***This giveaway is now closed. Thank you for entering!***
Hi everyone – hope you had a nice weekend!
Ben and I have been here, there, and everywhere over the past couple of days. Sit down and stay awhile, I’ll tell ya’ about it! 
Double your pleasure…
I was whipping up a new flavor combo of mini quinoa cups this weekend (recipe coming soon!) when I cracked open an egg and two yolks popped out. Twins, Basil – twins! 
I was horrified, but am hearing that this is actually good luck?! I’ll take it!
Speaking of…
Ben and I were browsing at a book store today when I turned a corner and audibly squealed. SWEET VALLEY HIGH TEN YEARS LATER?!?! I can pretty much die happy! This may will absolutely “accidentally” end up as an Amazon one-click Kindle purchase in the very near future.
Time is on my side…
Although I don’t love working out on the weekends, I have to admit it’s awfully nice knowing I can take as much time as I want to at the gym on Saturdays and Sundays, which I’m not able to do during the hectic work week. When I have the time, I like to run through longer treadmill routines like this 50 Minute, 5.45 Mile routine I huffed & puffed through on Saturday. Sweaty and engaging – the 50 minutes actually flew by.
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Grilling Gods…
The grilling Gods, aka Mr. BBQ, heard my cry and sent Ben and me a new grill cover to replace the crappy, no-name cover that had blown itself to bits over the winter. We easily slipped the cover on and into place this afternoon – fits like a glove. Hallelujah! (and go Hawkeyes!) Thanks Mr. BBQ!
Sugar and spice…
Ok, not so much something we did this weekend, but I can’t believe I haven’t told you guys that Ben and I are going to be an auntie & uncle for the second time later this month, when my brother & sister-in-law welcome a new baby girl! We’ve had so much fun with Finn over the past two and a half years and can’t wait to snuggle the newest addition to our family. 
Nothin’ like noodles…
Nobody ever said eating low-carb was an exact science, so when Ben and I got a carby craving this evening we headed over to Noodles & Company for dinner!
Ben had heard that they got a new “grown up” Mac & Cheese line and, well, I never met a noodle I didn’t like, so we stopped by and got a couple dishes to go.
His & hers!
I heart Noodles’ Udon Noodles dish, but tonight I was really feeling their lighter Pasta Fresca.
Penne pasta is sauteed with balsamic, white wine and TONS of roasted garlic, then topped with feta cheese & shrimps. It has a teeny-tiny kick of heat that I just adore.
Ben went ahead and did the damn thing and ordered their new Bacon Mac & Cheeseburger dish.
Ummm, omg. Buttery noodles with cheese sauce, bacon & meatballs, topped with fresh tomatoes and crunchy breadcrumbs. I helped polish this off in a pretty significant way. It was too good!
In case you’re experiencing a carb craving too, Noodles & Company is giving away a free dish of your choice to 2 IGE readers!
Enter to win one free Noodles & Company dish of your choice by tomorrow, Monday, March 12 at 5pm central by telling me what your favorite pasta dish is in the comments section below.
Have a great week everyone!
Mac and Cheese
Puttanesca
I forgot to mention…like you, I was PUMPED when I saw the Sweet Valley 10 Years Later book. I promptly snatched it up (and texted my best friend from high school to share my excitement)! However, I was disappointed in it. I haven’t even been able to finish it yet. Maybe it will get better??!
My favorite is fettucine alfredo!
I LOVE Mac & Cheese. Absolutely my favorite food…and Noodles & Co’s is pretty far up there with some of the best I’ve ever had!
Whats pasta recipe isn’t the best?! LOVE EM ALL! lol
Also love noodles&company even though it’s been about 5 years since I’ve been there. I think that means its time to go back!!!
Pasta with Pesto sauce!
Anything with red sauce, lots of veggies including artichoke hearts and some big ol’ shrimp!!
If I had to pick a favorite, it would have to be anything with alfredo. *guilty pleasure*
Um, mac ‘n cheese, please! Is there any other way to eat pasta?
Pasta with an over easy egg on top!
penne arrabiata! spicy all the way
Pasta Fresca w/ shrimp….Just like you!
Anything pasta, but if I had to pick my favorite it would be fettucini aldredo.
Whole grain Tuscan linguine!
I pretty much love any Asian noodle dish… Noodles has a really good Indonesian Peanut Saute. YUM!
Good greif that would be fettucini alfredo not aldredo.
Mac and cheese! So good!
I love their buttered noodles with the braised beef! So yum!
Any pasta will do! I love them all!
Steak Stroganoff, but the spaghetti and meatballs are good also.
I love Mac & Cheese… Who doesn’t??
Being a girl in Cali who’s born and raised in WI I have to say I do love my WI Mac & Cheese fix. However I highly doubt the Noodles and Co out here actually use cheese from WI. So I typically get the Penne Rosa.
As for my favorite though, it’s definitely WI Mac & Cheese!!
carbonara with shrimp
Whole Grain tuscan Linguine
Vegetable lo mein with udon noodles! NOM NOM NOM!!!!
I’ve never been to Noodles & Co., but I would LOVE to try it! Didn’t know they had udon!
I absolutely adore carbs (especially pasta!) but I would have to go with Pad Thai, preferably with tofu.
I have never met a carb that I didn’t like.
I love their version of pad thai with shrimp! So yummy!
Anything with pasta and sauce is amazing…but I’ll go with Noodles and Company dishes to narrow the playing field; usually I order Pesto Cavatappi or the Whole Grain Tuscan Linguine!
Pasta Fresca with whole wheat pasta and feta! Love, love it!
I love the Whole Grain Tuscan Linguine at Noodles with grilled chicken. It’s the best. Love your blog, btw. I grew up in Iowa, moved to Minneapolis 11 years ago…love it here, but still have a place in my heart for Iowa.
Will keep following your blog. It’s awesome.
Penne arrabiata…it’s spicy kick is enjoyable!
mac n cheese, please!
Absolutely mac & cheese!
Every time I go to Noodles- which is about to become way more often, they’re building one 2 blocks from my apt- I get the Trio meal with a small Penne Rosa pasta with parmesan chicken and parmesan cheese and tomato basil soup
Mmmm…. Now that’s all I can think about, ugh!!
Pad Thai with shrimp! I almost went there for lunch just thinking about it!
My most favorite is Carbonara but made the traditional Italian way!
Mac and Cheese, so bad but oh so good!
carbonara!
Lasagna!
My favorite is a Mexican Chicken pasta recipe I stole from an ex! Simple blend of salsa, sour cream, and cayenne pepper sauce with chicken pieces marinated in zesty Italian dressing over tri-color rotini – Simple, delicious, and EVERYONE loves it!! Sometimes I add in sliced bell peppers and black olives depending on my mood!!!
Spinach Ricotta Manicotti
I love pad thai!
Butternut ravioli for sure. Mac and cheese is a close second, though!
Mac and Cheese is number one, close second is Fettuccine Alfredo!!
Probably not the best for you, but old school Mac & Cheese with the shapes. Reminds me of being a kid!
Pasta with lemon, olive oil and capers. Yum.
Emeril’s Shrimp with Linguini in Pesto Cream Sauce!
Thai noodles with their braised beef!!! Yumm