Archives for July 2013

wwww.

July 10, 2013 / By Courtney / 7 Comments

It’s that time of the week again – woohoo! Is it me or does wwww make the mid week slump just a bit more fun? You know the drill, link up with us below if you can. If not, head on over to Facebook and show us those adorable outfits. Toronto Mama and I can’t wait to see!

The past few days in our area have been beyond hot and humid so we have been rocking a lot of shorts and tees. Here’s the breakdown:

L: Crewcut ‘speed demon’ tee (which is funny as speed isn’t exactly his strength) and those old navy shorts I love.

B: I first have to say, love the pic of L’s arm on him. B’s expression says it all: ‘you can do anything you ever want to me brother, I am obsessed with you.’ Anyway, B is sporting a ‘vintage’ onesie courtesy of L – remember when Gap did the RED campaign? I loved that. His plaid shorts are from H&M.

C: I’ve been getting into shorts more and more this summer – typically I am not a fan. The heat did not allow for capris though so I dug out the shortest pair that seemed appropriate. They are from GAP. Blue tank is from The Loft ($5.99)! Necklace is also from The Loft and I loooooove it. They had an orange and pink version as well and right now they both are on sale. I feel it’s the perfect necklace to jazz up a boring tank. Shoes are striped Sperrys from J Crew.

So that wraps up one of our looks from this past week and I just had to end with this photo so you understand all is not always picture perfect. It’s just been so muggy I just haven’t cared how we look. B ate dinner in this onesie, slept in it, ate breakfast, and then we ran errands (i.e. went in public). After we got back home I looked at him and had no one to blame but myself. He was changed shortly after, btw.

‘Mom, WHAT do you have me dressed in? This stain! And hello, this isn’t exactly slimming on the thighs.’

Let’s see those looks!
C

C’s picks.

July 8, 2013 / By Courtney / 18 Comments

Here is what’s cooking in our kitchen this week:

Sunday night we enjoyed a pool date with just the 4 of us at the club and ended up staying for dinner. We do this occasionally throughout the summer and I feel so spoiled every single time. Like really, how is this my life? Never taken for granted I get to enjoy a meal there. And the mess is left behind, huge bonus.

Monday it’s back to the grill! We ate a lot of heavy bbq foods this weekend so I’m grilling up a nice light dish. Have you made this yet? Please say yes.

Tuesday I’m making something that looks completely drool worthy. Chicken Parmesan burgers. Thank you, Bon Appetit.

We haven’t had our pizza in too long so I’ll be whipping that up Wednesday night. Hoping to put a new spin on it – I’ll keep you posted!

L still mentions ‘italian sausage thursdays‘ so I’m going to stick with that for him this week. Chicken for me. We’ll grill up some veggies along the side with our new favorite crack potatoes.

Friday we’ll end with a special meal of grilled ribeye steaks and green beans with roasted tomato vinaigrette and chili gorgonzola butter. I know.

What’s cooking in your kitchen this week? I’d love to hear!

Eat up,
C

The sign of summer.

July 6, 2013 / By Courtney / 6 Comments

I am almost giddy with excitement when farmer’s markets begin to pop up all over towns. I love them. I love what you can find, I love the people watching, and I love the time with L & B there. I have to say though, I have left the past few a bit unsatisfied. Yes I had awesome herbs and beautiful flowers and honey roasted peanut butter that is to. die. for. but something was missing.

Then July hit and BAM it’s a whole other feeling. That stuff you just crave with markets finally arrives. The air is scented with freshly picked corn. The most juicy and saturated red tomatoes you’ll ever find are sprawled out on white card tables. Berries are lined up like jewels in little blue boxes. Ah yes, this is what summer markets are about.

And then there are those peaches.

Sigh.

I have a love hate relationship with peaches. Give me a good peach in the dead of July and August and it’s all I need. I’m done. It better be good though because there is nothing worse than a bad peach. It’s the ultimate let down. Worse than the Cubs, wait – is that possible?

It’s not but this cobbler more than makes up for it.

Peach Cobbler

2013-11-26 12:26:47

Serves 8

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PEACH INGREDIENTS

12 fresh peaches - peeled, pitted and sliced into thin wedges
1/4 cup and 2 tablespoons white sugar
1/4 cup and 2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1-1/2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice & zest of 1 lemon
1 tablespoon cornstarch

COBBLER INGREDIENTS

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup and 2 tablespoons white sugar
1/4 cup and 2 tablespoons brown sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup and 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small pieces
1/4 cup and 2 tablespoons boiling water

MIX TOGETHER

1/4 cup and 1 teaspoon white sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees.
In a large bowl all peach ingredients. Toss to coat evenly, and pour into a 2 quart baking dish. Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a large bowl work on your cobbler ingredients. Combine flour, sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, and salt. Blend in butter with your fingertips, or a pastry blender, until mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in water until just combined.
Remove peaches from oven, and drop spoonfuls of topping over them. Sprinkle entire cobbler with the sugar and cinnamon mixture. Bake until topping is golden, about 30 minutes.

By A Life From Scratch

A Life From Scratch. https://a-life-from-scratch.com/

Eat up!
C

wwww.

July 3, 2013 / By Courtney / 8 Comments

It’s time for what WE wore Wednesday! These photos are from a park date we had on the first whole day home from school. Here is what we wore on a sunny but tad cooler day:

L: Crewcuts bulldog tee, love the saying around the collar: ‘big heart, tough guy.’ H&M striped shorts, Ray Ban aviators, and Target gym shoes.

B: Zara striped tee, H&M teal jeans – love these! Old Navy socks to keep his chubby feet warm.

C: Can’t be the summer of 2013 without a denim shirt, do you have yours yet? I got mine at J Crew while they were offering 30% off. J Crew liberty print ankle cut skinnies on the bottom and J Crew tan oxfords – love those. Ray Ban aviators because we all have them. We are dorks that way.

What did you wear this past week? Toronto Mama and I would LOVE to see! Thank you for linking up with us.

C’s picks.

July 1, 2013 / By Courtney / 2 Comments

Whew! It’s good to be back in my kitchen. Not that it was oh so hard cooking in a kitchen with an ocean view, but, like they say….there’s no place like home. SC was filled with lots of sun, lots of wine, and lots of….teeth? B arrived home with not three, but FOUR new chompers. Let’s just say the only crabs on the beach weren’t the ones buried beneath the sand. My goodness. Hey, at least we had the ocean to lull us back to sleep at night. And I’ll never forget L and B’s faces each time they looked out at the ocean. Thank you Dave and Ginger, for that. Molly, we were all so happy to see you emerge from your room after that horrible 24 hour bug. The trip would not have been complete without you! Aunt Carolyn? Thank you for rocking the same bikini as your old sister in law and Tyler…L is already asking when he will see you again. He couldn’t have a better uncle. I hope you are bracing yourself for when B begins to chase after you as well. I think we all left with our fingers (and toes!) crossed for your and Becky’s home to work out.

Alright – first on the agenda was to get some cookies going. With our neighborhood getting 8 inches of water in a matter of hours while we were gone, our basement wasn’t exactly bone dry. Thanks to a neighbor and my dad will be in the form of these cookies. How kind they were to clean up a basement that wasn’t theirs.

We ate a lot of seafood in SC. What we didn’t eat was a lot of red meat so Sunday night was a relaxing dinner of grilled filets, veggies, and these potatoes. Fingers crossed the boys will be asleep – early bedtime please!

Monday night I’m going to bake a turkey breast in the oven and then finish it off on the grill to get that smokey/charred flavor. More veggies will sit along the side.

Tuesday M is back to the airport and I’m out with the girls. It’s been too long!

Wednesday we are back together for our his & hers pizza. Have you made this yet? There is nothing better than arugula all dressed up with olive oil, lemon, and freshly shaved parm. Sitting on top of a warm whole wheat crust? Love.

Thursday is the 4th! We will be dining with a combo of family and enjoying festivities at the club.

And that brings us to Friday and yet another night out! We are headed to a fundraiser and can you believe this menu? I KNOW. And it’s all homemade.

~~ MENU ~~

Goi Cuon – Fresh Summer Rolls – A Vietnamese salad with pork tenderloin and shrimp rolled up in rice paper. Aromatic herbs in these traditional rolls give an incredibly refreshing taste. Served with Peanut Sauce with optional chili sauce to give it a special kick.

Banh Xeo – Crispy Rice Pancake – This Vietnamese-style pancake is filled with shrimps, meat, fresh beansprouts, mushrooms and mung beans. The use of coconut milk in the batter is typical of souther Vietnamese specialties. Served on a bed of spring mix and herbs and drizzled with our special dipping sauce nuoc cham.

Goi Du Du – Green Papaya Salad – A refreshing slaw of shredded green papaya and fresh herbs topped with fried shallots and chopped peanuts.

Melon Sorbet

Pho – Vietnamese Beef Noodle Soup – How can I call this a Vietnamese dinner without this very popular signature dish originated from the Northern region of Vietnam. It is in the beef broth that is lovingly prepared with hints of ginger, anise, cinnamon, clove and coriander. Served with a squeeze of lime, fresh bean sprouts and basil.

Bun Bo Nuong – BBQ Beef with Vermicelli Noodles – marinated beef on a bed of rice noodles and fresh herbs topped with a crispy egg roll.

Dessert – Lychee Ice Cream

Jasmine Tea and Iced Coffee will be served. Bring Your Own Wine. (No problem here!)

What’s cooking in your kitchen this week? I’d love to hear!
C