that spinach omelet is restaurant quality OMG that looks sooo good!
ohh that omelet looks aweeesome!
i love the “pumpkin pie” with 1/2 cup of pumpkin, 1/2 cup of eggwhites, cinnamon & truvia..heated in the micro for about 3-5 min!
Besides pumpkin oatmeal, you mean?
I love making my version of the popular “pumpkin pie”: 1/2 c. pumpkin, 1/4 c. yogurt, 1/4 c. cottage cheese, 1 scoop whey protein, a near-lethal amount of cinnamon, and a dash each of cloves, ginger, and nutmeg! Yum–I’m having that tomorrow for breakfast, in an “empty” nut butter jar, topped with 1/4 c. Fiber One and more CINNAMON!
That sounds great! Thanks for sharing!
haha I like the idea of “Mattakah”
Pumpkin oats are definitely a winner for me, but I also love mixing it into yogurt for a snack or even spreading it on top of pb toast with bananas!
I’d say your pictures look pretty darn great to me!! Love that precious sunlight
Those cookies look amazing, I’ll have to try them. My favorite pumpkin recipe is whole wheat pumpkin pancakes with vanilla bean greek yogurt, yum! Have fun birthday celebrations!!!
That omelette looks amazing!! I would definitely eat it.
Happy Mattakah! I love it.
your waitrose has pumpkin AND amy’s soup? i’m so jeals… my closest branch doesn’t carry either, lame! are you doing thanksgiving dinner? we are… my mom is coming from the states and we will of course be making pumpkin pie!
Oooh, the big 3-0!! Chris is 31 now and it’s a touchy subject with him. So naturally, I always call him an old man
I have those pumpkin cookies bookmarked and never got around to making them!! I can only buy 28 oz cans of pumpkin here, so I’m always left with massive amounts of leftovers when I bake with it (pumpkin oats make me gag). Also, I’m really craving a spinach and cheese omelet now!
I like the pictures! So bright and pretty. And mmm, salmon! Always a favorite
Happy Mattakah! I think the pics look great
All of the pictures look great. I love that you have a salmon salad in there. You just can’t beat a good salmon salad after all.
Lara,
I think your pictures turned out great, and Happy Mattakah week. CD turns 30 in April, and I hope to throw some sort of surprise party for him. We shall see.
Pumpkin – Lately, I’ve been adding it to smoothies with vanilla protein powder and pumpkin pie spice. Also loving it in wraps with almond butter mixed with a sprinkle of vanilla protein powder. Yum.
My mom makes this pumpkin cranberry bread thats soooo yummy. You can see it here: http://bitesoftheapple.com/2009/10/22/pumpkin-friday-3-pumpkin-cranberry-breadmuffins/
omg. its ridiculously yummy!!
haha, Mattakah! I LOVE that! So Matt turns 30 this week? Nick turned 30 last January and let me tell you, the year leading up to that was no fun. He was so hating the big 3-0 idea, I think he sort of had a mini mental breakdown. Is Matt going through that at all? IT may also be because I’m about four years younger
muahaha!
Those protein power pumpkin cookies sound amazing. And your omelet looks fantastic! I don’t make many omelets, just scrambled eggs, but your omelet has sparked some interest in me! IT’s so pretty too.
Hehe, Mattakah sounds pretty awesome! I think those pics are pretty good, btw
That pumpkin power recipe looks ahmazing. Yay.
And I love pumpkin, I use them in all the blogger ways- in yogurt, smoothie with protein powder, oats, oat bran, raw vegan cookie dough a la, Averie (subbed for the nuts), and just plain with maple and cinnamon. Or soup!! Love some pumpkin soup.
And for not figuring out the new lens, the pictures turned out pretty darn good!
im impressed with your lens work! for being brand new, it looks pretty great to me
was your old one auto focus? i have never used anything but a point and shoot, so i would be completely baffled if you handed me a huge lens.
happy mattakah!