Working For The Weekend

Happy Friday to you and yours.  I think it's safe to say the holidays are officially upon us which I'm super excited about.  I'm in countdown mode at the moment- just can't wait to see my family next week!  Hope you've got a wonderful plan in the works, too.  Enjoy your weekend and the links!

Oh, I sure do love this.

Gorgeous!!

Some good ideas here.

A bit of Thanksgiving fun...

...and our first hint of Christmas (yay!)

The Foodie Files

I was craving a bowl of really delicious soup yesterday and was so excited when I came up with this hearty vegetable and lamb meatball recipe.  It's a perfect way to combat the cold and really, really tasty. Hope you love it!

Ingredients:

64 oz chicken broth

64 oz water

1 zucchini, cubed

1 yellow squash, cubed

1 cup carrots, chopped

1 large red potato, cubed

3 large stalks of celery, diced

1 1/2 large cups kale

1 lb ground lamb

1 TBS parsley, chopped

1 egg

1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

1/4 cup breadcrumbs

Salt and pepper to taste

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees.  Pour chicken broth and water in a large pot and add zucchini, squash, carrots, potato and celery.  Set over medium-low heat, cover and let cook for 20 minutes.  

Make meatballs by thoroughly mixing ground lamb, parsley, breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, egg, salt and pepper and rolling into 1 inch balls.  Grease a baking sheet with extra virgin olive oil and place meatballs at least an inch and a half apart.  Bake for 20 minutes. 

Bring soup to a rolling boil, then return to medium heat.  Add meatballs and kale, cover and cook for 20 additional minutes.  Serve and enjoy!

3 Ideas

(Image via Tumblr)

1. Make Funfetti something...Funfetti pancakes, Funfetti Rice Krispy treats, Funfetti cupcakes, Funfetti anything will do (fun is baked right into the name, what could go wrong?).  Add extra sprinkles just because.

2. Do something active that doesn't make you wish you were dead...for example, dance up a storm, go rollerskating or pay your local trampoline gym a visit (oh, it's a real thing my friend.  Google it...).

3. Go to an arcade.  Seriously!  Dave and Busters is a good time and I'm not ashamed to say it (also, I dug up this coupon in case you want to take me up on the idea).  I went with a small group of friends twice in the last year and laughed so hard I thought I was gonna be sick on both occasions.  Race cars, shoot zombies, win tickets, just generally go nuts.

Wanted: Week 2

1. Pointed Ballerina Slippers, Zara $39.90  2. Heart Wood Board, Fishs Eddy $19.95  3. Checked Soft Scarf, Zara $29.90  4. Knit Cushion Cover, H&M $7  5. Large Selma Satchel, Michael Kors $358  6. Bottega Veneta Necklace, Net-A-Porter $2,150  7. Mogens Hansen Chaise Lounge, 1stDibs

Design Musings

Working For The Weekend

We made it through our week of change relatively unscathed...thanks for sticking with me!  I really, really love how everything came together and I hope you do too.  Enjoy your weekend and the links!

My rockstar brother and his band, Dinner and a Suit, released their new music video this week!  It's legit.

Cool idea...

Love this dress!  Would be great for the holidays.

Such a neat story.

Craaaazy...

The Foodie Files

I made a few minor changes to The Foodie Files, though most weeks you'll still find a test kitchened recipe here.  From time to time I'll also feature some of the snacks and treats I'm currently fixated on (like the post below)...and I may even throw in the occasional restaurant review.  Though the general focus on delicious food will stay the same, I'm excited to have a few more options to share.

1. Trader Joe's Beurre Meuniere Popcorn- Check out this flavor combination: browned butter, lemon, parsley, and thyme.  On popcorn!  Maybe I ate the whole bag in one sitting.  It's possible that happened. 

2. Starbucks' Double Short Mocha- If you've never heard of the "short" size at Starbucks, might I suggest you try it at your earliest convenience.  It's smaller than a tall, though you won't find it advertised on any menu.  The extra shot of espresso makes the chocolate to coffee ratio both perfectly sweet and strong.

3. Pomegranate- My very favorite fruit...delicious, nutritious and finally in season!  

4. Trader Joe's Pumpkin Bread Pudding- Not so much a snack as it was a tasty dessert.  I ate a good amount of this with some butter pecan ice cream the other night and it was incredible!