Does it seem like all I do is drive? Because it seems that way to me. After a big celebration on New Year’s Eve, I was out of commission for most of the next day. Kyle and I eventually hit the road after noon, leaving Chico in the dust snow.
We arrived home to my parents house a few hours later…just in time to watch the end of the Rose Bowl and dig into a family size vat of garlic hummus. Half a loaf of bread later (not exaggerating), I snoozed, did laundry, and ventured into the kitchen for round one of dinner.
My parents had leftovers upon leftovers (as always) and since they were leaving for Cabo the next day, they wanted me to help clean out the fridge (to pull a Monica if you will). Friends references anyone?
This asparagus and mushroom strata is one of my faves.
The above serving was my first helping, the below serving was my second.
Ordinarily, this might be considered enough to feed a small family, but (sadly?) nobody in my family was even phased by my lack of portion control.
I nursed my semi-stuffed stomach with tea and football. Then I packed for the next road trip ahead of us…this time we were headed back to LA.
Most of the stuff I packed was non-photo-worthy (including a few different baggies of trail mix, nuts, cereal, granola, and dried fruit). My parents also encouraged us to take as many perishables as possible, since they would be going to waste in the empty house anyway.
Uhhh, you don’t have to twist my arm.
I said goodbye to my parents and sis before hitting the sack because I didn’t expect them to wake up at the a$$ crack of dawn with us. We left at 6:30 am to avoid traffic on the I-5 and made it back to Santa Monica just after noon. Several cups of coffee (and pee stops) fueled us all the way.
I made a huge pot of pumpkin cinnamon oats when I got home, which filled this bowl four times. Oof. Where did my ability to practice moderation go? I really need to find it soon.
On that note. Who is ready for a healthy giveaway to start off 2011?
I’m thinking this little teaser may just lure you in.
I totally know what you mean about always being on the road – when we lived in SD and our families were in Nor Cal it felt like we were always driving up there. I think that’s one of the things I embrace so much about being back in Nor Cal – holiday driving still involves going to both families, but now it’s 1-2 hrs instead of having to make the 8 hr trek.
Your pic makes me jealous – the last of my hummus was demolished on New Year’s – must replenish!
happy new year! oddly enough, i love packing food for on the road, it takes creativity to make something portable and tasty. xx
wow that strata looks good! YAAY giveaway!
I love that you pulled a Monica! I do that all the time. And to clarify, I am very upset that I don’t live in California regardless of the weather you have been having lately, which i actually do feel bad about… It is my stupid humor that lead to a ridiculous joke about a cow on a farm near my house that lead to my twitter apology 😉 Daisy is not actually frozen, nor is she mistreated (as far as I know), but now you have me thinking that they have to be extremely cold and I feel like running over there with blankets and hot coffee. Haha. Btw, first thing I thought of when i saw the date yesterday (01-01-11) was your numbers post and how you are close to being as big of a nerd as me!
My parents are used to how much I eat by now. When I made my polenta lasagna last night I made a third in a single serving dish for myself, then the remaining 2/3 in a separate dish for them. I ate all of mine, they ate half of theirs. I like food, what can I say?
I am right there with you when it comes to all the traveling! I’ve gone from dallas to lubbock to leakey to Phoenix to SF back to Lubbock and I leave for Austin on THursday lol. When does this all finally end? lol
haha. i’m the sameeeee way. my moderation levels have been out of control lately. and quite frankly, i don’t care! i’m active, healthy and strong. i don’t need to eat squirrel sized portions on a daily basis 😀 and neither do you! 😉
xo.
I wish my parents had leftovers that good! All I ever have are my own!
yummy oats!
Hahah love it. My family is always surprise at how often I have to eat. My dad and brother will eat breakfast and be done until dinner. UH NO. I need food every 2 hours!
Yum, the pumpkin cinnamon oats look amazing. And I’m always packing food for the road too, never know if good vegan eats will be available and I don’t like paying many times more than they’re worth. 🙂 Happy New Year!
The Pumpkin Cinnamon Oats always look amazing 🙂
I wish I knew how to cook them properly…
And that I could find canned pumpkin on my grocery store!
That strata looks fantastic… I need to make something like that and keep it around for quick breakfasts/lunches. Have fun on your second road trip…and hooray for taking the perishables with you! My in-laws always beg us to clean out their fridge when they go out of town and I LOVE it.
Andy and I are always on the road too. At least it feels that way! I can so relate.
I can clean out those tubs of Sabra hummus like nobody’s business. So good!
That strata looks awesome! I know how you feel, I swear sometimes I am a bottomless pit!