Parting Is Such Sweet/Savory Sorrow

Today we are going to talk about food! I know I already talk about food on a regular basis around here but this post is somewhat about dieting. Okay, so it is about dieting. So for the most part, I don't talk too much about dieting on this site because basically I don't diet. I eat healthy most of the time and try to stay within reason with the not so healthy stuff. There have been days when I've really gone overboard. As in 'food como' overboard. Can't go back and change that now so I move on. 

For the most part I think I eat pretty healthy. That was until recently when I scanned through my photos from last year and found all these photos of cupcakes that I may or may not have eaten. Eek! Keep in mind that these are just the ones I remembered to photograph. There may be countless others that I may have eaten on the go or in my closet. Also, you will notice that these are just cupcakes, not to include regular cakes and other forms of desserts and sweets. I didn't want to shock you with that collage. Plus I don't think it would have all fit on one collage. Wow, I have one heck of a sweet tooth.

Let's have a look at my other food obsession...namely ramen. So this is a collage of all the photos I took of ramen last year. I'm certain that there were more bowls than shown here eaten by me. Oh wow, I've eaten quite a few bowls. And by 'few', I mean a million. Ramen is a comfort food for me. I crave it when I'm happy, sad or when it is cold outside. Basically anytime is a good time for ramen. I cannot think of a time when I have turned down a bowl of ramen. Just won't do it. 

As good as ramen is, it is also a big bowl of too much carb, sodium and fat. Duh, that's why it tastes so good.

Cupcakes and ramen. That's me in a nutshell. And I'm okay with that because I will always be a foodie at heart. That part is just never going to change. That's why I try to do something active everyday. And even though the cupcakes and ramen only represent a small percentage of my overall total consumption, I want to make an effort to eat healthier and eat these things occasionally as treats instead of as a regular part of my eating plan. Some day...perhaps this year, I would like to have visible abs. So for the month of January I'm not going to have any cupcakes and ramen. I'm a 'cold-turkey' kind of person. It works for me. I'm sure as the year progresses these things will find their ways back to my eating plan but I want to be more mindful about this. Let's face it, if I am traveling somewhere and see cupcakes or ramen that I haven't tried before, you can be sure that I will be having some. Note to self...everything in moderation.

Up next I'll show you more of what I AM eating these days instead of cupcakes and ramen. They say that absence makes the heart grow fonder. Not sure how I could be any more fond of cupcakes and ramen but we shall see.

From Biking to Cupcake

Well I didn't go running this morning. Believe it or not my legs have been sore since Wednesday from doing wall-balls. I did about 150 reps using a 4-pound ball and I had a hard time walking down the stairs for the next two days. I haven't ran since Monday. So today, I took my bike out of the garage for the first time in a very long time. It had cobwebs all over it and I think it needs to be oiled. It was really windy and cold today but I managed to get in 17 miles.

Biking always makes me really hungry, so when I got home I ate some leftover chicken salad that I made the other night with some chopped apples, celery, chicken, walnut and light mayo. I had not blogged about this meal because I did not have time, plus this dish is pretty self explanatory. I made this dish as a challenge from Sister K. She challenged me to turn our Thanksgiving leftover chicken breast meat into a totally different meal. Challenge accepted! I got raves from the Mister for this salad. Now it it all gone!

A couple of hours later, we went out for a proper lunch at Side Street Cafe. I ordered the Lunch Special, which is soup and half of a sandwich. The soup of the day was Split Pea. This is my first split pea soup...ever! And I loved it! Nice chunks of carrots and ham but it would have been good all on it's own. The sandwich was just okay. I went with the Club which had turkey, ham and bacon. The bacon was good but I took out the ham and turkey because the ham was cold and the shredded turkey was really dry.

And since we were in the area we stopped by Susie Cakes where their bakers were busy bringing the holidays to life. Yummy edible life!

I did something unheard of, I got a mini instead of a regular size cupcake. I'm trying to be good. This was heavenly. It is just perfection!

Crush Cakes Cupcakery - Santa Barbara, CA

Crush Cakes is a little cafe/cupcakery located in Santa Barbara and it was where we went to grab a quick bite to eat after our horseback riding adventure last week. If you have ever been horseback riding, you know what an appetite you can work up. Was it just me? I was working my core good, trying not to fall off the horse. So I was quite hungry by the time we made it here for lunch.

So I had read good things about their cupcakes so I was really excited! 

This is the cafe side where you can order breakfast items, custom coffee drinks and salads and sandwiches.

I started with an Arnold Palmer, which is half lemonade and half ice tea. Today's tea was berry flavored. Yum!

M ordered a hot chocolate...pretty!

Other people's food...this was D's order.

This was Sister K's food.

M ordered the Hangover Helper. He must've been hung over from all that horseback riding. @_@

I ordered this tuna melt but I am strange so I asked for no cheese. Not much of a melt was had but believe it or not, this was one amazing tuna sandwich! The balsamic dressing that came with the side salad was the most amazing thing I've had in a long time. I ended up dipping my sandwich in the dressing as well. My plate was completely empty by the time I was done eating. Well except for those two toothpicks. Yes, it was plate licking good. This sandwich is something to write home about!

And this is the Cupcakery side of this restaurant!

I'm like a kid in a candy store when I see cupcakes!

I got a Red Velvet, a Peanut Butter and a Lemon one (for M). Red Velvet and PB are my go-to flavors when trying out a new cupcake place.

I have to say that I didn't care for these cupcakes. They were really sweet and I don't really like it when the frosting is whipped. Can there be such a thing as too much frosting...for me...this is too much. Cake to frosting ratio was off. The PB one went over better but not by much. I guess I'm spoiled or have eaten too many cupcakes to know when I don't like them. Either way, I couldn't finish these and was sad that I had to throw the leftovers out since we were on the move that day. This place has very good reviews on Yelp so maybe it is just me and my finicky taste-buds. If you are ever in Santa Barbara, come here and try them for yourself. Make sure you order something from the cafe side too!

Crush Cakes Cupcakery
1315 Anacapa Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101-2028
(805) 963-9353

Running 14 Miles 4 Cupcakes

Happy Saturday! I had a long run this morning and was suppose to wake up at 5:30 but I slept in a bit and didn't get started on my long run until 7:30. I was so lucky that it was an overcast day so it wasn't too hot the entire time I was out running. I had 19 miles on the schedule but my legs had other plans. I did manage to get in 14 miles but my legs and feet were really tired. I decided that was good enough since I have a half marathon coming up next weekend. Who else is running America's Finest City Half?

After my run, I headed to the farmers market to pick up some groceries. Fresh eggs from Gama Farm, oh how I've missed you. Grocery store eggs just do not compare. These are at least 1.5 to 2 times larger and the yolk is brilliant yellow. But how does it taste, simply amazing!

Some water spinach because I LOVE this stuff.

I also picked up some plums which are so sweet right now.

And this...

I picked up a hunk of Roquefort cheese a few weeks ago at the Cowgirl Creamery and I am dying to have some in a salad. I am going to make an epic salad for dinner on Monday. As a note, I am able to tolerate this cheese because it is made from goat's milk plus I've heard that the mold used to cultivate this cheese is good bacteria! Well, at least I'd like to believe they are good. :)

I picked out these pretty purple flowers that the florist informed me were called Dahlias. Now I know!

Aren't they gorgeous?

Then I headed to Susie Cakes to check out their 5th Birthday Party celebration. They had a DJ spinning beach music out front and beach decorate throughout the store. 

And number 5 cookies!

They were busy in there today because...

...the first 50 people to make a purchase got a complimentary pack of 6 mini red velvet cupcakes. So now my regular size red velvet cupcakes have some mini companions! ;)

Happy 5th Birthday to Susie Cakes and 4th Birthday to my Blog! Nothing says "happy" and "birthday" quite like cake...make that red velvet cupcakes!

Teddy: Momma, seems like you look for any reason to eat cupcakes.

Flavors of Laguna Food Tasting and Cultural Tour - Part 2

If you missed part 1 of this tour, you must go back and read it! Go now!

Our next tasting was at Zinc Cafe.

They have a cute shaded patio area that I can definitely see myself having brunch at. I didn't take a photo because it was full of people that I'm sure did not want to end up on this blog.

Zinc Cafe is a full service restaurant with deli cases full of pre-made goodies that you can take to-go. They also have a coffee and juice bar. Yes, I can definitely see myself coming back soon.

Our tasting was this Summer salad of sorts with corn, black beans, purple onions, cilantro in a light vinaigrette. I thought this was okay. I probably wouldn't order it usually but I can see how this would make for a refreshing and light lunch for me during the work week when I am trying to eat healthier.

Next up was a cupcake stop at Casey's Cupcakes!! Casey can best be described as a baking Barbie doll. Seriously! She was the first Food Network Cupcake Wars winner! That's a lot of street cred there.

Come check out the inside! So cute it will give you cavities.

So this is Casey!

Oh Sister K, you are just too cute!

Red Velvet (back), Sassy Strawberry (right) and Decadent Dark Chocolate (left) - I had a red velvet one. It was okay but I think I need to go back and sample another one before I give my opinion. The tasting was too small. I loved the addition of this cupcake stop on the tour. It provided that little something sweet that we were all craving.

Casey's Cupcakes
303 Broadway Street
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
(949) 715-8245

Our next cultural stop was the Murphy-Smith Bungalow used for various purposes during Prohibition, okay so it was used for drinking. This is another one of those original structures of Laguna Beach. When we first got to the site, the building was not yet opened to the public so we walked on and came back a little bit later (an hour past opening time) and they were still not opened. So we never got to see the inside but it had all it's original fixtures and furniture. I spied with my crocheting eye a granny square quilt draped over a chair. I was probably the only one jazzed about that. Pretty sure I was.

Our next tasting stop was the Ocean Avenue Restaurant & Brewery.

For beer tasting! It started out like this...

Which turned into this...

...and pretty soon there was toasting and glasses sliding on the bar top. Everyone was laughing and having a good ol' time and I was the DD. Awesome!

 All's well that ends well!

M got some cheesecake since it was his birthday weekend. I couldn't have this either. It was a sad stop! 

Ocean Avenue Brewery and Restaurant
237 Ocean Avenue
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
(949) 497-3381

I have to comment that I finally broke in those Skechers Resistance Runners. I don't think I am going to use these for running but they are really awesome for walking around in. I have to say that on this four hour tour that turned into a five hour tour, not once during the five hours did my feet or back ache. They were amazingly cushion-y. I should have wore these walking around in SF but I had never wore them before the trip and had no idea how they would handle that much walking around but they are awesome shoes. Love <3!

Moving on! Cultural lesson time! Ah beautiful Laguna Beach with your ability to attract both young and old, active and leisure beach goers and let's not forget sober and drunk. Laguna is a small patch of beach that for some reason people love to cram into. It is always a madhouse in that area during the summer.

This is where Laguna Canyon meets the PCH and traffic at this intersection is crazy at times.

Actually this was the place of the cultural stop not the board walk part. This is the Greeter's Corner Restaurant.

See inscription below on why he is posed this way.

Our final tasting was at the Pizza Lounge across from Hotel Laguna. Good pizza! I'm not an expert at pizza by any means but this place smelled so good, looked clean and has a huge selection of pizzas.

Pizza Lounge
397 S Coast Hwy

Laguna Beach, CA 92651

(949) 497-2277

Our final stop was the Wyland Galleries.

Why was the Wyland Galleries our final stop...well because at the back of the gallery is this amazing view! 

You just can't beat this blue sky!!

For more info: Flavors of Laguna Food Tasting and Cultural Tour

***I purchased discount tickets for this tour through Goldstar.