It’s simple addition. Basil+ Mozzarella+Tomatoes+ Fancy Toothpicks= Heaven. I actually used string-cheese in these little bites instead of little mozzarella balls because that’s what I had in the fridge. They’ll work in a pinch! Drizzle a little bit of syrupy aged balsamic on top and you have yourself a most wonderful snack/appetizer… aka snacketizer.
New recipe! Grilled BBQ Chicken Pizza
You know how much I love the no-knead pizza dough recipe, right? I’ve been wanting to try it grilled because WHO WANTS TO PUT THEIR OVEN AT 500F in the summer??! Also, I’ve relied too heavily on the make-it on a cookie sheet and get rectangular pizza method. This lady wants a round pizza. Once and for all. But then again, this lady loves the no-knead recipe because it’s such a good set it and forget it situation. This lady thrives on a set it & forget it situation.
About an hour into the dough-making process (it was just sitting covered in the window) I decided to invite new friends over for dinner. WHAT?! Try a new recipe on new friends?! Blasphemous. My point to all of this is to tell you that if I can take pictures while grilling pizza AND entertaining people ON A WEEKNIGHT, then there’s no doubt in my mind that you can pull this off in a snap.
BBQ sauce as a base, chicken, red onions, red pepper, cilantro, PEPPER JACK CHEESE and corn combine for an amazing combination. It makes an amazing summer meal. It also solidifies new friendships….just sayin’!
I take a lot of feet shots with my camera; it’s something I’ve done since I was a teen. Did you ever see Lost in Translation? This scene always makes me laugh (at the 1 minute mark) because I haven’t grown out of that phase… Taking photos of my feet has always been a way for me to capture a certain moment in time. It could be a combination of colors I like, something cool I saw on the sidewalk, or sometimes it’s a way for me to say, I was here/ I stood in this place. Like… I existed here and took a moment to look down and take a picture.
I never really anticipated that I’d get a lot of comments of WHERE DID YOU GET THOSE SHOES??! Where are they from??! Tell me!! It makes me laugh sometimes that complete strangers ask questions like that. Some internet haters think I take photos on purpose to bait foot fetishists. OMG HOW DID YOU KNOW?? Either way, if you’ve ever wondered where my shoes are from….here you go!
These are my favorite summer shoes:
I love the straps on these ones. The wood/cork sole is pretty nice too. They make me tall and they go with just about everything I own. I wear them to work a lot in the summer.
Roxy Women’s Ahoy II Boat Shoe
I bought these a few years ago and LOVE them. I’m not sure you can find the exact ones anymore, but the ones I found are pretty close. I wear them with a navy dress or anytime I’m wearing blue. Maybe one day I’ll be a grown up and rock a Sperry Top-Sider . I dunno….
Sanita Women’s Dawn Platform Sandal
I’ve been wearing these sandals a lot lately. They’re great for traveling because they’re super comfortable and they can come off easily. The sole looks like wood, but it’s actually more like a cushy pillow. I also really love the scalloped edges of the shoe. I think they’re cute and feminine.
Dansko Women’s Sandi Ankle-Strap Sandal
I love the criss cross of these ones. I like to wear them with blue and denim. Whenever I wear something a little more “bohemian,” these are my go-to shoe. I’m thinking they could look cute with a black maxi skirt and a white tank…
Lucky Women’s Lindey Wedge Sandal
RAWR!! Best way to dress up a black dress? LEOPARD WEDGES. These ones are tall…and get me a lot of second glances/compliments. Sometimes it’s nice to have attention and it’s crazy how many women eye them. Ladies love leopard!
I own two pairs of Salt Water Sandals. Red for when I’m feeling sassy.
Black for when I’m wearing black…which is most of the time. Whenever I wear them, I always get a “Oh! I had a pair of those when I was little! Where did you get them??!!” They’re totally nostalgic and super comfy. They mold right to your feet and are great in the water.
I’m thinking of getting another color… but I can’t decide!!!
Lotta From Stockholm Silver Swedish Clog
I wear these to work a lot. My feet don’t mind walking around on wood soles. You get used to them! I like wearing them because it’s always fun to look down and see SILVER. They’re hard to photograph though…
I like to refer to these sandals as my Jesus sandals. I got them up at the Bass outlet in Tahoe with my mom. I’m not sure if they’re cute or not, but they’re actually REALLY comfortable and I love how easy they are to get on & off. Sometimes it’s good to have a flat strappy sandal in your repertoire, ya know? Now if only I could turn water into wine when I’m wearing them…
Vans Classic Slip-On Skate Shoes
We call these Spicolis as in Jeff Spicoli from Fast Times at Ridgemont High. I wear these a lot when I’m going grocery shopping/running errands. Who doesn’t love a good slip-on shoe?? Also, if you wear them to a party, be prepared to quote the movie. Fun times. Fun times.
I had a hard time finding this exact pair in purple online for you. I think they must have been a seasonal thing? Anyways, I love them. I love a pop of color and since purple is one of my favorites, I had to get these. I find it’s best (for me) to order a size up in Toms. My wide feet thank me.
A classic. I always wear these when I’m riding a bike. I always have a least two pairs in my arsenal. One is a junky pair and the other is for when I’m out and want to look somewhat decent in a pair of jeans. I can’t believe there was a time when I didn’t like the way they looked on my feet.
Here’s what this past week looked like:
Surprise Cookies & Cream Milkshakes on a week night.
Hey! A lot of people tag me in their Instagram photos of Shutterbean recipes they’ve made and I absolutely LOOOOOVE it!! BUT!! Sometimes Instagram doesn’t let me see them, so will you do me a favor and tag your Instagram picture with #shutterbean so I can see? Thank you and keep them coming!! I really love seeing the recipes I post in your everyday life! It makes me so happy. Here’s my Instagram @tracyshutterbean. Have a great Friday!
When I first had carrots & peanut butter, I was hanging out at my friend Julia’s apartment in San Francisco. We had just finished class at art school and she was cooking us dinner. She’s the one that taught me about kale (THANK YOU, JULIA! I am forever grateful) and when I saw her dip a carrot in a jar of peanut butter, I was like WHAAAAAAAT just happened? I’d only known celery, apples and bananas to be sufficient mates to peanut butter. But, carrots?! So, I tried it and really liked it and have been having it as a snack ever since. If you don’t go the baby carrot route, you can easily dip a carrot straight into the jar… If you’re gonna double dip…then make sure no one is looking? I hope you like the combo too (if you haven’t tried it!). The carrots add a nice sweetness and crunch to the peanut butter. I’ve been known to substitute PB with sunflower seed butter. Just as good!
I have this trait that’s both positive and negative… it’s this thing where I really want to prove someone wrong. It’s kind of like when someone calls Marty McFly a chicken; he can’t help but retaliate. This trait gets triggered the most when I’m parenting because I have a child who can be quite stubborn at times. His stubbornness comes out a lot when we’re eating. One week he loves broccoli. The next? DON’T EVEN SAY THE WORD (don’t do it!!). Raspberry jam is his favorite jam but will he eat a regular raspberry?? No, sir. Imagine me putting a raspberry on top each of my fingers showing him how fun it is. I did that and he was still not convinced.
This is when my brain locks into MUST PROVE HIM WRONG mode.
Oh yeah? You don’t like raspberries? How about I pack almost two containers of fresh raspberries into some popsicles (his favorite treat) and swirl in some leftover lemon curd for good measure? Let’s see how that goes.
It went something like this.
Him: MOM! These are NOT RASPBERRIES. Why did you say they are when they’re not?!
Me: They are raspberries.
Him: NO THEY ARE NOT because I LIKE THEM. Can I have a popsicle for breakfast tomorrow?
We pick our battles, folks.
