Hello!
Good banishment picks this morning! While several of you balked at my banishment of cooked carrots, bell peppers and mushrooms, I balked at your banishment of cauliflower, pickles and brussels sprouts! Isn’t personal taste funny? Is taste nature or nurture, do you think?
I happen to think it’s a little of both. I can’t eat cooked carrots because I was forced to eat them in pot roast dinners growing up, but there’s no reason why I hate the taste and texture of bell peppers and mushrooms! The world may never know…
In other news, I’ve made my decision. In the battle between watching tonight’s season premiere of LOST or The Biggest Loser…
My inner Lostie whooped my inner Loser! I did a little research to try and remember what the heck happened last season and I think I have a handle on what’s going on. But, for the life of me, I can’t remember how half of the Losties ended up in the 1970′s while the other half are in the present? Mad love to anyone who can clear that up for me!
In dinner news – Ben and I made a mad dash for the AYCE Salad Bar tonight!
You know how the “All You Care to Eat” buffet at Hy-Vee warms my soul. Tonight’s pickins’ were just as delish as always. 
We got there early and dined by the light of the setting sun. Aren’t you loving how it’s staying lighter, later and later these days?!
We hit the salad bar and I loaded my plate with romaine lettuce, turkey, cheese, broccoli, chicken, cherry tomatoes, half a hard boiled egg and some cottage cheese.
I ate everything except for the cherry tomatoes which reminded me too much of the bazillion grapes I had this afternoon! 
You know the cottage cheese in the salad bar is full-fat, which explains why it tastes so.dang.delicious! Cold and creamy – like ice cream!
On the side I got my luscious fruit & berry fix. The watermelon was lack luster, but the berries and pineapple were super juicy and sweet. Sweet!
A smidgen of pasta salad on the side – which, I’m happy to report, was MUCH better than last time…
And, of course, I HAD to have some of Hy-Vee’s amazing soup! On tap today: Potato Cheddar which I garnished with a sprinkling of bacon bits. Omg – totally legit. Hy-vee knows soup!
I was…FULL…after all of this. So was Ben – check out the damage he did!!
We did save room for some fresh makers…
There was only one red in the entire pack though! Tragic! Guess who got it… 
I’m off to get LOST
Goodnight!
~~~~~
Are you a “Lostie”?
Do you buy berries in the winter?
I am, obviously, a Lostie, and I don’t usually buy berries in the winter because they’re $500/lb… That’s part of the reason why I like these all you can eat salad bars – it’s worth the price of the berries alone!
Your salad bar looks so yummy! I made your shredded BBQ pork in the crock pot for dinner & it was delish–complete with canned green beans, natch.
I’m not a Lostie . . . never got into it. I usually buy a little prepackaged mixed fruit “salad” from the grocery store every couple of weeks. Berries in the winter are a special treat–I ate them yesterday with my overnight oats. SO tasty!
I need to get my berry fix all year around, so I buy frozen mixed berries so I can have them on hand at all times!
LOST all the way!!! How can you even compare that with Biggest Loser?
We’ve been watching from the beginning and we can’t wait!!!
I am not at all a lostie
I don’t go for berries in the winter. They just aren’t the same
I am also a Lostie
I have been a fan from the beginning!
I buy frozen berries. They taste the same to me when they are thawed! I put them in smoothies and yogurt… Yum Yum.
Funny, I HATE the full fat cottage cheese (especially on salad bars) but I LOVE cottage cheese 1%. I find is so odd that there is such a significant difference in taste with this. Not many foods has that much difference between fat versions, but cottage cheese is an entirely different story.
Glad you had a fun date at the buffet! I always buy berries, even in the dead of winter. Yeah, I suppose they are coming from millions of miles away, but I don’t seem to mind, so long as I have my blueberries!
ahahahaha 4 plates of food! Ben definitely got his money’s worth. I’m taping both LOST and Biggest Loser tonight… unfortunately I have lots of homework
I’m watching the recap episode right now to catch up!
I just have to say, your blog was the first “foodie” blog I ever read, and now I’m kind of addicted to them! When I first started reading I wanted to try everything!! I’m now an oatmeal addict. Who knew oatmeal and peanut butter tasted so good?!
Anyways, your blog is so cute! Love it!
wow that is such a healthy looking salad – i love it!! especially those berries; wow they look so fresh for being winter!
have fun watching LOST !
I know I’m in the minority… but I gotta go with Biggest Loser.
For some reason, I just never got into Lost…
I also am a berry lover but hate paying the price. I discovered something at our beloved HyVee!!! In the freezer aisle there is a frozen bag of mixed berries. They help cure my berry craving in winter and they’re only $2.49 a bag!
Love the salad bar at HyVee – ours here in KS. As for Lost – last season Ben moved the big compass thing, which made the island disappear. Then they all started moving through time with the flashes, and they ended up in 1974, where the flashes stopped because Locke reset the big compass thing. Isn’t that totally clear? =)
Wow that salad bar looks phenom!
Jenna
The only time I watched LOST was when I was in France in 2006. It was in French and the middle of the season, so naturally I had no clue what was going on. I’ve always wanted to start watching it, but the time never comes or I just get too distracted with other things to get into it.
I don’t buy a lot of berries in the winter, but I do make an exception for raspberries and blueberries. I love adding berries to cereal, yogurt and granola/oatmeal for breakfast or a snack. But I understand when you mention price. I shelled out $5 for a tiny package of raspberries at the grocery store today. I justify it by not buying an abundance of snack food anymore. ^_^
Cheers!
I am not a Lostie…never got into it because it all started with a plane crash, and that freaks me out! Haha!! I will buy berries during winter if I can find them on sale. Fund some strawberries on sale last week and they were really good! But, they are usually way to dang expensive!!
I’m watching LOST right now! And, as usual, I am soooo confused!
Im a total lostie & Im also embarassed that I spelt your name wrong
Enjoy the show
The Hy-Vee salad bar is amazing, isn’t it? We like the Mills Civic version because they always seem to have those berries…such a winter treat! When we had that Red Hot Deals Customer Appreciation coupon book in January, we went twice in one weekend to score it for $4.99. =)
I am NOT a Lostie, but I totally understand being addicted to a J.J. Abrams show. I am a die-hard Alias fan.
I LOVE ALL YOU CAN EAT SALAD BARS! and your salad looks so great! i had CC on a salad today too!
I’m a new LOSTIE after catching up by watching all the seasons on DVD. But I’ve never had to watch it live so I completely scheduled a girls night for tonight. Good thing I have a light day in the office tomorrow and can watch it on ABC.com.
Oh yeah, I’m a LOSTie!!!!! LOVE IT!!!
desperate lostie…maniacally in love with boone(so happy tonight!)
I am definetly not a Lostie (though it seems I’m shaming the blogging world by saying that..you all seem to be!) – I got *lost* after the 1st season and never got round to understanding it
shame!
Love your food there, it’s all sooo colourful and bright!!
I love salad bars! The cottage cheese always tastes SO good from them, too.
Yes, I do buy berries in the winter. I know, they’re not in season but living in upstate NY, some things are never in season for me, like avocados and pineapples LOL.
Jenn
I do watch Lost, but I’m not as into it as I used to be say, 3 seasons ago. I’m not a SciFi fan, basically. I do buy berries but generally only from places like Sam’s Club til they come in season. Sam’s tends to have good prices!
I have never seen a full episode of Lost, so I’m afraid I can’t help you with the plot.
This time of year, it’s all about frozen berries (and fresh oranges and grapefruit!). I threw a small handful of frozen blackberries in the food processor with a frozen banana, and I must say, it was DIVINE. So yummy! Reminded me of a fruity, creamy gelato. You must try it.
I was once a lostie, but got lost and then was really a lostie. I haven’t been able to get back into it, but maybe if they will reveal all the mysteries? I mostly use frozen berries in the winter since fresh are so darn expensive and from 5,000 miles away
I have been behind on Lost since season 1. Still trying to catch up! Also a big fan of the frozen berries at Hy-Vee during the winter. I add them to my yogurts.
I just discovered your blog and I love your eats! All you can eat salad bars are my fave…I definitely get my money’s worth! I’m a huge berry fan, so I do shell out in the winter. Blueberries are my fave
I’ve never seen Lost, but everyone is so excited about it, I want to watch the seasons on DVD!
I buy berries in the winter only if they’re on sale. I just can’t see the point of paying $6 for a tiny tin of blueberries.
And I am not a Lost fan! Well, I shouldn’t say that – I really haven’t seen an episode. The husband and I keep saying we should start watching it from the beginning, but the way news travels, we’ll know what happens in the end.
Enjoy the show!
K