Grown Up Snow Days

This week, we finally had our FIRST snow day of the year.  Last year, we had so many snow days that I started to dread them for a couple different reasons:

1.  I was still a temporary employee so I didn't get paid for snow days
2. Once the snow day is over, you have to survive the snow on the ground for the next few days.  Curling up in a warm house on a snow day is fabulous -- BUT walking to the metro or bus stop in slushy snow and ice the next few days is NOT fun.
3. I enjoy SNOW but I do not like cold.  Having so many snow days meant it was a really cold winter!

However, after a winter of just a little snow and NO snow days, I was so ready for a day off! It's been a rough couple weeks - and a day at home with my sweet guy was such a treat. I wish we knew our neighbors so we could have them over on snow days. We have a few friends in the neighborhood, so maybe if we have another snow day, we can plan for a wine night....or maybe we can sit in our PJs all day (oh the luxury of deciding HOW you want to be lazy....) We don't have kids and although I like to think we are young, we aren't exactly college students, so our snow days are usually a bit grown up: not much sledding, snow man building, etc. --- although if I lived near Dupont Circle, I would definitely participate in the snow ball fights that happen every time there is a big snow.  In a few years, we will have munchkin(s) to bundle out and take out to play, so for now, I enjoy getting to just look at the snow from my window!

We may have another snow day tomorrow (what a waste for a Saturday!) The first rule of good snow days is that they MUST occur on a work day!!  For those of you in non-snowy regions, here is a little primer on how to properly enjoy a snow day! (Could be added: hang out with friends or roomies.  We only have a few friends in walking distance so we are a bit more limited)

Grown Up Snow Days are for......

Cooking a REAL breakfast (aka, not toast, cereal or oatmeal!)

Most week days, breakfast is simple.  We usually save warm, homemade treats for holidays or lazy weekends or brunches with friends.  Since SNOW DAYS are relaxing, I make a hot breakfast every time there is a snow day and even if it is just pancakes from a box mix, it feels special!  We often make Monkey Bread when it snows -- but it is so FATTENING and I am trying to eat healthy foods, so I cooked low fat French Toast instead.  This sounds like a real recipe - but it's not. I just improvised with healthier versions of the ingredients. Essentially, I made french toast out of light bread (2 pieces for 80 calories), egg/egg whites, skim milk, vanilla, and 1-2 TBSP of sugar.  To cook the toast, I used cooking spray and a tiny bit of "fake butter" (aka, butter spread) in the pan and then topped with a tiny bit of powdered sugar! (Dave added some syrup to his)  For using light ingredients, the toast turned out pretty yummy! Definitely a bit more special than the oatmeal I normally eat!

Taking obligatory southern "oh look, it's snow!" pictures

Yankees, forgive us. We didn't grow up with a lot of snow - maybe 1-2 light snows a year and one big snow every few years (and big to us is nothing like what Boston is getting). So, when it snows a lot, we take pictures. We have to document that we have actually experienced winter weather.  Now, I will admit, last year, after the first couple snows, I quit taking pictures (because I was such a local then and snow was no big thing, ha), BUT since this was our first snow day of the year, I definitely had to snap a few!

Coffee and Reading

Dave gets cabin fever.  He almost always wants to walk in the snow to a coffee store to get a "fruity coffee" (ie, flavored special coffee that you can't just brew for yourself at home).  I am not always as eager to get out, but I am usually convinced. Who can resist a little reading and coffee?

Binge Watching on Netflix/Hulu

I think we watched 5 episodes of Brothers and Sisters Tuesday.  I can't help it - with no obligations, it's so easy to just keep going through a season!

Trying a NEW recipe for dinner

I almost always try a new recipe on a snow day! It's often a soup, stew or chili (because it's cold outside, duh!!)  I don't get off work until 6 and by the time I get home, it's usually between 6:30 and 6:45 (and sometimes later if I have to work late on a project) - so our week night suppers are often a rotation of tried and true recipes that we can make quickly or pull out of the freezer.  I always love the excuse to look up a new recipe on a snow day!  This time, we tried Emily Bites' Spaghetti and Meatball Soup -- a fairly healthy easy soup that I will definitely make again! Actually, Skinnytaste also has a recipe so next time I may try that version!

Why I really loved this soup: hearty enough to be a meal, shredded veggies mixed in with noodles so that Dave actually ate the healthy stuff, turkey meatballs (not beef), easy to make, gives you the feeling of a big bowl of spaghetti without all the calories.

Chores.

Honestly, we did not do too many chores-- tidied the kitchen a bit and folded laundry.  I hung up a few clothes that were lying on the guest bed.  But, when you start to feel too lazy from a netflix binge, it's good to move around and do a little work so you can pat yourself on the back for being productive!

Wine

Wine + TV or a good book + a blanket ---while it's snowy and cold outside? This is a no brainer. We had no wine in the house, but Dave had to make a run to the grocery store Tuesday night to pick up snacks for an Architecture meeting the next day-- and he had good enough sense to snatch up a bottle of wine (one more reason to love him!) Wine is always a good snow day addition!

How do you enjoy your adult snow days???

Last Minute Thanksgiving Dish: Homemade Mac and Cheese

This month, we have 4 Thanksgivings...which is a bit surprising considering the fact that we will not be at home in DC or in Mississippi for Turkey Day. I was worried that we would not celebrate in a traditional way at all and was starting to plan a little weeknight Turkey fest for hubby and me. But, no need for our own private feast because we will when all the dust settles, we will be having Thanksgiving 4 times: with Dave's sisters last weekend,  with 2 different dinner groups and with friends in NYC. By December 1st, we (and our bellies) will have celebrated the holiday FULLY (yes, pun intended).

The first celebration was at the beginning of the month with our dinner group. Everyone signed up to bring various dishes via email and I signed up for dessert and salad, but when I looked back over the list, I realized that the only 2 things on the list that my picky husband would eat were meat and rolls. So, at 3 pm at work, I begin to frantically search for an easy side dish that I could make in the hour and fifteen minute time frame we had before dinner group.** Mashed potatoes would take too long and I had no good recipes for a fall risotto or rice dish. So, I settled on Mac and Cheese.

I had only made homemade mac and cheese a couple times before and had no idea what recipe I used and how long it took, so I did an internet search for simple mac and cheese recipes and selected a few to read through and then picked which one looked yummy and easy enough to shop for and complete in a limited time frame. Sometimes I spend half and hour looking for the perfect recipe and sometimes I basically settle on the first decent one I find.  In this case, it was the latter - and in this case, the halfhearted approach worked well, because our simple mac and cheese was delicious.  It certainly wasn't the fanciest, most flavorful version I have ever tasted -- no bacon, specialty cheeses or truffle oil -- but for what it was - a hearty cheesy filling side dish - it was perfect. Plus, it was simple and quick to make

We ran by the store to buy the ingredients and then I hurried to prepare and cook our side dish quickly so that we were only a few minutes late.  Actually, the short time frame worked out best because the dish was still piping hot when we arrived and homemade mac and cheese, in my humble opinion, is one of those dishes that is at its best the first time it comes out of the oven. It does not improve with reheating.

I found the simple recipe on this blog.  The only thing I did differently was use penne noodles instead of macaroni. Also, I didn't just pour the sauce over the noodles, I kind of mixed it all together, but still made sure there was a generous amount on the top to bake into a crispy top.

Ingredients

• 1 lb Macaroni (or other pasta)
• 2 (8 oz) Packages of Sharp Cheddar Cheese (grated or in chunks, I prefer grated)
• 2 cups Milk
• ½ cup Flour
• ¼ cup Butter
• Salt & Pepper to Taste

Instructions

1. In a large pot boil macaroni until tender.
2. Shred your cheese and set aside.
3. In a small saucepan melt butter over medium heat.
4. Add flour and mix until brown amber color (Make a roux).
5. Add milk and whisk until thick.
6. Add cheese one hand full at a time.
7. Mix until cheese is all melted and smooth.
8. Place cooked macaroni in baking pan.
9. Pour cheese mixture over macaroni.
10. Bake for 30 minutes in a 350 degree oven
11. Salt & Pepper to taste.

I have made the dish 3 times this month for get togethers. It's simple, inexpensive, a crowd pleaser-- and husband pleaser. If Turkey Day is fast approaching and you have yet to pick a dish to contribute, then this recipe might be a good one to try.  It's hard to mess it up and you can make a tasty dish without slaving away all day.

A couple of personal notes: I added cayenne pepper. Also I have halved the recipe and I have cooked the noodles and poured the sauce and then refrigerated the dish throughout the work day before baking that evening. Doing the prep work ahead of time is not quite as yummy as cooking all at once, BUT it wasn't bad and definitely worth trying if you want to prep the food then have someone else bake (in my case, D baked the mac and cheese since he gets home from work earlier)


**Before you think I am a saintly wife worried about what my husband would eat, you should know that I was more worried about people being offended by the lack of food on his plate than I was about him having enough to eat.  D is picky but in some way, he's not picky -- for example, a meal of rolls and turkey is plenty for him.  

Cold Day Treats: Pumpkin Bread

It's cold - not just in DC but across America (which honestly, makes me feel a little bit better about the cold -- misery loves company right??)  Apparently, there are locations in all 50 states that hit freezing or below freezing temps yesterday...yes, even Hawaii and Florida. I checked a few states via weather.com because I wasn't so sure I believed NPR-- and it's true, cold everywhere!!

It was 17 degrees this morning -- so cold that I could see my breath, so cold that my ungloved fingers were changing colors, so cold that our car skidded a bit on the way home from the gym because we drove over a portion of the parking lot where the storm water drains and apparently freezes, so cold that there was frozen vomit on the platform on my way to work..yep, can't make that up.

When it's this cold, I feel like I need to find the silver lining and cheer myself up. I like to remind myself that there are some positives to cold weather... For example.....

• It's so cold outside, but thankfully I have a pot of chili cooking!
• I hate cold weather, but I love an excuse to snuggle up next to my cute husband and catch up on TV.
• Cold weather is the worst, but the accompanying Christmas lights are glorious!
• It's freezing, but cold weather is the perfect excuse to bake...especially seasonal treats!

And, last night, to cheer myself up about the colder temps, I used the weather as an excuse to bake warm fall themed goodies.  I'll admit, I partly baked so we would have goodies for our guests arriving tomorrow, but I partly baked so that our apartment would smell lovely and so that I could lick the spoon at the end (Don't judge, you know that's the best part of baking...) Baking was a good way to lift my spirits!

My baking drug of choice last night was pumpkin bread. During the fall months, sometimes we just need a little pumpkin in our lives! I love that the recipe makes 2 loaves so that I have an extra loaf to freeze for weekend breakfast, office treats or a last minute snack to bring food to a bible study, girls night or other event. This recipe freezes well and tastes just as yummy when you defrost it.

I got my recipe from a cooking website and it's nothing fancy, but definitely homemade and far tastier than any box mix.  You can add nuts or chocolate chips --- I suggest chocolate chips which makes it taste more like a cake than a bread (in my humble opinion)

  

Ingredients:

• 2 Cups Libby’ Pure Pumpkin
• 3 cups Sugar
• 1 cup Canola or Vegetable Oil
• 2/3 cup Water
• 4 eggs
• 3 1/3 cups Flour
• 2 tsp. Baking Soda
• 1.5 tsp. Salt
• 1 tsp. Ground Cinnamon
• 1 tsp. Ground Nutmeg

Directions:

• Mix Pumpkin, Sugar, Oil, Water, and Eggs in large mixing bowl until well combined.
• In medium mixing bowl, combine Flour, Baking Soda, Salt, Cinnamon, and Nutmeg.  Stir well, then gradually pour into large bowl of pumpkin mixture.  Stir well to combine completely.
• Spray TWO 9×5 Non-stick Loaf Pans with Pam Cooking Spray.
• Pour mixture evenly into loaf pans.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 45 – 55 minutes, or until done and a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
• ENJOY!!

There is nothing like a warm slice of pumpkin bread to lift your spirits on a cold fall day.  How blessed I am to have a warm home, a comfy bed and yummy treats on cold days. So much to be grateful for!

So, if you are facing some cold temps (and my guess is that you are experiencing freezing temps because well, most places in America are dealing with cold weather...), maybe it's time to cook some Pumpkin bread to help cheer you up! And, don't forget to lick the spoon!

Cooking through Bread and Wine, Recipe 3: Blueberry Crisp

Remember my goal to cook through Bread and Wine this fall? Yeah, me too.  But, my typical excuse, life got busy and things like trying new recipes (and blogging) fell off my radar.  So, I am just now trying out my 3rd recipe!

I bought the ingredients a few weeks ago to cook this dish for my papa's birthday while he was in town, but we had so much food at the house already...leftovers, tailgate snack food, breakfast treats, etc. that I decided to postpone....and this dish was worth the wait. I absolutely loved it.  

The dessert was tasty and sweet without being too sugary or heavy. Pair it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and you have a wonderful dish.  The author mentions that the leftovers are good as a reheated breakfast, particularly when topped with greek yogurt.  I might have to try that tomorrow :)

As is normally the case, this is not my picture. I was too busy eating to snap a shot of the crisp!

I loved 3 things about this dessert:

1. I loved the crunchy topping mixed with the soft warm blueberries. I think it's wonderful when foods aren't too hard or crunchy and aren't too mushy.  This dessert was a nice in between!
2. It's fairly healthy.  You use almond flour, oats, nuts, blue berries, oil and a little maple syrup (or honey in my case because I did not have any maple syrup).  There is no butter or sugar and the whole dish requires 1/4 cup of sweetener which is pretty good for a dessert.
3. It's EASY to make.  We made last minute plans to have dinner at another couple's house. They were making the meal so I volunteered to make dessert and bring a bottle of wine. I then proceeded to be lazy and put off cooking all afternoon -- but this recipe took 5 minutes to prep and 40 minutes to cook, so my procrastination didn't ruin the evening! And, my Sunday didn't require hours in the kitchen which allowed me more time to curl up with D and catch up on TV (priorities, folks). I may always keep a couple bags of frozen berries in the freezer so that if I need a last minute dessert, I can throw this together.

So, here's the recipe to this delicious dish. Spoiler alert: I am making it again for our dinner group this week...although I am considering trying a different fruit as the base.  And I need to bring a meal to a new mom so I may make it for her as well. This is my grown up version of having a favorite shirt during childhood that you insist on wearing again and again. I found a simple, fairly healthy, tasty recipe that I enjoy, so it will be my go to for the next couple months!

Oh, and I am also happy to report that if you only have honey at home and are too lazy to go to the store and buy maple syrup, honey substitutes quite well.  I still want to taste the maple syrup next time I make it, but the honey had a nice light flavor and definitely works!

Ingredients

• 4 cups blueberries (or any fruit, really)
• Crisp topping:
• 1 cup old fashioned oats
• ½ cup pecans
• ½ cup almond meal (available at Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, health food stores, or made by putting almonds in food processor until fine, but before they turn to almond butter)
• ¼ cup maple syrup
• ¼ cup olive oil
• ½ tsp salt

Instructions

Pour four cups fruit into 8×8 pan. Spread crisp topping over the fruit. Bake at 350 degrees 35-40 minutes, or longer if topping and fruit are frozen, until fruit is bubbling and topping is crisp and golden.

See? Could that be any simpler? 

Other Bread and Wine recipes I've tried:

• Goat Cheese Biscuits
• Mini Mac and Cheese

Cooking Through Bread and Wine, Recipe 2: Mini Mac and Cheese

Mini Mac & Cheese

(Once again, picture is not mine, it is stolen off of pinterest 

because I am still without my Iphone and all my pictures!)

Moving through "Bread and Wine" with my attempt at recipe #2.  This recipe did not turn out nearly as well as the first one -- I melted the cheese a little too long, but we learn from our mistakes right? Even so, the mini mac and cheeses were delicious, oh so gooey and plenty cheesy! (so I can't wait to try them when done correctly!)  Also, they turned out well enough to bring (along with the goat cheese biscuits) to an outdoor cookout/dinner party at a friends out. Since it was casual, mini mac & cheeses were perfect - for cutting into -OR- eating with our hands!

I have recently reverted back to eating mac and cheese - particularly the cheap Kraft, made from a box, kind.  I somehow associate mac & cheese as a comfort food which is funny because I actually have very few memories of eating mac & cheese as a kid. Tacos? Sure. Make your own pizza night? you betcha. Cook hot dogs over the fireplace because Mom's out of town? Absolutely. (I think we now know where my random love of hot dogs comes from. Thanks dad) But, not many memories of mac and cheese. Whatever the reason, since college, I have turned to this kiddie staple whenever life is busy, stressful or unnerving. So the past 6 crazy months have included a ton of mac and cheese for me!! And, honestly, I tend to prefer the boxed noodles with the powder/milk/butter sauce to homemade macaroni casseroles. (Although my mom does make delicious homemade mac and cheese at holidays, a tradition that came about per my brother's request)  I enjoy the homemade deliciousness but I can't eat much of the heavy thick sauce in the casserole versions. Sometimes its just too rich for me! Maybe that's why I enjoyed the mini mac and cheese so much.  Although there was plenty of butter and cheese and homemade goodness, the individual bites weren't too heavy with that thick creamy delicious but make you feel sickly full sauce.  Plus, I love Parmesan (to an obnoxious point, ask my family) - so I loved that this recipe had a tiny bit of Parm cheese in it. :)

Ingredients

1/2 lb. elbow macaroni (or 4 cups cooked)
2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
2 Tbsp. butter, plus more for pan
1 Tbsp. Dijon
2 dashes Tabasco
1/2 tsp. salt
1 egg yolk
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Smoked Paprika

Instructions

1. In a pot of boiling water, cook the macaroni for about 5 minutes, to just al dente, which is just a touch firmer than how you’d like to eat it. Drain.
2. Brush mini muffin pan with melted butter, then sprinkle half the grated Parmesan into the muffin cups.
3. On medium-low heat, warm butter and cheddar cheese, and whisk till smooth. Off heat, add Dijon, Tabasco, egg yoke, and whisk again. Add macaroni and mix until well coated with cheese. 
4. Spoon into muffin cups, making them slightly rounded and packing them lightly. Top with grated Parmesan
5. Bake at 425° for 12 to 14 minutes, until golden on top.
6. Let cool at least 10 minutes before serving, because they will set as the cool.
7. Sprinkle with smoked paprika. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes:

**Step 3 is where I made my mistake -- just warm the cheese until it is melted and sticky  but still looks like grated cheese. I warmed mine until it was FULLY melted which made a globby mixture which was hard to properly mix into the noodles-- thus you could easily take a bite into cheese or a bite into noodles, but not always both at the same time.

**This recipes makes 20-24 small bites. If its a small dinner of 6-8 or so, that's enough, but if you are having more than 8, double the recipe as many people eat 3,4, even 5 bites!

Final Verdict: I would make this again (minus the overcooking the cheese part). This is perfect for dinners, parties, chicken, beef, pork, kids, adults.  It takes a classic that almost everyone loves and makes it a little more exciting and glamorous without changing the integrity of the dish. People have been eating cheese and noodles in some form or fashion for years, so why quit now?

Cooking through Bread and Wine: Goat Cheese Biscuits

My first recipe from "Bread and Wine" (in case you missed it, I am cooking my way through this deliciously wonderful book of essays, stories and recipes!) was Goat Cheese Biscuits which turned out quite successful if I do say so myself (but you didn't taste them, so you just have to trust me!)

Dave and I were going to a summer dinner party at a friend's house and I decided to give this recipe a try. It was the perfect appetizer and since we were eating brisket, the leftovers made it on to our dinner plates as well. A perfect soft bite after a delicious mouthful of barbecue. I left some with the host and am happy to report that these little biscuits make a delicious breakfast with a little jam :)

First off, small disclaimer -- this lovely picture is not a picture of my biscuits (although they looked about the same) I am currently using a temporary phone so I don't have access to my photos. But, this gives you an idea of how the biscuits turn out when you are finished.

The goat cheese makes the biscuits fluffy and light, adding a richness to a traditional item.  However, it's goat cheese which is known for it's tangy-ness, so expect the biscuits to have a little different flavor. The author (and I) suggest you serve with strawberry preserves or marmalade or some other type of sweet jam or preserves. I don't particularly love goat cheese, but I loved these biscuits, particularly when smeared with strawberry preserves. I felt the sweet and tart mixed together nicely.

Goat Cheese Biscuits

From: “Bread & Wine” by Shauna Niequist

Ingredients

2 cups flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons salt
1 cup plain yogurt
6 tablespoons cold butter, divided
4 tablespoons goat cheese, crumbled
¼ cup Parmesan cheese, grated

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees and place a 10-inch cast-iron pan into the oven while it’s preheating.

Pour flour, baking powder, and salt into a medium-sized bowl. Cut 4 tablespoons of the butter into small pieces and add it to the bowl, with the goat cheese and the yogurt. Stir until the mix is moistened, adding an extra tablespoon of yogurt if needed.

Remove the hot skillet from the oven and place a tablespoon of butter into it.

When the butter has melted, divide the batter into 12 biscuits, each about the size of a golf ball, and then nestle them into the pan —tuck them in snugly, maybe a ring of 9 around the edge, then 3 in the middle.

Brush the tops of the biscuits with one tablespoon of melted butter. Bake for 14 to 16 minutes until browned on the top and bottom. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with the grated Parmesan cheese.

MAKES: around one dozen biscuits

This recipe is perfect for breakfast, finger foods or a bread/side dish. I loved this dish - just make sure you have some type of preserves on hand!

The Bread and Wine Project: Easy Chocolate Chip Pound Cake

I have shared this recipe before -- in BLOG LAND - but I am sharing it again as a link up with Rachel Rewritten and Oh Simple Thoughts for a Special LINK UP called "The Bread and Wine Project"  

You may all remember how I planned on reading "Bread and Wine" as one of my summer reading books (and I have read it and loved it and will post more on this excellent book later).  The book shared short essays about life, love, family, trials, community - and it mostly centers around the table - because coming together around a table is a way to reconnect, nourish ourselves physically and emotionally, heal, rest and laugh.  Literally breaking bread together is often intimate and personal - when you feed someone, you meet one of their basic needs and you often time meet other needs as well, whether it is giving a new mom rest by bringing her a meal or enabling family fellowship over a holiday meal. The same goes with drinking - meeting a friend for coffee is more than just enjoying a warm beverage, it is preparing for a morning of encouragement and catching up; celebratory cocktails over a friend's promotion or engagement or to unwind after a huge project is a way to relax, celebrate and show support! 

So, in the spirit of "Bread and Wine", many bloggers are linking up to share their "go to" fellowship recipes, simple, complex, dessert, main dish, whatever you serve for times of fellowship!

*Not the best picture, but you get the idea - chocolate yummy goodness!

Chocolate Chip Pound Cake

I've been making this chocolate chip pound cake recipe for years. Sure, there are fancier chocolate chip cake recipes you can try, but this recipe is just easy enough to justify the time  spent making it, but just fancy enough to feel like a real dessert.  It's essentially and "doctored up" cake mix. This is perfect to bring along to a dinner party or when it's your turn to bring the snack for Bible Study, Bridge Club, Book Club, etc. It's delicious on its own or with vanilla ice cream on top!

1 box yellow cake mix

1 3 ounce package of instant vanilla pudding

1 3 ounce package of instant chocolate pudding

8 ounces of sour cream

1 cup oil

1/4 cup water

1 tbsp of vanilla

4 eggs

6 ounces of semisweet chocolate chips

Mix all the ingredients together, pour into a greased bundt pan and bake at 325 degrees for 50-60 minutes.  After it cools, it's optional to dust it with powdered sugar!

It's delicious and a great fellowship dish. Bake this cake soon and invite friends over for cake, coffee and conversation! 

May 9th: Five on Friday!

Joining in again this week for FIVE ON FRIDAY. You should join in on the fun too!!

{1}

Baby Boys and Preppy themes!

Last Sunday, we celebrated My friend's sweet baby boy who is arriving in June. He is a June baby and his mamma loves the beach, preppy clothes and all things summer so we decided on a nautical themed baby shower: AHOY ITS A BOY!!!

The party had red white and blue, nautical touches, declicious brunch food and a mimosa bar.

It was fun to celebrate this precious boy and shower him with lots of good gifts. A couple of us southern gals made sure he received some smocked clothes so he will look proper for special occasions.  Living in DC is no excuse for poor baby fashion :)

{2}

NO MORE PART TIME JOB.

This was my first week not working at night, and y'all, it was glorious.  I went to Happy Hour. I cooked shrimp, tacos (Cinco de Mayo), chicken, etc. I was able to research and apply for open jobs. I curled up on the couch next to my adorable hubby for TV and time together. We went to the gym and started our plan to get back in shape (which, for the record, we started back in January, but after a good month of workouts, our healthy living plan kind of came to a hault because I was gone most nights)

With no more work (and springtime), I have a renewed sense of love for the city I live in. I want to drink coffee or cocktails on restaurant patios and watch other Washingtonians walk past. I want saturday bike rides by monuments and still have a sense of awe when I walk into the capitol. I want girls brunches, after work happy hours, date nights to local joints, sundays spent exploring museums and walks through DC's neighborhoods and markets. (I know I have discussed this before, sorry, but spring makes me love DC life even more!)

We also want to explore Virginia (and Maryland)  One of the great things about DC is that the metro area includes a couple states as well!!! There are so many great suburbs with restaurants, sights and weekend festivals. Tonight, we plan on making our first trip to the Mosaic District in Vienna for dinner and walking around. It's a little shopping center with restaurants and outdoor seating and friday night outdoor movies (which it's supposed to shower tonight so we will likely skip the outdoor movie)

{3}

THE OTHER WOMAN -- go see it. I thought it was quite cute.  A few friends and I saw it last Friday. True, its just a chick flick, not an instant classic or an award winning film, but fun to see for a girls night.

Basic plotline: This scumbag of a guy is having multiple affairs, but the women he is dating do not know he is married, and abviously, his wife doesn't know either.  The wife and two of the women find out and become friends, mourn the situation and plot to ruin his life.

Why I like it (besides the fact that its funny): The women hated the man, not the other women.  So many times, the wife or girlfriend hates the other woman, but doesn't hate the man who cheated. I am not giving a pass to women who sleep with other people's husbands, but I do think that the person who is most wrong in that situation is the husband who cheats. He made the vow, he broke it. He should get a fair share of the anger and hurt.  This movie, in its own humorous way, made the point that the man was wrong too.

(PS, I know women cheat too, but this example is just about husbands because the movie was about husbands)

{4}

CILANTRO LIME SHRIMP

Last night, we cooked a delicious shrimp recipe.  Healthy, easy and delicious -- the perfect trifecta for a meal!

We don't cook shrimp often because up north, shrimp costs a lot, 15-20 dollars a pound. But, this is probably one of my favorite meals I have made recently, so when shrimp is a decent price OR I'm willing to splurge, I will definitely make this again!

You can get the recipe HERE.

{5}

***Skinny Girl Sparklers***

I love skinny girl margaritas. The company also makes skinny girl sangria, skinny girl wine, skinny girl cosmos, etc.

.....and now there are skinny girl sparklers (fruity bubbly water) I only discovered the drinks this week, but I have splurged 3 times to buy myself one at CVS in the morning. This habbit has to stop, but for an occasional summer drink, its delicious and refreshing!

Next time you have a pool day or want to read on your porch, grab one!

EVERYONE, ENJOY YOUR WEEKEND!!!

May 2: FIVE ON FRIDAY

Joining in on "FIVE ON FRIDAY" again for a little weekend fun!

(1) Pray for Mississippi, will you? 

My sweet home state was hit by several tornados this week, one of the worst tornado days in Mississippi history. I will probably talk more about this later, but few things make me prouder to be a Mississippian than watching how we respond to tragedy. The joke is that a church van has arrived with aid before the storm has even ended.  Seriously, Mississippi gets a lot of negative press-- some of it is deserved, some isn't, but we rarely get press for the good that occurs....and you know what, thats ok, because Mississippians will continue to do good and unite, black and white, poor and wealthy, different areas of the state, different faiths - to rebuild after tragic events (even if know one is watching or applauding while we do)

(2) Meatballs.

This may sound crazy- or gross, but Dave and I are currently OBSESSED with meatballs and cooking them different ways. Several weeks ago, we had meatballs as an app at Haven Pizzeria. I've never been a big meatball eater, but these were delicious and tender! Since then, we have cooked italian meatballs in the crockpost and are trying this buffalo turkey meatball recipe this weekend (Dave loves wings, so why not try buffalo meatballs?). I've just bought the frozen turkey meatballs, but once I get the hang of it, I want to try making my own! Here's hoping my buffallo meatballs turn out like this....

(Sidenote: Meatballs, even turkey meatballs, can seam kindof heavy since its only meat, so I love the idea of pairing it with simple cut veggies, just like you would seve celery and carrots with wings!)

We are so excited for a new recipe and a movie at home this weekend...have we really become an old boring married couple? The answer is NO (we went out Fri, Sat and Sun night last weekend) -- BUT it's always nice for a casual night in! One of the things I love about marriage is one of the things I loved about roomates-- always having someone to hang with if you wanted a Saturday Night in!!

I'll let you know if these turn out successfully!


(3) 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

I had a girls theater night last night and went to see this musical at the Ford Theater.

I love a good play or musical and this one was hilarious!  Plus, if given the chance, I will go to another play at the Ford Theater. It was small enough that all seats were good and the tickets weren't expensive at all.

Hmm, I am thinking Dave needs to take me on a date night to Fords Theater soon, right???

(4) ROKU, Netflix and Evening TV

Quite possibly, the best purchase we've made all year is our roku. It was a birthday gift for Dave and we use the heck out of it. You can stream Netflix, Amazong Prime, Hulu, ESPN, etc directly on your tv...just like an apple tv, but a bit cheaper.  We are considering getting another one for our second tv eventually, although we may get apple tv so we can watch ITUNES movies too.  Right now, we have the Roku in our bedroom - since we only have cable in the living room-- and a few nights a week, we watch a tv show before bed. (I know, I know, people say this is horrible for your marriage, but for right now, it works for us....we talk plenty and there are few things I love more than just getting to cuddle up with Dave on the couch or sitting on our bed while watching TV)

Anyways, we have watched Downton Abbey, Once Upon a Time and Veronica Mars -- We have started "Parenthood"  For those of you who are tv binge watchers, what do you recommend?

(5) "Mississippi Mules"

I mentioned earlier this week that I have developed a new favorite summer cocktail..the Moscow Mule, or as I call it, the Mississippi Mule. It's like summertime in your mouth. You know how mojitos are cool, minty and refreshing, the perfect drink to sip amidst swealtering heat on a big Mississippi front porch? Well, you could probably swap a mojito for a mule and get the same effect!

1 1/2 - 2 oz Vodka

1/2 - 1 oz fresh squeezed lime juice

4-6 oz cold ginger beer

Lime slices

Mint to garnish (optional)

Ice

It's customary to serve mules in cold copper mugs...so, maybe if this remains a favorite, I will invest in some copper mugs! Doesn't this cold copper mug of summery goodness look inviting?

Forcast here in DC is warm and sunny. Excited for a sunny, happy, enjoyable weekend in the District.  My plans include a girls movie night, cooking, a baby shower for a dear friend, church and happy hour with friends....plus a little time in relaxing! I hope you all find a way to relax and enjoy atleast a little bit of this beautiful spring weekend!

Confessions of a Newlywed Cook Part III: 10 warm easy NO RECIPE meals

As promised a few days ago, today’s post in my “Newlywed Cook” series focuses on easy meals that don’t require recipes.

I think that the BEST meals probably take a lot of work and prep, but many good meals are easy and not difficult at all. When it comes to weeknight cooking, I am all for good, not best J And sometimes these good meals don’t even require recipes!!

The best thing about the meals I am about to list is that you can cook them in 30 minutes or less, there’s no recipe to follow and very little prep work and many ingredients are ones you can easily keep on hand and may already have in your kitchen.

There’s no reason to pick up subs or eat frozen pizza when you can easily make these hot meals….and frankly, some of these meals are my favorites (yay, breakfast for dinner!) So, here are some of my FAVORITE quick dinners -- keep a few of these options on hand for nights when you know you aren’t going to want to be in the kitchen long (HELLO Mondays!) or when you forgot to plan or prepare a meal!

(1)  Mexican Fiesta!

It takes just a few ingredients to make tacos, taco salad, quesadillas, etc. I almost always keep taco seasoning and tortillas at home so I can throw together some type of tacos or quesadillas in a hurry! The step that requires the most work in this dinner is cooking and seasoning the meat. Occasionally, we have not had meat, so I have been creative – mozzarella and black bean quesadillas, yum! So pull out your frozen beef or chicken, grab some cheese and veggies and claim the night as taco night!

(2)  “No Brainer” chicken seasonings.

There are several seasoning packets (ranging from spices to actual bread crumb mixes) that you can literally, just add to chicken and have an easy dinner!

Our favorite is Shapley’s seasoning (from a famous Jackson restaurant) – we marinate the chicken in a little oil and seasoning, occasionally some lemon – not hard at all! You can also use Sautee Express by Land o’ lakes…it’s butter and seasoning mixed together. You place the seasoned butter in the skillet and then can cook your chicken on the skillet. So simple and tasty.

Finally, a little more than just seasoning: Kraft fresh takes is seasoning, bread crumbs and cheese that you toss the chicken tenders in, then bake!

These premade seasoning mixes and packets take the guess work out of seasoning. No measuring out different spices or panko and cheese, just add chicken and you’ve got a main dish!

(3)  Spaghetti. (No need to explain this one!)

(4)  Breakfast for dinner.

Are you ever too old for breakfast for dinner? Really? Few things make people happier than a good weekend brunch of pancakes, French toast or eggs. Dave and I both LOVE breakfast food, so I am thinking about doing this more often. In fact, I must admit that while thinking about this blog post last Thursday, I decided I had to have Dave’s amazing fried eggs for dinner (he makes them way better than I can!). At first I told myself that I could wait until Saturday morning, but I couldn’t. I had chicken defrosting to make chicken and quinoa, but that idea got scratched and we had toasted cinnamon bread, fried eggs and bacon instead!



As I said, people LOVE breakfast, so serving breakfast for dinner rarely gets complaints AND we usually feel like it’s a treat because it’s out of the norm!

(5)  Soup Mixes

You can get fancy soup mixes at nice stores where you just add water, milk or meat – and cook. The noodles, potatoes, veggies, seasoning, etc are already in the bag!

But, my mom taught me about Bear Creek Soups a few years ago – you can buy this at the grocery store for a cheap price and its so good. These soups and stews give off the homemade (not canned) appearance (probably because you add some fresh products - like ground beef or veggies) and are so simple to put together!

In fact, bear creek minestrone beef soup is sitting in my fridge right now for tonight’s dinner. I have a meeting and will be home late, and it was easy to just cook this soup ahead of time  so Dave could eat when he got home (just add ground beef and diced tomatoes)

(6)  Brown Rice in a bag

Clearly, brown rice is not a meal, but it is a quick side that you can throw together. I often buy the bagged rice (which some people hate) because the serving size is usually enough for just Dave and me. Having a box of brown rice in the pantry helps me if I cook chicken and forget that I needed a side or something to pour the meat on top of!

(7)  Frozen or premade entrees

Let me clarify, by frozen or precooked entrees, I don’t just mean frozen lasagna…there is so much variety these days. Trader Joes and Whole Foods both have precooked or frozen meals – like shrimp dishes, pumpkin or lobster ravioli (my sister loves Trader Joes Ravioli!), barbeque (we did this the other day!), etc. Honestly, I find that the nights we do the precooked meals is often Sunday evenings after I went grocery shopping and spent the afternoon making freezer meals, etc. At that point, I want to pop something in the oven and reheat.

(8)  Premade pizza dough from Trader Joes or Whole Foods

We love pizza—which is a great thing to love in DC because there are so many gourmet pizzerias so we have tried  many places. We also like to make pizza sometimes which is so simple! I suppose we could make homemade dough --- but we choose to let Trader Joes do it for us! We buy dough for 3 dollars, spread it out and then put whatever toppings we want on it, so easy and much better than a frozen pizza - and its possible to pick healthier toppings and make healthy pizza....

...or you could load it with brie and bacon and gain a pound.

(9)  Stir Fry

Cook some meat and veggies in a skillet with whatever toppings and seasoning you want! You can also cook some rice to serve the stir fry over.  We don’t do this easy dish ever – because well, Dave is picky about veggies, but at one time (law school), this was my week night staple!

(10)         Grilled cheese (and soup!)

We do grilled cheese and canned/boxed soup every few weeks….usually for lunch on the weekend or on a busy weeknight. You can make grilled sandwiches  with meat and fancy cheeses – or go for the good ole fashioned American cheese! And it’s good comfort food, so if you have had a long day, it might cheer you up a bit!

So, there you go – 10 easy warm “no recipe” dinners you could cook tonight. Not every night can be a feast – in fact if you work or are busy raising babies, most nights can’t be – but it’s possible to have dinners prepared for a majority of the nights!  It’s easy to make a few warm quick “no recipe” meals .  Every time you go shopping, plan ahead and have ingredients for a couple "easy" dinners– for evenings when you are out late at a meeting, work or happy  hour – or just for evenings when you don’t want to cook!

 The other Newlywed Cook posts:

• Confessions of a Newlywed Cook: Sometimes we eat hot dogs for dinner
• Confessons of a Newlywed Cook Part II: Using Simple Recipes

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE EASY NO FUSS MEAL?