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A Life From Scratch.

A Life You Adore Around A Table You Love.

Games we play.

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I wanted to share with you an email I wrote to Jenny. She is the author of the most wonderful blog, Dinner A Love Story. She has also written a book, which I highly recommend. I think it’s important to let bloggers know the influence they have on you. I can’t tell you what it means to me to read each and every comment or email. They are all so important and really change my day for the better!

Here we go…

Hi Jenny ~

First of all, I’ve been a long time fan of DALS and fell even more in love when I bought your book. The part I connected to the most began on page 125. You know, the part about not sleeping. Those few pages got me through months of exhaustion…in fact, I think there are even tear stains to prove it. It was just nice knowing I wasn’t alone – I was someone that loved to cook dinner for my family but was too exhausted to really put my heart into.

Fast forward to 10 months – we have a sleeping baby, yippee! Huge bonus that it’s summer(ish). We have enjoyed countless dinners off the grill and onto our patio table. One stand out is your lemon pepper chicken. We’ve enjoyed it 3 times already. Well, I have knowingly enjoyed it. My husband has been blissfully ignorant about the whole experience.

See, he won’t eat white sauces. At all. Mayo, sour cream, cream cheese, YOGURT – it’s all out. So, when I slyly bring out the pounded chicken cutlets coated in the yogurty lemon pepper deliciousness and he questions it I simply smile and say ‘oh, it’s a lemon pepper olive oil marinade.’

He believes me. Or at least, he pretends. Marriage can be funny that way, right?

Anyway, my 6 year old who has an obsession with my iPhone captured us on the warm night. I wanted to send it your way to show what your lemon pepper chicken has done to us.


Keep writing – you rock!
C

P.S. Oh – you probably want the recipe, right? You can find it here. I can’t write about it better.

‘Everyone will like this.’

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Those were M’s words as he devoured his dinner. Then he stated ‘obviously this one will go up on the blog.’

Wow – big compliment M! Huge.

And to be completely honest? Not what I was expecting. I ended up putting this dinner off a night just because I didn’t want to deal with a negative comment from him. You see, it’s kind of…well…a girlier, if you will, dinner on our end. See normally we grill meat – not shrimp. And the vegetable is more of a side thought (i.e. roughly 3% of M’s meal) not part of the main event.

I did manage to ‘beef’ it up a bit with some rice, albiet it was brown which M tends to think is weird. Sigh.

I was about a glass and a half in when I set the plate in front of him. Go ahead M – I can take it. You can imagine my shock when he not only inhaled it but actually complimented it and insisted it go up on the blog – asap!

Wow. He was either being sincere or trying to make up for this week. I did buy him some stress relief oil while getting my hair done at Aveda today. Monster wouldn’t even begin to describe his mood since Monday. Maybe he finally got the hint and decided to play nice.

Or maybe it was just that good of a meal. You know what? It was pretty darn delicious (and painfully easy!). I’m going to go with the latter.

Grilled Shrimp & Asparagus w/ Lemon-Shallot Vinaigrette
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Ingredients
  1. 1 lemon
  2. 2 TBS finely chopped shallots
  3. 1/4 cup olive oil
  4. kosher salt & freshly ground pepper
  5. 1 lbs medium thin asparagus, woody ends trimmed off
  6. 1 lbs large peeled and deveined shrimp, tails on
  7. 1/3 cup shaved pecorino romano cheese
  8. brown rice, options (Trader Joes has frozen packs. Best invention ever, IMO).
Instructions
  1. Warm up your grill to medium high heat.
  2. Grate the zest from the lemon into a small bowl. Add in 2 tbs juice, shallots, and whisk together. Gradually whisk in 1/4 cup olive oil and season with salt & pepper.
  3. Drizzle olive oil, salt, and pepper over the asparagus (in one bowl) and shrimp (in another bowl) and toss gently to combine. Grill for roughly 5 minutes, turning occasionally.
  4. In a large bowl, toss vinaigrette, shrimp, and asparagus together. Yummmmm. Plate on top of rice, if serving, and top with the shaved cheese. Serve it HOT.
A Life From Scratch. https://a-life-from-scratch.com/

 

Eat up!
C

Update your sides.

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I don’t know about you and spring hits and suddenly everything needs a little updating. Landscaping, interior design, wardrobe(s), and of course – food.

I hope your grill is up and running by now with lots of delicious marinated meat and veggies. Need some help finishing up your menu? Here are some fresh ideas that sit perfectly next to your grilled to perfection entrees.

1. Broccoli pesto orzo salad: (pictured top). I made this Sunday and gobbled it up along with grilled chicken. Totally healthy as you are eating whole wheat pasta and broccoli in every bite. I added goat cheese because, well, everything is better with goat cheese.

2. Smoked paprika cous cous salad: (pictured bottom left). My sister Talia introduced me to this one and it pretty much changed my life.

3. Rice and artichoke salad: (pictured bottom center). This one comes from my mother in law, Ginger, and it is delicious. I like to serve it extra chilled. The crunch of the green pepper and the smoothness of the rice – divine!

4. Farm potatoes: (pictured bottom left). This post was a fun one to reminisce about – what a fun trip! These little crispy yet chewy bites of heaven sit perfectly along side that flavorful steak you can’t wait to cut into.

Well there you have it! What are you updating this spring? It seems our screened in porch will never be complete…I can’t wait to be able to sit in it and enjoy some delicious food.

Eat up!
C

L’s picks!

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Notes from L:

I’m just eating my dinner and I’m eating Italian sausage. Daddie and I grilled it. On every Thursday nights, we are going to eat Italian sausage. Every day I eat ten times a day because I’m really hungry from running around in the yard with my friends. We build walls and ride bikes. The end!

Notes from mom:

He cleaned his plate. Success!

Grilled Italian Sausage
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Ingredients
  1. - Italian sausage
  2. - olive oil
Instructions
  1. Preheat your grill to medium high heat.
  2. Brush the sausage with some olive oil and grill for roughly 5 minutes per side.
A Life From Scratch. https://a-life-from-scratch.com/

 

Yum!
L

P.S. L checks back in on his posts to see how the ‘world’ likes it – so, let’s give him some support. Thank you!

Grammie, Burgers, & Idol

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See that expression on B? That is how he looks when Grammie (my mom) enters our home. What a greeting, right?

It was Wednesday night and an impromptu Idol party had been planned. Grammie was coming by to visit the boys, watch Idol, and dine on healthy grilled turkey burgers – fun! I love last minute get togethers and it’s just more fun to call them a party.

Are you keeping up with Idol? Do you have a favorite? Mine is Keith Urban. Oh wait, contestant wise…huh, that would be Kree. He has such a nice voice….she, I mean SHE. Kree has such a nice voice. Whew!

Moving along…the boys were happy to see their Grammie, I was happy to cook dinner without my 20 lbs bowling ball in my arms, and M was happy to fire up the grill. A win all around.

Oh – how did they taste? Awesome. It’s pretty much just amazing when you can eat a nice big burger guilt free. Bring on that swimsuit!

Grilled Turkey Burgers
Serves 4
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Ingredients
  1. 1 lbs ground turkey
  2. 1 small red onion, minced
  3. handful of parsley, minced
  4. 1 large roasted red pepper, minced
  5. 1 tsp garlic powder
  6. 1 tsp kosher salt
  7. 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
  8. olive oil
Instructions
  1. Mix all of the above together and form 4 large, thin, patties. Brush lightly with olive oil and grill for roughly 6 minutes per side.
  2. Your choice of toppings! We went with a slice of muenster, thick tomato, & lettuce all a toasted bun.
A Life From Scratch. https://a-life-from-scratch.com/

 

Eat up!
C

P.S. Hey – if you don’t follow me on Facebook, here’s a reminder! It’s your last chance to get on the list for this month’s mailing of the ‘Eat Up’ magnets. They are adorable, so be sure to sign up for the newsletter to get yours just in time for spring!

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