Celebration Dinner

Ever since C got his citizenship {yay!}, Mom & Dad have said they were going to take him out to celebrate.  This past weekend we cashed in on the deal while we were up in the Valley at Max Dale's, home to all of our big celebrations growing up and caterer to our wedding.  We had a lovely meal all 4 of us chatting about the citizenship test and reminiscing about old dinners at the restaurant, and though the menu has changed over the years, it was still so nostalgic and fun to take C to a place that was such a big part of growing up in the valley.  Cheers to celebrating this big milestone!

xoxo,

stephanie marie

The Weekend {In Pictures}

{cake + mariners}

{breakfast}

{afternoon at the island}

{artsy}

{roaming home depot}

{new lights at the farm}

{foggy morning}

{pancakes by dad}

{an evening walk to get groceries}

xoxo,

stephanie marie

Happy Friday!

Happy Friday! What a great week to be a Mariners fan, eh? It’s been so fun watching them dominate the west - and as Cal says, might as well go win the whole f$&#ing thing!! 

Have a great weekend!

xoxo,

stephanie marie

2 Weeks with Carmen

As you know, we spent 2 weeks dog-sitting Ms. Carmen, the cutest, neediest neighbor dog ever.  While it was fun to have a little companion for 2 weeks, it was also very stressful - I forgot how much work a dog is!  While we occasionally miss her, we know she's happy her parents are back {and we're happy to have our house back in order} and we know she's just half a block away whenever we need some snuggles!  Here are a few fave pics from her weeks with us :)

she loved looking out the window waiting for c to come home

this stuffy was disgusting but her favorite

always in the kitchen hoping for us to drop something

a nutty walker

big snuggle bug

obsessed with christian

helped pick tomatoes

always wanted to share her toy

big couch potato

dreamt of chasing tennis balls

always made sure i was right behind her for the daily walk

not much of a coworker

big dancer

neighborhood watch

eventually the stuffy's eye went missing

a little afraid of cats

always popping her head up when she heard a noise

one night fell asleep sitting up with her head resting on the bed

xoxo,

stephanie marie

Honey Garlic Chicken

I was looking for a cozy and easy meal to make this week and came across this recipe by Erin Lives Whole for Honey Garlic Chicken that I've had saved on my phone for forever.  It was incredibly simple to put together on a weeknight with ingredients I already had on hand {and the flavors were so, so good!} and paired with rice and some steamed broccoli I definitely know we'll be making this again and again all fall long.

Honey Garlic Chicken

Ingredients

1.5 lbs chicken breasts, diced small

1/4 cup flour

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

2 Tblsp olive oil

1 tsp cornstarch

1/3 cup reduced sodium soy sauce

1/2 cup honey

1 tsp sesame oil

2 Tblsp rice vinegar

6 cloves garlic, minced

1 Tblsp fresh ginger

1 tsp sriracha

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp onion posder

rice & broccoli to serve

Instructions

1. Add chicken to large bowl and toss with flour, salt, and pepper until evenly coated.

2. Heat large saute pan over medium heat.  Add olive oil and chicken and cook until cooked through, stirring as you go.

3. While chicken is cooking whisk together cornstarch, soy sauce, honey, sesame oil, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger, sriracha, garlic powder, and onion powder.

4. Once chicken is cooked through, lower heat to medium low and pour in sauce.  Stir until chicken is coated and let simmer about 5 minutes until it has thickened.

5. Serve over rice and broccoli.

Serves 4

adapted from erin lives whole

xoxo,

stephanie marie

Spontaneous Date Night {Gracia}

Saturday afternoon we wandered around Ballard checking out a few shops and running some errands, and by 5pm we were hungry and ready for an early dinner.  We decided on Gracia, which we haven't been to in years, and luckily it was a gorgeous day so we could sit outside and enjoy the nice weather.  We started off with drinks and the black garlic sikil p'ak {a charred habanero pepita dip that was delicious}, then each ordered different enchiladas which were the perfect thing to fill us up after an afternoon of shopping.  I love spontaneous date nights with my honey - especially when the food is so delicious!

xoxo,

stephanie marie

The Weekend { In Pictures}

{hints of fall}

{thai friday}

{gettin’ strong}

{record store}

{rainy day pumpkins}

{homemade pie from mom & dad for the awesome hawks game}

{using the smoker for the first time all summer}

xoxo,

stephanie marie

Happy Friday!

No, we don't have the dog again, but I do occasionally miss her sweet little face and wagging nub of a tail.  Not enough to make me want one of our own, though :)  Cheers to a restful, calm weekend - and the first official day of fall!

xoxo,

stephanie marie

Fragrant Coconut Chicken & Sweet Potato

I really can't wait for fall cooking {yay soups!} so when I saw this recipe on NYT Cooking for Fragrant Coconut Chicken & Sweet Potato, it seemed like the perfect transition meal to ease us into fall last week.  It was super quick to put together on a weeknight and had yummy fall flavors with simple, fresh ingredients.  Definitely putting this one on rotation for the foreseeable future!

Fragrant Coconut Chicken & Sweet Potato

Ingredients

3 Tblsp neutral oil

1 medium sweet potato, peeled and diced into 1/4 inch pieces

Salt & pepper

1/3 cup thinly sliced green onions, plus more for garnish

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 Tblsp minced fresh ginger

1 lb ground chicken

1 cup unsweetened full fat coconut milk {I ended up using a whole can, about 2 cups}

4 cups/4 oz baby spinach

2 Tblsp lime juice

1/4 cup chopped cilantro {I didn't have so skipped this}

Cooked rice for serving

Instructions

1. In large skillet, heat 1 Tblsp oil over medium heat.  Add sweet potato, season with salt & pepper, and stir evenly to coat in oil.  Cover and cook, stirring, until tender, about 10 minutes.  Transfer to a plate.

2. Add remaining oil to pan, then add green onions, garlic, and ginger and cook, stirring, about 30 seconds.  Add chicken and cook, breaking up meat, until cooked through {about 8 minutes}.

3. Add coconut milk and sweet potato and bring mixture to a simmer.  Cook until liquid is slightly reduced and thickened, about 3 minutes.  Stir in spinach until just wilted, then turn off heat.  Add lime juice and season with salt & pepper if needed.

4.  Serve over rice with more green onions.

Serves 4

adapted from nyt cooking

xoxo,

stephanie marie

September Date Night {Barrel & Bacon}

We were too exhausted to celebrate Christian's citizenship on Friday, but Saturday night I told him I'd take him anywhere he wanted to go so we could properly toast his achievement.  He picked Barrel & Bacon, a spot in Interbay that is slightly hidden but we've been seeing all over Instagram and have been wanting to try.  Because it's not really easy to find if you don't know what you're looking for, the place was pretty empty for a Saturday night {great for us!} and we got there just in time for happy hour so we could take advantage of a few of their popular appetizers before ordering our meals.  The menu leans heavy on American comfort food with a Filipino twist and we left stuffed and happy, with C saying it was one of the best meals he's had in a very long time.  Mission accomplished!

happy hour mini buffalo mac & cheese with katsu chicken + lil' sinful tots {with bacon jam and chipotle ranch drizzle}

b&b signature burger

the rawlins {katsu fried chicken sandwich}

xoxo,

stephanie marie