Ryan had to work late today, so tonight’s dinner was up in the air. A smoothie for dinner? Fro yo? I had many different ideas running through my head, but figured it would be best to make a simple, yet healthy meal rather than head out for a cup of fro yo with all the toppings for dinner. One FULL week of healthy, remember?
When I think “easy” for dinner, pasta is always one of the first meals that pops into my mind.
I made a big bowl of whole wheat penne pasta topped with scallops, steamed cauliflower, marinara sauce and parmesan cheese.
As shocking as it may sound, I’m glad I didn’t high-tail it to the nearest fro yo joint and opted to make a nutritious dinner instead.
My decision to make a healthy meal was rewarded when Ryan walked in the door with CAKE leftover from a coworker’s birthday celebration!
This cake wasn’t just any cake. It was cake from Cheeser’s Palace. Oh baby!
I’ve blogged about the cakes from Cheeser’s Palace many times before with enthusiasm and drool. Every single piece of cake I’ve had from that place totally rocks my socks. I wish they taught cake baking classes because I would be the first one to sign up! The cake itself is dense but still moist and the frosting *oh my goodness* the frosting is in a class of its own.
When I committed to one FULL week of healthy, I said desserts and treats will have their place in my diet (as always) and today’s cake took the… cake. So delicious!
Time to hang with my little family. I’m hoping I can coerce Ryan into a back massage tonight!
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Thanks for responding to my email earlier! I just purchased the domain :). Oh and I did an awesome interval workout earlier that you may enjoy!
That cake looks freaking awesome 🙂
woohoo!!!
That cake looks so darn delicious.
And I’m impressed that scallops made it into an easy meal!
oh wow. drooling over that icing!
lately i have been needing to mix up my gym workouts so i have been doing some of your interval ones and they are great! i did your “lazy girl” treadmill workout today and it was just what i needed!
and of course that cake looks amazing.
Pasta always sounds delicious in this family! We’re big pasta people!
Hey Julie! This is a random question but I’ve been concerned latley with my dad’s health & how much unprocessed & packaged food he eats since he lives alone. Although he is in shape, all of the sodium & bad fats can do a lot of long term damage. Is it normal for men to consume a LOT of calories in one sitting? Like for dinner my dad will heat up an entire frozen bag stir fry or chicken pasta for himself which adds up over 1,000 calories. How much does ryan eat? Is it always a lot more than you?
I’m not Julie (obvi.), but for what it’s worth, my two cents is that’s definitely not normal or healthy. Although it’s normal for men to eat more than women, they don’t need a TON more.
That cake looks delish. I love scallops!
Good job on choosing a healthy meal! Your body will thank you. 🙂
I am glad that being healthy to you includes cake and dessert 🙂 wootwoot!!!!
yumm!!! that cake looks delicious!! Excellent reward in my opinion.
Ooh, aren’t you glad you had a healthy dinner since that cake showed up later? It would not have been nearly as tasty if you’d already had fro yo first! It looks soooo delicious, too!
nice simple meal. wowww the cake sounds like it’s off the charts delicious!! I’m always glad I ate something more wholesome when I end up being surprised with a decadent treat like that 🙂
I can tell just how dense that cake is from the picture alone! Jealous!!
That cake….oh my… need it now 🙂
What kind of cake is that!? It looks amazing!!!
Yello cake with chocolate frosting, heaven.
Does this place ship cakes??? 😉 Looks delicious!
yummy cake… good luck with that back massage 🙂
It is always great to eat dessert when you WANT it. And tonight it came. YUMM.
Yum! Marinara will always have a special place in my heart! 😉
What a great looking piece of cake! I love pasta but I don’t make it that often b/c nobody makes it like my husband’s grandma!
Ohhhhh that pasta looks amazing!!! It’s so sad that pasta got such a bad rap with the stupid Atkins diet. I could eat pasta every night for dinner.. I have to purposely not (only because I go crazy with portion!)
That cake looks to DIE for!
you and me both, friend!
Pasta is a great go-to foundation for a meal! I’ll usually steam or sautee whatever veggies we have around, mix with cooked pasta and a couple glugs of marinara sauce. Delicious and nutritious!
And my boyfriend has to be coerced into giving me back rubs as well. What gives? Can’t they just automatically do that for us ladies, every day? Haha.
Mmm yummy!
I like the idea of bulking up your pasta with veggies!
That cake looks HEAVENLY!
looks so good!
that cake looks delicious! ummm, i’m just bummed there is are Cheeser’s where i live.
Yum! Pasta is always top of mind for me too when I am thinking of something quick and healthy!
Whoa… What flavor cake is that?
Just a basic yellow cake… but so delish!
Wow the cauliflower sounds like a great addition to the pasta!
Drooling. You definitely lucked out w/ that dessert! Treats are always best when you know they are worth it, and that cake definitely fits the “worth-it” bill!
That cake looks amazing! I hate choc frosting on choc cake so this is perfect! Pasta is def my go-to dinner when I can’t decide although I prefer it in noodle form!
Pasta is always my “go to” – and that looks amazing!
Spaghetti, macaroni, fettucini … anything “noodle like” was always my supper request as a kid.
I don’t think it’s humanly possible to grow tired of carbs, is it? 😉
I want to eat that cake so bad now! YUMMMM!!! 🙂
Hey, Julie, can you do me (and other readers) a huge favor pleeeease? I’ve been looking for your salad recipe that you liked so much, but I failed, since there are so many posts on your blog that has ‘salad’. So, what I am begging you to do is that you should make a list of the best recipes that you can’t help but try over and over and over AGAIN!??? like, the bestest of the best recipes! It doesn’t have to be a complete one, you could just add little by little over a long period of time, right?? I’ve seriously been drooling over some of your recipes, but, silly me, I could only find a few of them. So, I am BEGGING YOU, Julie, please 🙂
Hahaha sure!! I’ll add it to ny list!! Can you remember what was in the salad? Wheatberries, maybe?
Hiiiii Julie,
Can you do a write up on the most annoying but fabulous clothing item ppl wear each summer aka BATHING SUITS!!! I think every girl needs advice, especially if certain areas make ppl feel self conscious. I just want to know some good places to buy and what works….think about it 🙂 thank you!!!
That looks delicious! Check out my Chinese hot pot post at http://hongkongintern.wordpress.com/2011/06/21/hot-pot/
Mhmmm, your dinner looks so yummy =)
And OMGosh, Cheesers Palace has the best cake! =)
Yum! Your dinner and cake both look delicious. I love that you incorporate EVERYTHING into your normal life. That’s truly how to find a way of eating that you can live with…and it’s encouraging to see people with that philosophy. 🙂
It’s funny because I always seem to avert to eggs whenever my husband isn’t home for dinner, but he won’t be home tonight and I was definitely thinking of making pasta. 🙂
Wow, that cake really DOES look delicious! I love that you include treats in your week of healthy – that means it really IS healthy – being super strict is never fun, or good for your brain, I don’t think 🙂 You know what else looks delicious? Your dinner…you’re kind of making me want to eat pasta when I don’t even really like it. But for some reason that wholwheat stuff is looking very appealing to me right now! 🙂 xyx
That cake looks delicious!!!!!! 😀
That cake looks amazing! So much frosting… yum!
Your dinner sounds so good! Simple, yet delicious. That’s my style of cooking. 😉
Your dinner looks really good! Sometimes pasta is the best for a quick and easy dinner. 🙂
Oh, and that chocolate cake looks so tasty!!
It’s all about balance!
My little cousin just came back to Boston after spending her freshman year of college in Gainesville…And she raves about Cheeser’s ALL the time (we don’t have one)
Next time I visit, I’ll make it a must-stop destination. Judging by the cake, it looks like it’s worth the hype!!! 🙂
I would have peed my pants. August 1! August 1!
Ohh your pasta looks yummy! And thank goodness you didn’t have the fro you or else you might ahve been too full for that cake- which looks amazing!