Before moving to Boston, my head was filled with romantic ideas that I'd wake up every Saturday, get dressed in a cute peacoat, scarf, skinny jeans, and boots, and walk to a nearby local coffee shop where there was only other, well-dressed or hipster-looking college students and the coffees were served in mugs. After three years I can safely say there is nothing magical about studying on a Saturday morning, unless you count actually being awake and doing something productive Saturday morning magical (I do).
I have, however, found a coffee shop that fits my "perfect" coffee shop completely: espresso royal. The coffee is delicious, the people working there have a hipster vibe to them, the music is usually indie rock, and they serve you coffee in mugs. When I do get my butt out of bed to study, I almost always go to Espresso and order one of their honey cinnamon soy lattes -- pure bliss in a cup! I also make sure to pack breakfast; my favorite: oats in a jar.
Inspired by MANY food bloggers out there, here's my version of oats in a jar:
What you need:
1/2 cup uncooked oats (right now I'm all about the Scottish oats)
1 cup water
Cinnamon
Splash vanilla extract
1/2 banana sliced
Nearly empty jar of peanut butter (I used Trader Joe's unsalted creamy)
What to do:
Prepare oats based on how you like them and what kind you're using
Place cooked oats in jar. Then add the cinnamon, vanilla extract, and banana slices. Stir vigerously, or do what I do and screw on the lid then shake the jar.
Close jar, pack, and head out the door. The heat from the oatmeal will warm up the bananas, giving them an almost caramelized taste.
Ok..Milk and cookies..doesn't that just bring you back to being a kid and after-school snacks? Yum. Well cookies are fantastic as they are but why not give them a healthy boost? Whole grain cookies..yes please. Kelli and I work for Sargent Choice which is the healthy dining program at BU and they have a ridiculously good whole grain peanut butter chocolate chip cookie recipe. This past weekend I spent probably half of my time in my kitchen and I decided that it would be a perfect time to bake some. There was one small catch..I've been recently diagnosed with acid reflux so I'm not supposed to be eating chocolate right now. Sad as that may be, it turned out pretty well because it lead me to making whole grain peanut butter butterscotch cookies. Yup. These might be better than the original. So delicious!
I've provided some lovely photos below plus my updated version of the recipe. Enjoy! What are your favorite cookies to make?
1 cup whole-wheat flour
1 ¼ cups quick cooking oats
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup chunky natural peanut butter
1/2 cup olive or canola oil
3/8 cup granulated sugar
3/8 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2/3 cup butterscotch
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine flour, oats, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat oil, peanut butter, sugars and vanilla extract in large mixing bowl until creamy.
2. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts. Drop by rounded teaspoon onto ungreased baking sheet.
3. Bake for 8 – 10 minutes. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks.
Two presentations and an exam this week. Two exams the following week. Don't forget work. At both jobs. Oh ya and go to class. And actually pay attention. Throw in a student counsel meeting and a club meeting here and there, and you get junior year. Every night my roommate and I come back to our cozy apartment and pass out in front of an episode of the Office or Grey's (such great season openers for both!). Junior year is the ultimate mental-stability test, and so far I'm passing. Yes it's crazy. My colorful Google Calendar is evidence of it. Yet somehow I'm completely in love with this year so far. About 80% of my happiness is due to that I'm finally doing work that I love and am passionate about. The other 10% is thanks to a bunch of randomness, which I've listed below. Hopefully some of these things can help keep you sane too!
The other 10%:
1. My Coffee Press
Greatest invention. No worries about burnt coffee or remembering to set the timer. You just simply pour in boiling water and a tablespoon or so of ground coffee beans, and you have a perfectly rich, full-bodied cup of coffee ready in 5 minutes. Coffee + Almond Milk + Dark Chocolate Syrup = My survival strategy for this semester.
2. Vera Bradley Mugs my roommate and I got at Good Will for 99 cents a piece
No cup of coffee or tea is complete without the perfect mug to drink it out of.
3. Veggie Galaxy and LifeAlive
Two AWESOME all-vegetarian restaurants in Central Square. It’s a very good thing I don’t go to MIT because all my money would be blown on vegan chocolate cakes; warm, flavorful bowls of nutritious amazingness, and make your own veggie burgers with the most amazing sun-dried tomato spread and bacon tempeh (sounds odd but trust me it’s delicious). Look for my reviews of both places complete with mouth-watering pictures soon!!
4. City and Colour’s Bring Me Your Love and Little Hell albums
Check out both of these albums. I’ve listened to at least one track everyday since August. New obsession.
5. Pearl Jam’s Just Breathe and Last Kiss
I started every day this week with either one of these songs. Pretty sure I had Last Kiss on repeat all day yesterday. Love Eddie Vedder.
Guiltless is a truly amazing blog by Elizabeth Jarrad and Stephanie Horton. The purpose of the blog is for people to share their stories about their relationships with food and what they love about themselves and their bodies. This blog is so wonderfully positive and the posts give you that glow inside that can only come from realizing how truly beautiful you are. PLEASE check them out!
7. My version of Peanut Butter Puffins
Yes you can go to the store and buy a big box of peanut butter puffins and they will be delicious. OR you can go my route and get not only the flavor of peanut butter, but the creamy texture as well. Pour a bowl of original puffins in a bowl then add a small amount of almond milk (I use the original flavor, the unsweetened just doesn’t do it for me). For the final touch, I add a small spoon-full of natural peanut butter.
8. My new “Floor” playlist
Every night before going to bed I put on this playlist and do yoga in the living room. Phil Collins, Sia,and Band of Horses are just a few of the essentials to wind down.
