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Daily Eats, Life, NYC, Travel

That Time I Spontaneously Drove 10 Hours Home

December 11, 2017 By Robyn 33 Comments

This weekend was full of unexpectedness. But also seeing a lot of friends which was fun and good and worth it.

My friend Brittany was in Boston this weekend for a trip with her roommate that she now lives with in Dallas. History lesson: Britt and I were roommates in New York and she quickly became like a sister. She now is doing Teach For America in Dallas. She flew in late Thursday night, so Friday after I spent the morning seeing Nutshell clients we met up for a late lunch and spent the rest of the day together. It was so good to spend time with a close friend!

We lunched at Flour and I ordered the farro and chicken salad with almonds and cranberries and it was fantastic and HUGE. I usually never leave salad in my bowl, but I got 75% through this and was full. I’ve been here several times, but will be back for this salad alone in addition to the zillion incredible baked goods.

We spent the afternoon strolling Newberry Street. I was looking for a good pair of gloves and a hat but didn’t find anything I really liked.

And then we walked over to Warby Parker and I got a new pair of glasses which I’m impatiently waiting for now. I love them! A lot of you ask where my clear glasses are from – they’re from Warby. All the glasses I have are from Warby Parker and I love them. Couldn’t recommend them enough.

We walked and walked all over Boston, over to Beacon Hill and back and finally landed at Five Horses.

Nick and Britt’s cousin met us for dinner. I went with the steak and cheese burrito bowl and was super disappointed. We’ve been here a few times and it’s always such a good experience but this was not very good. The best way I can describe it is sloppy. I wish there was melted cheese and not like a creamy cheese sauce. Everything else I’ve had there is always super good so I’m going to just forget about this experience…

I ate 1/3 of it and all my tater tots and then we ate ice cream when we got home so all was right in the hunger + satisfaction world.

Saturday morning we left early from Boston to make the 4 hour drive to New York for a going away party and then to attend another going away party for another family.

It was supposed to snow, so we left around 7am.

We stopped at Panera for breakfast sandwiches. Egg + cheese on whole grain for me. And then I had a few bites of pumpkin pie bagel with cream cheese. Yes, I ordered both because I knew the egg + cheese would be more satisfying and make me feel physically better during the 4 hour drive….but I also was craving sweet and love Panera’s seasonal bagels. Did anyone else live off cinnamon crunch bagels and broccoli cheddar bread bowls in high school?

We made it to New York smoothly and with only the beginnings of snow on the ground. Before we went to Flatiron Hall for our joint going away party we had with another friend moving to Boston (selfishly I’m so so so happy about this) we had a hearty lunch at Mulberry & Vine since I knew we’d be having a few drinks throughout the day.

I got a plate with roasted cauliflower, a brussel sprout salad and green lentil dal. Plus a draft latte because I needed a boost before we socialized for 8 hours.

2008 Robyn would have eaten a salad with just veggies because she was going to drink alcohol and needed to compensate for calories. 2017 Robyn knows that eating actually helps her be more mindful around alcohol and feel physically better.

Seeing all our closest friends in one place was so good. We stayed at Flatiron Hall for over 4 hours being with friends and hanging out. I had a couple glasses of Chardonnay.

New York was always about the people. I’ll definitely miss all our people very very much. I think I invited over 20 people to come stay with us in Boston soooo….. sleepovers all the time in 2018.

Afterward Nick and I grabbed a super quick dinner at Tacombi. Guac + chips and we split these four tacos –> chorizo, sweet potato and black bean, chicken and carnitas. I was very hungry so everything tasted amazing.

And then we walked over to Penny Farthing for a going away party for the Robbins family. David and Meg (and their four kiddos) have been a huge part of our life in New York.

David married us (and also Trey + Nicole) and the two of them have walked us through a lot of hard decisions and conversations during engagement and these first months of marriage. I could never put into words how much they mean to us. They are moving out of the city to Little Rock to take on a new role leading up Family Life. We are so excited for them and what’s ahead.

At 9:30pm I made the executive decision to Nick that we needed to head home because I wanted to be in bed by 11ish….

Because Sunday I drove from New York to Indianapolis. Yes, I drove our car home.

Long story in about three sentences. We planned to park our car at a friend’s house right outside Boston while we were gone in the Midwest for 3 weeks over the holidays. Well, since it was going to snow in Boston you can’t do that because of street cleaning so it was going to be $300 to park our car in covered parking. Um, no. That’s the cost of a car payment. We hadn’t bought our tickets back to Boston yet from home and we were going to need a car to drive from Indy to Columbus (we’re visiting my brother this weekend) and Indy to Chicago to see Nick’s family. My mom loans us her car each year, and even though she always says it’s not a big deal and insists…I know it’s an inconvenience. I had a cheap one way ticket from New York to Indy for tonight. Forfeiting that ticket was way cheaper than paying $300 to park our car. So I drove the 10 hours home yesterday by myself. Woof. Nick has to work in New Jersey all week so he will fly in Thursday night.

I left a 7:30am and then stopped for breakfast once I got out of the city.

Coffee and an egg + pepper jack cheese + tomato everything bagel the size of my head. Plus a banana.

The first 4 hours were the hardest because Pennsylvania was nothing but sticks. Around noonish I stopped for an iced coffee and picked up some popcorn to munch on and my mojo came back.

Lunch was two bags of this popcorn.

Plus a Perfect Bar. I didn’t want to stop to eat somewhere and snacks were the easiest thing to eat while driving.

I listened to a lot of How I Built This podcasts, a lot of music and talked to five or six friends which made the last 7 hours go by pretty quickly.

Drank a kombucha and watched the sunset in Ohio which was beautiful.

And about 11 hours later, I made it home around 7pm. Driving is always so tiring, I think because you have to concentrate the whole time?

By the time I got home all I wanted was vegetables and Momma Coale’s cooking!

Dinner was broccoli, beef stew (that looks like vom but was super tasty) and some homemade focaccia.

Then we laid by the fire.

And ate ice cream. And then I went to bed by 9:30pm.

I’m working all this week, but I’m also excited to slow down and rest while I’m at home. It feels so good to be at home.

How was your weekend? Did it snow where you are? I heard Atlanta got 10 inches!


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Filed Under: Daily Eats, Life, NYC, Travel

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Comments

  1. Hillary S Gras says

    December 11, 2017 at 9:41 am

    It’s Newbury street 🙂 From a former Boston girl 🙂 Glad you’re loving the city!!!!

    Reply
    • Robyn says

      December 12, 2017 at 10:18 pm

      Ahhhh! Thanks for the correction 🙂 I’m learning for sure 🙂

      Reply
  2. Sarah @ Bucket List Tummy says

    December 11, 2017 at 9:42 am

    I’m glad you got home safe, lady. he cinnamon crunch bagel has and will always be my favorite at Panera – can’t be beaten. My hubby’s family is from PA and every time we drive there, I feel like we leave civilization behind, it’s kind of nice. Enjoy Indy!

    Reply
    • Robyn says

      December 12, 2017 at 10:18 pm

      It is so peaceful though!! Hope you are feeling well with the babe 🙂

      Reply
  3. Anna B says

    December 11, 2017 at 10:01 am

    Perfect bars are the best for travel! Love them.

    Reply
    • Robyn says

      December 12, 2017 at 10:18 pm

      agreed!

      Reply
  4. Carrie this fit chick says

    December 11, 2017 at 10:46 am

    Wow, what a busy weekend, girl! I must agree on the bagels— they are spectacular!

    Reply
    • Robyn says

      December 12, 2017 at 10:18 pm

      couldn’t agree more!

      Reply
  5. Maggie says

    December 11, 2017 at 11:03 am

    I went to school in Indiana and live in nyc and I sooooo relate to how hard the straight drive in Pennsylvania is! Always CELEBRATED once we got to ohio

    Reply
    • Robyn says

      December 12, 2017 at 10:19 pm

      you hear me!! you see that Ohio sign and are like THANK YOU LAAWWWDDD

      Reply
  6. Nicole @ Laughing My Abs Off says

    December 11, 2017 at 12:19 pm

    Aww this post made me so happy. Just so many happy feels. It must be so hard to leave so many wonderful friends (not to mention the greatest city in the world ahem 😉 ) but its so great that you already made plans to stay in touch with people. Flour is so great, isn’t it? If I lived in Boston, I would never leave Flour. Also love Mulberry and Vine, and your arrival home sounds so sweet and cozy. Spontaneous decisions like that often are the best. Wishing you a wonderful restful break, Robyn <3

    Reply
    • Robyn says

      December 12, 2017 at 10:19 pm

      You could eat there for DAYS. I hope you have a restful and cozy holiday break too Nicole 🙂

      Reply
  7. Amber @ Bloom Nutrition Therapy says

    December 11, 2017 at 12:48 pm

    We got a dusting here in Kentucky, but nothing too significant. Wow, that IS a long time to drive. Driving always wears me out. But I do think audiobooks and podcasts make it 1000x better. Hope you have a great time with Momma Coale!!

    Reply
    • Robyn says

      December 12, 2017 at 10:19 pm

      Audiobooks I love too – especially during walks!

      Reply
  8. Megan @ A Continual Feast says

    December 11, 2017 at 6:27 pm

    What a weekend!!! I always eat snacky meals while driving too, and looove How I Built This. Also- Panera’s pumpkin bagels. Yes. We got a bit of snow and it made everything so pretty and cozy!

    Reply
    • Robyn says

      December 12, 2017 at 10:17 pm

      The snow is making it feel like Christmas!

      Reply
  9. Emily Swanson says

    December 11, 2017 at 9:08 pm

    Wow what a full weekend. You’re brave to drive all that way by yourself. I don’t think I could survive 10 hours by myself. I’m glad you had a full time of podcasts and talking to friends.

    I love snacks when we’re driving too; if it’s our whole family we love to stop for one meal.

    Also, I really love how you describe Momma Coale’s cooking. It looks so warm and comforting.

    Reply
    • Robyn says

      December 12, 2017 at 10:17 pm

      It was long and boring at times! ha

      We use to road trip all the time as a family growing up 🙂

      Happy holidays Emily!

      Reply
  10. Julianne says

    December 11, 2017 at 9:17 pm

    Yes I’m in Atalanta! Second day of finals but all finals still occurred lol. It was the prettiest snow I’ve ever seen down here! Watched it fall from the top of my apartment complex 🙂

    Reply
    • Julianne says

      December 11, 2017 at 9:18 pm

      *atlanta oops

      Reply
    • Robyn says

      December 12, 2017 at 9:43 pm

      Good luck on finals and enjoy the snow! 🙂

      Reply
    • Robyn says

      December 12, 2017 at 10:07 pm

      enjoy the snow and good luck with finals! 🙂

      Reply
  11. Corinne says

    December 11, 2017 at 9:59 pm

    Nice photo while driving 80 mph.

    Reply
    • mally says

      December 12, 2017 at 2:02 pm

      seriously! i dont get it. if photographing your kombucha is that important to your blog content, pull over

      Reply
      • Robyn says

        December 12, 2017 at 10:48 pm

        Hi Mally,

        Should I have taken the picture? Probably not. I’m human, and sometimes I don’t make the wisest decisions.
        I should give some context (although I’m not saying this justifies AT ALL).. when I snapped the picture, my eyes never left the road and it takes about 1/2 a second (which is why it’s not a perfectly staged photo) and it’s a straight road with barely any cars around. Again, I am in no way justifying taking a photo while driving (like I said, looking back it wasn’t the wisest decision ever…but I think we all probably glance at our navigation while we’re driving on road trips, or switch the radio or a song on Spotify and while all these things aren’t the safest driving practices, I think at one point or another we’ve done them. I’m 100% open to criticism, that’s what helps us grow and change..but I do ask that it’s delivered in a respectful, kind way. I think that’s how we help people change.

        Reply
    • Robyn says

      December 12, 2017 at 10:48 pm

      Hi Corinne,

      Should I have taken the picture? Probably not. I’m human, and sometimes I don’t make the wisest decisions.
      I should give some context (although I’m not saying this justifies AT ALL).. when I snapped the picture, my eyes never left the road and it takes about 1/2 a second (which is why it’s not a perfectly staged photo) and it’s a straight road with barely any cars around. Again, I am in no way justifying taking a photo while driving (like I said, looking back it wasn’t the wisest decision ever…but I think we all probably glance at our navigation while we’re driving on road trips, or switch the radio or a song on Spotify and while all these things aren’t the safest driving practices, I think at one point or another we’ve done them. I’m 100% open to criticism, that’s what helps us grow and change..but I do ask that it’s delivered in a respectful, kind way. I think that’s how we help people change.

      Reply
  12. Kristin says

    December 12, 2017 at 6:26 pm

    Yes, and two more while driving in this post. For goodness’ sake, stop being a hazard to others just to get a picture of your Perfect Bar/kombucha/what have you!

    Reply
    • Robyn says

      December 12, 2017 at 10:49 pm

      Hi Kristin,

      Should I have taken the picture? Probably not. I’m human, and sometimes I don’t make the wisest decisions.
      I should give some context (although I’m not saying this justifies AT ALL).. when I snapped the picture, my eyes never left the road and it takes about 1/2 a second (which is why it’s not a perfectly staged photo) and it’s a straight road with barely any cars around. Again, I am in no way justifying taking a photo while driving (like I said, looking back it wasn’t the wisest decision ever…but I think we all probably glance at our navigation while we’re driving on road trips, or switch the radio or a song on Spotify and while all these things aren’t the safest driving practices, I think at one point or another we’ve done them. I’m 100% open to criticism, that’s what helps us grow and change..but I do ask that it’s delivered in a respectful, kind way. I think that’s how we help people change.

      Reply
      • Julie says

        December 12, 2017 at 11:34 pm

        I respect you very much, Robyn, for this thoughtful response.

        Reply
  13. Amy says

    December 12, 2017 at 9:04 pm

    “Did anyone else live off cinnamon crunch bagels and broccoli cheddar bread bowls in high school?” <– 100% yes. So many friend dates to Panera where we all got these same things! :p

    Reply
    • Robyn says

      December 12, 2017 at 9:41 pm

      We’re in good company 🙂

      Reply
  14. emil vardy says

    December 15, 2017 at 7:07 am

    Holy moly, your weekend sounds exhausting! But worth it, it all sounds absolutely lovely. It’s nice you guys have so many friends in the city to visit!

    Reply
  15. Katie W says

    December 15, 2017 at 8:54 am

    Sounds like quite a weekend! I currently live in Denver and drive home to Kansas City by myself for Thanksgiving (well, now I usually take my brother’s golden retriever with me for him) and I Looooooove it (introvert over here!). For sure it gets boring, but I always try to get a new audiobook – the type of book that you just don’t want to stop listening to! It helps a lot. And then a pumped up music playlist for when you need it 😉

    Reply

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A non-diet dietitian and nurse practitioner helping women find peace with food, accept their natural body size and heal from hormonal issues and period problems.

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A little way I’m learning to enjoy these years o A little way I’m learning to enjoy these years of getting to spend so much time with my kids: aka another way I’m discovering some pockets of peace so my heart & mind & soul don’t crumble under the reality of dependent & emotionally dysregulated tiny humans.  About once a week we go somewhere for baked goods. We drive or walk, buy something buttery & then find a beautiful, relatively quiet outdoor spot where the boys can romp and I can sit and think my thoughts while I watch them play. This past week we were found ourselves at the Wool Factory where the boys threw rocks & whatever else off the bridge while I ate 90% of this almond 🥐 from @coucourachou that will blow your mind. Boys ate the other 10% bc they were busy playing and didn’t ask for more quickly enough 😜  I’m finding *for me* playgrounds have a time & place but they aren’t where I enjoy motherhood & my two toddlers the most. Baked goods & a pretty outdoor spot without high drops my 15 month old could launch himself off of…I’m here for it.
I brought this bag of snacks along when I took the I brought this bag of snacks along when I took the boys to hike out at one of our favorite spots last week and when I ripped it open I was regretting my choice to share them with my kids. @baresnacks randomly sent me a box of snacks and I usually eat free food we receive or give it to a friend/neighbor and move on. But I felt it my duty to tell you about these bc they are THAT GOOD. I’m not getting paid and this isn’t sponsored - I was just shocked at how tasty these were and felt you needed to know. We ate them with some buttery roasted nuts and the combo was 👌🏻 but they are good just on their own.  The boys climbed rocks and swam in the reservoir - leave it to my almost 3 year old to want to strip down naked and fully submerge himself in chilly water on a sixty degree morning. “Mama can I get super nakey?” Sure baby. Sure. This is your childhood.
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a girlfriend brought me a 🍪 the size of my face a girlfriend brought me a 🍪 the size of my face from @mariebettecafe this morning when she came to get her toddler who played with us all morning and it is v good. even better when paired with an iced latte 😍
#AlignPartner I left off a few weeks ago sharing a #AlignPartner I left off a few weeks ago sharing about how taking @alignprobiotic regularly has improved my digestive regularity.  And I’m still taking them! I’ve permanently added Align 24/7 Digestive Support* into the roundup of supplements I take before bed (prenatal, vitamin D, choline & DHA - all which help keep me healthy while breastfeeding) so I can keep seeing the benefits.  Just because you see benefits, doesn’t mean you should stop taking your probiotic. Keep taking Align daily (under the supervision and recommendation of your health care provider of course) to keep seeing the benefits!  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - one of my favorite parts of Align probiotics is that they don’t need refrigeration AND they come in a convenient little blister pack that has the days labeled. It’s the little things people! #MyAlignGuutJourney #guthealth  *These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
I realized it was going to be a long, hot afternoo I realized it was going to be a long, hot afternoon (91 and muggy in MAY 🤯) when a toddler nap was refused and a baby nap was cut wildly short ....so my tired mom brain pulled out two plastic storage bins, filled them up with soap & hose water and striped ‘em down naked in the yard. Two hours later, it was almost time for an early dinner and I had magically been able to sit for most of that time and we already had baths checked off the list. 👍🏻 I’m archiving this idea for my future self, hope it helps another tired mama out.
#AlignPartner I left off a month ago sharing about #AlignPartner I left off a month ago sharing about getting better at doing the basics to care for myself which included taking my supplements and @alignprobiotic regularly.  Probiotics take time to work so I wanted to give it a full month to see the full effects of @alignprobiotic. So here are my honest thoughts: it took a few weeks to notice any differences, but near the end of the month I did notice some changes in my digestive balance - even while traveling! I’m not someone who experiences occasional gas, bloating or abdominal discomfort frequently enough to notice a difference, so I don’t feel like I can comment on how well Align works for those benefits.  All in all though, taking @alignprobiotic was a positive experience and I really appreciated how the capsules don’t need to be stored in the fridge, making it convenient to take them with me anywhere #MyAlignGuutJourney #guthealth  *These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Where we will spend a good majority of our summer. Where we will spend a good majority of our summer. Because the swampy VA summer has already begun (it’s in the low 90s today 🥵 lord help) and creeks are our retreat - not only from the heat but also from the noisy world. I need this just (if not more) than they do! We’ll be at the splash pads and pools too, but the quietness of the creek...my mental health is so about it. And it’s hours of play for them! Win win.  A couple things to note: this scene also included a few toddler reminders on finding another direction to throw rocks instead of at his brother - so not all is serene 🤪 and also, yes I am now that mom who buys the same clothing for both kids bc it keeps things simple & i think i kinda like it too 🤷🏻‍♀️
Things I love about midwifery among many: the appo Things I love about midwifery among many: the appointments, no matter how long, feel so unhurried. 
Just walked in from an appointment with my midwife because I was due for a Pap test + an overall wellness visit. My last pap was during my first trimester with Cal which feels like a jillion years ago, but it’s only actually been three years. Life changes so fast! Pre-baby life feels like a whole other life.  I’m wayyyy overdue for a visit to my PCP bc I’ve been under OBGYN or midwifery care for the majority of the past three years while having babies, but I am pretty good with keeping up with my paps. It seems women often think they need pap and/or HPV testing way more frequently than they do (and providers sometimes perform these tests more frequently than necessary - remember more testing doesn’t always mean better outcomes!)  So if you need it, here’s a quick little reminder on this chilly spring Friday afternoon on how often you need this testing (these are the recommendations from ACOG)  Women aged 21–29 years should have a Pap test alone every 3 years. HPV testing is not recommended.  Women aged 30–65 years should have a Pap test and an HPV test (aka co-testing) every 5 years (preferred). It also is acceptable to have a Pap test alone every 3 years.  If you get abnormal results, this testing frequency could change - but for healthy women with normal results, you actually don’t need testing as frequently as you might think. Which is great news for those of you who hate the speculum.  Ok, off to finish up some things on the to-do list (including cleaning this kitchen) during nap time and then come 5 o’clock, crack an IPA with our neighbors 🍻
#AlignPartner Over the past seven months since bec #AlignPartner Over the past seven months since becoming a mom of two, caring for myself has gotten shoved to the back burner. And it's been a challenge to make it a priority. My routine-resistant personality has upsides and downsides when it comes to motherhood. So I'm starting small this year with a consistent bedtime routine that includes taking my supplements and @alignprobiotic and hoping as that becomes consistent, my mornings will naturally shift too.  In short my bedtime currently goes like this….jammies & face care when putting the babies to bed. Before I go to bed (anytime between 9pm and 12am...) I’ll pump, take my supplements and fill my water. Then I go upstairs and brush my teeth. And then get in bed. The kicker: 70% of the time I find myself finishing up tasks on my phone IN BED. I hate this habit.  Back to supplements. This is something I have been able to stick with. On top of fish oil, my prenatal, choline and vitamin D, I recently added @AlignProbiotic 24/7 Digestive Support*§ to see if it helps with abdominal discomfort and regularity because when I don’t drink coffee or am traveling that can get thrown off.  I’ll be taking it every day for the next 28 days since it takes TIME for our bodies to adjust to probiotics - and I'll be taking you guys along with me as I share my honest thoughts. Many people think if they don’t see changes within the first 7-10 days then the probiotic isn’t working, but that’s not the case. I’m giving myself more than just a week or two and instead a full month to see the full benefits. I’ll keep you posted over the next month. Check out my stories to learn more! #MyAlignGutJourney #guthealth
 
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
We had an AFTERNOON today. Toddler didn’t care f We had an AFTERNOON today. Toddler didn’t care for a nap. Putting baby down was harder than I wanted it to be. Miraculously, I had a moment of clarity as I was covered in tiny humans and decided I wasn’t doing the nap battle thing a on 60 degree, gorgeous, sunny spring day 🙅🏻‍♀️ so I piled both babies into the car half naked, opened the sun roof, put on white noise for them and an audio book for me and drank a kombucha as I drove a meal to a postpartum mama. Thirty five minutes later we had a sleeping baby and a toddler who at least had a rest. Baby transferred without waking HALLELUJAH and although my toddler didn’t nap today (lord help) at least we got soaked in breezy sunshine 😎🤘🏻💆🏻‍♀️
We veered from our usual Friday night homemade piz We veered from our usual Friday night homemade pizza (minus the dough, we leave that to @albemarlebakingco) because we are eating pizza tomorrow with some friends - instead I called my mom and asked her how she makes her chicken fingers and we fried up a big ole batch of chicken nugs 🙌🏻🤤 along with a sheet pan full of sweet potato fries and a simple arugula salad dressed with parmesean, olive oil and s&p. Oh and my moms honey mustard recipe for dipping. It’s SO DANG GOOD.  Over the past 6ish months we’ve been practicing (and practicing and practicing bc it doesn’t come naturally) unplugging from technology and slowing down and resting and just being for one day a week. Some call it Shabbat. Some call it Sabbath. Maybe you call it something different. All I know is IT IS SO GOOD FOR MY WEARY SOUL and the day I look forward to ALL WEEK. Sundown on Friday to sundown Saturday. Nothing but rest. For us that means hiking (or something outside) and napping and reading and being with friends and eating really good food. And drinking some really good wine or craft beer. Sometimes whiskey. 😛  And because I know I’ll get asked about the chicken finger recipe and also because it’s too good not to share and Momma Coale said I could, here ya go:  Cut chicken breast into thin strips or small pieces (I prefer nug size bc the breading to chicken ratio is perfection). Salt and pepper those babies really well. Then dredge them in all purpose flour, then egg, then panko - just like you would bread anything else. Then fry them up in a light oil - I use avocado oil because that’s our everyday oil. You could also use canola or peanut oil. Just fill a pan with an inch or so of oil on medium high heat. They only take 2-3 minutes per side. You can always temp them to make sure they are at least 165 degrees F to really make sure they are done. Dunk in all the sauces and enjoy!  Happy weekend!

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