Missing my Costa Rican host family already like crazy. I just got back last week from (finally) making it to Alajuela to see them again, after having spent the last 10 years apart. And my goodness, words can’t even come close to saying how much I love them. We spent an entire week together catching up — all in Spanish, of course, which was a crash course for my brain — and had the absolute best time together. Oh my goodness, the joy and kindness and love in their home is just amazing, and I came and left with so many happy tears in my eyes. Love, love, love them. And I’m so honored to call them my family. And I absolutely can’t wait to go back and see them again soon. :)
Wearing my new caramel Sseko loafers everywhere now that it’s cool out. Super cute, and super comfy.
Starting up a “scotch club” with two good friends of mine, which I’m pretty excited about. We’re all bigger and bigger fans of scotch, but geez, it’s expensive. So instead of buying our own, we’re going to invest in a single bottle each month and split the cost between the three of us, then split the actual scotch into some cute glass bottles with homemade labels that we’re making. If anyone has recommendations that we should try (I like my scotch nice and peaty), holla!!
Preparing for lots of fun travels to the East Coast this fall. I have some fun blogging trips scheduled to NYC (actually twice!) and Pittsburgh, then I also just booked tickets for some just-for-fun vacations to DC and North Carolina. After a summer mostly spent at home, I’m looking forward to some new adventures!
Counting down until the fall premieres of all of my favorite shows. Most importantly, The Good Wife returns on October 4. So curious to see what the show will be like post-Kalinda. (By the way, I still can’t believe this.)
Busting out the slow cooker for the season this week, and getting pretty excited about some new recipes that I’ll be sharing with you on the blog soon. I’m also feeling like 2015 may be the year to finally buy a pressure cooker. Any fans out there? (I still harbor very real fears that I might blow my whole loft building up if I get one…)
Reading Modern Romance, after about 2.1 million people (even my mom) recommended it to me. My verdict two chapters in? AMEN.
Awaiting the openings of — not one, but — two new ramen restaurants this fall in Kansas City!! I’m always bragging about the amazing local food in this city, but I have been mega annoyed that the ramen trend somehow skipped over us this past decade. Thankfully some good lookin’ noodle bowls are slated to arrive soon, and by the looks of the photos both restaurants are posting, life is going to get much more delicious.
Freezing soups like it’s goin’ out of style. I may not be a big fan of cold weather, but I do love me some soup. And I love having it waiting in the freezer in single-sized portions for easy lunches.
Spending about as much time as possible with this guy lately. And I’m pretty dang happy about it. :) :) :)
I’ve pinned some recipes on Pinterest but found you when I googled shopping at aldis so now I’m exploring your blog! What ramen places are coming to Kansas City?? I love ramen and am looking for new places to try!
New to your blog and I’m loving all your posts and recipes. As a food blogger myself, I have been drooling over your photography. It’s on my list of things to learn! Also, YES to the pressure cooker. I didn’t know I wanted one (or needed one) until my grandfather bought me one last Christmas. His is from the 30’s (it was his father’s) and he still uses it everyday. But holy joseph, my pressure cooker has made the best wings I have ever had. And it makes some pretty easy chicken stock too! :)
You look so happy in your last photo!!!!! :) Can’t wait to see you again in a few weeks!
Like your recipes, but no one in their right mind would pay $109. plus duty/taxes for those Afar shoes!!
Ali, I’m a recent subscriber, and seldom leave blog comments, but I have to tell you that for years I avoided pressure cookers. 1), we’re a small family, just the 2 of us and 2) they’re scary as hell. But last spring, some friends on Chowhound convinced me that yes, they’re good for small families even without leftovers and the new ones aren’t scary at all.
I chose an electric model, the Instant Pot DUO-60 and while it hasn’t changed my life, it’s certainly made it easier. Like the evening we made ribs for 2 at the last minute. Literally. Total time, including a run to the market to buy the ribs, was 1 hr 15 minutes. Not too shabby!
I’ve since banished all but my little 2-qt slow cooker and got rid of my fuzzy logic rice cooker, keeping only my small 8-cup ‘stupid’ one that makes perfect rice in 25 minutes. I use my Instant Pot a LOT! Don’t be afraid, take the plunge, stovetop or electric, you won’t regret it. Then, post some blog entries so I can snag some of your pressure cooker recipes. Ulterior motive? Not me!
Oh my goodness, I love this blog! I’m so glad I found you. The stuff we like to keep in standard rotation in the scotch clock (it’s literally a Glenfiddich cabinet that’s a grandfather clock) include laphroaig cask strength, and sometimes their quarter cask, triplewood or 18, as well as the lagavulin 16. Oban is a west highland style and so has a bit of a smokey flavor but not as in-your-face as the peat of your Islay whiskys. It is not Scottish, but I also recommend the Connemara peated single malt. A great Irish uisce beatha for the peat fan. Hope that helps to start, would love to chat more about it ☺
My electric pressure cooker is one of my best kitchen friends, although I didn’t use it for the first two years I had it because of the blowing-up-the-house fears. (My sister actually did have one of those experiences with the old stovetop kind, and she is lucky to be alive. Shudder.) Things I love to pressure cook: dried beans, no soaking necessary; mashed potatoes in 15 minutes; ribs to be finished off in the oven. Do it.
I always turn to America’s Test Kitchen for kitchen product recommendations. They test the cheap stuff and the expensive stuff and are really honest about what they think is best. I trust them because every single recipe of their’s I have ever made has been amazing. I figure they know what they are doing. They won’t recommend a pressure cooker that will shoot itself through your roof. (I would be afraid of that too hehe).
Ha, yes, I’d definitely love to keep my roof intact. ;) And that’s a great idea to check out their recs. I’m a longtime ATK fan — their recipes have long been some of my favs!
So I finally started The Good Wife. You were right, I am hooked! Thanks friend! I loved reading your update, now we really need to catch up! Text soon:) xo
YAYYYYYYYY! I’m so glad you started The Good Wife! So much to talk about. :)