Toppings

Sunday Sprinkles

09.28.14

IMG_7742.JPG 1. I'm not ashamed to say this is my life.  

2. It has been gloriously rainy and cloudy ALL week in Seattle.  It started to rain on Monday or Tuesday and I literally RAN through my apartment and opened all the windows so I could listen to it.  I've always loved the sound of rain.  Now if I could just get a nice thunderstorm going I'll be a happy girl.

3. I've spent this morning baking cookies and a pumpkin bread creation because it seemed like it was going to be fall-ish today and maybe rain again and i could do a happy dance and wouldn't you know the freaking sun came out?  I just want it to be 60 degrees and cloudy.  is that too much to ask?

4. I know it's not October 1st but just… this article from last year is TOO PERFECT and I LOVE it.

5. This is the time of year that I wish I had cable so I could get excited for Abc Family's count down to Halloween.  Instead I'll have to gorge on the halloween movies on Netflix.  the horror.  #firstworldproblems

6. Last week I learned how to roast a chicken.  hold the applause.  I thought it was going to be super difficult.  SPOILER: it wasn't.  It was like the easiest thing I've ever done and it makes me wonder why I haven't done it before/why I always just buy chicken breasts.  

7. I was roasting that chicken so I could make myself SOUP.  Which is funny because I hate most soups.  Especially soups with pasta/noodles because they always get soggy.  But wouldn't you know I came down with like the worst cold ever and all I wanted was freaking soup?  So I roasted that chicken and made some soup.  I left the noodles out until I was about to eat it and put them in my individual bowls so they wouldn't get soggy.  I'm a freak.  

8. Also.  I've lived in my apartment for two years – I haven't really gotten sick sick since I've lived here and I hate sneezing so I never use tissues.  I still had two boxes of tissues that my mom made me buy when I first moved in (aka I've had TWO BOXES for TWO YEARS).  I went through BOTH boxes this week.  

9. Scandal | ugh. I'M SO GLAD IT'S BACK.  But I'm so sad about Harrison dying.  and just.  does the ending mean that both liv AND jake are staying?  because i really love them together.  like a lot.  but like her dad pulling up at the grave and glaring at jake… WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?!?! Nashville | I'm sure EVERYONE and their cousin knew that Juliette was going to get pregnant because Hayden is pregnant but I didn't put two and two together until like the day before I watched the episode.  UM LIKE OMGAH.  its gonna be like mistresses season 1 – who's da daddy?  i'll actually throw up all over everyone if its jeff's.  I swear.  And like wahhhh rayna and deacon just come onnnn.  i can't go through another season of this.  and i just want maddy do love teddy.  i really do.  like just LOVE him and be nice to him.  How to Get Away with Murder | HOLY CRAP. its like my new fave.  I love EVERYTHING about it.  there isn't much to say because we've only seen the pilot but boy oh boy. i'm LOVING all the drama and people sleeping together and cheating like whattt. Mindy | can we just all agree to agree that we love Mindy and Danny together?  if they pull a New Girl and break up at the end of the season I'll find one of the writers and… let me finish the season of HTGAWM before I finish that statement.  New Girl | I've finally accepted that I'm just going to spend this whole season wishing Nick and Jess would get back together.  

10. Do we all agree there can never be too many sprinkles?

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Toppings / WIAW

What I Ate While I Was Sick

09.24.14

Hey!  Guess what!?  It's What I Ate Wednesdayyyyyyy!  The ever-lovely Jenn was kind enough to host yet another party over at her place.   

I've been feeling pretty under the weather this past week and so instead of showing you what I ate last Wednesday on ze road againnnnn (I was in Salem, OR), I figured I'd show you what I ate yesterday – while I was sick.  Don't feel too bad for me, I started to get somewhat of an appetite back yesterday and I felt good enough to actually leave the house so that's progress (even if it was to get more tissues at Target)!

WIAW 9-24 | Breakfast | I started my day out with some saltine crackers with peanut butter.  I used to be a strictly creamy peanut butter girl but I've been obsessed with crunchy ever since I had it at Deb's for breakfast one morning.  I also had a nice cup of green tea in my Thermos!  | Lunch | For lunch I had a bowl of homemade chicken soup!  I've got a recipe coming your way in the near future.  | Snack | I had a small bowl of salt & vinegar chips to hold me over till dinner.  Weirdly enough, even when I'm sick I can much on those golden crisps.  I was working from home and firmly planted on the couch surrounded by blankets and pillows and… computer screens.  I also drank a couple glasses of water [not pictured]; tryin to keep my fluids up!  | Dinner | Dinner was some steamed broccoli + roasted white sweet potatoes (I didn't know they had different kinds of sweet potatoes when i bought them?!) + chicken mixed with carrots & onions & celery & more broccoli topped with some buffalo sauce.  I washed it down with a glass of crystal light peach iced tea.  Finally, I finished the night off with a Passion tea from Starbucks – I was in Target and there was a promo for two stars after 2pm anyway so it felt right.

Anywho, that was my day yesterday!  Tell me about yoursss & go check out what some other cool kids are eating over at Jenn's!

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Appetizer / Recipes

Two Toned Garlic-y Bruschetta

09.22.14

Let's use ALL the tomatoes while they're still good! two tone bruschetta-7

The funny thing about this is: I. don't. even. like. tomatoes.  I know, I know, it's a travesty.  You're all going to cry yourselves to sleep at night now.  The world just might end.  No, I definitely do NOT have a flair for dramatics, why do you ask? two tone bruschetta-2 two tone bruschetta-6

LIKE THEY'RE SO PRETTY WHY CAN'T I JUST LIKE THEM?!

I don't know why I don't like them but I've just never gotten on board.  Like I can't bring myself to sprinkle one with salt or balsamic and just eat it.  I'm weird, I know.  Can someone just fix whatever tastebud I need fixed so that I can enjoy biting into one of these babies?  No?  Is it a lost cause?  Am I rambling?  Are you even here anymore? bruschetta 2

Let me tell you what I DO love: bruschetta.  I will DEFF hop on board for some bruschetta.  Especially with all the garlic.  Nom.

To be honest, most of the appeal comes from the crispy, toasty, crunchy bread.  I'll be all over that all day errEday.  Don't act surprised… I may have been quoted at one point in my life as saying, “when it comes to bread – I put the D in Diva.”  No, I do not know what that means.  And no, I do not believe I was intoxicated when I said that.  Please speak with my college roomies (LJ & Brittyboo) for further comment.   two tone bruschetta

  Dat bread doe.

Wanna know a secret?  You should definitely toast your bread and then RUB it with a garlic clove.  oh yes.  oh yes, you should.  The only reason I didn't was because I wasn't thinking clearly.  (I was intoxicated… Just kidding.  Kind of.  WINE FOR EVERYONE).

Hey look, we're back on track! bruschetta

 Cannnnn I just put that bruschetta topping on everything?  THE COLORS.  It's so pretty.  I want it on chicken. and sweet potatoes.  and ice crea-  wait what? ummmm.  things just got a little weird. two tone bruschetta-3

Lets make this together and forget about this entire post that makes zero sense.  And then I will eat it all because um HAVE YOU SEEN THE COLORS?  THE BREAD?  THE GARLIC?    two tone bruschetta-5

Print

Two Tone Bruschetta

  • Author: Ashley Renee
  • Prep Time: 25
  • Cook Time: 10
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
Scale

Ingredients

  • 1 red heirloom tomato
  • 1 yellow heirloom tomato
  • 1 loaf french bread (or your bread of choice – I used a country loaf)
  • 1/8 cup extra virgin olive oil + more for brushing
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • basil (approximately 6 leaves)
  • salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees
  2. Remove the seeds, dice the tomatoes, and set aside in a bowl. Finely mince the garlic cloves and throw into the bowl of tomatoes (if you don't actually throw it, you're just not doing it right…). Pour olive oil into the bowl and mix ingredients together. Add a pinch of salt and pepper to taste.
  3. Cut bread into slices, lay slices flat on a baking sheet, and brush tops with olive oil. Toast for 5 minutes (until the bread turns golden on top).
  4. Spoon the tomato mixture onto the tops of the slices and enjoy!

Nutrition

  • Calories: 1391
  • Sugar: 13
  • Sodium: 2109
  • Fat: 35
  • Saturated Fat: 6
  • Unsaturated Fat: 27
  • Trans Fat: 0
  • Carbohydrates: 226
  • Protein: 49
  • Cholesterol: 0

two tone bruschetta-4 FINE.  You can have one slice.

Make it? Lemme see it! Hashtag it: #thepikeplacekitchen

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Toppings

Tuesday Things

09.16.14

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1. CASSIE G. WON THE GIVEAWAY.  Congrats boo!  Check your email and send me the address I should send the book to :)

2. I went home last weekend for a spur of the moment/really short/surprise trip to my school's homecoming and to see my boyfriend for our SIX year anniversary.  oh my. that makes us so old, I think.

3. Speaking of the book and my anniversary – my boyfriend went to a book signing in New York and MET Jessica in person to get me a SIGNED copy as an anniversary present.  & a really pretty alex & ani, but like… HE MET MY SPIRIT BLOGGER.  I'm dead.

4. yes.  just, yes.  and i'm not ashamed.

5. SOA | comes back on tonight and like… I'm halfway through season five… I NEED TO CATCH UPPP.  I'm not feeling that great so I'll probably spend most of the weekend on my couch binge watching the seasons I'm behind on.  New Girl | I. just. can't. wait.  the Mindy Project | oh my gawddd the preview looked SO funny.  Scandal | WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THIS NEW SEASON.  WHERE IS OLIVIA.  HOW? WHAT? WHY? WHEN? I need to know.

6.  I'm throwing out magazines guys!  I'm going through the STACKS I have and throwing them out.  I've gotten rid of like 5 in the last two weeks.  It's a miracle.  I hoard magazines like no other.  

7. I have an obsession with this sweater I bought at target.  Suburban targets get me every time with their selection in clothes.  I bought the sweater in green and went back last night and bought it in two more colors… because that's necessary.  BUT ITS FALL AND I LOVE FALL.  AND ITS SO SOFTTT.  I want to live in it.  So that makes it okay to own three of them. duh.

8. I also just kind of want to pay someone to come and deep clean my apartment.  I haven't been home in two weeks and I'm just imagining all the stuff I'm going to have to do and it's alarming.  I won't do it… but I want to.  I hateeeee cleaning up after myself.  hahah.

9. A couple weeks ago I went to my first rodeo at the Washington State Fair.  I had an UNBELIEVABLE scone.  It blew my mind.  It changed my world.  If i could eat nothing else for the rest of my life I would be okay I think because, like. raspberry. jam.  

10. his & hers coffees ftw.  Because we're cute.  and mary-lou's is just heaven.  mines the peanut butter cup obvi. IMG_7503.JPG

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Toppings / WIAW

WIAW + Seriously Delish Giveaway!

09.10.14

Hi.  Hi.  Hi.  I'm really tired so I'm going to keep this short & sweetttt.  Or as short and sweet as possible for me!  {p.s.  if you're here for the giveaway – see the details at the bottom or head over to this post – it closes on Sunday so tell all your friends!}

I was lucky enough to work from home again last week, but I had a super busy day so my meals were kind of sporadic and all over the place!

 Breakfast

I woke up and wasn't too hungry so I started work and an hour or so into it I grabbed some greek yogurt + blueberries + granola (8:46 am).  I was really forcing myself to eat it because the yogurt was a different brand than I usually have and eventually I tried just blending it all together and freezing it to make a sort of blueberry/granola froyo (9:00 am). If we're being completely honest I hated the yogurt (it was Greek Gods and I felt like it was just too weird) and eventually just gave up on it.

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I was hungry before lunch so I munched on a handful of garlic/spinach crackers (10:34 am).  

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Lunch

My lunch was delish.  I made fajita nachos (12:09 pm) using crockpot chicken fajita filling {recipe coming soon} + lettuce + red onion + tortilla chips + lime juice.  oh my gawd it was good.  

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Afternoon Snacks

I knew I was going to go on a run after work and didn't want to fill up on dinner before I hit the sidewalk so I grabbed a Special K chocolate chip cookie bar (5:08 pm).  I know they're not the best for you but I had a bunch in the house and I need to start eating the stuff I have instead of buying MORE Luna bars (because I'm hoarding them and it's an issue).

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Dinner

After my run, I was wiped out and needed to stop at whole foods for some stuff anyway soooo I made a detour to their hot bar & salad bar (8:01 pm).  I put a bunch of stuff in there but it was a mix of garlic broccoli + hula hula chicken + roasted garlic cloves + marinated veggies + quinoa & edamame salad.  It was delicious and I was really happy I didn't have to cook for myself.

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Drinks

As far as drinks go, I guzzled down TONS of water with lemon & ended my night with a cup of refresh mint tea in a mug my best friend painted for me (8:49 pm)!

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Seriously Delish Giveaway!

Seriously Delish

Soooo… I don’t normally do giveaways (this one is actually the first one I’ve ever done!) but this is a special occasion.  Almost two years ago I started this blog because of Jessica.  I POURED over her blog.  I was obsessed.  I didn’t really realize that i could put personality into a food blog and she showed me that.  I felt like I knew her.  And that’s what I strive to do with you guys.  I try to put myself into every post so that you really know me.  I hope that comes through and I hope it keeps you coming back for more.  

Anyway – I knew if there was ever a time that a giveaway was appropriate it’s now, with Jessica’s book release.  Sooo I’m giving away a copy of my new FAVORITE cookbook.  {the giveaway entry form is at the bottom of this post!}  It’s not sponsored (I’m buying it off Amazon myself), it's super easy to enter (with multiple entry possibilities), and  just an FYI I’m not getting anything for writing this, Jessica probably doesn’t even know.  I just really love the book.  I preordered my copy months ago & am trying to make my boyfriend go get me a copy signed in NY  TONIGHT!!  I love love love everything in it.  The giveaway ends on Sunday so tell all of your friends/family!  Good luck! 

Enjoy your Wednesday & thanks to the ever lovely Jenn for hosting!

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