Kodiak Cake Brownies

on April 11, 2010
in All Posts

Evening!  I felt unusually tired all morning, and my legs were quite sore from the 15K, so I decided to call it a rest day.  I had planned to do a bike ride, but it just wasn’t going to happen.  That’s one of the primary reasons I make up my own training plans – I don’t feel bad adjusting them on a whim!  The plan was made by me, for me. 

 

Instead of riding, I got a lot of work done.  I actually sat by the pool for a while and prepped for a really big Operation Beautiful presentation I’m doing on Tuesday.  The Husband studied for his board exam.  🙂

IMG_0133

Lunch:

IMG_0109

IMG_0108

I had a hummus, artichoke, and tomato sandwich and some steamed asparagus.

 

After doing a little more work, I took a break to do some BAKING!

IMG_0114

The Kodiak Cake brownie mix contains 100% whole wheat and all natural ingredients including cane juice, natural cocoa, natural vanilla, and cane juice-sweetened chocolate chips.  It was sent to me to sample!

 

Instead of using butter, I subbed out plain Greek yogurt. 

 

While the brownies baked, I drank a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon wine:

IMG_0110

And ate some chips:

IMG_0117

I got to work on dinner, too.  The Husband was craving veggie fajitas, so I pulled out a packet of taco seasonings.  The ingredients are simple and natural, but there’s no guesswork in spices.

IMG_0118

All done:

IMG_0133

The fajitas contained a mix of green and yellow peppers and mushrooms.

IMG_0141

Plus, an arugula salad with balsamic and tomato.

IMG_0143

As I finished up my meal, the timer dinged for the brownies.  I pulled the brownies right out of the oven and served it immediately.  There’s just something special about the combination of warm brownies and ice cream.  Especially coffee ice cream!

IMG_0126

PERFECTION.  You could definitely taste the difference in the all-natural brownie mix and the Greek yogurt added a special dimension of flavor.  It was more cake-like than it would’ve been with butter.

IMG_0130 

Time to relax with the Husband.  I’ll be going out of town on Tuesday for the presentation, and I’m really going to miss him.  I don’t travel for work a lot and it’s going to be strange!

 

Do you have a job that requires you to travel?  Do you like it?  My BFF Sarah travels a lot for her job, and I know she really misses being at home when she’s away.  But my other BFF Lauren loves to travel for work and even lived in India for a few months!  Pretty cool!

{ 67 comments }

 

  • Lindsay Perrone (goodiesgalore) April 11, 2010, 8:43 pm

    must have felt great to lay by the pool. I never travel for work but long to have a hotel room all to myself. Bliss!

  • Jessica @ The Process of Healing April 11, 2010, 8:55 pm

    Those brownies look AMAZINGLY good!!!! Everything from that company seems pretty awesome. And brownies and ice cream is pretty much my all time favorite dessert.

  • Evan Thomas April 11, 2010, 8:55 pm

    Yum! Over the past few weeks, I think I’ve had brownie and ice cream together 3 times, and it never gets old. The best was a raw brownie with raw cashew milk gelato; I’d totally drop $12 again for that if I had the chance

  • Niki (Running in Pink) April 11, 2010, 8:56 pm

    Those brownies look A-MA-ZING! I went to my grandma’s for dinner tonight and for dessert she served warm apple crisp with vanilla ice cream…so good!

  • Kelly April 11, 2010, 8:57 pm

    I like to travel in general but I don’t travel for work- I think I’d miss home and my fiance if I did.

    Those brownies look yummy, especially with ice cream!

  • Carolyn @ lovinlosing.com April 11, 2010, 9:01 pm

    I really enjoyed traveling for work with my first job. I got to go to Spain, Hawaii, Japan, San Diego, Seattle, Whidbey Island (WA), Pensacola, Groton (CT) and then there was that one crap trip to Ingleside (TX). It’s been a while since I traveled for work anywhere good.

    • Caitlin April 11, 2010, 9:03 pm

      I want to go to Hawaii!!!!

  • Jessica @ How Sweet It Is April 11, 2010, 9:02 pm

    I don’t travel, but I think it would be cool. My hubby actually travels all the time, and I don’t talk about it on the blog because I’m scared someone will come get me…lol! He likes it, but gets sick of having to eat out at restaurants all the time. And he really likes to sleep in his own bed, too!

  • Allie (Live Laugh Eat) April 11, 2010, 9:04 pm

    Is it sort of a ‘waste’ of Greek yogurt though? Not that it didn’t make it taste amazing but sometimes I’m hesitant to put Greek yogurt in something if it gets ‘lost’….i.e. smoothies. I guess it’s not thaaaaat much if it’s just a sub for butter.

    • Caitlin April 11, 2010, 9:12 pm

      better than butter!

  • Nicole @ Making Good Choices April 11, 2010, 9:05 pm

    I don’t travel for work because I’m a teacher and I’m glad I don’t. I don’t mind the occasional trip for my husband or I, but I always really miss home when he or I go. I’m sure it will be worth it for you to do a Operation Beautiful presentation! I’m sure it makes you feel better to know how much of a difference you’ll be making in all the lives of the people you will talk to!

    • Caitlin April 11, 2010, 9:12 pm

      of course! i’m really excited, i just wish he could come too!

  • Meghan@traveleatlove April 11, 2010, 9:10 pm

    I travel a few times of year for work. We always stay in really nice places and get to have great food and wine, so thats a perk! Being in meetings on Saturdays and Sundays and missing my husband, not so great.

  • lauren @ Eater not a runner April 11, 2010, 9:21 pm

    I went on maybe 10 trips last year for work, I love the break from the office and seeing new places. Have a good trip!

  • Sara April 11, 2010, 9:26 pm

    Now I really want a brownie…with coffee ice cream! Sounds awesome.

    I don’t travel much, and I always feel a bit off when I do. I guess I prefer keeping my own routine. Although I have a few trips coming up, including one to Tampa in just a few weeks! Yikes; didn’t realize it was that close. Already a bit anxious about it.

  • Annie@stronghealthyfit April 11, 2010, 9:30 pm

    I would love to have a job that entailed traveling. I’ve developed a fear of flying recently though…

  • Lisa (bakebikeblog) April 11, 2010, 9:31 pm

    Great looking brownies.
    I travel a bit with work – which is fun in one way (too see new places) but tiring in other ways! I do get a bit sick of it sometimes as it can interfere with exercise etc

  • Erin (Travel, Eat, Repeat) April 11, 2010, 9:34 pm

    I love baking on Sundays — I made amazing whole-wheat berry muffins and am psyched to enjoy them all week.

  • Macrae April 11, 2010, 9:47 pm

    Haha- I was catching up on your posts and the picture of Ashley at Whole Foods has a lady in the background. If you look closely it looks like she has those ‘shape-up’ shoes on!
    Great race and your dinner looks SOOOO scrumptious!

  • Brie (The Fit Bride) April 11, 2010, 9:48 pm

    I travel a TON for work! I always miss Tim and our animals, but it’s fun to get to explore places on my own. I’m staying in a suite at Caesar’s Palace in Vegas from Tuesday through Thursday on my work’s dime, and in June I get to spend a week at a gorgeous beachfront resort in Fort Lauderdale. I’m also going to be hitting up Los Angeles and Philadelphia this summer.

    Sometimes I have to travel to kind of crappy places, though, and that’s no fun. I was not a big fan of Nebraska. Or Alabama.

  • Heather @ Side of Sneakers April 11, 2010, 9:50 pm

    I don’t travel, but I think it’d be a lot of fun!! I’d love to see new places 🙂 Of course, I think I’d only really enjoy it if it wasn’t too often- I love being home too 🙂

  • Leah @ L4L April 11, 2010, 9:57 pm

    I don’t travel at all but my fiance does some and I hate it. We are hoping to live overseas for awhile. THAT is fun!

  • jenna April 11, 2010, 9:58 pm

    yummm those brownies look delish!

  • Diana (Mymarblerye) April 11, 2010, 10:10 pm

    Lovin all the fresh veggies cause of your trip to Costco! BTW I love subbing yogurt in brownie mixes! BTW I dont travel alot for work but my bf sometimes does over night duty at the hospital for med school. It can def get lonely at times when I wake up and he is asleep and when i go to bed he’s not there. 🙁

  • Matt April 11, 2010, 10:18 pm

    Warm desserts are totally the way to go!

  • Kalli@fitandfortysomething April 11, 2010, 11:16 pm

    What a great rest day!

  • Sarah April 11, 2010, 11:17 pm

    I used to travel a lot when I worked for a Big 4 accounting firm – I was splitting my time between Denver and Calgary at the end! I definitely loved the travel when I was single but after my now husband and I moved in together, it was much more fun to be home in the evenings instead of sleeping in a hotel somewhere 🙂 My current job doesn’t require travel…just lots of overtime which still stinks, but it’s a million times less painful to work overtime and come home to a familiar place than work overtime and go home to a hotel!

  • Jolene (www.everydayfoodie.ca) April 11, 2010, 11:18 pm

    I don’t have to travel for my job and I am glad. I have never driven on the highway alone!

  • TorontoGirloutWest April 11, 2010, 11:46 pm

    I travel a fair bit for work and it has it’s ups but also it’s downs! I love how it means I get to explore new places but it can be lonely too.

    Thankfully, the Fiance and I make a point of accompanying each other for work travel! 

  • Amanda April 12, 2010, 12:05 am

    Hi Caitlin. I was on a bike ride with your dad and some other guys from the Gainesville Cycling Club last Saturday and he told me about your site. I’m actually a vegan, so a lot of your articles really interest me.

    Oh, and your dad says, “Hi.”

    Amanda

    • Caitlin April 12, 2010, 9:13 am

      i love vegetarian and vegan athletes! 🙂 how awesome. welcome to the blog.

  • katie@ Fab.Fit.Full. April 12, 2010, 12:07 am

    that brownie combo is just my style 🙂 I looooove coffee ice cream and brownies. I can’t find Kodiak cakes in any store near me, where do you buy it??

    • Caitlin April 12, 2010, 9:16 am

      total oversight on my part, i forget to say it was sent to me as a sample. i’ve revised the blog post right now! i haven’t done a product review in so long that i forgot.

  • Run Sarah April 12, 2010, 12:24 am

    I am away from my hubby right now and miss him already! Brownies and ice cream…go so well together!

  • Amber K @ sparkpeople April 12, 2010, 12:28 am

    I only like traveling for pleasure, so luckily my job doesn’t require me to go anywhere. My husband had to fly to montana and he spent the whole time working or sitting in a cheap motel. He didn’t exactly have fun and I missed him like crazy.

  • Lorin April 12, 2010, 12:39 am

    Hi, I’m thinking about becoming a vegetarian, but I’m afraid of tofu and as much as I enjoy nuts and beans, I don’t want to eat them every single day. What specific foods would you suggest or you eat to make sure your getting enough iron/protein/ect.

    • Caitlin April 12, 2010, 9:16 am

      Eat lots of dark leafy greens for iron and I love Greek yogurt for a dose of serious protein. Although if you’re going to become veg, you might have to learn to love tofu and beans. 🙂

  • Heather (Heather's Dish) April 12, 2010, 2:00 am

    I don’t travel a lot for work (if at all), but i can imagine that i would be really sad to leave and miss home a LOT! whenever i do travel for work it’s actually for our photography business, which means that I’m going with my hubby, so i’m lucky 🙂

  • Freya @ Brit Chick Runs April 12, 2010, 3:29 am

    I’ve never seen Kodiak mixes here – most of the instant stuff I’ve ever seen is full of nasty additives 🙁 I wish we had Kodiak!
    And :O HOW JEALOUS AM I!! Do you have a swimming pool at your house!!??

  • Julia April 12, 2010, 4:42 am

    Hey – well done on the irongirl race!

    I am actually travelling this week for work- kinda sucks as my fiance just got home from his brother’s stag do! I will be away 3 nights and will not enjoy it! Still, thinking positive!!

    Have a great day, xx

  • Julia @ British Bride April 12, 2010, 4:43 am

    Hey – well done on the irongirl race!

    I am actually travelling this week for work- kinda sucks as my fiance just got home from his brother’s stag do! I will be away 3 nights and will not enjoy it! Still, thinking positive!!

    Have a great day, xx

  • Orla April 12, 2010, 5:07 am

    I work in the not for profit sector so there is no travel for me unless a 60 mile round trip to our national office. However, I tend to make a day of it every now and then (usually when the meeting is on a friday)
    I am so jealous of you having the weather to lie by the pool. We just had an amazing weekend of weather here in Ireland and it is set to last for the next week but certainly not sunbathing weather! I thought that I was doing really well getting out for a run with just a tshirt and not the long sleeve top AND jacket. I was so convinced it was going to change that I tied my jacket around my waist! Enjoy the sunshine…..

  • Becky April 12, 2010, 5:19 am

    I’m an archaeologist, so work is travel! It’s awesome- getting to see new countries and get involved in the local culture, and meet new people. It’s the best part of my job!

  • Sarah (GF vegan) April 12, 2010, 5:58 am

    Hello, beautiful!

    Not a fan of travelling for business unless the hubbie comes along. Love travelling to visit friends or see new places tho 🙂 The hubbie occasionally travels with his work and I don’t mind being home alone for a nighr or two but any longer than that then I need to create serious coping strategies to deal (such as staying with friends or family). Lame, I know.

  • Amanda (The Beautiful Army) April 12, 2010, 7:23 am

    Oh wow! That seems like you had a fun day! (Were you reading a powerpoint?) Those brownies looked heavenly!! Love the use of greek yogurt. As for your question, I’m a student, so I do not travel for my job unless you count The parents driving me to/from school! 🙂

  • Jen April 12, 2010, 7:23 am

    I used to fly to DC for my old job twice a month- not fun! Now my new job is based out of NJ, but the hubby is in Charlotte, but I’m lucky to only have to physically be in the office one week a month. I don’t love traveling and I do miss him, but it makes us appreciate our time together so much more 🙂

  • Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down) April 12, 2010, 7:43 am

    I think I would love a job that made me travel…at least for a couple of years, and then I’d like to settle down a little more. But seeing the country? YES please! 😀

    YUM to the kodiak brownies!

  • Marika April 12, 2010, 7:51 am

    So far I’ve only traveled once with my current job (I got to spend a month in Brussels, which was so amazing), but there should be more opportunities in the future!

  • Rachel (Suburban Yogini) April 12, 2010, 8:39 am

    I don’t travel that much for work. I usually have one teaching conference each summer I’m away a week for and I have taught the occassional overseas retreat but when I am away I miss home badly! I miss Himself and the kitties!

    When Himself is away from work I miss him too. The house seems kind of big and empty when he’s not there. I have a tendency to decamp to my mum’s!!!

  • Heather (runningwithsass.com) April 12, 2010, 8:43 am

    the brownies look good!
    our neighborhood pool isn’t open yet, I keep looing and waiting!

  • jodie April 12, 2010, 8:50 am

    I have never heard of or seen that brand of brownie mix.It looks really good. Which brand of coffee ice cream do you use?
    I used to travel for work, I loved it, but I don’t travel much anymore.
    I am thinking of attending the blogger weekend in chicago though.

    • Caitlin April 12, 2010, 9:17 am

      Breyers!

  • Christina April 12, 2010, 8:54 am

    That brownie sundae looks SO good. Personally, I think the only way to properly eat a brownie is warm and topped with ice cream!

    I always dreamed of having a job where I travel. Now that I’m older, I wouldn’t want to be away from my family too often. I think it’d be fun sometimes though!

  • Leanne April 12, 2010, 8:54 am

    Does Lauren work for the Target? My cousin (who works there) got to live/work in India for a few months and I got to go visit her for free while she was there!

    • Caitlin April 12, 2010, 9:18 am

      Nope, she works for a big trading company. Lauren is a smart smart smart.

  • Lindsay @ The Ketchup Diaries April 12, 2010, 9:05 am

    Traveling is fun every once in awhile, but I miss home when I’m gone. I’m a sucker for my routine!!

  • Paige (Running Around Normal) April 12, 2010, 9:10 am

    sounds like a nice, relaxing day! Can’t beat working pool-side:D
    Those brownies look amazing. And great job on the fajitas!

  • Therese April 12, 2010, 9:26 am

    I am dying over those brownies and coffee ice cream!!! YUM! Great idea on subbing yogourt too!!!

    My current job doesn’t require travelling but I did live in Japan for just over a year, teaching English. Although I wasn’t dating anyone at the time it was still really hard being that far away from my family and friends. I also missed the birth of my niece which sucked big time but then I figure I have a pretty cool story to tell her when she starts hearing stories about her birth! Also made sure to buy her a lot of unique Japanese gifts!

    And the good thing about travelling for work? Just think of the day you come back and see the hubs again! ;)It’s like when you make up after a fight!

  • Christine @ Grub, Sweat and Cheers April 12, 2010, 9:27 am

    What a great looking day and food. I don’t travel with my job at all…but when I lived in Dublin I had a crap job with great perks – got free trips to Brussels (to go to a GP!) and Madeira. I didn’t complain. 🙂

  • Laura@FindingAHealthyBalance....after a 100+ Pound weight loss!!! April 12, 2010, 9:30 am

    Before having my daughter & being married I would of loved to “travel” for my job as I love too….my Step-Dad was in the military when I was younger and we traveled all the time so I miss it a lot!

    P.S. Where do you get that brownie mix? As I love “cake brownies”. Also, I totally forgot that you love Coffee Icecream too…it is my favorite! =)

    • Caitlin April 12, 2010, 9:44 am

      it was a sample 🙂

  • Nicci April 12, 2010, 10:01 am

    I think I would love a job, where I could travel a bit. I don’t want to live out of hotels every week, but travel once every month, just to see how it is.

  • Kristin P. April 12, 2010, 11:59 am

    Warm brownies and ice cream are the best!!

  • Amanda April 12, 2010, 12:07 pm

    let me know if you need a homemade by amanda care package…I spent yesterday baking as well!

  • Dominique April 12, 2010, 3:05 pm

    Brownies straight out of the oven are my weakness. I made a batch a few weeks ago and had to use some srerious willpower in order not to eat half of them right away. Yours look fabulous! Your dinner looks great too!

  • Natalie (The Sweets Life) April 12, 2010, 3:13 pm

    I LOVE artichokes on sandwiches. I recently made a grilled cheese with hummus, artichokes, and tomato and it was to die for! I highly recommend!

  • Amanda @ Cakes and Ale April 12, 2010, 6:31 pm

    I travel a lot for work (I work for Corona doing Category Management, which is a sort of sales/marketing hybrid) and I both like and dislike it. I hate being away from my husband for too long, but I love getting out seeing different places, meeting different people, and buzzing around. It makes the work week fly by!

Previous post:

Next post:

Search The Blog

Read by Month:

Read by Topic:

Healthy Tipping Point