I’m convinced that taking a day off of work ends up being more work than just going to work. I somehow came back to six days of work that now has to be fit into four. At least I have memories of the weekend in Atlanta to hold me over!
I spent the weekend with two lovely ladies–Laura and Heather! And you know food is involved when three food bloggers meet up for good times in a fun location. But that doesn’t mean I don’t love eating in, too–So I thought a fun WIAW would be a face-off between some at-home eats and my vacation treats!
Breakfast: Cinnamon Skirmish
Vacation Treats: Snickerdoodle protein pancakes made by the pancake queen herself!
VERSUS
Home Eats: Greek yogurt with a peanut-butter-banana sauce, smothered in cinnamon. I can’t compete with pancakes made by the master, but in case you can’t tell–this was pretty darn good, too.
Lunch: Tempeh Tribulation
Home Eats: BBQ-baked tempeh with nutmeg-spiced turnip puree (I almost made it in time for Heather’s Meatless Monday challenge…).
VERSUS
Vacation Treats: Tempeh “chicken” salad from Dulce Vegan Bakery & Cafe.
Dessert: Sugar Smack-Down
Vacation Treats: A sugar-coma inducing coffee tres leches with bourbon ice cream from PushStart Kitchen. Woah.
VERSUS
Home Eats: Cranberries and chocolate-protein-whip. It’s no tres leches, but might be a little more practical for everyday eating…
Drink: Warming Warfare
Vacation Treats: Spiced moonshine. Oh, yes!
VERSUS
Home Eats: Peppermint hot chocolate. Oh, yes!
I’m all about good habits, but you know you have to break a few of those when travel, friends and adventures are involved.
Do you prefer home or away food? Best you’ve had of each this week?
ForgottenBeast 
Omg .. I’ve been having peppermint mochas for the past two weeks! ❤
You have the best taste. 🙂
If you have TJ’s access–Seriously, pick up that extract. I’ve been putting it in everything–It’s like a winter wonderland of holiday flavor. Yup, I should write tag lines for Trader Joe’s.
Wait–now I have to double comment on your comment, because I realized I have no idea if TJ’s is in England. I know Whole Foods made the jump, but has the Joe?
I’m so jealoua of the variety of food you’ve had!
Everything looks so yum, especially the pancakes! I love both home and vacation food. When I’m on vacay, I try to opt for foods which I can’t make at home, even if it’s just something like poached eggs! Best food I’ve had all week is a grilled calamari dish with lemon & mint bulgur- amazing!
Ohh, that bulgur sounds amazing! You should totally try recreating it so you can share the recipe! I was going to make that a more subtle hint…but failed, haha. And yes! Vacation/eating out is all about the time to try new things–why get a plain ol’ veggie burger or a salad when I know I can make those at home that are just as good or even better?
HAHAHA for your sake, I shall experiment and report back :)!
I have that peppermint… I have been adding it to my water bottle… Mmm.
your weekend had to be SO FUN I am SO ENVIOUS. glad you had a great time, hopefully work catches up smoothly XO
As if I ever doubt your culinary/kitchen genius–I am going to start adding peppermint to my water NOW! Okay, well, when I get home this evening since the office might not appreciate me leaving to go get extract, but you know 🙂
Ok Ive never had tempeh, and I really wanna know what its all about!! Should I buy some? Is it hard to cook/make? I wanna find some premade, that way I dont make it and scare myself away from it lol
Tempeh is AWESOME, you should definitely buy some, and it’s NOT hard to cook/make.
Every kind of tempeh that I’ve ever found in a grocer is all ready to eat – you’ll just want to heat it a little. It can be as simple as microwaving in a bowl with a little water or panfrying in a delicious sauce.
One of my fave ways to eat it is crumbled into tomato sauce over pasta! 😀
I have some tempeh in my fridge that I need to use up! Yours looks SO good!!!
To be honest I never eat out, like pretty much ever. Well technically I made dinner with a couple of friends this week and I had a heck lot of alfredo sauce pasta. If that counts 😛 I need to make it a goal to eat out at a vegan place to expand my taste buds!
Is it weird that I think I prefer your home ‘eats’? [Well, except for Heather’s pancakes…and the fact that you got to spend so much fun time together!]
Not at all! While I do love vacation eats (and pancakes…), I definitely prefer my own for everyday dining.
AND hopefully we can all get a meet-up in before too long!
I’m glad to hear that you had such a fun weekend! I’m especially curious about that moonshine cocktail – what made it so brown??? Any moonshine that I’ve seen (and I’ve seen some terrifying moonshine) has always been clear.
It was spiced/flavored–added great depth (and color–like spiced rum vs. regular clear rum).
Ok I tried tempeh for the first time and am in love. what kinds do you buy/like? I am a newbie but want to buy more!
I just buy the plain packages–usually Trader Joe’s brand or Light Life, depending on where I’m doing my grocery shopping–and then vary it in terms of how I cook it/what I marinate or coat it in. Slice it thin and dredge in bbq sauce then bake for the BBQ tempeh above. Marinate slices in liquid smoke and herbs then broil for tempeh bacon. Cut into triangles and marinate in soy sauce/garlic/ginger then add to stir-fry. Crumble and mix with taco seasoning for meat-free tacos. And so many more options–I love the stuff!
oh awesome, I am going to have to get some now. i had no idea what to do and I know you shop to a budget so this makes me excited it is something I can afford!
I prefer food. 🙂 LOL
Vacation eats are so, so awesome! Coffee tres leches? Swoon.
Sounds like you had a wonderful (and delicious!) trip. I so know that feeling of being back to the grind and having to squeeze everything in. Such is life!
Love what you did here!! Comparing is so fun! I usually like home food but vacation eats are always AWESOME… I just need them in smallish portions :] Wish I had seen y’all while you were here! This weekend ended up being a little nuts. Next time!
I like food home & away – they are different, you know. 🙂 I’m picky about eating out, I want it to be something that inspires me and not something I could have done (better) myself!
I agree with that! Which is the reason I’ll never pay for a salad out–I can put together something just as good or better on my own! But tres leches? No way I’m going to try making that 😀
I have recently discovered the awesome combo of mint and chocolate, but why did I not even think about hot chocolate?! I will be trying this!!!
I definitely prefer home food because I know what’s going in it, and I make it to my liking.. however, there’s something about someone else making salads that make them taste delicious!!
I’ve never had tempeh!
all the food in this post looks so good – that’s pancake perfection at the top, the tempeh looks so crispy and amazing and as for that dessert…. *drool*
I love both; there are things I eat in restaurants I’d never be able to make – but sometimes, a home-steamed veg mountain is all I want!
I want your peppermint hot cocoa and Heather’s pancakes. I love a good meal out but after multiple meals, I just want to be home in my own kitchen eating my own food.
i need those pancakes!!!!!!! DANG they’re perfect! Like a work of art in pancake form 😀
I like home meals more than restaurant/travel meals most of the time. But it’s always fun to change things up occasionally and try new flavors! 🙂
Love this WIAW idea! I still can’t get over amazing those snickerdoodle pancakes sound!!
I’d much rather prefer home meals.
Vacation treats rock!!! OK… maybe that wasn’t my vacation… but I don’t eat like that every day. Just on the weekend. 🙂
Hey, you can totally vacation in your own city! I vacation in Nashville all the time–great excuse for good food 😀
The home AND the away eats look pretty good to me. Your tempeh looks good. I really need to try that!
Ahh peppermint hot chocolate sounds good! Have you ever seen the show “Moonshiners!?”
I haven’t…but now I have to look it up because it sounds fabulous and Southern
OH MY GOODNESS!! It is like we are in one anothers head!! I made peppermint hot chocolate on Tuesday night!!! That is sooo weird! I love how you showed some “fun” food versus the yummy healthy stuff! I will take your cranberry dessert any night of the week! Have a great day! I am so glad you are back! 🙂
I am hooked on the cranberry & choco combo. And on putting peppermint in everything. So not surprised we were both on the same hot chocolate page 🙂