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.
Highlights from an extra-garlicy, pizza packed week!
Mini cucumbers and Trader Joe’s caramelized onion dip are a very good combo.
As is coffee syrup and brown butter almond ice cream.
Hummingbird High’s Supernatural Brownies are out of this world good (we made the small batch version and it took less than 30 minutes!).
Homemade meat lovers pizza! I made a big batch of sauce by cooking down jarred marinara with yellow onion, garlic, turkey bacon, ground turkey, shallot oil, urfa chili, Korean chili flake, smoked paprika, and fish sauce. On a Trader Joe’s frozen crust with whole-milk mozarella balls. Plus roasted caulilini.
We had leftover sauce with roasted zucchini and Trader Joe’s cauliflower gnocchi.
And I put leftover bacon in some homemade okonomiyaki (eggy cabbage pancakes). I also stuffed it with ginger and chili crisp and topped it with Sriracha, Kewpie, and furikaki.
We also made a sandwich style pizza that was my favorite meal of the week. With mozzarella, cheddar cheese curds, sliced turkey, and a homemade roasted garlic aioli. Plus sautéed snap peas and red bell pepper with tons of garlic and butter.
Highlights from an amazing weekend…
Our first trip to Little Island. It was way too crowded but the layout is quite neat and the landscaping is fantastic.
Ice cream galore! Chocolate soft-serve dipped in peanut butter from Mister Dips.
Vanilla soft-serve mixed with Lucky Charms and Fruity Pebbles and topped with toasted marshmallow from Spoons.
An outstanding dinner from Fandi Mata, including heirloom tomatoes with lemon tahini crema, dill mojo, toasted pine nuts, smoked salt, and feta cheese.
An outstanding dinner from Rule of Thirds including amazing cocktails like the Douglas Fir-Banks – sesame shochu, gin, Vetiver, peach, douglas fir, and lime in a cup painted with umeboshi.
Three (out of the house!) highlights from the past week —
Fancy caffeine at New York Beanery. We had a lavender matcha and a peanut butter cup iced latte.
Mixed fruit mangonada! Somehow this was Adam’s first time trying chamoy but now he’s hooked.
Dinner at Llama Inn. A former coworker got us a gift certificate as a thank you (I helped train her when she moved from acute care to critical care) because it’s her favorite restaurant.
Everything was amazing. Atlas Shrubbed = Pisco, Shochu, aloe vera liquor, kiwi, lemon, and lime.
Asparagus with salsa, pickled green almonds, and huacatay // bok choy with huacatay, sunflower seeds, and grapes.
Scallop tiradito with kiwi leche de tigre and tapioca. <– best dish of the night!
Beef with scallion pancake, avocado, pickled chilis, and fries.
Unsurprisingly, vacation was amazing. We went home for 8 days and had a fantastic time!
Transitioning back to real life is never as fun but here were some highlights from the last week…
A work snack with strong fluffernutter vibes. Vanilla marshmallows and a peanut butter granola bar.
Chewy Swedish candies from a Snack Crate.
Gelato with dulce de leche and crunchy chocolate.
An easy one-sheet-pan dinner. Riced cauliflower roasted with carrot, celery, and chicken soup sausage.
The best homemade pizza. A frozen crust from Trader Joe’s / marinara sauce that I cooked down with tons of garlic and chili oil, plus fish sauce / smoked sliced mozzarella / turkey pepperoni. Plus roasted romanesco.
An eclectic salad. Baby romaine with sriracha-mayo dressing, wasabi peanuts, sesame seeds, yellow raisins, and leftover romanesco.
Highlights from the past week include…
I am a total sucker for anything labeled limited edition and I really enjoyed this double dark chocolate Perfect Bar.
Also very pleasantly surprised by the Trader Joe’s chocolate peanut butter mochi.
I made brownies for Rex Manning Day! This is my favorite, most obscure tradition. These guys had tons of chocolate chips and espresso powder in them and were fantastically fudgy.
Bahn mi chicken salad with bok choy with ginger and carrot plus taro coconut chips.
Thai take-out night – spicy chicken and long beans with veggie dumplings.
Roasted green beans with eggs, vegan pork floss, and chili crisp.
Leftover bok choy with the best pizza we’ve ever made. Just a frozen crust topped with tomato sauce gussied up with tons of garlic, chili crisp, and olive oil plus baby mozzarella and bresaola.
Turkey and cheddar sandwich (with black garlic mayo!) on toasted rye with roased brussel sprouts.
Our Easter weekend had major Spring vibes, and not just because I wore head-to-toe pastels the past three days. We met up with friends for ramen and a walk in Prospect Park and were too hot in sweatshirts – a dream for April in New York.
Highlights from the past week included…
On-theme pink for Easter, a strawberry milk dalgona iced coffee.
See also – this very spring-y sugar cane and key lime cocktail.
This clementine and vanilla bean milkshake IPA is hands-down our favorite beverage. Adam and I would both choose it over any milkshake.
Usually I am not keen on coconut in desserts but these chocolate peanut butter bites are very satisfying.
Also I brought these seaweed chips I’m obsessed with into work and my coworkers were equally impressed.
Best snack of the week/month/year was this assortment of candies with a decaf iced coffee with salted maple chocolate cold foam.
We made a big batch of this baked rice. I subbed in vegan soyrizo, halved the rice/broth, and added celery, bell peppers, and urfa pepper. <– highly recommend
Leftovers from Win Son are as good as anything I make at home the first night.
Highlights from this week include…
Halo-halo inspired yogurt bowls. Vanilla skyr mixed with black sesame paste topped with banana, blueberries, and nata de coco.
Dinners were great this week; I made a big batch of maple tahini broccoli salad. Chicken parm sausages on brioche hot dog buns with ketchup, yellow mustard, and sauerkraut.
Meatball subs. I made baked turkey meatballs packed with garlic, parmesan, and urfa pepper. Plus Trader Joe’s crispy crunchy mushrooms which were 10/10.
Did I plan breakfast for dinner so that this iced macchiato milk stout would be on theme? Yes, 100%.
With cinnamon, pecan, banana pancakes. Plus turkey bacon, blueberries, sumo mandarin, and tons of maple syrup.
