Rockaway Things + a Seriously Delish Giveaway

09.07.14

Last weekend I went on a “vacation” to spend labor day at a beach house on the Oregon Coast at Rockaway Beach. It was gorgeous and just really spectacular and I took wayyyy too many scenic & sunset photos and I'm sharing them some of my favorites with you here!

{if pretty vacation pictures aren't really your thing the giveaway instructions are at the bottom!}

Seriously Delish Giveaway!

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, it's evolved quite a bit since then (changing from Blogspot to WordPress to self-hosted!) but I still remember deciding to start one. It was because of Jessica. I POURED over her blog. Went back to her first entries and read it from the beginning (thats almost 5 years worth of stuff). I was obsessed. I think she's the bees' knees. She's so funny and charismatic. 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. So that's what we're doing! I'm giving away a copy of my new FAVORITE cookbook. It's not sponsored (I'm buying it off Amazon myself) and 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 my a copy signed in NY. Seriously, it's that amazing. I love everything in it and it has the same amount of her personality that we get from her blog which is so refreshing. The giveaway ends next Sunday so check back here & I'll email the winner. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Insty. Twittah. Lovingzeblogs. Pinnypins

10 Comments

Pineapple Ginger Green Smoothie

09.04.14

Did you over indulge last weekend? I know I did. Between the hot dogs, hamburgers, Oreos (OMG HAVE YOU TRIED THE MINT ONES???), alcoholic beverages, and snacks it's a wonder they didn't have to roll me out of Oregon. Do I regret it? Absolutely not. Do I need to recharge from that? Absolutely.

I just love this smoothie as a recharge breakfast. It really gets you going & it's a perfect one serving size for the Cooking for One series (even though it's not really cooking). There's the zing from the ginger and the sweetness from the pineapple and the tartness from the granny smith apple. We won't talk about the spinach because it's invisible. It basically doesn't exist.

Here's a philosophical question for you: if you don't taste the spinach is it really in the smoothie? THINK about it. It's your basic did the tree really fall in the woods concept. I think we can all agree that the spinach isn't even in this smoothie. Glad that's settled. That basically makes this dessert. Which by the transitive property of i-belong-in-the-looney-bin means IIIIIIII just made it okay for you to have dessert for breakfast. You're welcome. Hold the applause until the end puhlease.

To answer your question: yes, yes it does get exhausting dealing with myself 24/7.

JUST LOOK AT THE COLORSSSS. It actually reminds me of the Nickelodeon slime. Do they even still do that? Does Nickelodeon still exist? Nobody panic, I checked. It's still on tv. Everybody be cool, it's just a normal day. <- 5 points to gryffindor if you can name that movie

I know it doesn't look appetizing but I promise it's good. If you don't like anything in it just sub it out for something else! I won't be offended. No judgement here. I'm always switching up my smoothies, but this one was a good one. And you don't even taste the {non-existent} spinach… probably because it's not there – but that's just my guess.

I always keep frozen fruit in my freezer for a quick and easy breakfast. I'm talking, like, hoarder status on the frozen fruit. And whenever I have fresh fruit that starts to get a little too ripe, I JUMP UP and THROW IT IN THE FREEZER. And then I shout “TAKE THAT FRUIT.” Annddd then I look around the kitchen and realize I'm alone in this world with kitchen appliances as my friends because everyone abandoned me because I'm too… eccentric?

Womp, womp.

Also, something that I've started doing with my smoothies is using unsweetened almond milk in them. It replaces the coconut water & yogurt I used to put in my smoothies and I like it better.

Pineapple Ginger Smoothie

Author: Ashley Renee
Prep Time: 5
Total Time: 5
Yield: 1 1x

Scale

Ingredients

1 handful of baby spinach (approx. 1 cup)
1 1/2 cup frozen pineapple
1/2 granny smith apple, cubed
1/2 cup vanilla almond milk
1/4 inch ginger root, peeled & cubed

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in blender and blend for approximately 1-2 minutes, or until smooth.

Notes

I've also heard it might help to blend the spinach and almond milk before adding in the fruit. I've never had a problem with my spinach not blending properly but if you do this trick might be worth trying!

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1
Calories: 265
Sugar: 35
Sodium: 272
Fat: 3
Saturated Fat: 0
Unsaturated Fat: 1
Trans Fat: 0
Carbohydrates: 58
Protein: 12
Cholesterol: 0

You should just make it.

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

Insty. Twittah. Lovingzeblogs. Pinnypins

Bringing WIAW Back

09.03.14

I'm bringin WIAW back. <- to the tune of the musical genius JT's sexy back

It's baaaaaaack. Everyone's favorite post (okay, just mine). I decided to bring it back into the rotation of blog posting because I've found when I do regularly scheduled WIAW posts I tend to post more. WHO'DA THUNK?

But seriously, I find myself paying more attention to the blog when I do WIAW posts so we'll see how it goes.

Plus, it's one of my favorite ways to make internet friends & find new blogs to read. And you know, internet community yadda yadda yadda.

It's kind of hard to believe that the last time I did a What I Ate Wednesday was a whole year ago. And it's so funny because that post really closely resembled my food from my trip back home a couple weeks ago. Any whoooo, let's see if I even remember how to do this!

I was working from home last week & I was able to make all of my meals which is always fun for me. Plus it gave me some control over the food styling – but the pictures are all from my phone & I was just getting back into the groove of WIAW so go easy on me.

Breakfast

I woke up and started my day with half of an orange from the market (8:09 am). My produce guy, who I've talked about before, hooked me up with some really good oranges last week and they definitely hit the spot. I knew the orange wouldn't be enough to hold me over until lunch though so I treated myself to half of a banana topped with a Nutella drizzle (10:30 am). I die.

Lunch

Lunch was kind of a dud, I won't lie about it. I was in a pinch & needed something quick. I roasted some brussels sprouts with green beans, onion, and garlic until they were slightly burnt (which is actually the way I like it – i'm super weird). Then I ate that with some Oscar Mayer deli rotisserie chicken with mustard & Sriracha (1:00 pm). I was on board with the veggies but there was something weird about the chicken that I wasn't a fan of. I think it was the texture or something.

Afternoon Snacks

I knew I was going to need something in between dinner and lunch so I munched on half of a peppermint Luna Bar (3:33 pm). The peppermint ones are still in my top favorite Luna Bar flavors. Just so good. After work I went on a run, & I brought along some airline peanuts (I always snag them on flights because they're good portion control snacks – usually about 70 calories in a pack) incase I started feeling hungry. I ended up needed a few of them on my walk back to the apartment (6:40 pm).

Dinner

My dinner was a taco salad that was out of this world (7:40 pm). I snuck a bunch of vegetables into a semi-homemade salsa (pace + green beans + onions + bell peppers + a roasted hot pepper in the food processor until smooth) & a chicken mixture (deli chicken slices + red & yellow bell peppers + green beans in the food processor). I layered the salsa, some Mexican quinoa (quinoa with homemade taco seasoning), and the chicken. Holy cow. It was crazy good. And grinding up the chicken in the food processor really did the trick.

Dessert

For dessert I had a couple bites of my 3 ingredient pineapple frozen yogurt (8:30pm). Ugh. So good.

Drinks

When I woke up in the morning I had a cup of green tea & I drank water with lemon all day long (I've been trying to be better about staying hydrated lately – I feel like I'm always dehydrated).

Well that's all she wrote folks. Have a fantastic day & thanks to the ever lovely Jenn for hosting!

Insty. Twittah. Lovingzeblogs. Pinnypins

6 Comments

Toppings

Sunday Sprinkles

08.31.14

1. I hope you're having an amazinnngggggg Labor Day weekend. I'm currently relaxing my day away in a beach house on the Oregon Coast with a bunch of awesome friends.

2. I'm back on the sparkly nail train. I bought the Essie color A Cut Above and I'm in love. It's on my finger nails right now. It's supposed to be a top coat. But I just layer on like 1000 layers (really just three) and my nails are the sparkliest. It's just sooooo pretty. Ugh. I die.

3. Question. When did America sneak into my apartment and unload ALL of their laundry in my laundry basket? I went to do laundry earlier this week and I looked at it and was like: “this can't all be mine.” Also, my least favorite part about doing laundry is putting it away. It's the WORST. It's up there with unloading the dishwasher. I don't mind loading the dishwasher or washer, I don't even mind folding the clothes or washing dishes by hand (truth be told I find it sort of therapeutic – analyze that one). But I LOATHE putting dishes or laundry away. I'm a freak.

4. My life.

5. Can we also take a second to talk about Taytay's new song/music video? I'm OBSESSED. I put it on when I'm running and I literally will start dancing to it on the street or on the treadmill. Gurlz got jamz. I was really scared about the album now that I've heard its just pop. I miss her days of country twang and Tim McGraw. BUT if that song is any indication, I'll be a happy girl. And yes, I did preorder the album.

6. P.S. I love this video of her “out-takes” in which she looks beautiful and poised and just amazing AS USUAL.

7. I'm a magazine hoarder. Like stacks and stacks of magazines. I want to throw them out but I haven't read them and like. what if there's something i NEED in them that I don't know about yet because I haven't read them. ugh. It's a never ending circle. SO. my solution is to read them. I brought FOUR good housekeepings from 2013 with me this weekend (am I a 50 year old woman? apparently so).

8. I never want to leave the oregon coast. It's so pretty and nice and I just want it forever please.

9. Ummmmmmm. It's September tomorrow! Which means it's officially acceptable for me to order a pumpkin spice latte – first thing I'm doing when I get back to seattle.

10. Enjoy the rest of your weekend! Luvvvvv yews!

3 Ingredient Pineapple Frozen Yogurt

08.28.14

Because it is still summer. And because I like to make you drool early in the morning.

We talked about this Ellenos yogurt the other day. Delish. Get it. It won't disappoint you, it's not a high school boy that doesn't like you back despite your super awesome flirting skillz (I once said “lol” OUT LOUD when trying to flirt in middle school… like said the actual letters in a conversation WITH A BOY – clearly I'm still haunted by this encounter).

I think it's really weird that I'm all like “it's still summer give me the frozen yogurt” because I'm actually over summer and I'm not even a huge froyo lover {GASP}. I'll get it, but I really have to be in the mood for it you know? As for being over summer, welllll that's just because I'm over the tourists really. But I'm not ready to say goodbye to the beautiful Seattle sun. Can we bottle up the sunlight and put it in a jar for a rainy day? Is that a thing?

No? …. are you sure? positive? ok.

I'm glad one of us is sane. (I'm clearly the sane one incase you didn't pick up on that.)

Back to flirting. You know what I hate about boys (besides the cooties issue)? They make you nervous. I remember being PETRIFIED of boys and “dating,” ugh punch me in the face. You have to be like really awesome all the time and try not to be awkward. It's a lot of work. You know what's not a lot of work? This froyo. And it'll love you even when you're really awkward. And you DEFINITELY don't have to be nervous around it.

It's kind of like the perfect medley of sweet and ~~sarcastic~~ tart. I can't say enough about how wonderful it is. I think I've said all the things. Wait. Have I mentioned it can never get you pregnant?? At least according to my high school health teacher. I don't really know where the whole high school/memory lane thing is coming from, it has nothing to do with this froyo…. was froyo even a thing when I was in high school?

But since we're on the subject, before I tell you about how to stuff your face with this deliciousness, let me tell you about my first date. {cue the eye rolls}

I literally was so nervous I MADE MY MOM DROP ME OFF AND PICK ME UP. The boy had his license. He could drive. He wanted to drive me. My mom told me I should let him drive me. I'm pretty sure I referenced something about Drew Barrymore & Riding in Cars with Boys and said ABSOLUTELY NOT. (I can't remember but I think I might have even cried to get my mom to agree. I'll check the facts and get back to you.) He wasn't a serial killer. It's not like I was scared for him to know where I lived. It wasn't a big deal. But holy crap, 15 year old me thought it was the end of the world. Like I was going to throw up in his car from nerves or something. I've got nothin. I'm so sorry to that boy {let's hope he's not reading this}.

I hope you feel like that honey is coming at YOUR FACE. Because it basically is. It's delicious! Don't be scared. (Also, if you don't have local blackberry flavored honey you can borrow mine! or just use normal honey & throw in a few blackberries [holy beautiful color I'm imagining]. or any other flavor. or skip the honey and sub in vodka… just kidding don't do that. only kind of kidding.)

Pineapple & Blackberry Honey Frozen Yogurt

Author: Ashley Renee

Scale

Ingredients

2 cups frozen pineapple chunks
1/4 cup plain greek yogurt
1 tbsp blackberry honey *see notes

Instructions

Add the frozen pineapple, greek yogurt, and honey to the food processor. Process until creamy, approximately 3-5 minutes.
Serve immediately (topped with a nice honey drizzle, because COME ON) or store in an airtight container in your freezer for up to a month. *see notes

Notes

Don't have blackberry honey? Totally fine. Substitute whatever kind of honey you have! Or use plain honey and throw in a few fresh blackberries THE COLORSSS #dead
If you're freezing the yogurt, I recommend letting it defrost for a few minutes before trying to eat it again. It loses its creamy texture when stored in the freezer!