Ever feel like you need a weekend after a weekend. Yeah. Me too. Like…every weekend.

MONDAYS. Mondays are like jumping into a pool when you don’t really want to deal with the cold water shock but you have to cuz you have to like make a living or something. Mondays are for watching The Voice and eating really easy dinners (POPCORN!) that include comforting carbohydrates. Mondays are for cocktails. Mondays are annoying unless Mondays are your weekend. Then…happy weekend to you! You get to run errands during the day when everyone is working. This is cool. I’m happy for you.

This gin cocktail is just what I/you need on a Monday. The best part is that if you don’t have a crowd of people to share it with, you can totally keep it in your fridge for a few days. Because Tuesdays and Wednesdays call for cocktails too. And by Thursday…you might have a little leftover and Thursdays are for getting ready for  Friday. And the day before Friday calls for more gin. Don’t fight me on this. If you’re a lover of gin, you’re already know how well it goes with lime. In this particular cocktail, orange flower (blossom) water is added to the mix as well as simple syrup, a little bit of salt for balance, and a nice spritz of seltzer. I can/will have this cocktail any day of the week if given the opportunity. All is right in the world with this cocktail. Trust.

And we’re off!

Extreme closeup! All of my favorites. Simple syrup in a bottle cuz…you know…it’s EASIER.

I tend to forget  when I’ve made simple syrup…and then I’m like what’s this jar of crystals in my fridge?

REAL TALK.

Limes get juiced.

Lime juice, gin, simple syrup & orange flower water go into a pitcher. STIR.

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Top with seltzer.

Add in a few slices of lime.

Get your glasses ready!

Fill them up! Top them each with a lime slice.

CHEERS to you & me.

Make a pitcher of this and we’ll have cocktails for the week(ish).

Bombay Fizz Cocktail

Note: There is a print link embedded within this post, please visit this post to print it.

makes 6 cocktails
recipe adapted from Martha Stewart Living Magazine

• 1/4 cup fresh lime juice (from 2-3 limes)
• 12 oz. gin, chilled
• 1 teaspoon orange flower water
• 3/4 cup simple syrup
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 24 oz. seltzer water, chilled
• ice, for serving
• lime rounds, for garnishing

Stir together lime juice, gin, orange-flower water, simple syrup, and salt in a pitcher until throughly combined. Slowly add seltzer and gently stir until combined. Fill six glasses with ice. Divide cocktail among glasses and garnish with lime rounds. Serve immediately or keep in the fridge for up to 4 days.

I had a case of the drops this week. I can’t tell you how many things I knocked over.

This is right after I spilled Cooper’s pretzels for his lunch.

I made an awesome slaw that I think you’ll like.

Cocktail coming your way soon.

Cookies too!

We had an incredible cloud day this week!

Deconstructed cheese burgers outside.

Everything was perfectly aligned.

The day I thought it was the 16th but it turned out to be the 17th.

We hosted a wine tasting for 11 people this week. Whew!

Greek yogurt, wheat germ & agave syrup. Peonies from Trader Joe’s!

Asparagus + Tomato Basil Couscous!

Raspberries, blueberries, Greek yogurt & Hemp seeds.

Bubble mountain!

Casey made a drink with ginger, bourbon & topped it with lemon balm.

Pure joy.

Looking up at a parking garage.

We went to Hakkasan  in San Francisco for lunch with my brother Ryan.

Casey got the most amazing Fernet Julep. We’re going to try to recreate it at home.

The food was really good. I loved the Coconut Pudding with grilled pineapple.

Driving over the Golden Gate Bridge.

What I requested for Mother’s Day Lunch. DOUGHNUTS. Go nuts.

Me & my boo.

Husband & wife. We’re coordinated!

Mother’s Day dinner at Wayfare Tavern.

My brother flew in from NYC to surprise my mom. It was pretty special!

Hope you’re having a great weekend!

1. Reminds me  of when I gave Cooper a slice of lemon for the first time. hehe
2. I really enjoyed reading An Open Letter to Everyone Who Eats.
3. Well..THAT SETTLES IT. I’m gonna make my own Coconut Whipped Cream.
4. Almond Flour & Bourbon Vanilla Pancakes sounds just perfect to me!
5. OMG Pizza Wheels!!! Where have you been all my life?
6. 8 Signs You Are Actually a Cat. Yes to #3, 5 and 6 for me.
7. I LOVE Nick Offerman.
8. I hope I have time one day to make my own floral tablecloth. Thinking black & white…
9. That’s How Light Gets In– a very touching/honest piece by my friend Andrea.
10. I adore Hugh’s photos in this Mapled Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe. WOW.
11. How to Cook Crispy Bacon! I love the oven method.
12. I’d love to dip this popsicle in a cup of gin. Oh man would that be good!
13. 5 Tips on How to be Mindful.   I so need this.
14. 9 minutes well spent! —THIS IS WATER.
15. An interactive visualization of ongoing Arrested Development Jokes. JACKPOT.

There’s a new Joy the Baker Podcast on Homefries! This week we do Summer Edition WOULD YOU RATHER. It gets SUPER weird. Like weirder than normal…ENJOY!

This week on High Straightenance, I cleaned out my fridge!. You can always tell how stressed out I am by the state of my fridge.

Batch-22 made my Coconut Maple Granola 

Dizzy Loves Icy made my  Spicy Sweet Potato Fries

The Borough and Beyond made a version of my Freezer Breakfast Burritos

Recipe for Success made my Killer Garlic Bread

A Simple Love for Food made my Bacon Fried Rice

Food Loves Writing made a version of my Addictive Brussels Sprouts Salad

Dunn Sweet made my Mini Strawberry Cheesecakes

The Batty Bitch Fhee made my Spinach Feta Pocket Pies 

Eat Your Heart Out made my Coconut Cake

I can always tell when there’s a new season approaching when I’m doing my weekly shopping at Target. Right now it’s OUTDOOR BBQ, get your ice buckets, garden lighting, stock up on sunscreen!!! season and it’s one of my favorite times of year. I love the promise of longer days and eating outside by candlelight (albeit citronella!)  I also LOVE seeing what the color trend is for the year and picking out a new table cloth & a few new dishware items for outdoor parties. It’s a ritual I have and it means that soon life will slow down a bit.  People take it a bit easier during summer. Life gets simpler and so does the food.

When it’s time to start eating outside, my brain shifts gears. I think of easy yet satisfying dishes that can be thrown together instantly.  I always gravitate towards dishes that include some type of vegetable and the use of an outdoor grill!

I teamed up with Archer Farms (only found at Target!) to come up with a simple recipe (using one of their products) that will help you kick off the BBQ season. This Asparagus Tomato Basil Couscous uses Archer Farms Roasted Garlic & Olive Couscous. I grilled asparagus, pulled fresh basil from my patio, added toasted pine nuts, tomatoes & fresh mozzarella. This couscous is finished with a hefty squeeze of lemon juice to really wake up the asparagus.  The fact that the couscous already has some simple seasoning helps cut down on the ingredients list. And that’s exactly what we need when we just wanna chill out & relax outside. Am I right?

And we’re off!

Here’s the Roasted Garlic & Olive Oil Whole Wheat Couscous I used.

I actually brought my electric tea kettle outside and made this WHOLE dish outdoors. I just covered the couscous with a tea cloth & set it aside for 15 minutes to fluff up in the measuring cup I mixed it in.

Drizzle the asparagus with olive oil. Season with salt & pepper and throw them on the grill!

GRILL TIME!

Once grilled, cut the asparagus into bite sized pieces. You could totally roast asparagus in the oven if you’re without a grill/grill pan. It will be just as good!

Now we get ready to assemble the couscous. Look! I’m doing this all outside!

Put the asparagus in a bowl with the couscous, pine nuts & basil. Drizzle about 1 tablespoon olive oil on top.

Next you stir in the tomatoes and gently fold in the fresh mozzarella. You could sub feta in if you want!

Zucchini would be another great vegetable to use.

Squeeze about a half of a lemon into the mix. STIR STIR STIR.

Dinner is SERVED.

Casey took out a nice bottle of wine for the occasion…

Here’s a closeup on the couscous. It’s like a salad & carb side all in one. Summer is all about shortcuts!

Hope you love eating outside as much as I do.

Just watch out for bugs!

Brought to you by Archer Farms only at Target.

Asparagus Tomato Basil Couscous

Note: There is a print link embedded within this post, please visit this post to print it.

serves 4

• 1 package Archer Farms Roasted Garlic & Olive Oil Couscous
• 1 bunch asparagus (about 1 lb.)
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper
• 1/3 cup toasted pine nuts
• 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
• 1/2 cup fresh mozzarella, cut into small pieces
• 1/3 cup chopped fresh basil
• juice of 1/2 lemon

Cook couscous according to instructions on package. Set aside.

Preheat grill/grill pan to medium-high heat. Drizzle asparagus with 1 tablespoon olive oil, season with salt & pepper. Grill 3-4 minutes per side, until charred & slightly tender (you still want a nice bite to it). Transfer asparagus to a cutting board and chop into small pieces. Set aside.

In a large bowl, toss cooked couscous with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Stir in pine nuts, tomatoes and asparagus. Gently stir in mozzarella, & basil and squeeze lemon juice on top to finish off the dish. Season with salt & pepper and serve cold or at room temperature.

A few weeks ago, we set off on a Saturday morning to have an outdoor adventure. We didn’t have much of a plan… I just wanted to see the ocean and hear waves crashing-that’s all! We grabbed a soccer ball, some sunscreen, a couple of snacks and a few drinks and headed out west to Point Reyes station for lunch and then Dillon Beach afterward. It was a day that was refreshing, calming & exhilarating all at once. It was FANTASTIC.

We drove out west from Marin and stopped at Tomales Bay Foods to pick up some goodies at the Cowgirl Creamery.

We ended up having a little picnic on one of the picnic benches outside. We bought a bottle of wine and a delicious melted cheese opened faced sandwich with grainy mustard & onions to split.

To round out the meal, I grabbed us a beautiful kale salad & a wonderful beet salad–both featured Cowgirl Creamery cheeses.

And one of our favorites- Mt. Tam cheese with a crusty baguette. When the San Francisco Ferry Building first opened, Casey & I would pick up cheese at Cowgirl Creamery and have a picnic dinner on our coffee table after work. The cheese always brings me back to when we first moved in together

While there, Cooper enjoyed climbing trees. Dude can CLIMB!

Big smile!

Cute little dog in the grass.

After lunch, we headed on down to Dillon Beach with a soccer ball & camera in hand.

Cooper loved tide-pooling. It was my favorite activity as a kid!

We were able to run fast & kick the soccer ball around. The weather was dreamy!

I really liked seeing two shadows on the beach. Fascinating!

My boys.

Me and my little boy.

Such a wonderful/impromptu day!

COWGIRL CREAMERY AT TOMALES BAY FOODS - A great place to grab cheese, charcuterie, nuts, drinks, preserves, wine, bread—YOU NAME IT! Perfect for when you’re wanting to pick up something for an afternoon picnic or grab a novelty to remember your trip by.

TOMALES BAY BAKERY- We stopped here to get a treat & use the restroom. I highly recommend their cheesy breadsticks or a slice of pie! Make sure you look across the street & notice the building that’s “NOT A BANK.”  We had a good laugh at that.

DILLON BEACH, CA- A very wide open beach (dog friendly too!) with wonderful opportunities for tide-pooling. The sand is pretty smooth and gets really hot if you don’t have shoes on. If you don’t have cash for parking ($5) you can buy a ticket at the General Store up the road.

HOG ISLAND OYSTER COMPANY - Next time, we plan on grabbing some fresh oysters to BBQ at home. Cooper fell asleep in the car & we weren’t able to make it!