---

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!

---

A Reuben sandwich is possibly my favorite sandwich of all the sandwiches.  Seriously, could anything be better?  Any time they are on a menu, that's my order.  My mouth is watering right now just looking at the pictures.  I really really want a reuben right now.  

Good news.  They take 10 minutes to make - so I can have one right now and so can you.  It's the perfect "oops I forgot St. Patrick's Day" dinner or the "I was busy all day and didn't spend hours cooking corned beef" dinner.  Or, the "I love a reuben dinner." 

REUBEN SANDWICH

serves 4

STEP 1

Combine together mayonnaise, ketchup, and lemon juice.  Let rest.

STEP 2

Butter one side of each piece of bread.  Spread the other side with Dijon mustard. 

STEP 3

Layer a slice of cheese on top of four slices of bread (on top of the Dijon).  Add pastrami equally divided amongst sandwiches.

STEP 4

Top pastrami with sauerkraut and another slice of cheese. 

STEP 5

Top cheese with remaining slices of bread and toast the sandwiches over medium heat in a skillet. 

STEP 6

Slice and serve with homemade Thousand Island dipping sauce.

1 lb sliced pastrami

8 slices rye bread

2 tbs butter

2 tbs Dijon mustard

1 cup Sauerkraut

8 slices Swiss cheese

½ cup mayonnaise

¼ cup ketchup

2 tbs lemon juice

---

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

---

You know when you are trying to come up with a dinner that's super impressive and people will think you are a really amazing chef when you make it?  This is it.  This is that dinner.  This is the one that people will be amazed at your cooking.  This is the dish that will make people you are really something special in the kitchen. 

And it takes 20 minutes.

Boom.

This week - these will be perfect for the Oscars.  Get it??  The envelope please...  it's an envelope for your dinner!  It's perfect.  

Here's the plan.  Assemble everything before anything starts.  Do it at like two in the afternoon.  Then it's ready in the fridge on a sheet pan.  When the red carpet show ends, there's a solid 5 minutes of ads before the real show.  Use that time to pop these into the oven.  Don't forget to set at timer.  You will lose track otherwise.  

Twenty minutes into the show - you know when they start doing a few tech awards and other things that are non-Denzel-related - that's when you can pull them out of the oven.

MISO SALMON IN PARCHEMENT

serves 4

STEP 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Rip off four pieces of parchment paper into twelve inch long pieces and fold them in half.  If your fish is in one big piece, slice it into four equal pieces and place them inside the fold of the parchment.  Set the fish filled parchment pieces on a baking sheet and set aside.

STEP 2

In a small bowl combine together miso, soy sauce, mirin, honey, ginger and garlic.  Rub the mixture across the top of each piece of salmon.  Divide scallions, bok choy, snow peas, and carrots evenly on top of each piece of salmon. 

STEP 3

Fold the top piece of parchment over the salmon and vegetables and roll the edge to seal the parchment together.  You want to capture as much steam inside as possible, so make sure there are no openings!

STEP 4

Pop the baking sheet in the oven and bake 15-20 minutes until fish is cooked through.  You’ll know it’s cooked fully when the fish is the same color pale pink all the way through.  Serve in the parchment

2 pounds wild caught salmon

2 tablespoons mellow miso paste

2 tablespoons soy sauce

1 tablespoon mirin

1 tablespoon honey

1 tablespoon ginger, grated

1 clove garlic, grated

1 bunch scallions, whites and greens sliced

2 heads baby bok choy, sliced in quarters

2 cups snow peas

2 carrots, thinly sliced into matchsticks

---

Nothing will ever warm you up on a cold winter night better than the perfect Manhattan.  You're welcome.

This week we're attempting to enjoy winter.  Like for real.  Nothing screams winter like steaming bowls of chili and soup - yesterday I posted one of my favorite chili recipes - today, one of my favorite soups.  

I have a version of minestrone for every season.  In the winter it's packed with parsnips and kale.  Once it's spring I'll fill it with green beans and zucchini.  There's never a bad time for a hearty minestrone soup, but this winter version is so perfect right now.  

A girl friend of mine makes this every weekend after skiing.  It's such a good skiing soup! This recipe makes a TON of soup.  If you're making it for four, you will have left overs.  If you're making it for six, this is the right quantity.  Don't forget a loaf of bread to sop up everything that's left.

WINTER MINESTRONE

serves 4

STEP 1

In a large stock pot, cook onion, parsnips, carrots, 2 cloves garlic until onions are is soft.

STEP 2

Add tomatoes & beans & spices.  Stir to incorporate

STEP 3

Pour in stock and bring to a boil.

STEP 4

Add noodles, kale and cabbage and cook until noodles are done.  Season with salt and pepper. Serve with parmesan cheese on top.

1 onion

2 parsnips

3 carrots

2 cloves garlic

2 cups kale, chopped

2 cups cabbage, chopped

1 15oz-can kidney beans

1 15oz-can garbanzo beans

1 28oz-can diced tomatoes

6 cups vegetable stock

2 tsp dried oregano

2 tsp dried basil

2 cups noodles

salt and pepper

½ cup parmesan cheese

---

Does winter feel like it's dragging on?  I'm trying to revel in the cold weather since I know it won't last but it does get challenging after a little while... So let's make chili.  It's a great way to enjoy winter.  I mean, who eats chili in the summer?  No one eats chili in the summer. So make a hot bowl of chili, snuggle up in something cashmere, and remember it will warm up soon!

ROASTED POBLANO CHILI

serves 4

STEP 1

Roast chilies over an open flame or in the broiler.  Pop into a plastic bag and seal it tight. Let rest 5 minutes. 

STEP 2

Cook onion, garlic and turkey until turkey is cooked through.  Sprinkle the top with flour, cumin and oregano and stir to combine. 

STEP 3

Add stock and bring to a boil.

STEP 4

Remove chilies from the plastic bag and rub with a paper towel to remove most of the skins.  Chop chilies and add to soup. 

STEP 5

Mix dry ingredients for waffles then add milk, eggs, honey, and melted butter.  Mix to combine and cook in a waffle maker until done.  Let cool and cut into strips.

STEP 6

Serve chili topped with jack cheese, a squeeze of lime, and cornbread waffle sticks.

1 lb. ground turkey

1 lb. poblano chilies

6 cups chicken stock

2 cloves garlic

1 onion, chopped

1 tbs flour

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp oregano

s&p

1 lime

1 cup jack cheese, shredded

1 ¼ cup flour

1 ¼ cup cornmeal

2 tsp baking powder

¼ tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

½ cup buttermilk

2 eggs

2 tbs honey

½ cup melted butter 

---

Yesterday I shared a really really fast Chinese Chicken Wrap recipe that's super delicious.  You'll love it.  You'll love it even better with a quirky little cocktail inspired by Chinese New Year. 

Clearly, this is really un-authentic.  But that's not what I'm going for.  I like to celebrate.  I like to have a reason to celebrate and I think Chinese New Year is an awesome reason to celebrate.  Who doesn't love good Chinese food and a cocktail?  

Inspired by the sweet and spicy flavors in Chinese cuisine, I added a little Mandarin vodka to a regular Moscow Mule transforming it to a little something that everyone will love!  

MOSCOW MULE

Over a glass filled with ice, mix together vodka and ginger beer.  Garnish with wedges of mandarin oranges!  

2 ounces mandarin vodka

4 ounces ginger beer

slices of mandarin oranges

---

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.

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

---