Hello Everyone and welcome President Obama (well not officially, but still)!!
Truthfully, I have always found myself to be on the more conservative end of the spectrum politically, however, I believe Obama to be a good man with a good heart and God knows that he is the one to lead us out of this economical crisis we are in. Rock on!
I’m sorry I didn’t check back last night after work! I got home around 8:30 EXHAUSTED and had a lot of things to get done before today. It’s tough when you don’t get home until 8:30 from work and have to be there at 7 the next morning!
Here’s some highlights from the night:
A GORGEOUS chocolate cake with buttercream icing—done by Adam 🙂
Tasty little white chocolate chambord truffles by moi
Cream puffs filled with strawberries, pastry cream and mandarin orange slices
A caramelized banana tart topped with meringue
The half of a huge chocolate chip cookie I ate when I was leaving work 😉
Overall it was a good night. I got home very tired and took a bath and went to bed. Regretfully, I didn’t stay awake to watch the election because I thought it would be one of those 4 am type deals like it was last election! I found out this morning and I’m definitely not the “angry republican”. I hope and pray all Obama the very best and support him 100%.
This morning, I woke up very tired because I could not fall asleep last night even though I felt exhausted! bleh! I had a yogurt bowl with 1 cup oikos, 1/2 cup quaker oatmeal squares, peanut butter, banana and pom. seeds.
And for a snack……
And for lunch, I packed an Amy’s burrito and a honey crisp apple. I LOVE the southwestern burritos!
The project of work today was for me to make my own greek yogurt. Haha! I REALLY have been wanting to do this and, let me tell you, IT’S SO EASY!!!!!!!!!!!! Now that I know how, I think I will save about $10 every time I go to publix. Seriously!!!
First, you put regular ol’ yogurt on top of a cheesecloth that has been fastened with a rubber band or something on a bowl or container:
Let it sit out on the counter or in the fridge for 8 hours and voila!!!!
So thick and wonderful! EXACTLY like Fage! Wait, only much cheaper!
And that was my afternoon snackie: my yogurt (I had such satisfaction in eating it because I “made” it!) with pom. seeds.
I also made lots of whoopie pies at work:
And a bunch of other time consuming things that I didn’t bother taking a picture of because none of it was a finished product. I made apple pie filling, pumpkin pie filling, pie dough……
No workout for me today. I’m resting. I’m drained! I’ll be back after dinner 🙂
caitlin
November 5, 2008 at 3:00 pmyay jenna! thanks for being supportive of OUR new president. you know i appreciate it!
Julia
November 5, 2008 at 3:01 pmWow, absolute gorgeousness! White chocolate truffles….. sigh 🙂
I’ve never seen/heard of making your own greek yogurt! That is so neat! Did it taste ok? What a great way to save some $$!
Love your photos!
ashley (sweet & natural)
November 5, 2008 at 3:12 pmI’ve always been curious about making my own Greek yogurt – how much do you get after one container has been strained? Like do you have to strain two regular yogurt containers to equal one Greek yogurt container? I’d assume you’d lose some volume as the liquid came out?
jenna
November 5, 2008 at 3:12 pmAshley,
I used 2 containers of regular size yogurt and got, like, not even a half cup of “greek” yogurt. It doesn’t make much unfortunately!!
Melissa P.
November 5, 2008 at 3:24 pmI think that I would be as big as a house if I had your job… Those desserts look unbelieveable!
arielle
November 5, 2008 at 3:25 pmLove your attitude 🙂
Oh She Glows
November 5, 2008 at 3:29 pmI am a bit confused about the greek yogurt making process 😛
Did you say you can leave it out on the counter for 8 hours? Wouldn’t it go bad?
I am constantly impressed by the amazing goodies you create everyday- you are doing a fabulous job!!!! I really have been dying to make whoopie pies too….
Maureen
November 5, 2008 at 3:29 pmHeh… I do this all the time. Except my most technically savvy cooking utensil is a spatula. A coffee filter will give you the same result. It’s amazing how the most important things I’ve learned in college have little to do with academics and more to do with the fact that it stripped me financially.
Jenny
November 5, 2008 at 3:40 pmJenna, I really don’t comment often but I have to thank you for one of the most mature, positive things I have read about the election all day! And as always your goodies look incredible. 🙂
bobbi
November 5, 2008 at 3:41 pmyummy treats! That burrito looks yummers, I have never seen those?!
Megan
November 5, 2008 at 3:48 pmJenna, I am with you on this one. I lean a bit to the conservative side and while the results did not come out like I had hoped I am still going to be behind Obama. I have to say, I am happy there are other young people out there that still support the conservative side of our country. I feel like I am the only one sometimes.
jenna
November 5, 2008 at 3:52 pmOh She Glows,
No it does not go bad! Contrary to american belief, all dairy does not have to be always be refrigerated…..yes, I know its creepy and yes, I always keep my dairy in the fridge…but in France the milk is on the counter. Keeping the yogurt out for 8 hours will “dripping it” WILL NOT cause it to go bad. It will just be warm yogurt. I even asked Adam about it! It’s a bit old fashioned but if you feel better about it you can most certainly toss it in the fridge!!
polly
November 5, 2008 at 3:54 pmJenna and Megan… ditto! 🙂 xoxoxoxo
That homemade yogurt looks great. Do you think it’s worth it to buy two of the regular to make half cup of the greek? Money wise? Or do you think it’s better to just buy fage (wishing it was cheaper too!)
jenna
November 5, 2008 at 4:04 pmPolly,
What I think I will try next week is to buy a big thin of Dannon nonfat plain (32 oz size = $2.99 i think?), strain it at work and see how much greek yogurt I get out of that!
Lindsey
November 5, 2008 at 4:10 pmThank you so much for posting the DIY greek yogurt! I am always looking for ways to save money!
And I 100% ditto your comment about not being an “angry republican”. I have so many friends who are ranting and raving and claiming to move to Canada now, our country is doomed, etc., and it bothers me SO much. This has been such a wonderful, historic election. I think everyone who are “angry republicans” just need to remember it’s not like Obama is going to be a dictator, and to actually show him some respect! He’s basically taking a huge pay cut and going into one of the most stressful jobs possible. All because of his huge passion for our country! He’s going to do all he can to benefit the country!
Wow, sorry, that was longer than I intended! Would you believe I voted for McCain? haha. I guess I’m just fine either way it went!
Amy
November 5, 2008 at 4:20 pmJenna & Megan, thank you for giving a proper voice to my thoughts today. I consider myself to be moderate, but I voted Republican for the first time in my life yesterday, not because I dislike President-elect Obama, but because my personal feelings on issues that were important to me jived more with Senator McCain. I have read lots of commentary and blog comments today where Republican voters were berated for their choice in candidate, and I have wanted to participate in the dialogue but thought I couldn’t properly describe how I feel without being chastised. Although the election didn’t go the way I wanted it to, I welcome this new chapter for America and I am very proud to be an American who voted in this historic election. Thank you, Jenna, for fostering a welcoming community where I feel comfortable sharing my thoughts. 🙂 (Ok, now back to talking about food!)
Sandy
November 5, 2008 at 4:20 pmJenna
Great post!!! Thank’s for your honesty..I agree with you~I will pray for our new President.. 🙂
Gorgeous pictures of food as usual..I love seeing what you make, and do at work..I can’t imagine all the hard work you put into it….beautiful job..Glad you’re enjoying yourself!!!
Thank’s for such a positive post!!!!!
Eliza
November 5, 2008 at 4:21 pmHi. I’m a first time commenter, but long time reader…I just started a blog and was wondering if I could add you to my blogroll?
Janelle
November 5, 2008 at 4:24 pmDon’t chuck out the Whey! That is the clear stuff that drips off the yogurt – it is full of good stuff and you can use it to “soup up” your oatmeal, bake bread, make pizza dough…and rumor is it makes great plant food.
angelcubbie
November 5, 2008 at 4:30 pmHey Jenna, just had to say I too loved your comment about not “being an angry republican”. I also tend to lean towards the conservative side and while the election didn’t come out the way I hoped, I feel proud to be an American today considering what a huge step and how much it says about our country and it’s ideals of equality that Obama was voted into office.
Kim
November 5, 2008 at 4:37 pmJenna, thank you SO MUCH for your gracious, insightful response to Obama’s victory. I’ve heard so many petty, angry reactions from conservatives (both on television and in real life), and I’m so heartened to hear you speak on behalf of McCain supporters who have accepted the results and are optimistic about the future. Like President-Elect Obama said — we’re all in this together, and he needs your help, too 🙂
Rachel
November 5, 2008 at 5:08 pmWell as usual I am focused more on the baked goods than the important issues. THOSE CREAM PUFFS! SO DELICIOUS-LOOKING!
Rose
November 5, 2008 at 5:11 pmWhoopie Pies! In Pennsylvania, we call them gobs. Isn’t that funny?
Heather
November 5, 2008 at 5:14 pmJenna- I love your comments on the election. I tend to lean to the conservative side as well and think you have a great perspective on how the race turned out. Well said!
And the pastries look AMAZING as usual 🙂 Great job!
aud8980
November 5, 2008 at 5:44 pmI totally agree with the comments about the election. I agree with McCain about the issues…but also love Obama’s image and what he stands for. I do think that he will make a good president! He can lead our country! Its refreshing to hear the same views :]
Your baking looks delish as usual! awesome job.
VeggieGirl
November 5, 2008 at 5:50 pmAMAZING TREATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gliding Calm
November 5, 2008 at 5:54 pmwowwwwwwwww. homemade Greek yogurt. impresssssssssive. i need to get me a cheesecloth
Brooke
November 5, 2008 at 6:21 pmThank you for showing us how to make Greek yogurt! I will def be trying this soon!
(Also, I am SO IMPRESESD with your positive attitude and respect towards Obama. I think both political parties could learn something from your example.)
Cat
November 5, 2008 at 6:47 pmI am so grateful to be a part of this wonderful, open-minded blogging community. This is a place I feel completely comfortable sharing my thoughts and questions, and I love reading what others have to say. Thank you to everyone for being so supportive of one another! 🙂
Jenna, I also want to thank you for sharing your views in such a positive way. I am so happy to have Obama as our president and I’m excited to see that he is going to be supported by so many others, regardless of their party. Thank you again! And wonderful looking Greek yogurt, by the way!! 🙂
Kristie
November 5, 2008 at 7:04 pmI’ve just started straining yogurt over the past couple weeks and I LOVE it. I was so so SO darn excited when I discovered how easy it was. Especially since I can’t really find greek yogurt around here at all. I actually just strained a whole large container of plain fat free yogurt today and it turned out WONDERFULLY. I think there a little more than 3/4 of the container left when I strained it, and after straining it was probably down to about half the initial amount. Kinda sucks but at the same time the entire container was less than $3 so much cheaper than greek! I’ll probably be doing this every week now. Straining yogurt is the best discovery ever.
BethT
November 5, 2008 at 7:11 pmEvery conservative/repub on this page is the bomb.
Julz
November 5, 2008 at 7:42 pmYou are SUCH A CLASSY LADY, Miss Jenna. I know you were a McCain supporter and I sincerely respect how you are handling the outcome of this election. Honestly and Truly, you are such a Marvel. Love you GIRL! 🙂
Meredith
November 5, 2008 at 7:47 pmI don’t know if you listened to Obama’s speech at all, but I just loved how he made a point to mention how McCain has done some really good things for this country, and how he’s literally fought for it. I also really liked how he said he knew he hadn’t won everyone’s support and votes, but that he will be your president too, and he will listen to you and wants you to help him. I agree with you: I definitely think he’s a good person with a good heart 🙂
Pumpkin (Chef Erin)
November 5, 2008 at 8:33 pmAre there cranberries in the whoopie pies? Maybe I’m just crazy, but it looks like a cranberry poking out of one…
Have fun in Chi-town! Pack some sweaters! 🙂
Karissa
November 5, 2008 at 8:47 pmWow, I’m so encouraged by all the discussion about Obama’s win last night. It is beyond mature, it’s patriotic! We really need to come together as Americans no matter how we voted and to hear that reiterated by Jenna and everyone else commenting is refreshing and sooooo hopeful!! Yay America!!
M
November 5, 2008 at 8:52 pmAfter all the moaning and griping and bashing I’ve heard re: the election, I am so pleased and inspired to hear your comments, J. It sounds silly, but you’re a real class act. (I admit it — I surely wouldn’t have been so open-minded and supportive had my preferred candidate not won.)
kristin point
November 5, 2008 at 8:54 pmIts been said but ill say it again that your comment on the election was well said and intelligents. I agress with you 100%.
Erin
November 5, 2008 at 9:21 pmI so appreciate what you said. Thank you.
AshleyH
November 5, 2008 at 10:14 pmJenna I am so glad you did this today I have been wanting to try this forever but I had been a bit hesitant. Ellie Krieger always does this to use in her recipes in replace of some of the mayo. Love your blog sooo much!
jess
November 5, 2008 at 11:14 pmI must admit, I find myself veering towards the moderate/conservative end in most instances as well; however, you’re right, it’s impossible to not be excited about/anxious for this historic moment and the change to come! It’s so amazing to be alive in these times- Yes We Can! haha
Sarah (now in FL)
November 6, 2008 at 6:47 amJenna, I used to strain my yogurt with a “yogurt cheese” maker that my aunt sent me. It was great to mix in herbs (I could send you the exact recipe if you were interested) and make a “boirson-cheese” like spread for sandwiches or to make “cream cheese” for bagels and english muffins that was not full of random crap to get it in “spreadable” form. I could add stuff like cinnamon, honey, and raisins and make an awesome bagel sandwich. I imagine the cheese cloth would accomplish the same thing so I thought I’d pass it on!
But, I wanted to point this out since I just read it in this month’s Oprah and found it for you with one quick Google search:
http://www.oprah.com/article/omagazine/200811_omag_katz_yogurt . Apparently straining your yogurt reduces some of the calcium. It might be helpful for you to point out in a post for some of your blog readers who may be conscious about calcium intake (I know I have to get extra every day due to low bone density, but I never would have thought that straining my yogurt would change the calcium content.) Just a thought. I loved seeing your desserts from yesterday! Someday I will have to show you my famous dessert: slice and bake cookies (just kidding.)
Mariposa
November 6, 2008 at 7:17 amHi Jenna.. I’m agreeing with people that I have heard a lot of angry people out there about the election and the way things turned out. My own parents (my mom made a comment about how this would be like the end times??!!!) and my father (who said you better move to CAN because Obama would sell the country). It made me so angry!!!We all voted for who we thought would best lead our country and MORE people thought Obama had it in the bag and voted for him!
Thank you Jenna for admiting even though it was not the way you had hoped it would turn out you are behind the prez.. hopefully there will be more people like you out there!
LOVE THE PASTRIES!!! I think when I go on vacation I will go to FL and just hang out at the place you work at.. lol
CourtneyS
November 6, 2008 at 9:44 amI have to second everyone’s comments about Jenna’s post and the responses. I’m a long time Republican (which hasn’t been easy lately!) but I think we can all celebrate an important night in our nation’s history. I’m very, very interested to see what lies ahead.
I love strained yogurt. If you don’t have cheesecloth, you can drain it in a paper towel over a bowl. I put it in the fridge overnight and it’s always perfect the next day. It’s also a great base for tzatiki – drain a grated cucumber at the same time you do the yogurt, then combine everything with lemon, garlic, dill, and parsley. Mmmm.
runjess
November 6, 2008 at 12:19 pmSo basically you just strain the yogurt and it makes it thicker?
MH
November 6, 2008 at 4:40 pmI am way late to the discussion (and also a long-time lurker but first time commentor) but I want to echo how great it is to see such thoughtful and mature reactions to the election from the Republicans in the crowd. Jenna and everyone else: thank you!! I’m a liberal/Obama supporter myself, but we *are* all in this together. And what a great moment of history this is! I live in New York City and the celebrations in the streets on Tuesday night were amazing–just pure joy and optimism. I can’t wait to see what comes next!
Dinah Soar
November 6, 2008 at 5:19 pmYou can use a paper coffee filter placed in a strainer too. Rest the strainer over a bowl to catch the whey. I place mine in the fridge overnight or for several hours.
A really good store brand of yogurt is the Kroger brand…I like it better than Dannon…I buy the low fat plain and you can see the layer of cream on top. As it stands in the container the whey separates out and if you scoop from the top it will be much thicker than what is in the bottom. Scoop from one side down to the bottom as you go and the whey has a place to drain to right in the carton…it gets really thick. Also, the Kroger brand is not sour like many brands. And the quart size is cheap.
Catherine
November 7, 2008 at 11:40 amYay, thanks for the “Greek” yogurt lesson! I will definitely be trying that soon. I am with you politics-wise too. Admittadly I didn’t vote for Obama, but I still think him to be a very capable and intelligent man. I am definitely going to pray that he guides our country in the right direction and have a very open mind about him as president. It’s very exciting to think we have just elected our first African-American president!!
Chelsea
September 7, 2009 at 9:39 amI’m a way late to comment on this, but after reading through the archives, I have to commend you for your maturity and respectable attitude. I was ecstatic with the election results and am very liberal, however, I think that more than ever this country needs to unify and have people work together to navigate many of the issues we’re currently enduring. Attitudes such as yours open the floodgates for mature, helpful, and civil discourse. I wish I could see more of that from pundits on TV (both left and right!)