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Cinco De Mayo Cocktails
Happy Cinco de Mayo! We already have two great margarita recipes on the blog – Beer Margaritas and Skinny White Claw Margaritas – so normally with Cinco de Mayo falling on a Tuesday (i.e., work night/school night for our family) I would simply put these tacos in the Instant Pot and make one of these margaritas to celebrate the occasion. But this May 5th is far from typical and I need all the fun things to keep me sane and optimistic right now. So, I decided to kick it up a notch and try out some fun Mexican-themed cocktails and order in a Cinco de Mayo meal from @thepantryseattle. Here…
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Baking Our Way To The Quarantine 15
Our sweet Mom is the baking queen (just wait until you see her Christmas cookies). The combination of her baking and being bored at home means she is baking all of our favorite things and sending them to our house so she doesn’t eat them :). I’m sharing some of our family favorites we are baking (but her especially) and hope it helps you get creative when you’re trying to kill some time around the house. Peanut Butter Cup Cookies Ingredients: 1 bag Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups (about 40) unwrapped 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1/2 cup margarine 1 egg 1 cup peanut butter 1/2 tsp vanilla…
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Easter Cocktails
What do you bring to an Easter brunch hosted by your mother who every year produces an extraordinarily elaborate array of food and numerous homemade desserts? A few years ago, I decided my answer to this question was an Easter-themed cocktail because when all else fails, booze must be the answer. Am I right? And folks, today was a doozy with my kids. Not sure if the reality of homeschool is finally hitting home for Sam and Emma, but this cocktail post could not have come soon enough for this mom! This year our Easter cocktail is spiked Carrot Limeade. Here is how I made it: Ingredients 2 cups pure…
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Easter Brunch Ideas
Well, Easter is going to look very different for our family this year given COVID-19 and social distancing. Typically, my parents host a large Easter brunch for my siblings and extended family. Complete with a color-coded egg hunt for the children (i.e., each child is assigned one egg color) and a beer and mini prosecco bottle hunt for the adults. Sam and Emma were devastated when they heard Governor Inslee extended his Stay-At-Home order because they knew it meant no Easter celebration at Grandma Lo-Los and Papa Buff’s house. So, instead, I have assured Sam and Emma that Mallory and I will rally and throw our own super-fun Easter brunch…
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Kid’s Easter Lunch Ideas
Anyone looking to score some fun mom points with your kids? Here are two easy and cute lunch ideas to help add some Easter joy to your littles’ lunches, pass the time and get them involved in the kitchen (without a huge mess). Our kids loved them, ate them up, and it killed way more time than the normal lunch! Winning all around! Gummy Bunny Kabobs What you’ll need: Kabob scewers (or toothpicks for mini kabobs) Any fruit you have in your fridge (we used grapes, strawberries, satsumas, blueberries and raspberries) Annies Organic Bunny Fruit Snacks Directions: Simply skewer Annie’s Organic Bunny Fruit Snacks and fresh fruit with skewers and…
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Drinks to Try During Quarantine
We have been experimenting with our beverages way more then ever these days; I blame quarantine. It used to be strictly wine and champs around here, with a few beers on the weekends. I have never been a big liquor fan but these Frozen Gin and Tonics (and Megan’s Skinny Margaritas) are my jam. Made with lime juice, gin, tonic, and a little cucumber, this drink isn’t too sweet, is fresh, delicious and easy to make! I don’t really even like regular Gin and Tonics – but these are amazing! Frozen Gin and Tonics Ingredients (serves 2 aka double it): 1/4 cup cucumber, about 5 slices that are cut 1/2″ thick. 4 ounces gin 2 ounces lime…
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A Trip To The Seafood Market
Late last week, our youngest brother Michael called Mallory and I to ask if we wanted anything from the seafood market. Mallory asked for salmon and I requested black cod. Here is what we made: Bourbon-Basted Salmon (serves 4) My mom has been making this salmon recipe for years. It’s a family favorite! In fact, I believe it converts salmon haters to salmon eaters. INGREDIENTS: 1 ½ pounds salmon filet Marinade: ¼ cup brown sugar 3 tablespoons bourbon 3 tablespoons green onion, chopped 2 tablespoons soy sauce 2 tablespoons vegetable oil PREPARATION Place salmon, skin side down, in a shallow baking dish. Remove all bones. In a small bowl, combine…
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Egg Roll in a Bowl
Here is my version of Egg Roll in a Bowl. I had quite a few questions about this recipe so I figured it needed a permanent home here. Megan and I have found that Egg Roll in a Bowl recipes can be hit or miss; but after a few tries and some minor changes I think this one is a winner! Healthy, simple and delicious! Add this to your recipe rotation and everyone will be pleased. Ingredients 2 tablespoons sesame oil 6 green onions sliced, green and white parts divided 1/2 cup red onion diced (*This is not necessary depending on how you feel about red onion – I leave it out half of the time) 5 cloves garlic minced…
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Making Pasta With Kids
A few years ago to celebrate Ryan’s 40th birthday, we attended a cookery school outside of Venice through Stirred Travel. We stayed in an Italian villa and learned Italian cooking (and eating!) while sipping on spritzes, red wines and Proseccos of the Veneto. It was an extraordinary trip; I cannot recommend it enough. When we got home with dreams of fresh pasta still in our heads, I recommended my parents get Ryan a pasta maker for his birthday (here’s the one we got) so we could replicate our Italian experience. Unfortunately, the pasta maker has remained in the box since because #time #noitalianspritzes. But when you are stuck in the…
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Inexpensive Lounge Wear
Let’s be honest, quarantine has not changed what I wear on a daily basis much. I usually put work out clothes on first thing in the morning and then post work out, I shower (if I’m lucky) and put on different lounge wear. With a baby at home right now, I am constantly playing on the floor and spit up on so why put real clothes on? Megan, on the other hand, wears heals most days of the week which truly blows my mind. While I wish I had the lounge wardrobe of Arielle Charnas @ariellecharnas and could wear a different designer matching sweat outfit every day of the month…
