Weekend Things

Just jumping right into things today!

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On Friday, I got my first blue manicure!  I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty sure a lunch hour mani is the working woman’s key to happiness.  Considering my nails are usually some color on the pink spectrum, blue is really different for me.  I’m not sure I’m into it, but I just needed a quick color to get me through this week before I go BIG RED (probably) for my trip to New Orleans this weekend!

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Denver was abuzz on Friday night!  Rockies game, opening of the new A Line train from Union Station to Denver International Airport (you could ride for free that day), plus absolutely gorgeous weather had us Coloradoans in a good mood and itching to be out enjoying the sunshine.  My family went to Machete Tequila + Tacos to celebrate my sister’s 24th, which is weird because I always think of myself as 24 (scream face emoji).  I had two margaritas and definitely felt them.  Why do I always think the second drink is a good idea??

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Saturday started with this adorable little mug, that yeah, I HAD to have.  It’s the perfect size for the teensy amount of coffee I drink in the morning.  Though I probably should have had three more teensy cups of coffee because I felt like I was in a fog all day long.  First, I napped, second I went on a run that lasted a block before it turned into a walk and third, I got a massage.  MISSING: ALL MY ENERGY.  IF FOUND, PLEASE RETURN IMMEDIATELY.  But seriously, it’d been so long since my last massage with Mom and it was so glorious.  Read More »

Make This Now

After I published my first “Make This Now” post, Joey told me I should make it a weekly series.  I told him I’d been saving up recipes and writing that post for over a month, so I probably wouldn’t have enough content to make it a weekly thing, but he assured me that even one recipe a week would be good enough.  Go figure that a week later, I’d end up with three recipes worth sharing!  This edition includes all things carby, aka delicious, so pay attention now.

Vegan “Brioche” Slider Buns

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When you can’t stop thinking about slider buns, even during Game of Thrones and your husband can’t stop talking about slider buns, even during a Fantasy Baseball draft, you know you’ve found a recipe winner.

Vegan or not, these were SO GOOD.  The yeast actually foamed up (which never happens for me…), they rose like a charm and they made the biggest, fluffiest, softest slider bun cloud I’ve ever had the pleasure of eating.  I started the dough and Joey formed them into the slider buns while I was at book club and then we baked them and it was probably our proudest joint-effort-moment thus far in life.  I can cross “find PERFECT burger bun recipe” off my life goal list.  DONE!

Creamy Chive Potatoes

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I don’t even like potatoes (‘cept sweet potatoes and, uh, all French fries), but this recipe!  I can’t even deny the potato goodness here.  It transcends all potato blandness and just becomes something so innately satisfying.

We’ve made this before, but even so, I wasn’t prepared for that first forkful to hit my taste buds.  HOW IS IT SO GOOD?  Full Disclosure: we used almond milk, which might be the furthest thing from the half-and-half the recipe called for, and it still turned out so creamy and luscious.  They almost taste like gnocchi — or, as I call them, “potato pillows” — but without all the trouble of actually making gnocchi.  Just know we had to go to FIVE different grocery store to find chives and it was 100% worth it.

Orecchiette with Peas, Shrimp and Buttermilk-Herb Dressing

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Confession: I reach “recipe exhaustion” after making something about five times.  As much as I wanna be that person who has an arsenal of tried and true recipes they’ve made so many times they know how to make them by heart, I’m just not.*  BUT, I’ve been making this every spring for like five years and I look forward to it every.single.year.  It’s so dang easy, quick and delicious.  Warning: serious garlic breath ahead, but it’s so very worth it.

Exceptions to this rule: my mom’s stuffing and red velvet cake.  I will NEVER get sick of those two things.

Happy Eating!