
Happy Seis de Mayo!!! Did you eat tacos yesterday? I hoped to but the weather was a little rainy/grey so I made this Mexican Chicken Soup instead. If I was a better food blogger, I would have posted this recipe last week and I would have lead you to some of my favorite Mexican recipes from the past (Shrimp Tacos, Taquitos, Mexican Popcorn, Stuffed Poblanos, Goat Cheese Guacamole, Cilantro Limeade, Cinnamon Sugar Tortillas, Coconut Tres-Leche Cake). But I didn’t…OOPS.

So here I am the day after Cinco de Mayo showing you an easy Chicken Tostada Salad recipe. If you’re anything like me, you could eat Mexican food all day/everyday. I seriously never get sick of it. Well…maybe when I was in Mexico for a week I might have…

With it staying light outside later (HOORAY) and the ease of this recipe, I’m able to show you something I made after work. This means that if I can do all of this and make a meal for my family, you’ll be able to do this in no time. It’s a wonderful recipe and a perfect way to use any leftover rotisserie chicken you may have. Both me and the husband ate two each. This is totally going into the weekly rotation.
Do we still get to drink margaritas today? Please say yes.
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Here’s what this past week looked like:
This look says, “I’m happy you’re home, Mommy.”

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- Life is hard, share your pain on twitter.
- Arrested Development is coming back soon!!! This will get you excited. (awkward!)
- This guy quit the internet for a year. Do you think you could do it?
- I am SOOO intrigued by these Thai Style Loaded Sweet Potatoes.
- Things No One Will Ever Tell Fat Girls… SO I WILL. This is great.
- Pinterest Ice Cream Cone Seedlings FAIL. HAHA
- 66 Behind the Scenes photos from The Empire Strikes Back. I love stuff like this.
- What a cool photo project. I love the juxtaposition of different people.
- The power of believing and BLOOD ORANGE MARGARITAS. Yeah, gurl!
- I’d love to make these napkins for outdoor entertaining this year!
- Portraits of 4 sisters over 36 years. I spent a good 15 minutes staring at these.
- Totally making these soon!
- I love bougainvillea. See above! Look! You can bring the vibrancy into your home.
- Last but not least, this video is sure to make you giggle. I should record myself sometime…

Why would I put a doughnut there? On this week’s episode of the Joy the Baker Podcast, Joy & I help a listener PROPOSE to his girlfriend. Mind blown! We also talk about doughnuts…and inappropriate doughnut usage. Also. I’m too old for trampolines.
My Bites Around the Net:
A Glass of Milk made my Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cake
Happy Wifey made my Sweet Potato Sausage & Kale Soup
Idiot’s Kitchen also made my Sweet Potato Sausage & Kale Soup!

Coconut Almond Caramel Corn aka How to Woo Your Hair Stylist/Mail Carrier/Preschool Teacher/Boss/Neighbor. It is to be used when you really want to change someone’s mind about you…like WHOA!! He/She is AWESOME. I’m pretty sure you already are, but giving people delicious Caramel Corn can take your awesome status to a whole new level.

Have you ever tried something that made you speechless? This is the case with this recipe. Crunchy popcorn meets crunchy toasted coconut meets roasted salted almonds meets caramel OMG. Light, buttery, salty toffee-like amazingness.

And to think I was super impressed/dang proud of my Caramel Croutons…these might be my new favorite… I have visions of topping dulce de leche ice cream with crunched up bits of this Coconut Almond Caramel. Excuse me while I dream…BIG.
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For a couple of years in college I went vegetarian (thaaaaanks, dorm food) and lived off a lot of stir-fry meals, pizza, Tillamook cheese & hummus. It took me about a decade to get back into the stir-fry game. I went a little overboard with my college wok…

When my friend, Riley moved in during our last year of college, he came with a nice repertoire of meals. He was the first person to introduce me to chilaquiles (which I LOVED) and he also made this Tomato Artichoke Penne Pasta dish that had me swooning. He was most certainly a welcome breath of fresh air food-wise/roommate-wise.

What I love about this dish was how easy it is to prepare and how it costs next to nothing to make. For a college student those two things are GOLD. For an adult who has no time to grocery shop and wants a meal with tons of leftovers throughout the week, it’s SOLID gold. Sidenote: I find eating cold pasta to be way more enjoyable than hot. Is it just me? There’s just something about cold leftovers that satisfies me. Perhaps it’s how the flavors develop over time? Throw some feta in your pasta leftovers and you have a fantastic salad for an outdoor picnic.
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Here’s what this past week looked like.
I’m in love with my new shirt.

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- Big cats love boxes too!! AHHHH
- Oh man…this bit on Jimmy Kimmel about Coachella had me laughing.
- There’s something so beautiful about abandoned places…
- I love anything David Sedaris has to say.
- How to open a can with only a spoon!
- Remember that Dove video from last week? This is the dude’s version. HILARIOUS.
- SUCCESS! What it looks like.
- Things you would never consider if you’re not left-handed.
- This DIY has my name all over it.
- Whoa. Sometimes I’d like to wake up to a cup of Green Eye.
- Nothing can heal the spirit like face time with someone you love. PREACH.
- Spilled Milk, a collaborative photo blog by parents has caught my eye!
- Technology Addiction. (so guilty of this)
- I’m freaking out over these pancakes!
- I couldn’t possibly think of a better way to use asparagus.
- I added the Fresh 20 Cookbook and Absolutely Avocados to my collection this week!

On the latest High Straightenance, I organized my jewelry collection! Don’t let me go into The Container Store unattended!
Friends! I’m teaching a Food Photography/Styling Class on May 18th with my friend Denise of ChezUs. If you’re looking to get some tips & tricks, I’d love to have you!
I also just wanted to thank you for all of your kind/sweet/thoughtful comments on my video post! I am so glad that you liked the video we made for Silk Soymilk. It means a lot to me to have your support so THANK YOU!
My Bites Around the Net:
Westie L.A. made my No Knead Walnut Raisin Bread
Grub with Love made my Rosemary Roasted Almonds
Cookie Chanel made my Farmstand Buttermilk Doughnuts
Noms and Notes made my Baked Cinnamon Sugar Doughnuts

Remember when I was straight up obsessed with the Trader Joe’s Super Spinach Salad and decided to recreate it at home? I have a new obsession— their Broccoli Kale Slaw. It’s found a special place in my heart but the only problem is…well, I have some serious issues with it.

First things first! I don’t like the creamy mayo based dressing it comes with (I haven’t even tried it and I don’t want to. Nope.) And sometimes when I bite into a piece of the chicken in the pre-packaged salad, it doesn’t taste fresh. Have you ever had a old piece of lunch meat? Yeah. That’s the taste I’m talking about. BUZZKILL. I also know it’s not organic chicken and that bugs me. Yeah, I said it.

But now I’ve made those issues non-issues. I made my own catered-to-me version of this slaw and I think you’ll love too. It’s a colorful salad full of texture, sweetness, tang & crunchy. It’s a salad with substance….one that fills you up and leaves you satisfied. A salad that does a good job keeping my cookie cravings at bay….At least for a little while…
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