Monday, October 12, 2009

A giant tub of cheese and music.

Yep. So, thank all of you so much for the lovely comments on my dress and the sweet Anniversary wishes! Dan and I went to the Melting Pot for our anniversary and it was DEliCIOUS...!!! I went into the day absolutely freaking out about dinner. I looked up all the nutritional info I could and started obsessing about how I could possibly eat healthy at this place.

Ultimately I decided to forget my obsessions about it and just enjoy a nice dinner.

Here's what we did:

First course: Spinach Artichoke Cheese Fondue, served with granny smith apples, breads and veggies. (400 calories)
Second course: Alpine Ridge Salad, A bed of mixed greens topped with oven roasted tomatoes, award-winning Gruyère, Raclette and Fontina cheeses, hard-boiled eggs and honey roasted almonds, topped with a robust shallot vinaigrette. (300 calories)
Third course: Fondue Feast cooked in Court Bouillon. Filet Mignon, Sauerbraten NY Strip, Nueske’s Applewood Smoked Bratwurst, Hefeweizen Marinated Shrimp, Roasted Garlic Crusted Chicken, Sun Dried Tomato Ravioli and Fresh Vegetables. (495 calories)
Dessert course: Bananas Foster, Silky, white chocolate swirled with bananas, brown sugar and a dash of cinnamon, flambéed tableside. Dippers: Fresh strawberries, bananas, cheesecake, Rice Krispies Treats®, marshmallows, pound cake and brownies. Holy YUM. (673 calories.)

Oh, and we split a bottle of Asti champagne, my favorite!

So... overall, the numbers were a little terrifying, and I won't even get into the sodium count, but I only had a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast and one ritz cracker that day. I still stayed with a pretty low amount of calories considering what I ate!


In other news, I wanted to share with you all some of my favorite cold weather eats. When the temperature drops, people tend to want to eat warmer foods and this is what I like:
Diet hot chocolate (15 cals per packet with hot water)
Sugar free apple cider (made with hot water)
Hot tea
Healthy Choice soups
Spaghetti Squash with italian seasoned diced tomatoes (the low sodium/no salt added kind)
Oatmeal for breakfast


So, what do you guys like to eat/make when it's cold outside?


Also, I realized that I haven't done Music Monday in a really long time. I'm gonna share two things with you guys. One of my favorite artists is Chris Thile. He used to play mandolin in the band "Nickel Creek" and now has put together the band "Punch Brothers." He's so incredibly talented. As far as I'm concerned, I find him to be the most talented musician alive. My brother and I are going to do three back to back Punch Brothers shows in January - we're watching them in Boulder, then going to Aspen the next day and then Beaver Creek the day after that. We used to road trip a lot to see Nickel Creek play (Tulsa, OK - Cain's Ballroom is awesome!), Salt Lake City, etc.

When we went to the show in Salt Lake, we met Chris Thile. It was awesome. It was really late at night and I didn't want to be a huge pest so I just shook his hand and we didn't ask for pictures or autographs or anything. I'm hoping my brother and I will get to meet him again in January.

Here are some photos of my brother and I (first photo) and my best friends Jesse and Wes when we went to see them in Tulsa:




Here are two photos of me when we met Chris last time, and I was MUCH hotter for this trip than the previous one:




That was my favorite hair, ever. I can't wait until my hair grows out again so I can do the same hair. Possibly, forever and ever, amen. Gah!





Anyhoo! This song, How to Grow a Woman from the Ground is one of my very favorite songs of all time:




And if you're a fan of good music, and like an easy going, laid back, Jack Johnson/John Mayer kind of sound, you need to check out Mestizo. One of my favorite bands, ever. One of their earlier songs (also a favorite of mine) is on my main website. They're local to the Denver/Boulder area, so you should check out one of their shows if you're in the area. One of the things I miss most about living there is going to their shows. :(

This is a sneak peek of one of the songs, Fade, off of their newest album, and it's one of my favorites of theirs! You can buy their newest album here. I guarantee any album you buy, you're gonna love.

~Jenn

27 comments:

Julie, The Wife said...

A) Just below your post, those bitches from Pillsbury put an ad for biscuits, when I am already eating my scarf from reading your dinner menu. Holy fantasy food, Batman!

B) Love the music

C) Stop smoking the crack, you are a hot girl NOW. Seriously. Put down the pipe and take a look in the mirror. (Although I do love the pic with your friends and the plaid purse, great faces.)

Loser Girl Jess said...

Asti is delectable! And that dinner sounds amazing. I did something similar this weekend. It was my friends birthday and we had a big pumpkin carving/Oktoberfest party, complete with mashed potatoes (loaded with creamy goodness), brats boiled in beer, kraut, beer, wine, whiskey, apple crisp, and ice cream.

And instead of freaking out about what I was "allowed" to eat, I just ate until I was full. And drank a bit past that, but goodness, it is one day and a girls just wanna have fun! Happy aniversary!

PS...ummmmm....if you need pop music with a strong beat for your cardio workouts, might I recommend the Freaky Friday soundtrack? It kept me going on the starimaster today:)

Carrie said...

Okay, just tried a new breakfast this morning and it was soooo good! I shop at Trader Joe's ALOT!

Quinoa (1/2 cup cooked)
Sunflower Nut Butter (1 Tbsp.)
Pumpkin Butter (1 Tbsp.)
About 1/2 of a honeycrisp apple (diced)

I popped it all in the microwave. It was warm, rich, spicey! Quinoa is very easy to make, you basically dump it in water, same ratio as rice 1 part Quinoa, 2 parts water and boil it until the water is gone. I then keep it in the fridge and pull from it all week long...very easy.

I also bought this stuff that is hot, creamy and delicious called Sipping Chocolate from TJ's. I mix 3 Tbsp with 1 cup hot, fat free milk. Oh gosh, it is soooo good!

I've never been to The Melting Pot! My friend used to work at one in Sacramento, but I never got my butt in there. I'm glad you guys had a great time!

You look fabulous in red by the way! You should go red more often. :o) And I don't think everyone can pull off red hair well. Your skin tone goes really well with it! And the eyes are even better.

I will have to check out this music. I'm always looking for new stuff. I kinda get stuck in my old favorites.

I looked online for a picture of that dress, but could not find it! I looked for like an hour too...so frustrating. You would look totally gorgeous in it!

Kristen said...

Ah, that dinner sounds soooo good!I've always wanted to try fondue but I haven't yet. Also Happy Belated Anniversary!!!

The Insatiable Host said...

Hello Friends...I'm your vita-meta-vegie-gal..are you un-poopular, do you poop out at parties? is ExHotGirl on glue???

I swear, I just heard Lucile Ball roll over in her grave! GIRL YOU ARE WAY HOTTER NOW..not to say that you shouldn't always want to self improve; however, i do hope that you see the goods now...your Dan is right! maybe you should do a photoshoot of you...maybe you'll see what we all do! I will agree - Red is your colour. nuf bout that...

Totally glad you went out for dinner and just enjoyed. I get like super-obsessed about shit too and then I just get myself stressed for no reason...thank God I can talk myself off the ledge and back into reality!!

Breaky in the am on cold days???Well coffee is essential and so are my wholewheat banana pancakes or apple/masacarpone pancakes...I also love to indulge in Hot chocolate with Peppermint schnaaps and Baileys in it...no joke..it makes a kick ass breaky!

Tunes...I loves the new ideas..thank you. Check out my brother-in-law...Aitch. He's on iTunes and also myspace and my FB page...think acoustic Dallas Green meets Beach Boys with a splash of Richie Valance and some Punk...but seriously great!!

Have a wicked day...

Lizz said...

I use to work at the Melting Pot in Louisville! I loved every minute and the yin-yang was my favorite chocolate to make.
I can't eat there knowing that I will be spending more than I need to on food, but it was always delish!
Glad you had fun, and you are gorgeous no matter what people say!

Unknown said...

Dinner sounds amazing! I think it's important you enjoyed yourself! My problem is I always enjoy myself, I really need to work on that. Happy belated anniversy!!!!

Roxanne said...

Dinner sounds great, wish I was there!

You are a beautiful person, and I see this somewhere behind your eyes in your soul. That person has always been there...I think sometimes we rely too much on the reflection of the mirror, but like any medium, it can be deceiving.

Runnergirl said...

Hubby and I discovered The Melting Pot when we were on our honeymoon in Florida - we LOVE the place, but no, not somewhere you can eat healthy!

We even made a detour on our trip through New England last year to visit one outside Boston for lunch. Except it wasn't open for lunch. We were so bummed!

I sometimes go red-headed for Autumn/Winter... am tempted to again now!

Tgoette said...

Wow, that dinner sounds scrumptious! Good for you guys! Thanks for the tip on Mestizo...very nice sound. The Punch Brothers too. I like that laid back acoustic stuff. Very cool. You should check out one of my faves, Gabe Bondoc on You Tube. Very similar to Jason Mraz/John Mayer. You'll love him.

Cheers!

NJ said...

Oh great I just gained 10 lbs reading that. Sounds like a fantastic meal. I see no problem with enjoying good meals for special occassions. I found it sad when the nutritionist told me that once a year at Christmas she had a mincemeat tart. She just ate the filling and not the pastry. That just doesn't seem like a life I'd want to lead. And mincemeat for your one treat of the year...yucky.

Kirsty said...

Happy belated Anniversary :)

My boyfriend and I go to the Melting Pot every year on our anniversary. We save up all year for it (and it takes the year to burn it all off!) I think I've gained ten pounds just thinking about it! Oh my, February can not get here fast enough now. If only anniversary calories did not count...

kimert said...

My fave meal for fall is creamy tomato soup and a grilled cheese. Damn, I need to find a way to do this low cal!

I tried spaghetti squash and am not yet sold. Any ideas on how to make it better?

Just gotta say, you are one gorgeous gal! And I love that hair on you!

Sasha Carr, Ph.D. said...

When the weather's cold I love to drink Cocoa Spice herbal tea from Yogi Teas -- it tastes a little like hot chocolate with cinnamon but no calories and no chemicals either. I love it plain but a little stevia or agave nectar would sweeten it up naturally. I guess you could try a little milk too?

I also like Almond Sunset from Celestial Seasonings--tastes kind of like an almond danish. I think they have a whole line of herbal "Dessert Teas".

Jennifer Q said...

Asti is my favorite! Love that stuff!

And I've always wanted to eat at the Melting Pot! The closest one here is 3 hours away in Memphis, TN. It sounds soooo good! I got a fondue pot for Christmas last year and have never taken it out of the box. Now that the weather is cooling off I may have to try it out. The Spinach Artichoke Cheese Fondue sounds sooo good!

plainolebob said...

Ex,
well now you gone and done it, what talkin bout all them fancy fixins an all,now Bess wants me to take her somwhers fancy for our anniverserry.
HUGS

Salina Lyn said...

I'm impressed. You did the Melting Pot experience AND you posted the calories. You are a better woman than I. I would have done it and just ignored the calories in the spirit of preserving my fragile positive attitude. Bravo!

I do a lot of hot tea in the fall and winter. I've been craving chai tea lately. One of my favorites though is Good Earth, the original one. Yummy!

Love love love the picture of you with the smirk. Awesome pic. And love love love the music.

Thanks
Salina

Sara said...

You should check out Xavier Rudd. http://www.xavierrudd.com/ he is like an Austrailian version of Jack Johnson/John Myer but he incorporates traditional Austrailian instraments into his music he is awesome, I love his alblum White Moth, To Let and Solace, but there are more. You should check it out.

Oh and congrats on the aniversery. Its nice to go out and not worry about calories, and relax. Glad you had fun.

Amanda said...

Again, I think your brother is uber cute :)

Also, I've never been to the Melting Pot, but the meal you just described really really makes me want to go!! It will definitely be one of my top places to go when I get back from Vietnam next summer!

Erin said...

That dinner sounds amazing. I'm not sure if we have a Melting Pot near me, but I'm going to check it out if we do.

You're the type of girl who looks great with any hair color. You have the right skin tone/eye color to be a red head, blonde, or brunette.

M said...

I am so in love with the pic of you and your brother! Its sooooo beautiful! If I ever own a gallery or a hotel, I will buy that off of you! I just love the photos you take!

I plan on mailing your package this weekend! I cannot wait to see the photos you take!

And everyones right, youre ALREADY gorgeous, I cant ever imagine you NOT being gorgeous.

Anonymous said...

I am hungry now. Thanks a lot! Ha ha! One binge in a very LONG while won't kill you.

laura said...

i think it is funny that when you are trying to lose weight,you even like the hair you had when you were skinny. like you got fat so you cut off all your hair to punish yourself. i too am growing my hair out and of course i'm fat looking forward to being thin and my hair being longer. your hair is beatiful short or long.

Anonymous said...

Your dinner out sounds soooo delicious!! I would have went with the flow too! Life's to short to never indulge, especially on your anniversary!! :) Love the pics of you!!

Erin said...

I have been dying, DYING, to go to The Melting Pot but Mr. Husband is a picky eater and says the menu just doesn't do it for him. I can't understand what isn't appealing about buckets of cheese and chocolate, but whatever.

Unknown said...

Hey there, i've been reading your blog for awhile and decided to start my own in my quest to get back to my previous hotness! take a peak at my blog and my novel of a first entry! thanks for the inspiration!

LaurenC said...

the very first photo of you and your brother you look just like Evan Rachel Wood, the hair, the make-up wow. flawless skin, so very pretty! love the pics :)