Best Vinaigrette Ever

Last week I was craving some fresh veggies and decided to make a salad (ok, so I put some bacon on it.  I didn't want it to be that healthy).  Lately I've been bored with the same old salad dressings I've been buying, so Stefanie copied down the below recipe for me of a quick vinaigrette using only ingredients I always have at home.  I whipped it up before the bacon was even done frying, and oh my - it's amazing!  It's so simple, but the flavors blend so seamlessly that it made my little salad feel decadent and fancy.  Homemade vinaigrette always seems to up the ante a bit when it comes to salad, and I have a feeling this one will be on heavy rotation all year long.

Best Vinaigrette Ever

Ingredients
3 tblsp olive oil
1 1/2 tblsp white wine vinegar
1 tblsp dijon mustard
1 tblsp honey
salt and pepper

Whisk everything together.  Refrigerate leftovers.

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Brownie Cookies

Though I've been making lots of soups and pastas lately, I've really been craving something sweet.  But, with it being so soon after the gluttony of the holidays, I've been trying to be good and not overindulge.  Luckily, while flipping through the Everyday Food Light cookbook, I found a yummy looking recipe for Brownie Cookies - a lighter version of chocolate brownies in cookie form.  Using mostly ingredients I had in my cupboards, I whipped up a batch of these in no time.  They really are like the description says - light and fluffy, just like a brownie (one of my favorite treats).  I brought them to work and they were an instant hit.  If you're looking for a dessert that's low in calories but doesn't lack in flavor, I'd recommend giving these a whirl.  I know I'll be making another batch very soon :)

xoxo,
stephanie marie

500

I can't believe it's true, but Blogger tells me that this is my 500th blog post.  What the heck??  Where did the last 2 years go??  All I can say is it's been an absolute trip.  When I'm bored, I love to look back through old posts and see all the places I've traveled to, restaurants I've eaten at, meals I've cooked, and random adventures, both big and small, that I've thought were worth sharing and documenting.  Even if no one reads this, it's nice to have a diary of these things that make me happy.  Here's to another 500!

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Slow Roasted Tomato Soup

Since it's been cold and rainy out with no signs of letting up, I decided that homemade soup was absolutely necessary this weekend.  Flipping through the Gwyneth Paltrow cookbook (she has a new one coming out and I'm embarrassed to say I'm kind of excited), I decided on her Slow Roasted Tomato Soup since it looked incredibly easy (and tomato soup is one of my all time favorites).  This is definitely a "make while you're doing house chores on the weekend" soup, as the tomatoes take 3-5 hours to roast.  I loved the chunky consistency for a change (most tomato soups I make require mixing in a blender) and the flavor of the slow roasted tomatoes was absolutely delicious.  Paired with a small grilled cheese, it was the perfect Sunday meal after a long afternoon of housework :)

Slow Roasted Tomato Soup

Ingredients
3 tblsp olive oil
2 to 3 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
4 large fresh basil leaves, torn
2 - 14oz cans whole peeled tomatoes with their juice
16 pieces (8 whole) Slow Roasted Tomatoes (see recipe below), roughly chopped
Salt
Pepper
Fresh basil for garnish

Instructions
1. Heat olive oil in large heavy pot over medium heat.  Add garlic and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes.  Add basil leaves, tomatoes and their juice, and 1 can's worth of water.  Bring to a boil, turn heat to low, and simmer uncovered for 40 minutes.
2. Stir in slow roasted tomatoes and season with salt and pepper.  Simmer until tomatoes are warmed.
3.  Serve topped with torn fresh basil leaves and fresh pepper.

Serves 4

Slow Roasted Tomatoes

Ingredients
Vine Ripened Tomatoes
Olive Oil
Salt

Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 275.
2. Cut tomatoes in half horizontally and place on cookie sheet, seed side up.  Rub with olive oil and lightly salt.  
3. Bake 3-5 hours, until they look nearly sun dried.  (These keep refrigerated in an airtight container with a bit of olive oil for about a week, so make a bunch at a time).

both recipes adapted from My Father's Daughter

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Happy Friday

Happy Friday!  What are you up to this weekend?  After a long weekend being cooped up in my apartment, I plan on getting out - a fun date night, strolling around UVillage, a yoga class, and seeing a movie (my favorite activity this time of year) are all in my plans this weekend.  The picture above (taken via my diana camera almost a year ago) reminds me that there are so many places in my own city that I still need to get out and explore - and no better time than the present!  Although I could do without this rain.....

Hope you have a lovely weekend :)

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Ballet Slippers

No, this isn't an ode to my days as a teenage ballerina (although wearing my hair in a bun yesterday did attract a lot of ballerina comments).  It's the name of my favorite nail polish by Essie.  I've decided that a late New Years Resolution is to paint my nails more often.  Seems kind of silly, but the simple act of painting my nails makes me feel much more put together and polished (hehe, get it?).  Anyway, I love bright fun colors as much as the next girl (specifically, Berry Naughty for winter and Tart Deco for summer), but Ballet Slippers is the perfect pretty neutral for every day wear (and how adorable is the name?).  And the best part?  Unlike those bright corals or deep purples, tiny chips are much less noticeable, making it last even longer.

What's your favorite nail color?  I need some suggestions if I'm gonna keep up this "resolution" :)

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Homemade Chicken & Noodles

Sunday evening, after spending the entire weekend sick and insanely bored, I decided to make my first trip to the outside world - to the grocery store.  Since I was still feeling pretty yucky, I did a quick in and out to pick up ingredients for The Pioneer Woman's Homemade Chicken & Noodles (and yes, I had to lay down when I get home after the excitement/exhaustion of leaving the apartment).  Since the store didn't have a whole chicken (apparently a lot of people were making broth this weekend), I picked up a package each of chicken breasts and chicken thighs, both with skins on and bones in.  This soup really surprised me - while the first portion had some broth in it, it was very noodle heavy, and when taking it out for leftovers the next day, I was surprised to find no broth left at all.  (I think to avoid this, you could skip the step of adding flour to the dish).  Don't get me wrong - it tasted, smelled, and looked just like chicken noodle soup, minus the broth.  It was more of a 'chicken soup pasta', but I'm not complaining.  I woke up Monday morning feeling 10 times better than I had the day before.  I think the soup/pasta definitely had something to do with it :)

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Sick Days

I had big plans for the long weekend.  The revival of two of my favorite traditions (poker night and cooking club), sunny walks around the lake, running errands, seeing a few Oscar movies....the possibilities were endless.  However, when a few sneezes last Wednesday night turned into having to leave work early on Thursday to literally only getting out of bed for one hour between Thursday night and Saturday morning, I knew my plans were kaput.  Fortunately, Justin dropped off some yummy pho on Thursday and sent me to bed practically crying from sickness at 8PM (and even said I looked kind of cute - liar).  The pho lasted me through Saturday, and when I was finally able to get from the bed to the couch, I was rewarded with a Dexter Season 3 marathon (that was finished in less than a day).  I'm hoping that you had a much more enjoyable and productive long weekend than I did :)

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Joule {date night}

After several weeks of barely seeing each other, Justin proposed a date night this past Monday at a restaurant of my choosing.  After hearing rave reviews of the new and improved Joule (which I visited just about a year ago in it's former Wallingford location), I suggested we go and see what the buzz was about.  We sat at the counter, where we watched dish after dish of amazing smelling food be prepared.  Since the concept is small plates, we opted to share more than we probably needed, as we had trouble narrowing down the menu.  My favorite was the rice noodles with shitakes and broccoli rabe (so simple yet amazingly flavorful), with the petite tender steak and roasted potatoes coming in a close second and third.  As the meal was winding down, we were both stuffed but could not stop eating the delicious food.  Walking out of the restaurant, I was pleasantly full and smiling - the best kind of date night :)  Now, who wants to go back this summer and sit around the fire on their outdoor patio?

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Potato Frittata with Feta and Scallions

Sunday morning I had the girls over for brunch to watch the Seahawk game (I still can't talk about the game).  After contemplating several cookbooks, I settled on my new favorite to drool over, The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook.  The pictures alone are reason enough to buy this book, and so far the dishes taste even better than they look (if that's even possible).  I decided to try her Potato Frittata with Feta and Scallions, not only because it sounded amazing (and fairly simple to put together at 9am) but also as an excuse to use the new cast iron skillet my honey got me for Christmas.  Below is the recipe, but I'd encourage you to buy her cookbook (or check out the website), as she gives great step by step tips of the best ways to prepare things, and fun stories about each recipe.  This is definitely one to make when you're having a few people over and really want to impress.  I'm 'smitten' :)


Potato Frittata with Feta and Scallions

Ingredients
3 tblsp olive oil
1 3/4 lb Yukon Gold Potatoes, peeled, halved lengthwise, and cut into 1/2 inch slices
1/2 tsp salt, plus more for potatoes
Pepper
1/4 pound thick-cut bacon, cut crosswise into 1/4 inch matchsticks
3-4 scallions, trimmed and thinly sliced
3-4oz crumbled feta
6 large eggs
2 tblsp milk

Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 400.  Coat roasting pan or tray generously with about 2 tblsp oil.  Pile potatoes into prepared pan and generously season with salt and pepper.  Roast 30 minutes, or until potatoes are mostly cooked, tossing once halfway through.
2. Cook bacon in seasoned cast iron skillet until crisp.  Scoop out with slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.  Add additional tblsp oil to the bacon drippings in pan and reheat over medium heat.  Swirl the oil and drippings around in pan and up sides, coating the pan fully.
3. Arrange roasted potatoes in skillet.  Scatter bacon, scallions and feta over potatoes.  Whisk eggs with milk, 1/2 tsp salt, and a sprinkle of pepper in medium bowl and pour over potatoes.
4. Cover skillet with foil and bake for 20 minutes.  Remove foil and bake for another 10 to 15 minutes, or until puffed at edges and set in center.
5.  Serve straight out of the skillet, in 6-8 wedges.

adapted from The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook

xoxo,
stephanie marie

La Carta de Oaxaca

I may be the last person in Seattle to eat at La Carta de Oaxaca (sister restaurant to the newer Mezcalaria Oaxaca), but I'd say it was well worth the wait.  I had always been deterred by the long wait times, but Friday night, David and I barely had taken a sip of our drinks at the bar before being escorted to our table.  David insisted I ordered something other than tacos (my absolute favorite) so after much consideration, I settled on the House Specialty, Mole Negro Oaxaqueno with pork.  The mole sauce was out of this world delicious, and paired with chips and fresh guac, not to mention a perfectly mixed margarita, I was a very happy lady.  If you find yourself wandering around Ballard searching for an inexpensive but delicious meal, I'd highly recommend La Carta de Oaxaca.  It's definitely worth the wait :)

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Penne alla Vodka

Last week I had Erika over for dinner to try out another new recipe from the Barefoot Contessa.  Since it seems like I've been on a pasta kick lately, I decided to continue the theme and try her Penne alla Vecchia Bettola (penne with vodka sauce).  It was really simple to put together, and finally gave me an excuse to open up the bottle of vodka I picked up from the Reykjavik airport almost 2 years ago.  This one made awesome leftovers for the rest of the week and though I tweaked the original recipe a bit, I think Ina would still be proud :)

Penne alla Vodka

Ingredients
1/4 cup olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1 1/2 tsp dried oregano, plus more for seasoning
1 cup vodka
2- 28oz cans whole peeled plum tomatoes, drained
Salt and Pepper
3/4 lb penne
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan, plus more for serving

Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 375.
2. Heat oil in large ovenproof saute pan or dutch oven over medium heat.  Add onions and garlic and cook about 5 minutes, until onions are translucent.  Add red pepper flakes and dried oregano and cook 1 more minute.  Add vodka and simmer for 5-7 minutes, until mixture is reduced by half.
3. Using clean hands, crush tomatoes into pan.  Add 2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper.  Cover pan with tight fitting lid, place in oven, and bake 1 hour.
4. Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions.
5. Carefully pour half the tomato mixture into a blender and puree until smooth.  Repeat with remaining half.  Return the tomato mixture to the saute pan.  Add more oregano (to taste), cream, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp pepper, and simmer partially covered for 10 minutes.  Add pasta to sauce and cook for 2 more minutes.
6.  Stir in 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese and serve hot, sprinkled with more Parmesan.

Serves 4-5

adapted from Barefoot Contessa: Foolproof

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Happy {brrrrrr} Weekend

What are you up to this weekend?  I'm planning on catching up on reading, tv shows, and sleep, seeing one of the Oscar nominated films, going for a nice long walk, a bit of trip planning (more on that later), finally taking down my Christmas tree (oops), and cheering on the Seahawks to yet another playoff victory (fingers crossed!).  Oh, and trying to stay warm :)

xoxo,
stephanie marie

pic from iceland via diana

The Book of Mormon

O.M.Gosh.  Last night, we went to go see The Book of Mormon and I can't even begin to describe how amazingly hilarious it was.  I've been eagerly awaiting this day since I bought the tickets last May and it way exceeded all of my expectations.  The show, written by Matt Stone and Trey Parker of South Park, follows two young Mormons on their mission to Uganda to teach, well, The Book of Mormon.  I don't know if I've ever laughed so hard in my life, and like Justin said, if he thinks something is slightly offensive, then it's got to be pretty bad.  As we left the theater, I couldn't stop humming along to the music and laughing - we may have immediately gone home and downloaded the soundtrack on iTunes :)  I know it's sold out here in Seattle, but if you have a chance to go see this when it comes to your city, you have to go.  While the crowd was super diverse, I did not see one person that wasn't laughing hysterically throughout the entire thing (but can they really say those things onstage?!?!?:).  Go see it now - you will not be disappointed (though you most surely will be slightly offended :).

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Weeknight Bolognese

My dear sweet brother got me not one, but two Barefoot Contessa cookbooks for Christmas - How Easy is That? and Foolproof.  Flipping through them both, I haven't found anything that I don't want to make.  Ina Garten makes everything looks so beautiful and effortless, and while in actuality they're not quite effortless, they are always incredibly delicious.  I decided to start the New Year off right with her Weeknight Bolognese recipe from How Easy is That?  It really was super simple to put together, and I enjoyed it for leftovers all last week.  A note to the non-spicy lovers - the tiny pinch of red pepper flakes gets spicier and spicier in the refrigerator as the days go by.  If you don't like the heat, I'd suggest either eating the whole recipe right away, or omitting the red pepper flakes all together.  Either way, this is sure to become a dinner staple for years to come :)

Weeknight Bolognese

Ingredients
2 tblsp olive oil
1 lb ground beef
4 cloves minced garlic
1 tblsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1 1/4 cup dry red wine, divided
1- 28oz can crushed tomatoes
2 tblsp tomato paste
Salt and Pepper
3/4 lb dried pasta (I used linguine, but the original calls for orecchiette)
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving

Instructions
1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.  Add ground beef and cook, crumbling with a wooden spoon until meat has started to brown.  Stir in garlic, oregano, and red pepper flakes and cook for 1 more minute.
2. Pour 1 cup wine in skillet and stir to scrape up any brown bits.  Add tomatoes, tomato paste, 1 tblsp salt, and 1 1/2 tsp pepper, stirring until combined.  Bring to a boil, lower heat, and simmer for 10 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions.
4. While pasta is cooking, finish sauce.  Add nutmeg, basil, cream, and remaining 1/4 cup wine to sauce and simmer 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally until thickened.  
5. When pasta is cooked, drain and pour into large serving bowl.  Add sauce and 1/2 cup Parmesan and toss well.  Serve hot with more Parmesan on the side.

Serves 4-5

adapted from the Barefoot Contessa

xoxo,
stephanie marie

The Fat Hen

During my holiday break, I decided to treat myself to a solo brunch at The Fat Hen, a small restaurant tucked into a neighborhood in North Ballard I've been reading about forever, but haven't had a chance to try out yet.  I think I've found a new favorite brunch spot :)  I had gone in wanting to try one of their sandwiches, but after checking out the menu, I knew I had to try the baked eggs 'in camicia' - with tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella.  Served in an individual skillet with a side of crunchy bread, it was one of the best things I've ever tasted (ok, the mimosa I ordered at the last minute was pretty yummy too).  This quiet and tiny spot was the perfect place to spend a sunny, relaxing morning alone.  If you don't often take yourself out for a meal (not just takeout - an actual 'sit down at a table and relax alone' meal) then I highly recommend it.  In fact, head on over to The Fat Hen - it's perfect :)

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Spinach & Bacon Quiche

 

Christmas Eve morning for the past several years has been very low key at our house.  We eat breakfast and lounge around getting ready for the rest of the holiday festivities ahead.  Since I knew we'd just be hanging out at home all morning, I made a Spinach & Bacon Quiche for my family based off of the one I made for my birthday brunch several years back. While it looks fancy, it's one of the most simple meals to put together and the filling can easily be switched with different meats, veggies, and cheeses.  I'd highly recommend making this for your next family meal - for brunch or for dinner!

Spinach and Bacon Quiche

Ingredients
6 large eggs
1 1/2 cup heavy cream
salt and pepper
2 cups chopped fresh spinach
1 pound bacon, cooked and chopped
1 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 refrigerated pie crust, pressed into pie plate

Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 375.
2. Whisk eggs, cream, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
3. Layer spinach, bacon, and cheese in bottom of pie crust.  Pour egg mixture on top.
4. Bake for 40-45 minutes until eggs are set and knife in middle of quiche comes out clean.

adapted from Paula Deen

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Seahawks Sunday

Last Sunday, left with an extra ticket to the Seahawks vs. Rams game at the last minute, I called the one person I knew would appreciate it the most (and who wouldn't say no) - my dad.  We headed down to the stadium early to take in all the Fan Appreciation Day festivities, and bundled up in layers upon layers of warm clothes to brave the frosty temperatures for the game.  After several nail-biting quarters, the Seahawks finally pulled through to beat the Rams.  You can bet I'll be glued to the TV Sunday afternoon to watch their first (of hopefully many) playoff game - this time, from the warmth of my apartment :)  Thanks for being my date, dad!

 warming up with hot cocoa

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Just Married {Merith & Andy}

Last Friday we all got together to celebrate the wedding of Merith and Andy.  The ceremony, the setting, the bride - everything was absolutely gorgeous.  It was so great to catch up with everyone from out of town - and to finally meet Andy!  From the walk down the aisle to the last silly dance, it was a night I won't soon forget.  Congrats, Hall family! :)

 walking down the aisle

 high school buddies

 merith and the knutzen's

 justin & me

 first dance

 susannah, me, erika & josh

our ride home :)

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Hello, 2013!

I spent New Year's Eve at the Helling house and it was exactly what I needed - a cozy night in with boozy drinks (Jell-O Shots anyone?), yummy food, fabulous friends, and sparklers at midnight.  Throughout the night I talked to different people about our resolutions/goals/intentions - whatever you want to call them - to try to define mine more clearly.  I'm building on last year's list with a few simple resolutions to make 2013 the best year yet (though 2012 will be tough to beat) - reduce the clutter, add some cardio to my routine, be mindful of my spending, learn how to use my camera, and go on more date nights.  Hey, I had to add something fun in there :)  Here's to another memorable year!  And now, a few photos of how we said adios to 2012.

 erika, me, and erin

 the best heads of hair in the city

 erika and joe

 drew and laura

 cheers!

 our fabulous hosts

 me, erika, and autumn

 happy new year!

 liz and barry

 sparkler outtakes

 success!

 happy new year!

xoxo,
stephanie marie