Eden Hill Provisions {Takeout}

 

Friday night we continued our unofficial burger tour of Seattle with takeout from Eden Hill Provisions up on Queen Anne.  We definitely were not the only ones with this idea with a line out the door but luckily had preordered ahead of time and only had to wait a little bit to get our burgers.  We enjoyed our haul at home {a few different burgers, fries with homemade ranch, and macaroni salad} and were incredibly happy with the meal, especially the fries which were perfectly crispy and herb-y.  I'd definitely get takeout from this yummy place again {and next time I'm adding a milkshake!} and can't wait to find our next burger adventure soon!

xoxo,

stephanie marie

A Quick Drive North

 

We decided to get out of the city on Saturday and head north to see the family and get some fresh air.  We first stopped at the beach house to visit with G&G for a few hours {in the pouring rain} then headed over to Mom & Dad's for some beer, dinner, and lots of snuggles for Nina.  I didn't get too many pics {we really didn't do a whole lot} but it felt so nice to get out of town, see some loved ones, and have some good home cookin'.  And judging by how sleepy Nina was on the way home, I'd say she had an excellent time as well :)

    

stuck at a goose crossing on the island

xoxo,

stephanie marie

The Weekend {In Pictures}

 

{facetiming with this cutie}

{friday night sunset}

{blue friday tj's run}

{again, i'm not sure how she ends up like this all the time}

{avocado toast}

{family walk}

{my faves}

{channeling my inner kamala this weekend}

xoxo,

stephanie marie

Happy {Fall} Friday

 

Happy first Friday of fall!  It's definitely felt fall-ish this week with the insane rainstorms we had yesterday, leaves falling on the ground, and it getting darker earlier and earlier around here.  It's been nice to cozy up and watch the rain outside, but I'm also looking forward to some nicer weather next week so we can make up for the end of summer that got ripped away from us by the smoke.  Cheers to cozy this weekend and drinks on the roof next!  Have a great weekend!

xoxo,

stephanie marie

Urban Hiking {Myrtle Edwards Park}

Last weekend after the smoke finally cleared we were anxious to get outside and enjoy some much needed fresh air, regardless of the clouds and looming showers.  Since it had been awhile since we've gone on a big urban hike, we decided to take it easy and do a little 3.5 mile loop down to Myrtle Edwards Park overlooking Elliot Bay and back.  The rain held off for our walk and it felt so great to finally be able to see the mountains and islands in the distance without the smokescreen that had been around for weeks - I will surely never take clean air for granted again!  There was a chill in the air signaling the end of summer and while I'm still hoping for some nice days ahead, it was exciting to see some of the leaves changing colors and feel the crispness of fall outside.

xoxo,

stephanie marie

No Guilt Broccoli Fettuccine Alfredo

Awhile back when looking through the first Half Baked Harvest cookbook Christian and I tried out her No Guilt Broccoli Fettuccine Alfredo which takes the original creamy, indulgent alfredo sauce and mixes it up by using hummus instead of cream.  Genius!  Last week I was craving it again but this time we decided to try it with some cooked chicken instead of the vegetarian version and it definitely elevated the dish.  If you're looking for some good comfort food that still is on the healthy side, look no further that this delicious pasta dish that will leave you full and not missing the heavy cream at all.  Enjoy!

No Guilt Broccoli Fettuccine Alfredo

Ingredients

2 small heads broccoli, cut into florets

1/4 cup olive oil

1/2 tsp cayenne

1/2 tsp garlic powder

Salt & Pepper

1 lb fettuccine

1 cup plain hummus

zest & juice of 1 lemon

2 Tblsp unsalted butter

3/4 cup grated Parmesan, plus more for serving

1/4 cup chopped fresh basil, plus more for serving

1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley {I skipped this}

Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 450.

2. On rimmed baking sheet, toss broccoli with olive oil, cayenne, garlic powder, and salt & pepper.  Roast 15-20 minutes, tossing once, until lightly charred.

3. Meanwhile, bring large pot of salted water to boil over high heat.  Add pasta and cook until al dente.  Reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water, then drain pasta and immediately return to pot.

4. Add to pasta the hummus, about 1/2 cup pasta water, lemon zest, lemon juice, butter, and Parmesan.  Toss until creamy sauce forms.  Thin with more pasta water if needed.  Add basil, parsley, and red pepper flakes.  Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed.

5. Add broccoli to pasta and toss gently.  Serve immediately with extra Parmesan and herbs.

***Note - we added some cooked chicken to this which was delicious - also would be great with shrimp!

Serves 4-6

adapted from half baked harvest

xoxo,

stephanie marie

Serious Takeout {Palace Kitchen Burger Pop-Up}

 

In case you weren't aware, last Friday was National Cheeseburger Day, if that's even really a thing :)  I read online that Tom Douglas was doing a one night only Palace Kitchen Burger Pop Up through his Serious Takeout program in Ballard and since it was one of the new Covid-inspired pivots in the Seattle restaurant world this year that we hadn't yet tried, we decided Palace Kitchen burgers were the perfect opportunity to give Serious Takeout a go.  Palace Kitchen burgers are often described as some of the best burgers in Seattle so we were both excited to try them.  We placed orders ahead of time and then headed down to the Serious Takeout warehouse in Ballard to pick up our order {they also have a regular menu consisting of the Serious Pie pizzas, sandwiches, and salads that looked and smelled delish}.  We brought our burgers and generous helpings of fries back home to pair with some red wine and could tell from the first bite that they were made with some delicious beef and cooked to perfection.  The one thing missing was a good sauce {they gave us some ketchup and mayo to top the burgers with} - I think this burger topped with the Ethan Stowell burger sauce from the M's pop-up really would've made it out of this world good.  But of course I'm not going to complain while enjoying a good burger, fries, and some wine with my honey, and I can't wait to go back and try some more of the Tom Douglas takeout food soon!

somebody was wondering where her burger was

xoxo,

stephanie marie

The Weekend {In Pictures}

 

{sneaking bites}

{not sure how this is comfortable}

{rainy saturday cocktails}

{sad face?}

{never been so happy to see rain}

{burrito bowls}

{yummy wine + the best show}

{again, how is this comfortable?}

{sunday morning pancakes}

{blue skies  + a hornet's nest i unfortunately made mad}

{sunday night football + seahawks + spaghetti}

xoxo,

stephanie marie

Happy {When Will It End?} Friday

What a week, amiright?  The smoke overtaking the Pacific Northwest {and beyond} is overwhelming at best and I am sooooo ready for the worst air quality in the world to go away.  If you live in a place that has fresh air, do me a favor and go outside and take a big deep breath of that delicious, smoke-free air.  I for one cannot wait to do the same and am hoping we get a bit of relief this weekend from this oppressive smoke {though forecasts seem to suggest otherwise}.  I guess it'll be another weekend snuggled up at home with my honey and Nina {of which I'm not mad about} but I can't wait until we can get back to our regularly scheduled walks and drinks on the rooftop, assuming summer isn't already gone for another year.

Cheers to a breathable weekend!

xoxo,

stephanie marie

photo via

Weeknight Sesame Teriyaki Chicken with Ginger Rice

While perusing the Half Baked Harvest site I came across her Weeknight Sesame Teriyaki Chicken with Ginger Rice and after a quick trip to the store I was ready to whip it up for dinner on Monday night.  While the ingredient list looks a little intimidating it's actually quite simple to put together and even though I almost didn't bother with the sesame crumbs I'm so glad I did as they were so yummy and so easy.  I snacked on the spicy cucumbers while putting everything else together {so good!} and the ginger rice was totally worth the extra steps to add the additional ingredients and with a hint of ginger was a perfect addition to the dinner.  I'll definitely be coming back to this one again for a quick weeknight meal and would highly recommend it to you as well!

Weeknight Sesame Teriyaki Chicken with Ginger Rice

Ingredients

4 Tblsp sesame oil

1/2 cup Panko breadcrumbs

1/4 cup raw sesame seeds

crushed red pepper flakes to taste

2 Tblsp chopped chives or green onions

1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce 

1/4 cup honey

3 Tblsp rice vinegar

2 small or 1 large cucumber, thinly sliced

1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, thinly sliced

2 tsp cornstarch or flour

4 cloves garlic, minced or grated

black pepper

1 inch fresh ginger, grated

1-2 red or orange bell peppers, thinly sliced

Ginger Rice

2 cups water

1 cup basmati rice

1 inch grated fresh ginger

1 Tblsp toasted sesame oil

Pinch of salt

Instructions

1. Make ginger rice.  Boil 2 cups water.  Add rice, ginger, sesame oil, and salt.  Stir to combine, cover, and turn heat down to lowest setting.  Simmer 10 minutes, then turn heat off completely and let sit another 15-20 minutes covered.  Remove lid and fluff rice with fork.

2. Make sesame crumbs.  Heat 1 Tblsp oil, Panko, sesame seeds, and pinch of crushed red pepper flakes in large skillet over medium heat.  Cook until lightly toasted and caramelized {watch closely}.  Spoon crumbs out of skillet onto a plate.  Sprinkle with salt and set aside.

3. Make sauce.  Combine soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, and 1 Tblsp sesame oil.

4. Make spicy cucumbers.  Combine cucumbers with 1/8 to 1/4 cup sauce and pinch of red pepper flakes.  Set aside.

5. In medium bowl, toss together the chicken, cornstarch, and a pinch of black pepper.

6. Make chicken.  Heat remaining 2 Tblsp of oil over medium heat.  When oil shimmers, add chicken and brown all over until it becomes crispy, about 5 minutes.  Add bell peppers, garlic, and ginger and cook another 2-3 minutes.  Pour in the sauce and bring to a boil over medium high heat.  Cook until sauce coats chicken and thickens, about 5 minutes.

7. Serve chicken over ginger rice.  Top with sesame crumbs, green onions, and spicy cucumbers.

Serves 4

adapted from half baked harvest

xoxo,

stephanie marie

Small Changes for a Better Planet

 The West Coast is on fire and once again the climate crisis is on everyone's radar, especially if you live where I do and keep waking up everyday to a thick later of smoke in the air, so overbearing and oppressive you have to stay inside and haven't had fresh air in days from fires that are states away.  While I'm one of the fortunate who doesn't have to worry about actual fires in my yard, I do worry about my health and my future and the future of this planet that is, contrary to what our president seems to think, the only one we have.  While I don't want to get political right now {let's save that until close to the election, shall we?} I do want to say that I'm worried about our planet and I'm worried about our future.  I'm no expert, but I know there are small, easy changes that we can all implement to make positive changes in our daily lives that will help our planet and ourselves {hey, you may just save some money with these ideas by reducing energy and waste!}.  Here are a few ideas I've been implementing in my daily routine over the past year or two that I encourage you to explore in your own lives.

Replace one time use dryer sheets with wool dryer balls.  I purchased these on Amazon over a year ago and they are still going strong {I use 3 per load and just leave them in the dryer when not in use}.  It drove me crazy how wasteful disposable dryer sheets are, and while yes, my clothes are a little static-y right out of the dryer, they are completely fine after a quick shake and I'm not putting several dryer sheets in the landfill weekly.  {side note - I'm also doing a lot less laundry in quarantine since I'm wearing a lot of the same sweatpants for days in a row, so I'm saving on energy from running the washer as well!}

Use as little plastic as possible.  Can I just say that I loathe single use plastics?  It's become a "thing" for me {just ask Christian} and I have been doing everything I can to avoid them at all costs.  Whenever I see Stasher bags on sale {Whole Foods had them at a great price a few weeks ago, and they're often included in Macy's sales}, I purchase a few - they are basically reusable, silicon Ziploc bags that can be refrigerated, frozen, and even microwaved, wash up nicely either by hand or dishwasher, and aren't being thrown out after every single use.  They come in fun colors and are so worth the investment.  I also purchased these dressing containers {for back when I actually went to an office and brought a lunch} as my previous containers leaked and I always had to wrap them in single use plastic to save anything else in my bag.  These are great for commutes and storage and totally leakproof!

Recycle the unavoidable plastic.  Single use plastic is unfortunately inevitable in our normal life - takeout bags, tortilla & bread bags, the plastic covering on a tub of salsa, the ridiculous amount of packaging in Trader Joe's produce, and the insane amount of plastic shipping bags from online orders {I'm looking at you, Nordstrom and Amazon}.  When I can't avoid plastic {though I've gotten good at forgoing the produce bags in the grocery store and seeking plastic alternatives whenever possible}, I keep them all in a bag in my kitchen and/or mud room and when that gets full I drop it off at Fred Meyer or any other drop off location since single use plastics are not accepted in our curbside recycling programs.  Plastic Film Recycling is an excellent source to tell you where to drop off your plastics and what will become of them.  I've also found this awesome program for recycling old contacts and individual contact cases because if you're like me and have to throw your contacts away daily, you will be amazed at how quickly those daily contact packets add up.  Now I can collect them in a box in my bathroom over a few months, then bring them to a local drop off location for recycling.

Make small, easy changes.  Making changes in your everyday life to be better to our planet isn't hard - you just sometimes have to get creative.  While I love having my Keurig coffee maker, I know that those regular single use cups are a huge problem so I converted to compostable cups that I buy in bulk at Costco.  They taste great and are much better for the environment.  I also always keep my reusable grocery bags in my car and before Covid, using the disposable bags at the store never even crossed my mind because I always had my own {now with stores banning your own bags it gets a little trickier but I plan to go back to reusable bags as soon as I can}.  I also have decanted my facial toner into a reusable spray bottle to avoid the disposable cotton pads I was using twice daily to apply the toner from the bottle.  Easy peasy!  And please do not use single use water bottles!!  There are so many great refillable options out there and thankfully we {in Washington} live in a place that has some pretty delicious tap water.

There are so many things we as human beings can do to make this planet just a little bit better.  Yes, it may seem like just one person making a change won't make a huge impact, but if we each make these changes and really put some thought into how we spend our money and how we consume resources in our day to day lives, I guarantee it's going to add up.  And doing good for the planet also makes you feel good, and once you start you'll be looking for more ways to recycle, reuse, compost, and avoid as much as possible.  Let's all try to do a little bit better to make sure there is a planet here for our kids and grandkids before it's too late.  It matters, and we can all do better.

xoxo,

stephanie marie

Zucchini Muffins

After our last trip to my parent's house I came back with two gigantic zucchinis from their garden and not a lot of ideas of what to do with them.  After crowdsourcing with the girls I decided to make Sprouted Kitchen's Zucchini Muffins {from the Cup of Jo site} per Susannah's recommendation, knowing that muffins would be super easy to freeze for grab and go snacks and breakfast throughout the fall and winter.  I skipped the chocolate chips {not a huge chocolate in muffins fan}, used only all-purpose flour {because that's all I had} and doubled the below recipe because I clearly had enough zucchini and wanted to be able to enjoy these for awhile.  If you find yourself with lots of end of summer zucchini and no plans, whip up a batch {or two} of these delicious muffins and you'll be so happy you did :)

Zucchini Muffins

Ingredients

1 cup grated zucchini

2 eggs

1/2 cup olive oil

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp apple cider vinegar

1/4 cup buttermilk or plain yogurt {I used plain Greek yogurt}

3/4 cup almond flour

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp sea salt

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 cup cane sugar

1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips {I skipped these}

Instructions

1. Grate zucchini.  Put in a fine mesh sieve and press out excess water.  Preheat oven to 360 and grease muffin tin.

2. In large mixing bowl, whisk the eggs, oil, vanilla, vinegar, and buttermilk/yogurt until well combined.  Add the flours, baking soda, powder, salt, cinnamon, and sugar.  Stir until combined.  Add zucchini and chocolate {if using} and fold it all in.

3. Fill muffin tins about 2/3 full.  Bake on middle rack for 20 minutes or until golden around the edge and a little tap on the center bounces back at you.

4. Remove and cool completely.  Keep covered at room temperature for 2 days, or in freezer longer than that.

Makes about 12 muffins

adapted from cup of jo

xoxo,

stephanie marie