Nothing like a really informative article title, is there?
Happy Friday, kids. FINALLY. What a week it's been! I have a gazillion fun things planned for this weekend while Jay is at the beach, and cooking has already commenced.
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funny love
When the Lights Go Up, She Lights Up
...was a line from the father of the bride speech I heard on Friday night.
It was a good one, and I hope he doesn't mind that I stole it. He KILLED his speech (as my friend Katie said), and captured his daughter's love of the stage (she's an actress, that girl) as well as he captured the love she has for his new son-in-law.
Jay's best friend Rory got married this weekend to HIS best friend, Jordan.
They. Are. Awesome. Great friends of ours even though they live SO FAR AWAY IN LA, wonderful human beings in general, and in love in a very inspiring way. We want to copy their relationship all the time.
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Baked Dijon Chicken Fingers with Honey Dijon Cream ~health kick~
It's time for a brand new healthy-ish recipe that's super easy to make and also delicious and kind of decadent at the same time.
Sound good? Thought so. 
I'm always seeing people bake chicken fingers in one way or another, and I've never done it. I've never made fried chicken fingers either, but I'd been thinking about trying the baked version for awhile AND THEN my dad told me he had Dijon mustard from his last trip to France so....it was on.
Instead of using an egg breading, this ONLY uses mustard and panko, which makes the dish super fast and way lighter than some fried OR baked breading methods.
ALSO. Out-of-this-world sauce for dipping? It's like kid food for people with fully-developed taste buds.
Let's do it.
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Food Tips + Secrets
HAPPY MONDAY from your friend who was out until 10 last night at a drinking work event.
Fried chicken for lunch, anyone? Don't judge me. 
Today, instead of a new recipe, I thought it'd be nice to share a few basic kitchen tips that I use a LOT. We're talking BASIC here, people. I'll tell you why, too - that way you don't start to think that I'm just making up rules to run your life because I'm bossy.
Which of course would be also true, but there's a method to this madness.
Some of these are pro tips, some are just things I've learned along the way. I'd love to know what your favorite tips are!
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Wedding Recap - Rehearsal Dinner
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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Avowed
Today we're getting married.
In a few hours, actually.
We decided to write our own vows, but just one set - and say them traditionally "I, take you...." that kind of thing. Writing them together was interesting because....what do you say when your relationship is based on ACTIONS, not just "ooohhhh this is what I want to do more of."
It was an interesting exercise, and one I'm glad we did. Vows are weird, that way. I'm glad we wrote our own, but I'm glad we're not reading anything - that would make me cry. Our officiant (Jay's godfather) will have us repeat the words that we want to LIVE together, and, if all goes to plan, it'll be stupendous.
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Cantaloupe Rice Salad Variations
Ok so yesterday when I was telling you about that cantaloupe salad I left a few things out that you could do with it because it was a lot to explain and the post was getting long so....
We're making this one into two posts. 
In other news, adding capers to the cantaloupe salad makes it REALLY good. If you like capers. We fried them! That wasn't a bad choice, and then running all through the rice you get these crispy salty tangy bites and...YES. My sister is basically the biggest lover of all the capers so I'm super excited to make her eat this ASAP.
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A Food Blogger's Plight
This is my life. Every time I cook anything.
If I'm not photographing, Jay and Jake are "helping." One drools, the other wanders around in our pretty-small kitchen and tries to stand exactly where I need to be standing.
Actually, they both do those things. One just doesn't drool on the floor.
They're mine though, so I'll take it. It's a pretty happy life.
What's in a Name? ~after marriage, at least~
Welp, we have a new ongoing dilemma in the How to Get Married the Wrong Way saga of our lives.
I don't know what to do about my name.
To clarify, this isn't a REAL dilemma, like "do we pull the plug on our 16 year old comatose daughter" or anything like that. I'm marrying the best guy ever, we're super happy, and employed, and healthy so....not a real dilemma.
The non-dilemma IS ongoing, though.
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This Man
I have told you that my beloved recently took a new job - correct?
It's a great new job. He's getting really good at it, but there's definitely a learning curve, as exists with tons of new jobs. He's been away for work 2/4 of the last weeks, so I'm GLAD to have him home.
One challenge we've found with Jay working at home that when 1. I walk in, 2. the dogs breathe, 3. someone knocks on the door, he's interrupted. He does a ton of conference calling, and needed a good, albeit dorky, headset to block out some of the regular house noise.
So I bought him one.
And then we had the following conversation:
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So, How'd He Propose?
You know how you hear pregnant women whining about how strangers touch their bellies without asking and they feel violated because it's their belly, their fetus, and one really shouldn't go around touching another human's midsection without a clear invitation?
I feel that way about my left hand.
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Caesar Stuffed Zucchini
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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Quick V-day Dinner
OMG.
Why can't Valentine's day be floating? Like...always the second Saturday of February? Thursday is a super bummer day for a holiday. It's SO CLOSE to the weekend. But....not quite.
Even so, you might want to make something super delicious yet fast and affordable for the people you love tonight, right?
Enter.....pasta.
It's just so easy. And delicious. And everyone likes it.
Unless they're dumb, and then you don't need to be hanging out with them.
Anyway.
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Thom Kha Soup {tangy coconut thai soup}
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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Valentine's Dinner + FunnyLoveFood's Most Popular Recipe
You know what next week is?
It's a day where we buy things for people we love, and single people pretend like having a significant other is the only way to feel love, which makes me feel sad, but I kind of get it because of all the commercials, and people eat food together.
That's what your Valentine's day looks like, right?
Mine actually started last night. I cooked something yummy for you! I'm gonna show it to you soon so you can plan to make it for your sweetie, or your mom, or your dog, or your friends. Love can come from lots of places, people!
I think cooking on Valentine's day is so fun. First, you save money and irritation and time by avoiding restaurants. Plus, it's a nice gesture for people you love. Plus, you can drink and not drive.
Everyone wins!
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Osso Bucco
Friday. Sigh.
It's raining ice here. How's the weather where you are? Also, after waking up the last two mornings at 5 and laying in bed last night until 11 giggling with Jay, I'm a little droopy today.
It was worth it, because he's cute.
This is, like, totally the best meal for cold days when you're feeling droopy. It's not hard at all, but it does require a little bit of chopping. You can use any meat in the world that you'd like, and the cheaper the better! Since we braise it for so long it falls apart and gets so tender even if you use something that would usually be really tough.
Traditionally Osso Bucco is made with veal shank. If you would like to purchase baby animal thighs, please be my guest! I prefer adult dead animal thighs.
It's a moral issue, you see.
Not really. You know that. Dead animal is dead animal, and I've chosen to consume them from time to time. I go the beef or other meat route for cost and availability purposes, usually. Also worth noting: I've made this with bone-in, skin-on chicken before. I've made this with boneless pork ribs (called country-style, usually). I've made this with pork shoulder cut into chunks. I've made just the sauce and spooned it over grilled white fish.
It works beautifully, every single time. So, use whatever protein you'd like! On this particular day I found something super cheap in the store called "beef shank for soup." Um...ok! This is kind of like soup, so I went with it. Also, my dogs like femur bones more than other kinds of bones. So...they got them after I cooked the meat. Turns out, they REALLY like femur bones when they're covered with saffron tomato white wine sauce. Snobs.
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Eggplant Parm Variation of the Century
I know.
The CENTURY!
Because it's Friday, I say we get a little creative with our Italian offerings, OK?
You know I love making eggplant parm.
I made it here for realzies, and then one time I added goat cheese to it. I love goat cheese.
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Grilled Caprese Salad
Yep.
We got a new grill. From my parents. Because they're awesome.
So, we had them over for dinner to grill some stuff.
Because they got us a new grill.
It makes sense, don't you think?
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Entertain Yourself for Free - crossdressing edition
Sometimes, your niece might turn four and have a princess party.
In that case, you should definitely dress up in a dress and pink polo and pose like a fairy.
Just in case.
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Account Settlement and Paying Off Old Debts
From the ever funny David. Check out the whole site!