Bacon Crisps
It’s official. Thanksgiving is over. It is usually my favorite holiday. I love having my house full of people, making lots of delicious food and keeping busy in the kitchen. I don’t know if it is because school has been so busy with the kids or I was having some kitchen burn out but this year I was the scrooge of Turkey Day. I think we will be taking a little break next year. This was my NINTH year hosting…and I deserve a break! See? I’m STILL grumpy!
Sriracha Chicken Skewers
Contrary to popular belief, there is a stay at home mom uniform. My hubby wears suits and dress shirts and ties and nice things to work. He sees people dressed nicely all day. And then he comes home and sees me in sweats, t-shirts, gym clothes, or some sort of stained article of clothing that would not go over well in an office environment. But it certainly adheres to the very strict stay at home mom dress code: Quick and Comfortable.
Next time you are wandering the grocery store mid-week, take a look around. Most likely you will see a gaggle of moms sporting their Lululemon compression capris with flashy Asics and some version of a Victoria’s Secret Pink t-shirt, sweatshirt or tank.
Brussels and Bacon
About a year ago we visited some great friends down in Encinitas. They are total foodies so I LOVE eating with them. One night they spoiled us rotten and made these amazing New York Steaks with clarified butter, a delicious fennel salad and brussels with bacon.
Cajun Beer Battered Avocado Tacos with Corn and Red Pepper Salsa
We are back from our Disney cruise to Vancouver. I swear it took me three days to get rid of my sea legs. We had a great time exploring San Francisco and catching up with old friends, a cold and rainy day in Victoria where we spent time with some peacocks, baby pigs and goats and explored the city and we ended the cruise in Vancouver where we explored Granville Island, toured the city and ate some ridiculously great food and drank some amazing craft beers.
Highlights:
1. Each city we visited boasted that their Chinatown was the largest Chinatown in North America.
2. Buggies and Pixie drank out of a toilet/drinking fountain at the Observatory in San Francisco.
3. Pixie sang “California Here I Come” while standing on the Golden Gate Bridge.
4. The International waters off of California are neither warm nor calm during the month of May.
5. No one puked.
Fried Brussel Sprout Leaves with Sea Salt
For the hubby’s birthday, I kidnapped him from work and took him to Chicago for the weekend. We haven’t been to Chicago since I was seven months pregnant with Pixie. You see, one of my best girlfriends lives in the windy city and she’s single. And knows how to have a blast. Essentially, this was a bucket list kind of trip. And since I had almost just kicked said bucket, I knew we had to go!
Carnitas Pizza
What is it with kids dumping every single damn toy out of every bin every single day? I was drowning in barbies, stepping on legos (if you haven’t had the pleasure of stepping on a lego yet, oh just you wait! Your time is coming), being run over by Thomas and the gang of Cars Land and cursing every Disney Princess to have lived.
I took the proactive by the book Mommy approach and created a reward chart for each of my little rugrats.
Harvest Soup
About five years ago, Jessica and I catered an Italian themed engagement party. We did a food test first with our hubby’s and then for the client to make sure everything was delicious. And to give us an excuse to get together and cook. And drink wine. One of the items we served was this Harvest Soup. Actually at the time we called it Tuscan soup. It’s so easy and so yum. A great starter for Thanksgiving. Or serve it in a shot glass with the crostini poking out. Or make a big ol’ whopping bowl all to yourself for dinner. That’s what I would do.
Bacon Wrapped Jalapenos Stuffed with Gorgonzola Cheese
When we go camping, I’d like to be able to say I tone down my cooking and it’s all hamburgers and hot dogs but I just can’t do it. Food just tastes better when you’re camping. Maybe it’s the layer of dirt on your plate or the good company or the great outdoors. Whatever it is, it inspires me.
Fried Polenta Cakes
I’ve been feeling pretty zen lately. My life has calmed down and I haven’t been feeling overwhelmed, double booked, or even frayed at the edges, which, let’s be honest, is how most mommies usually feel. Between the weddings, school, and family commitments, I was really coming apart at the seams.
And I wasn’t being a good mother. There. I said it.