February 22, 2016

Pigs in Blankets

The name…Pigs in Blankets. I dunno, it’s kind of a turn off, right? Can we come up with another way of saying fancy sausages wrapped in golden puffed pastry with poppy seeds instead of buns? I found this recipe on Martha Stewart and scaled it back to make it a meal instead of an appetizer. Let’s make it dinner or let’s make some and freeze it for dinner for some other night.

The funny thing is…. I made these with chicken sausage. So they’re not really pigs in blankets are they? They’re like chicken with duvet covers. I don’t know where I am going with that… I’ve had a few glasses of wine and my parents came over for dinner so my judgement is a little off.

What I do know is that people go nuts for pigs in blankets. Chicken in duvet covers…. whatever. As a person in their mid 30s with a kid, I’ve been to many parties that include pigs in blankets (for the kids!) and the adults end up eating them all (because they’re awesome). Just a little puff pastry and some oven time and you’re good to go. We can totally do this on a Monday night. Let’s face it, it’s so much easier than laundry and everybody wins.

my everyday life, Photography

February 21, 2016

My Everyday Life : Week 7

Here’s what My Everyday Life Week 7 looked like:

We washed the car on Valentine’s Day. Wet chalk is my favorite.

Cooper signed his card for Casey with his name and mine. I like his Y.

To Us. Swoon!

I made my boys a chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting.

We ate it for breakfast.

A cheesy valentine for my valentine.

Getting out of the car at Whole Foods.

We took him on a driving adventure. Doesn’t he look giant?

February 19, 2016

I love lists Friday

Welcome to I Love Lists Friday! Let’s surf the internet together.

I always thought that everyone should work retail at least one in their lives.
Teachers’ extra credit questions.
Cooper and I are going to do this painting class soon.
A clairvoyant’s take on Making a Murderer
I want to add these to our weekly meal rotation. Now if only Cooper liked tomatoes..
Welcome to the world, Cleo Jane! Your parents are stellar.
This pleases me greatly.
What Romance Means After 10 Years of Marriage.
Note to Self
We watched The Martian and I then have a major potato craving. Go figure.
100% NO
Beautiful/sooooooooooo creepy.
You can make your own dry shampoo. I’d probably make a gigantic mess in the process.
Black & White PIE. Yes yes YES.
Chicken Pot Pie Pizza, BLT Flabread, and Pizza Cake!!
One of my favorite cookies from childhood.
The last mean tweet is rather witty!
Such a cute DIY Air Plant Pots
I went downhill after the blues. Dangit!
Millennials + Food
I agree with a lot of these.

recipes

February 17, 2016

Sausage Kale French Bread Pizza

Thank you so much for all of your kind comments about my cat, Pinot. Your words mean so much to me! Things have been a little weird around my house. I’m used to having a little buddy that hangs around with me while I’m cooking in the kitchen. I didn’t realize how many times a day we checked in with each other until she was gone. It’s pretty crazy how animals become so apart of your everyday routine, you know? I keep looking for her face at the sliding glass door to see if I need to let her in. Going to sleep at night has been a little weird too, since she used to sleep on my pillow and I’d fall asleep to the sound of her purring. The only thing that’s helping me right now is keeping busy. I think I’ve cleaned my kitchen at least 25 times since this weekend. So, anyways THANK YOU. I really appreciate your love and support.

Yesterday I made this Sausage Kale French Bread Pizza situation because I felt like cleaning the kitchen ANOTHER time. Tuesday was a major errand running day (with Cooper! who had school off! Ahhh!) and instead of making another pit stop to pick up individual french bread rolls (we already went to the Post Office/Oil Change & Trader Joe’s), I decided to use a whole batard I picked up at the store. Yeah buddy, we went BIG on this recipe. Who says that french bread pizza needs to be on individual rolls?

We brown sausage and then sauté kale. We add red pepper flakes on and a ton of garlic to the mixture. We spread marinara all over our batard then top with the sausage kale mixture and a ton of cheese. Then we get this crunchy/crispy/doughy french bread pizza that’s ridiculously meaty/hearty yet full of kale! Next time I am going to freeze one of the halves and just bake off one because then I won’t eat it a lllllllllllllllll and then future me will be like, “You’re so smart and thoughtful, Tracy from the past.” I will also make a section just for Cooper who picked EVERY SINGLE PIECE OF KALE off of his pieces. Kids, man.

my everyday life, Photography

February 14, 2016

My Everyday Life: Week 6

Here’s what My Everyday Life Week 6 looked like:

We said goodbye to Pinot on Friday night. My heart broke.

I see signs of cats everywhere now. I almost cried when we were walking past the pet section at Target today.

This was the last picture I took of her… She had heart failure. We had two more weeks with her than we expected. She was so tough. I loved her with all of my heart and I’d give anything to hold her right now 🙁

“THIS IS MY FAVORITE PLACE!!!!!!”

We adventure in the thicket.

Lettuce party.

Casey was trying to show Cooper how to draw a wine glass on our driveway.

Proof that there’s beauty in the every day.

I only went for a salad for lunch….and then my basket somehow managed to fill up.

Story of my life.

It wasn’t me.

Spring is springing.

Waiting.

I volunteered at school this week.

We made stained glass windows out of wax paper & tissue paper.

I loved the color combinations the kids came up with.

This one was particularly good.

Victoria hosted a Galentine’s Frangelico Party in SF this week.

She sure knows how to throw a party.

Loved this little corner.

Dranks.

Frangelico tiramisu!

The funny thing is… I went to the event on the wrong day… because I messed up my calendar. So I was in the city two nights in a row. #brainfart #ugh

I fried plantains for the first time ever this week!

A tofu shoot for One Potato.

I bought Valentines from the store and I realized we didn’t have enough….

So we made our own.

And they reminded me of the shirts my dad wears. So I put one up to my dad’s heart.

Totally like his shirt, huh?

I can’t wait for coffee tomorrow morning.

Here comes trouble.

What I’ve been having for breakfast all week.

Friday morning detour.

Alcatraz buried in fog.

I had to stop.

Squishy snuggle face.

I had an awesome visit with my friend Helen Jane this week. So awesome that my phone was away and the only picture I took that day was a picture of the pillows she gave me. Thank you HJH. Love your face! Love your contest entering spirit.

The reason why I make potatoes in my meal prep.

BREAKFAST.

Pure joy.

We went to the beach today.

73F in the Bay Area.

I can’t believe these two jumped in the water.

Wait. I totally can. They’re fearless.

A trip to Target with my boo.

I got my bag personalized 😉 It makes me so happy. Like ridiculously happy.

You should really make these Spiked Coffee Milkshakes. They’re so good.

Week 6 in 2015

Week 6 of 2014

Week 6 of 2013

Week 6 of 2012

Week 5 of 2011

February 12, 2016

I love lists Friday!

Welcome to I Love Lists Friday. Let’s surf the internet together!

The Earth is made of two planets? What.
Magnified sand is pretty amazing.
Are you addicted to your phone? Maybe you’re even reading this on your phone….
This is a cute way to surprise your valentine.
I would like to make this vegan cheese.
How to Snapchat like Teens. Good grief.
Etsy love: this plate, this print , this mug, this vase, these earrings, this bag
Can you imagine being on the Titanic II?!
What Marcia Clark thinks of the People vs. OJ Simpson series.
You’ll never look at chopsticks the same.
This color infographic is pretty neat.
What do women want on Valentine’s Day? I love a good card.
Starbucks food in other countries. Interesting.
Who killed sriracha? Wait. It’s dead?
The work & craftsmanship behind a Steinway Grand Piano is amazing.
Work Sleep Family Fitness. Pick three!
Release the stress!
What happens to your Facebook after you die? #morbidcuriosity.
If you love planners….you’ll love seeing this.
Most romantic movies on Netflix (for your Valentine’s Day!)

recipes

February 11, 2016

Spiked Coffee Milkshakes

Here’s the thing about Valentine’s Day. Casey and I always bypass going out to dinner and we make a special dinner at home. I don’t know why I typed WE because I’m the one that makes the dinner. He’s the one that picks out the wine/does the dishes/puts the boy to bed. It’s a guarantee that we’ll always eat too much dinner and then we’ll end up in food comas. We’re usually so tired that we can barely watch a movie. It got me thinking…why don’t I just make dessert with espresso in it so we can get a jolt of energy? Let’s make it so that we can actually Netflix & Chill. Did I use that term right? I dunno. You know what I’m saying 😉

This milkshake has three coffee additions. First we start with a base of Humboldt Creamery Organic Coffee Ice Cream (which is so good btw!), we mix it in the blender with chocolate covered espresso beans AND Kahlúa because we’re grown ups.

We top with additional chopped chocolate covered espresso beans and ENJOY that little surge of energy. Now what are we going to have for dinner? How about some steaks and some twice baked potatoes?!