Guys.
A lot happened. Mainly, there was a llama walk up at High Hampton Inn, where we got married, mere moments before our rehearsal dinner. Is that a sentence you EVER thought I'd type?
I PROMISE we're going to get back to the food stuff oh-so-soon. I've been cooking up a storm for you guys, so....wait for it. We'll get back to new recipes tomorrow, fingers crossed, and the wedding deets will wane. I've got a lot to tell you, though!
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OMG IT'S FINALLY FRIDAY.
I'm having conflicted emotions about this. First, Jay leaves again Sunday for a week so that stinks. 
Second, I have to work late today and then on Sunday.
So that stinks.
BUT I'm getting my wedding highlights this afternoon and tonight we have a wedding shower for my friend Jennifer who's marrying my other friend Jake and THEN tomorrow I have a bridal shower in the morning AND ALSO my little sister gets home tomorrow from a mission trip in Guatemala so......it's going to be a fun weekend.
Or a fun Saturday.
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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!
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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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
It'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.
It's a month away. 
The next time it turns the 10th of a month, I'll be getting ready to marry a cute funny bald guy.
YES.
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Well. We ate like crap this weekend.
I loved it, Jay feels bad about it.
Whatever.
To offset the memory of all the meat/beer/cheese consumed over the past three days, though, allow me to share with you this fun recipe.
It's stuffed zucchini. With barley or any kind of grain that you like. Then, it's got some Caesar-salad-esque components. Panko topping instead of croutons. Raw garlic in the filling. Parmesan on top. ANCHOVIES, for heaven's sake.
It's vegetarian if you skip the anchovies (but really, don't), has lots of cheese, and tons of veggies.
Also. It's crazy easy and delicious.
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THIS SOUP.
People. It's so great.
At my last job, I worked in a town that had a ton of grody fast food options and an amazing Thai/Sushi restaurant. It was a miracle. It was delicious, and I ate there a lot.
As part of any meal, a soup similar to this one was served almost as soon as you sat down in this lovely little refuge from fast foo.
It was tangy, creamy, and had different vegetables in it every time you ate it.
I made this version at home last week, and it was DELICIOUS. There are a few important ingredients often used in Thai cooking, like lemongrass and coconut but, for the most part, the ingredients are really simple! This only takes about 25 minutes, too. You'll love it.
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