Friday Things
1. The boys have both had a great week. Dominic is his usual happy, super-smiley self. Even when he’s a little cranky from fighting naps (ugh!), he still flashes big smiles in between some sourpuss faces and it’s absolutely hysterical. He’s also totally in love with Duke. His face lights up like a Christmas tree when Duke walks into his view, and he’ll just stare and smile, giggle, and shriek as long as Duke will stay there!
Joseph and I went to music class – only our second since we missed a couple with me being sick – and he had such a fun time! He’s always a little shy and serious in new situations, but he totally came out of his shell and was laughing, clapping and having a ball this week. AND he got a snazzy new haircut!
2. It’s been awhile since I bought a cookbook on a whim, but last week Joseph and I went for a spin through Target and I saw the Chrissy Teigen cookbook with a 30% off sticker on it. I had seen it mentioned quite a bit on other blogs and social media, but I’m usually not one for celebrity cookbooks. However, the sale sticker reeled me in and I bought it on impulse.
The verdict? I seriously want to make EVERY SINGLE RECIPE in that book. It’s amazing. I’ve already made the Thai chicken lettuce wraps and both my husband and I loved them. Some of language/commentary in the book is a little off-putting, but my goodness is it packed with great recipes!
3. I have zero idea how accurate these are, but apparently the USDA puts out food cost reports that basically tell you about how much you should be spending on groceries depending on who exactly lives in your house and your purchasing style (thrifty, low-cost, moderate-cost, and liberal). I’ve always had a hard time trying to figure out really how much is reasonable or TOO MUCH to spend on groceries, and this is at least a good starting point and barometer.
4. My kids are too young for this (obviously), but this dad’s “x-plan” is pure genius if you have a middle-schooler or teenager.
5. Talk to me about brookies (half chocolate chip cookie, half brownie) – have you had them? Thoughts? I feel like I should like them, but every time I see them I think I would just rather eat a cookie OR a brownie.
6. Are granite countertops dated already? Say it ain’t so!
7. You could have some seriously epic cheese boards using this extra large serving platter!
8. Do you have any plans for celebrating St. Patrick’s Day next Friday? More specifically, tell me what you’re planning to cook or bake!
9. Can I tell you how ridiculously excited I am that The Americans came back this week?! Are there any other watchers?
10. TGIF! I hope you have a great weekend with good friends and family :)
I think brookies taste great, and I’d like to make my own, but I’m put off by the idea of putting together and simultaneously cooking two things that normally have very different bake times and temperatures. That’s why I am hoping YOU will publish a BEB-tested recipe!!
1st – I’ve had Quartz (Silestone) countertops for over 13 years and wouldn’t have anything else!
2nd- love the wood serving tray, but wow expensive and where in the world would you store it?
I want to love a brookie and have tried SEVERAL different recipes, but each time I think I could make a cookie or a brownie that tastes better than this brookie. I think it’s the difference in textures that get’s me. I like my cookies thick and chewy and I like my brownies soft and fudgy. How do you make a cookie that has both of those textures?
#5 brookies — when I was young there was a boxed mix called “Fudge Jumbles”. We loved them and they were easy to make. It was a brownie mix with an oatmeal mix that you plopped on top —> so good! Do you have a recipe similar to that?
PS I hope granite never goes out — the advantage over quartz is that it is usually cheaper and pure — natural from the earth as is. Perhaps it is the popularity of granite that has sellers pushing to more unique finishes?
Hi Kelly! I haven’t heard of anything like that, I’ll have to do some research!
The boys are both so handsome and so happy looking but the picture of Dominic and Duke is just too cute! I”m not really attracted to “brookies” – i either want a brownie or a cookie – not a hybrid….lol…I’m not big on celebrity cookbooks either – not sure if I want to check it out or not. I would think granite counter tops would always be in…lol…guess I’m out of fashion too
I made the Brookies, cause this was a cold, snowy day. They weren’t worth the time it took. The flavor of each wasn’t there.
Can’t wait for St. Paddy’s! I’ve been making your car bomb cupcakes every year for four or five years, so this year I decided to mix it up. I did mini chocolate stout bundt cakes with a Bailey’s cheesecake center and stout ganache! Also I prepped some stout, beef, and mushroom hand pies, and am going to experiment with a Bailey’s cream pie next week. Still trying to work up the nerve to tackle doing a whole corned beef- maybe next year!
Your boys are looking as beautiful as ever and they bring a smile to my face every weekend!
I went to Amazon and sure enough the Chrissy Teigen cookbook was on sale. I bought it. Always appreciate a well recommend cookbook. Speaking of good cookbooks, I can recommend “Homesick Texan” if you are into texmex food, and/or trying to recreate your favorites from several well known restaurants in the Lone Star State.
I love The Americans too and this season got off to such a good start. I have made brookies before and I didn’t think they were that great. I am so with you, give me a cookie or a brownie over the hybrid.
Your blog is lovely! Thank you for sharing a link to my extra large serving platter. It’s true, I have had some epic cheese boards using one of them. I’m glad I stopped by, I’ve been intrigued by that cookbook for awhile now but always hesitate because it’s a celebrity cookbook. I think you may have convinced me to make the purchase. Thank you again for your kindness!
Hi! OK…I have soapstone counter tops that we had installed about 15 years ago and I still LOVE them….so there! I recently supervised the remodel of my mom’s master bath and went with quartz counter and it is lovely and durable so I see the appeal. The one I chose looks like concrete and I only had to pay for fabrication since the fabricator had a leftover piece from a big job. Bonus!
I am currently on a ‘no sugar, no flour’ kick (which is doing wonders for my waistline, energy level AND allergies!) but I am thinking I am going to make your Guinness/whisky/Irish cream cupcakes! Never made them before and they sound like something really fun to share next Friday :)
Yes! Americans is back!!! We are fans as well…this week I was reminded you REALLY have to pay attention. I was messing around with my phone only to look up and realize I had NO IDEA what was going on! Thank goodness for DVRs…
I’m also with you on the brookies…I either want the brownie OR the chocolate chip cookie. Together just dilutes the wonderful characteristics of both :(
I’ve yet to find and try a Brokkie recipe that works wel. I tried one and the 2 doughs didn’t bake at the same rate. If you’ve got a great Brookie recipe, please let me know. :)
Don’t usually use box mixes but Aldi’s has a brookie mix that is really good. Cheap, easy way to give them a try.
Your kids are so adorable!
Have a good weekend!
The food plan chart is so interesting! I have though my grocery spending for our 3-person family is outrageous, but it turns out I’m doing pretty well…below the Moderate Cost Plan. I’m sure the USDA doesn’t factoring in all the specialty items for baking! ;)
I also bought Chrissy’s book based on all the amazing reviews. Her French toast casserole looks unapologetically decadent! Can’t wait to try some things. ?
Baby Dominic’s smile is too cute! His little tootsies as he’s focused on Duke, heart melting! Jospeh’s haircut grew him right up! You have some very handsome boys. :)
With the X-Plan, I saw it just this last week and I told my son about it as he is starting to go to friends parties and stuff. I said it doesn’t matter what time you need to call, do it and I will be there, and put it on me that the consequences are not favorable if you smoke, drink or do drugs. My son is almost 12 and he is in 6th grade in middle school, and there have been 3 eighth graders suspended for vaping and teachers catching them this year. I feel like it’s starting earlier for kids.
For St. Patrick’s, my mom and I are going to see Beauty and the Beast. She doesn’t get out much so it’s going to be a fun time.
Enjoy your weekend and your babies! :)
Your boys are absolutely adorable! And I love Joseph’s new haircut! Hearing about the bond your boys have with Duke makes me yearn for a dog! I am really hoping next year is the year I can finally make it happen.
I couldn’t tell you the last time I bought a cookbook. Partly it’s because I’ve been burned too many times by a 200 page cookbook with exactly ONE recipe I would make! I am much more likely to purchase one from a blogger (hint hint ;) ) that I follow and make recipes from frequently! Oh, and I also have quite a small kitchen with no real place to spread open a cookbook. I usually just read recipes off my phone or tablet. In my next home I hope to have a large island again so I can really spread out when cooking!
Love the “x-plan”! My girl is starting middle school in the fall. While she seems to be a homebody much like I was (and still am), I would still like to have a plan for her in case she needs me when she’s out with friends.
I don’t have fancy countertops, but I do like the look of the quartz (I’ve watched too much Property Brothers) as an alternative to marble. The lighter color of those is more my taste than the darker colors you often see with granite.
I haven’t watched The Americans since it gave me a nightmare a couple years ago :) But I wa ECSTATIC to see two more seasons of The Great British Baking show pop on on Netflix recently!
Have a great weekend, Michelle!
I love Dominic’s HAPPY BABY yoga pose!
Boy! does Joseph’s new haircut change his looks. It fits him so well and is as cute as ever! And sweet Duke just hanging out with happy Dominic. Great picture for sure! Don’t you think granite is a classic, timeless material? Surely, how can it ever be out of date? But it’s so expensive and will last FOREVER, so sometimes I just have to wonder when these articles (earlier this week I read the same one your linked) are written . . . admittedly, I’m skeptical.
That platter is beautiful! And yes! to the fantastic cheese board you could lay out. My husband gave me a beautiful board this past Christmas. I need to get to putting it to good use. Maybe this weekend . . . .
Americans!! My husband and I have been enthralled with this show from the very beginning. Oddly enough, everyone we recommend it to us reluctant to watch. We don’t know anyone in our circle that watches this great show ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. They definitely don’t know what they’re missing, such a shame?
Dominic has the cutest little “impish” face…in the best sense of the word. I can see that little smile, not too long in the future, signaling some plan he has plotted or trouble he is looking to get into once he starts crawling and walking. Hopefully, his best buddy Duke will keep him in line!
Thanks for sharing the blog post regarding teens and the “X-plan’ , My godchild is turning 13 next month and although she has always displayed good judgement regarding the friends she chooses, it is hard in this age of social media and so many outside influences to always be able to stand strong and make good choices. I will be passing the blog post on to her mom.
Finally, I love looking at “brookie” recipes but the only one I ever tries called for boxed brownie mix and the final product was a huge disappointment. If I ever tried again, I would not use anything boxed.
Have a great weekend…spring ahead!
I think Brookies get divided reception when I make them. They sound good, some people rave and some folks are ‘meh’ about them. I’ve tried 2 or 3 recipes and the sum of the parts is not better than the two original concepts for me.
I’m with you when it comes to brookies. I’ve tried a few different recipes and while they look great and I know the ingredients are the best they can be they still leave me flat. I think it’s because in cookies I like a crunchy outside and a gooey inside but with a brownie I like it soft and fudge-like all the way through.
So, brookies…my son calls them crownies. ?
We put the brownie batter in a greased muffin tin, filling halfway, then drop a mid sized spoonful of cookie dough into the middle. I bake them on convection bake at 350 for about 30 minutes. It seems to take forever! (I’ve tried alternative temps/times)
End result looks great. The cookie sort of puffs out of the top of the brownie and has beautiful color. As far as taste though, I’m not a fan. My son and his friends LOVE them, but I can’t seem to agree. They are so rich and dense, almost like you’re eating a flourless cake. I’ve tried varying ingredients, types of chocolate, etc. They remain too rich for my taste.
Also, the lifespan for leftovers is nill. Those little things turn into hockey pucks by the end of the next day. ? So, if my son has his friends over for a movie night, or is headed to a gathering for school I’ll make these for him. If I want something, then like you, I want a cookie OR a brownie.
I’ve made several things from Chrissy’s cook book! I absolutely love it. I’ve made the Honey Chipotle Chicken (AMAZING!!! I’ve made it probably 5 times in the last year), Jok Moo Rice Porridge (Sounds odd, but its seriously one of the best things I’ve ever had in my life), Pot Pie Soup, Vegetable Tortilla Soup, and her method of making scrambled eggs has revolutionized breakfast for me. Seriously everything in it is amazing, and I too am not one for the hype of celebrity cook books.
I have to say, I love “brookies” but never call them that. I’ve made a few varieties, but everyone’s favorite so far is when I bake brownies in a pan, top with salted caramel, then cookie dough. I bake and cut into bars.
While taking my shower this morning, I literally was thinking I need to find a great Thai chicken lettuce wrap recipe. It’s my go-to at Houlihans restaurant. CANT WAIT! Ps. Brookies are amazing! Better when softer. Happy Friday!
So my husband and I just did out our budget and for ourselves and 15 month old son we average about $850 a month on groceries. sure, it sounds like a lot but I buy almost exclusively organic, we rarely waste food, and don’t eat unbelievable meals just standard and easy go tos. He thinks $850 is way too high and it should be cut back… forwarding him this link today!! Thanks!
Also- I’ve been so curious about the Chrissy teigen book, hopefully I’ll see it on sale somewhere!
$850/month for two adults and a small child?! Holy crap, what on earth are you buying for these “standard” and “easy go-to” meals?! I try to buy mainly organic and shop sales, specials, and seasonal items for two adults and average $150. Try shopping at Aldi.