Hey everyone! I hope you all had a good weekend, I certainly did! If you missed it, here is my weekly workout roundup, posted yesterday.
On Friday I got lunch with a few friends, and afterwards walked around and did a little shopping. Well, Kelsey did shopping and I just found every way possible to look ridiculous:
I would like to note that Kelsey purchased that tiny hat.
On Saturday, Kelsey, Lindsay and I went out for lunch with Emily for her birthday! We had lunch at Tweet, where I ordered a Caprese omelet, and the most amazing gluten free cinnamon raisin bread (unpictured) on the side.
Since Tweet was in Uptown, we checked out Emily’s favorite Asian grocery store on our way back to the Red Line. We had a blast walking around and checking out all of the products (and live fish and crustaceans!).
We all ended up walking out with at least one Kobucha squash, so in true blogger form we had to get our picture taken:
It was great spending so much time with my friends!
Another great part of my weekend? Making this Peanut Cashew Butter!
I wanted to bring everyone a little gift from my Vitamix, so I found this recipe on the Vitamix website.
Ingredients:
2 cups roasted cashews (I used 50% salted from Trader Joe’s)
2 cups roasted peanuts (I used unsalted)
Directions:
BLEND! For the vitamix, start at variable 1 on low, slowly increase and then switch to high. If you don’t have a Vitamix, you can always make nut butters in a food processor. Just be sure to use a spatula to push the butter down the side until it’s all mixed in together.
Obviously I had to share with my friends!
Have you ever been to an Asian grocery?
Have you ever made your own nut butter? What flavor would you make if you could?
OOH I used to make it all the time in our VITAMIX.
somehow Ive gotten away from the homemade!
It’s so fast and easy! I just need more jars…
What a fun meet up! I don’t go to Asian grocery stores very often but you’ve just inspired me to do so because I’ve been searching for kabocha squash everywhere and can’t find it – so maybe an Asian grocery store will have some!
They might! Emily said it was the only place she could find them
I’ve never made my own nut butter. My blender can barely blend smoothies, so I doubt it’d be able to make nut butter!
No, definitely don’t try it in a blender! A food processor can do it though
I tried to make my own almond butter and I broke my dang food processor!! Boo!!
Oh no!!! Boooo
I can never find kabocha at my regular grocery store…I should look at the Asian grocery near me!
I really need to get a (good) food processor. I would love to make my own nut butters at home.
You should, they can do a lot! My sister in law got one for Christmas and loves it
No I’ve never been to an Asian grocery store, but I’m intrigued!
And yes, I just made coconut cashew butter last week. That peanut & cashew butter sounds wonderful!
Ooooo I never thought to mix coconut with another nut!
Sounds like a great weekend! That nut butter looks amazing! Yum! I’ve made my own almond butter a few different times. I need to do it again! It’s cheaper and is always so delicious.
It is cheaper, and I’m hoping to make some fun flavors in the future!
I cannot stop eating that cashew butter I had to hide it in the cubbards!!
I love how we basically spent the whole weekend together. I missed you on Sunday 🙁
I missed you too! I had to do school work…
Also, I never did steal those pants…next time..
asian markets are always the best to explore for snacks and ingredients. sounds like a fun blogger date!
It’s a lot of fun to check out new grocery stores, especially such different ones
You are so sneaky with the camera!
The nut butter is fabulous, thanks for sharing :). I do think we need to make a girls night into a nut butter making party!
Definitely a girls night but butter party!
Also your pic of nutbutter in the vitamix looks like a butthole.
That’s inappropriate
I have seen kobucha squash all over the blog world lately, but have yet to try it. I really need to get with it before it goes out of season. Is it normally in most grocery stores or is it difficult to find?
That homemade peanut cashew butter sounds fabulous. Thanks for the recipe!
I love kobucha squash but finding it is really hit or miss. I found it at a Dominick’s all fall and then saw it at Whole Foods this Sunday, but sometimes I just can’t find it anywhere
Bahhh reason #209343 why I wish I had a food processor: so I could make my own nut butter. Yours looks fantastic!
Lol what are the other 209342 reasons??
Ohhhhh the nut butter looks awesome, I’ll have to snag this recipe and make it myself. I love cashew butter but it can be a little dull, I’m sure it’s perfect with a combo of peanuts. Looks like a fun weeekend. I just bought my first kabocha squash and I’m so excited to finally try it!
I agree, the peanuts really added some flavor to the cashew butter
I need that nut butter now! I’ve never been to an Asian grocery but I imagine it would be so fun!
Haha I have some left in my fridge!
Love the Asian grocery store for tofu, rice noodles, miso, shoyu, kukicha tea… The first time my husband took me to the one by us I couldn’t believe I hadn’t been going all along. I would love to be able to make my own almond butter!
Oh kabocha, how I miss you. I used to looooove that darned squash, but my stomach started to complain about the mass quantities that I ate it in so I’ve been taking a break. Roasted and topped with nut butter and cinnamon, though? Heavenly. And speaking of nut butter, I’ve never tried making my own for two reasons. One, I’m seriously afraid of breaking my appliance. I have a Vitamix, but the noise that the nuts make as they’re whirring around really scares me. And two, I’ve kind of found a brand of AB that I love, and I don’t think I’d be able to recreate it on my own. Still, the thought of being able to make something like a coconut almond butter sounds mighty appealing…
Haha it really makes a scary noise!!!
I just made almond butter in out blendtec. It was SOOO fast & easy. I was soooo very happy about that discovery! Aren’t our machines amazing?!
love the blogger/friend photo with squash. Amazing 🙂
We are SO lucky to have our blenders!
Hi! I found your blog on Carrots ‘N’ Cake. 🙂
I have never tried making my own nut butter, but with the amount of nut butter my fiance and I go through in a week I am thinking I should give it a try! We go through jars of peanut butter and almond butter like they are going out of style. Your peanut cashew butter looks delicious, and I’m thinking that I will have to try it myself.
I’m glad you found my blog, Renee!! And definitely give making your own a try, the only cost is a bag of nuts, which you can find pretty cheap in bulk
I have been obsessed with cashews and cashew butter lately! I’ve made my own nut butter a few times (almond, and peanut) but don’t have a vitamix and it takes a loooong time in the food processor. But still delicious!
I love making the cashew butter because it always seems to be more expensive!
Officially inspired to lug out my Vitamix and make some nut butter!
Try it, so easy!
Mmmm I have made my own nut butter! Maple almond butter and it was fabulous and I really have to make it again asap because you just reminded me how good it was 🙂
I can’t wait to try some flavored recipes like that!
That omelette caught my eye right off the bat and I could barely focus on the rest of this post 😉 YUM!
Haha it sure was good!
I definitely need to try making my own nut butter soon! It’s been on my list for awhile now.
Once you start you won’t be able to stop!
Sounds like you had a great weekend! I would love to make my own nut butter! I think I would make almond maple or almond coconut! I have attempted nut butters in my food processor but they never come out as smooth as I would like.
I’d never thought of doing coconut plus another nut but you and someone else suggested it, so I might give it a try!
Your captions made me laugh! Looks like such a fun time:)
Haha they make me laugh too 😉
Can’t wait to get home so I can have my left over squash!!! And the nut butter is FABULOUS!! Thank you!!!
I’m glad you like it!
What a fun weekend!
My husband has a crazy obsession with ramen so maybe I SHOULD go to an Asian grocery, I’ve never been.
I’ve never made my own nut butter either. I’m dying to make my own almond milk though!!!
Omg they had SO MANY noodles!!! Seriously, you should check one out!
I just got a food processor so I’ve been making nut butters like crazy! Yours looks amazing. I made sunflower seed butter–check it out here if you want! http://barefootbaker.blog.com/2013/02/07/homemade-sunflower-seed-butter/