Ayyy, I spent all day yesterday doing homework for my group presentation tonight. As I worked, I snacked. Homework and snacks are a match made in heaven. Am I right, or am I right?
I transferred Brigitte’s no-bake-cookies-and-cream birthday cake from its foil tin to covered tupperwares to allow for easier stacking. And then I licked the tin and the foil:
And I also had this little end of the 2nd to last log of cake because it “didn’t fit” in the tupperware:
I munched on a fresh pineapple core while chopping (and nibbling on) the rest:
I made crockpot oats for the week and “sampled” some of the ingredients that you see here while I prepped, because have you ever been able to resist of pile of chopped dates and toasted almonds just sitting in front of you? Didn’t think so.
After all of that food-prep snacking, dinner ended up being a pretty light (and late) affair. I had about 1/2 cup of this week’s oatmeal concoction (details to come in my next post) piping hot and straight out of the crockpot, topped with some Heather-inspired chocolate mousse and 1 tbsp vanilla-almond granola:
To make the mousse, I combined about 2/3 cup cooked whole wheat couscous (left over from roommate Tara’s lunches last week) with 1/2 an avocado, 1 tsp maple cream, 2 tbsp soymilk, and 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder:
And because I couldn’t stop and I’m a volume fiend, I also added 1 tbsp peanut butter, 1/4 cup plain yogurt, 1/4 cup healthy cream cheese icing, and 1/4 cup pumpkin. Post-immersion blending:
Hmm, looks suspiciously like chocolate frosting, right? These proportions made about 1 1/4 cups of mousse. I half-froze 1/4 cup, and that’s what I used to top my hot dinner oats. It was like an ice cream brownie sundae … except not on a brownie.
Anyway, the mousse was delicious, and I am now the world’s biggest fan of this avocado trick. Thanks, Heather!
Do you eat while you cook?
Tales of Expansion: Baby Butternut Edition 
CAAAAAAAAKE!! 😀
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Sarah, you are so welcome, but thank you for all of those add-in ideas! Oh my gosh, I bet your mousse tasted amazing half frozen on top of your oats. I’m totally drooling right now!
I have try to keep nibbling to a minimum while I’m cooking so that I can sit down and savor every bite. That being said, I will confess to being a total spoon licker…especially when nut butter is called for in the recipe. 🙂
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I’m intrigued by the avocado trick!
and licking the cake pan/foil is totally one of life’s guitless guilty pleasures 🙂
I try not to snack while cooking, but if I’m super hungry I will . . . and if I’m baking, I must, MUST sample the batter!!!
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I also agree snacks/homework go together great!
I’m looking forward to the crockpot oatmeal. I’ve always wanted to try that, but I love oatmeal super creamy, and I always think it won’t turn out that way in the crockpot.
Maybe add more water??
I’ve had oatmeal every morning for the last week, and making it ahead sounds like a great idea!
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I don’t usually anack when I cook, just lots of tasting WHILE I cook. I forever under salt my food!
Hope your presentation goes well!!
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Of course I eat while I cook! Haha, I didn’t know people didn’t. I suppose it is a novel idea.
That mousse looks amazing!
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heck yeah 🙂 that oatmeal looks divine!!
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That mousse looks marvelous!! Yum!!
Before I jumped on the weight watchers bandwagon, I definitely ate while I cooked. Now, I really don’t. The exception is when I need to give a little taste to balance out seasonings. There is also an exception for licking mixing bowls and beaters. Good thing I don’t make sweets more than about once a week!
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That mousse sounds like a great trick!! I’m dying to hear about your new crock pot oats creation!!! 🙂
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that cake looks so good…still. every time i see it, I want it.
yes, I eat while cooking, but it depends on what I’m cooking! i have to taste stuff, though.
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Yes, you’re right. I am already thinking about lunch snacks for my later studying sesh 🙂
I eat while I cook but usually the ingredients I’m putting in my food, like carrots or spinach while chopping them up
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I definitely agree that snacks make everything better! When I was in school I was notorious for my snacks. I had to have them though to keep me awake in class!
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OOOOOH mah gawd I would have been in that empty cake tin head first.
Can’t wait to hear the oats combo – the frosting looks scrumptrilescent!
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LOL I’m often not too hungry by the time dinner is ready because I pick so much during the process. Then it tastes good and I stuff myself!
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What a great question – HECK YEAAAAH i eat while i cook!! Hey! A great chef needs to sample everything they make right??? Most of the time, it’s pretty harmless stuff…like the raw ignredeints, a couple spoonfuls of the final product…it gets me hyped for actually getting to eat it. 🙂 I’m on your team – I LOOOOVE pinapples. Fresh and frozen!! I totally am guilty of munching on them all night yesterday. 😛
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I try not too, but I nibble:)
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I can snack without doing homework no problem, but when it comes to doing the homework I MUST have a snack.
That mousse looks like perfection!
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I can’t get over the cake and the mousse — I am all about these textures! Can you cook for me one day?!
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Oooooyum-that mousse looks so good right now,especially since I’m fasting tonight for blood work tomorrow. Can’t wait to make some when I get home afterwards. Love,Mom
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