The city was flooded with random, artsy things...such as this:
And the abundance of beautiful skylines made the miles and miles and miles of walking so pleasurable.
Once, while walking along randomly, we spotted what looked like the remains of the city after King Kong had stormed through.
It turns out that they were filming Transformers 3, which we quickly realized when the loud sound of gun shots permeated throughout the air and three little race cars went zooming down the street. Awesome.
My First Cup of Caribou Coffee was consumed in Chicago. It's 183755X better than Starbucks! Why don't we have these in my neck of the woods?! 
Some downward dogs and other yoga action was going on in front of the bean (What's the story behind this structure?). Hmm...magazine photo shoot perhaps? Look for that bright orange mat in the next Shape magazine! ;)
The skyline in the bean!! So cool!
BIKES! We took a bike ride from 8:30-9:30 and were on the train to the airport by 10:15. 
Gino's East. 
Some legendary pizza was consumed!
Even the airport proved to be a culinary little gem.
So...After our burrito fest, my friend left to wander around and stretch out before we got on the 2 hr plane ride. She returns and tells me that she got an apple. "Cool." *Not really...It's just an apple, right?*
I took one look inside the white paper bag she was holding and..."What did you get?"... "An apple." ??? 
Red Mango Pomegranate Frozen Yogurt. 
Alrighty, so who's ready for some change? I am! I was in Chicago for more than just food and fun. I had the pleasure of attending the Institute of Food Technologists Annual Meeting and Food Expo. 
It was such an educational and fruitful experience and it has inspired me in a number of ways. One of those ways is in conjunction with this blog. In the coming days, I plan to reveal my new plans. I think that it will combine the food we all love to read about and drool over with the innate intrigue that is within us all. Stay tuned!
While we are on the subject of ice cream, I have to share this cute add for Dreyer's Slow Churned Yogurt Blends, which was in a magazine that I was flipping through the other day.
Anyways, let's check out my most recent 4 dates.
My second contender arrived in the mail, courtesy of mama N'nD, wrapped up super cute (along with everything else in my birthday package!).
I was expecting him to deliver a rock hard shell, but it was more like white chocolate chunks after mixing and mingling within the bowl. Don't judge a book by it's cover. Good, but not what I was expecting. Who's up to bat next?
Ahh, yes! The PB&J date was one of the best and I must say that this will not be solely a one night stand. It started out like this...
Then this...
Then things just got crazy! OMG! This was crazy good. 
My final date was enjoyed straight out of the container and involved a simple drizzle of caramel. Sometimes simple is better. Sometimes not.
Double the cheese. Double the delight.
It's my party, I can cry if I want to! 
Sizzzzzle. I love that sound.
Caa-runch! I'll have another please. Thanks.
Bon appetit!
I made some of the best chocolate soft serve ever. 
The final product included WOW peanut butter cookie crumbles, which you might as well just call peanut butter cookie dough bites. 
Get some. I am only looking out for your best ice cream interests. ;)
Then the microwave ambushed my last PLD No Sugar Added Toffee Cinnamon Cookie with some radiation and presented me with a piping hot cookie in 15 tantilizing seconds.
Come back little cookie, come back!
My supply of WOW cookies has also become nonesxistent. 
The Ginger Molasses WOW cookie ran away just like the gingerbread man...Only, he differs in the fact that I caught him and he went straight to my tummy! ;)
The Lemon Burst cookie brightened a dreary, rainy day... 
and made me think of the sunny days as a young'n when we would set up lemonade stands and completely overcharge the neighbors. :)
This box of Peanut Butter Cookies was a force to be reckoned with.
The box seemed to never end, as my roommate and I dug into the chewy peanut butter delights day after day.
However, some vanilla ice cream proved that, no, the box was not a magical, never-ending creation. Bummer.
Sarah sure knows how to whip up a batch of cookies, but it looks like the only boutique that I will be enjoying this week is the hair salon that I need to stop by on my way home from work tomorrow. Too bad they don't fulfill my desires for buttery, sweet, blueberry, white chocolate goodness.
I took a Traditional Country FlatOut Artisan FOLDit Flatbread and cut it into two separate halves.
I smashed a banana and spiked it with vanilla, cinnamon and ground flaxseed. Then I spread the mixture onto the two halves. (If your banana is not very ripe, you may want to add a bit of sugar)
Now, add the toppings. I chose walnuts and cranberries. Choose some form of nut because when they sit in a 350* oven for 10 minutes atop your pizza, they get toasty and develop such an irresitible level of crunch and flavor!
Bake for 10-15 minutes. Cut each half in half and serve.
Crispy, crunchy on the edges and doughy/chewy on the inside. The spiked banana mixture caramelizes and serves as a delightful spread. The nuts...well, I have already sang their praises. The cranberries provided a tart and sweet element that was also quite enjoyable.
What would go on top of your breakfast pizza? I think heating up some peanut butter and drizzling it on top would be the most amazing finishing touch. Too bad that didn't come to mind before I started chowing down!
