Taco Tuesday: Roasted Zucchini with Creamy Chipotle Sauce

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For this delicious, but crazy spicy recipe you’ll need:

  • 2 Zucchinis
  • 1 Pasilla Chile
  • 1/2 Red Onion
  • 1 cup of Corn
  • 1 cup of Pinto Beans
  • 1 can of Chipotle Peppers (7 oz)
  • 1/2 cup of Crema
  • 2 Limes
  • Cotija
  • Sea Salt
  • Tortillas

Makes 6 tacos

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees, begin slicing the zucchini and red onion, and then place on to a baking sheet. Remove the stem and seeds from the Pasilla and just cut it in half. Rub some olive oil on the skin of the pepper, and then drizzle some olive oil over the zucchini and onion as well. It took about 20 minutes to roast the veggies, but I feel like I could have done less time for the zucchini, so just keep an eye on it once they have been in the oven for 15 minutes.

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While the veggies are roasting, make the creamy chipotle sauce in your food processor. I dumped the entire can of chipotles into the food processor, a decision that I regretted after tasting the sauce, although delicious and smokey, crazy spicy. Consider yourself warned. I’d suggest using half the can, 1/2 cup of crema, and the juice from one lime. If you feel like that isn’t spicy enough, then by all means, go to town and throw the rest of the can in there.

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This is the point when I realized I had frozen corn and that it would be a lovely addition to the tacos. I simply thawed some corn and browned it a smidge on the stove top. I also realized that I had a can of pinto beans, so you can guess what happened next…I heated the beans on the stove top.

Okay, it should be about time to pull the veggies out of the oven. Turn off the oven and put the tortillas on the middle rack of the oven to warm them. Now, go ahead and put the onion and zucchini in a bowl and add the corn too. Let the chiles sit for a bit, until they are cool enough to handle, and pull the skin off, and then slice. Add the chiles to the bowl with a dash of salt, and toss everything together. Pull the tortillas out and put them into a tortilla warmer, or in a towel to keep them warm.

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Everything is ready, so it’s time assemble and eat. I did a layer of beans, layer of veggies, creamy chipotle sauce, and then some cotija. Garnish the plate with a lime wedge or two and enjoy.

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Happy Tuesday!

xo

Today’s BGD // 6.18.14

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My morning routine is something that has improved over the years. I used to get up one hour before I needed to leave, and between showering, putting myself together, letting the dogs out and grabbing breakfast/lunch for the day, I was always rushed and running late. These days, I really enjoy mornings. I wake up about two hours before I need to leave. I have found that waking up earlier allows me a slow morning, full of snuggling my pups and finding time to read for fifteen minutes while sipping my coffee. It’s all about making time for things you care about. My current morning reading is The Happiness Project. I love that in fifteen minutes I can put myself into a positive mindset, learn something, and get inspired to be better.

You don’t know what the day will bring, so why not start it off right? Some days are difficult and seem to get worse by the hour, and in those days, I can always reflect on my morning. Today’s BGD, find the beauty first thing so you have it to hold on to throughout the day.

xo

Currently.

READING…#GIRLBOSS by Sophia Amoruso, founder and CEO of Nasty Gal. Her story is unlike any other I’ve heard. Former anarchist and dumpster diver turned fashion mogul. If you want to feel empowered and have a good chuckle, you’ll enjoy it.

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LISTENING…Lana del Ray West Coast

EATING…gelato. I.CAN’T.STOP.

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DRINKING…my morning smoothies. My favorite right now is a mixture of coconut water, frozen strawberries, frozen mango, fresh blueberries, fresh cucumber and fresh spinach. If you don’t like putting your thinking cap on first thing in the AM, use a recipe, like one of these.

SUCCEEDING…in checking things off the old Summer Bucket List. I have already eaten outside three times, gone on a bike ride, made progress on the backyard benches, bought a Groupon for paddleboarding, read lots, and sketched an idea for a summer romper. I absolutely love this.

FAILING…at working out. I don’t know what my deal is. I need to get up earlier and just get it done. That’s my plan, get up earlier.

LOVING…my friends. I have had the pleasure of seeing my favorite girls this week, and I’m reminded of how amazing my girlfriends are. They are strong, funny, smart and loving human beings, and I am just head over heels for them. I feel very lucky to have them in my life.

WAITING…patiently for the best outdoor movie night EVER. They are playing The Sandlot this summer, and I have already marked my calendar with a giant heart because it will make the best date night. For those of you who don’t know, Benny “the Jet” Rodriguez was my childhood crush and my husband is his twin, only better. Not to mention, The Sandlot is a stellar movie. Can’t wait!

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WEARING…coconut oil, all day, everyday. I love it as a moisturizer for my face and body, especially during these warmer months. It is light and leaves a lovely sheen.

That’s it for me. Happy Thursday!

xo

 

Meal Planning 101

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As you all know, I like to plan. It makes my life easier when I have control over a few things because let’s face it, you can’t control everything. On Sundays, I enjoy going through my pantry, fridge and freezer to see what I have and think up what I could do with these items. Some days this task is easy, some days it’s hard. Some days the ingredients practically tell me how to use them up, and some days they don’t. When it’s tough, I go to the internet for ideas and inspiration.

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WORK FROM THE BOTTOM UP, DINNER MENU FIRST:

I like to begin with deciding on dinners first. My goal is to cook at least four times a week. Four is good, five is better, and three is likely. Knowing this helps me from overbuying and wasting food. If you know that you are going to have a busy week and you’ll only cook twice, only buy enough for two dinners. You can always go to the market if you really need something, and then you don’t waste food and money. After taking stock and visiting my Pinterest board, I know what I’m making for dinners and can create my grocery list.

*Side note, in looking at your menu for the week, think about how these things will translate for lunches. For example, re-heating tacos don’t really work for lunch in your typical office kitchen, so I make sure to buy enough lettuce to create a taco salad for the next day.

Once dinners and lunches are covered, I think about breakfast. For me breakfast consists of a smoothie, coffee, and an egg. For my husband, oatmeal and orange juice. Add those items to your list. Now is the time to jot down any other necessities, such as toiletries or cleaning products. There it is, your list, in all its glory.

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COUPONING, LAZY GIRL STYLE:

This is the part where I go to my coupon envelopes to see if I have anything that will save us a few bucks. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t. The thing I have learned about couponing is that it can be easy to clip coupons because they sound good, but if the coupon is for something you don’t normally buy, it’s not worth it. I clip coupons once a week and stash them in an envelope. After I make my list, I see what I can use for this shopping trip, and I go through and toss anything that has expired.

Another way that I coupon is through Safeway’s Just For You program. Safeway is the closest grocery store to me, and convenience is king when it comes to chores like grocery shopping. I simply log into my account, and review all of the personalized deals, store specials, and manufacturer coupons. I click away on what I need, and it automatically loads them to my card. It is super easy, and it’s pretty silly not to do it. Super dorky fact, I have the app on my phone too (see image above). Oh, and I accumulate gas rewards points. After grocery shopping today, I received a $0.90/gallon discount. I know, super dorky. I like saving money, can’t help it.

In all this process takes me about an hour. Within this hour, I am able to make my evenings easier, so I have more time to spend with my hubby and pets, and I keep our dinners interesting, so we don’t eat the same things over and over. I’m sure that this isn’t for everyone, but it works for me, so I wanted to share.

xo

 

 

 

Let’s Talk…Summer Bucket List

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Here in the PNW, summer is the best. It’s short and sweet, always leaving us wanting more. I always feel like it goes by way too fast and that I didn’t get to do everything I wanted to do. My girlfriend suggested making a Summer Bucket List, and I have seen these popping up all over the place, so clearly it’s a must. I’m on board.  I have 16 points listed, going off the Memorial Day to Labor Day calendar, which is 16 weeks. Anyhow, I would imagine this will change a bit over the course of the next couple months, but here it goes…

1. Outdoor movies, obviously

2. Outdoor concerts (did I go to any last year?! Shaaaaame)

3. Host a party (grilling, outdoor lighting, music, the whole shabang)

4. Finish our backyard projects (hanging chair, benches, lighting)

5. Eat outside a few times a week, EVERY week

6. Go for more bike rides (and buy a basket for my ride)

7. Outdoor yoga (did it once, and it was awesome…not sure why I haven’t done it again)

8. Be spontaneous (said the planner)

9. Plant flowers, beautify the house!

10. Read more books (the goal is 9 – 3/month)

11. Re-apply sunblock (I’m great at putting it on, not so great at remembering to re-apply)

12. Float a river (or two or three)

13. Hike more (camping hiking counts, but I need to get out there more)

14. Try paddleboarding (I know my hubby is on board, so we need to make it happen)

15. Make three summer dresses (they’re my favorite in the summer, and I know how to sew…no brainer)

16. Take the pups for more walks (they should benefit from the SBL too, right?)

So, will you be making one too? If so, please share.

xo

 

 

Taco Tuesday: Shrimp with Mango & Avocado

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It was a sunny, warm day here, so I decided to do everything in my power to not use the oven or stove. Enter shrimp with mango & avocado tacos. Mission accomplished. I wanted to make ceviche tacos but I didn’t have raw shrimp, and I ended up working late, so I didn’t really have the time either. This is my “short on time” version.

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I had cooked shrimp and red cabbage in the fridge, and mango, avocado, tomato, onion, lemon and lime in my fruit bowl. I chopped up all of the ingredients, squeezed in the juice of 1 lemon and 1 lime, and added a dash of sea salt. I let it sit in the fridge for about 30 minutes to chill and allow the flavors to come together.

  • 6 oz cooked shrimp (tails removed and cut into small chunks)
  • 1 large ripe mango
  • 1 large avocado
  • 1 small vine tomato
  • 1/2 small white onion
  • 1/2 bag shredded red cabbage
  • 1 lemon
  • 1 lime
  • Sea salt
  • Chili powder
  • 12 corn tortillas

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To put them together lay down a layer of shredded red cabbage, a couple scoops of the shrimp/mango/avocado mixture, a dash of chili powder, and you’re done. This made 6 tacos with a generous helping of leftovers, which I used to make a salad for my lunch. My regrets–not having cilantro and not heating the tortillas on the grill. I think those two things would’ve made these tacos stellar. They were still pretty delicious though. Give them a try and let me know your take on this recipe.

xo

Race for the Cure 2014

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This was our second year walking with my friend’s team, Keeping the Headlights On. Our friend’s mom is a breast cancer survivor, so every year my friend and her sister rally to get friends and family together to participate in this event. Like last year, we got up early and met at my friend’s house, a little sleepy but ready to walk, not realizing what a day it would be. It’s a day of celebration for the survivors, a day for remembering lives lost, but most importantly a day for hope.

The walk itself is a fun experience because everyone dresses up, and the road is paved with high fives and cheerleaders, getting everyone excited to be there. By the time you make it to the end, happy to be there and happy to have done something to help the fight against breast cancer, you feel why you’re there.

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It’s hard not get teary eyed watching the survivors hugging family after the race, grateful to be there and fight another day. It’s hard not to notice a young girl sobbing as she wears a t-shirt that says, “we’ll miss you, Grandma Vi”. And it’s extremely hard to see a friend in tears over the recent passing of a family friend. Her daughter was there walking (a breast cancer survivor herself) on Sunday, even though she had just lost her mother on Tuesday. There was a moment yesterday when I looked around and felt so privileged to be there, as if I were on the outside, looking in. I felt humbled.

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The Seattle Seahawks drum line, Blue Thunder, was even there to lead the survivors to center stage, to be cheered on and celebrated.

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The pain and sadness are awful, of course, but if you can see past that, you see that the hope is inspiring. I’m not an expert in advocacy for the fight against breast cancer, I’m not an advocate for the Susan G. Komen Foundation, but I am an advocate for people helping people. Do something small, do something big, but do something. Your heart will thank you.

xo

 

Glacier View Camping Excursion

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We went to Glacier View campground on Lake Wenatchee, about two hours east of Seattle, for Memorial Day weekend (and for my annual birthday trip). We have been to this campground before and really enjoyed it so we decided to pay it another visit, but this time we brought a lot more friends, eighteen friends to be exact. The sites are first come first serve, so you have to get there early enough to beat the long weekend rush. Luckily my husband and some of our other friends, who went up a day early, were able to snag three neighboring campsites on Thursday afternoon. Upon arrival, everything was set up, so I grabbed a beer and immediately immersed myself into camp life, turning off my phone and no longer worrying about the time. The views were spectacular from our site, so I found a little patch of sun on a log and took it all in. It was a fantastic weekend full of laughs, beauty and friends.

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Some of my favorite things…shenanigans, friends, and a cold beer.

Since we are fairly seasoned campers, I thought I’d share a little about the food, especially since we tried some new things that worked out great.

BREAKFAST // Eggs two ways, yes please.

Breakfast Burritos: You can make these ahead of time for the easiest, most delicious breakfast ever. (The genius behind these, Mel, used 6 eggs and it made 7 burritos.) Prepare the corn salsa; chop red onion, finely chop the cilantro, and mix in corn. Thaw and drain some frozen peppers, and be sure to get all of the moisture out using paper towels. She used about 1/2 the bag of frozen peppers. Shred 1 1/2 cups of pepper jack cheese. Barely scramble the eggs and season them to your liking. The eggs should be clumping together but still a little gooey. Combine the eggs, cheese, peppers, corn salsa, and some more fresh cilantro. For the carnivores in your group, you can add chicken sausage, or whatever meat that might strike their fancy. Now would also be a good time to add some hot sauce. Once you have everything you want, divide it up into the tortillas and roll them up. Wrap them in foil and store them in freezer bags until they are ready to make. You just need to throw them on to a camping stove, a grill, or the campfire. We made ours on a camping stove and it took about 15 minutes. I accidentally left one on for much longer, more like 30 minutes, and it was just fine. The tortilla was just a little crispier.

Breakfast Sandwiches: This is a tradition for our group, and they are a great way to start your day. You’ll need a pack of English muffins, eggs, cheese, and deli meat for the meat lovers. On the camping stove, make an to your liking. I always try teeter between over medium and over hard. While that’s cooking (and it’ll take a while on a camping stove, about 10-15 minutes), slice an English muffin in half and toast the inside first, just for a couple minutes, directly on the grill. Flip the English muffin over and  add some cheese so that can begin to melt. Put some of the deli meat directly on to the grill and allow it to get some grill marks. Once the deli meat is done, gently fold it over the top of the melted cheese. By now, your egg should be done, so add it to the sandwich, and there you have it a hearty breakfast for a day of hiking.

HOBO PACKETS // Pure genius, worth the prep time.

Thai Coconut Shrimp with Peppers : Mel used Thai noodle soup packets as a base (4 packets).  Genius! First, slice and saute 1 package of button mushrooms. Next, clean and de-vein your raw shrimp. Soak the noodles from the soup packets in hot water for 2 minutes and then drain. While those are soaking, chop some cilantro. You’ll need a can of coconut milk, and 1 can will be enough for 4 hobo packets. Shake well and stir it if needed. Lay out a sheet of foil and begin layering in items: noodles, spread them out a bit, a drizzle of coconut milk, a small amount of the seasoning packet, mushrooms, peppers (use the other 1/2 bag from the breakfast burritos!), cilantro, shrimp. For the shrimp be sure to only do a single layer so that they don’t overlap. Drizzle the shrimp with the oil packet from the soup mix, and add more of the seasoning packet. You’ll only need about half the packet. Bringing the long sides of the foil together, fold it over a few times, making it fairly flat. Then roll up the sides so everything is well contained.

Lemon Pepper Asparagus & Mushrooms:  I made this one up because I had the ingredients on hand. Using about a 1 1/2lbs of asparagus, 1/2 white onion, a container of mushrooms, and a cup of brown rice, will make four packets. (You can add chicken sausage for the carnivores in your group.) I cooked the brown rice, let it cool, then placed it in the center of the packet. I chopped the veggies, mixed them together in a large bowl, and then added them to the packet around the rice. For the seasoning, I added about 1 tbsp of butter (place it in the center, right on top of the rice), a generous helping of lemon pepper and a dash of sea salt. Bringing the long sides of the foil together, fold it over a few times, making it fairly flat. Then roll up the sides so everything is well contained.

With that said, how about some fun photos from the trip?

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Mia, my little model.

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Another beautiful view from our campsite.

 

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Hidden Lake

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Meet Stihl and Bentley. They were enjoying the views too.

I know that camping isn’t for everyone, but there is something really amazing about it. We spent 5 days entertaining ourselves with conversation, playing games, hiking, and sitting around the campfire. How many people can say they do that nowadays? If you’ve never tried it, maybe give it a chance.

xo

Taco Tuesday: A little of this, a little of that…

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Using some leftover potatoes from breakfast over the weekend, and a few gems from the fridge, I created a tasty meal for Taco Tuesday. I had high hopes for this meal, but once I started cooking, the meal got away from me. I forgot to take photos, I overcooked the eggs, and meant to add avocado. I thought about not posting it because it’s not the prettiest meal I have ever plated, BUT it was so yummy, I decided to go ahead and do it.

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Let me tell you what you’re looking at here. We had corn tortillas with melted extra sharp cheddar cheese, potatoes seasoned with cumin and sea salt, topped with over hard eggs. For the side, we had black beans spooned over sautéed onion, spinach and beets seasoned with minced garlic. To eat the tacos, we simply folded the tortilla –with all of its deliciousness inside– in half and ate it like a normal taco. My husband spooned some of the beans and veggies into the taco too…brilliant.

Okay, my inspiration…the leftover potatoes. I didn’t want them to go to waste and it was time for a Taco Tuesday post, so there you have it.

*I added some olive oil, cumin and sea salt, and then I mashed it to create a little potato patty. I popped it in the oven at 350 for about 15 minutes to crisp it up.

*While the potatoes are crisping, prep your veggies and start heating some oil and garlic in a pan over medium heat. Once the onion is translucent and the garlic is fragrant, add the beets and sauté for about 15 minutes. I say, add whatever veggies you have here. You can’t go wrong (says the vegetarian). This is also a good time to heat up your beans on the stovetop and season them up. It shouldn’t take more than 10 minutes to heat leftover beans or canned beans.

*Add a little olive oil to a pan over medium heat, put two tortillas in the pan at a time, and then sprinkle on some cheese to get it melted. Now is a good time to make your eggs. Making an over hard egg takes about 5 minutes (cook 2-3 minutes on each side). While the egg is cooking, and the cheese is starting to melt, add some of the potatoes and let it all cook for another couple minutes to allow the cheese and potatoes meld together nicely. Your egg should be ready to flip now.  Pull the tortillas off the pan and place them on to a plate where they can stay warm. Top the tortilla concoction with half of your over hard egg.

*That’s it! Add some hot sauce to your tacos, serve the veggies and beans. Enjoy!

xo

 

 

Today’s BGD // 5.15.14

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This chicken scratch you’re looking at is my schedule for tomorrow, well, my schedule up until 1:45 pm. This list goes well on to the back of this page. I already deemed it a day from hell yesterday when I learned how hectic the day would be. I vented to my husband, my sister and a girlfriend about my frustration with this day. “Why all of this in one day?!”, I whined. However, after giving a bit more thought with a clear head and fresh eyes today, I realize that tomorrow is nothing more than another challenging day. Some of the most challenging days come out of nowhere, but I see tomorrow coming from a mile away and have the opportunity to make the day mine. So, I have a plan, and I will be able to prepare tonight by packing a lunch and choosing my outfit, two things that always trip me up. I even added a little coffee and donuts stop to add some fun to our morning. And, one fantastic thing I realized is that I will have so many interactions with people that I enjoy, which is a total bonus. Many days I never leave my office, but tomorrow I will be out and about and it’s going to be 75 in Seattle…in May…that’s crazy talk! When tomorrow is over, I will feel accomplished and relieved, and I will be able to unwind with my wonderful husband. Tomorrow is going to be great.

To quote Tony Hseih, “Without conscious and deliberate effort, inertia always wins”
Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose

Today’s BGD, realizing that you have what it takes to rise to the occasion, and turning a challenging day into a great one.

xo