Lucky you! I started making shirts for my kids years ago before Target was flooded with a t-shirt for every holiday.  It's become a bit of a tradition.  Mainly just for Valentine's and St. Patricks at this point, but that doesn't mean I won't take full advantage of some silly reason to make custom t-shirts for the the gang.  

Mostly I make them because I luurrvvee when we match.  It's my favorite!  When we can all line up and wear the same shirt - it's so stinking cute! It's like a Hanna Anderson ad, but for t-shirts.  Since Target has yet to see my vision, I make them myself.  

The most challenging part of these is cutting out the template.  I use freezer paper for the template because it cuts out really easily and you can iron it on to the shirt so it sticks and forms a perfect template.  You can use sticker paper or stencil paper too - freezer paper is a cheap and easy option!  

May these shirts bring you and your little leprechauns much luck!

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TACO POPCORN SNACK MIX

STEP 1

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  

STEP 2

In a deep pan, mix together popcorn, pretzels, and goldfish crackers.  

STEP 3

Combine butter, spices, and hot sauce (to taste - spice it up!) and pour over the popcorn mixture. Toss to coat.

STEP 4

Bake 45 minutes stirring every 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool.  Serve immediately or store in an airtight container up to one week. 

4 cups popcorn

3 cups pretzels

2 cups goldfish crackers

1/2 cup melted butter

2 tablespoons chili powder

2 teaspoons cumin

salt & pepper

hot sauce

CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER POPCORN MIX

STEP 1

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a deep pan mix together popcorn, pretzels and 1 cup of the marshmallows.

STEP 2

Mix together butter, peanut butter, and brown sugar.  Pour over the popcorn mixture and mix to coat. 

STEP 3

Bake 45 minutes stirring every 15 minutes.   Remove from the oven and sprinkle with remaining marshmallow, whoppers, and chocolate chips.  Let cool.  Serve immediately or store in an airtight container up to one week

4 cups popcorn

2 cups pretzels

2 cups mini marshmallows

1/2 cup melted butter

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup mini chocolate chips

1 cup whoppers

SHOP THE PARTY

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Before I had children I hosted a Chinese New Year dinner every year!  I loved it.  It's a great excuse for a party and not one that most people in Seattle seem to think of.  Or we remember the day of because the kids come home from their assembly super excited about dragons and envelops with coins inside.  

I don't entirely know why I stopped.  Probably being overwhelmed by three kids did it.  But I'm determined to bring it back.  Even if it's just for the five of us - I will bring it back.  If you are more ambitious (or if I get more ambitious?) host a few friends and enjoy.

This dinner is one of the simplest dinners you can make - and it's so good.  Like addictive good.  If you need to scale the recipe, download Weeknight Society and you can adjust to as many as 12 servings within the app.  

CHINESE CHICKEN WRAPS

serves 4

STEP 1

Cook chicken with garlic and onion until chicken is browned. 

STEP 2

Mix hoisin, soy, vinegar, honey, ginger, chili oil, and stock in a bowl.

STEP 3

Add chestnuts, scallions, zucchini, and bell pepper to the pan then pour over the sauce.

STEP 4

Cook until veggies are softened. 

STEP 5

Serve on butter lettuce

2 lb ground chicken

2 cloves garlic

1 onion

¼ cup hoisin

2 tbs soy sauce

1 tbs rice vinegar

1 tbs grated ginger

2 tbs honey

1 tbs chili oil

¼ cup chicken stock

1 can water chestnuts, chopped

4 scallions, chopped

1 zucchini, chopped

1 bell pepper, chopped

1 head butter lettuce

Shop the gear

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In the event you forgot to get a dinner reservation for Valentine's Day - or if you're like me - you don't want to waste a perfectly good evening out on a prix fix menu and overly crowded restaurants. - let's eat in!

I have become a master of the "indoor steak" technique over the last few years for a number of reasons, but mostly because it is so freaking easy!  SO EASY!  It's how restaurants do their steaks - there aren't grills in most restaurants - so they skillet sear and broil them too.  It keeps in the moisture (worst word ever) and creates the deliciously crispy crust on the outside.

The video will show you how easy it is to cook steak in the oven + a bonus cocktail and a side dish you can make in minutes.  (Also, my cute husband is at the end)

Steak au Poivre

serves 4

4 NY Strip steaks

4 tbs crushed peppercorns

2 tbs butter

2 shallot, chopped

½ cup cognac

½ cup beef stock

3 large russet potatoes, sliced in rounds

2 tbs olive oil

2 tsp flake salt

STEP 1

Preheat the broiler to 500 degrees. Heat a cast iron skillet over high heat until the pan is smoking hot.  Pat the steaks dry and push each one into the peppercorns. 

STEP 2

Pop the steaks on the hot skillet.  Sear 3 minutes each side until browned.

STEP 3

Toss potatoes in olive oil and salt.  Spread out on a baking sheet and pop in the lowest rack in the oven for 5 minutes.  Check and flip as needed to brown them but not burn them.

STEP 4

Top each steak with ½ tbs butter and pop the pan into the oven.  Cook 5-8 minutes until meat thermometer reads 145 degrees. Remove from the oven and let rest covered on a plate with foil for 5 minutes.

STEP 5

Place pan on a high burner and pour in shallots – cook quickly.  Add cognac & stock and whisk.  Season with salt.  Cook to reduce by 1/2.  Plate steaks and top with sauce.

NOTES

-       Traditionally this is cooked with heavy cream.  That didn’t seem needed with this gorgeous steak but if you want to add ½ cup cream with the sherry, it’s delicious.

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I don't think you need me to tell you how to make it romantic at home.  But I will remind you that music helps.  A lot.  Have music.  

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I am so lucky to have a great group of girlfriends who are supportive, fun, and are always ready for a gif in the text string.  This January seemed to take us down hard.  Everyone got sick, or their kids got sick, or something dramatic happened that kept us all apart.  

We're due for a girls day.  One involving booze.  

I can't wait to celebrate my lady loves with a fun boozy brunch.  This one is so simple that you can whip it up after the kids have left for school and be done in time for a p.j. clad brunch before 9am! (My kids leave at 7:30am)

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We don't usually go out for Valentine's Day.  We used to.  But then with kids it became more challenging for us to find a sitter, a reservation, and a restaurant we'd want to spend a fortune at for a prix fix menu.  

So we stay at home.  It's fun to spend time with the kids and do something special for them.  I started making a family friendly valentine's dinner when my oldest was a baby and the tradition has carried on.

And then we go out to dinner another night when it's not the night every other couple goes out to dinner.

My favorite part is having them make their own heart shaped pizzas.  They could make plain shapes too, I guess, but it's Valentine's!  Have a little fun with it!  For my kids, all I really need is cheese and pepperoni.  But you can add olives, bell pepper, sausage, artichoke hearts, kalamata olives, and different kinds of cheese - like feta.

In the video I made fun soda floats with my kids.  It's a simple option that's a huge win for the kids - and doubles as dessert.  But I really really like dessert and I am not the hugest fan of soda floats...

The point is to have a fun cocktail that's just for the kids.  Floats are a great time for everyone - but Shirley Temple's are just as popular.  My kids also love Dry Soda's - the Rainier Cherry flavor is a favorite!  

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Last month my girlfriend and I were out to a boozy lunch and we decided to host an Oscar Party - we've even figured out how to project the show on a big screen in the Fire Station!  

But what to serve...

Nothing goes better with movies than popcorn - and I love popcorn.  I worked with Pop Secret to plan a fabulous popcorn bar with delicious flavors and dreamy mix-ins.  I literally can't think of a better way to watch the Oscars and hang out with the girls.  Except for the cocktail - that's coming later this week!

The fun part about a popcorn bar is popping up a few flavors of popcorn {I popped Double Butter and Cinnamon Roll} and filling bowls with loads of your favorite candies, nuts, etc.  We even tried a few savory things and they were delicious.

How are you celebrating the Oscars?

Popcorn c/o Pop Secret

Photography by Alexandra Hedin

Styling by Jenny Batt

Last night the Oregon Ducks competed for the National Football title, this weekend the Seahawks hope to defend their Super Bowl trophy - even if you aren't into football, this is a good excuse for a party.  And food.  And great if you live in the Northwest because I literally don't know anyone who isn't watching football right now.

Seahawks Beast Mode Punch

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White Chicken Chili  

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Slow Cooked Street Tacos

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Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars 

Roca Patron Tequila

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Floating Flamingo Coasters

Old English Christmas Crackers