Playa y sol (*transl: beach & sun) are now out of season
Excuses to eat ice cream just dwindled in reason
As the heat’s no longer an acceptable justification
Can’t claim it’s necessary for the purpose of hydration
Each week from now on, will grow a bit more cool
Oh, we’ll long for the days spent lounging at the pool
Understand, though, that we shan’t cry for summer
The season among us is far from a bummer
Sweaters, pumpkins and apple-picking come with the fall
U might even be excited for Sunday football
Me? I cannot wait for Halloween’s tricks and treats
Moreover, I’m anticipating Thanksgiving day eats
Eager for all this season will bring
Ready for fall; I hear it’s the new spring
If an acrostic rhyming poem dedicated to the change of seasons isn’t proof that unemployment has left me with too much time on my hands, I don’t know what is. But gracias for putting up with my recent poetic musings.
So, if you didn’t get the gist of that terribly cheesy poem, yesterday marked the last day of summer. It was a beautiful 70 degree day in NYC, so, feeling some seasonal nostalgia, I tried to keep my eats summery and fresh.
Onto breakfast, I digress.
I know, I know. I’m a breakfast-repeater. But ever since concocting my Sarah’s Own Fig Newton yogurt, the looming desire to re-create it has been taunting me. Suppressing food fantasies has never been my strength, so I gave in. Here you have my greek yogurt, cinnamon, honey, graham and fresh fig blend in all its secondhand glory.
In an attempt to be artsy (you will learn, I’m not), I captured the red of the apple and the figs. Summery, right?
Or, eerily reminiscent of Pleasantville?
Here’s the full color shot because—while figs certainly are beautiful—it’s the golden-y grahams that make the bowl.
For lunch, I made one of my favorite summery chicken salads.
In the mix: 3 oz. cooked chicken, cubed; 2 big dollops of greek yogurt; celery; handful of grapes; slivered almonds; honey (enough to write your first initial); generous sprinkling of lemon pepper seasoning; salt.
The grapes and almonds do wonders for this chicken salad, and the contrast of the salty lemon-pepper seasoning and sweet honey make magic happen.
Piled high between a rye sandwich thin. A little too high for neat eating. To the rescue, FSTG chips!
Oooh my god. I thought I’d experienced a climactic level of chip-induced ecstasy when I discovered FSTG multigrains. But those geniuses over in FSTG land have outdone their original with The Works. These are perfectly salty and generously seeded—basically an intensified, polished version of the multigrains. If you seek happiness and life fulfillment, buy these chips.
Last night’s dinner was as summery a salad as can be. I benched my current obsession with grilled and roasted veggies in salads—figuring roasted veggies will be plentiful throughout fall—and let the goods flourish in their freshest state.
In the mix: romaine, hard-boiled egg white, celery, shrooms, cherry tomatoes, sweet onion, green pepper, corn, oil-cured olives and sun-dried tomatoes; dressed in my balsamic-honey mix and celery salt.
I played favorites with this corner of the plate, which was hosting a generous offering of my favorite players: sun-dried tomatoes, oil-cured olives and corn. The award-winning bites included all of the above.
Alongside was some whole-wheat pita with pine-nut hummus. The tub of hummus came along for the dinner ride just in case some raw veggies were feeling underdressed.
…which obviously didn’t happen.
I did my best to do dessert in a summery fashion.
But the sodium-fiend in me could not be silenced.
Hot sauce on my thumb… Classy.
When you go through more than a box of popcorn a week, can it be classified as addiction? And by more than a box, I mean, sometimes, two boxes. Por favor, give me some horrifying fact about popcorn that will make me never want to eat it again. Or, help me justify my current over-consumption 
Happy first day of fall!
-Sarah
45 Comments
September 22, 2009 at 3:06 pm
haha loving the peace out summer poem. clever! i love the color accent feature on my camera, your photo looks rad! i cant give you any bad news about popcorn, i think it is a fairly healthy snack!
September 22, 2009 at 3:15 pm
True Story: First time I saw Pleasantville I was so creeped out I almost stopped watching!
Why is it that things with every seasoning possible (the works, everything bagels, etc.) taste the best? Those chips sound yummy!
I just died seeing the hummus/pita. Ferreal.
Popcorn is a good snack! Well, non-movie theater kind. One time my friend and I decided it would be a great idea to try to pop the left over kernels at the bottom of the bag…yeah, it wasn’t a great idea.
September 22, 2009 at 3:59 pm
Haha I have definitelyyyy attempted the re-popping of the leftover kernels. On more than one occasion. I never learn.
September 22, 2009 at 3:16 pm
I am such a meal repeater
Once I find something I like, I stick with it.
Happy fall!
September 22, 2009 at 3:50 pm
Goodbye summer, I’ll miss you! Love the tribute poem.
Nothing wring with repeating a meal, esp breakfast!
Horrifying fact about popcorn/corn in general: if you have blood type B it causes significant decreases in your metabolism resulting in weight gain. Same goes for peanuts for type B.
September 22, 2009 at 3:51 pm
wrong**
September 22, 2009 at 3:51 pm
mmmmm fig newton bfast? I love it! So pretty too. Love the salad. I am debating between a big ole salad for dinner and breakfast for dinner..what to do! I get crazy with rice cakes like you get with popcorn sometimes
September 22, 2009 at 3:57 pm
Unfortunately I am doubly cursed and OD on rice cakes too. I guess there could be worse things haha
September 22, 2009 at 3:52 pm
I love figs so much! One of my favorite foods! Have you had the chips in the sweet potato flavor? Omg they are so so good!
September 22, 2009 at 3:58 pm
I recently tried the sweet potato flavor, and I actually didn’t love them. I am SP’s #1 fan, but I think they weren’t salty or seasoned enough for me? Maybe that just confirms that I’m a sodium-fiend…
September 22, 2009 at 4:08 pm
Lol, great poem! and popcorns great too so long as it’s buttered within reason and has nothing trans fat. It’s a light source of whole grains
September 22, 2009 at 4:20 pm
I’ve never eaten a fig, but those pictures make me really want one.
I loved this poem too : )
September 22, 2009 at 4:45 pm
Love the blog poetry! I need fresh figs right NOW…but they don’t grow in Hawaii. At least I don’t think. So I’d probably have to pay an arm and a leg for shipped figs that wouldn’t taste good anyway. Worth it? Grrr I’ll probably buy fig jam though!
September 22, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Awesome pics!! I totally forgot to tell you that after seeing your figs the last time, that night I dreamed I was eating a bowl full of delicious fresh figs!! Such a yummy dream!!
September 22, 2009 at 5:36 pm
your pics are phenomenal!! they look so professional!
thanks for the blog comment : ) yeah its been a world wind me trying to give up that splenda!! I’m trying as best I can though!
oh and thats exactly how I make my chicken salad, with the greek yogurt and grapes and sometimes I use walnuts instead of almonds to ‘switch it up’ : )
September 22, 2009 at 5:49 pm
I’m a meal repeater too! No shame in that!
I loooved the poem. Hilarious!
All the eats look fab. Doesn’t help that I’m STARVING! haha.
September 22, 2009 at 8:00 pm
Popcorn is a whole grain, and that’s supah healthy!!! And spice is good for the sinuses and metabolism! Too much popcorn makes my tum upset, but I say if you love it, eat it!
Um, adore the poem. You go skillz, homes.
And YES Pleasantville-ey! Love it.
September 22, 2009 at 8:16 pm
WOW!!! All your eats sound like they are so appetizing and it helps that they look so nice too!
Popcorn is supposed to be eaten in large quantities- don’t you know?
Good reason to keep eating it, you can sprinkle on so many different kinds of seasonings and spices to cater what you are craving then. Spicy, sweet, salty, cheesy, what have you!
http://www.ohonemorething.wordpress.com
September 22, 2009 at 8:26 pm
I love popcorn with hot sauce on it. I have an air popper and it makes really fluffy popcorn, plus is super-cheap to buy the kernals. You should invest in one if you eat a ton o’ corn.
September 22, 2009 at 8:38 pm
Oh popcorn, how made for salt and mini chocolate chips you are!
Wow, fall’s here. Time to bust out the pumpkin!
September 22, 2009 at 8:52 pm
Love the poem and the cool accented photos! Popcorn itself is actually quite good for you. In one study, it was actually found to be on par with vegetables nutrient-wise. Take a look at: http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/news/popcorn-is-good-for-you-say-scientists-1773779.html
I’m not so sure how all of the microwaving is though.
September 22, 2009 at 9:06 pm
That poem was too funny! You are so creative! And how did you do that to your photo (a la Pleasantville)? That was so cool. And I love how you used grapes, almonds and honey in your chicken salad. I am so boring and just use yogurt (or mayo) will celery and dill. I’m gonna try your way next. Honestly Sarah, I think I want to be you!
September 22, 2009 at 9:12 pm
you put emily dickinson to shame my pet <3
I've been known to go through more than a jar of PB a week.. I like to consider myself infatuated rather than addicted
September 22, 2009 at 9:24 pm
Oh that salad looks amazing! I’m impressed by the poetry too! I’m sad that summer is over and all I seem to do is complain about the cold mornings
September 22, 2009 at 10:44 pm
what graham crackers do you eat! I LOVE GRAHAM CRACKERSSSSSSS
AND NAPA! omg. i love the inner leaves that are tender and light green. AWESOMENESS>
September 23, 2009 at 12:41 pm
heyy i usually eat whole wheat graham crackers that i get at whole foods! love them!
September 22, 2009 at 11:07 pm
Lets be optimistic, I least you are not constantly chowing down on potato chips or french fries!
No shame in having a little popcorn addiction.
September 22, 2009 at 11:09 pm
Hi Sarah!
Yeah, Thanksgiving is one of the best things about fall too, in my opinion. Oh, and pumpkins and apples
Cute poem!
LOL at measuring your honey by writing out your first initial!
I do like the red in the figs and apples. So pretty!
September 23, 2009 at 12:14 am
I love your idea of using Greek Yogurt for chicken salad, that sounds wonderful!
And it is sad the summer is over, I didn’t even get to do the things on my list!
AND, where did you buy those crackers? I’ve never heard of that brand before. I love everything crackers!
September 23, 2009 at 12:25 pm
Hey Jenn! Thanks for stopping by my blog. The Food Should Taste Good chips are tortilla chips but serve the same purpose as crackers. I can;t say enough good things about them! (You’d think they’re endorsing me by the way I sing their praises but I’m seriously just obsessed haha). I’ve found them at regular grocery stores like Stop & Shop in NYC–but Whole Foods always carries them. Highly recommend the multigrain and The Works flavors! Let me know how you like them if you try them out! Have a great day!
September 23, 2009 at 12:35 am
ha – i do love the pleasantville pix….
September 23, 2009 at 6:51 am
Awww, I love the ode to summer. That is so cute and creative.
I’m a huge popcorn lover, too. Never tried it with hot sauce, though!
September 23, 2009 at 7:12 am
Loved your amplified red photos (at first i thought you were eating some sought of exotic food LOl!) ooh and your chicken salad on a bun looks amazing!
September 23, 2009 at 10:48 am
popcorn is my favorite nighttime snack
I pop mine in the microwave in a brown paper bag, drizzle in a little olive oil, add some salt, shake and eat. Yum.
September 23, 2009 at 12:00 pm
why do i beg to always go to cheesecake factory when im in need of a “good” salad when you can clearly make me one with what seems to be some of my favorite things. you know i love corn in mis saladas. NOW COOK FOR ME!
xx brud
ps i know u can manage to find a recipe for C.F’s salad dressing that i love soo yeaa =)
September 23, 2009 at 12:55 pm
haha great poem, and love how you measured your honey by “enough to spell your first initial”–so creative!
i have never tried figs before, but after seeing your breakfast, i think i may have to give them a try! have a great day
September 23, 2009 at 1:59 pm
Thanks for your sweet comment!! I’m really enjoying DC so far. I’ll be sure to let you know if I’m ever in need of tips!
The fig yogurt looks delish!! :O)
- Beth @ http://www.DiningAndDishing.com
September 23, 2009 at 2:20 pm
delish looking salad.
i sympathise with having all that time on your hands. unemployment is causing me to do some crazyyyy things too. we cannot be blamed for our actions!
haha, i don’t think there is such a thing as popcorn addiction. there is never too much of it!
L. x
September 23, 2009 at 2:48 pm
Your picture is pretty artsy by my standards. I have no artistic talent what-so-ever. Try popping your own popcorn and adding your own seasonings. I think you will find yourself eating less of it.
September 23, 2009 at 4:17 pm
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September 24, 2009 at 12:19 pm
Ahh, I cannot tell you how much I looove your blog!
We are definitely foodie twins at heart. I’m also a sodium fiend in that I cravee spicy foods by the second! I cannot wait to try that popcorn combo out. Don’t be discouraged, my mom’s pretty addicted too! BUT, she does not dress it up like you….i should so give her the tricks! and you saw her pic on my last post-she’s one (naturally) tanned, fit mama! Popcorn’s good for digestion…..since it usually follows dinner
ps-i just made a note to try that gorgeous fig breakfast out asap (meaning, once i’m back home in access to all that glorious food), and to buy those FSTG chips!!!! have a great day girl, xoo
September 24, 2009 at 12:20 pm
pps! what did you think about gg this week?! it’s thursday and i finally found time to watch it last night!! wooo
September 27, 2009 at 10:10 pm
[...] The Works Food Should Taste Good Chips (!) [...]
September 30, 2009 at 11:51 am
[...] you haven’t realized, I love FSTG chips. I haven’t tried any of the flavors they sent—except for the sweet potato, [...]
February 2, 2010 at 2:40 pm
[...] In the mix: bag of baby spinach, cherry tomatoes, shrooms, onion, cucumber, celery, avocado, strawberries, balls and shredded ched. Still into dressing my veggies with honey and balsamic. [...]