Tag Archives: eggs

chef ben {spanish style deviled eggs}

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holy smokes folks!  chef ben made the yummiest tapas-esque meal the other night.  it may sound a little bit like a lame potluck sidedish, but no sir!  these deviled eggs were to die for!  big time flavor in bite-sized {well, three bite-sized for me} vessels.  once again, he grabbed the smitten kitchen cookbook and flipped through page after page of yum, settling on these tasty guys.  they are sprinkled with crispy prosciutto and salty marcona almonds.  i mean, come on!

seriously, they were amazing.  we paired them with a vibrant,spicy, and deep rioja from our wsj wine club collection {loving that, by the way}

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it was so much fun to pop these guys while sipping on a perfectly paired red.  i love flipping the mundane on its head and making it something memorable…and my fabulous chef did that for us this week.  boring old eggs made amazing.  and a typical tuesday night became an {unexpected} smashing evening of relaxing and savoring and celebrating all the little good things in life.

let’s do this again.

three things

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three things i am likin’ right now

chickens!!!  as soon as hubby and i settle into life after baby and know where our work will lead us, we are going to pick out a lovely little house and get us some chickens!  it sounds crazy [well, at least ben thinks i am crazy]  but i love the idea of fresh eggs. yum.

fabulous water bottle from lifefactory.  bpa-free, glass bottles with brightly-colored silicone sleeves.  a cute way to stay hydrated during the hot days of summer.

summertime flavors of lime and mint.  preferably with a sparkling liquid.

hip, hip, hurray for mothers day!

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this was a big one, folks.  we gathered all of the assorted family members together at one house for a big-time celebration.  it was so much fun!  the planning was fun, the preparing was fun, the cooking was fun, the eating was fun.  it was an all-around great day.  the kids took care of all the details, from the table to the flowers all the way to the dessert.  then, we all gathered together and enjoyed the day.  it was relaxing and celebratory.  just how any family gathering should be.  i hope our mothers were honored and blessed.  we sure are honored to be their kids and blessed by them.

::  the mocktails  ::

in honor of mothers day, my hubby, the mixologist du jour, created a fabulous menu of refreshing and festive beverages.  with the help of his mixologist’s apprentice, faith, creative drinks were stirred and muddled for serving.  the clear crowd favorites were “the derby” [a mild-mannered mint julep] and “the faux-jito” [a rum-less version of the cuban classic].  although, “the berry happy mothers day” might win in the appearance category for its vibrant purple hue and muddled berries.

::  happy conversation + mixing and mingling + relaxation  ::

everyone kicked back with their beverage of choice while the meal was being prepared.  the families shared stories and chatted with giggling and sipping.  the guys even got to watch some golf.  the kitchen was the center of the excitement as the aromas of potatoes and mushrooms and onions and bacon and eggs wafted into the livingroom.

::  a delicious brunch spread and table  ::

::  dessert  ::

we ordered the super special mothers day collection from jeni’s ice cream.  so, we had a tasty little tasting of unique ice cream flavors like hummingbird cake, white house cherry, sake plum, and icelandic happy marriage cake.  plus, rachel claire made a yummy berry crumble.  a little something warm with a little something cold.  the perfect way to end a meal.

::  the kids  ::

::  the moms and the kids  ::

snaps & snippets & blurbs

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well hello there, new week!  hubby and i just wrapped up and amazing weekend.  and my weekend even started a few hours early which was lovely.

we were busy-busy but managed to find time to eat a lot of food and spend time with friends and family.  just what a weekend should be [minus the 105 degree weather, of course.  ick].  here are many, many snaps from our time together.

the happy face of a lady who took off early on friday to meet mom for lunch and fabric shopping + my gigantic salad piled high with crunchy lettuce, radishes, cabbage, cauliflower, and a few croutons for good measure + date night with hubby at windsor + the cute little papers they give you for your chewed gum.  genius + my handsome man + our plate [yes, we shared!  pat on the back for us] of the porkwich and a side of ooey-gooey mac and cheese + some really tasty yogurt from our new favorite fro-yo joint, yogurtology + look at him!  so cute! + breakfast of eggs, apple slices sprinkled with cinnamon, and a gluten-free bagel with “everything” toppings + during the summer, our buddies love ice cubes.  charlie likes to bob in his bowl and collect all of the ice cubes that he can fit into his mouth.  then, he makes his own little private reserve which he guards fiercely + heading out for a few hours with friends at the scottsdale culinary festival’s great american picnic [yes.  outdoors.  bad call on the first 100 degree plus day of the year] + rustin hanging with miss marley who was a trooper in that heat + relaxing on the lawn while enjoying some grub + that would be ben’s “don’t even think about touching my pastrami sandwich” face + trying to catch a breeze and not melt + a sunday morning strings concert.  AMAZING.  thank you hubby for sharing your gift with others and glorifying your God + a little post-church lunch at z tejas with the family + chatting and sipping ice water and tea to stay cool + capping off the weekend with a date at benihana [i have been really wanting some teppanyaki...i am blaming it on that little baby of ours] + onion soup + incredible chicken fried rice + the chef masterfully creating our scrumptious food + taking in the final moments of the weekend…together.

snaps & snippets & blurbs

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okay, did anyone else think that this weekend went by much too fast?  we were having such a fun time but then poof!  it was sunday night.  not cool, weekend, not cool.  [sigh]  in spite of the seemingly short duration, we did manage to have ourselves a grand old time.  and now, we are easing ourselves into a new week.

heading out for a fun-filled saturday + lunch at jersey mike’s…mmm…subs + looking stylish in our 3d glasses on a double-date with my parents [and yes, we saw titanic 3d] + wok quinoa with crispy shrimp + a breakfast of delicious eggs, melted cheese, and spicy salsa infused corn chip sprinkle + the buddies enjoying a lounge-y afternoon on a cool day.  they love to curl up on our laps, burrow into the blankets, and nuzzle + keeping one eye on mr. charles who likes to perch on the arm of our couch and pounce on us when we least expect it…he LOVES attention

…

happy monday!

breakfast for dinner

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is there anything better?

now, while hubby and i do enjoy some tasty morning grub on the weekends, our weekday morning routine usually consists of some quick eggs, grapefruit, smoothies, or granola.  something healthy that i can quickly pull together while i am still trying to pull myself together at 5:30 in the morning. [hurray for working when the market works!]  this usually means that the more elaborate meals have to be saved for saturday morning…or, dinnertime!

there is something comforting about coming home from a long day at work and having the ol’ olfactory greeted by the aroma of bacon.  this week, we cooked up some turkey bacon and piled it high on top of a crispy fried egg.  then, we covered it in sharp cheddar and let it melt until it became one smother-y pile of goodness in the pan.  once the meat and eggs and cheese were steaming hot, super crispy, and extra oozey…the tasty concoction was delicately placed between a freshly toasted [and buttered] gluten-free bagel.

oh. my.  what a heavenly little sandwich.

snaps & snippets & blurbs

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a warm welcome to a new week!  hubby and i had a simply splendid weekend together.  here are a few little snaps…

waiting for the baroque concert to begin + my handsome and remarkably talented hubby leading those strings while the youth soloists are featured + a post-concert splurge at jalapeño inferno + we split some queso and mini chimis…it really hit the spot as our evening snack :) + my current obsession in a cup…32oz iced decaf americano from coffee bean and tea leaf.  big coffee flavor in a huge cup with heaps of tiny ice cubes.  i can already tell that this will be my go-to summer beverage.  it was lovely to sip on our 80-something days…and will be even more refreshing when it is 120 outside [eek] + weekend breakfast snapshots…harissa eggs with gluten-free bagels [a guilt free indulgence] and savory sweet potato hash + charlie’s adorable face…he likes to sit as close to me as possible + driving around town on a warm spring day, just me and my man

spice up your life

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hubby and i like to cook at home.  yes, we do have fun on date nights on the weekend…but mostly, we enjoy creating meals from scratch in our own kitchen.  we plan out the week of recipes and then search the markets for interesting ingredients.  we have our staples, sure.  but we also like to try new things.  and we love flavor and spice.

in fact, we always add a dash [or two] of herbs and spices to every dish we make.  basil, chili powder, cumin, coriander, dill, fresh ginger, oregano, paprika, rosemary, sage, thyme, and tumeric.  whatever it takes to make the dish sing.

i guess my southwestern livin’ has been really inspiring me because lately, i have been loving all things spicy.  hubby and i have been consuming a lot of hatch chiles and peppers.  yum.  my personal favorites?

ben’s spicy pepper black beans with quinoa

a favorite snack – crave canyon’s [local company!] hatch chile and aged cheddar popcorn

fresh chile nachos with habanero salsa

vosages [sugar free!] chocolate with peppers and cinnamon

hubby’s homemade roasted pepper salsa

pita jungle’s chicken del sol with plenty of warmth and heat from cumin and peppers

hubby’s a.maze.ing. huevos rancheros with chorizo beans and smoky salsa

lush burger’s hatch chile burger with pepperjack cheese

eggs with chile and chipotle crumble [and cheese, of course]

…

take some time this weekend to get creative, enjoy some meals at home, and add some spice to your life.

snaps & snippets & blurbs

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some recent snaps that i enjoy.

enjoying some delicious dinner with my mom and dad at pita jungle + taking the fun back to our house so that the buddies can join in…they like having more laps to choose from + kissy faces & gopher faces + vibrant colors at the market…apples and citrus and seafood + the buddies, just lounging + a great breakfast to kickoff the weekend…eggs with cheese; hatch chiles; and roasted tomatillo, flax, and corn crumble…spicy, cheesy goodness + mr. charles, a closeup + hubby and i heading out for an afternoon movie + the delightful colors of pollen puffs [man, those wretched little buggers agitate my allergies...but it makes for a great snap] + desert sunshine + hip decor from our sushi date night at stingray + my handsome man + mmm…plate o’ tuna and salmon and shrimp + some yogurt to top it off + happy sunday!  His mercies are new every morning + eggs before church + nachos! + some lazy, tousled hair + couch fashion…sporting coco like a stole