Hey guys, hope your week is off to a great start!
First off, thank you so much for all of the love and support you showed me on my last post. I really can’t express how much it means to me, but rest assured that if I could, I’d fly out to see each and every one of you just so I could give you a huge hug. And a cookie… because no one likes a guest that comes around empty handed, right? But since my private jet is currently undergoing some repairs (I wish), I’m afraid you’re going to have to settle for my heartfelt thanks and no cookie. But maybe I can tempt you with a slice of freshly baked apple cake instead?
I usually go over to my parents’ house for dinner on Sunday nights, and I guess my mom must have felt bad about forcing me to do manual labor on Saturday because she baked up a delicious szarlotka (traditional Polish apple cake/pie/tart) for dessert, and all I can say is: Mom, all is forgiven…
There’s nothing quite like a warm, flakey, buttery, ooey, gooey slice of heaven to end the weekend, especially when you can enjoy it alongside one of your favorite movies, which just so happened to be playing on TV last night…
Hakuna matata.
So I know I ended yesterday’s post saying that I’d be sharing my ED story with you guys today, but I started writing it and quickly realized that it was going to become epic in length – a little too long for a single blog post. I didn’t want to drag it out over multiple posts, or force anyone to read through a novel about my struggles with an eating disorder if they weren’t interested, so I decided to scrap the idea of blogging about it and just put it on my ‘About’ page when I [eventually] finish writing it – some time this week for sure. Besides, I wanted to take part in Katie’s MIMM because I think it’s a great way to start out the week. So without further ado, a few marvelous things…
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Gorgeous Fall weather…
After pretty much a week straight of rain, wind, doom, and gloom, it finally warmed up this weekend and I couldn’t be happier. My mood tends to depend a lot on the weather, and a lack of sun/warmth makes it seriously hard to keep myself upbeat. I swear I need to move to Hawaii or something – Alberta weather is too moody for my tastes.
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Finding Barney Butter in Canadaland…
I first tried this almond butter when I picked up a jar while I was down in the States over the summer, and instantly fell in love. Sadly, none of the stores near me carried it, but the gods of nut butter must have heard my prayers because lookit what I found on my last trip to the grocery store. Squeeee.
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Little reminders of a great vacation…
Come on, can you seriously look at her and not smile? I miss Disneyland…
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One of my favorite books becoming a movie…
November 21. Can.not.wait. I must have read this book at least a dozen times and I’m so excited to see it being adapted to the big screen. All I can say is they better not screw it up… Check out the official site to sneak a peak.
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Freedom…
I know I’m going to start sounding like a broken record pretty soon, but being able to enjoy food [relatively] guilt free is something I still can’t get over – it makes me kind of giddy in the same way that having my physical health back does. There was absolutely nothing healthy about this cake, which is probably why it tasted so damn amazing 😆 There’s definitely something to be said about desserts that that use plain old butter, sugar, and flour… you just can’t healthify that kind of deliciousness and expect it to taste the same.
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Does the weather affect your mood? Ugh yes. I always get hit with SAD around the middle of winter.
What’s your take on ‘real’ desserts? Are they part of a healthy diet? Do you enjoy them on a regular basis?
I am definitely a lover of the sunshine. My mood always ends up nose-diving midway through winter too. If it wasn’t so gosh darn gloomy here during the cold months, it wouldn’t be so bad, but it has to be cold AND gray? Ugh, hate it!
I don’t do “real” desserts on a regular basis since I’m not really a sweets lover anyway, but I do indulge every once in a while…usually around the holidays. I just have to make sure not to OVERindulge, because then I start craving sugar like CRAZY! So weird how our bodies do that!
Enjoying good food is one of the best ways to relax and unwind. The Apple Cake looks really delicious!
I am Polish too! My dad immigrated from Poland ass a kid! I always eat polish food like cabbage rolls, soups and beef goulash but I have never had that cake!! I have to ask about it!!
You definitely should, because Polish desserts are to.die.for 😀
uh, that apple pie/cake/tart looks crazyy good. like i kind of want to lick my screen right now. but that might be a little weird and i don’t exactly want my saliva on my computer screen.
but, yay that they sell barney butter where you live! I loveee barney butter! – especially the crunchy one.
I think weather affects my mood, but only to a certain extent. I don’t live in a place that has the coldest winters or many dark/dreary days, so whenever those come along I always seem to enjoy them. They make me feel all cozy in the house and I kind of just want to sit around and relax with a cup of coffee or tea.
Um, I’d totally take that apple pie.. or the cookie.. or the hug 😀 And I’m SO glad you found Barney Butter! Is it not just the bessst?!
Your apple cake looks amazing! And I get SAD during the winter too— it’s gotten better now that I take a vitamin d supplement, but I’m dreading mid-february when i know it will be back again…
SERIOUSLY that cake looks amazing. Barney butter is my favorite almond butter! Overcoming food fears is amazing. I can agree. All I do now is eat foods I love and change up what I eat (sort of) but it feels good to finally NOT worry about every single morsel.
And I am the same way.. halfway through winter I get a huge dip in my mood
Embrace overcoming that fear! I think that is amazing, and we should celebrate all that success! Yay for the Lion King. That made me smile:) I love enjoying those classics that I loved as a kid! I can’t believe you found barney butter in Canada!! Jealous. Where did you find that gem? Okay, I haven’t read that book yet but now I totally want to! I love getting lost in good books!
I found it in Save-On Foods, and you definitely need to pick up that book! It’s seriously such a good read.
Weather DEFINITELY affects my mood. Too much so.
You’re not a broken record – enjoy it all, girl!
Enjoying food guilt free IS freedom. Its such an incredible and beautiful feeling, especially after so many years of the guilt. 🙂
As for that pie…holy yum. Does your mom want to send me some? 😉
And can you send me some of that rainy cruddy weather you were having?! This 90 degree stuff is no fun for me anymore! I have too many cute clothes I want to wear lol
With pleasure! You’re welcome to all of our cruddy weather! I’ll even send half a pie along with it!
I find my mood being effected by the weather depending on what’s going on in my life. Lately it’s been a struggle with the gloomy days because I have other issues affecting my mind. I am so jazzed you are loving dessert these days!! I NEVER settle for a half ass dessert. I lovee real deal full fat sweets!
I am so happy you joined in for MIMM again! Thank you!
The pie looks fab! I am sad both of our pies were missing ice cream!
I do get sad with the cold weather, if the sun is shining and it’s cold, all good!
Love ya girl!
That dessert looks freakin’ delicious. And you don’t sound repetitve at all, I love hearing about your amazing progress.
You don’t sound like a broken record at all. Overcoming a fear is such a wonderful accomplishment. Embrace it as much as possible girl xo
Apple is by far my favorite dessert flavor 🙂 O and I am mega excited for Life of Pi. I actually disliked the book because of how disturbing it was, but the way it made me think! OMG some of my best AP English essays came from that book!
I’m still not entirely sure which story to believe… the one with the animals or the one without…
OMG I know! I am interested to see how the movie portrays it!
Mmm that apple pie looks amazing! I know what you mean about feeling so happy about being free from your ED. I remember this summer after I went to a food festival where I stuffed my face with fried foods and desserts all afternoon long, I just sat in my car and smiled to myself for the longest time. Life is so much better on the other side!
Also that’s so awesome you found Barney Butter in Canada! Luckily I still have a few jars from my trip to the US, but I’m going to be sad when I run out!
Girl, I baked the banana bread from your recipes today, and it was absolutely delish! You are wonderfully talented and insightful 🙂
Have a great great day xo
Thanks for letting me know! I’m really glad you enjoyed it 😀
freeing, yes, a good feeling. I think food shared with love nourishes us more. If we let it. I still can’t have gluten, but when we have family meals together, they always nourish me with their love. Plus they usually buy me a special dessert, tee hee.
i’ve been seriously craving some sort of apple dessert lately. so i’m officially jealous of this gorgeous apple cake! looks great and i’m happy you got to indulge – guilt free!
I am so excited to make apple crisp this season!
I love the marvellousness shown in this post – and yes, Minnie Mouse is cute! There even used to be a Minnie Mouse magazine published around here when I was younger and I sure was a fan – imagine my sadness when it was discontinued.
Fall hasn’t been treating us too well as of late and I can sure tell it has put a damper on my mood. But hey, it’s predicted to get as warm as 32°F on Thursday – reason enough to celebrate :D. Not looking forward to winter, though.
Real desserts definitely are part of a healthy diet though – due to living too far away – I haven’t had any of my mum or grandma’s baked goods lately. However, once I get to visit them again I want to let myself have a real treat. Sugar is making an appearance in daily life – oooh, chocolate! – still. I simply keep ignoring articles telling me about the evils of sugar because I think I don’t consume extreme amounts – and life’s too short to worry that much.
Oh, also: I think I’d actually enjoy raking leaves because it reminds me of my childhood :).
Definitely don’t pay those kind of articles too much attention. I cut sugar out of my life completely for a long time and I don’t remember being any healthier for it. In fact, I think I was more miserable and worse off than ever. Life needs to be sweet 🙂
Yes, it definitely needs to be!
Sorry for posting twice, by the way – the website wasn’t showing my first post so I tried it again. Woops!
That apple cake looks epic! I love a good proper dessert but they do tend to be rarer for me because usually when I bake something I can’t just stop at one piece! I am getting better at it and one area I’ve done really well in is always eating something that someone else has baked and offered me a piece off. Life is too short. Oh and there’s a new bakery in my city which do a salted caramel cupcake and my word that has my name on it!
The moment I read your comment tonight, I had to rush over here and see the amazing cake you described! Oh. My. Goodness. It did not disappoint! 😀 As you already know, I can completely relate to the peaceful feeling that comes with the freedom of being able to enjoy a *real* dessert without a side of guilt. That feeling is even more satisfying than the taste of the dessert itself. Errr….okay, maybe that’s not true. I guess it depends on just how *amazing* the dessert is. 😉
There is so much happiness in this post. From the Lion King (one of the best movies ever), to The Life of Pi (one of the best books ever…soon to be one of the best movies ever, too?), to smooth Barney Butter (swoon), I’m all smiles. Happy Monday, Amanda! <3
Love dessert. That apple cake looks amazing!!! My Grandma lived into her 90s and she always told me she enjoyed eating whatever she wanted and never regretted it!
Grandmas are pretty much geniuses 😉
Reading a post like this instantly puts a smile on my face- and hence is a great way to start the day :)! Being able to enjoy real desserts is definitely marvelous! I used to be all about healthifying desserts but they would just leave me unsatisfied and wanting more. If I”m going to indulge my sweet tooth, I rather go big…even if that means just a few bites of real dessert in all its glory! I keep seeing these “protein cakes/muffins” on other blogs and although some might actually enjoy them, they aren’t for me- I rather my desserts not contain Stevia & protein powder, thank you very much!
Ohhhh… I’ll come do manual labor for you mom if she’ll make me that cake too!
The Lion King truuuly is fantastic. Ugh, when Mufasa dies, my <3= shattered to pieces. It gets me every time!
You got me hooked on Lush lip scrubs BTW:). I got the limited edition Christmas popcorn one this weekend, it smells so dang good.
Xxx
!! I didn’t know their Christmas line was out already! Good thing I’m running out of shampoo… gives me an excuse to go shopping 😉
I was giddy the second I read the title of this blog post because I knew exactly what you were talking about! I read Life of Pi a few years ago and loved it! I’m going to try and re-read it again before the movie comes out because I barely remember the details 🙁 And plus, your interpretation of a book changes with your age (I swear it does…one of the beautiful reasons that reading is so wonderful) and I want to see if my thoughts/feelings change! And yes, they better not screw up the movie!!!
Where in Edmonton did you find Barney Butter?! Save-On? Safeway? Planet Organic? Blush Lane? I live in this dumb city too (referring to the stupidly cold and snowy winters)… Message me girl!
P.S The apple cake looks awesome 🙂
Save-On 😀 Just be sure to leave some for me 😉
BARNEY BUTTER IN CANADA? (all caps cause that’s how excited I am). I didn’t even think that was possible!
I am all about the real desserts! I try to limit it to a weekend thing, because otherwise I should be shoveling ice cream or cake in my face every day – massive, massive sweet tooth. Desserts last weekend were froyo and cake. But there is absolutely nothing wrong with sugary indulgences once in a while – a square of dark chocolate and some fruit just won’t always cover it, you know?
Where did you find the almond butter in this city? I guess maybe planet organic? That’s the only place that I can see carrying it.
I tried to read Life of Pi years ago and couldn’t get into it…maybe I need to give it another chance since it’s so loved by so many people.
It actually wasn’t Planet Organic, surprisingly enough. I found it in Save-On Foods.
helloo 😉 ohhh my gosh first off where did you find the barney butter? i’ve never had it…which store? i know different provinces have specific ones but was it at one of the main ones (sobeys, loblaws, metro, etc or any of their connections)? ohh too excited ;P about something i’ve never had so i should probably just slow down. but that apple cake looks so amazing, and just authentic, traditional, i guess your background is polish? that’s neat 🙂 i don’t think we have any specific meals that relate to my background, except like random scottish or british things, often not that good. i mean we have family recipes and have always (or at least my immediate family) grown up with ‘anne lindsay’s recipes, so sort of healthy but i remember having desserts and just family/comfort food growing up on occasion as well. it just made sense, it was a part of growing up. anyway, i hope you have a lovely night 🙂 and i have never read life of pi…which isn’t a good thing as i absolutely love (well, i need to really) read, and i feel ashamed that i’ve never read it. i don’t know what it’s about though so im going to check it out. but im aware of it, ever since it came out i think. xox
Hi Jen! <3 I actually found the Barney Butter in Save-On Foods, and I don't blame you for getting excited because I kind of have a mini freak out whenever I see something new on the shelves 😉 And I definitely know what you mean about having comfort foods that just take you back to your childhood. The apple cake was something I ate while growing up as well, so enjoying it now brought back so many warm and cozy memories. I definitely recommend giving it a shot 🙂
I am all about real desserts. I saw a website recently with black bean and spinach brownies and thought, “I’d rather eat a black bean and spinach burrito or something, and then a real brownie for dessert.” Yup.
Looked for Puffins today, and they’re almost six dollars for a box. Oh well. Going to wait until they’re on sale, but for now picked out a few boxes of new-to-me types of Kashi cereal. I’ve been craving cereal for breakfast lately.
Love that cute little Minnie!
Yeah some places sell Puffins for ridiculous prices. There’s a place here that sells them for close to 7, but if you shop around you might be able to find them for cheaper. The store I go to sells them for 4, and sometimes they go on sale for even cheaper. Still, you can’t go wrong with Kashi 😀
WHAT THE FREAKING CRAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LIFE OF PI IS GONNA BE A MOVIE!?!?!??!?!! What rock have I been living under?!?!?! That’s my absolute favorite book of all time, you have no idea how excited I am right now!!!!!! 😀
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to go dance for joy in the street haha
😀 That was my exact reaction when I first found out.
Okay, there was definitely something healthy in that cake! APPLES! 😀 And actually, my parents still always have to remind me that fat is good for you (which I know, but still tend to avoid unless it’s really unavoidable if that makes sense). They always say things like, “All those vitamins you take can’t even be properly absorbed by your body if you don’t have enough fat! EAT SOME BUTTER!” lol.
And I must say that the weather definitely messes with me too. If it’s only one random gloomy day, I’m usually fine with it and actually sort of enjoy it becuase it’s different. But I can’t stand cold weather in general!
You know that we’re both Polish 😉 So when it comes to desserts, I look to family for “proof” that they really are part of a normal, healthy, balanced diet. We don’t have them EVERY DAY. But to bake something gooey and delicious for the weekend and have it for the next two days or so has never put anyone in my family for example in the overweight category! And we all know how bad it gets if you deny yourself these pleasures in the long run…. moderation is key.
This! Different people have very different ideas of what healthy means. If you ask me, this szarlotka was healthy. Homemade, wholesome, not stuffed with preservatives, fake flavours and colorants. What more could you ask for?
This reminds me of a popular school lunch blog where kids give health ratings to their lunches and they take points for eating cheese (fat) or bananas (sugar). I don’t know who told them these foods are bad but they need a second opinion.
Hehe my mom always tells me the exact same thing about fat. Gotta love Polish parents 😀 And Polish desserts, too 😉
Freedom is right. I feel the same way when I enjoy the amazing taste of something i had not allowed myself when I was sick. love this post
I love the marvellousness shown in this post – and yes, Minnie Mouse is cute! There even used to be a Minnie Mouse magazine published around here when I was younger and I sure was a fan – imagine my sadness when it was discontinued.
Fall hasn’t been treating us too well as of late and I can sure tell it has put a damper on my mood. But hey, it’s predicted to get as warm as 32°F on Thursday – reason enough to celebrate :D. Not looking forward to winter, though.
Real desserts definitely are part of a healthy diet though – due to living too far away – I haven’t had any of my mum or grandma’s baked goods lately. However, once I get to visit them again I want to let myself have a real treat. Sugar is making an appearance in daily life – oooh, chocolate! – still. I simply keep ignoring articles telling me about the evils of sugar because I think I don’t consume extreme amounts – and life’s too short to worry that much.
omg, that cake looks delicious 😀 and I’ve never heard of Barney Butter, but I do love almond butter… what makes this kind special?
Well aside from tasting delicious (it has some added sugar and salt), I really love it because it’s made in a peanut-free facility (I have allergies) whereas a lot of other almond butters “may contain traces of peanuts”. Plus, our variety of nut butters isn’t as impressive up here in Canada, so I just get excited whenever I see something new 😀
You don’t sound like a broken record to me! Overcoming food fears is so overwhelmingly liberating, I wouldn’t blame you for shouting it from the rooftops! Although I’m not sure the blog world would hear you.. 😉
Just out of curiosity, did you consider yourself free from your food fears at the time that you were blogging before you took a break? I’m just wondering if you discovered this freedom while not blogging, or if it was something wayyy from your past. Aaaand feel free not to answer if i’m being too nosy 🙂
Before I took a break? Not entirely – there were still a lot of things I felt uncomfortable eating, and even when I did eat them, there was none of that carefree enjoyment that I feel now. I don’t really think that my blogging break had much to do with it, though. This was pretty much the way I was before I got sick, so I guess enough time and effort just helped me get back to it 🙂
No way, you found Barney’s butter in Canada?! I am so jealous, I am going to have to keep my eyes peeled for it because I have always wanted to try it! I have always wanted to read LIfe of Pi but still haven’t. I will definitely have to read it before I see the movie! I look forward to reading your story, when you get it up on the about you page!