Hello my almond butter loving friends. If you're new to HEAB, you may like to subscribe to my RSS feed or receive my posts via email. Thanks for reading!
Today, Summer and I joined my best friends for a veggie-filled lunch at The Wild Cow, a vegetarian/vegan restaurant on the east side of town.
As much as I love my husband, it’s so nice to be lunching with the girls again! Chris and I debated over who would get Summer. I wanted to take her with me, but he wanted her to stay at home with him. I won. After all, it’s important to instill the importance of girl time at a very early age, no? 
For lunch, I ordered the Green Chile Root Salad with grilled tempeh.
I always forget how much I love tempeh.
Today is my birthday, and CD just got back from Whole Foods with a pint of vanilla coconut milk ice-cream for after dinner tonight. I see some type of sundae in my near future. Can’t wait to share it with you tomorrow.
Enjoy the rest of your Sunday. Go Bears!
P.S. For those of you on Team HEAB, don’t forget, we begin our workouts tomorrow. I can’t wait…well, honestly, I’m looking forward to everything but the burpees.
{ 151 comments… read them below or add one }
Happy Birthday!! Hope you got my email
Enjoy that sundae! So glad you got some time out with the girls!
lol when she is two you will be glad to leave her with him while you go out and relax with your girlfriends
Jamie,
That’s what I keep hearing. Everyone is like, “take her out now while she’s so easy and portable.”
Happy birthday, sweet Heather!! Funny, I have tempeh on the dinner menu for tonight, and I had coconut milk vanilla ice cream for dessert last night, and probably tonight too. Last night I also made some vegan dough balls of my very own, saved some of the cookie dough, and crumbled it into the ice cream. My god.
Christin,
I’m telling ya. We could eat every meal together and be two very happy girls.
Most definitely. I hope someday we are able to share at least one!
Happy Birthday To You! My daughter is three and I still take her to “girl” lunches–or else I get a bad case of the “mommy guilts”! Isn’t it great to have a little best friend? It’s the best feeling in the world!
Andrea,
Yes, it is.
Happy BIrthday Heather!! Your lunch looks downright drool worthy!
Yay for Team HEAB! Though, I’m totally with you on the burpees! Errr!
Happy Birthday!! Can’t wait to see your sundae
Happy birthday Heather!! Your lunch looks devine and it’s nice to know someone else out there loves on the tempeh as much as I do. It’s a must-get during every grocery trip in our household
Happy BIrthday Heather!!!!
Happy Birthday!
Sounds like a great way to spend the day—out with the girls, and then in with your hubby (plus coconut ice cream)—bliss!
Happy New Year too.
~Lisa
Happy birthday!! That tempeh looks intriguing-I made something w/tempeh a while ago and enjoyed how meaty it was-if that makes any sense. And I think a sundae would be a great idea-maybe with butterscotch chips?
P.S. I know I use way too many dashes in my emails/comments
LOL
Jill,
I do the same thing – lots of dashes. No shame!
Happy birthday! It sounds like you are have a wonderful day! I still need to make it to the Wild Cow. Your lunch looks great!
Aww Happy Birthday Heather!!!!
Happy Birthday Heather!
Hope you like the email!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Your sneaky and didn’t say anything!
Honestly, I would fight over Summer too
happy birthday, heather! go bears!
Happy Birthday, Heather!!
Also wish you a happy new year! In where I come from, we say “get ‘blessed’ in the New Year” – to you, CD, and Summer!
Thanks Stephanie. I love that. Was definitely blessed a lot in 2010, and here’s to many more in 2011. Same to you!
You SNEAK! Happy Birthday Heather!!! I hope you get tons of Carob & Sleep from Summer!
HAPPY BIRTHDAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!
I don’t think I’ve ever commented before, so I’m delurking to say Happy Birthday! That salad looks delicious. Enjoy your sundae!
Thanks so much Laura. Happy New Year to you!
Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!! I should say, happy 21st bday!!! You dont look a day over 21
You didnt even tell us! I should have remember from last year! Well some tricks up your sleeve is always good.
And yes, GIRLS DAYS are sooo important! I loved my girlfriends before child, but after kiddo, espi in new motherhood, having a woman to vent to, cry to, laugh with…is just…priceless. So happy you had some time w/ your friend!
Happy Bday!!
xoxo
Averie,
Finally, I am legal! Should have ordered a beer today at lunch.
Happy Birthday Heather! Glad you were able to enjoy the day with all the girls!
Happy Birthday Heather!!! Have an awesome day!
Happy Birthday! What a fun way to celebrate it (first girl’s lunch out with your daughter:-)
aww, happy birthday! what a great lunch date and bringing Summer
Hope you had a great day!
happy birthday!!!!! def a good call that summer went with you. gotta have girly dates from a young age
Happy Birthday Heather!
Happy Birthday Heather. I hope you and your family have a fun celebration! The tempeh you had looks delicious, by the way
Happy Birthday sweet Heather! Hope you feel so celebrated today!
Aaww, I bet all your friends loved having Summer with you for your girl’s lunch!!
Happy happy happy birthday to my favorite HEAB. May you eat your weight in chocolate (errr, I mean carob) and get lots of hugs from the cutest baby in the world.
I held on to your gift because I didn’t want it to sit around in a post office over New Year’s. Too much temptation for all those poor Leroys
. Expect it soon.
Ooh and happy new year, too!
Love,
Katie
Thanks so much Katie. Happy New Year to you as well sweet friend.
I’ve been wanting to try Tempeh!
Anyways HAPPY BIRTHDAY HEATHER! I love you, honestly your just the sweetest blogger out there.
You are such a good mom, I secretly wish you were mine a lot of the times. Lol
did you see my pics of the Boy Baby Summer I sent you?
Carlee,
No, I didn’t get the pics, and just checked spam. Not in there either. Would you mind resending? I would love to see them. Oh, and I’ll gladly be your mom anytime. Come over – I’ll make you oats with butterscotch chips.
Aw, Summer even smiled for the camera. What a cutie!
Happy Birthday, Heather!!!! If only I lived closer, I would bring you some carob-coconut butter cups to celebrate
!
Alexandra,
Oh, that would have been so wonderful! I’ve got all the ingredients to make them – hopefully this week!
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday Heather! May your day be filled with love, joy and coconut milk ice cream amazing-ness!
Happy birthday Heather!
Girl time is important
HAPPY BIRTHDAY <3
I wish I got coconut ice cream on my birthday
Happy Birthday Heather! That salad looks so good. A perfect birthday lunch! Enjoy your sundae and have a great night!
Happy Birthday!!
Happy Birthday Heather!!!
Hope you had a wonderfully happy day!
I always request ice cream on my birthday, actually it is always my birthday wish, I just stopped baking cakes the past few years and we either go out for ice cream or I buy some of my favorite gelato instead, can’t go wrong with ice cream!!
Ana
Ana,
I’m the same way. Totally meant to make a cake or cookies for myself today but ended up napping instead. So, just plopped some ice-cream in a bowl of oat bran tonight and stuck a candle in it.
Happy Birthday Heather! Enjoy the ice cream : )
I’ve heard about the Wild Cow and have been meaning to try it! Your salad looks absolutely fabulous! My entire family are die-hard Packer fans, but you’re lucky because I’m the only one who’s not (I’m indifferent to football, at best). So no hard feelings that you’re rooting for the Bears
Happy bday and happy New Year’s!
Anna,
Yes, you must try the Wild Cow – I think you would love it! Oh, and CD is actually the Bears fan. I just root for them in support of him.
Happy happy birthday! Sounds like you had a wonderful day
So silly how you just mention your birthday in passing, like you’re talking about how you have to run to the bank, or clean dishes in the sink. HAPPY FREAKING BIRTHDAY, Heather!!!!!! May your first year as a mommy be the BEST yet
xoxo
Thanks so much Katie.
Yummy lunch! I’m not a big fan of tempeh. I can never get it to taste right, but that looks so good!
Happy birthday, Heather! I am glad that you got to enjoy your special day with your extra special daughter.
I love this. Love the girl time. Love you brought Summer. You are a great mom.
Happy Birthday!
Yay for girl time! Looks like you had a great time with the girls! Have a great evening sweetie!
Happy birthday! WOW, Summer is getting big! She looks like she’s about to leap right out of your friend’s arms
I’m excited to start training for Team HEAB too!
She’s growing up so quickly, already having girl’s days out.
Happy Birthday Heather!! That salad looked great and wow, a coconut milk ice cream sundae? That sounds wonderful!!
Happy birthday! I read but almost never comment – but couldn’t pass up the opportunity to wish you a great day!
Thanks so much Molly.
Happy Birthday, Heather!
Summer looks as adorable as ever.
I’m glad you guys could have fun today!
Tempeh Salas looked pretty amazing, btw
Happy Birthday! Summer is so precious!
Girl time is vital!
Happy birthday, Heather!
Happy Birthday Heather!
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday Heather!!!! Glad that you got to have such a great girls birthday lunch with Summer
I am SURE that CD will have something wonderful for you this evening…enjoy it all, your first birthday as a Mom!!
Happy Birthday HEAB!
I’ve tried tempeh a few times when I was in college. I think my school just had a terrible time figuring out how to cook vegetarian foods because the rest of the fare is known to be delicious. I hope you’re having a wonderful birthday. So exciting that it’s the first one you get to celebrate with your baby girl! Have tons of fun!
Happy birthday! Hoping you love every minute of it.
Happy Happy Birthday! =)
Haaaaaaaappy Birthday, to you!
Happy Birthday, Heather! Enjoy a lovely Sunday Sundae!
What a gorgeous smile Summer has!! Must have been a blast to bring her to show off to your friends
Thanks Corey, and yes, it was a lot of fun.
Happy birthday Heather!!! Hope you enjoyed that ice cream!
Heather, Summer is absolutely precious. Contrary to popular belief, not all babies are adorable and beautiful but she is both. What a lovely family! Happy 2011~
Thanks Elizabeth. I know I’m biased, but I have to say I agree 100%. She really is beautiful.
Happy Happy Birthday!!! I hope it’s wonderful
Happy Birthday, Heather!!We’re a week and a 1/2 apart…Enjoy your ice cream.You deserve it:-)cc
Happy Birthday to you to as well Clarerose! Hope you enjoy some ice-cream on your special day.
Oh my gosh, I’m so jealous! The Wild Cow is my favorite Nashville restaurant!! I eat there every time we take a trip down.
Brittany,
I know – The Wild Cow is so good! Glad you make it a point to go there when you travel here.
Happy Birthday! Little Summer is so beautiful at her girl’s luncheon. Enjoy your sundea and your birthday evening;)
So when we are doing burpees tomorrow what are you going to be thinking about.. the pain or the gain???? I will be thanking God that I actually have the ability to do it… I almost lost my leg a few years ago and are happy to have both of them… By the way How many people are on our team?
Lew
Lew,
OK, in honor of you, I will try and be grateful for my ability to even do a burpee. Thanks for the bringing out the positive.
We have 15 team members – so exciting!
Happy Birthday! I don’t think anyone likes burpees if they’re honest with their self.
Happy Birthday beautiful Heather!
So happy you enjoyed some girl time.
Enjoy your sundae!!
Happy birthday Heather!
Happy Birthday!
Happy, happy birthday beautiful momma! I love that you guys were debating over who got the baby
I think I may have a sundae tonight as well, in honor of your birthday of course.
Aww, thanks Sarah R. Hope you enjoyed your sundae as much as I enjoyed mine.
Well I know which restaurant to look up if I’m ever in your neck of the woods!
whats a great bday treat. I am sure your lovely friends just couldn’t keep their hands off sweet summer!
happy birthday friend!
LC
LIndsay,
They couldn’t. Everyone wanted to hold her.
Yay for girl time!!!!
Tempeh is one of my absolute favorites, that looks really yummy!
Happy Birthday, Heather! =) So glad to hear that you’re getting in some girl time with SUmmer. Those are extremely important
Happy birthday, Heather! I just checked out the menu for The Wild Cow and it looks amazing!
Melissa,
It is amazing. Love the Wild Cow!
Happy Birthday!
Happy New Year!
2011 = one wild ride for you I bet. DONT BLINK! Summer will be asking for “juice” before ya know it and then the car keys!
Thanks for blogging. You are an inspiration to me .
Missy
Thanks for reading Missy, and yes, Summer is already growing up too fast. I don’t like it.
O my gosh, I love that restaurant. I go to school up in TN while my family lives in GA, so coming back home from one of my breaks I forced my mom to take a small detour and go to Nashville so we could eat there. Was my first vegan/vegetarian restaurant experience, and I loved it.
Disturbed,
Yes, the Wild Cow is definitely detour worthy. Hope you make it there again next time you drive near Middle TN.
Happy birthday! Enjoy that ice cream – sounds delish!
Burpees are of the devil. I refuse to do them anymore – they make me not want to go and do my workout, so I told my trainer, no more!
Oh, I love that you and CD had a tussle over Summer! That girl is, and is going to be, so loved in her life
That lunch looks swell, too. I haven’t had tempeh in months – fiddlesticks!
Happy birthday!!
Happy birthday!! Girl time is important at all ages. Best to start her young, yes! I am convinced my mom did that too, because even when I was only 8 years old, I preferred to hang out with the adults than the kids at family gatherings. They conversation was usually way more juicy.
happy birthday, HEAB! can’t wait to see the sundae. =)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY PEACHY!!!!
Lurve you so much. You will be getting a little something in the mail from me… just a teeny bit late, okay? I almost forgot it was Jan 2nd!!!??!? I somehow thought it was a tad later in January. I am sorry, sweetie! Glad you had a fun lunch and hope you did some damage on that ice cream!
XOXO
Polly,
Don’t you worry about sending me anything. Honestly, your friendship and sweet emails are all I need. Really! Love you so much. Happy New Year sweet friend.
P.S. Ice Cream damage – done!
Happy birthday, Heather!!! I hope you get everything you wish for and more
Happy Birthday!! I hope you had an amazing day, and I definitely think you should teach the importance of girl time as early as possible!
Happy Birthday Heather!!! Hope you had a great one!!!
Still reading everyday (mostly through email).. but HAD to pop in and say HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I am loving all the Summer updates… she is so beautiful!
Thanks Annie! Happy New Year to you!
happy birthday Heather! And I agree- girl time is definitely something that should be learned at a young age
Wow, tempeh looks amazingly appetizing there! I might need to experiment with that in my salads… btw, i made this nut/seed butter bites and thought you would love to try them in your kitchen!
check the recipe here: http://juniakk.blogspot.com/2011/01/nut-seed-butter-bites.html
have a great week!
Happy Birthday! I am a huge believer the more you expose Summer to meeting more and more people the less chance you will have later of the dreaded “separation” anxiety that I have seen so many of my friends go thru. We did this with Bella and when she went off to preschool, she walked right in, confidence and all! Love that Summer is smiling in the picture, so cute! Hope you had an amazing birthday!
Kim,
I would have to say I agree – just from seeing the different ways my friends raise their kids. I’m all about some socialization for Summer!
Happy New Year to you my friend.
Happy Birthday!!
Happy Birthday, Heather!! Enjoy the ice cream
Happy b-day! I love tempeh, and that salad looks wonderful!
Hey Heather!!! Happy bday!!!
I’ve never tried tempeh. In that pic it looks almost like grilled chicken! I want to try it and I hope it’s better than tofu!!! heehhee I can’t figure out a way to prepare that thing that isn’t so freaking bland!
Oh, by the way I tried goat cheese and MY GOD is it good!! i thought about you when I saw it in the store and I had to buy it and try it!
xoxo
Lola
Lola,
So glad you tried the goat cheese. Oh how I love it! And as far as the tempeh goes, it’s so much better than tofu in my opinion. It has a much chewier texture, and it’s really simple to prepare. My favorite way is to pour Braggs over it (or your favorite sauce/marinade) and roast in a 425 degree oven until crispy – maybe 15 to 20 minutes.
I’ll try that as soon as I can find tempeh over here haha
Happy birthday, Heather!!!
Happy Birthday Heather! Hope you had a fantastic lunch with Summer and the girls.
Also I had a question about your carob coconut fudge – do you think I can make it with carob powder instead of chips? I live in the UK and for the life of me cannot find the latter!
Thanks Gill, and as far as the fudge goes, that recipe will not solidify with just carob powder. You need the chips. However, I do have a fudge recipe made with carob powder. One of my favorites!
Ingredients:
1 cup dates (Medjool work best)
1 1/2 cups water
1 TBSP vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups nut butter
1 1/2 cups carob (I use roasted because raw is hard to find and pricey. Regular cocoa powder works as well, but carob is naturally sweeter)
1/2 cup dried unsweetened shredded coconut
Place dates in a bowl, cover with water and let soak one hour, or until soft. Drain reserving liquid. In a blender (I use food processor), blend the dates and vanilla until smooth, slowly adding soaking water as needed for a creamy consistency. Transfer the date mixture into a large bowl, add nut butter, and stir to combine. (I find it’s easier to mix it with my hands as it’s kind of a sticky mess). In a separate bowl, mix the carob and coconut. Gradually add the dry carob mixture into the wet date mixture. Mix well. Press evenly into a 10 x 18 inch brownie pan, 1 inch thick. Freeze until firm, about 3 hours. To serve, cut into one inch pieces. I’ve also just kept in fridge – stays softer. Enjoy!
Wow thanks Heather! That looks amazing – pretty much all my favourite ingredients in a bowl! I do have some raw carob powder so I’ll see how that goes. I’m dying to try it on porridge – I’ll let u know the result! Thanks
happy bday! i have never had tempeh?! does it taste bean-y?
Melissa,
I love tempeh. My stomach can’t handle tofu, but it seems to do okay with tempeh – I think it has something to do with the fact that’s it fermented and easier to digest. The texture is chewy and yes, I guess it does taste kind of beany, but so much better than tofu in my opinion.
Happy belated birthday! You share a birthday with one of my best friends, so I think next year I’ll remember what days yours is, too
Your girls out lunch looks wonderful.
Jen,
Happy birthday to your best friend!
Happy birthday, girl!
And YES! It is SO important to encourage girl time even from an early age!
That salad looks amazing! Summer sure is getting cuter by the post
Have a wonderful birthday!
Happy Birthday Heather!
Happy (belated) birthday!! I was in Nashville visiting my brother and sister recently and we went to eat at Silly Goose in east Nashville. Have you been there? We passed the Wild Cow and I really wanted to go there but since everyone else wanted meat, they vetoed it. Your salad looks good to me. I’ll have to try it next time I’m there.
Ann,
So fun you were in Nashville, and yes, I have been to the Silly Goose. I thought it was pretty tasty – I think I had some kind of quinoa salad or something. Hope you get to experience the Wild Cow someday.
That salad looks delicious! I will have to go there whenever I finally make it down to Nashville
Happy Belated Birthday!
Thank you for the restaurant suggestion! I have been reading your blog for a year now and just moved to Chattanooga. This will be a great day off trip for myself!
I still cant get over how cute she is!!!