Rione XIII

From the moment David and I walked in to Rione XIII for my belated birthday celebration Monday, we knew it was going to be an awesome night.  Immediately after we were seated at Ethan Stowell's newest place on Capitol Hill, we saw the man himself dressed in a chef's apron and working the open kitchen (not unlike the time we saw him workin' it at Ballard Pizza Co).  I was super giddy when he stopped to talk to the table right next to us, and even more excited when he himself brought out our pasta to the table.  Halfway through our antipasti plate (so good) I glanced behind David and casually mentioned "that guy looks a lot like a young Jason Franey", to which he promptly turned around and confirmed that it was, in fact, the Canlis executive chef, shaking hands and chatting with Ethan.  I couldn't stop staring.  Later on, as we were sharing a piece of chocolate cake, the front door opened again and who walked through the door?  Thierry Rautureau, completely recognizable in his ever present hat.  He walked around the room and chatted with Ethan and Jason for awhile before sitting down to enjoy his late night dinner (and completely avoiding my awkward stares).  Apparently, Rione XIII was quite the place to be on Monday night for Seattle's restaurant elite!  Though the food was delicious (and very reminiscent of his other local restaurants), I'll always remember that evening as the night I saw 3 of the greatest chefs in Seattle together in one room (and thankfully I was with someone who actually knew who all 3 were!).  The smile didn't leave my face all week :)

xoxo,

stephanie marie

Crock Pot Beef Carnitas Tacos

For the first official Fall weekend, I was so excited to get out my Crock Pot and try a new recipe.  After debating between a few, I finally settled on Jenna's Crock Pot Beef Carnitas Tacos and I couldn't have been happier.  The whole dish was so simple to put together - I even used my new Cuisinart Mini Prep to chop the veggies that went on top of the steak to save time.  A note - do not omit the jalapeno, even if you're not a fan of spice.  It definitely helps add flavor, and I didn't find the tacos too spicy at all.  After 8 hours of smelling delicious, I shredded the tender beef and put it back in the Crock Pot on 'warm' until dinner time.  Topped with cheese, avocado, and homemade Pico de Gallo in a flour tortilla, it was the perfect transition dish from the flavors of summer to the coziness of fall.  This one will definitely be on rotation in my kitchen often.

xoxo,

stephanie marie

Terra Plata {rooftop garden}

Last week I got together with Kristen and Liz to celebrate Kristen's recent engagement (yay!).  Since it was a sunny Seattle afternoon, we decided to try out the rooftop garden at Terra Plata in the Melrose Market.  I can't believe I haven't discovered this place sooner!  While they don't technically have a happy hour, their menu consists of small plates to share - and items exclusive to the rooftop that you can't get in the regular restaurant downstairs.  The chef, Tamara Murphy, was at the rooftop grill, serving up yummy fresh veggies straight from the garden, including heirloom tomatoes and some of the best corn on the cob I've ever had.  We started off with delicious cocktails, then moved on to a bottle of rosé to celebrate the last days of summer - and to toast the future bride :)  It was a perfect late summer evening, and I simply can't wait for more fun dates with these awesome ladies.

xoxo,

stephanie marie

Cashew Chicken

This recipe for Cashew Chicken is the reason I originally bought my Everyday Food cookbook.  I remember years ago Maddie invited me over and made this and I thought to myself "I have to have that recipe".  When she sung the praises of the infamous cookbook to me that night, I knew I had to buy it.  Since then, I've made this dish time and time again for different groups of people, and everyone falls in love with it.  It's super quick and easy to put together, and the flavors blend together to form a perfect weekday meal.  I highly recommend you try this right away - you won't be disappointed :)

Cashew Chicken

Ingredients

3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1 inch cubes

1 tblsp cornstarch

Salt and pepper

2 tblsp vegetable oil

6 garlic cloves, minced

8 scallions (green onions), white and green parts separated, cut into 1 inch pieces

2 tblsp rice vinegar

3 tblsp hoisin sauce

3/4 cup raw cashews

White rice for serving

Instructions

1. In medium bowl, toss chicken with cornstarch until chicken is coated.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

2. In large skillet, heat 1 tblsp oil over medium-high heat.  Cook half chicken tossing often until browned, about 3 minutes.  Transfer to plate.

3. Add remaining oil and chicken to skillet with garlic and white parts of scallions.  Cook tossing often, until chicken is browned.  Add first batch of chicken to pan.  Add vinegar and cook until evaporated, about 30 seconds.

4. Add hoisin and 1/4 cup water.  Cook, tossing until chicken is cooked through.  Remove from heat.  Stir in scallion greens and cashews.  Serve over white rice.

adapted from Everyday Food

xoxo,

stephanie marie

Do The Puyallup

Friday night, we all headed down to do The Puyallup.  Can you believe I've never been?  At least, not that I remember.  It lived up to all the hype, with fried everything, crazy rides, and some of the cutest animals I've ever seen.  Here are a few highlights:

baby pygmy goats (that almost came home with me)

award winning dahlias

erika and maddie on the swings

erika with the earthquake burger

the only ride I agreed to go on - awesome

leftover fair breakfast - scones and lavender honey in tea

xoxo,

stephanie marie

End of Summer

It's officially the last day of summer, and we're sending it out in style with an afternoon trip to The Puyallup Fair.  While I'll miss the long sunny days, I'm excited for boots, sweaters, and pumpkin spice lattes as fall makes it's way to Seattle :)

Happy Friday!

xoxo,

stephanie marie

pic via Diana this Labor Day Weekend

Root Beer Floats

Nothing says cozy nights at home from my childhood like Root Beer Floats.  They remind me of staying up late with my family and watching movies together.  We took Root Beer Floats seriously in my family - my dad even kept a beer stein in the freezer so when he made his, it stayed icy cold.  Walking through the store the other day, I decided to pick myself up some fancy Root Beer and Vanilla Bean ice cream to make my own for movie night.  Next time though, I'll keep the mason jar in the freezer :)

xoxo,

stephanie marie

The Perfect Pump

My closet does not lack footwear (as seen here, here, and here).  However, I've lately realized that I was missing the perfect everyday black pump.  Most of mine are too high, too scuffed, or too embellished to wear all day long at work without going home with some serious blisters.  With Nordstrom Triple Points last week, I decided to head over to my favorite store and leave it up to the sales lady with the simple instructions of "comfortable and black".  She immediately brought out the Corso Como Delicious Pump with extra built-in cushioning in the heel and ball of the foot for comfort (yes, a 3.5 inch heel is short for me).  When I slipped them on, I knew I didn't have to try on anything else.  So far, they're all I've worn this week, and my feet couldn't be happier.  I'm certain we're going to be lifelong friends :)

xoxo,

stephanie marie

Lemon Meringue Pie

When it was brought to my attention that a friend's favorite pie was Lemon Meringue, I took it as an excuse to try out Nana's famous pie that I've loved since I was little.  I remember having a baking day years ago where she showed me her secrets for perfecting the recipe on the side of the Jell-O box (never stop stirring the pudding while it's on the stove, bake until meringue is just beginning to brown), and as I began making the pie, it all came rushing back to me.  While it wasn't quite as pretty as Nana's version, it tasted delicious and was a huge success :)  Next up?  It's time to learn Nana's Famous Chocolate Cake.

Lemon Meringue Pie

Ingredients

Pie

1 baked and cooled pie crust

1 large package "Jell-O Cook & Serve Pudding and Pie Filling" in Lemon

3/4 cup sugar

3 cups water, separated

3 beaten egg yolks

Meringue

3 egg whites

1/3 cup sugar

Instructions

1. Mix pudding, 3/4 cup sugar, 1/2 cup water, and 3 beaten egg yolks in medium sauce pan.  Stir in remaining 2 1/2 cups water.  

2. Bring to full boil on medium heat, stirring constantly.  Cool 5 minutes, stirring twice.

3. Pour into cooled baked pie crust.

4. Heat oven to 350.  

5. Beat 3 egg whites in large bowl with mixer on high speed until foamy.  Gradually beat in 1/3 cup sugar until stiff peaks form.

6. Spread over pie filling, sealing to edge of crust.

7. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until meringue is lightly browned.  Cool at room temperature 4 hours.  Keep refrigerated.

adapted from Jell-O box

xoxo,

stephanie marie

Leavenworth {Day Trip}

Sunday the girls and I headed up to Leavenworth for the day to enjoy the last days of summer in one of our favorite towns.  It was beautiful and sunny (despite the constant haze due to the nearby fires), and we spent our time strolling around the town and doing some of our favorite activities, including:

 wine tasting at Ryan Patrick tasting room

 ice cream

 taffy!

 walking along the river

 dreaming about floating the river

 hazy day with fires in the distance

 on the river

 a pretty stop on the drive home

Thanks for a lovely day trip, ladies!

xoxo,

stephanie marie

Happy {it's still summer!} Weekend

With the official start of fall still a week away, I'm taking advantage of this warm September with outdoor dining, walks around the lake, and yummy summer cocktails (see above).  Here's to another week of summer in Seattle!

xoxo,

stephanie marie

Lola {happy hour}

Friday night before the M's game, Stefanie and I headed to Lola for happy hour.  I hadn't had a martini in ages, and they make my absolute favorite - it even has a feta stuffed olive!  Yum :)  After ordering our martinis, our waiter convinced us to try the pita slices with his favorite spread, a mix of pistachio, balsamic, and creamy cheeses.  It was so delicious, we asked him to bring more pita, to which he suggested another favorite spread, a spicy roasted red pepper.  While it was good, the cheesy spread was absolutely amazing and I haven't stopped thinking about it since.  It definitely won't be long 'til I find myself at Lola again :)

xoxo,

stephanie marie

Chicken & Basil Stir Fry

I made this recipe for Chicken & Basil Stir Fry a few years ago for my mom and we both absolutely loved it, so when I came across it again while pondering what to make for dinner recently, I had to try it out to see if it really was as good as I remembered.  Turns out, it was :)  The simple marinade and the fragrant basil (I used regular basil instead of Thai basil) blend deliciously together, and served over steamed white rice, it's a perfect quick and easy weeknight meal that is sure to impress.

Chicken and Basil Stir Fry

Ingredients

2-3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut crosswise into thin slices

1/2 tblsp cornstarch

salt and pepper

4 tsp vegetable oil

1/2 onion, sliced into wedges

1 red bell pepper, insides removed and sliced into strips

3 garlic cloves, minced

1/4 cup water

1 tblsp rice vinegar

1 tblsp soy sauce

1 cup loosely packed basil, torn

cooked white rice

Instructions

1. Pat chicken dry with paper towels.  Toss with cornstarch until coated; season with salt and pepper.

2. In a large skillet, heat 2 tsp oil on medium high.  Cook chicken until browned on both sides.  Transfer to a plate.

3. Wipe skillet clean with paper towel.  Add remaining oil with onion and bell pepper.  Cook over medium high heat until beginning to brown (about 3 minutes).  Add garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant (about 1 minute).

4. Add water, vinegar, soy sauce, and chicken.  Cook tossing, until chicken is cooked through (about 1 more minute).  Remove from heat and stir in basil leaves.  Serve over rice.

Serves 2

adapted from Everyday Food

xoxo,

stephanie marie

Discovery Park

Saturday afternoon, Maddie and I packed up a picnic and headed out to Discovery Park for a day in the sunshine.  We hiked down to the lighthouse and were greeted with blue skies, a light breeze, and a few Seattleites enjoying the last days of summer.  We laid on the beach for hours, snacking, watching sailboats, and guessing shapes in the clouds, before heading back up via the Loop Trail for more views of the bay and a hike through the woods.  I can't believe I've never been to Discovery Park, but I'm so happy Maddie took me there to check another thing off my list :)

xoxo,

stephanie marie

Mariner Moose

Friday night, with the sun shining and a short week behind us, Stefanie and I headed to the ballpark for a 'date night' to watch King Felix and the Mariners take on Oakland on one of the most beautiful nights I've ever spent at Safeco.  On our walk from our bleacher seats to The Pen to meet up with friends, we ran into my ultimate childhood hero - The Mariner Moose.  We immediately cut in line in front of several 4 year olds just to get our picture with the iconic Mariner mascot.  Though the M's couldn't pull off a victory for us, our night was complete with our Moose sighting :)

xoxo,

stephanie marie

Mariners Squared

Tonight I'm capping off the short week with my second Mariner game in 3 days.  Though the seats may not be quite as awesome as Wednesday's (see above), I know the company will be exceptional :)  I'm excited to watch Perfect Felix pitch while drinking beers in the September sunshine - what a great way to start off the weekend!

Enjoy the sunshine, friends!

xoxo,

stephanie marie

Pasta with Sausage, Swiss Chard, and Pine Nuts

I had a huge To Do List for Labor Day weekend, and although most of it didn't even get a second glance (clean the kitchen? no thanks), one thing I was insistent on was trying a new recipe.  Since my love of pasta runs deep, I decided to make a version of Everyday Food's Pasta with Sausage, Swiss Chard, and Pine Nuts that I had been flipping past in my cookbook forever.  I had always been a little hesitant of adding raisins to my pasta, and while they weren't my favorite the first night I made the dish, for leftovers the next day the flavors had a chance to blend and it ended up being even better.  Be warned - this one makes a ton and could've easily been halved.  But when faced with a full and busy week, it's nice to have something quick to throw in my lunch bag that I know will fill me up during the day.

xoxo,

stephanie marie

Skillet Diner

Per tradition, Erika and I headed out to a new restaurant of my choosing for my birthday dinner.  Since I had heard rave reviews time and time again about Skillet Diner, I knew we had to give it a try.  When we walked in, Erika asked "this place serves small plates, right?" and after a quick peek at the fried chicken and waffles at the table next to us, we knew this couldn't be further from the truth :)  Though the wait for a table was long, we ended up quickly snagging seats at the bar where the bartender made us yummy cocktails and kindly split our meals for us (we love to get different menu items and share).  Everyone had a different recommendation for us, but we ended up splitting the chilaquiles (amazing) and the special of the day, shredded pork with corn tamales.  The food was awesome and the staff really friendly, and neither of us could stop talking about all of the things we're going to order when we come back :)  Thanks for an awesome night, Erika!

 chilaquiles

 shredded pork with corn tamales

xoxo,

stephanie marie