Usually I’m in a pretty cheerful mood on Wednesdays. The week is halfway over, and I get to share my wacky eats from the previous day.
However, today, I’m leaving Omaha, and whenever I’m here for a long time, I have a hard time saying good-bye. They say home is where the heart is, and sometimes I think that my heart will always stay here. Maybe, one day, if the stars align, I’ll make my way back to the heartland for good.
In the meantime, let’s move on to a much more entertaining topic: Tuesday’s eats. The highlight of this WIAW will most certainly be the dinner that I cooked for my parents, but let’s start with breakfast.
Coffee Routine
I have a specific morning coffee routine when I stay in Omaha. Around 6 or 7 in the am, I get in my car and drive to Caribou Coffee at Hy-Vee. I love the coffee at this place, and even more so, I enjoy the service. The people are just so warm and friendly! They represent everything I love about the midwest.
On Tuesday, along with my coffee, I ordered the Raspberry White Chocolate Scone that I had been eyeing since last week.
Creamy coffee and a scone? Don’t mind if I do!
It was a bit rich for breakfast, but hey, it was my last day in Omaha, so I decided to go crazy!
After the filling breakfast, it was off to the gym, where I excitedly typed in “30” when the treadmill asked me my age. I know. I’m a geek.
Growing up in Omaha, this gym was one of my favorite “escapes” after a “long day” in high school. (Oh, if I had only known what a long day REALLY felt like back then). Every time I go back, it feels like nothing has changed, and even though the gym is fairly old, it still feels brand new!
The outside: always looks so fresh and clean!
My workout was solid, including a 7 mile run and this tabata workout.
This is one of my favorite workouts discovered on Pinterest. It’s the perfect balance of strength training and carido to keep you on your toes.
Lunch and Shopping
Another tradition when I’m back in Omaha is that I always save a day for shopping with my mother. Although I’m the one that benefits from this trip, I think my mother looks forward to it just as much, because it is our bonding time!
Before power shopping, we met one of my mother’s friends for lunch to fuel ourselves. Paradise Cafe seemed like the perfect option, because it’s quick serve and located in the area we wanted to shop.
I ordered the salad/sandwich combo with the Turkey Cranberry Sandwich and the Summer Berry Salad.
A lunch in “paradise.”
Highlights of this meal were definitely the free cookie and the bread on the sandwich, which was thick and delicious. Any place that gives a free cookie with your meal deserves and A+ in my cook.
After lunch, it was off to the shops! It was a successful day at Village Pointe, and I walked away with lots of exciting new goodies, including a new travel bag, makeup (from a giftcard for my bday) and cute new clothes.
Snack Time!
All of the strenuous shopping had me starving. Good thing we purchased some “Chippers” from Paradise Cafe, which are basically, moist little bits of oatmeal and chocolate cookies.
Sometimes you don’t want the WHOLE cookie!
These things are AMAZING. I’m not sure why they taste better than a full cookie, but I promise that they do. I also think it’s a pretty smart idea to have an option for people to buy bits of a cookie, instead of the whole thing.
At some point, I was also craving some protein, so I snacked on some Blue Diamond Raspberry Almonds and tuna.
Sweet and salty. The perfet combo
The tuna looked a little disgusting covered in ketchup, but I promised it tasted good. I was really craving a tuna melt, but I couldn’t find any cheese!
Tuna melt, hold the cheese!
Dinner for the Rents
After all my snacking, it was time to cook dinner for my parents. I was pretty excited to show off my newly discovered cooking skills. I also wanted to thank them for hosting my 30th bday dinner on Saturday night.
The best parents ever!
I can’t remember a day in my life where my parents haven’t been there for me and supported me every step of the way in pursuing my dreams. My bday dinner was perfect, and I am not surprised, because my mother is a very good party planner!
My parents don’t have quite as “eclectic” taste buds as me, so I had to think carefully about what to make. I decided that the mediterranean meal would be perfect for this crowd.
While my mother was biting her nails as I maneuvered around the kitchen, I was in heaven. The kitchen is equipped with all of the latest and greatest, so I love cooking when I come home!
The meal was more than enough for the three of us, and I THINK my parents liked it.
A Mediterranean feast in O-town!
I say “think” because my father kept saying “Mmmm, this is SO good,” but it was always before he actually took a bite :-). Oh well, I know they appreciated it. Nothing shows love like a good Sometimes Healthy meal.
A plate o’ love.
And, if the night couldn’t get any better, my dad treated me to a fro yo date, where I proceeded to make the ugliest concoction that concoction of fro yo ever created.
Sometimes your fro you won’t look pretty.
The combo included red velvet, cookies n’ cream and salted caramel fro yo, topped with gummy bears, capn’ crunch, sprinkles, cherries and fresh whipped cream. I think the rule is the uglier your fro yo looks, the better it tastes ;-).
With that, I’m going to stop wallowing in self pity and hit the gym before I spend my day on a plane.
YOUR TURN:
Where’s “home” for you? Do you miss it?
That tabata workout looks awesome!! I definitely need to try that 🙂 and I loveeee froyo! So yummy 🙂 that sounds like such a fun birthday dinner! Glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Definitely try that tabata workout. You’ll love it!
Definitely try that tabata workout. You’ll love it!
So many good eats in here… I don’t even know where to start off in my comment ;). That scone looks fantastic! And 7 miles? Girl, you definitely earned it! Andd mhmm, I love the idea of chippers! Are they a mix between a cookie and a brownie? They look so thick! Your dinner looks like it turned out great :).
Thanks girl! Yes, they kind of are – more like cookies but there is a little bit of a chewy element there that is more brownie.
Dinner turned out great according to the rents 🙂
I want to know more about your fish recipe! Looks so good!
Oh so simple! It’s just tuna and ketchup haha. The chicken recipe is from Iowa Girl Eats and it’s one of my all time faves.
I love caribou coffee! I always go when I am home in Minnesota, one of my favorite drinks they have is the skinny white chocolate raspberry mocha so good! I’m sorry you had to say bye today, it’s always so hard for me to say bye to my family after they visit.
Another midwesterner – I need to go check out your blog 🙂 Next time I’m home I’ll get the drink you suggested!
Great job on cooking for the folks- Mediterranean is a great choice! Whenever I go home to cook for mum, she always praises me for the meal but I never know if shes being nice or not! Hope you enjoyed your time home!
haha that’s funny! Even if they don’t like it, I appreciate that they pretend 🙂
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