Family Portraits

 I have this thing where I loathe a family portrait.  I don't enjoy the very sterile looks you get in a portrait studio or even a charmingly posed shoot in the park, etc.  It just isn't very me.  I am more ODD.  I love circus freaks (aren't we all a little freaky at heart).  And I love oldey timey stuff.  And I love dressing up.  So this is what a family portrait looks like at my house.

The heat is on....

Have you heard of this peanut butter?

What a great idea.  I am a lover of a spicy peanut noodle and when I found out about this stuff, I HAD to try.  Last night was the maiden voyage.  Spicy capellini with broccoli and tofu.  It was YUM!  I love me some spicy stuff and this peanut butter packs a serious kick on its own, but is just right in a sauce.

I brought her to lunch today and she did not disappoint.

Buy it.  Eat it.  Love it.  You can thank me later.

Scones, How do I love thee?

Lately of a Saturday morning, nothing can please me but a fresh hot scone and a cup of joe.  I am partial to the Dreamy Creamy Scones recipe on Smitten Kitchen (having trouble linking directly to the recipe, so this will just take you to her site).  She uses currants, which are far too closely related to the dreaded raisin for my taste.  I have made them with chocolate chips and dried blueberries and I have not been disappointed.  Also, just FYI- I didn't have any heavy cream this weekend, so I used 3/4 cup 2% milk and 1/4 cup grape seed oil.  The weren't quite as decadent, but still very good.

Back From Vacation...sigh....

So last week was our extremely successful staycation.  We did take a mini getaway for glamping north of Santa Barbara at El Capitan Canyon.  I highly recommend...or maybe I don't because I don't want the place overrun for pete's sake.  I mean we just found it and all. :)

The events of the week:

Glamping on Sun-Tue

(Actual picture from El Capitan.  The tents really are this cool.  We had two double beds in ours)

Santa Barbara Zoo on Tuesday morning on the way back home

(we pretty much paid $65 to ride this train for twelve minutes.  But we had to wait 30 minutes to get on.  Kids enjoyed it.  Adults felt meh).

4th of July celebration and fireworks viewing at the house of a pal

(Always a delight and involves hot dogs.  Enough said)

Took the girls to see the Katy Perry movie on Thursday eve.  

(They are fans and it was very PG.  My three year old sang at the top of her lungs.  Loved it!)

Friday was pottery painting and cupcakes.

(Ok.  Color Me Mine is kind of expensive but a TOTALLY worthwhile staycation splurge.)

(I don't generally enjoy the cupcakes that are not homemade and I don't really like frosting. HOWEVER, Susie Cakes are grand indeed.  I had a seasonal blueberry pancake cupcake.  While I did not eat all of the frosting, it was still a delight.  If you are going to buy a cupcake, buy it from Susie).

Saturday the hubs and me had a date night and FINALLY watched Bridesmaids.

 (never in the history of ever has anyone been more brilliantly funny that Melissa McCarthy in this film)

Sunday we had friends over and I cooked mole enchiladas and mexican chocolate pralines and it made me HAPPY.

 (I made it myself and it was sooooo good.  I chose to do a stacked enchilada- tres easy)

(the recipe I used and the photo above are from The Homesick Texan blog.  I myself being a homesick Texan I think it was apropos.)

Recipes here and here...

I feel refreshed of spirit.  It was nice not to deal with a flight and heavy packing and constantly trying to figure out where to eat.  There is so much to do in SoCal.  Nice to actually enjoy some of it.

CHEERS!

Copy Cat

Last week I saw this picture of a Nicoise salad over on Canelle et Vanille.  It looked so pretty and doable.  We had some good friends over on Saturday night and I played copycat.  It went over big.  My friend said, "It is almost pretty enough to take a picture of!"  I had to admit that I already did.  :)

Roasted Chicken Love

Check out my pretty roasted chicken!  It made me sooooo very happy to see that lovely crisped up skin.  I varied the recipe a little (as is my usual) but mostly followed this.

So I hate picking a chicken carcass, but I did my best.  Knowing I had left plenty behind, I threw the whole picked over birdie into a pot of boiling water.  Once it was chickeny, I added brown rice, carrots, tomatoes and the chicken I had picked off back in.  Mmmmm....chicken soup for dinner tonight!

Circling Back?

I find myself at a point of circling back.  I think I got off track this past year.  I started buying a lot of STUFF again and I don't think I am necessarily any better for it.  I feel the need to purge and read a lot about the simple life.  I find that reading is one of the best ways to keep myself grounded.  My biggest start...I am trying to eat and give my family as much real food as possible.  I am reading lots of labels and making myself make things from scratch, even if it would be easier just to buy a mix.  And I like it.  And I feel better about myself.  I think I want to blog here more again and get back to finishing my list.  I may change some things...We'll see.