Meat and potatoes.

Tonight Zan and I made a hearty (and delicious) dinner. I will give Zan most of the credit, but I also did my part. We went for the classic meat and potatoes meal and it was ta-A-sty.
Ingredients (serves 2+):
1lb sirloin steak tips (ours were marinated from Whole Foods)
1 butternut squash (peeled)
4 potatoes (unpeeled)
milk, butter, garlic
brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg
salt and pepper
Here’s how the meal making went….
Start with melting some butter and garlic…
add 1/2 teaspoon of sugar too.


Then add about 1/2 cup milk and 1/2 cup of water. Bring to a boil. Add potatoes.


Peel squash. Cut into cubes. Boil til tender.

Cook steak sips in olive oil over medium heat. 4 minutes each side.

Get out your new AWESOME bowls and plates from the thrift store.

Choose your wine.

Pour. Toast.

Sit back. Relax. And let the food cook.

Mash the squash. Mash ’em good with brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. And butter. And more brown sugar. .

Mash the potatoes. SO steamy and savory.

Voila! ENJOY!!!

TJ’s: Dark Chocolate Crisps

So I ended up going to Trader Joe’s today just like I said I would. I didn’t realize it until I got there, but I haven’t been in SO long! But just like a good friend, the minute I stepped inside it felt like we’d never been apart. Love that feeling. Today I was mostly shopping for the big holiday potluck tomorrow, but I also picked up a few things for myself while I was there. There are so many holiday treats in the store it was making my head spin. How can one possibly try them all?!! Instead of getting another box of the milk chocolate hazelnut delights, I decided to try something else. I spent a good 10 minutes just starting at all the goodies trying to figure out which one I wanted to buy the most. French Truffles, Dark Chocolate After Dinner Mints, Soft Peppermint Puffs, Chocolate Covered Ginger Snaps, Chocolate Covered Mint Joe-Joe’s, I mean seriously the list goes on and on and on….

In the end I settled for… drumroll, please…. the Dark Chocolate Crisps. YUM! After bringing them home and running them through the taste test I have come to the conclusion that they are delicious! They are shapped like a pringle, but are all Belgian chocolate with tiny crispy wafers on the top. Excellent!! They’re the perfect snack if you’re craving a little chocolate, which I often am. They are all natural, very rich (so you don’t have to eat many to feel satisfied) and they come in a milk chocolate variety if that is what you prefer.
Final Grade: A+

TJ’s: Milk Chocolate Hazelnut Delights

Mmmmmm delectable! These little treats (comparable to Ferrero Rocher chocolates) are so good you just want to keep eating and eating them. I fortunately stopped myself after one, partly because I am self disciplined like that, but more so because they aren’t mine– they’re Lauren’s. Don’t think it would go over too well if I ate the whole box on her. I do plan on stopping at TJ’s tomorrow and picking up my own stash! Whoo! I’ll pick some up for the potluck too!
On another note I guess I’ll admit the squirrel on the box is semi-cute… even though squirrels in general are disgusting and equal to vermin (in my humble opinion). But not to worry, this one is only a cartoon. So go ahead, buy a box and enjoy! They are so hazel-nutty and delicious you will be glad you did. Think roasted hazelnuts and hot chocolate. Mmm!

bring on the PIE.

We headed on over to Pine Bush, NY to have Thanksgiving dinner with Josh’s family. The food was tasty taaaassstyyyy and the company was excellent! I stuffed myself silly, but have no regrets. The pecan pie was my favorite, and with homemade whipped cream! Here’s some pics I took for the memories….
Me and Grammy.

Table’s ready!
Hey Josh!
Dad watching some football…
Little baby Liam. SO CUTE!
Gram with Josh’s fam…
Josh and his sisters.
Meg and Liam…
Group shot!
YUMMM. YUM!
Me and Megs…
And we can’t forget the pecan pie!!