This week’s coffee situation was some combination of one-all of these salted caramel things with iced Bones Coffee Jamaican Me Crazy. Also one day I added coconut milk!
Berry smoothie with frozen dark cherries, fresh blueberries, and vanilla protein powder.
Many good yogurt bowls this week. This one was plain skyr with watermelon plum, blueberries, Heritage Flakes, and salted caramel granola.
Plain skyr with plum, poppy seed filling, and orange mandarin passionfruit jam.
Trader Joe’s maple pancake corn puffs are perfectly savory and sweet.
Turkey-cheese roll up – Lavash bread with smoked turkey, extra-sharp cheddar, garlic hummus, and leftover roasted green beans.
Baked tofu and roasted broccoli with homemade ranch dip (mayo, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, and ranch seasoning). The tofu was Trader Joe’s super-firm that I marinated in pickle juice and coated in pulverized potato chips, roasted seaweed, sesame seeds, and panko.
A very loose but tasty take on callaloo made with frozen spinach and broccoli (plus yellow onion, scotch bonnet pepper, ginger, urfa chili, coconut milk, crab, and turkey bacon).
Topped with pickled ginger and this soursop hot sauce from home.
And paired with rum and Coke slushies, my greatest boozy creation.
I made a great rillete (aka fish dip) in the food processor with canned sockeye salmon, smoked trout, mayo, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, chili crisp, smoked paprika, and celery seed. Scooped with orange bell pepper, cucumbers, 12 Tides everything kelp chips, and Trader Joe’s spicy tempura seaweed snacks.
Jalapeño popper turkey burgers (I mixed the cheese in and these were fantastic!), roasted cauliflower, and a big pile of crispy baked fries. Plus an array of dipping sauces (ketchup, a quick honey mustard, and leftover ranch).
St. Patrick’s Day iced latte. A Shamrock vanilla protein shake that I dyed green plus Starbucks espresso and pistachio sauce. I also topped it with gold sprinkles! This tasted fantastic.
I also brought home a s’mores bar and a blondie that were some of the gooiest and most decadent desserts we’ve ever tasted.
Will I ever get tired of yogurt bowls? Unlikely! Plain Greek with blueberries, blackberries, Heritage Flakes, and chocolate chips.
We both were fans of these lemon frosted Trader Joe’s animal crackers. Crispy without being too crunchy and the lemon was well-balanced.
Loaded salad from Burrito Blvd. With chicken, zucchini, tomato, corn salsa, and cheese. I added ranch dressing and hot sauce at home. Plus chips and guacamole.
We got take-out from Brooklyn Dip & Burger and their steak sandwich blew my mind. Thin sliced black angus ribeye, cheddar, and five spice dusted fried onions on a buttery brioche hero. Plus a mountain of fries that were crispy and well-seasoned. We got a bunch of their appetizers and loved those too!
Brie-bimpap bowls, inspired by Cafe Maddy. I bought light Brie at Trader Joe’s and it tasted like nothing and thus added nothing to the bowl but my bibimpap base was a 10/10. Brown rice / terrible brie / this sauce / crispy tofu – extra-firm tofu that I shredded and marinated (gochugaru, sugar, soy sauce, rice vinegar) overnight before baking at 400 degrees for 40 minutes / sauteed brown beech mushrooms / roasted zucchini / frozen chopped spinach sauteed with chili oil, sesame oil, and sesame seeds / fried egg.
Sushi roll bowl. Leftover brown rice reheated with gochugaru, Sichuan pepper salt, seaweed, and butter / Sriracha salmon salad made with Kewpie, Sriracha, and hot smoked salmon / spicy cucumber salad / pickled ginger.
Notes from the week – a) I made a big batch of baked meatballs – ground turkey with panko, half and half, fish sauce, gochugaru, egg, and sauteed green onion. b) We went to 99 Ranch and got a bunch of great snacks.
Highlights…
This week’s cinnamon coffee combo.
Iced matcha with fresh-squeezed orange juice and yuzu seltzer.
Two kinds of yogurt bowls. Plain Greek with 88 Acres dark chocolate sunflower seed butter, granola, strawberries, and jumbo blueberries.
And plain skyr with honey, black sesame paste, berries, and Heritage Flakes.
Two vegan protein options. Textured soy protein jerky and crunchy yellow peas.
Two kinds of bougie candy bars. Peanut butter crunch and chocolate mint cups.
Two kinds of chips. Seaweed Turtle Chips.
And white cheddar popcorn chips.
The new spiced raspberry diet coke is quite good (though it can’t compare to cherry).
White Rabbit candy ice cream cup.
Glazed meatballs with sauteed bok choy. I made a great sauce with oyster sauce, Sriracha, soy sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar, white pepper, and cornstarch. Plus sesame seeds and green onions.
Meatball sub. Toasted rolls with meatballs, Trader Joe’s pizza sauce, gochugaru, and tons of mozzarella. Plus roasted purple cauliflower.
Trader Joe’s cauliflower gnocchi and pizza sauce. We always bake this gnocchi (20 minutes at 400 degrees) and the texture comes out great.
Speaking of texture – I was very proud of these chewy rice cakes. Frozen rice cakes (simmered in chicken broth, gochujang, gochugaru, soy sauce, garlic, and brown sugar) with sauteed celery and green onions, roasted zucchini, and shredded chicken breast. Plus chili crisp and sesame seeds.
It genuinely took until Sunday morning but I finally feel completely back to normal! I even enjoyed a run. It was a very low-key weekend with some yummy bites. Highlights include…
I really enjoyed this instant espresso sachet from Blue Bottle.
Banana protein coffee (in the blender – brewed coffee, half and half, frozen banana, vanilla protein powder, cinnamon, and brown sugar).
I knew I was well because both coffee and booze appealed to me. Two new-to-me tries – Lagunita’s classic IPA and a Flying Embers hard kombucha.
Yogurt bowl perfection – plain skyr, Bear Naked vanilla almond crisp granola, blackberries, and a Juicy Crunch tangerine (aka my new favorite fruit; this was seedless and so sweet and wonderful).
The perfect chips and dip combo – 12 Tides everything-seasoned puffed kelp chips with smoked salmon salad.
Chia “pudding.” I didn’t give this enough time to gel but it made a delicious drink (chia seeds, skim milk, salt, cinnamon, and brown sugar).
It is super nice to have leftovers and easy items for quick dinners. Leftover chicken chili with green onion, plain skyr, sharp cheddar, and Trader Joe’s sweet and hot pickled jalapenos.
Plus roasted baby cauliflower and toasted beer bread with honey and butter.
Leftover sheet-pan breakfast tots topped with Kewpie, Sriracha, and furikake.
Trader Joe’s frozen chicken taquitos with roasted rainbow cauliflower. I ordered chicken fingers for lunch after that Kombucha (lol) and I had a plethora of leftover dipping sauces so this was a great dinner.
Peppermint coffee – candy cane cold brew from Blank Street.
This week’s home coffee combo wasn’t my best. I did not care for the Browny cold brew, too sour. The Ronnybrook egg nog was crazy thick, almost too thick, so it was good but not my favorite.
Peppermint breakfast – a chocolate mint Perfect Bar and a peppermint mocha La Colombe can.
Peppermint watermelon is my favorite Aura Bora seltzer flavor.
Peppermint booze – Smirnoff peppermint vodka with lime and club soda (and food coloring!).
Six Point Bone Chill pear and spruce double IPA (8.5/10).
Peppermint mini meringues – from Trader Joes.
Peppermint ice cream – with candy cane bits, fudge, and cookies.
I had the day off on Thursday and spent the afternoon admiring decorations in the city and got lunch at Chelsea Market. Very Fresh Noodles‘ very spicy vegan dan dan mian. These were super spicy and numbing and wonderful and topped with crunchy soybeans and cucumber salad that were the perfect foils.
It was Adam’s birthday on Monday and his dinner choice was Subway. I got a tuna salad sub with mustard, pickles, banana peppers, and cheese. Plus leftovers from Sunday in Brooklyn – brussel sprouts and the amazing roast chicken.
And I made him his favorite cinnamon brownies – just the Bakers Chocolate one-bowl recipe with 1 cup of chocolate chips instead of nuts and 2 tsp of cinnamon extract instead of vanilla.
Salad #1 – romaine / homemade ranch dressing – sour cream, dijon mustard, ranch seasoning / red bell pepper / pickled banana peppers / homemade croutons / baked chicken – marinated in Greek yogurt and banana pepper juice.
Food things from the 1st week of December – good dinners / baked goods my parents brought us from home during their visit / EGGNOG! Highlights included…
Jelly doughnut iced coffee! Iced coffee with blueberry jam and a cold foam with cinnamon, brown sugar, and cocoa powder.
As much as I adore plums and plucots I think I am most excited for mandarin season each year. These are seedless and the peel slips right off so they are so easy to eat.
Trader Joe’s spicy tempura seaweed snack. This is heavy on togarashi, which I love.
Eggnog in my coffees, of course.
Eggnog iced matcha latte.
Trader Joe’s eggnog Greek yogurt (my favorite) with nutmeg, fresh persimmon, and Target sugar cookie granola.
Abomination Brewing‘s best beer – Fog Nog, a double IPA with spices and lactose.
Xi’an Famous Foods‘ spicy cumin lamb hand-ripped noodles are consistently an 11/10.
A take on the broccoli salad we are obsessed with. Roasted broccoli / sauteed green onion / crispy baked tofu / dried cranberries / food-processed sauce: evoo, serrano pepper, parsley, peanuts, smoked sardines, soy sauce, rice vinegar, gochugaru, and brown sugar. Plus pumpkin bread (from my aunt) toasted with butter.
Roast‘s weekly special was a short-rib grilled cheese so we obviously had to get it, with cheddar and crispy onions on sourdough. Plus leftover broccoli salad and leftover roasted cabbage with Sriracha and Sriracha-ranch peanuts.
A 1st night of Hannukah feast. Trader Joe’s cheese blintzes topped with blackberries, blueberry jam, and Greek yogurt with lemon and brown sugar. Plus Trader Joe’s latkes, roasted brussel sprouts, and a honey Sriracha dipping sauce.
P.S. Happy Hannukah to all of my readers who celebrate!
I enjoyed the (new?) chocolate and cherry 88 Acres bar.
These 12 Tides kelp chips are perfect; great crunch and very garlicy and savory.
I’m holding out on eggnog and peppermint until after Thanksgiving, but a winter-themed beer felt appropriate for November! Abomination Brewing’s Wandering in the Snow – double dry hopped IPA with lactose and marshmallow.
The Roast special this week was a shortrib smashburger with pickles, roasted mushrooms, caramelized onions, arugula, white cheddar, and aioli on a potato bun – we obviously had to try it. Plus fries and amazing homemade green beans (sauteed with butter, garlic, and honey dijon).
Cajun-ish rice casserole. I baked brown rice with Trader Joe’s turkey summer sausage, red kidney beans, cream of mushroom and roasted garlic condensed soup, fire-roasted Rotel, red bell pepper, yellow onion, salt, pepper, and paprika. Topped with Cholula and Greek yogurt and served with a side of garlic sauteed broccoli rabe.
A new variation on a broccoli salad we made almost one year ago that I’ve thought about ever since. Roasted broccoli, roasted red onion, roasted cannellini beans, dried cherries, and the sauce (in the food processor – cilantro, roasted jalapeno, garlic, white cheddar, smoked sardines, pine nuts, honey, salt, paprika, gochugaru, evoo, and water). I topped my serving with Trader Joe’s hot and sweet pickled jalapenos. Plus a side of roasted honeynut squash that we also swooned over.
One of the best salads we’ve ever made at home. Romaine and chicory blend lettuce / charred asparagus / strawberries / white cheddar / Trader Joe’s sweet and spicy candied pecans / Greek yogurt marinated baked chicken / homemade honey mustard vinaigrette (equal parts mayo, honey dijon, yellow mustard, honey, lemon juice, and vinegar).
Eating Chalk 