Foodie Roundup

Since I was noticing that my Friday Fun posts were overwhelmed by the influx of great recipes and foodie links, hence, I've decided to create a separate post solely to feature those good eats.  Meet the latest series; foodie roundup.

+ if you can't find a good local cannoli, how about a cannoli cupcake

fried green tomato BLTs with special sauce...uh, yum!

+ ever made a lazy chile rellano?

+ need a bachelorette brunch idea? how about fresh squeezed mimosa cupcakes!

+ parmesan crusted chicken salad

+ key lime pie ice cream, doesn't that sound refreshing?

+ hoisin grilled eggplant and avocado bahn mi

+ if there ever was a rainbow cake to beat, it's this one

+ thinking ahead to cold fall days ahead and thai coconut curry chicken soup

what are you eating this week?

Friday Fun


+ an amazing story of heroism from two athletes on the refugee team

+ 5 minute romesco sauce, yum!

+ the wimpy camper's guide to visiting national parks

+ in praise of pavlova

+ a birthday party at target

+ another movie on the must-see list 

+ making me want to add switzerland to my travel list (again)

+ top editor's picks from the ikea 2017 catalog

+ eyeing this autumn cobb salad

+ would you take a family honeymoon?

Have a wonderful weekend!
image/bippityboppitybo



Dinner Last Night: Corn Risotto Stuffed Poblano Peppers

Another dinner success compliments of Smitten Kitchen.  I spotted heaping piles of poblano peppers at the farmer's market last weekend and was instantly inspired.  I've had the recipe for SK's corn risotto stuffed poblano peppers bookmarked for ages, and this was just the sign I needed to dust off my cookbook and try it for myself.

Our recipe was a little varied; I was short a little chicken stock, but ended up using the full beer as part of the cooking liquid instead of the half recommended.  Also, had some Beecher's Flagship cheese in the fridge, so added that to the risotto for a little extra oomph.  Worked like a charm.  

image/myphotos

Collecting Stories

I've always been one to write things down, starting with my first grade diary which is littered with snippets that are quite comical to me now, the daily report on what I ate for lunch, a random comment to sum up a week long adventure, "skiing is fun!" along with a few sporadic notations about boys, friends, and my sisters.

Fast forward 20+ years and here I am, still seeking to write everything down.  Except now, I rarely record anything as mundane as my daily lunch, and strive to find pockets to write down about my family.  The little sayings that pepper conversations with my imaginative 2-1/2 year old or the way it feels to cuddle in bed with both my kids at 8:00 on a Tuesday morning.

I've also come to seek and search out these stories with my family, beginning with my late grandfather.  I interviewed him once for one of my first college courses, Introduction to Folklore, a class I wouldn't have picked otherwise, but at at the time at University of Washington lumped courses for freshman into interest groups (referred to as FIGs), and my late decision to attend landed me with English 101, Drama 101, and Introduction to Folklore.

I begrudgingly attended class after class, learning about the history of the folk tale, the evolution of the story, and found myself mildly interested.  Our course culminated with our task of telling some else's story of our own, acting as the narrator to present said story with unbiased commentary, providing context if necessary.  I opted to interview my maternal grandfather, whose journey being left on the steps of the New York foundling hospital as an orphan baby to his career and prosperous career building churches in Los Angeles country was quite an inspirational one, at least what I had gleaned from his articulate anecdotes through the years.

In preparation, I found myself spending hours at a time in my grandparents condo, more time than I would typically spend with my grandparents during my social college years.  Fifteen years later, I find myself thinking back to these conversations, sitting alongside my grandparents as they reclined in their barcaloungers, sipping coffee and nibbling Sees candy while conversing about life, love, struggles, and triumphs.

My grandfather passed in 2013, right after the birth of my daughter, and sadly now these stories exist only in my final draft I printed for my assignment and a series of audio tapes.  I've made a multitude of excuses over the years as to why I haven't transcribed our additional conversations into words to share amongst our family.  I feel like this feeling was heightened significantly after the birth of my children, where I feel an overwhelming urge and desperation to document everything, capturing this one precious life we have and all of those joyful moments before they slip through my fingers, yet again.

So recently, I made the decision to enlist the help of Storyworth, so that my children will have the benefit, privilege, and access to the stories I grew up listening to, from my parents.  I first read about Storyworth via Kelle Hampton of Enjoying the Small Things, and was so smitten with the concept, I immediately purchased a book for my dad for Father's Day.  My father is someone who has worked tirelessly his entire life, his work ethic is stealthy and admirable.  Hence, when he does have free time, he tends to reply in concise one word texts or emails; yes. sure. absolutely. definitely.  I've been wanting to record his stories, while he is here, present, and able to share, and evade the wistful, "if only I'd written that down..." I've experienced with my grandfather.  That way, I can read them now, ask questions, inquire more, and connect over commonalities we may not have known to share.

Upon sharing the concept of Storyworth, my dad was surprisingly game, eager even! The format is simple enough, he receives an email once a week with questions I have approved or selected, such as "do you have any particular vivid memories of your grandparents," or "what advice would you give your great-grandchildren.  The questions that are direct, unassuming, and because they are delivered via email, are easy enough for a busy individual to answer without overthinking it.  Upon the culmination of 52 questions, one per week, I will receive all of his written responses in a keepsake book.  I'm pretty excited!

If this sounds interesting to you, go check out Storyworth!

Quote of the Week








"Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning.  But for children play is serious learning.  Play is really the work of childhood."

~ Mr. Rogers

image/pheartache

Cookbook Crush: It's All Easy

Alright peeps, it's official, I'm on the band wagon.  I'm drinking the GP Kool-Aid because this cookbook is AMAZING!  I haven't been sold on GP's other cookbooks despite my enjoyment in reading them; flipping through the glossy pages and perusing the names of eclectic recipes.  While I've enjoyed the idea of them, they've all seemed a bit complicated, far fetched, or obscure for weeknight family dinners, but It's All Easy is a game changer.

In typical cookbook-reading fashion, my copy is already ridiculously bookmarked up with yellow post its, I've made three of said bookmarked dishes, and the verdict: all were easy-ish and most importantly, scrumptious!  Winner, winner, chicken dinner!  Or in GP's case, mostly vegetarian, organic, farm-to-table, cage-free goodness, etc. etc. etc.  

Tried and true from our kitchen - Moroccan chicken salad wraps even had my husband swooning, pan bagnat, and Indian creamed spinach - all of which have all been superb.  

While I won't go as far to claim this title is entirely accurate, I'm definitely enjoying eating the fruits of my investment. Keep it up GP!

image/bonappetit

Quote of the Week

"We are the dreamers of dreams."

~ Roald Dahl