Thursday, June 28, 2012

Peanut-Garlic Lettuce Wraps

This is one of those meals Sandra Lee would define as hardly homemade.

I am a big fan of lettuce wraps. Is it bad that I didn't realize J had never had them until we ordered the appetizer at the Red Lantern (here)? Oops.

Well, lucky me, he loved them! I had the weekend to myself recently, rare I know, so I actually planned out a few meals for the week. I decided lettuce wraps would be a great meal to make at home. How hard could they be?

I knew we had a sesame garlic marinade in the fridge that was about half full, so while at the store I picked up the following:
  • Dry roasted peanuts
  • 1 Head of iceberg lettuce
  • Shredded carrots
  • Scallions
  • Steak, just under 1 lb for 2 people (since I knew I'd be cutting it up anyways I bought whatever was on sale)

Honestly, I had every intention of shredding a few carrots myself, but when the bag of pre-shredded carrots are staring at you for less than $2.00, it's worth every penny.

The sauce: In a blender, magic bullet, or food processer, whatever tickles your fancy, blend together the sesame-garlic sauce and a handful or two of dry roasted peanuts. Yes, it was that easy. And let me tell you, it was unreal. So tasty!

We prepped the sauce in the morning and let the steak marinade in it all day.


Peanuty-garlicky goodness right there
 The veggies

The prep:

1. Saute the meat over medium heat until done to your liking. We're a medium kind of family over here when it comes to red meat.

2. While the meat is cooking, rinse your lettuce, and then cut it in half. One half for me, one half for you.

3. Chop up 2-3 scallions depending on your liking and place in a bowl.

4. Place your shredded carrots in a bowl.

5. Pour a handful of dry roasted peanuts in a bowl, or more if you're like J & I.

6. If you have extra sauce, bring it to the table to add to each wrap.

7. Once everything is good to go, dig in! Peel a layer of lettuce, fill with the marinated meat, carrots, scallions, peanuts, and extra sauce. Wrap. And enjoy!


We both found this dinner extremely satisfying. It's a great healthy, light option for one of the many hot summer nights.

Let me know if you try it! We will definitely be whipping up a batch of these again. And like I said, this is so easy, I don't even think I can call it homemade.

Enjoy!

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Viva Forever!

Oh myyyyy did you see the news???! Spice Girls, the musical! Ah! Yes, I'll say it again, SPICE GIRLS, THE MUSICAL!


Do you have any idea how excited that makes me? J & I happened to catch part of the Justin Bieber special on last week and were laughing at how upset those teenage girls get when they see him drive by, walk by, etc. Sorry, is that insensitive?

And I was telling him how I didn't get how girls got so crazy about bands/artists. Welllll, I guess I kind of do get it. If I get the chance to see this musical, there may be tears.

Let's take a trip down memory lane shall we?


1997-1998


6th grade. From the minute we heard the Spice Girls "Wannabe," we were hooked! In love. Played the song on repeat all day, every day. And when a bff's big sister made up a dance to the song, omg you better believe we memorized it and performed it daily. It became "our thing" to even perform this dance at the town dances, in the front yard with friends, and like I said, wherever possible. Oh.the.memories.

I guess I'm lucky photos from 6th grade are not digital....


Summer 1998


The Spice Girls went on world tour and lucky for me, performed at a venue here in the Boston area. Somehow, I got the opportunity to go with my softball coach's wife and their daughters. Is that weird? I'm thinking it is now. At the time though? Totally normal. 

I made SURE to get my Spice Girls T-shirt at the mall so that I would look ridiculously cool at the concert. And I'm pretty sure I then used that shirt at soccer camp, practices, etc so people knew my love of those ladies.

I would go on to live my life without them when the group broke-up, but I still listened to their music, sang & danced to it with the girls in high school, and even with my college roommates. Those ladies never get old! So when their reunion tour was announced, you better believe I was all over that presale!

Fall 2007


Got myself 4 tickets to the upcoming Spice Girls reunion show! Even though I was visiting my sister in San Francisco during the presale, it didn't matter. I HAD to get tickets!

Winter 2007


Spice Girls reunion tour!!! Unbelievable concert with great friends. It was bittersweet to go to this concert with one of my oldest friends. The girl I spent years loving the Spice Girls with, loving music in general with, and making up crazy dances to every song we heard on the radio. We had sooo much fun!

October 2009


J & I got married! And during all the planning, guess what I did? I made sure to discuss the Spice Girls with our DJ! ha. Yes, I realize that by 2009, not everyone is a fan of these lovely ladies so I made sure our DJ & I were on the same page aka I told him "Wannabe" better be in his line-up. Don't worry, I said it sweetly.  And, even better I had that same good friend by my side then.



So in my eyes, the Spice Girls only mean good things - good friends, good memories, and helluva good dance parties!

I am seriously hoping this musical makes its way to the US. But if not, I maaay just need to bump up the trip I'd like to take someday to London!


What's your favorite Spice Girls song?? I basically love all of them really ha.


Girl Power!

(sorry, I had to)





Friday, June 22, 2012

Meg's Last Hurrah!

Saturday in Newport was perfect. Apparently the weather in Boston was overcast and somewhat cold but it was hot and blue skies down in Rhode Island.


I told you so, perfect.
 Previewing our dinner spot, The Landing
 Soaking up the sun
 Sisters & sisters-in-law <3
 Bride & MOH
 Bride & Bridesmaid
 Cabbyshack girls
 Could she be any cuter?!
Look who I ran into in Newport! 


Dinnertime!
Best waitstaff I've had in a loooong time. 
 The whole crew. Love these girls!
 Pedicabs to the bar!
Well what do ya know, look who got pulled onto stage ;)
 And then looks who's so VIP, her whole crew gets pulled on to the stage
 We ended the night at the Dockside. Look at the size of the crowd watching the stage?!! Yikes!


We may have made a couple trips to the Alex & Ani store while in Newport too... Meg picked up her new initials, I grabbed a small C and the silver & purple ones to go with the few I'd already been gifted. SILs! 



Newport was a blast. We had so much fun celebrating with Meg. Sunday may have been a bit of a rough morning but I wouldn't have it any other way. I am so excited to welcome Meg into the family next weekend!! Love you Meg!

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Newport's Finest

This past weekend we jetted off to Newport, RI to celebrate Meg's bachelorette party. If you've never been to Newport, you have got to get down there! Right on the water, great shopping, great restaurants, what more could you ask for?!

We were so lucky to find a weekend rental for the bash and could not have asked for better weather.

To start, here's a quick tour of the house I snapped after Jackie & I got down there earlier to put up a few decorations and fill the fridge (very important stuff I tell ya)....


 From the outdoor space, you walk in to the kitchen
 Which had this cute side pantry off of it
Bathroom #1 off the kitchen

 Kitchen through the door on the left, second dining room straight ahead?
 Sitting rooms #1 and #2
 Let's head upstairs, shall we?
 Bedroom #1
 Crazy huge bathroom (#2) with doors to 2 bedrooms
 Bedroom #2  the bride to be's suite!
 Bedroom #3 across the hall....and those double doors lead to the next photo
 A hallway on the side of the house to get to more rooms! How crazy is that?!
 Bedroom #4, Bathroom #3 through the right door
 Up the stairs to the third floor of rooms....lovely runner choice I must say
 Bedroom #5 where Jack & I stayed...there were 2 twin beds
 Bedroom #6
 Bathroom #4....a teensy tiny bathroom....but wait for it....
 A shower with a skylight! It felt like you were showering outside. I loved it.

So, with such a splendid place to eat & sleep, we made sure to do just that.



Somebody may have grabbed the wrong shot glasses...haha. Hey, they still served their purpose!
And what's the best way to carry shot glasses you may ask, with a frying pan of course. 
Cheers Meg!
I spy with my little eye.....someone dancing on their chair


Day #2's post to follow tomorrow! I pinky swear.

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