First Thanksgiving Menu!

I'm really excited about hosting Thanksgiving this year in our new house! Feels very grown up. Will's family begins arriving tomorrow, and I've already started cooking. Lela's stuffing is delicious but it's my first time making it so want to make sure I'm doing it right! Menu below:

Turkey- pretty standard, I'm going to try brining for the first time too!
Green Beans Casserole - I'm using the canned fried onions though. Why wouldn't I!?
Sweet Potatoes two ways: Sweet Potato Casserole and Brown Butter Sage. (I was forced into the casserole. Marshmallows. Ick.)
Louise's Kale Salad!
Lela's Stuffing! Involves slow cooked pork shoulder (either roasted or poached. I'm poaching), sourdough bread, olives, and potatoes. A lot of other ingredients, but those are the big ones. I'll post the recipe later.
For dessert, I'm making PWs Chocolate Sheet Cake! I'm not a pie person, so I told Will that he can help out in the pie department if he's jonesing for it.

I know Eli and Cris will be in Minneapolis and cooking Friday instead of Thursday. What's on the menu?

Beth, what's going in Dallas?

Louise, don't even bother telling us what's going on in Mexico. No one wants to hear it :)

Weekly Menu 11.11.12 (BStock)

It's totally ok if you spend your days in PJs, mich- we're not judgin. You're in the last stretch of pregnancy- you can pretty much do whatever you want. I saw on Ali's instagram that you had a baby shower this wknd! How was it? What'd ya get? What do you still need?

This weekend was pretty tame for me. Had the rehearsal dinner tasting on Friday though and it was soooo delicious.

I worked out 0 times this past week and the week before (I don't count walking Fonzie as a workout) soooo that's disappointing/lazy/gross. But I'm signed up for 4 pilates classes (3 of them are cardio pilates) this coming week, so I feel good about that. I am 97 days away from wedding and not feeling very trim. One of my biggest probs is portion control, so I may attempt to start eating meals on a salad plate. Or at least promise to fill half my plate w/ only vegetables if I'm using a big plate. I also bought a groupon for acupuncture for weight loss so THAT should be... interesting.

Here's what's on my menu this week:

Sun- Stuffed poblanos (I have leftover rotisserie chicken to get rid of) - no cheese
Mon- Baked pecan-crusted cod with roasted broccoli
Tues- Crock pot tikka masala with curried spinach- first time trying this recipe.
Weds- Cajun grilled whole fish with asparagus and dirty rice (so easy)
Thurs-  Ryan promised to cook something healthy :)
Fri- We almost never stay in to cook on Fridays

Weekly Menu- 11.11.12

This last week kicked my butt up and down the blocks. Which is funny because I didn't leave the house Wed-Friday. Is that healthy!? Probably not. But it proves the kind of week that I had. I did not spend those days in my pjs (honest!), but work was just too crazy and then I was too tired. This baby is coming in less than a month and I think the sleepless nights due to semi-hourly feedings will be a welcome relief after the sleeplessness of the pregnancy.

In other news- Thanksgiving is in less than two weeks!? How did that happen?


Sunday: Spicy Pork Tenderloin - literally just honey, chili paste (sambal oelek) and sriracha on a tenderloin and popped in the oven for 40 minutes at 375*
Monday: Salmon - probably Louise's dill salmon because it's awesome
Tuesday: Shepherd's Pie
Wednesday: Zuppa Toscana (OG recipe. NO JUDGING!)
Thursday: Leftovers
Friday: Baby back ribs with mashed potatoes
Saturday: Moroccan Chicken - didn't make this last time I said I would and I'm still craving it.

And that takes us to the week of Thanksgiving! Can't even believe it!

xo

New love: Kale Salad

Hellooooo friends,

Happy November to all! Can you believe that Thanksgiving is just 2 weeks away?! This year is just flying by.   I brought this salad to a "Friendsgiving" party last weekend and out of 20 dishes, it STOLE the show! It is really, really delicious! It's a must make and perfect as a side dish to all those yummy thanksgiving things:

Kale & Brussels Sprout Salad
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon minced shallot
1 small garlic clove, finely grated
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt plus more for seasoning
Freshly ground black pepper
2 large bunches of Tuscan kale (about 1 1/2 pounds total), center stem discarded, leaves thinly sliced
12 ounces brussels sprouts, trimmed, finely grated or shredded with a knife
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1/3 cup almonds with skins, coarsely chopped
1 cup finely grated Pecorino

Combine lemon juice, Dijon mustard, shallot, garlic, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and a pinch of pepper in a small bowl. Stir to blend; set aside to let flavors meld. Mix thinly sliced kale and shredded brussels sprouts in a large bowl.
Measure 1/2 cup oil into a cup. Spoon 1 tablespoon oil from cup into a small skillet; heat oil over medium-high heat. Add almonds to skillet and stir frequently until golden brown in spots, about 2 minutes. Transfer nuts to a paper towel–lined plate. Sprinkle almonds lightly with salt.
Slowly whisk remaining olive oil in cup into lemon-juice mixture. Season dressing to taste with salt and pepper. DO AHEAD:Dressing, kale mixture, and toasted almonds can be prepared 8 hours ahead. Cover dressing and kale mixture separately and chill. Cover almonds and let stand at room temperature.
Add dressing and cheese to kale mixture; toss to coat. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Garnish with almonds.

It makes a TON so be ready to share or eat it for days which wouldn't be so bad...

Homemade Orechiette

I tried this yesterday, and it was so fun and delicious!  It is a pretty hearty pasta. I served it with a sherry cream sauce and broccoli, which was great! Next time, I want to try it with sun dried tomatoes, pine nuts, olive oil, and fresh parmesan. A few tips: the thinner/ smaller you shape the pasta the better, and they only takes 2-3 mins to cook in bowling water. Enjoy!

Martha Stewart's Step-by-Step Orechiette

What's Your Hostess Style?

Thought this would be fun...

What's Your Hostess Style?

I think mine is naturalist!

What about yall?