Unwelcome Guests

Friday morning I saw a tail go by my office window, and since the neighborhood cats love my yard, I didn't think much of it.  However when I saw another tail and looked out, I saw these two little rascals roaming the garden, stopping to sit and ponder life {below}, and dig up the peanuts my favorite squirrel has been hiding under the dogwood.  I ran out to the front door to snap these pics, yelling and banging the door at them, and they were UNBOTHERED by me, to say the least.  The kept hunting in the yard a little while longer, then took their time hoping over to the neighbors yard to see if he had better treats.  Be careful out there, friends!  These guys may look cute, but they are beasts!

xoxo,

stephanie marie

Shrimp & Linguine Fra Diavolo

Looking for something easy to put together with what I mostly had already in the pantry last week, I decided to pull out my copy of the Barefoot Contessa's Modern Comfort Food and found this delicious looking Shrimp & Linguine Fra Diavolo that I knew I had to have.  I used my favorite Trader Joe's jarred Arrabbiata sauce, but she includes a recipe in her cookbook for a homemade version if you're feeling extra fancy.  This dish came together super quickly and reminded me of a pasta dish I used to always order in college that I'd never been able to replicate at home.  I'd call that a win/win! :)

Shrimp & Linguine Fra Diavolo

Ingredients

3 Tblsp butter, divided

1/3 cup panko bread crumbs

8 Tblsp chopped fresh parsley, divided

Salt & Pepper

1 1/4 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined

2 Tblsp olive oil

2 cups thinly sliced red onion{in half circles}

2 Tblsp minced garlic {about 6 cloves}

1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

2/3 cup dry white wine

1-14oz jar Arrabbiata Sauce {I use Trader Joe's}, or homemade

1 lb linguine

Ingredients

1. Melt 1 Tblsp butter in sauté pan over medium heat.  Add panko and cook 2 minutes, stirring occasionally until lightly browned.  Transfer to small bowl and stir in 2 Tblsp parsley, 1/4 tsp salt, and pinch of black pepper and set aside.

2. Pat shrimp dry with paper towels.  Sprinkle with salt & pepper.  Heat remaining 2 Tblsp butter and oil in large pot or dutch oven over medium heat.  Add onion and sauté 4 minutes until it begins to soften.  Add garlic & red pepper flakes and sauté for 1 minute.  Add shrimp in a single layer and sauté for 1 minute per side, until they start to turn pink but are not cooked through.  Add wine and simmer 2-3 minutes to reduce liquid.  Stir in arrabbiata sauce and heat until it simmers.  Stir in remaining 6 Tblsp parsley with 1 tsp salt & 1/2 tsp pepper and turn off heat.

3. Meanwhile, cook linguine in salted water according to package directions.  Reserve 1 cup pasta water and drain pasta.  Add pasta to sauce and toss together with tongs or big spoons and allow to simmer 1 minute while pasta absorbs the sauce.  Add pasta water as needed to coat the pasta {I used about 1/2 cup}.  

4. Serve topped with toasted panko breadcrumbs.

Serves 6

adapted from barefoot contessa

xoxo,

stephanie marie

The Weekend {In Pictures}

{friday night dinner}

{morning walks}

{avocado toast}

{a new workout streak}

{stuffing peppers}

{spring!}

{happy hour}

{almost nice enough for rooftop dining!}

{sleepy face}

{sunday morning yoga}

xoxo,

stephanie marie

Happy {Spring} Friday!

Happy first Friday of Spring!  I love seeing the trees start to bloom and the gardens covered in green - it's such a beautiful reminder that longer and brighter days are just around the corner!  I keep this polaroid from years ago of the daffodil fields back home near my desk all year long - the fields of bright yellow always make me smile and remind me of home this time of year.  Have a great weekend - find something that makes you smile!

xoxo,

stephanie marie

Big Cluster Maple Granola

While I love my usual eggs and veggies for breakfast most mornings, I also love a quick and easy granola with yogurt or nut milk when I just don't have a lot of time.  In reading about all the extra sugars and additives in my usual TJ's granola cereal, I decided it was time to make my own so I know exactly what is going into it.  I found this recipe for Big Cluster Maple Granola in the original Smitten Kitchen cookbook and Saturday night after dinner I whipped up a batch for breakfast the next morning.  It was super simple to make and made the whole house smell like fall with the cinnamon and maple {not necessarily a bad thing} and even though my batch did not really cluster much {I think I needed more than the 1 egg white the original recipe calls for to bind the pieces together} it still tasted absolutely delicious paired with some Greek yogurt and warm coffee.  I've been enjoying it all week long {as evidenced by the sparse remains in the last picture} and plan on always having the ingredients on hand to whip up whenever I need it!

Big Cluster Maple Granola

Ingredients

3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

1 cup unsweetened shredded or flaked coconut

1 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped

1/4 cup toasted wheat germ or flax seed

2 Tblsp olive oil

1/2 tsp coarse salt

1/2 cup maple syrup

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

1-2 large egg whites

1 1/2 cups dried cherries or other dried fruit {I used cranberries}

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 300.

2. Combine all ingredients except egg whites and dried fruit in a large bowl.  Toss to coat evenly.  Whisk egg white in separate bowl until frothy.  Stir into granola mixture, distributing throughout.

3. Spread granola in single layer on parchment-lined baking sheet.  Bake 45-55 minutes.  Halfway through, use large spatula to turn over sections of granola carefully, breaking up as little as possible.  Rotate pan if necessary.  Once evenly browned and dry to the touch, transfer pan to cooling rack and cool completely.

4. Once cool, break up granola into desired size clusters.  Sprinkle in dried fruit.  Keep at room temperature in an airtight container for 2 weeks, or longer in freezer.

Makes about 7 cups

adapted from smitten kitchen

xoxo,

stephanie marie

Netflix & Chill {Part III}

Since we've passed the one year mark of the pandemic, I thought it was time to update some of the shows we've been catching up on {see part 1 & part 2 here}.  Though the weather is getting nicer and the days longer, there's still something comforting about snuggling up on the couch after a long day and connecting with these familiar characters.  Christian doesn't even have to ask now what to turn on after dinner {we're on a steady diet of Silicon Valley, Shameless, & Schitt's Creek - again} but a few of these I've been watching on my own at home and I'm really loving.  If you're looking for something fun to watch, look no further!

Shameless - not entirely sure what we'll do when this one is over.  11 seasons and it's the perfect blend of funny, heartbreaking, and disgusting.  Trust me on this one.

Parts Unknown - we recently subscribed to HBO Max and rediscovered our love of this show.  Watch if you want to miss restaurants, travelling, and Anthony Bourdain.

Silicon Valley - blew through this one way too fast and don't want it to end!  Perfect comedy to compliment the heavy stuff.

I May Destroy You - a cannot miss story of sexual assault that is told in an honest and relatable way.  So good.

Get Organized with The Home Edit - get ready for rainbows and organization!  It's a system!!

Bridgerton - I recently jumped on the bandwagon and am never looking back :)

xoxo,

stephanie marie

Vegetable Tortilla Stew

I don't use my Cravings by Chrissy Teigen cookbook nearly as much as I should, since every time I make something from it I'm super impressed and wanting more.  A few weeks back I decided to whip up her Vegetable Tortilla Stew in an effort to eat less meat but still be full and satisfied.  It's super simple to put together {I chopped up everything on my lunch break and then was able to throw it all in the pot after work}, has delicious flavors, and the rice makes it hearty enough that you feel full even without the meat.  It's perfect for these rainy spring days we're having and would freeze up wonderfully for a quick meal later on.  Perfect!

Vegetable Tortilla Stew

Ingredients

for stew

2 Tblsp vegetable oil

1 large onion, diced

1 large green bell pepper, diced

1 large jalapeno, finely diced {include all or some seeds, depending on spiciness level desired}

4 cloves garlic, minced

2 Tblsp chili powder

1 Tblsp cumin

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

salt & pepper

4 cups low sodium veggie or chicken broth

2-15oz cans diced tomatoes in juice

2-15oz cans black beans, rinsed and drained

1 cup cooked rice

for tortilla strips

Vegetable oil

4 corn tortillas, thinly sliced

Salt

for serving

cilantro, roughly chopped

avocado, sliced

crumbled feta/cotija or shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

1. In a large soup pot, heat oil over medium heat until shimmering.  Add onion, bell pepper, and jalapeno and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is translucent and tiny bit golden, about 10 minutes.  Add garlic, chili powder, cumin, cayenne, 2 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper and continue cooking until fragrant, about 2 minutes.  Add chicken broth, tomatoes, and beans and bring to boil.  Reduce heat and simmer 30 minutes.  Add rice and cook until stew gets thick, about 15 more minutes.  Season with more salt, pepper, and spice if desired.

2. Meanwhile, make the tortilla strips.  Fill small saucepan with about inch of oil and heat over medium high heat.  Working in batches of a handful at a time, lower strips into oil and fry until crisp, about 2 minutes.  Pull out with slotted spoon, lay on paper towels, and generously salt.  Add more oil to pan if necessary.

3. To serve, top soup with cilantro, avocado, cheese, and tortilla strips.

Serves 6

adapted from cravings

xoxo,

stephanie marie

The Weekend {In Pictures}

{friday night dinner}

{i think we stacked her beds a little too high}

{after a rainy walk}

{chorizo scramble}

{first day of spring!}

{what a difference a year makes}

{strolling swanson's for inspiration}

{ranunculus may just be my fave}

{perusing some natural wine}

{cocktail o'clock}

{saturday night dinner}

{rainy cherry blossoms}

xoxo,

stephanie marie

Friday Flowers

Happy Friday!  Another busy week just about over, and celebrating with this pretty bouquet that Mom & Dad gave me when we met up for outdoor dinner last weekend.  I love the bright pops of color in the office {and that cute baby face next to them!} and hoping they bring some bright spots to what's supposed to be a rainy weekend ahead.  Have a good one, and don't forget to keep masking up!

xoxo,

stephanie marie

Day Trip {Camano Island}

Saturday morning I insisted we get out of the city {it had been way too long} so we headed north for a tour around Camano Island, somewhere I haven't been since I was little.  We started on the north side and did a big loop, admiring the quaint beach cottages and large estates filling the island and stopping off at all of the parks we came across.  It was a beautiful spring day and the snow-capped mountains were out in all directions - we could even see Mt. Rainier from the southern side of the island!  After our excursion we stopped off for some takeout in Stanwood and met up with Mom & Dad at a local park to eat and catch up.  It felt great to get out of the city, smell the fresh salt water air, and say a quick hello to the parents, and I'm already planning our next out of the city trip.

xoxo,

stephanie marie