food: this or that

August 20, 2012

Happy first day of school to me! The first day always goes by extremely quick, and the rest of the afternoon (it’s a half day for the kids) is spent in meetings and running around like a chicken with my head cut off trying to prepare things for the next upcoming days. Because of that, I wanted to keep things nice and light/fun this morning. A few weeks ago, I saw this fun survey over by Ashley’s blog, and I thought it would be fun to answer the same questions she did all about food preferences!

Mexican or Italian?

That’s a no brainer – Mexican food! I do love Italian, but since going gluten free I’ve found eating Mexican food is one of the easiest cuisines to eat when I go out. Bring on the guacamole and refried beans. Authentic = the best!

Chips or Fries?

Any kind of potato is a good thing in my book. If given the choice though, I’d probably go for fries – especially oven baked sweet potato fries!

Almond Butter or Peanut Butter?

If you would have asked me that eight months ago, I would have said hands down peanut butter. I used to be an almond butter hater, which makes me sad for my all time favorite nut. However, I’ve found that some almond butters just aren’t for me. I like making my own almond butter to get the perfect roasted flavor for me (not too dark!) and process it to my desired smoothness (not too drippy, but drippy enough – did that even make sense?).

my homemade almond butter

I’m an almond butter convert. I make a jar a week!

Cake or Brownie?

I’d probably pick cake just because I love frosting. My all time favorite cake is red velvet with cream cheese frosting. I’ve never attempted to make that one gluten free/dairy free before, and I don’t think I could ever perfect it. If anyone thinks they can, please tell me and send me one.

Strawberries or Blueberries?

Blueberries. I’ll definitely eat strawberries if they’re there, but it’s the one berry I’m not really too fond of. I couldn’t tell you why.

Thin crust pizza or Deep Dish Pizza?

I’m going to turn away all of my Chicago readers right now and say thin crust. I like my crust thin so I can load on the toppings – the crust is really just a vehicle to get the veggies/sauce into my mouth anyway.

Coffee or Tea?

Ugh. Can we stop reminding me about coffee? I <3 coffee. Love it. Don’t know what I would do without it. We’ve been trying to break up for the last two years and it’s just not working. I just love a good cup of joe!!!

Chicken or Steak?

Neither.

Milk Chocolate or Dark Chocolate?

I am a definite dark chocolate lover, but I certainly do not discriminate!

Apple or Orange?

Apple – there’s nothing like biting into a perfectly ripened crisp apple in the fall. They’re the best!

Question: You pick one!

{ 51 comments… read them below or add one }

Cait @ beyond bananas August 20, 2012 at 6:27 am

Happy first day back! Hope you have an awesome school year!!!

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Danielle @ Clean Food Creative Fitness August 20, 2012 at 6:28 am

Good luck on the first day back to school! I love these this or that surveys! I would totally pick apples over oranges too! Apples are my favorite fruit!

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Michelle Hunt (@PeachyPalate) August 20, 2012 at 6:39 am

Almond Butter all the way. Maranatha no stir almond butter and Justin’s Maple Almond are both incredible!

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Tiff @ Love Sweat and Beers August 20, 2012 at 6:49 am

Happy first day! I wish I was a thin crust girl, but I love the gooey goodness of thick n’ chewy pizza. Mmmmm

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Julie H. of Spinach and Sprinkles August 20, 2012 at 6:55 am

It’s my first day back too! …I don’t know to smile or frown- starting off this year is just so different- and hard. But, I love my kids and am SO excited to see them and hear all about their summers!
…..I am loving making my own almond butter now too! :) ….I make a mean cookie dough almond butter- ahhhh, heaven!

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tempesst August 20, 2012 at 6:57 am

there is a gluten free bakery in pittsburgh that sells red velvet cupcakes with a dairy free cream cheese icing!

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Colleen @ The Lunchbox Diaries August 20, 2012 at 7:01 am

Have a great first day, friend! :)

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Parita August 20, 2012 at 7:10 am

Thin crust pizza and dark chocolate all the way!!! I love these surveys. :)

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Becky (have turtle will travel) August 20, 2012 at 7:17 am

I have recently fallen for a new love- Justin’s Nut Butters, specifically Maple Almond Butter. I totally get you about not too drippy but drippy enough! The squeezy packs are perfect, and drip over a banana to make such an awesome snack.

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Angela @ Sleep and Repeat August 20, 2012 at 7:23 am

Sounds like it’ll be a crazy but fun day! enjoy :)

the only ones I disagree with you on here are cake vs. brownies and apples vs. oranges. I used to be a little allergic to apples so I’ll take oranges any day! And I prefer the density of brownies to the texture of cake. Wouldn’t exactly say no to either though!

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Sue August 20, 2012 at 7:25 am

Lovin’ that survey! In fact I loved it so much I translated it into German to use it on my own blog! Of course I gave you credit for it!
Have a great first day at school!

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Tracey Evans August 20, 2012 at 7:34 am

Hey There! Do you have a recipe for the almond butter you make? I searched your recipes and could not find it. Thanks! :)

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Lauren August 20, 2012 at 7:36 am

I definitely always choose coffee over tea. I can never really get into tea but I’ve always wanted to. Coffee always sounds so much more intense than a nice cup of tea. :)

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Chelsie @ Balance, Not Scale August 20, 2012 at 7:39 am

Good luck on your first day back!! Strange question for you — I always used to have trouble sleeping before the first day of school, and ALWAYS wondered if teachers ever had trouble sleeping before the first day too … How did you sleep last night? :)

Also - I second your thoughts on every single one of your This or That choices, and for many of the same reasons. Love it!! :)

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Ashley @ My Food 'N' Fitness Diaries August 20, 2012 at 7:52 am

Mmm I’m with you on the oven baked sweet potato fries! Love those things. I can relate when it comes to almond butter too. Now I have a tough time choosing which I like better!

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Ashley @ My Food 'N' Fitness Diaries August 20, 2012 at 8:51 am

OH! And red velvet + cream cheese frosting is easily my favorite cake too. It was our wedding cake! ;)

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Kaitlin @4loveofcarrots August 20, 2012 at 7:59 am

uhh Mexican I could eat it all day everyday, burritos and guac get in my belly! and coffee all the way :)

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Lindsey August 20, 2012 at 8:02 am

Hope you have a great day of school!
Mexican hands down, brownie, dark chocolate and apples are my picks!

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Nat August 20, 2012 at 8:07 am

I am a teacher as well, but in Canada…..Enjoy your first day back! Here in Toronto, Canada we don’t start back until the first Tuesday after Labour Day. However, I will be in to work this week and next getting my space all ready for the students!!! I love your blog….I am glad I stumbled upon it as I have been gluten free (celiac) for years now…..

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Brittany @ GOtheXtraMile August 20, 2012 at 8:15 am

I used to be peanut butter only as well. Now, I like almost every type of nut butter. It’s out of control!

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Jenny August 20, 2012 at 8:36 am

Happy 1st day of school! I’m so excited to start my first day next week (I’m student teaching!). It’s going to be such an adjustment transitioning in to packed lunches / snacks / dinners. I’d love to see a post on how you plan / prep your meals for work! :)

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Steph k. August 20, 2012 at 8:37 am

This Chicago native prefers thin crust too!

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Emily @ Perfection Isn't Happy August 20, 2012 at 8:46 am

I love strawberries and blueberries! I’m going to be sad when they go out of season!

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Averie @ Averie Cooks August 20, 2012 at 9:03 am

PB over AB, any day. And homemade PB trumps all others, too. Coffee over tea, dark over milk (actually never milk - only dark choc!), and you can put frosting on brownies. Gives you the best of all worlds….I do it all the time :) Cream cheese frosting on uber fudgy brownies is divine!

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Beks August 20, 2012 at 9:10 am

Cake or Brownie: As much as I love cake, I so prefer brownies, especially with walnuts. So fantastic!
PB or AB: PB all the way. I think I might have gotten a bad almond butter the time I tried it, so I bought almonds to make my own, and we’ll see.

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Kim August 20, 2012 at 9:20 am

Thank you so much for your awesome blog! I am a fellow gluten free eater and recent convert to a meat free diet. I have been looking everywhere for real, easy and yummy recipes….and here you are!!! I also really enjoy the authenticity of your posts, comments and anecdotes!! Thank you , thank you, thank you!!!!!

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Marina@Picnic at Marina August 20, 2012 at 9:25 am

First day of school for us too. Oh how did I want to sleep in today…:)
Tea is for me, many cups per day, all kind of teas: green, white, oolong (my second favorite), herbal, rooibos, and my all time favorite: aged pu-erh tea. I stopped drinking coffee a few years ago, I just came to coffee maker with my cup and realized I don’t want any…
Love the way your blog looks now. I think I haven’t been here the whole summer (shame on me, I know!) :)

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Natalie August 20, 2012 at 9:33 am

Definitely almond butter for me! Recently discovered it after YEARS (like since birth) of enjoying and loving peanut butter. My fave treat now for sure is almond butter spread on a rice cake with semi-sweet chocolate morsels. The thing is that it’s hard to stop with just 1!

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Caralyn @ glutenfreehappytummy August 20, 2012 at 9:35 am

best of luck on your first day! have so much fun:) and i’m definitely an Almond Butter convert too! But even more - cashew butter!!!! ;)

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Rachel August 20, 2012 at 10:06 am

I’m with you on the almond butter.. I used to be totally into peanut butter, but lately it’s been all about the almond butter for me :)

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DaNelle August 20, 2012 at 10:17 am

Do you have an almond butter recipe on your site? My husband’s been beggin’ me to make some!

DaNelle recently posted…Why I changed my mind about Homeschooling

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Erica @ For the Sake of Cake August 20, 2012 at 10:34 am

Hope the first day goes well!

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Justeen @ Blissful Baking August 20, 2012 at 11:05 am

I feel the same way about strawberries!

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Sam @ Better With Sprinkles August 20, 2012 at 11:50 am

Happy first day back! It’s crazy for me to see you guys going back to school - In Canada we don’t go back until September (I think September 4th?)

I’ve never tried a gluten free cake, but there’s a vegan/gluten free bakery at my farmers market that I’m kind of obsessed with. Their whoopie pie kind of makes my life. :-)

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kim@hungryhealthygirl August 20, 2012 at 12:23 pm

Hope your first day at school goes fabulously. My first day with kids is the 27th. I keep saying this, but I’ve got to try making my own almond butter. These are all so hard…except “coffee/tea”…..coffee all the way! I love surveys….I may have to steal this one! ;)

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Emily @ Glitz Glam Granola August 20, 2012 at 12:24 pm

Ohh I love Mexican food too - and let’s face it, it’s mostly because the chips and salsa! And I can’t help you with the dairy free part, but Sprinkles cupcakes (they have a Chicago location!) has the absolute best red velvet cupcakes I’ve ever had, and they sell a GF Red Velvet too! For some reason they don’t promote it, but you just have to ask for it! :)

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Kammie @ Sensual Appeal August 20, 2012 at 12:24 pm

Strawberries are my least favorite too… and I mean, they’re fine but just not that special. On the other hand, if you were to try wild strawberries from Poland, where organic is the standard (or was ,when I lived there anyway) that would be a different story!

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Kelley August 20, 2012 at 1:21 pm

I knew I loved you…Red Velvet cake with cream cheese frosting is HANDS DOWN my favorite!!!

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Kelsey August 20, 2012 at 1:34 pm

Nope - you won’t offend this Chicago dweller by saying you don’t like deep dish! I’m a thin crust chica all the way. Deep dish has too high a ratio of cheese to crust! I’d rather focus on lots of dee-lish toppings and not as much cheese.

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Katie @ Peace Love and Oats August 20, 2012 at 1:38 pm

Haha I guess I’m not really a Chicago local, but thin crust all the way! Hope you had a good first day! P.s. guess what city I’m in now?

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Katie @ peacebeme August 20, 2012 at 1:50 pm

Milk chocolate! I do not understand how people like dark chocolate, I think it’s disgusting! ;)

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Jen@HealthyFoodandFamily August 20, 2012 at 2:03 pm

First day of school already?! My kids still have 2 more weeks of vacation left. Hope the first day wasn’t too cray cray for you!

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Brandi August 20, 2012 at 2:18 pm

Oh! I am a huge fan of coffee………and dark chocolate. :) I can’t start my morning without a good cup of coffee. :)

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christina August 20, 2012 at 2:18 pm

I love how much we bloggers love a good survey!!!

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Carrie @ Lift Eat Repeat August 20, 2012 at 2:23 pm

I don’t drink coffee or tea- I’m one of those that caffeine doesn’t have an effect on!

Quick frosting tip I read the other day- if you’re running short on time and don’t want to make and frost cupcakes, place a marshmallow on top of each on for the last 5 minutes in the oven and you have instant frosting!

Have a wonderful semester lady- I don’t know how you teachers do it- much respect goes out to you!

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Kaitlyn August 20, 2012 at 2:48 pm

from a fellow teacher: happy first day back and good luck with your year!!!!!!!!! :) :)

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Sarah August 20, 2012 at 3:53 pm

I am almost afraid to admit it now, but I love strawberries. Fresh strawberries are my favorite.

How do you get your baked sweet potato fries to look like that? I have to cook them for twelve years and they still aren’t exactly what I was going for.

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Amanda @ .running with spoons. August 20, 2012 at 4:28 pm

Ahh back to school! I love this time of the year, but it always feels so strange now that I’m not going to school anymore. At least I can still look forward to the seasons changing though :D

Definitely with you on the blueberries front - I think they’re my favourite berry at the moment, and I’m trying to eat my weight in them before they’re only available frozen!

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Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin August 20, 2012 at 5:11 pm

I’m the same way about strawberries - I’ll eat them, but I don’t love them. I much prefer other berries! And I prefer apples too. I can’t wait until fall for all the fresh local apples!

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Amber K August 20, 2012 at 7:30 pm

I’d pick a brownie over cake even though I’m not a fan of chocolate. I just really love the texture of a good brownie. Oh and I totally disagree on pizza ;) “thin crust” is code for a cracker with toppings. If I’m eating pizza I want PIZZA not a cracker.

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Lindsay @ Lindsay's List August 21, 2012 at 5:58 am

red velvet is my favorite too! really anything with cream cheese icing!

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