They’re saying today’s going to be the hottest day of the year, with heat indexes reaching 110 degrees, and it was already 79 when my Mom and I set out for our morning walk at 5:30am. Can you say, the hotness!? 
Luckily I had a cool and creamy breakfast waiting for me when I got home – a Breakfast Cookie!
It has been aaaages since I last had one of these bad boys, and last night I knew my morning self would appreciate not having to cook anything hot for breakfast. 
In the mix:
- 1/4 cup old fashioned oats (uncooked)
- 1/2 banana, mashed
- Almond slices
- Peach Chobani Greek Yogurt
- Bluberries
Mix oats, banana, almond slices and a couple dallops of yogurt together and spread out on a plate. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge overnight. In the morning, top with the rest of the yogurt and dots of blueberries!
This breakfast cookie has all the elements of a real cookie – it’s just healthier…and for breakfast! The sugar cookie has been replaced by a chewy, oat base. Thick, Greek yogurt has become the luscious icing, and fresh blueberries replace the chocolate chips!
All hail the breakfast cookie!
I packed some leftovers of last night’s Summer Mac & Cheese for lunch!
It’s a fact that my Dad happens to hate leftovers in most forms – especially chicken and pasta. While I don’t mind leftover chicken, I happen to agree with him on the pasta front. Usually it’s dry and chewy – so I’m hoping the goat cheese in here will help making everything creeeeamy again.
Even after a night spent in the fridge!
Same sidekicks as yesterday! A Pink Lady Apple and a mini Coconut Cream Pie Larabar.
I tried this flavor the other day when I got my big bag full of bars – I had forgotten how chewy, soft and tropical they are. Like a sweet coconut macaroon. 
In other news…
Today I am heading to the happiest place on earth.
No not Disneyland, Le Mars, Iowa – the official Ice Cream Capital of the World and home to the Wells Blue Bunny Ice Cream Headquarters!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
For two days, I will be part of a blogger summit touring the Wells Blue Bunny Ice Cream plant, eating meals prepared by certified culinary scientists, learning about dessert trends, creating my own ice cream concoctions and, most importantly, eating lots and LOTS of ICE CREAM!
You should have seen me when I got the email inviting me to join the summit – I was literally laughing like a hysterical mad woman. I mean, two days surrounded by ice cream in the ice cream capital of the world (seriously – Le Mars was officially designated that in 1994!) I was over the moon!!
Here’s a little more info, in case you’re curious:
Le Mars, Iowa, officially designated “The Ice Cream Capital of the World” in 1994, has been the home to Wells’ Dairy, makers of Blue Bunny® brand ice cream and dairy products, since the company’s founding by Fred H. Wells, Jr., in 1913. Today, more ice cream is produced in Le Mars, Iowa, by a single company than in any other city in the world!
Since 1913, the colossally creative artisans at Wells’ Dairy, Inc.—the largest family-owned and managed dairy processor in the United States—have been hard at work putting all things chunky, chewy, rich and gooey into their ice cream.
Today, ice cream aficionados throughout all 50 states and Mexico can choose from nearly 500 tantalizingly tasty Blue Bunny® ice cream flavors, frozen dairy desserts and delectable novelties.
Ok, maybe I’m freaking out a little more than the average Jane, but I am truly pumped to learn about what is going on up there in Le Mars, IA. I’m one of those nerds who like to know the inside scoop about everything – Unwrapped, anyone? Plus…ice cream!!
I am heading to Le Mars tonight after work, and will be blogging when I can for the next two days. I can’t WAIT to show you guys everything that I see, do, learn…and eat!
Happy Hump Day!
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One of the things I’m most excited about during the summit, is creating my own ice cream concotion. Tell me, what would your signature flavor/combo be?
Mine would be a peanut butter ice cream base with brownie and peanut butter cookie chunks, mini peanut butter cups and a caramel swirl running through the whole thing. I know. Go big or go home though!!!
Oh my gawd! I am so unbelievably jealous of you! You are going to have so much fun! Whee!
I would have a coffee based ice cream with toffee bits and fudge swirls. Yum!
Oh goodness, I would love to do that event!
I would have to say something wtih chocolate, peanut butter and bacon!
ooo combining all of mother nature’s necessities! i like it!
OMG, think of all the ice cream you’ll sample!
If you ever question why you blog, re-read this post…that summit sounds AMAZING!!
Hmm…I love cinnamon, PB and brownie chunks…somehow I’d combine them
AWESOME!!! omg unwrapped is my jam!! hahaha i love mark somers! i am so glad i have a fellow nerd =) have a great time and i cant wait to read everything about your trip! my ice cream would be mango or pomegranate with mochi chunks, pineapple, and pretzel bits. yummmm
OMG! I’m living in Le Mars for the summer! Can I join you all at the summit?!
It sounds like a lot of fun!
I think you’re ice cream would be exactly what I would want to make, so can I just eat yours?
When you want to reheat pasta in the microwave restore the moisture by placing a cup of water (about 1/2 cup will do) in the microwave with the pasta…you’ll never have dry pasta leftovers again!
Have so much fun!!! I think my ideal ice cream would be vanilla with chocolate chunks, chocolate covered coconut balls and chocolate covered peanut butter pretzels. Totally random, but totally delicious!!
Hahahaha, I tototally thought you were going to say you were pregnant!!!
I’ve been checking since 6 AM!!!
Um, I think you just created my dream concoction!
BwaahhH!! Jealous! Blue Bunny is the only ice cream brand I could find in Michigan that has a PB base (besides the new PB Brittle from Ben & Jerry’s). And I can’t find ANY SoCAL market that carries Blue Bunny brand! Lucky you!
I ‘d create a PB ice cream w/ oreo chunks yellow cake mixed in. Sounds weird but its what I have to make when I go to Cold Stone’s (when they carry their seasonal Nutter Butter flavor). I must have ice cream/froyo EVERY night!
Ideal ice cream is cinnamon flavored base with oatmeal chocolate chunk cookie dough bits. B&J used to make it, somehow, it has now been sent to the Flavor Graveyard. AND to make matters worse, they won’t bring it back no matter how many emails my mom and I send them. RUDE! lol!
YOU ARE POSSIBLY THE LUCKIEST PERSON ON EARTH! That’s awesome! I can’t wait to hear/read all about it and see all your lovely pictures, because I know you’ll be taking ‘em!
When you are in LeMars, be sure to get a strawberry shake/malt from Bob’s Drive In. SO good!
Ooh, lucky duck! Last night I went to our local TCBY to get choc/vanilla swirl yogurt w/ oreos and reeses crumbled on top. Soooo good! I’d choose some sort of espresso almond fudge or Ben and Jerry’s Half Baked!
Lucky lady! I was just talking about how ice cream is the one indulgent treat that I could never give up…especially in the summer. It’s just so creamy and dreamy! Your flavor combo sounds phenom! Talk to the folks at Blue Bunny about that.
Being surrounded by ice cream for two whole days?!?! Heaven!
That is going to be such a blast!! I love getting the inside scoop (no pun intended) on learning how places like that work. And being able to make your own will be so cool!
I would probably mix cheesecake, cinnamon, and sweet cream ice creams, with a swirl of caramel and mini milk chocolate chips! Yum!
a base of malted ‘cream’ ice cream (not vanilla!), with a ribbon of salty peanut butter running through it and chocolate covered peanuts. I’d top a bowl of this yumminess with home made whipped cream (just a hint of sugar and whipped until very firm). Heaven!
Have fun!
Wow – I would have LOVED to have gotten an invite for this!
I am jealous! I would love a coconut, chocolate and almond flavor.
How cool!!!! Please DO give us the inside scoop. And have fun!
We were given an ice cream maker for our wedding (we LOVE ice cream), and my favorite flavor/combination to-date has been strawberry peach, with small chunks of strawberry in the mix. Yum!!!!!!!!
Wow, have fun! Your ice cream signature flavor sounds amazing.
I love your idea of the concoction – although for me personally, I’d leave out the caramel and instead add little bits of banana. I suppose it couldn’t be mass produced, but it would be so tasty! There’s nothing better than that combination of chocolate, peanut butter, and banana!
My best friend’s family is the Wells family!!! (owners of Blue Bunny). Can’t wait to hear about your trip!
Make sure to get a Bob’s Dog at Bob’s Drive-In in Le Mars. It’s kiddie-corner from the Blue Bunny Visitor’s Center. Best hot dog I’ve ever had.
thats amazing, congrats on being invited. Blue Bunny Rocks. I mean talk about choldhood. Can we say ICE CREAM TRUCKS. Those = blue bunny heaven. have a blast girl!!
Wow, that is hot! The summit sounds like so much fun – can’t wait to hear all about it!
What a fun blogger summit, hope you have a blast! You pretty much summed up my perfect ice cream flavour when describing yours – PB, chocolate, caramel, brownie, PB cups – sounds like heaven!!
AMAZING!! Can’t wait to read about all the stuff you learned and see all the photos. How fun will it be to make your very own ice cream concoction….sounds yummoscrumdiliumptious!! I totally love Unwrapped too, Marc Somers is the man!! My signature flavor would be vanilla base with pretzel bits, toffee bits, pistachios and a caramel swirl ruuning through it
Can’t wait to see your Blue Bunny experience, I went there yesterday for an amazing ice cream cone, I always get the peanut butter one! I’m so happy I only live 20 minutes from LeMars and can get there ice cream all the time!
I’m sold on your ice cream concoction. I’m seriously drooling over here… you better make some and send it to me! Haha.
But if I were to create one: mint ice cream swirled with chocolate ice cream filled with pounded up oreos. =)
I’ve thought about this one before… and I’d go with a peanut butter ice cream base, with white chocolate fudge swirl, vanilla oreos, and toffee. mmmmm
Oh man — I want to tour an ice cream factory! Lucky, lucky you. One of my favorite ice creams is Edy’s Mint Cookie Crunch (sorry, Blue Bunny), and I’ve been saying for a while now that I want to make ‘Canadian Crunch’, which would be a maple ice cream (or perhaps vanilla with a maple swirl…) with walnuts and bits of ginger snaps.
Oh, and on the topic of leftover pasta — I always LOVED day-old macaroni when I was growing up!
That is awesome! I live twenty minutes from there! And, must say that the tour is a must-do! And has a delicious end!
I think that you should consider meeting Ashley and I for Bob’s dogs! Yum!
How exciting to be a part of the summit!
I think my dream concoction would have to involve coconut, cashew butter and chocolate. Yum!
I can’t even pick a combo. I’d need like 10 different combos. Something fruity mixed with something semi-savory… like nuts!
P.S. – your borders are all wonky? The sidebar is showing at the bottom.
I found your blog a few months ago, but have never commented… until now… Blue Bunny Icecream tour?!! I am so jealous. I adore all kinds of icecream and Blue Bunny is one of my favorites.
P.S. Did you know Costco sells Chobani yogurt?… I am sure you do, but thought I would check. It is a great price.
Yea! I was born in Le Mars. Living out on the East Coast, now, but a little Blue Bunny pick-me-up brings me right back. Definitely savor your fare from Bob’s and Blue Bunny and take a stroll around Foster Park for me!
that’s pretty intense(LMAO- on the side, was i the only one who expected an *entirely* different, though way more common, announcement?!?!?). getting recruited to eat and write about it is absolutely awesome too though. i wish sonic would ask me to do that.
mmm…something like a coffee base with raspberry, fudge, and caramel swirls maybe? i’m sure it exists somewhere, that’s just a combo i daydream about frequently.
I can’t wait to read upcoming blogs about the happenings in Le Mars!! That sounds so fun.
Ice cream heaven?!?!?! Gahhhhh soo jealous!! Ultimate flavor: sweet cream & coffee base frozen cake pieces, caramel swirl, cookie dough chunks. No chips though! I hate chocolate chips in my ice cream.
I’m so jealous! You’ll have so much fun!!!
I ‘d love to add coconut to any flavor haha– I’m not sure why but I love me some coconut!
Have a great time! Blue Bunny ice cream is the best!! Mine would be a strawberry base with brownies, banana, and pineapple with a bit of a chocolate swirl…kind of like a banana split!
Hey! I wanted to tell you that if you want better leftovers, you should invest in a couple of pieces from Tupperware: specifically, the Vent n Serve containers! I am a Tupperware consultant and they have changed the way I (and my picky husband) view leftovers! Email me if you would like more product info. or info. on ordering
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what an awesome event to be invited to!! i’m kind of jealous! my ice cream combo would be cake batter ice cream, rainbow sprinkles, and gummie bears!
I’m from that area and I always loved going to get ice cream in LeMars! Their waffle cones are really good! And don’t forget to go to Bob’s Drive-In – best hot dog and onion rings ever!
I love coconut flavored ice cream with cookie dough!
Hi Kristen! i have been following your blog for a couple of months now and I love it! I look forward to reading your posts everyday! I have not yet commented but I saw that you were going to Le Mars, Ia, I have a huge family and the majority have lived in Le Mars there whole life so I visit there often! I have a couple uncles that work at Blue Bunny too! If you get time you should try and stop into Bob’s Drive In. It doesn’t look like much from the outside but Its famous there and has been featured on the Food Network for there great hot dogs. I’m not a huge hot dog fan but there taverns are awesome as well! Hope you have a great trip!
How fun! I’ve been tempted to visit Le Mars, just to go to Blue Bunny, but I just know they’d have to roll me out of there! Have fun–Can’t wait to see what you come up with! As for my favorite flavors, I’d create something akin to tiramisu. Edy’s Dreamery once made a Tiramisu flavor that I LOVED, but I have been cursing them every since they discontinued it.
Love Smores, especially Blue Bunny Smores Ice Cream Sandwiches! DELICIOUS. Also love coffee flavored Ice Cream, although not sure BB offers that =(
i would be a coffee ice cream with oreo crumbles mixed in!!!