Welcome to the Midwest-pole. 
I left work a little early today because the rapidly falling snow was causing slick roads, building traffic and cars to spin out of of control. 
Thankfully, I made it home in one piece and worked away from the comfort of my kitchen table. I could get used to this!
I’m glad I came home when I did, as it started coming down HARD around 4:00. Us Iowans have our sights set on tomorrow night – which is when this is all supposed to come to a halt! Until then we’ve got -10 degree wind chills, 8-12 more inches of snow, blasting winds, and…
Candy Cane Kisses! Oh my Heavens – WHY have I not had these before?! My brother gave me a small stash of these today and the are so.good.
I don’t even typically like mint-chocolate combos (except for Thin Mints, Thin Mint Ice Cream Cake and homemade Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream, obviously) but these were down right spectacular!
Each white chocolate kiss had little bits of peppermint studded throughout the candy…life altering I’m telling you!
I made sure not to spoil my appetite, though, because tonight I made some easy & tasty Spaghetti for dinner. Meals don’t have to be complicated to be special and delicious!
This was spaghetti you can feel good about eating too. I used Ronzoni Healthy Harvest Rotini for my noodles.
This pasta combines a wheat-blend with fiber and flaxseed. Hey, if I’m going to be eating pasta, I might as well have some added nutrients.
Rotini, or “corkscrews” as I used to call them, was my favorite pasta shape when I was growing up!
The spaghetti sauce was a healthy choice too. Locally made, Gino’s Marinara Sauce. Dang – Ben and I should have gone to Gino’s restaurant after our Italian dinner fail this weekend! Next time…
Anyways, I adore this sauce because it’s got 8 ingredients and no preservatives. Other commercial sauces can have have tons of added ingredients like corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup and vegetable oil. Ick, no thanks!
Tip: If you have a jar lid that won’t come off, bang the handle of a butter knife around the top. It’ll open right up!
No more than 15 minutes after I stepped foot in the kitchen – dinner was ready!
I love Gino’s marinara sauce because it’s got a little kick to it. And it just tastes so fresh and homemade…know what I mean?
The healthy harvest pasta is great, too. A little nutty like other whole-wheat pastas and it keeps a nice bite to it.
Topped with some parm – this spaghetti dinner was just what we needed for a blustery, wintery night. 
Druuuuumroooooll please…
The Biggest Loser finale is tonight!!!! This is by far my favorite episode of the season. I just LOVE to see how far everyone has come. I actually get really proud of the contestants, like I know them or something… Who are you rooting for? My allegiance remains the same!
Last night to enter the Larabar Variety Pack Giveaway!
’til tomorrow!
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What’s your favorite Chocolate + combo? Chocolate + caramel, fruit, mint, pretzels…bacon?!
I loooove me some chocolate & caramel (hello Caramello bars!) - but let’s be real – if it’s paired or covered in chocolate, I’m basically much going to love it! Exhibit A: Me at the Ghiradelli factory in San Francisco last Spring…
OMG im about ready for the snow to be done and spring to come back!!!!
I love chocolate PB, chocolate and caramel, and yes, even chocolate and bacon. The Vosges chocolate bacon bar is to DIE for!
I’m super jealous! WE need a good blanket of snow in New England. Actually, that can probably wait until I’m not at college/at home.
I pretty much like chocolate however it is paired.
If you like those candy cane kisses, you should try the mint-dark chocolate Dove candies. So good!
That line of snow pretty much stops just a county or two north of me (in MO). I won’t lie – I’m thankful we’re getting rain and not snow or ice!
Ahhh, snow storm alreday!!!! I hate to think of what it’s like in Iowa in Janurary if the beginning of December is this bad. Glad you made it home safe.
They are calling for an inch or so overnight here and my hubby is hoping that his work will be delayed. Haha, I told him not to bed on it, but he is so hopeful.
Nothing brings warmth and comfort like a big bowl of pasta!
i LOVE those hershey kisses girl!! so seasonal and DELISH. and i so wish it was snowing here! its rainy and freeezing.
Choc covered pretzels
Choc Toffee
Wow
I’d love for you to visit my blog – food, fitness, music and giveaways!
http://katiechangesforkatie.blogspot.com/
Katie
I can’t put my finger on just one favorite chocolate combo. I have way too many
Perfect dinner for the nastiness we are getting here in the Midwest. Stay warm darling!
Good heavens, girl – I had spaghetti tonight too, and have been planning to make Shepherd’s Pie for a while now. It’s on my menu for tomorrow night!
As for chocolate… Um, yeah. Pretty much ANYTHING with chocolate is good by me!
I use to like Bochner chocolates in Iowa City, but a coworker brought me some Venchi Italian chocolate. Its like caloric crack…..
Its a step above the stuff in stores.
http://www.chocosphere.com/cgi-bin/webstore/web_store.cgi?page=bigpic.html&image_path=/images/venchi/large/100g-75pct-bar-ccr_lg.jpg&cart_id=%%cart_id%%
Ghiradelli chocolate=AMAAAAZING! I think I like the chocolate/peanut butter combo best but anything other than chocolate/mint works for me! For some reason, I just can’t like mint!
My favorite chocolate combo is dark chocolate covered salty pretzels! Soooo good!
Wow you are getting tons of snow down there! Too bad we live in the flat lands and no skiing/snowboarding can happen without the aid of a 4-wheeler and a tow rope!
Favorite chocolate combo (besides with wine), take one Tootsie Roll and smoosh it together with one Hot Tamales candy. It is choco-cinne-money bliss!
Chocolate and peanut butter!
I would love to win the larabars!
Ginos marinara is so stinkin good. I love using it for dipping garlic bread into as well. Of course their creamy Italian dressing is yummie too – so bad for you …
Those kisses are yummy! I don’t like chocolate (I know I’m crazy) but the peppermint ones are great. They also had candy corn flavored ones at Halloween that were great too. Good luck in the snow – KC is not supposed to get as much as you guys. SO stay warm!
mmm I need to find those peppermint kisses!
fave chocolate combo? chocolate and peanut butter of course!
OMG biggest loser! ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!
That pasta looks amazing! i can’t believe how much snow you guys have already gotten, thats outrageous! stay safe!
hahah! I’m right there with ya girl! If it’s covered in chocolate, I’ll probably down it on the spot!
Those kisses ARE good…very good, indeed!
very clique but my favorite is chocolate + peanut butter. omg. amazing. even better is chocolate + peanut butter + pretzels. heaven.
Hello! My absolute favorite is probably chocolate and caramel, but right now I am loving the white chocolate peppermint bark! I made some with friends last Friday and it is heaven. You can check out our blog for pictures if you want. Have a great Wednesday! Amy
Team Danny!!!!
And chocolate with caramel wins the chocolate contest.
I love the Ghiradelli factory in SF. My fave choc combo is chocolate, pb and banana, usually in the form of ice cream. I can’t believe all the snow you have.
I had a peppermint kiss for the first time about a month ago, and unfortunately there has been a bowl full of them on my counter ever since!
I would have to say Chocolate/ carmel or Chocolate/ peanut butter!!! P.S.- I’d love to win the LARABARS! They would be a great way to help me snack healthy
LOVE GINO’S!!! The first time I saw their restaurant I laughed
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I’m a grad student at Drake and we just got campus closed and classes canceled, thank goodness! Don’t drive!!!
oh man, rudy looked like a hottie at the finale! and crazy tracy looked scary skinny in her face. eeeek.
[...] Before and After! [...]
I LOVE those candy cane hugs!!! They must come out every other year, because last year, I couldn’t find them and had to order them from a website & this year they’re all over the place!
Great post I am definitly bookmarking this. Check out Tony Sacco’s Coal Oven Pizza Thanks for the resource. fort myers pizza is the best.