Wedding Wednesday, Celebrate!

 

Celebrate we will!  This past Saturday night, we were the “guests of honor” at a party in Lumberton.  We are so blessed that Chris’ parents friends love them enough to want to host a party to celebrate us.  Not only was it great to see people we haven’t seen all year but my parents loved putting faces with names that they’ve heard over the years.  To say we had a blast is an understatement.  The company was fun, the (live) music was such a great touch and the food was delicious (especially those lamb chops!).  Here are some pics from the par-tay…

 

 

 

 

 

A HUGE thank you to all the folks that put so much thought into the party.

But the celebrations don’t end there…this weekend is my bridal shower (kitchen themed) and I’m soooooooo excited!!!!  Can’t wait to share more on that next week.

Celebrating 5!

As I mentioned last week, Friday was our 5-year “date-iversary.”  So of course we celebrated.

On Friday evening, we kept things low-key.  I chose to make a stir-fry because it’s one of Big Guy’s favorite dinners.  The Szechuan Chicken Stir-Fry was super easy to pull together once all the ingredients were prepped.  The fresh ginger is a must! So much flavor along with a little heat from the chile paste.  I served our chicken stir-fry over Jasmine rice – one of our favorite rice varieties.  On top of the stir-fry, I sprinkling of green onions and peanuts.  Love the salty crunch the peanuts add.  And for once, I didn’t change a thing in this recipe – well, I might have added a little less chile paste.  So delicious!

 

For dessert, we shared a Mini Cheesecake that I had picked up from The Fresh Market.  It was perfect with a glass of bubbles.

On Saturday, Big Guy took me out to dinner to celebrate.  Instead of trying a new restaurant (though we have a long, long list) we went with a tried and true place.  We knew that the food would be amazing and that the atmosphere was what we were looking for.

We were not disappointed.  I didn’t take any more pictures – in fact, as soon as this pic was posted on Instagram, I was banned from taking my phone out of my clutch the rest of the evening.  It was a lovely dinner with the best date I could ask for.

I cannot wait to see what the next 5 years has in store for us.

Happy Monday to you all!

 

5 years.

I only have one Friday Favorite this week.

And it’s Big Guy.

Today marks five years of dating for us and I can’t wait to have an “official” anniversary come April 27.

But March 1st will always be our “date-iversary.”

 

It’s hard to believe that this “little thing” called love started five years ago.

But I can honestly say it’s the best thing to ever happen to me.

He’s my best friend.

Big Guy,

You’re the bubbles in my champagne.

So this weekend we’re celebrating!  Even though it’s not a “real” anniversary to the rest of the world – it’s where we started…

Five years ago.

Mura and Mushrooms

We checked another restaurant off our list!  On Saturday we headed back to Raleigh (seriously – I think we should just move there sometimes) to run a few errands and try a new-to-us restaurant.  Our list of super long but sushi peaked both of our interests!  (If you had asked me 5 years ago if Big Guy would be eating sushi with me, I would have laughed.)  A lot of sushi places are closed during lunch hours but Mura at North Hills is not (except on Sundays).

We decided to sit at the bar to keep the meal low-key.

http://www.muranorthhills.com

I was really tempted to try the Murjito but the bartender actually talked me out of it.  A classic mojito with an Asian flair, we muddle mint and cucumber together then mix it with Absoult Mango vodka and simple syrup then topped off with soda water. Served on the rocks.

I stuck with a glass of the Primal Roots (a white blend).  So refreshing and actually perfect with sushi.

We started the meal with an order of edamame.

And for the main meal – I went with the Mura Roll.

Tuna, yellowtail, salmon, crab
meat, wasabi, chives, cilanto
and masago, wrapped with
nori and thinly peeled daikon

And Big Guy ordered the Piano (which was super delicious – I had a bite…or two):

Tempura shrimp, spicy crab salad,
wrapped with thinly sliced avocado.
Topped with eel sauce
and wasabi sauce.

And the Surf and Turf:

Tempura shrimp, crab salad,
cream cheese, chives, wasabi, sliced
let mignon with teriyaki sauce.

We both left pleasantly full and decided that it’s a place we would visit again.

That’s the “Mura” part – now to the “mushrooms”…

I pinned a recipe on Pinterest and I finally got around to making Red Wine and Garlic Mushrooms.  I’m serious when I say these may be the best mushrooms to ever come out of my kitchen!  It didn’t hurt using a good red wine either.

My picture doesn’t do these ‘shrooms justice.  Butter, olive oil, red wine and garlic make for the most perfect mushroom ever.  Instead of parsley, I topped the ‘shrooms with chives.  The sauce!  I can’t even describe!

So there you have it, Mura and Mushrooms.

Roasted Chicken Thighs with Mustard-Thyme Sauce

This dinner is worthy of a glass of wine.  So go ahead, pour yourself a glass of Pinot Grigio (or whatever you glass of choice may be for dinner) and prepare to have dinner on the table in 40 minutes.

I honestly think that chicken thighs are underused.  Personally I like to buy my chicken thighs at Trader Joe’s.  They don’t have too much fat on them and they’re the perfect size.

The roasted chicken thighs with mustard-thyme sauce starts by simply seasoning the thighs with salt and pepper and searing them on the stove top until lightly browned.  While the chicken thighs are cooking, prep the green beans.  Simply toss green beans with sliced garlic, salt and pepper.  Those will roast at 425 degrees.

Once the thighs are browned, place them in a oven-safe baking dish and place them in the oven with the green beans.  Now it’s time to make the sauce!  Add butter to the pan that you used for the chicken and saute the onions and thyme.  Instead of flour, I used cornstarch to thicken the chicken stock.  The stock is added to the sauteed onions – make sure to scrap off all the yummy “bits” on the bottom of the pan.  Allow this to cook until thickened.  Once the chicken and beans are finished – remove the sauce from the heat and add in the mustard.  Serve the sauce on top of the chicken thighs along with the green beans.

 

The chicken thighs were super tender but so flavorful from the onion and the thyme-mustard sauce.  The sauce was seriously better than I ever imagined.  And the green beans – you simply can’t go wrong with green beans roasted with garlic.

Super simple, super delicious and super healthy.

Fat Saturday

Last week was Mardi Gras but I didn’t get a chance to celebrate until Saturday.  Big Guy and I decided to have a Mardi Gras/Cajun-themed dinner Saturday and called it Fat Saturday.  Hey, better late than never, right?

 

We started off the celebration with a cocktail!  Fresh mango chunks, blood orange juice, lime juice and a little agave are muddled together and then combined with light and dark rum to make a Maelstrom.

For dinner, Cajun Crab Dip and Spicy New Orleans Barbecue Shrimp.   I was shocked when Big Guy suggested the crab dip since he’s not a seafood lover but I didn’t ask any questions because I was excited to make a new dip.  The crab dip was awesome!  Best served with veggies and bagel chips (gluten free – Glutino makes awesome ones).  The only change I made with the crab dip was leaving out the panko on top.

 

As for the spicy shrimp, prep them ahead of time.  They can even marinate over night – just make sure the marinade is cool before adding the shrimp or it will start to cook your shrimp.  The only change I made to the shrimp recipe was not using as much butter (ran out) and I used half the amount of liquid smoke the recipe called for.  I find that my taste buds are very sensitive to liquid smoke.  The shrimp are roasted in the oven until perfectly tender.  Finger lickin’ good!

 

The perfect Fat Tuesday Saturday!

10 Fridays

I just realized (well, I actually just counted) that there are only 10 Fridays between now and my wedding week!  That really put things into perspective.  Holy cow.  Where has time gone?  And can I just say that those 10 weekends between right this minute and our wedding weekend are packed.  Thankfully they’re packed with fun stuff…showers, parties, Easter, and I’ve packed one full of nothing for sanity purposes.

So what’s this weekend going to be packed with?  Well, tonight I’m kicking off the weekend with a girls night!  The snow ice cancelled my plans for a date with my Buttercream Queen a few weeks back so we’re making up for lost time.  And Saturday is full of fun!  I’m spending the whole date with Big Guy and I couldn’t be more excited.  We’re going to try a new-to-us restaurant for lunch, run a few errands and cook dinner fit for “Fat Saturday.”  A weekend with no where to be is just what the doctor ordered.  I’ll catch you up with all the details on Monday.  But for now…my Friday Favorites of the week.

Favorite Computer Nook:  I can’t see this as being Big Guy’s office but I can totally see myself in this space, blogging and pinning away.

Favorite Covered Dish:  If I was invited to a family reunion this weekend, this trifle is what I would take.  Peanut Butter, bananas and brownies.  Shut up.

Favorite Garden Tip:  Painted strawberry rocks in your garden chase the birds away from your strawberries. They hate pecking on stones and assume that all the strawberries are hard.

Favorite Use of a Cast Iron Skillet:  PIZZA!!!  And the toppings sound amazing, too.  Brussel sprouts and bacon.  I’m sold.

Favorite Bag:  Are you not obsessed with this bag from Cole Haan?  If Big Guy can have 4 pairs of his shoes, can’t I have one bag?  (kidding, Big Guy, kidding)

Favorite Salad:  This salad makes me crave warm weather, grilling outside, cocktails on the deck and fresh veggies from the garden.

Favorite Boozy Dessert:  So I kind of love Amaretto.  And I’m not sure where our love affair began.  And then it was taken to a whole new level when combined with chocolate.

Favorite Quote:  All I can say is “Amen.”

Make this weekend fabulous!

Wedding Wednesday, Stock the Bar

Let the fun begin!!!  This past Saturday evening, three of our favorite couples threw us a “Stock the Bar” party to celebrate our upcoming wedding.  There is nothing more to say but that the party was more perfect than anything I could have ever imagined.  The party fit our personalities to a “T.”  A champagne bar for her; bourbon bar for him.

There are so many reasons why this party was so perfect.  For one, we are blessed to have friends that love us enough to put so much work into a party for us.  Secondly, my parents loved meeting some of the friends that I talk about all the time.  They finally got to “put a face with the name.”  I seriously couldn’t stop smiling thinking about how wonderful it was to have so many people I cherish under one roof (thanks, KP and Adam for that roof).

Since words don’t give this party justice – here are some photos from the night:

The Hostesses with the Mostesses (and me)

Engaged Ladies!

Almost Sisters!

soon-to-be Mr. and Mrs.

The best parents I could ask for!

Champagne Jello Shots!!! Champagne Cupcakes!!!

Tres Amigas!

73 days to go!!!

Spicy Basil Chicken

This past weekend my family was in town visiting so that they could attend a party (more on the party Wednesday) on Saturday night.  My youngest brother and his girlfriend were able to arrive early enough on Friday night to eat dinner with us.  Living in a small town, you don’t really take out-of-town-guests out to dinner because there just isn’t a lot to offer.  So I cooked!  But cooking for these two is tricky…Jamie (Logan’s GF) is particular about food (Jamie knows I love her regardless).  She’s especially particular about beef – no pink.  Well, “no pink” in beef pains Big Guy.  So I went with chicken.  Because Big Guy doesn’t like pink chicken and neither does Jamie.  On the menu:  Spicy Basil Chicken over Sesame Brown Rice with a side of Sauteed Snow Peas and Peppers.

I only made a few changes to the recipes.  For the chicken, I omitted the fish sauce and used more tamari (gluten-free soy sauce).  And for the rice, I didn’t use brown rice, I used jasmine rice.

Talk about a flavorful dinner!  You can control the spiciness of the chicken by altering the amount of chile paste you add to the chicken.  And the basil adds so much freshness to the whole plate.  From the nuttiness of the sesame oil in the veggies to the brightness of the lime juice in the rice to the saltiness of the chicken.  It was perfection.  Jamie even thought it was a great dinner.  I think we all cleared our plate.

Friday, you’re my favorite.

What a week!  I feel like I’ve been in this week for a month now.  Whew.  I’m sure it’s because I have a BIG weekend ahead (eeeeek!!!!) and I’m just ready to see all my friends and family.  Our friends here are throwing us a “Stock the Bar” party (aka Bubbles and Bourbon) and we are thrilled.  I can’t wait to share more about that next week.  But for now…here are my favorites from this never ending week.

Favorite Drink:  I’m obsessed with sangria.  And blood oranges are perfect this time of year.  So I see Blood Orange Sangria is in my near future.

Favorite Color Inspiration:  Poppy, pale pink and gold.  Color perfection.

Favorite Salad:  How can you go wrong with a fajita-inspired salad?  You can’t.  Plus there’s a homemade dressing that sounds so good I want to drink it with a straw.

Favorite Visual:  I’m a sucker for cheese plates.  They’re one of my favorite things.  I could eat cheese plates for dinner every Friday night if I wasn’t marrying a steak man. Who wants to have a Friday night cheese plate date with me?

Favorite Post-Wedding Task:  After the wedding is all said and done I can’t wait to organize the kitchen.  And I’m serious.  Momma Bell not only will be with me for a whole week the week of the wedding but she can go ahead and plan a weekend trip post-wedding to help organize my kitchen.

Favorite Chilly Treat:  York Peppermint Patty Ice Cream!  I’m squealing like a little girl.

Favorite Bangle:  There are about 58 outfits I could imagine wearing this gorgeous bracelet with.

Favorite Beauty Upgrade:  I’m not a lipstick wearer.  But it’s all the rage.  I’m on the hunt for the perfect color that I can pull off effortlessly.

Happy Friday!!!!  My biggest problem currently is what I’m making Logan and Jamie for dinner….