Happy Halloween!

Halloween through the years:

2012 – dressed up for Freaky Friday!

2010 – at Busch Gardens Howl-O-Scream:

2009 – Oscar and Milly greeting the trick-or-treaters!  (and this was the night when I really started the blog!)

2008 – at John & Amy’s Halloween Party (we had been to a funeral before the party, so that should explain my outfit)

2006 – me & Daniel Wu, a friend from pharmacy school who also did a residency in Tuscaloosa

2005 – I know, it is really sad/lazy that we sharpie’d the pumpkin’s face on!

2004

2003 – our first married Halloween; carving the first Freeman family pumpkin!

2002 – at Brittany & Brian’s Halloween party

2001 (the college years!) – me & Stephanie as the Pink Ladies

Recipe Files: Banana Pancake

I’ve always been a big fan of pancakes, but I’ve always hated the way that a big stack of pancakes + syrup for breakfast makes me feel the entire rest of the day – hungry, sleepy and just generally lethargic.  Plus, I’ve never really been good at making pancakes in the skillet at home, and Brent doesn’t really like them anyway, so it is not a food that we routinely eat.

All that has changed now.

Several months ago, I was searching the internet for healthy breakfast ideas when I came across a recipe for a two ingredient pancake.  When I read the two ingredients,  I was a bit horrified. I thought it sounded disgusting and somewhat pathetic and I felt sorry for the person who published the recipe, assuming that she must have been on a diet for so long that she had lost the taste for real food.

Then one night last week I was craving something sweet for dessert.  For some reason that pancake recipe popped into my head and I decided to just try it.  The recipe is actually not really a recipe. The two ingredients are: 1 egg + 1 medium banana.  Mash the banana, add the egg, and stir until you have a batter of sorts.  Pour it into a hot, oiled skillet and let it cook like a traditional pancake.

Yes, I know it sounds nasty!  I know! Just the idea is probably making you want to binge right now.  But I’m not kidding, it is really good and it makes a large, beautiful, thick, fluffy pancake.  I made it for Brent the other night and he loved it also.

Instead of topping with maple syrup and getting the traditional sugar crash (and since it is already sweet because of the banana), I top with 1 tablespoon of peanut butter (spread it out on the hot pancake and let it melt into a frosting-like topping); a few almonds, chopped; maybe a teaspoon of chia seeds; and a small handful (~two tablespoons) of cereal flakes for crunch (granola would be better, but it is banished from the house due to the calorie density + my inability to control portion sizes).  You could really top it with anything…syrup, coconut butter, jelly, apple butter, shredded coconut, chocolate chips, fruit, etc, etc.

Unlike a traditional pancake, this is actually very filling and satisfying…in fact, one night last week when Brent was out riding and I was home alone, I ate a pancake as my supper and went to bed full and happy!  I am already planning to have it for breakfast tomorrow morning also!

This has already become a staple and one of my favorite go-to snacks.

Freaky Friday

On Friday, October 26, we participated in a Freaky Friday 8k run here in Tuscaloosa.  The race started at 9 pm at Wintzells, a restaurant across the river near downtown Tuscaloosa.  Of course we walked due to my back (no more running ever) and walked in a group with a couple of other people. We were actually assured that there would be lots of walkers, and there were some runners who walked intermittently, but I do believe that we were the only ones who walked the entire time. We wanted to participate because it was a costume run & we thought it sounded like a fun & active way to spend a Friday night.  Plus, we LOVE to dress up!!  Why is dressing up so fun?!?

Brent was the star of the evening.  It was out of control.  He ordered the wig & mustache on the internet, cut the sleeves off of a ratty Budweiser shirt and we found the rest of the costume at the thrift store.  It. was. awesome.  He actually became Joe Dirt for the entire night.

When we got to the race, he was such a hit.  All of these girls were taking pictures with him and he was working the crowd just like a politician.  In the picture below he is saying “Yeah, there’s not even enough room in these shorts for me to put my hands all the way in my pockets.”  Seriously.  The funniest part of the night (for me, anyway), was when he sprinted across the finish line, arms raised, mullet flowing behind him, cheering for himself, yelling “woooooo hooooooo!!!!!!!” AS IF everyone else had not already finished and was inside drinking + socializing. Seriously, there were four people at the finish line when we finished and Brent still finished like a champ – just like Joe Dirt would have.

(the bee & the butterfly on the course)

It was no surprise to anyone in attendance when Brent won first place in the costume contest. He won a Nick Saban autographed football, a $50 gift certificate to a Mexican restaurant in Northport, and a Sports Illustrated issue signed by Trent Richardson.  All of the Alabama memorabilia was hilarious. People in Tuscaloosa truly believe that everyone is a Tide fan.

What a fun night!!!

The Long Way Home: Foothills Parkway & Look Rock

 

This morning we got up and headed out super early – we were planning to drive through Cades Cove and take the long way home down the Foothills Parkway.

We saw the sun rising over the mountains.  So beautiful!  Wish we were staying longer!

We saw a bear at Cades Cove!!!

We took Rich Mountain Road out of the park.  Neither of us had ever been this way before – it is a winding mountain road that comes out in Townsend, near the Foothills Parkway.  There was a gorgeous overlook!

We finally made it to the Foothills Parkway.  The fall colors were definitely peaking – the reds and oranges were so bright.  It was beautiful!

We made it to the Look Rock parking lot and hiked up to the observation tower (~0.3 miles).  Spectacular views of Maryville on one side and the Smoky Mountains on the other side.

Look Rock was the Grand Finale of our beautiful autumn weekend. After we left, we made a quick stop in Tellico (to see Tincie, who had to be hospitalized last week after a stroke!), then we went on to Chattanooga to meet my family for a mid-day meal at Souper Salad, and then on to Tuscaloosa. Whew!