Menu Monday

 A lot of good, not great, recipes graced our table last week.  Solid weeknight recipes that may or may not earn a repeat on our menu rotation.  

Spinach Manicotti in Creamy Tomato Sauce {Everyday Food December 2010}

This one will probably earn a second look.  It was relatively simple to make, although stuffing the shells is a huge pain.  The lemon was a wonderful addition to the filling, but I felt like it needed a little more flavor.  Maybe some garlic? It was a little bland.  But a great, filling Meatless Monday meal that was pretty inexpensive.  With some adjustments, I think this could become a standard.

Tex-Mex Pork {Cooking Light December 2010}

Meh. I had such high hopes for this meal and it did not live up to them at all.  All delicious ingredients but combined it was underwhelming.  Although M did enjoy the leftovers with some scrambled eggs the next morning.  All told, I didn't like this enough to make it again.

Fresh Salmon-Cilantro Burgers {Cooking Light May 2009}

Winner! We LOVED these burgers.  I would add a little more flavor to the burgers with some garlic and I would add jalapeño to the flavored mayo as well.  They would be good with some sliced avocado on top too.  Very easy to make, very minimal clean up, SO delicious!

Almond-Stuffed Chicken {Cooking Light March 2009}

Another meh. I thought this was going to be amazing and it just wasn't.  It wasn't bad; it just wasn't worth the work and the cost of Boursin.  We won't be having this again.  I'd much rather have the rollatini I posted from last week.

Bon appétit! 

The Great Closet Overhaul of 2013

source

One of the items on my 101 in 1,001 is to be able to better define my aesthetic in fashion.  In order to do that, I need to tackle another item on the list, which is to scrutinize the contents of my closet and donate, store, or toss the items I never wear.  To take it a step further, I also need to identify which looks work for me and which looks don't and I need to make a list of what clothing items I need to purchase.

As I mentioned yesterday, my wardrobe is in major need of an overhaul.  I'm a classic example of the first world problem of too many clothes and nothing to wear.  Here's my MO: I see something cute/trendy/on sale, I'm too lazy to try it on in the store so I buy it, try it on at home, it's not really that flattering but I never get around to returning it.  Or I try it on in the store and ignore the fact that it's not all that flattering because it was cute/trendy/on sale and buy it anyways. Then it hangs in my closet after one or two wears {in which I confirm that it is definitely not flattering} and taunts me.  Or {my worst habit} I buy work pants that need to be hemmed because I'm such a shorty and they never get to the tailors. Seriously, I currently have 5 {!!} pairs of pants that fit this definition, some of which were purchased 3 years ago.  {Here's where I hang my head in shame.}

I also have a hard time parting with my poor-decision purchases because I think, "Well, I spent the money on them, so I should keep them." Of course, this logic is ridiculous. The money is spent whether or not I keep the items in question.  So that brings us to today.  My goal for this weekend is to truly clean out my closets.  That means try on EVERYTHING.  Be brutally honest with myself about what looks good and what doesn't.  About what I love and what I don't.  About what I will ACTUALLY wear and what I won't.  There will be four piles: Keep.  Donate.  Toss.  Repair/Alter/Clean.

Then comes {for me anyways} the really hard part: following through.  I have to actually take the Donate pile to the Goodwill.  I have to bring myself to toss the clothes that are not fit to be donated.  And most important, I have to take those clothes in need of some TLC to their appropriate places by Memorial Day weekend.

I have to say I'm invigorated and excited just thinking about this.  I don't know what it feels like to open my closet door and not feel a lot of guilt because 90% of the items in there aren't being worn.  But I'm also majorly nervous because I'm a little afraid I won't be willing to be as harsh as I need to be.  Do you have any advice for me?  I know that for everyone of you who's a closet hoarder like me, there have got to me some expert closet editors out there!

I'll be back next week with the results...

Recent Purchases

1 // 2 // 3 // 4

A couple of recent spring clothing purchases that I'm loving.  The bonus is that they're ALL on sale right now.  {The J.Crew skirt doesn't appear to be available online in my pretty green color anymore, but maybe you can find it at your local store?}

Any additions to your spring wardrobe that I should add to my list? My wardrobe needs an overhaul in the worst way!

Popcorn Monkey

We spent our Easter Sunday in Middleburg with my parents.  We had some time to kill before our brunch reservations at The French Hound, and we spotted a sign for a shop called Popcorn Monkey across the street from the restaurant. M and I have been to Middleburg many times and this was our first time spotting the new Popcorn Monkey store. What a discovery!

It's in the basement of an old house and the owner, who is so sweet and helpful, whips up fresh batches of popcorn in every flavor combination he can dream of.  We went home with salt and vinegar, wasabi, banana chocolate drizzle, Texas tornado, and a combination of ranch and buffalo wing.  I was partial to my wasabi, but the Texas tornado was the favorite of our group.  It tasted like a taco!

The good news is that Popcorn Monkey ships.  We've already got out online cart filled with new flavors to try {Loaded Potato and Dill} and another helping of Texas tornado.  I'm keeping my eyes peeled for the elusive Black Truffle flavor.

 For those of you with a sweet tooth, they have a chocolate peanut butter M&M mix that looks amazing, as well as kettle corn, chocolate-covered cherry, and cinnamon toast flavors.

I have a feeling we'll be making many more trips to Middleburg to hit up Popcorn Monkey. If you're in the area {especially you Northern VA and DC people}, you have to go by and try some!

Menu Monday

FINALLY getting a Menu Monday post up on an actual Monday! Victory!

Thai Chicken Pizza {Culinary Couple}

Why are you reading this?  You should be whipping this up for yourself RIGHT NOW. I know M was a little skeptical when he saw Thai chicken pizza on the menu and honestly, I was a little worried too.  That was ridiculous because this has now won a space on my favorite weeknight meals list.  It's that good. Go make it. FYI, I used my favorite crust recipe from Budget Bytes.  Her recipe says it makes 3 crusts, but it only makes 2 in my experience.

Orecchiette with Turkey Sausage and Broccoli Rabe {Everyday Italian}

I used the recipe that is in the Everyday Italian cookbook, so I'm not sure what's going on with the tomato sauce recipe here.  It's definitely not in the book.  I loved this with 2 caveats: you do NOT need 3 tablespoons of olive oil.  More like 1 tablespoon MAX. And 2 bunches of broccoli rabe would be fine, but it would make this recipe more of a broccoli rabe and sausage dish with a little pasta thrown in.  That's not necessarily a bad thing, but what you see about was only with one bunch of broccoli rabe and it was plenty.  Made enough for excellent leftovers!

 Chicken Rollatini with Zucchini and Mozzarella {Skinnytaste}

Major yum.  We will definitely be having this again.  It came together much faster and easier than I thought it would and it was WAY more flavorful than I was expecting.  Also a major hit with M.  Two of these little guys apiece + a side salad was more than enough for dinner.

Potato Sourdough Bread {Southern Living 1995 Annual Recipes}

see last Friday's post for recipe

EHRMAHGAWSH. SO GOOD.  These two loaves came out of the oven around 5:30pm yesterday and half a loaf is already gone.  There is just nothing better than the smell of freshly baked bread. My mom's tips: Only add 1/6 cup {eyeball half of a 1/3 cup} of sugar, otherwise it's far too sweet. Start out only adding 5 cups of flour; you can always add more, but you can't take it out.  I used about 5 1/3 cups + what I used to knead the bread {approx. another 1/3 cup}.  You don't HAVE to knead the bread, but you get more of a cake-texture without kneading. I would actually knead it a little more than the recipe calls for to get a true bread texture.  Honestly, I was surprised how simple this was to make.  I'm planning to make another two loaves this weekend and once I feel like I've mastered it, I'm going to attempt cinnamon bread!  Yummmmmmmmm.

Friday Favorites

It's been so long since I did a Friday Favorites post! I hope to be back to regular posting soon. Here's what's on my radar this week:

So I have an addiction.  It's strange, because I really hate the regular Peeps. I get grossed out just thinking about them.  But these...these are amazing. True story: I drove to three stores earlier this week looking for them so I could have one on my lunch break. NO SHAME.

I spend a fortune each week on grocery store basil and cilantro.  I'm determined to overcome my black thumb this summer and grow them at home.  I bought seeds and little starter indoor growing cups at Target this week and I'm going to plant them this weekend.  This article has some good tips on successfully growing basil and this one is all about cilantro; do you have any other tips for me? I'm going to need all the help I can get. I am a plant murderer.

So you can get the top dress from the normal J.Crew website for $88, or you can get the bottom dress from the J.Crew Factory website for $54.50 plus another 30% off with the code MOREPLEASE.  No brainer. 

Recipe is from the 1995 Southern Living Annual Recipes cookbook

My parents are coming to visit this weekend and I'm so excited to tackle another item on my 101 in 1,001 list with my mom: making homemade bread! My mother had a sourdough starter that lasted for years and we always had homemade sourdough bread growing up.  She recently gave my sister and I the ingredients to make our own starters and this weekend is the moment of truth! My starter's been going for a couple of weeks. I'll report back next week, along with my mom's tips and tricks for theeeee best homemade bread.

For my DC/Baltimore/Northern VA friends and readers, Livingsocial has a fabulous deal going on a 4-pack of tickets to the Virginia Gold Cup races.  M and I got our package and would love to see lots of fun people there on the North Rail! Hop to it and let me know if you'll be there!

Happy Easter weekend!

Menu Tuesday

Yesterday was {yet another} snow day here in Virginia, so Menu Tuesday it is.  Lots of good eats last week, although I'm getting tired of cold-weather comfort food!

Tuna Noodle Casserole {PBS Food}

This could not have been a bigger hit at our house.  M inhaled it.  Only change I will make the next time I make it {and there will definitely be a next time}: add Old Bay. I'm thinking a teaspoon sautéed with the vegetables and then a good, healthy dose sprinkled on top with the cheese and potato chips. Heavenly and retro in the best way possible.

 Split-Pea and Ham Soup {Cook's Illustrated January 2011}

New favorite soup recipe. Very easy and so delicious and comforting and hearty.  I didn't add the fresh peas or mint for garnish, but we did add the balsamic vinegar. Don't skip that step.  I also didn't make croutons, but rather sliced a loaf of bread, drizzled on salt, pepper, and olive oil, and put it under the broiler for a few minutes.  Leftover for lunch today and I can't wait!

Soy Dijon Pork Tenderloin {Budget Bytes}

Winner, winner, pork dinner! This is going to be in heavy rotation in our house. So, so, SO yummy.  Easy and not very time consuming either.  Wondering when is too soon to make this again...

 Broccoli Cheese Stuffed Sweet Potatoes {A Couple Cooks}

Meh.  Not bad, not great.  I could've done without the water in the bean puree as it made it too, wait for it...watery.  I think it would've been better with black beans.  And I wouldn't puree anything next time.  I would've enjoyed the different texture whole beans would've added.  Even with the garlic and red pepper flakes, I just found this to be bland.  I can think of more exciting things to do with sweet potatoes.  That said, this was easy, cheap, and a filling Meatless Monday meal.  Just needs a little adjusting.

Asian Chicken Noodle Soup {Eat, Live, Run}

I'm still not 100% sure how I feel about this one.  I loved the flavors, it was incredibly delicious, and it was the perfect thing for a night when I was feeling a bit under the weather.  But it made SO MUCH SOUP.  Normally, this wouldn't be a bad thing, as I am all about leftovers. But the acids in the broth broke down the noodles so that they were mushy and gross.  I need to figure out a way to halve the recipe and then we'll be good to go.

Bon appétit!