Caramel Apple

Favorites from this week were caramel apple snacks and fizzy beverages. Highlights included…

Coffee shake! Iced coffee, cold brew powder, and vanilla ice cream.

Caramel apple Greek yogurt. For Trader Joe’s seasonal yogurts this was better than pumpkin and not as good as eggnog.

My parents sent me these caramel apple Cow Tails and they are hands-down the best Apple Month item.

Good pea flower, rosemary, and black tea kombucha and out-of-this-world-excellent peppermint watermelon sparkling water.

We paired these to make sparkling yuzu matchas.

Still obsessed with these maple almond butter pretzels.

I ordered a bunch of Thai take-out so we could have leftovers. The remains of this chicken pad see ew was a standout.

[Homemade] Soba noodles stir-fried with eggs, frozen stir-fry veggies, baked tofu, and spicy tahini sauce.

Chicken nuggets, roasted purple and orange cauliflower, and crispy roasted potatoes (loosely based on this method), with homemade maple mustard dipping sauce.

Hibiscus Shaved Ice

Some highlights from the past week include…

The hipster version of a classic breakfast – citrus kombucha and peanut butter oatmeal.

Lemon lime sparkling matcha with a (new flavor!) lemon poppy seed perfect bar.

I almost never buy cereal but these reminded me of the raisin frosted mini wheats I loved as a kid and I couldn’t pass them up.

These crunchy yellow peas are smoky in a very pleasing way.

We had great empanadas at Love, Nelly. This one was sweet plantain with guava and cheese!

Plus hibiscus + almond shaved ice with sprinkles and condensed milk.

An amazing (giant) lemongrass chicken bahn mi from Nha Minh.

Dinner pasta 1 – whole-wheat penne with marinara sauce (from the pizza we made last weekend), chicken sausage, and roasted zucchini.

Dinner pasta 2 – a loose take on these spicy braised eggplant noodles, with whole-wheat bow ties.

Nuts for Baru Nuts

How are we in the 2nd to last week of August??! Some highlights from this week included…

A blackberry and soursop smoothie (with banana, plain Greek yogurt, and brown sugar).

A banana and coffee smoothie (with cinnamon roll oat milk creamer, cinnamon, brown sugar, and cold brew powder).

Whole Foods snacks. The baru nuts are fantastic! They taste like a cross between peanuts and almonds. I brought some to work and got all of my coworkers hooked as well.

Quinn pretzels with Bitchin’ sauce. A coworker recommended this dip and she did not steer me wrong. We are also both obsessed with these delicious pretzels.

Kombuchas and or matchas.

A loose interpretation of this chicken and corn stir-fry recipe. Instead of rice we paired ours with sautéed shishito peppers and mushroom.

So much Thai take-out! We had pad see ew, cashew chicken, and amazing spicy ginger eggplant.

Very fancy salads – local lettuce, black garlic vinaigrette, pistachios, dried apricots, and goat cheese.

Spicy peanut chicken pizza (a Trader Joe’s crust with spicy peanut sauce, shredded chicken breast, quick-pickled carrots, and cheese) with smashed cucumber salad.

Pesto Bow Ties

Long time no blog! I’ve actually been home since last Thursday (and back at work since last Friday and through the weekend!). Adam and I had an absolutely wonderful little trip to the Hudson Valley. We want to go back ASAP! Some of our favorite things included exploring the downtown in Hudson, pastries from Breadfolks, Fortunes ice cream at Kitty’s, dinner at Lil’ Deb’s Oasis, and the Round House hotel in Beacon.

Highlights from this past week included… lots of snacks and pesto-smothered dinners.

Chameleon canned cold brew. (7.5/10)

Matcha + roasted seaweed.

These Trader Joe’s plant-based pork rinds are great. Crispy and just a bit spicy.

Fruity sour double IPAs brewed with lactose from Proclamation.

Pesto pasta salad! Homemade (extra-garlic) pesto / whole-wheat bow tie pasta / roasted extra-firm tofu / roasted zucchini / baby tomatoes / smoked mozzarella.

Toasted sandwiches with smoked turkey, sharp cheddar, and pesto on TJ’s sprouted sourdough bread. With roasted romanesco and cheesy waffle fries.

Pickle, Taro, Thai

Highlights from a tasty weekend…

Homemade boozy iced coffee shake! Iced coffee blended with amaretto, coffee liquor, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla ice cream, and cold brew powder.

This iced coffee with taro cream on top was even better.

Double-fried, pickle-brined fries with freshly made dill pickles!

Soothr is our new favorite Thai spot. This cocktail had spicy mezcal and fresh tamarind.

Chicken pad ki-mao.

Salted Caramel And Black Sesame

Some highlights from the last week include…

I was 100% influenced by social media, but I did not hate the coffee + protein shake combo.

Adam and I are both smitten with the salted caramel Perfect Bars.

We had a weekday morning off together so we went on a doughnut date! Salty caramel pretzel and birthday cake.

Mushroom snacks. The jerky was good, the crispy ones were great.

Trader Joe’s snack plate dinner. Crispy okra, baby carrots, and buffalo chicken bites.

Thai take-out dinner. Drunken noodles plus spicy chicken salad with cucumber and tomato.

Paired with a black (sesame) and white milk shake – vanilla ice cream, chocolate milk, and black sesame paste.

Speaking of dessert, unsurprisingly since they came from Milk Bar, these are the best ice creams I’ve ever eaten.

Mostly Vegan

Five highlights from a low-key weekend…

A perfect snack plate.

Plant-based jerky.

These gummies were – a) delightfully mini; b) some of the best textured candy I’ve ever eaten; c) how I fueled for a longer run; d) all of the above.

x2 double IPAs.

A super quick Trader Joe’s meal – cheese tortellini, cheddar, artichoke hearts, tuna fish and dorado, balsamic fig dressing.

Black Sesame

I’m late — I worked the weekend and it knocked me out — but last week was too yummy not to post! Tons of ube, black sesame, and homemade fried shallots, oh my!

Highlights included…

Vietnamese coffee combo all week.

See also, phin-brewed coffee with sweetened condensed milk and black sesame paste.

Cookie dough Perfect Bar and a fresh peach = my new favorite breakfast combo.

Calpis filled marshmallows.

Everything new and ube from Trader Joe’s! P.S. we made epic sundaes with those items plus sliced banana, frosted flakes, sweetened condensed milk, and black sesame paste.

We have loved everything we’ve tried from Fat Orange Cat, particularly this sour double IPA.

Udon noodles / roasted zucchini, shredded rainbow carrot, green onion / ground turkey / sauce including doubangijang (spicy bean paste), chili crisp, tahini, soy sauce, and rice vinegar / fried shallots.

Roasted eggplant with shallot oil and sumac / roasted super firm tofu / sauce including tahini, black sesame paste, gojuchang, lemon, maple, and rice vinegar / green onion and fried shallots.

Baked chicken thighs / roasted green cabbage with carrots and green onion plus tons of fresh mint and cilantro / Nuoc Cham / fried shallots.