Cuban Black Bean Stew with Rice

When I gave up pasta for awhile, I took it as an opportunity to branch out and try some new recipes.  I've been trying to be a bit healthier, so I picked up one of my favorites, Everyday Food Light, and quickly found this Cuban Black Bean Stew with Rice that looked hearty, flavorful, and surprisingly light.  I halved the recipe and added some avocado {highly recommended} and this quick and easy dinner instantly became a new favorite.  I love that it's made of ingredients I almost always have stocked in the pantry, and I'm sure it will be perfect for throwing  together on those weeknights when I want something good and quick.  And it reminds me a bit of Belize, which can never be a bad thing :)

Cuban Black Bean Stew with Rice

Ingredients
1 cup long grain white or brown rice
1/2 tblsp olive oil
1/2 medium red onion, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 red bell pepper, finely chopped
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 can vegetable broth
1/2 tblsp cider vinegar
1/2 tsp dried oregano
salt & pepper
Toppings {lime, cilantro, sliced radishes, avocado}

Instructions
1.  Cook rice according to package.  
2.  Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium.  Add onion, garlic, and bell pepper.  Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion has softened, 8 to 10 minutes.
3.  Add beans, broth, vinegar, and oregano.  Cook, mashing some beans against the side of the pan with the back of a spoon until slightly thickened, 6 to 8 minutes.  Season with salt and pepper.  Fluff rice with a fork.  Serve beans with rice and desired toppings.

Serves 2

adapted from Everyday Food Light

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Yay, Yay it's Opening Day!

How excited are you for baseball season!?!?  While I love my Seahawks so much, some of my earliest memories are of going to the Kingdome with my family, cheering on the M's to victories that were few and far between.  But it was always the best time :)  I had that giddy, excited feeling on Monday when I walked up to the stadium, fighting the insane crowds to get to the game before the first pitch.  The energy was electric as we watched King Felix pitch an amazing game and lead the Mariners to victory over the Angels.  If the first game was any indication, I think we're in for a pretty awesome summer :)

 joey cora throwing out the first pitch!

 all hail the king

 the first pitch of the season

 julie and i made a little stop on our way to find food

my gameday buddies - eric, julie, and scott {we missed you, stef!}

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Easter {in pictures}

{who needs a festival when you have these in your yard?}

 {treats at the table}

 {easter bunny}

 {mom's delicious mini cheesecakes & my lemon meringue pie}

Hope you all had a wonderful Easter holiday!

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Sunrise

Happy Friday!  What are you up to this Easter weekend?  Can you believe it's already April?  While I struggle to wake up while it's still dark outside, I do love those days when I walk out my front door to a gorgeous sunrise like this.  It's always a great way to start the day :)  I'm taking an extra long weekend this holiday to cheer on my M's to a {hopefully} Opening Day victory.  This is their year!

Hope you have a great one!

xoxo,
stephanie marie

1000

Whaaaaaaaaattttt?!?!?!?!  This is my 1000th post?!?!?!  Where has the time gone?? And how have I had the time {and energy} to write 1000 posts??  Every night I sit at home {often with a glass of wine} and try to share my life with you in a funny, sometimes boring, sad, happy, but always honest way.  A lot has changed over these past 4+ years - a new house, a new job, travels around the world, weddings, babies, loss, loves, tears, laughs - and a lot of fun :)  Who knows how long I'll keep documenting my life like this, but I'm incredibly thankful to have this online diary to look back on.  Navigating this world as a twenty/thirty-something on my own has been quite the journey, and while I'm not always sure what my next steps will be, it's nice to look back on those same feelings in the past and know it all works out how it's supposed to :)

Thanks for reading, friends!

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Tuna Melt

Here's the simplest dinner you can make {ok, besides, like, a bowl of cereal} that is so extremely satisfying and will totally bring you back to your childhood.  The other day a coworker came back from lunch raving about a tuna melt she'd just had, and I could not get it out of my mind.  Using ingredients I already had at home, I decided to assemble my own that very night, and it has become one of my most favorite weeknight dinners.  This is easily customizable to whatever you have handy, but as long as you have the main ingredients {cheese and tuna} you won't be disappointed.  Here's how I made mine:

Ingredients
English Muffin
Butter
Canned Tuna
Mayo
Dill Pickles
Avocado
Tomato
Green onion
Slices Cheddar Cheese

Instructions
1. Slightly toast English Muffin and top with butter.
2. Mix tuna with mayo and diced pickles.
3. Top English Muffin with veggies and tuna.  Top with cheese and place under broiler until just melted.

PS - this is not an April Fool's joke.  It's really that good :)

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Ladies Who Brunch

Sunday morning, Celene invited Zara and I over for brunch and catch up with the gals.  We arrived at her home on Mercer Island to find her and her lovely mom slaving away in the kitchen for an epic feast.  While we sipped mimosas and chatted with 18 month old Mena, dish after dish of gorgeous food was brought to the table for the 4 of us to enjoy.  We're talking french toast, maple glazed bacon, citrus & avocado salad, pastries, and mini egg and hashbrown baskets that were all just as good as they looked.  It was a leisurely afternoon spent with some great girlfriends, catching up after way too long.  I am so happy these girls are in my life :)

after one too many mimosas..... ;)

xoxo,
stephanie marie