I finally broke into the box of Halloween Joe-Joe’s I’ve been hoarding for the last four months. As I stated on my Instagram, I’m a self proclaimed minimalist. Clutter makes me anxious, and if I’m not going to “use it” then it’s time for me to “loose it.” However, there are almost always exceptions – like this box of Joe-Joe’s.
Halloween in January never tasted so good. Real talk.
I finally got a waffle maker. I’ve used it twice, and both times I got something other than waffles. What’d I do wrong? Coconut flour. I love the stuff, but it can be tricky to play with. Thankfully despite my non waffle like waffle, this mush tasted so good.
Sometimes ugly food tastes the best. Real talk.
Even the photo is ugly, ugly lighting, ugly colors, just…ugly.
**UPDATE** I gave up on waffles for a few days and tried my hand at scones. They were PERFECT. So perfect I settled for mediocre iPhone photos.
I finally found a Starbucks Reserve coffee that I love. The last five blends I’ve tried have been MUCH too bright and acidic for me. My boss bought a bag of Sulawesi Pango Pango from the roastery when we visited last week. I had three coffee tastings.
Coffee is more fun when you talk and write about it. Real talk.
Talk about fresh, roasted on 1/18 and consumed on 1/23.
I finally made my first batch of pico de gallo. I know, I know…it took me far too long. My “dressing” of choice on all my salads/grain bowls is salsa. All the salsa. I was about to buy some locally made pico at the store when the light bulb finally went off.
Pico so good I ate over half in one sitting. Real talk.
I finally got myself a cupcake..or two. Actually my mom did. She wins everything.
Cupcakes taste better in multiples. Real talk.
I finally branched out of my ice cream bubble. 99.9378% of the time I buy ice cream I get vanilla. Why? Because it’s a universal flavor. I can pair it with any and everything. I decided to try something new and bought Almond Dream Praline Crunch.
I took one bite and had a revelation. Pretzels + praline = Real talk.
Q: What’s your real talk moment of the week?
Blissfulbritt 
65 thoughts on “Real Talk”
Anthony
That’s worse than me–holding onto a box of Lindt chocolate–because once you open the box, there’s no going back.
Brittany
You’re so right…no going back at all.
bobbyjessica2319
This post is sooo unfair in way too many ways. Those rasberries.! Those scones.!! I’m like drooling over here, oh and than you have to add a cupcake. Lol
Britta
Ohhhhh! That ice cream, those cupcakes, that coffee!! Those scones also look unreal and I wish I had one in front of me. I want it all! YUM. Um, yesterday I was a little hungover and ate all the carbs and an entire bar of Ritter Sport. Yup….that happened. And it was really easy.
Brittany
That’s me with healthy fats the last few days. Like…ALL THE effing fats. Way too many.
Lauren @ ihadabiglunch
THAT ICE CREAM. Pralines are so underrated…even by me. I forget how incredible they are a lot. Sweet and salty heaven. I can’t believe those Joe Joe’s lasted that long in your cabinet lol also, real talk, how has it been this long since Halloween? WOOF. Time flies!
briana1010
all of that looks delicious and now I’m hungry and snowed in with only soup 😦 lol
B
I could eat just Pico for the rest of my life and be 100% happy.
Brittany
AGREED!
Amy @ A Desert Girl
Mmm, that pico looks soooo fresh and tasty. Like summer on a chip!
willrunforpizza
Our grocery store ALWAYS has that praline kind, and I’ve never tried it. I always end up with mint or pb….but it has pretzels in it????? I wanna try it now!
Brittany
Nooo I scooped pretzels into it.
willrunforpizza
Ahhhh! Brilliant!
mikeytbull
OMG… I gotta get me some of that coffee…and the ice cream!
Amanda @ .running with spoons.
I 100% fail at baking with coconut flour. I can’t even tell you how many pancake scrambles I’ve ended up with because of it. Real talk. Can I just come over to your place and steal all your food? Provided it’s peanut free?
Brittany
Haha, glad to know I’m not the only one with coconut flour fails. It makes it worse that I don’t use eggs too, those really help to bind the flour together! The idea of using that much flax or chia is kind of absurd to me. Yes of course you can come over, but you must bring some of your famous treats to share. I’ll provide mine with some delicious coffee too.
Martha B
I always forget that I need to eat breakfast BEFORE I read your blog. Because now I want everything in your post, and my smoothie is looking real boring.
I love how you share your coffee passion/knowledge. I’m kind of a bean brain. Though the nearest Starbucks to me is about 2 hours away, I do dabble in all sorts of fresh beans, although I don’t know a lot about why I like what I like. Basically I’m a dark roast girl, so I stick to that. That Pango Pango sounds good, though. Is it available in stores yet? I usually have my mom pick me up a bag of beans from Starbucks when she comes to visit me.
Brittany
The pango pango is a reserve coffee, which means it will only be sold in select stores, if it makes it out of the roastery. They were saying it was a small batch so I’m not sure when it will be sold in regular Starbucks stores. If it is, you’ll have to look for a “reserve store” which sells the rare blends like this one. I hope they release it to other locations, cause it sure is tasty!
Aja
So much delicious looking food! Ugly food is the best sometimes. I also feel bad when I eat pretty food because then it is gone. Which is why I didn’t want a big fancy wedding cake. I’d just want to look at it.
Appalachian Philosopher
Gorgeous photos! The food all looks great. The picture of the Pico is probably my favorite. Halloween cookies ftw!
Pamplemousse
Coconut flour IS tricky!! I’ve had my share of failures with it…..
50statecanuck
I’m sending you my address so you can send me a LARGE sample of your pico de gallo. OK? Thanks! LOL
The “waffle” had me howling!!!
Rach @ This Italian Family
Both those scones and that pico look amazing! I’d eat the whole bowl of pico too, haha!
Laissez Faire
Are those jojo things pumkin faced oreos?
Brittany
Basically! They are the Trader Joe’s version. So good!
P
So much food realness going on here! Haha. I love the look of those cupcakes—so gorgeous! Those scones look mighty fine too!
kim
Halloween in January! How fun!!!
aladygoeswest
I’m a minimalist as well. And I’m a neat freak. A scary combination, as you can imagine. I have to fluff the pillows on the bed and couch before I can leave the house. Real talk.
Brittany
Oh girl, you and I are one in the same. I cannot handle clutter..NOPE NOPE NOPE. Everything must be neat and tidy or I turn into a cleaning tornado.
Heather
I still have Pumpkin Joe-Joes 🙂 I also haven’t had the best luck with coconut flour lately. Had a major pancake mishap. Ended up giving them to Riley. Apparently coconut flour is good for dogs. Thanks Google. Your mom is a winner. Glad she has your best interest at heart. Also, did you mean a coffee from the brewery?
Brittany
Omg I love you, of course you have some Halloween Joe Joes!!! Oh yes, the brewery coffee, so delicious. 🙂
Nicole @ Foodie Loves Fitness
Those cupcakes look gloriousss! I actually have been craving a cupcake lately. I LOVE pico de gallo but also put salsa on everything. And I’ve actually never made scones before. Hmmm, might need to try it!
withsparkles
omg i have also been dying to get a waffle maker! i asked my boyfriend for one for v-day!!! i can’t wait to try things like churro waffles, joy the baker’s mashed potatoes/chives/cheddar (or something like that) waffles….droooooooool.
that pretzel praline combo sounds DIVINE. you are a GENIUS and i must get that combo in my mouth STAT
Nicole Marie Story
I went to a socialist grocery store today against my ardent principle. 😉
Details tomorrow at the blog.
xo
Change of Pace
Those scones look beautiful! Lol- I can’t make pancakes or french toast, but waffles I can make!
My real talk moment: I haven’t been able to eat salsa or pico since becoming pregnant. I used to eat it/them probably five days a week 😦
Jim Brennan
I’m hungry!
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
Pralines is one of my favorite ice cream flavors, and I love you paired it with pretzels. You are getting exceptionally good at all these pairings.
I do not own a waffle maker so I have to settle for delicious pancakes instead. It’s a rough life for me. 😉
Amy
Too funny — I’m about to play with coconut flour this evening! Fingers crossed it goes well. 😉 And I LOVE salsa as my salad “dressing.” Seriously the best. I eat that stuff with a spoon anyway…
Luv What You Do
Owning a house sucks…real talk!
Planning for a wedding is stressful…real talk!
Snow days at home doing nothing rock…real talk!
Love that you hung on to those cookies. TJ’s always stocks things seasonally so I stock up. I have 3 things of candy cane green tea in my pantry…real talk : )
Ellie
My real talk moment of the week was reading a coming of age story about an overweight girl who grows up into an overweight adult before losing weight. It was the most beautiful story and I captivity sat in Barnes and Nobel to read it all. Really raw stuff there.
annaethain
Those scones! Delicious.
harveylisam
Totally with you on clutter making me anxious. Sometimes I go too far and get rid of things I end up needing haha.
eatexerciseeat
All of this food looks yummy! Especially the scones!
Amanda Afield
I strive for minimalism, but it never seems to work. Anyway, all that food looks amazing, and there is never an inappropriate time for ice cream! Real talk!
Arman @ thebigmansworld
It took me FOREVER to find the perfect balance with coconut flour- I think I found the groove but there were many ugly yet delicious happenings prior!
I want a jo jo and a hoe.
jennifer prod
hey girl, you’ve been busy in the kitchen, and i wanna know how i can get a reservation. homemade pico and scones? yes please yum. also: you’re making me wanna run out and buy a waffle iron – such a fun thing to have for lazy weekends 🙂
Shawna
i want you to make me scones, please. i’ve never used coconut flour — i’d def be a fail, if you can’t even make it work. geesh. praline isn’t my faaave but i love almond anything and the pretzels dipped into ice cream sounds like a wonderful idea.
allieksmith
Oh man, I bet that coffee was sooo good. Mmmmm. I had some Komodo this morning! That woke me up for sure 🙂
I totally agree that ugly foods taste the best. Always!
Brittany
Mmmm Komodo…my favorite. 🙂 ❤
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy
haha, I did laugh about the waffle maker. I got one just before Christmas and I have used it so much, I am a little obsessed with it. But you’re right, coconut flour is really difficult to get right, but it’s so worth it.
annieemmy
Sulawesi Pango Pango? That just sounds dirty. But delicious…
katalysthealth
True story, waffle makers are the devil. I can’t make a waffle to save my life, even when I use oat flour. And half a cup of coconut oil.
Those cupcakes look bombbbbb. You must have a fancy frosting thingy to get that frosting looking all perky and right. [never heard the word perky associated with a cupcake, have ya?!]
kathyatrealtalk
i LOVE fresh pico….i always make it with tons of lime juice and a crap load of coriander because YUM!! i’ll be experimenting with almond and coconut flour since i’ve decided to try my hand at going grain free.
Brittany
I squeezed enough lime into this shit to flood the entire middle east. LOVEEEE lime. Haven’t tried it with coriander though….intriguing! Please perfect the coconut flour, because I love that shit. I don’t eat eggs though…which makes it equally challenging haha.
melliedee
I love waffles! everyone is all about them pancakes. my mum bought my sister a waffle maker. the kind where you put the batter in and turn the machine thing. man … those always come out perfect. but I guess coconut flour messes that up. no bueno. I am so jealous of your good eats though. sens me some pleaseeeeeeeee
GiGi Eats Celebrities
Real talk: I love you.
I cannot believe what happens in 16 days.
I am shaky as fuck right now and I am not sure why.
I worked my chest and shoulders today and my arms don’t know how to function. Typing right now is a miracle.
I want us to have a reunion- NOW! Okay, maybe tomorrow because I am friggin’ exhausted, I don’t think I have energy to do anything but sleep… HA!
AND I LOVE YOU!
Choc Chip Uru
HAHA I hear you ugly food rocks my socks – ever mixed ice cream and cake? Not pretty but I love it!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Food, Booze, & Baggage
This all looks so good!!! We get coffee from our neighborhood roaster that usually roasted with in a few days of us buying it, P says he can tell a difference 🙂 I’m currently addicted to this gelato place we tried in La Jolla, it is seriously the best gelato ever. I want it all the time now.
Brittany
I 100% believe he can tell the difference!!! That is awesome, what a great place to live by.
hellotofit
Your pictures are making me drool! All of those goodies look delish 🙂
Jessica
Real talk = sometimes I feel like we are the same person. I am a HUGE minimalist and take huge pride in using everything I own. And don’t get me STARTED on my love for ugly food…
Sarah Pie
Now I want pico, thanks a lot!
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di @ life of di.
Ice cream + pretzels = excellent combo! I must try this immediately! Also, I can totally relate to being a minimalist! I am so bad that after we roll the toothpaste tube, I cut into it and scrape the insides out with my toothbrush. I will not buy a new tube until it’s all gone!!!!! (Yes – I realize I have some issues…)
bonnev659
some of the food looks so good…