weekend wonders

whew. what a weekend. this weather was  a m a z i n g  and just what the doctor ordered. i was outside for as many hours as possible soaking it all in and trying new things, starting to feel like my old self again (or maybe that's the twelve miles talking). but there were quiet moments too, like crawling into bed early on friday night and spontaneously enjoying a visit and homemade kahlua cup of joe with my bestie on sunday, that were the perfect slow compliment to my over the top outdoorsy weekend. bless up.

- friday night bake session for saturday's junk in the trunk fat-ass.

- lvrg roller derby days with the pacers - those girls are fierce and totally inspiring!

- gorgeous reservoir at rustic i never knew existed.

- dudes being dudes at the roller derby; cheap beers and venison steaks in the parking lot.
yes, my friends are rad.

- I WENT MOUNTAIN BIKING AND IT WAS AMAZING.
in case you can't tell, i'm SUPER excited and super proud. 

- delicious home cooked dinner with the girls over at robin's and her totally cool cat zander checking out the birthday flowers.

good thymes

appetizers

escargot & calamari

entrees

ahi tuna, eggplant crepes (veg), tavern burger and onopn rings, salmon

dessert

all i remember is the warm belgian chocolate number on the right was my favorite

i had SUCH a fun evening last night dining with my lovely neighbors for a good thyme for life. we left the city and headed for the hills to try out the black dog cafe. such an unassuming building with such amazing food! i was thorough impressed and can't wait to go back. they have a formal dinner menu, as well as a pub menu and we ordered off of both, and were thrilled with everything. i got a little obsessed with the food and forgot to take pics of anything else...oops! here's to helping our community stay healthy and hopefully hosting next year! (wink, wink) head on over to phoebe's pure food to check out her dinner review too!

food files

i stopped at the store last night to pick up a few things, mainly the last few ingredients for tomato soup (more on that later). but they had broccoli rabe again. i LOVE broccoli rabe, mostly on my pizza. but, omg, this recipe for pasta with garlicky broccoli rabe by smitten kitchen is now in regular rotation. i rarely make pasta for myself, but there something so deliciously addicting about the broccoli/garlic/red pepper flake combination i found myself throwing caution to the wind and whipping up and entire pound (insert gasp of horror!) of pasta last night. 

plus it was, like, lightening fast to make. i raced against the clock to get it done before yoga and i smelled like garlic made it! with enough time to spare to eat an entire bowl of it oops. 

now the rest is packaged up for lunch and sitting in freezer to grab and go over the next few weeks. yes i have some self control when it comes to consuming a pound of pasta. 

anyway, i think this is a crowd pleaser and just the thing to whip up for the neighbors for dinner or for when the entire fam is together. it's quick, painless and delicious and not that bad for you. (i cut back on the oil, cheese and salt.)

make it this weekend, let me know what you think! bon appetit!

Fancy Footwork

There's nothing better than showing up to an event dressed in your brightest duds only to find your most dapper, dashing and devilishly handsome gentleman friend doing the same. Our shoes did the walking and decided the pants were too perfect together not to take them on an impromptu dinner date.