You Better Belize It

Passport?  Check.  Swimsuit?  Check.  Floppy hat?  Check.  Bugspray?  Check.  In just 2 short days, Maddie and I are off on a tropical adventure, to the land of sun, sand, and spiders.  Errr.......let's just forget about that last one.  Anyway, I CAN'T WAIT to be lying on the beach in Belize with a book in one hand and a yummy cocktail in the other, soaking up the sun and full on relaxing.  While last year's vacation was more about seeing as much as we could in a short amount of time (and keeping as warm as possible), this year is all about resting, taking in the beautiful sites, and, alright, getting a little dirty (hello, cave tubing!).  I'll be taking a week and a half away from you all, but don't worry - I'll be back with tons of pictures and stories about biking on the beach, sailing in the Caribbean, exploring Mayan ruins, and maybe even a zip line or two :) Adios!

xoxo,

stephanie marie

images via pinterest

Mama Mia!

Last night, my Aunt Gretchen invited me to go with her and Kelsey to Mama Mia! at The Paramount, one of my all-time favorite shows.  I had seen it once, probably about 10 years ago, so was anxious to watch it again to see if it lived up to my memory.  Boy, did it ever.  I'm pretty sure I'm going to have the music of Abba stuck in my head for at least the next month, but there could be worse things :)  Accompanied by a delicious dinner at The Nordstrom Grill before the show (one of the best french dips I've ever had), it was a great girl's night and we agreed we had to do it again very soon (mom, you can join next time :). 

xoxo,

stephanie marie

pic via instagram

Orchid Redux

Remember my orchid?  Well, after many months of being dormant (meaning, I thought I had killed it) it has suddenly sprung back to life in the past few weeks.  It's as if spring really is here, even if the weather outside isn't quite cooperating yet :)

Happy Spring!

xoxo,
stephanie marie

pics taken with Hipstamatic iPhone app

The Pioneer Woman's Hummus

Sunday evening I headed over to West Seattle to Stefanie and Eric's house for dinner, a movie, and to see their newly remodeled bathroom (beautiful!).  Knowing that Stefanie was going to make a yummy seafood risotto, I wanted to bring an appetizer that was easy and light.  Flipping through my brand new Pioneer Woman cookbook, I came across her homemade hummus.  I am a huge fan of hummus, but have never attempted to make it on my own.  This recipe made a ton, but luckily keeps nicely in the fridge (and is a great snack to take to work with veggies and pita chips).  It was just as good, if not better, than store bought and I would definitely make it again for the next get together.  We spent the evening testing out wedding cocktails, eating, and watching My Week with Marilyn (even Eric agreed it was great).  It was a perfect Sunday evening - thanks for hosting Stef :)

The Pioneer Woman's Hummus

Ingredients

3 - 14.5oz cans chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained and rinsed

3 garlic cloves, peeled

Juice of 2 lemons

1/2 cup tahini

1/2 tsp ground cumin

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

1/2 cup to 1 cup cold water

2 tblsp olive oil

Instructions

1.   Add chickpeas, garlic, lemon juice, tahini, cumin, cayenne, salt, and pepper to a blender.  Blend the mixture, pouring in cold water as you go.  Start with 1/2 cup and add more as needed to get the consistency you want.

2.  You may have to stop and stir, as this mixture becomes thick.  Just keep adding a little water until it's right.

3.  At the end, add the olive oil and give it a final pulse.  Taste the hummus to make sure the seasoning is right.

4.  Serve with cut veggies, pita chips, or on sandwiches.

5.  Remember, this makes a HUGE batch!

rosemary citrus fizz

xoxo,

stephanie marie

The Walrus & The Carpenter

Last week David and I headed out to his favorite restaurant, The Walrus and The Carpenter.  I have been wanting to go forever, but every time I tried the wait was incredibly long in this tiny and hip restaurant.  Luckily, we got there early and only had to wait for about 25 minutes - the perfect amount of time for a fun cocktail at Staple & Fancy next door.  Back at W&C, they sat us at the bar where we promptly ordered more yummy cocktails and several small plates to share.  I thought that everything there was going to be oyster-esque (it is, after all, an oyster bar), but the menu was surprisingly diverse and I found it hard to narrow down our selections to just a few.  We made some great choices (I can't stop thinking about that smoked trout!) and I can't wait to go back again very soon and try out more new dishes.  

the bar

 fried oysters

 smoked trout

salmon mousse

Never Go Hungry Again

You know how much I love The Pioneer Woman.  From her warm soups to her inventive pizzas to her plain ol' hearty home-cooked meals, she can do no wrong in my eyes.  So you can imagine my happiness when I got home from work yesterday and Amazon had left me her brand new cookbook (that I may have pre-ordered months ago).  I tore open the package and immediately sat down on my living room floor and looked through every single page of the book, drooling and smiling.  I've already decided I want to try everything.  A few that already caught my eye?  Chicken Tortilla Soup, Quesadillas de Camarones, Carnitas Pizza, Rigatoni and Meatballs, Breakfast Bread Pudding, and Tres Leches Cake.  Here's to many happy years of cooking ahead - and many pounds to surely be gained :)

Happy Friday!

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Pizza Night {Carmelized Onion & Prosciutto}

For Monday night Pizza, the other recipe I decided to try was one I had been drooling over for awhile, Carmelized Onion & Prosciutto pizza.  It sounds fancy, but it's actually super simple to put together, and was probably my favorite of the night.  The flavor of the onions, though super quick to make, was insanely good, and mixed with the cheese and prosciutto, it was a delicious meal for Monday night - and several days after that.

Carmelized Onion & Prosciutto Pizza

Ingredients
1 Basic Pizza Dough
Olive Oil
1 Red Onion, thinly sliced
1/4 cup brown sugar
Salt
Grated Parmesan cheese
Mozzarella, sliced
6-8 slices Prosciutto

Instructions
1.  Preheat oven to 500F.
2. Heat 2 tblsp olive oil in large skillet over medium high heat.  Add onions and brown sugar and toss/stir for 5-10 minutes, until onions are browned and cooked.  Remove from heat.
3.  Roll out pizza dough.  Spread on a little olive oil, followed by a sprinkle of salt and some Parmesan cheese.
4.  Top evenly with Mozzarella slices, then spread onions on top.  Randomly place prosciutto slices on top.
5.  Bake 15-17 minutes, or until crust is golden brown and cheese is bubbly.

xoxo,

stephanie marie

Pizza Night {Tomato-Basil}

Monday night I had the ladies over for pizza night and to watch the season finale of The Bachelor.  The show was the perfect excuse for getting our judge on, and it ended exactly as we all had predicted (Courtney won, but they're already broken up).  I decided to try out two new Pioneer Woman pizzas for the occasion and with dough made the night before and a few simple but delicious ingredients,the pizzas were a hit.  Paired with lots of wine and cookies brought by the girls, it was a great night!  Here's the 1st of 2 recipes I tried - so yummy :)

Tomato Basil Pizza

Ingredients

Basic Pizza Crust (recipe found here)

Olive Oil

Pesto

Salt

Sliced Tomatoes

Sliced Mozarella

Grated Parmesan Cheese

Instructions

1.  Pour a small amount of olive oil on a baking sheet.  Spread out half recipe of pizza dough, using your fingers to make it very thin.

2.  Spread pesto over the crust, then sprinkle lightly with salt.

3.  Place a layer of sliced tomatoes on top of pesto.

4.  Top with layer of Mozzarella.

5.  Sprinkle generously with Parmesan cheese.

6.  Bake at 500F for 8-11 minutes until cheese is melted and crust is golden brown.

xoxo,

stephanie marie

The Weekend {via instagram}

Here are a few pics from the past weekend up home in the valley.  It was a cold and rainy few days spent eating great home-cooked food (courtesy of both mom & dad), giving tours of the new house, and just generally lounging around with kittens and cows.

 dad's sunday morning pancakes

 steak dinner

 new friends at the new house

xoxo,

stephanie marie

The Bachelor

Have you been watching The Bachelor?  The girls, the drama, Ben's hair - I can't stop watching.  Tonight is the season finale and it's down to Courtney and Lindzi.  While most of the tabloids lean towards Courtney, Lindzi is definitely my favorite (but if I'm being honest, I think she's too good for him).  Tonight I'm hosting friends for pizza, wine, and an intense amount of judging for the finale.  It's sure to be a great time :)

Lindzi... 

...or Courtney? 

xoxo,

stephanie marie

pics via abc

Moshi Moshi

Earlier this week, Maddie and I went to Moshi Moshi, one of my favorite sushi restaurants.  They have delicious rolls and amazing cocktails - not to mention a gigantic lit up cherry blossom tree in the middle of the restaurant.  The food was delicious, the drinks tasty, and the company wonderful as always :)   With a stop off at Bastille for a drink before heading home, it was the perfect way to spend a weekday evening with a great friend.

 beef tataki

 geisha roll

 negihama roll

xoxo,
stephanie marie

pics via instagram

Sacrificing

For Lent, I gave up buying coffee.  Not necessarily drinking coffee (although this has led to an insane amount of tea drinking on my part) but going to Starbucks and actually purchasing coffee.  I left in the caveat that if someone wanted to buy me a coffee, I would gladly accept, but so far, that's been once, and it was on the first day, and I wasn't feeling nearly as deprived as I am right now.  Did I mention that about a month ago they built a Starbucks in my building?  It's like they did it just to mock me.  Talk about bad timing.  I like to think that I'm being healthier and saving a lot of money by just drinking tea every morning, but the reality is that I see Starbucks every where, and I am rapidly becoming the most envious girl in all of Seattle of everyone with their white and green cups.  Only 24 days left until I'm going to enjoy the most delicous Vanilla Soy Latte everyone has ever tasted.  Let's just be thankful that Lent doesn't fall during Pumpkin Spice Latte season :)

xoxo,
stephanie marie

pic via pinterest

Sweet & Spicy

What better way to spend a Sunday afternoon than infusing tequila with habanero peppers, right?  Well, that's what Erika and I thought this past weekend.  Ever since the waitress at Bathtub & Gin Co introduced me to spicy drinks several months ago, I've been hooked, and after we spotted this Do-It-Yourself version, I knew we had to try it.  We loosely followed this recipe and used 3 cut up habanero peppers with 1 bottle of tequila and let it infuse for about 3 hours.  We tested it every hour (this was not pretty - you can see the pictures here) and even though it probably could've used a little more time, we were way too anxious to wait any longer.  Paired with some yummy Light Chicken Enchiladas (so delicious, and great leftovers) it was a lovely way to spend a Sunday evening doing something new.  Now, we're kind of obsessed and can't wait to infuse something else.  Mixed Berry Vodka?  Lime Tequila?  Cucumber Vodka?  The possibilities are endless :)

 simple ingredients

 infusing tequila

 delicious and cheesy enchiladas

the final result - spicy grapefruit margaritas

xoxo,

stephanie marie

JCrew Lovin'

Lately, I've had an unreasonable obsession with everything JCrew.  From their cozy tees, colorful scarves, bright capri pants, and sparkly necklaces, I can't get enough of everything in the collection.  Every month when the JCrew catalog arrives, I dog-ear pages that have items I love, and it ends up being half the catalog (the other half is men's clothes). Here are a few items I've been drooling over and would love to make my own.

fun wedges to stroll around in during warmer weather

love the stripes on this one piece

 

 

 such a fun print for work

 I know it's almost spring, but I'm obsessed with this bright yellow pea coat

 these pink jeans would go perfectly in my closet next to my green ones

perfect dress for a dinner on the beach in Belize.... :)

xoxo,

stephanie marie