A little more Halloween!

We had a potluck at Halloween today and these are the festive dishes we came up with! My co-workers are so creative!

Graveyard cake

cake balls

One eyed stuffed tomatoes with paprika and chicken salad

Mummy wrapped hot dogs

Pasta fruit salad

and my creation...roasted red pepper dip with a goulish hand popping out! I made this with carrots and sliced almonds. I used honey to stick the almond on the carrot like a finger nail.

How was your Halloween!?

Happy Halloween!

Here are some cute photos for your Halloween viewing pleasure! My dog and my niece were both ladybugs this year.



Halloween!

I dressed as Little Red Riding Hood and Shane went as a Walmart greeter. My friends went as wild raccoons.

I can't wait to see all of your posts on Halloween! Some people are really creative with their costumes and I love seeing that! I also love seeing the festive food and treats or just reading about what you did! I'll try to take photos at the potluck we are having at work on Monday with all of our Halloween creations so you can get some ideas for next year's festive food.

Meatloaf with Sweet Baby Rays

I used organic beef and added a shredded sweet potato, parsley, salt, pepper, Sweet Baby Rays BBQ sauce and flaxseed. I made it in muffin tins so I had individual portions. It was delicious meatloaf! I also made mashed potatoes with a scoop of pesto and Dave's Killer Bread, the peace loaf.

My fall baking Secret

Shhhhhh.....I'm going to let you in on something that I do when baking fall treats. I use real pumpkin---I never ever buy the stuff in the can. That in itself always seems to impress people, but the secret is that it is so, so easy. All you need is a little sugar pumpkin, the smallest ones at the store best for baking.  Cut it in half and scoop out the seeds (I like to save the seeds for roasting). Place facedown on a baking tray and bake for about 30-40 minutes or until a fork pokes into the skin easily. Then, all you do is remove the pumpkin halves from the oven, slide the fork into the skin and slide it down the side. Peel the skin back and the pumpkin flesh will literally keep its form. Discard skin, scoop it into a bowl, mash and use just as you would canned pumpkin. You can even freeze the leftovers. It's so easy and so much tastier and organic than store bought! 

peel the skin back with a fork

skin almost all peeled off.

 You should try it! I love making pumpkin bread, pumpkin cookies, pumpkin pie and more! I used fresh pumpkin when making my skinny pumpkin bread recipe last week!

Pizza on Naan

Just wanted to share my impromtu pizza that I made on Naan bread....I made it just like regular pizza and it was really good! The bread is really thick and yummy so it gives a little different flavor than plain old pizza crust.

I used pizza sauce, a couple of pieces of salami, pepperjack cheese, red bell peppers, mushrooms and once I baked it I added fresh basil! Delicious.

Skinny Pumpkin Bread

I found this recipe on this blog. It is lower calorie and I can't even tell! The bread is dense and yummy.

I would totally recommend trying the recipe----try it here!

Weekend recap

This weekend was the perfect mix of being social and relaxing! On Friday night I took my favorite yoga class at 5:30 and then got ready quickly and headed to dinner at Casa Del Matador Eastside with Shane and another couple. After dinner we headed to Helium Comedy club to see Tom Green! I haven't heard about him in years but it totally brings me back to my high school MTV days. He was pretty absurb and hilarious!

Saturday we went to lunch at PBJ's Grilled, which was extra exciting because they have added new fall sandwiches to their line up! I got the Smokin Goat, which has almond butter, fig jam, bacon and goat cheese---so delicious! They also have a new one called the Spencer which has brie and ham. I can't wait to taste that one too! This is my favorite food cart by far.

Saturday afternoon I went wine tasting with a great friend. We went to Artisan's tasting room in Newberg and then Winter's Hill and White Rose. We chatted, enjoyed some yummy wine and the views! It was a beautiful day!

Sunday Shane and I headed to spin class early and then I took a Pilates class right after at Studio Blue, but Shane headed home to relax. I spent the rest of the afternoon watching Bad Teacher, painting my nails and having amazing down time! I love feeling rested after the weekend. What about you, what did you do this weekend?

Salty's on the Columbia

Although we went to Seattle for our anniversary, we also celebrated on the actual exact date of our anniversary, which fell on a Wednesday. Since Shane took me on such a nice adventure the weekend before, I wanted to do something nice for him. I think he thought I was cooking him dinner, but when he got home I gave him a card with a gift card inside for Salty's on the Columbia, which is a really nice seafood restaurant on Marine Drive in Portland. We've never been, so it was a nice treat.

although we had a window view the night was pretty stormy! Kind of beautiful in itself

a bottle of Oregon pinot makes any dinner good:)

Shane got the Wild Salmon with fingerling potatoes

I got the Steelhead with asparagus, garlic mashed potatoes and asparagus. It was DIVINE!

Cheers!

anniversary cake:) white chocolate

By now we felt like we had over celebrated our anniversary, but we love doing nice things for each other and celebrating each other! I'd love to go back to Salty's for one of their seafood brunch's on the weekend. Has anyone ever been? How was it?

Little Squirt at 3 months

I love my niece Natalie! She is such a good little baby and so so cute!

Hawaiian food

I tried to re-create a Hawaiian meal that I sometimes get at Aiea Grill in Beaverton.

I marinated 4 chicken thighs overnight in this sauce I purchased from the restaurant. I added a little garlic as well.

the replica! Teriyaki chicken, rice with teriyaki sauce, potato mac salad and roasted broccoli.

The potato mac salad is the show stealer here--I love it! Have you had Hawaiian food? What's your favorite part?

Pix Patisserie

Pix is a little dessert hot spot in SE Portland. They have fancy, delicious pastries as well as expensive french wines. 

I think this place has a thing for Monkeys. There were sock monkies hanging from the ceiling, on the menu, ect.

fancy french wines

the dessert case....such a tough decision!

I ordered the pear rosemary special. They don't always have this one, so I decided to try it. It was delicious! If you are wondering about the weird bird decoration, this is an ode to the famous network show "Portlandia". They let you "Put a Bird on it" for any of your desserts if you'd like. I just had to try it to see what it looked like!

fleur de sol macroon---it went well with the rosemary pear flavor

Shane ordered this tart with chocolate pudding and creme brulee in the middle

most of their desserts look fancy like this one!

  I think it's hilarious that they are letting us Portlander's "Put a Bird on it". Check out the sign they have hanging advertising this option:

I really liked the flavor of the rosemary pear tart. It had a strong flavor but so yummy! There was a chocolate and caramel mixture in the tart as well. Pix has never disappointed me with their desserts nor service!

Oregon Ducks!

Every year my sorority sisters and I pick one weekend where we hold an 'alumni' tailgater at one of the Duck football games. We plan it waaaaay in advance so people can get flights, tickets, plan, ect. This year we went to the Arizona game this last weekend. It was so good to see all my friends!! I loved it and I miss them already. 

Alpha Chi Omega, pledge classes ranging from '03-'08!

Ida and me....I'm wearing the shirt I made last week!

Laura, me, Kristy, Stacey and Carrie

Shane and I watching the game. We won!

Fall Farmer's Market & Pine State Biscuits

I love fall Farmer's Markets! We went to the PSU Farmer's Market in downtown Portland.

After browsing, we got hungry so decided to wait in the never ending long line at Pine State Biscuits, who sets up shop at the market each week.

delicious gravy

fried chicken

we ordered the Reggie Deluxe-on the menu up there-it says fried chicken, bacon and cheese topped with gravy and an egg--on a biscuit!

add hot sauce...

let me just say we don't eat like this everyday....but once in a while it's pretty heavenly!

I think Pine State Biscuits was featured on the Food Network or something at one point but I can't really remember what I heard. Does anyone know?