Continuing with today’s fruit for breakfast theme, I polished off a bunch of a cantaloupe as I got us packed up and ready to the head to the museum today.

This was also about the same time that Ava learned the internet was down.

I can totally relate, kid.

So off we went to the Museum of Play.

We played.

And waited for butterflies to land on our shadows.

Have I mentioned that my legs have grown longer? I think it’s all the green juice.

But then I found a cookie on the floor that said “Eat Me” and it shrunk me back down and did something weird to my head too.

That’ll teach me to eat a cookie off the floor. Especially one that seems a little suggestive.

And on that note I think it’s time to segue into lunch, wouldn’t you say?

I had packed homemade garlic hummus and salsa and some vegetable sticks, but was feeling a bit hungrier than I expected (hello only fruit for breakfast) and ordered a salad from Subway in the food court of the museum.

It’s basically everything I’d get on a sub! It worked perfectly with my packed salsa and hummus, and I totally loved the banana peppers and pickles on a salad! Talk about dressing built right into a vegetable! I ordered a side of red wine vinegar but didn’t end up using it. I ate all the veggies and left most of the ice burg lettuce because they were more than generous with it.

And a Ginger Snap Larabar for dessert.

This is the second time my girlfriend Sharon noted that I needed to post a picture of what the actual Larabar looks like as she said it didn’t look anything like she expected until I shared one with her one day.

So here ya go – this is for the rest of you Larabar Virgins out there. You can thank Sharon for this shot.

After more playing, we hit up everyone’s favorite part of a museum. The gift shop.

And Maxine found a new friend.

Frolicking in the garden outside the museum before we got the hell out of Dodge, we snacked on my favorite Turkish Apricots.

Probably a good thing the apricots are out of focus – I don’t blame the camera for focusing on the kids after last nights award show.

Maxine apparently snagged a few wishes out of the fountain while I was busy eating apricots with my eyes closed. Whoops. Hope they weren’t anything too important.

For dinner tonight I decided to make an Indian dish I haven’t made in a while, dahl. Dahl – pronounced like commonly used phrase – Alison, you are such a doll.

Red Lentil Dahl

1 Tbsp +/- extra virgin olive oil
1 medium green bell pepper (or chili pepper if you like it spicy), diced
1 medium onion, diced
1 glove garlic, minced
1 – 2 inches fresh ginger, grated
8 oz red lentils
3 cups of water
1 Tbsp cumin (more or less to taste)
1 tsp roasted red pepper (omit if you prefer it mild)
splash of lime juice

Started like I start a good majority of my recipes it seems, sauteing green bell pepper, onions and garlic in EVOO. Except this has some ginger in there too!

Once vegetables are soft, add lentils, water and spices.

Stir, cover and reduce heat to low. Cook on low, stirring occassionally for 40 minutes or until lentils have dissolved. Keep an eye on the liquid content, add more water if needed.

We love cumin so I add more than a tbsp. Adjust for your own tastes.

Dahl is not complete with out of a side of naan! Indian style flat bread that I picked up today when I snagged a few groceries after the museum.

2 “loaves” to a package, I cut one in half and warmed it up in the toaster oven for a few minutes. Naan is chewy and dense, I love it.

Maxine is either giving me the sign to steal second base or she’s trying to convince me to break my piece of chocolate into two. You decide.

Zak’s working late. I’m still living dangerously plugged directly into the DSL modem and about to disconnect. No work out. Maybe those were my pennies Maxine snagged from the fountain today.