My Therapist Cooks

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Mustard Curry BBQ Sauce

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A few weeks ago, my family had a massive birthday party for me, two of my sisters, and my grandfather.   Our 4 birthdays are within 2 months of each other, and some years we end up having a birthday party every five seconds, which is hard considering that a lot of us travel for work. IMG_0528

So.  This year.  

One big party!

Since it wasn't reaaallllyyy my birthday (that's today), I got to help cook with my parents.  I made smoked turkey, pulled it and mixed it with this barbecue sauce, and WHOHMG so good.  I love vinegar and mustard sauces, not so much with dark sweet bbq sauce.  I also dislike mainly anything bottled so...homemade had to be it. IMG_0574

I made a combo mustard/vinegar sauce, THEN ADDED GARAM MASALA TO IT.  Not must.  Just enough to make a hint of Indian food in the flavors.  It was GOOD, man.  I made it for the super bowl too, and I heard that our friend Stephen ate it with a spoon?

He's my kind of friend, that Stephen is. 

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6 Months Into the Worst Year of Our Lives

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Or is it hardest?
 _DSC8778 (2)

People that we know strongly disliked their first year of marriage, is what I'm trying to say.  Or at least they dislike it looking back?

Anyway, Happy Monday!  And Happy 6 Months of Marriage to us!  

eDSC_0076

Thank you, thank you. 

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Parmesan Potato Pepper Poppers

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UGGHHHHH. There is just nothing like some alliteration to show the world how epically cool you are, is there?IMG_0141

Thanks, Mama.  I blame you for this one.  

Do you know that Valentine's day is next Friday?  It is.  I'm sorry if you're one of those who hates Valentine's day, but you still like food, right?  IMG_0132

Even if you hate V-day, just ignore all the hooplah and enjoy all the fun new recipes that might come from it!  Cooking for yourself or someone you love is a GREAT way to show appreciation for a human in your life, and this is a super nice little snack to go along with a fun meal (which is coming tomorrow).  Easy peasy mini stuffed peppers with potato and parmesan and just YES.  I'm in love. 

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Marriage Advice From Jay

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hayyyyyyy guys.  since clearly I married a genius, I'm letting him offer you marriage advice.  After 120 days, we feel like we've got most things nailed.  unnamed (3)

Today marks the 4 month anniversary of Lindsay and me getting married. We’ve made it one third of a year, which is pretty good. Take that Ms. Kardashian! I still can’t believe I’m married, mostly because Lindsay doesn’t really feel like my wife. I never wanted a wife. I’ve always wanted a permanent girlfriend, and I think I found that with Linds. We enjoy each other’s company, and enjoy being in the company of each other’s friends and family. Do we still fight? Sure, but not a lot and hardly ever with weapons. Our pillow fights are epic!  I need to start nagging more. ...

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Mama's Vegetable Soup {vegan}

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This is my childhood, kids.  Whenever it was cold, my mom would make this soup.  Tomato-based, vegetables, and that was kind of it, in the best possible way. IMG_8428

In hindsight, my favorite thing about this was probably the saltines and cheddar that go on top, but THAT'S FINE.  Saltines and cheddar are great!  I made this slightly thicker than her version with a tiny bit of flour, but you can leave that out if you like a more brothy soup.  

I LOVE dishes like this.  They're so simple, but the flavor is insane, and THEY'RE HEALTHY BUT NOT DUMB AND BLAND.  No one likes dumb bland foods, so I'm always on a mission to find more healthy dishes that actually taste good!  Besides simmering, this soup is completely done in 20 minutes or so, then you just wander off or scream at your kids while the veggies cook!  Not that my mom EVER did that.  I'm just putting it out there as an option for you if you're feeling screechy. 

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A Comedy of Errors, this Marriage Is

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HAPPY MONDAY from the most moronic couple in the history of the world!

First, how was your weekend?  Tell me.  What'd you eat?  

We went to a wedding.  Two weddings, specifically, but we were only invited to one.  

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Homemade Cashew Butter - Vegan!

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FRIDAY IS HERE.  Finally.  This week took it out of me a little bit.  IMG_7927

First and foremost, a huge happy happy to my mama, who turns one year older than she was at this time last year today.  She's kind of the best mom in the world.  Sorry other moms. 

So, in her honor, and because it's Friday, I'm giving you a healthy, raw, vegan snack. 

You know about this, yes?  It's nearly as dumb as the banana ice cream "recipe" I gave you awhile back.  Not really a recipe, more a method, super easy, and yummy.  Totes yummy. 

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Sarah + Jimmy, Kissing in a Tree {photos}

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YES YES YES. 

These guys.  This is Jimmy and Sarah, my incredibly attractive friends. IMG_7510

Sarah and I are in school together, and we did a photoshoot last week together.

Sarah and Jimmy have been together for 11 years, and married for a decent number of those years.  BUT, they've never had "real" pictures taken of them.  NEVER!  That's not OK, considering how attractive they are.  IMG_7357

So, we went downtown and took some dang pictures. 

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Chicken Piccata

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TODAY IS FRIDAY. 

In our house, Friday means that certain people come home from certain long work trips and we get the weekend together!Serve over arugula option

YAY. 

Also, Friday could mean chicken piccata.  You know, crispy chicken pan-friend with caper dijon sauce and greens and pasta or bread or WHATEVER.  SO STINKING GOOD.  So stinking easy, too!  This is nice and fancy for a weekend but you can make it FAST.  For rizzle.  

We don't cook with a ton of chicken because it's just kind of....meh....to me, so when I do I want it to be super duper good.  Anything with capers and a crust on it pretty much fits that bill, so let's get right to it!

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Wedding Deets - Into the Wee Hours?

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We have another thing to figure out for this here wedding that we're having in TWENTY THREE DAYS. 

That's not many days, friends.  insert confetti emoji here

Thank You MonogramIt's about the reception.  Right now, our schedule is as follows:

5pm cocktails, 5:30 ceremony, 6 - 9 reception.  They're all in the same place so there won't be any walking/transport time, and the ceremony will be about 20 minutes long - less if our officiant talks quickly. 

So, besides a very slight lag, if folks get there at 5 we're looking at 4 hours of an open bar.  

And now people are telling us that they HATED SO MUCH OMG when their receptions were over and that we should totally go until 10pm so that we don't HATE IT SO MUCH OMG. 

So you know I need to know what you think!  This is just like those coasters.  I have too much time left (not really, but you know), and I'm rethinking decisions that were JUST FINE a few months ago.  

So, you know I need your help.  Whatcha think?  Extend?  Leave as is?  Wait until the day of and make a game-time decision?  If cost WEREN'T a factor (it might be, still waiting to hear on that one), what would you do, as a bride/groom, family member, or guest?  We're looking for any perspectives that aren't hateful.  

No one likes hateful perspectives, do they?

Thank you for telling me what to do.  I need a manager.  

As you were. 

 

 

Throw-Together French Meal

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Are you in a coma from booze/food/sunshine yesterday?

That's my favorite kind of coma, by the way.  Salad top

If so, I have exactly the easy-peasy get-back-on-track meal that you've been looking for!

We most recently made this meal for Father's Day - we celebrated at lunch - and it was a huge hit.  You prepare a few things, buy a few things, and EAT.  That's it!  You customize with what you like/have on hand, and move on with your life.  

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Wedding Deets - THE DRESS

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I know!  

It's kind of the best part if you're into that kind of thing. 

I mean, minus the whole "blah blah blah partner in life, together forever, feel so great to have found the one...."

I'm more about the dress, myself. 

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Phriday Photobomb

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Alliteration!

Happy Friday, family. 

I hope you have fun plans this weekend!  I totes to, with my manfriend, and I can't WAIT for the workday to be over!

I'm writing today to celebrate two of my sisters, who LOVE to be involved in this here blog.  Not really, but when I was photographing the nicoise salad that I showed you the other day there was a lot of this:Ugly face

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Nicoise Salad

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I promised you salad to go with that dressing I made yesterday, and this is a doozie.  Salad with Tuna

It's Nicoise salad - totes French, and totes delish.  Capers, potatoes, tuna, veggies.....we adored it.  I made this a few weeks ago for Father's day.  We celebrated at lunch with my amazing father, and I had recently discovered a new French bakery that is RUN BY A FRENCH PERSON.  Huge.  Everything at that joint is delicious, so I mainly just wanted a reason to eat French bread.

Hence, a French salad. 

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Lemon-Dill Cheese Ball

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I made us a throwback recipe!

This was one of those "what's moldy" inventions - sorry I don't have a better story for it.  After Jay's sister's wedding a few weekends ago, we came home from the beach with some WEIRD food.  Like...half a tub of cream cheese but no bagels.  Ketchup, mayo, and mustard from hamburger night with nothing to put it on.  You know - beach remnants!  We were some of the only ones driving and not flying home, and I HATE wasting things (so does my sis-in-law to-be, thankfully), so we packed up the randos and headed home. 

Serve with crackers

And I've been trying to finish everything since.  

So, I had a bit of cream cheese, a bit of sliced sandwich cheese, and lemon.  Weird, and I didn't want to waste any of it.  So, this cheese ball was born!  It's like the kind you get at Christmas but...summery?  I had some dill leftover from something else, and it seemed like a great light coating for this.  I also think pine nuts would be great crushed up as a coating, but I forgot that thought when I made this.  That happens pretty much all the time. 

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