March 28, 2018

What to Eat in Spring!

Now that the weather is changing here in the Bay Area, I’ve had to put away some of my winter clothes (yay!). My body is also craving change. It’s the time of year where I start ditching heavy foods for lighter fare. But first, I have to remind myself what is in season during Spring so I can exploit all the fresh produce at my farmer’s market!

Let’s dip into the Shutterbean archives and figure out What to Eat in Spring!

Shortbread Strawberry Crumble

One of the simplest recipes! We’re starting to see strawberries pop up here in California and I am so excited!

Roasted Strawberries

Your house will smell amazing.

Strawberry Chia Seed Jam

This jam is not cooked! It’s made in a blender and it’s so delicious.

Ricotta Pancakes with Roasted Strawberries

Weekends go well when pancakes are involved! These ones are light & fluffy.

Strawberry Fruit Roll-Ups

Bust out your blender and make some fruit roll-ups. Be a kid again!

Rhubarb Coffee Cake

This is the time of year when rhubarb SHINES. This is a good coffee cake to put in your arsenal.

Spicy Mango Wraps

I didn’t realize it was mango season! YAY! These wraps are bonkers. You’re going to love the sauce.

Mango Lassi Popsicles

Cooper loves these guys. I’ll have to make a batch soon!

Mango Apple Salad with Sugared Lime Zest

This is a salad to have in your back pocket. That sugared lime zest will make you want to put it on EVERYTHING.

Shaved Asparagus Prosciutto Pizza

ALLLLL the good things on one pizza.

Creamy Asparagus + Bacon Soup

If you have asparagus to use up, make soup!

Sweet Peas Shells & Alfredo

These shells are a creamy dream.

Bacon Pesto Potato Hash (with Peas!)

Breakfast lunch or dinner it’s allllll right with me.

Bacon Pea Pizza with mint

The mint and the squeeze of lemon -whoa nelly! YUM.

Creamy Spinach Artichoke Pizza

Imagine artichoke dip….ON A PIZZA

Cream of Artichoke Soup

Husband’s favorite soup. Next time I’m gonna hollow out a bread bowl and serve it in one!

Lime Ginger Broccoli Salad

Hello, flavor explosion. This dressing is BRIGHT! The almonds are a nice touch too!

Broccoli Cheddar Rolls

Hello, comfort food.

Broccoli Pesto Polenta

Another comfort food! And that egg!

Roasted Broccolini with Lemon Tahini Sauce

Grilled Shrimp & Pineapple Skewers

It’s time to start thinking about grilling!!! Pineapples are amazing grilled.

Roasted Pineapple with Yogurt & Pistachios

Pineapples are also great ROASTED with yogurt and pistachios too.

I hope this helps inspire you to get in your kitchen and make new things this Spring!

While you’re at it, maybe Spring Clean your kitchen?

LISTS

March 26, 2018

Intentions for the Week

Hello, Monday.

Did you know that Mercury is in retrograde right now?

That explains why my website was down all day yesterday.

If you weren’t able to check out My Everyday Life, Week 12, here’s a link.

It was a pretty week.

If you’re wondering what Mercury in retrograde means, here’s what I’m talking about.

Let Susan Miller educate you!

Also, a very important website that I always check when nothing seems to be going right:

Is Mercury in Retrograde?

(you’ll get a big fat YES right now)

Communication/technology gets really weird during this time so be careful. Also, you’re not supposed to by any new electronics or sign major contracts. Consider yourself warned.

Other than that, The Benjamins are in baseball season now which means our weekends are booked for the next few months. I have to start getting my packing rhythm going for each of the games. There’s so much to think of before we leave the house these days

This week I need to get my head in the game. I’ve been in quite a funk and I’m slowly working my way out of it. Sunshine will help. Exercise will help. I don’t have my Mom to remind me to take care of myself so I gotta do it on my own now. Ok so let’s dip into my intentions for the week.

Good luck this coming week!

A post shared by the handwriting club (@thehandwritingclub) on Mar 25, 2018 at 4:02pm PDT

Intentions for the Week:

rock out the laundry situation. take no prisoners (socks)
send out orders from The Handwriting Club (thank you!)
make a batch of banana bread
clean out the fridge
refill spice jars/dish soap containers
clean house/get ready for guests
clean out the car
pick up books at library
book plane flights
finalize LA plans
return jumpsuit (too big!)
make recipe from The Pretty Dish Cookbook
put away winter clothes- let the spring capsule wardrobe begin!
catch up on emails
catch on social media
catch up on accounting work
continue to work on tax prep
drink water
make healthier eating choices

Last Week’s Intentions:

~~stay on top of the calendar~~
clear space on computer & phone
~~prep for meetings~~
post pics of my office FINALLY
~~birthday dinner for boop~~
~~catch up on invoicing~~
~~continue to work on tax prep~~
~~return to~~ homegoods
~~return coveralls~~
~~repot ficus~~
~~ship out orders for The Handwriting Club~~
book flights
hike with Casey (we got rained out!)
make good food choices
~~take an exercise class~~
invite a friend out for coffee
~~make someone happy~~
~~send a few letters~~
drink more water (this helps)
~~help a friend in need~~

Mantra for the Week:

Good luck this week! I’m rooting for you.

my everyday life, Photography

March 25, 2018

My Everyday Life: Week 12

Here’s what this past week looked like – My Everyday Life Week 12

12-year anniversary doughnuts! Thank you, honey.

I love finding little notes in my notebooks from when I let friends test out my pens when we’re hanging out.

All the glow sticks! ALL AT ONCE!

Stumbled upon a giant lotus flower.

Waiting outside a time machine.

Day date with the husband. We got delicious burgers at M & G in Fairfax.

Their selection of books is fantastic.

My child is animated.

Treasure hunting.

On the way upstairs.

Birthday dinner for my brother at Zuni! CHICKEN FEAST!

LISTS

March 23, 2018

I LOVE LISTS

I LOVE LISTS:

I want a bowl of this.
What is mushroom tea?
Best places to travel to in 2018
Ways to trick people into think you have your act together.
Coincidentally, I just check out this book from the library.
Embarrassing childhood photos give me life.
Apparently, my true age is 24 according to my drink choices.
Dad jokes are the best jokes.
The most expensive books you can buy on the internet
How you can make the most of the farmer’s market.
Daydreaming while looking through award-winning photos.
Marilyn Monroe photos auctioned off. I love looking through these.
What to know about a green funeral burial.
A good reminder that the internet is not real life.
Can’t say I’m not curious.
Is this real life????!!!
#2 is key for our morning to run smoothly at home.
Did you hear about the farmer who wrote a MEMOO??
Netflix Sans. Now that’s all I’m gonna notice when I’m scrolling through.
Have you ever had a passive-aggressive neighbor?
Newsflash: Millenials don’t like sending food back
I am so excited by this movie about Mister Rogers!!!!! We really need this now.
I definitely need to put one of these prints up in my kitchen.
The most important dishes that changed food in America.
Why China loves American chain restaurants so much.
The last conversation you’ll have about eating right & being healthy.

My new/simple address book (I got yellow!)

Pretty Dish cookbook (will post a new recipe soon!)

Stocking up on new spices at Thrive Market (inexpensively) for my kitchen spring cleaning overhaul.

ALSO LET’S WISH A HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BROTHER RYAN!!!!

recipes

March 22, 2018

French Onion Soup

A recipe for French Onion Soup that doesn’t require Beef Stock.

Sign me up.

It’s not that I don’t like beef stock, it’s just that you have to intentionally buy beef stock. I’m normally a chicken stock/vegetable stock only kind of gal. Beef stock is never really on my grocery list which means I never can make French Onion soup on a whim.

So now if the craving for French Onion Soup comes on, I can build the flavor profile with chicken stock and white wine.

COMFORT. SOUP. BREAD. CHEESE. MELTED. GOODNESS.

This soup is a gigantic hug in food form. David Lebovitz, you are (and always have been) my hero.

LISTS

March 19, 2018

Intentions for the Week

Hello, Monday.

We’re at it again.

This weekend I did quite a few organizing projects. I evaluated my workspace. We went into the city. I bought some plants. We celebrated our 12th anniversary with sushi. Hopefully, we gained some energy for this coming week because it’s going to be a busy one.

I also spent some time looking through old journals and finding little notes I left myself.
Since my Mom died, I haven’t felt like keeping a journal. I’ve fallen off track with bullet journaling. My biggest intention this week is to stay on top of my calendar and lists. Anytime I deviate from this, my life gets messy and I can’t keep up.

I can’t just wing it. I need to engage.

Here’s my spread for the week: