Menu Monday, Thanksgiving Leftovers

Is your fridge chock full of the most coveted leftovers of the year? Ours is. And I love a good turkey and fixin's plate as much as the next guy, but you can only eat so many of those in a row.

So here's some variations on using those leftovers that will be making appearances on our dining room table this week.


{m: the hammy down, ham sandwich, t: pocket pies filled with leftovers, w: quesadillas with chutney and brie, th: mashed potatoes au gratin, f: Roast Turkey Panini with, Pesto, Roasted Red Peppers and Fontina, sa: pumpkin pancakes, su: turkey ban mi}

Menu-ish Monday, Getting Ready for Thanksgiving

I've said it before, I'll say it again, I'm not a big fan of making dinners the week of Thanksgiving. I don't need more mess, more thought and more stress (I don't do well with stress)! Dinners this week are short, sweet and minimal dishes.

We've got close to thirty family members coming to our house Thursday and a tailgating party in the forest on Friday, so if you're looking for me this week, you'll find me in the kitchen.

Everyone brings their signature dish to the festivities, but what I'm sharing with you are the dishes I love and am making for everyone this year. If you're looking for that special new dish or needing one more side, hopefully you'll find inspiration here.


{1: cranberry cobbler, 2: wine basted turkey, 3: double craggy garlic bread, 4: layered pumpkin pie in a jar, 5: wild rice stuffing with pine nuts, 6: chocolate chunk and caramel pecan pie, 7: green beans with cherry vinaigrette,
8: mashed sour cream and scallion potatoes, 9: spiced cranberry sauce}

Menu Monday, Them vs. Us

I was gone this past weekend to Portland, Oregon again. And as to not disappoint, I ate my way up and down that city, and took notes, just for you.

I had the best brunch of my life at Tasty N Sons and the best soup of my life at Grüner, and in the same day!

In wanting to know how to try and re-create these divine dishes, I hunted down some great recipes that are close to those in the restaurants I tried. I picked out seven of my favorites, one for you to try each night this week. The beauty of it all is, these recipes are basic and will be most powerful if you use the freshest ingredients possible.

What I love most about NorthWest dining in general, is their obsession with fresh, local and seasonal fare. This translates into the most flavorful products available to you for re-creating on your own.

Enjoy! And let me know what your favorite ends up being.

Restaurant's Way

{1: zeus cafe: pulled pork sandwich with cabbage slaw & bbq sauce on a brioche bun, 2: tasty n sons: roasted apple with bacon lardons & cheddar, 3: h50 bistro: tomato basil soup: san marzano tomato, organic basil, cream, 4: blueplate: northwest sliders: little cheeseburgers with tillamook cheddar & special basil spread, 5: otto: waffled french toast with sauteed apples, pears, cranberries & maple syrup,
6: olympic provisions: chefs choice: assorted charcuterie and cheeses, 7: grüner: cream of turnip soup with dill goat cheese butter} Home Cook's Way
{m: ginger beer pulled pork on brioche buns, t: grilled apples with bacon, cheddar and scallions, w: tomato basil soup,
th: steak sliders with roasted red pepper-basil mayo, f: waffled french toast, sa: pick up assorted hard salami, terrine, paté, cheeses and accompaniments like brown mustard, grapes, fig jam, su: creamy turnip soup}

Menu Monday

This weeks menu kinda speaks for itself.

Rich, hearty, full of fall flavors.

But for tonight, Halloween night, you'll want this easy egg salad sandwich that's full of energy-enduring protein and carbs. And still have room for candy!


{m: egg salad sandwich, t: slow cooker barley soup, w: roast chicken with honey rosemary plums,
th: roasted veggie, quinoa, millet & arugula salad, f: kielbasa, apple and kale hash,
sa: smoked salmon, fennel, grape, blue cheese and pecan salad, su: chicken enchiladas with pumpkin cream sauce}

Favorites Friday, Fall Projects for the Home

Now's the time, if you haven't already, to start pulling out those boxes stored away marked "fall".

If some of your decor from seasons past are looking a little sad around the edges, start the season off right with some of these great projects. Sure to spruce up your home, make you feel all warm and cozy, like autumn does best.

 {1: paint your house numbers on a pumpkin, 2: cover frames in fall colored lentils, 3: make leaf printed linens, 4: adorn a cowl with some festive pom poms, 5: decorate with a nature garland like this, 6: eat many bowls of homemade pumpkin gingersnap ice cream, 7: start making vanilla now to give as christmas presents later}

A Fling with Seattle, Day 2

(day 1)

We woke up the next morning, exhausted, but determined not to let lack of sleep ruin our best day.

(above photo of Sedae: she was mad that she couldn't be walking on her own. Girlfriend loved to walk the city.)

First stop, Top Pot Doughnuts.


Hand forged, trans fat free, and full of flavor.


This is also the scene of the crime for poor, dear Tayden.

He pulled himself up to a table we were about to sit down at and our fresh poured coffees spilled all over him. It was so awful.

I quick pulled his pants and shoes off (where it all spilled).

Yeah, in the doughnut shop.

Oh, the looks.

It was parenting at its most awesome.

We took him back to the hotel to change and went walking to find the ferry. For the kids' first boat ride!


Easy to say they loved it. We looked for sharks in the water. (didn't see any ;))

We had taken the ferry to Bainbridge island. It was adorable. Loved.

From the ferry dock we walked all the way around downtown, down to the marina, and had lunch at Doc's.

Warm sun. Sitting at the marina. With our two kiddos. Eating great food and drinks.

Rich and I couldn't get past that moment of absolute perfection. It was the most memorable part of the trip.


Before heading back to the ferry we stopped for ice cream at Mora Iced Creamery. I got lemon bar and dark chocolate. It was so creamy and delicious.


We had to sprint (yes, again) a good mile, to get back to the ferry on time. Made it with one minute to spare.


From the dock we walked straight to another restaurant...at the Space Needle!

But that was another hike and a half.

And we were tired of walking.

But lacking other options (the horse carriage and bike pulley said they wouldn't go up the hill...we should've taken that as a clue to hunt down a taxi) we pressed on, carrying a kid most of the time, and finally made it.

We stopped for some quick photos at the Frank Gerhy EMP building.


Inside the Space Needle, we took the epic elevator ride to the restaurant and were seated at the window! The whole restaurant rotates while you're sitting and eating, in a full circle in 47 minutes. We saw the same views about 3 times. Another wonderful meal, service and memories.


(photo above: I ordered a drink with dry ice, that made it bubble and smoke. Sedae was not fond of it. Her face was classic.)


The last thing we had to do was take the monorail from the Space Needle conveniently right back to our hotel (it only stops once). We were full, happy, and tired of walking. It was also the kids' first "train" ride. It was so fun riding up over the city.


Back at the hotel, we had a wonderful nights sleep (as our next door neighbors were gone) and headed home the next morning. Thanks Seattle, for another memorable trip. See you again soon!

A Fling with Seattle, Day 1

Our little fam took a mini vacation to Seattle last week.

We had the best time ever.

Well, mostly.

Some absurd things happened on our 2 day trip.

Like a lady having a seizure in a restaurant and having to call 911.

Like getting into a fight with our hotel neighbors and security being called.

(got your attention huh? not quite that dramatic, but it'll make you keep reading)

Like Tayden pulling a table and pouring an entire hot cup of coffee onto himself.

Aside from that, we did what we love to do best: eat and discover. We walked everywhere. Which was good, for all the eating we did.

Another great thing about this trip? I marked two things off my 1001 list! (That list needs more attention.)

There are so many great places and pictures to share (I'll apologize now for the crappy photo quality, all I had was my trusty iPhone) that this will be a two posts.

The first day we checked into our room and the kids (and truthfully, us too) went nuts! It was a perfect introduction to our trip with views of the sea, Pikes Market and some fun only-in-Seattle window art of a beloved childhood icon.


We headed downtown for dinner, determined to eat Beecher's famous mac & cheese, when a poor woman had a seizure in the shop, and we had to call 911. Luckily there was a nurse dining there that started administering help to her. We soon realized the cramped little shop was about to get a lot more full, so we pushed on.

And around.

And circled back again.

Couldn't find anywhere that looked good to sit down, with kids.


So we ended up at Hard Rock.

I know, we were in Seattle and we ate at Hard Rock.

But, the service was friendly and the kids loved the music and loud atmosphere. Pretty good burger too. But not the margarita (this whole trip ended up being a marathon of trying margaritas). Save your money here folks.


The one place I had to go on this trip was Marie & Freres Chocolate. And we literally ran 15 city blocks, just to make it there before they closed (good way to work off that burger). It was so worth it too.


We sampled about a dozen different chocolates, and their famous macaroon. The kids ended up with chocolate pops and us, a bag full of favorites like said macaroon, their coconut dark chocolate, cinnamon, spicy and the ultimate dark chocolate and pop rocks. So delish!


Unfortunately, our great first day ended badly as we were wall-buddies with the wild rumpus room and we not only had to call hotel security (they fought back, mama bear claws came out, it was ugly) and we got no sleep that night.

(see day 2)

Menu Monday, Here's to Fall

So if you've noticed a little lag in posts lately, like getting October's menu printable up last Monday, I apologize, but have good reason!

We all got the nasty cold going around two weeks ago and was laid up that week, trying to take care of me and the sick kiddos.

Then we were gone all last week on a mini vacation (more on that later, but we had a stellar trip).

If you used last months planner and were waiting for October's, here it is for you (click on the picture below). The good news is you still have four Mondays to use it in the month, before I get November's up for you.



I've also selected a delicious array of fall foods for you to try this week. How good does a pumpkin soup sound? A Pumpkin Patch run is in order for sure.

Enjoy and bon appétit!


 {m: cinnamon-roasted sweet potato & apple salad with caramel vinaigrette chicken, t: beecher's world famous mac & cheese, w: tomato pesto, spread on a sandwich, th: sweet potato cakes with sour cream and chipotle black bean salsa, f: crockpot bbq beer chicken, sa: pumpkin soup with gruyère, su: prosciutto-wrapped pork loin with roasted apples}

Favorites Friday, Black and White Fall

Today is the first day of fall so if you're looking for some inspiration on how to decorate this year, consider the simple yet strongly-stated use of black and white.

It doesn't have to be just for Halloween, but all season long.

Stretch your fall comfort zone with these bold colors, and daringly mix them with with natures abundant colors you see outside. 

 {1: black and white plates mixed with natural fall colors, 2: make some fall art, 3: white watering can and gourd with black numbers and neutral flowers, 4: love this striped cover-up, to stay dry in the rain, 5: arrange a gorgeous bouquet of black and white flowers, 6: embroider a statement and frame it, 7: stencil a silhouette on a pumpkin}