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February 4, 2015

Bittersweet Chocolate Malted Milkshakes

Bittersweet Chocolate Malted Milkshake // shutterbean.com

New recipe alert! Bittersweet Chocolate Malted Milkshakes

After being with my husband for almost 16 years, (married for 9 this March!) the one thing I’ve learned above all else is that it’s so important to you / your relationship to make time for each other. When there are ebbs, the only thing that will make things flow again is open communication and making your relationship your #1 priority.

Bittersweet Chocolate Malted Milkshake // shutterbean.com

A few years ago, my friend Ashley and her husband Gabe of Not Without Salt started a series online called Dating My Husband where they made a meal + cocktail for a date night at home together after putting their kids to bed. Chances are you’ve already seen their inspirational posts but now they’ve turned their concept into a book— Date Night In: More than 120 Recipes to Nourish Your Relationship. I think it’s FABULOUS.  Every chapter gives you the blueprints for an entire dinner, dessert and cocktail!!!  After reading this book, you’ll be reminded that dating your spouse/loved one at home is such a healthy/ helpful way to celebrate the relationship you have and grow it into something more.  It’s also extra special if you have children because you’re creating a space and time together where you can have open dialogue without constant interruptions.  Those interruptions can make things so dang complicated!

Bittersweet Chocolate Malted Milkshake // shutterbean.com

Every Valentine’s Day, we opt to have dinner at home.  It’s an easier, much more intimate experience, not to mention it costs us way less and we’re in charge of our own time. I usually come up with some type of grilled meat situation and potatoes while dessert is always something chocolatey. This malted milkshake from the Date Night In cookbook is phenomenal and would be such a great way to end a dinner of Chicken Parmesan and Creamed Spinach.  In the book, Ashley pairs it with her special burger and baked onion rings (yum!).

The malted shake rich and creamy and so indulgently decadent. The shot of espresso (I didn’t have espresso powder) adds a nice richness and depth to the chocolate ganache. Oh! There’s malt powder up in the mix and I smashed a few Whoppers and added them to the top because more is MORE!

Milkshakes are definitely my husband’s love language. Garlic bread is mine 🙂

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February 2, 2015

Baked Chicken Parmesan


 A simple weeknight dinner is just minutes away with this Baked Chicken Parmesan. Let your oven do all the work!

Happy Monday! I’m currently writing this as my husband is shouting at the TV in the other room (Super Bowl*).  This is what we had for dinner tonight with a side of garlic bread a big ole salad.  I think it’d go well with creamed spinach too but I didn’t have the time.  Casey is too nervous to eat dinner…I on the other hand enjoyed it and my son freaked out because I put marinara sauce on his chicken.. So, it was a typical Sunday night….. How awesome was that surprise performance from Missy Elliot at halftime? I swear that MADE MY YEAR.

*Updated PATS WON so he stopped shouting.

Baked Chicken Parmesan- recipe on Shutterbean.com

This recipe comes from a new cookbook I’m obsessed with the– Sheet Pan Suppers Cookbook, by Molly Gilbert.  It’s a whole cookbook for hands-off meals straight from the oven.  Umm SCHYEAH!! Let all the oven do the work so you don’t have to!  This is exactly what we need to start the week with.

baked chicken parm 073

Panko crusted Chicken Parm….and it’s BAKED and it was so easy!  I have two servings leftover that I’ll probably sandwich between some grilled buttery/garlic focaccia this week. But, who am I kidding?? It’s Monday and I’m probably going to come home from work and eat it cold… standing over the kitchen counter with a fork while I fix something for my family for dinner.

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February 1, 2015

And I Quote:

Choose your own adventure // shuterbean

Don't forget to look up // shutterbean

My husband is really funny // shutterbean

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January 31, 2015

My Everyday Life: Week 5

Here’s what this week looked like:

Still testing out the Fujifilm X100S (rented from Borrow Lenses)

Taken with my iPhone:

My Everyday Life: Week 5

Taken with the Fuji.  I’m really enjoying the quality and it’s been easy to pop into my purse.

I’ve been looking at this camera because I want to play around more with fixed lenses.

My Everyday Life: Week 5

I always think of the joke by Mitch Hedberg Double Tree joke when I see two trees together.

My Everyday Life: Week 5

Winter shadows.

My Everyday Life: Week 5

Those sliders I made were bomb dot com.

My Everyday Life: Week 5

Meal prep this week included tuna salad, butternut squash soup, roasted broccoli, caesar salad prep and a reset button salad situation.

My Everyday Life: Week 5

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January 30, 2015

I love lists, Friday!

I LOVE LISTS FRIDAY!

  1. It’s amazing what a little gold spray paint can do!
  2. This unsubstantiated theory of what may have happened between Adnan & Jay is good!
  3. This is my life.  Especially #2 & 11
  4. The Evolution of Diet – interesting read
  5. Some of these theater experiences are crazy.
  6. You have no idea how excited these cookies make me!!
  7. Some of the most emotional moments in the show Parenthood. Did you watch last night??!
  8. NACHO TIPS!!! 
  9. Cooper is learning about good deeds in school. Here are ways to pay it forward.
  10. Books read on the subway.
  11. Excuse me while I stare at these Fried Chicken Wings.…sigh….
  12. How to pick the right plant for your space.
  13. On Nine Years of Marriage. Loved this.
  14. Walnut Chicken. So cute/so random.
  15. I am jealous of Molly’s frosting skills.
  16. Why are vending machines so popular in Japan?
  17. What a cute idea for Valentine’s Day!
  18. How to avoid Gossip. Good tips, HJH!
  19. We take mini vacations as parents all the time. This made me laugh.
  20. What your email address says about you. So many LOLs on this one.
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January 28, 2015

Super Bowl Food Brainstorm!

Superbowl Food Ideas from Shutterbean.com

The big game is coming up. Let’s talk about the FOOD of the big game, shall we?

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January 28, 2015

Greek Lamb Sliders

Greek Lamb Sliders with a whipped feta sauce & a Greek salad relish. Check out more at Shutterbean.com

Here’s a contender for your Super Bowl party. Greek Lamb Sliders!

Greek Lamb Sliders // shutterbean

We make a lemon/herb feta spread, a Greek Salad Relish and char some lamb burgers and sandwich it a lllll together to make a cute little slider.  That means you can totally have two…or three…

Greek Lamb Sliders // shutterbean

It like a gyro meets burger and it’s freaking delicious.  Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a game to not watch and some sliders to scarf down.

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