Happy Friday! Though I started the week with a plumbing emergency {stupid old house!} and am ending it with a bit of a cold, the week was made infinitely better because I got to have my favorite girl here this week while her Daddy is out of town. Nina and I have spent evenings on the couch snuggled up watching our favorite fall TV shows {hello, This Is Us!} and nights snuggled in bed where this tiny little thing snores and sleeps sideways and takes up about 3/4 of the bed, leaving me the very edge. But I don't mind because I love having her sweet face here with me and I'll take any chance I get for a few nights with this lady. Happy weekend!
xoxo,
stephanie marie
I feel that after a summer lull I've definitely gotten back into the cooking routine, so earlier this week I decided to peruse one of my most favorite cookbooks, Skinnytaste Fast & Slow, to find something yummy to make for dinner. I settled on these Korean-Inspired Chicken Lettuce Wraps that I've been eyeing ever since I got this cookbook and they were a cinch to put together. A few notes - you'll have lots of leftover rice {for fried rice the next day!}, make extra sauce as the chicken can get a little dry {we added extra soy sauce when building the wraps}, and a round Bibb lettuce would probably work better than the Green Leaf ones I used {but it all tastes the same even though it can be a bit messy}. I've definitely decided to add this to my weekday repertoire as something delicious and healthyish for those busy days.
Korean-Inspired Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Ingredients
1/4 cup reduced sodium soy sauce
1 tsp toasted sesame oil
2 tsp brown sugar
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
Cooking Spray
1 lb ground chicken
1/4 cup chopped yellow onion
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 tsp fresh chopped or grated ginger
12 large outer lettuce leaves
2 1/4 cup cooked brown rice
2 Tblsp gochujang {Korean hot sauce - sub with sriracha or favorite sweet/spicy sauce}
1/2 Tblsp sesame seeds
2 green onions, sliced
Instructions
1. In small bowl, combine soy sauce, sesame oil, brown sugar, and pepper flakes.
2. Heat large deep skillet over high heat and coat with cooking spray. Add chicken and cook, using wooden spoon to break up the meat into pieces as it browns, about 5 minutes.
3. Add onion, garlic, and ginger and cook 1 minute. Pour soy sauce mixture over chicken, reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer 5 minutes.
4. To serve, top each piece of lettuce with rice, chicken mixture, gochujang sauce, sesame seeds, and green onions.
Serves 4
adapted from skinnytaste
xoxo,
stephanie marie
Saturday afternoon, after working all morning on the house, we decided to take Christian's parents down to Georgetown to explore a bit. We started off at Fonda la Catrina for a quick late lunch {yum} then headed down to our intended destination, Georgetown Brewing, which was unfortunately just about to close for the day. We managed to grab a few tastes and vowed to come back soon {7 tastes for free? yes please!} before heading down the road to Elysian Taproom, which luckily was still open. We grabbed a few tasting flights to share, then sat down next to the open windows where the sun was shining and we sipped some delicious beer - they even had some pumpkin beers on tap, making it seem perfectly like fall :) It was a fun day exploring a rarely visited neighborhood for me, and I can't wait to head back and explore some more.
xoxo,
stephanie marie
Saturday afternoon Christian volunteered to help me around the house, so we got out the pressure washer Dad brought down a few weeks ago and went to work. The walkways and driveway surrounding my house have been covered in moss and mud practically since I've owned the place, so after some scraping and cleaning, we blasted it all away to reveal actual cement and walkable walkways. Though the mud was everywhere, stuck to the leaves, furniture, and even us, it was so nice to see what was underneath all of that moss and dirt, and now I can confidently walk around in the winter without fear of slipping on my butt from the moss. Thanks honey!
xoxo,
stephanie marie
You know those weeks where Friday cannot come soon enough? Last week was definitely one of those, so since we both skipped out of work a little early on Friday afternoon, Christian and I decided to try to beat the crowds at Delancey {one of my absolute faves that he had never been to}. We just missed the first seating when we arrived, so we put our names on the waiting list and headed to Essex, the sister bar next door that serves amazing cocktails while you wait. After some yummy cocktails and 45 minutes that flew by, we were seated at Delancey where, after much deliberation and advice from the people seated next to us who are regulars, we decided to share the fresh tomato salad and get the sausage pizza and the white pie because, you know, Friday. The salad was amazing - so fresh and perfect with the season end tomatoes - and both pizza pies completely hit the spot {and not a piece was left behind}. Though I definitely lean towards red sauce on most pizza, there's something about that white pie that blew me away {even though I was breathing garlic for the rest of the night}. It was a fabulous, cozy date night and a perfect chance to introduce Christian to one of my faves. We'll definitely be back :)
xoxo,
stephanie marie
Happy Fall Friday! Now that it's just about my favorite season, I'm excited to get out the sweaters, make some soups, and watch lots of football. Is there really any better season? I'm so excited to head to my first Hawks game of the year this weekend and am desperately hoping for a win this week. Here's to lots of pumpkins, plaid and pies filling up your days in the upcoming weeks :) Go Hawks!
xoxo,
stephanie marie
I came across this recipe for Late Summer Veggie Bolognese on Instagram, and since I've become newly obsessed with Trader Joe's Cauliflower Gnocchi I knew I had to try it. The gnocchi is a perfect way to serve your favorite pasta sauce if you're trying to cut out some carbs, but if you're not, feel free to serve this bolognese over your favorite regular pasta. The flavors came together so well, and I just made a serving of gnocchi for myself the first night and every night since I've made another serving and heated up the bolognese - perfection! If you're using the food processor this goes by even quicker, but even with chopping by hand I still managed to put this all together in time to watch the Hawks lose {ugh} on Monday night. Definitely make this soon while the veggies are still fresh but the weather is cooling down - ugly football loss not included!
Late Summer Veggie Bolognese
Ingredients
1 small yellow onion, peeled and minced
3 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
1 large carrot, peeled and minced
8 oz cremini mushrooms, minced
1 zucchini, minced
1 red bell pepper, stem and seeds removed and minced
1- 28oz can crushed tomatoes
Olive oil
1/4 cup water
2 tsp salt
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 cup Parmesan-Reggiano cheese, plus more for garnish
Basil for garnishing
1lb cauliflower gnocchi {or any gnocchi or pasta desired}
Instructions
1. Mince all vegetables {or, to make it easier on yourself, use a food processor to do all the chopping for you and to make extra small}.
2. In medium Dutch oven over medium low heat, warm several Tblsp olive oil. Add onion, garlic, and carrot and cook until softened {about 10 minutes}.
3. Add mushrooms, zucchini, and red bell pepper plus more olive oil {if needed} to pot. Cook, stirring frequently, until liquid has released from vegetables and they're totally softened, about 15-20 minutes. Pour in crushed tomatoes, water, salt, oregano, red pepper flakes, and Parmesan. Cook an additional 10 minutes until flavors have married together. Turn to low while you cook gnocchi.
4. To cook Trader Joe's Cauliflower Gnocchi, add a Tblsp olive oil to non-stick skillet. When warmed, add gnocchi and cook until browned on each side, about 5 minutes per side.
5. Divide gnocchi among bowls - top with bolognese and serve with basil and Parmesan.
Serves 2 {with leftover bolognese sauce to freeze}
adapted from A Cozy Kitchen
xoxo,
stephanie marie
Saturday morning Christian and I decided to take his parents for a drive down to Kubota Garden, the most beautiful and peaceful Japanese Garden combining Northwest plants in Rainier Valley that none of us had ever been to before. It was a cool and grey fall day but we didn't let that stop us from wandering around the gorgeous grounds, taking in the beauty and calmness while we followed the trails around the property. I love finding new hidden gems in the city and having guests in town is such a great excuse to discover them. Where to next?
matchy matchy
xoxo,
stephanie marie
Friday night David and I went out in Ballard just like old times, bar and restaurant hopping around what has become a very busy neighborhood. We met up at the bell tower and headed down the street to Sawyer, the new restaurant in the old Kickin' Boot space that has completely been transformed. We sat at the bar and had yummy cocktails while admiring the food being brought to the guests around us. After our cocktails we headed a few blocks away to Asadero, a Mexican steakhouse that was hoppin' but we managed to snag two seats at the tiny bar where we sipped on tequila cocktails and stuffed our faces with steak tacos and chicken tostadas. It was a fun night catching up with David - it felt just like old times and I can't wait for more nights like this again.
xoxo,
stephanie marie
Happy Monday! Though there's not a lot of lipstick going on over here on Mondays since I've started working from home, there is plenty of coffee, pj's, and yummy breakfasts - it's the perfect way to ease into what I know will be a busy week. After a great weekend filled with friends and family, I'm ready to see what the upcoming week has in store - hopefully it'll go easy on me! Oh, and Go Hawks!!
xoxo,
stephanie marie
Happy Friday! It's been a long week around here and I'm excited for a quiet and relaxing weekend at home. It's supposed to be a bit rainy, so if you need me you can find me snuggled up on the couch in my sweatpants with a glass of wine and Netflix - sounds about perfect, eh? Have a great weekend!
xoxo,
stephanie marie
For lunch and breakfast at work I like to keep it simple, making the same thing every day so it's easy to grocery shop for and easy to prep. Earlier in the summer when I got tired of my overnight oats and hard boiled egg I decided to switch it up by making a super simple {and delicious} egg bake that I could prep on Sunday and eat all week long. I combined several different recipes from Pinterest to make this, but it can be easily customized to whatever you like or have on hand. I switch up the veggies depending on what's in my refrigerator that week, and paired with a handful of berries or fruit it's the perfect breakfast every day of the week.
Ingredients
Several cups of chopped veggies {I like broccoli, zucchini, mushrooms, bell pepper, and tomatoes - you could add sausage or bacon if you want meat}
a few tablespoons olive oil
8 eggs
a few tablespoons milk
shredded cheese
salt & pepper
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Heat olive oil in pan over medium heat. Add veggies and cook until begin to be softened {I usually do this just until oven is preheated}. Season with salt & pepper if desired.
3. Whip eggs with milk in separate bowl.
4. Spread veggies in 8x8 baking dish, making sure to even out the vegetables so each square will have some of each.
5. Pour egg mixture over vegetables. Top with shredded cheese.
6. Bake until eggs are done, usually about 30 - 35 minutes. Slice in 4 squares, let cool, and refrigerate in separate tupperware for easy transport.
7. To eat, reheat in microwave about 1-1.5 minutes.
xoxo,
stephanie marie
