To quote Ms. Spano:
There’s NO time! There’s NEVER. ANY. TIME!
source
Remember Jessie’s caffeine pill addiction?? I remember thinking it was SO SCANDALOUS!! I was very…sheltered…when I was young. 
Seriously though, between a Mom walk and 45 minute yoga sesh, there was just no time for blogging this morning. Though, instead of caffeinated pills, I turned to a caffeinated beverage from Starbys as a pick me up on my way to work. A more practical choice, no? Who was your favorite Saved by the Bell character?
Don’t worry, you didn’t miss much anyways. Oh wait, yes you did – I brought some Kashi Honey Almond Flax cereal for breakfast!!
I have been very vigilant in checking the cereal aisle at the grocery store just waiting for this pup to go on sale. I LOVE IT SO MUCH, but a box usually costs $3.50+. Ummm, not happening. I swooped one up when it was $2.99 this weekend though, and have been crunching on it ever since!
I seriously felt so awful eating it at work today. IT. IS. SO.CRUNCHY. Literally one of the crunchiest foods I have ever eaten. I’ll dine at home next time, and save all my co-workers’ sanity!
Lunch was a pretty standard peanut butter sandwich on a thin bun. You know what a PB sandwich looks like, don’t ya?!
Dinner was undeniably the star of the day – Chicken & Vegetable Satay!
The star was this Satay Partay simmer sauce from Tasty Bite.
Remember when I tried their Good Korma sauce?
Ben and I both fell in love with it, so we were anxious to try another flavor from their line of simmer sauces.
I’ve never met a peanut sauce I didn’t like, so I knew this peanut, lemongrass & coconut based simmah sawce was going to be right up my ally.
First, some prep work!
I cooked up a cup of brown rice in a pot on the stove.
Rice Cooking Tip: A lot of times when I’m cooking rice, my ill fitting pot lid lets starchy bubbles escape, which then turn to liquid and trickle down the side of the pot. Then the liquid burns and crusts on the stovetop! No good. Today I solved my little problem by getting a little gangsta. I gave my pot a doo rag! This is just a rolled up kitchen towel, wrapped around the lid/pot seal and secured with a clothes pin. Problem solved!
While the rice cooked, I chopped up some chicken and zucchini/squash,
and cooked them up separately on the stovetop in a little extra virgin olive oil, garlic powder and red pepper flakes.
When everything was cooked, I added it all back into the pot with the simmer sauce and recommended 1/2 cup of water. Simmer for 8-10 minutes, and…
Presto – Satay Partay!!!
My trusty 1001 Foods To Die For book informs me that chicken satay is a staple finger food throughout Southeast Asia where meat is cut into bite-sized pieces and marinated in spices. The marinated pieces are threaded onto bamboo skewers, grilled over a charcoal fire, and served immediately with their contrasting dipping sauce.
The dipping sauces vary from country to country and region to region, but the best known are made from peanuts. YUM!!
This particular dipping simmer sauce was out of this world!
Slightly sweet, and not too peanutty. I actually could have used a little more peanut kick, but Ben thought it was perfect. He requested that I make this weekly!
Seeing as how the sauce packet costs $2.50 and the whole dinner takes, oh, 20 minutes to make – I think I can make that happen.
The tender chicken pieces and zucchini slices melted into the savory sauce, which I also mixed my rice into. Normally I am a NO MIX kind of gal – I like to keep my rice and sauce completely separate, thank you very much – but I was noat about to waste a drop of this stuff!
So fab! Look for this sauce the next time you go to the store – you’ll love it!
Well, my husband has invited me out on a mini date to the gas station, then out to get a treat. How romantic…? Hehe just kidding, he really does have to fill up his gas tank and then I think we might venture near an ice cream parlor.
I WILL be back in time for LOST though. For some reason I am so excited for tonight’s episode even though I know I won’t have a clue as to what’s going on! 
C. U.!
~~~~~
What teeny-bopper shows did you used to watch? Saved by the Bell, Melrose Place, 90210?
I swear I have every line of every SBTB episode ever made!!!
Loved that Saved by the Bell episode! I still watch 90210 actually
I love all tasty bite products I have tried – I need to look out for that sauce, it looks amazing.
Loved that episode! I used to watch that show every morning while eating breakfast before work.
I loved all of the Saved By the Bell stuff and even watched the college years and the movie where Kelly and Zack got married.
I use coffee as my drug of choice too.
Oh man, LOVED that episode- she was so crazy, but then again- don’t we all feel like that?
Dinner looks yummy!
OMG…Saved by the Bell was my most favorite show when I was a kid. The episode when Jessie got addicted to the pills was my favorite, because Jessie was my favorite character.
I’m proud to say that I now own all the SBTB seasons on DVD, plus the Hawaiian movie and the wedding in Las Vegas ones.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Kristin. Kristin said: Channeling Jessie Spano http://tinyurl.com/336f6pm [...]
Where do you find the Tasty Bite products (I mean, where in the store?) – Asian aisle?
I’m a 90201 girl, but only the old version.
I live in Toronto and Kashi cereal is $5.49 a box! It occasionally goes on sale for 4.50 sometimes even $3.99! Food is SO much cheaper in the states…. You have no idea!
Then again, our minimum wage is $10.50…. so I guess people make more so they charge more
I’m from Toronto too! Kashi is rare to find and EXPENSIVE! I paid 7.99 for a box of Honey Sunshine…. but it was worth it.
Where do yiu buy from?
I didn;t even know you could get Honey Sunshine here.
I frequently drive to Buffalo… they have Such great selection of healthy foods in general. I shop at Wegmans when I go. I make a monthly trip
I usually get my Kashi Cereals at Costco or Nofrills…its the cheapest!
TOTAL SBTB junkie! And, your gangsta pot made me completely lol. Way too funny!
oh yes, the caffeine pills. Poor Jessie. She was always annoying to me!
That pot doo rag is brilliant! i hate cleaning up the overflow, and it sucks to have to stand and make sure it doesn’t happen! thanks, lady!
oh, and i’m seriously pumped for lost too!
hi! i just discovered your blog a few weeks ago!
love it! just felt compelled to comment to share my love for saved by the bell. hahaha, i remember thinking her “addiction” was scandalous as well…hahaha….how things have changed.
This was one of the most “dramatic” episodes! My favorite part was when she starts going into a rant of “I’M SO EXCITED” while Zach valiantly shakes some sense into her! LoL What a great show!
Geeze, we went from caffeine pills at Bayside High to threesomes and drug kills on Gossip Girl. My how television has changed over the years!
Does Degrassi Junior High count
?
I saw Kashi cereal on sale today in Des Moines at the amazing price of 2 boxes for $5 – and at Walgreens of all places! They don’t have a huge selection, but they do have the Honey Almond Flax. I’m going back with my $1.00 off coupon for an even better bargain.
I totally agree that those Tasty Bite products are really good, I was completely impressed with the channa masala so if you want to try another one I highly recommend that one!!!
You don’t even know how much I LOVE Saved By the Bell! I own all the seasons on DVD. That episode cracks me up when she’s like.. “I’m so excited..I’m so excited..I’m so scared.” haha!
Missed you this morning and the usual morning post. But I understand the busy life!
p.s. i just saw you on the fitness.com website in an ad for claritin. I realized you did that photoshoot but didn’t realize I’d see it on fitness.com!
Saved By The Bell is one of the best shows….I think I’ve seen them all! I’ll still watch a re-run whenever I come across one!
Your dinner looks great! I’m going to have to look at this the next time I’m at the store!!!
Luv the Doo rag idea! I have a sputtery Crock Pot, think I’ll give that a try. i hate it when i come home and it’s sputtered all over the counter, the back splash and dripped on the floor
I loved Saved by the Bell growing up. As a child born in the early 80s I think it was in our DNA to love that show! Later, when I was a Freshman in High School, our school (in Wisconsin) used to have SBTB trivia at the end of the morning announcements that were read over the intercom. Classes would figure out the answer and the teacher would have to call the office. Then they’d announce the winning class on the announcements the next day, depending on who called first with the right answer. We all got sooooo into that! This post just gave me a good walk down memory lane.
I love the towel for the rice idea! That happens to me too!
Oh gosh, I SO remember that episode!!! I thought it was so scandalous too.. haha crazy. Jessie was my favorite!! I used to watch that every single morning before school while I ate my cereal
Oh wow, your dinner sounds AMAZING!!! I will be looking for that sauce!
I was wondering…where is IGE this AM?
I think my fave’s were Saved by the Bell, Punky Brewster, Blossom, Charles in Charge. Then on the Disney channel, it was def Kids Inc. and the Mickey Mouse Club…oh man, those were the days!
I loved Saved by the Bell! Last week I realized it’s still on tv so I started dvr-ing it every morning… TBS actually plays a commercial for it with the scene where Jesse says “I’m so excited, I’m so excited” My favorite episode is the one where they form a band and are famous… Zack Attack! My fave character is Kelly or Lisa
Kashi is great – I will hop on their website everyone once in a while and request coupons. They are usually attached to products in the store as well.
Do you usually buy your groceries at Hy-Vee? I find that they provide a lot better selection that Dahl’s, but I also know that Gateway carries things that Hy-Vee may not.
That episode is PRICELESS. I seriously quote it ALL THE TIME!
I think Kelly was my favorite “Saved By the Bell” Character…and I still watched the show every morning this year as I got ready for class
As for teeny bopper shows, I loved step by step and family matters growing up!
Um kashi cereals cost at least $4.50 where I shop! Wanna sell me some on the cheap?!
Also I completely love chicken satay- must try making it at home myself!
I always recite that line to my sister when we are running out of time, it always makes us laugh hysterically! I loved it so much!! I wish my hubby was adventurous (or should I say willing to at least try something besides hot dogs and pizza rolls?) like Ben!
Yes, I remember that episode! So funny! That dinner mix looked fabulous. Tomorrow I’m making peanut sauce to dip our salad rolls in.
That looks pretty good..have you ever tried Indian food? I think you might like chicken tikka masala.
I love SBTB too! I started watching in 6th grade I think..10 years ago. 7th Heaven was good too, and we can’t forget Nickelodeon/Disney toons of the ’90s!
I never saw Saved by the Bell – my family never had any of the ‘good’ channels when I was little! Drake and Jsosh was always a good treat though ;P
What kind of squash is that? I’ve never seen that variety?
The yellow squash is a variety called yellow straight-neck squash. That variety and one called yellow crook-neck squash (where the stem end curls around) are the most common kind of yellow squash grown in the midwest. They are both really tender and are great in stir fries and soups. They take on the flavor of whatever sauce or seasoning they are in. Pretty similar to zuchinni but a little more delicate in texture and flavor.
I think that is my fav SBtB episode – I even have it in a DVD box set. =) But I used to want to be Kelly and date Zach – he was such a hottie. Haha. That sauce looks amazing – I hope I can find it.
i’m so excited. i’m so excited. i’m so. scared!
bahahah love that episode. i dont know how you are so productive in the morning! i literally have to peel my eyes apart at 6:30! i need to try that sauce! i can’t find it in stores near me, so i have to keep looking! besides, who doesnt want something with PARTAY in the name? and i love ur doo rag! ur too funny!
i can honestly say ive seen every episode of SBTB and the college years! you know the beginning theme song where they show clips from different episodes? yup, i know where every single one of those comes from!
OMG! I *loved* Saved by the Bell!!! In fact, it reminds me of my Dad, because he was around when the show was running new episodes. I’ll have to check out the Satay because it fits the craving I have lately… hopefully Whole Foods has it!
I looooved Saved by the Bell also, I think everyone our age did! I also got sucked into Boy Meets World – lol!
That episode with the caffeine pills is sooooo over-dramatic. Seriously, caffeine pills? The person who commented about GG is right on – these days they’d have her addicted to coke or something.
Your satay looks good, but I’m wondering how you keep your squash from getting mushy. I tried to saute some the other day and it didn’t work out. Do you salt it? I read online that is supposed to help. Thanks!
haha love the doo rag!
Spray the inside of your pan with a little Pam cooking spray and the bubble will not overflow! It was the best tip I ever got and I promise it works wonders
hahahahhahaahha “i’m so exciteddddddd, i’m soooo exciteddddddddddd…i’m so. i’m so. SCARED!!” AWESOME throw back Kristin!
I definitely loved Saved by the Bell but I wasn’t always allowed to watch it! I too was sheltered, 90210 was forbidden. Boy Meets World and Charles in Charge was a hit and Home Improvement too. oooo another favorite as I got older was Party of Five!
FYI Kashi is REALLY good about posting coupons on their website! 1$ off Kashi cereal is a STEAL
PS LOVE your gangsta pot doo rag. hahahah you crack me up.
You are so funny Kristin!! I dont comment often but I read everyday, me and my husband have gas station dates too!! We like to stop by McDonalds for a 1.00 sundae. I love those times spent together, however short and cheap they are!!
Same breakfast today! That is good stuff.
The sauce and supper look great..and my kind of food. Looks not too spicy, so it might need some Rooster Sauce? I’ll look for that one.
Oh my gosh! I knew when I saw the title of your post it HAD to be about the caffeine and/or time!
Your post made me laugh. Whether that’s right or not, I don’t know, but it did.
I used to watch Saved by the Bell, but 90210 only towards the end of its run and never Melrose Place – I couldn’t stand the latter. When I was younger I watched a bunch of guilty pleasures, mostly off the Disney Channel… Flash Forward, The Torkelsons…
Kashi cereals are on sale at Target for $2.88 this week. If you buy 5 you get a $5 Target gift card. I love a good deal!
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