My Birthday!

This year, my birthday was the quietest that I've had in a long time, but it was still a lovely day (okay, couple of weeks) filled with loved ones.  I started off in Florida, before my parents left with my favorite Key Lime Pie in the world from JJ Gandys and my gorgeous Hillberg and Berk bracelet that they got me.  

I started off my actual birthday week, but going to get some of my birthday freebies.  Pretzels from Auntie Annes, lip kits from both Ulta and Sephora, a ridiculously huge and caffeinated Starbucks drink, as well as this cute beach hat from Charming Charlie using their birthday coupon.

On my birthday, Nicole and Jackson took me to Krispy Kreme for donuts and coffee and then to Target.  

When we got home, Smudge and I had a lovely afternoon nap.

When Josh got home, I got my ice cream cake and a few friends came over for a piece, then I got to open all my gifts.

Some yellow roses.

New FitFlopp running shoes, a waffle iron. K-cups, a new knife set, shorts and a shirt from Josh.

A Tiffany earring from Miranda.

A set of Pyrex bowls from Stephanie and Steve (these were a wedding gift to Josh's mom and dad when they got married), as well as a new coverup and some bath bombs (courtesy or Vanessa's Bathbombs), a Target gift card and a little dish.

From Nicole, Jason and Jackson a new Field and Stream shirt, some socks, cactus S&P shakers, flamingo box and St. Patricks Day gloves.

I also got various gift cards and a ton of cards, thank you all so much!

The weekend before my birthday, Josh and I went out to Purse State Park, one of my favorite places to look for fossils.

And we went to the Social Speakeasy in Leonardtown for a couple drinks.  I'd been wanting to go here since we moved here and its so fun.  We also stopped in at Port of Leonardtown Winery, one of my favorite wineries for a glass.

A few days after my birthday, I went to Fairfax, VA to meet my friend Ericka, who recently moved there from Peru with her family.  We had a lovely lunch a Sisters, a fantastic Thai place in the Mosaic District and a nice little wander (even though it was freezing!) around the area.

Thanks again to everyone that made my birthday so special!

*Recipe* Mongolian Meatball Ramen

Since I bought a 6 pack of Ramen last week to make actual Ramen, I had a few left to use up and didn't want to have just old, plain Ramen.  This recipe happened to pop up on Pinterest and sounded like it would be easy and worth a try.  It turned out really well and really is SO easy!

Ingredients

• 1 LB ground beef
• 1/2 cup Panko breadcrumbs
• 3 green onions, thinly sliced, divided
• 1 egg
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tsp sesame oil, divided
• red pepper flakes
• salt
• black pepper
• vegetable oil for skillet
• 2 tsp grated ginger
• 3/4 cup low sodium chicken broth
• 1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 3 packs instant Ramen
• 2 tbsp Hoisin (optional)
• *I really recommend using low sodium ingredients when called for, it's pretty salty otherwise*

Directions

In a large bowl, combine ground beef, panko, half the green onions, egg, garlic, one teaspoon sesame oil, see pepper flakes, salt and pepper, and mix until well combined.  Form meatballs by rolling a heaping tablespoon of mixture. 

                                         

In a large skillet, over medium heat, heat a thin layer of vegetable oil.  Add meatballs and sear until each side developed a crust, about two minutes per side.  

Remove meatballs from skillet, and add remaining sesame oil.  Stir in ginger and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.  Add broth, sot sauce, brown sugar, and hoisin (if using). Stir and bring to a simmer.  Return meatballs to skillet and cover.  Cook until meatballs are cooked, about 10 minutes.

  

Meanwhile, cook Ramen in a large pot according to package instructions.  Drain. 

Add noodles to skillet and toss until covered in sauce.  Garnish with remaining green onions and sesame seeds.  Serve warm.

Thanks to Delish.com for the recipe!


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Fab Friday Faves 2.23.18

Hello and a happy, rainy Friday (surprise surprise) from Maryland.  It has taken me 2 weeks to come up with five favorites, sadly.... the weather here really is being annoyingly crappy.  Rain and cold and mostly dreary days.  I've been doing a lot of cooking and baking and dreaming about my next trip to Florida! Everyone have a safe weekend, and I hope it is less rainy than it is here! 

We usually do pretty standard Valentine's Day, a nice dinner after work or something like that.  This year we decided to mix things up and I picked Josh up at work and we went to a new winery that was doing a wine and chocolate pairing, which turned out really fun, and then we ordered pizza for when we got home.  It was a lot more relaxing than usual and it was great!  I also got a bunch of treats from both Josh and Nicole and a lovely dozen roses from Josh.  

I finally got to watch this little guy for an hour and a half the other day and we had such a good time! He never fussed and we had a great time playing and people watching and he never even fussed.  

I pretty much crave Sushi all the time lately for some reason, and sadly, we don't have much choice for good Sushi in Waldorf.  So, on the weekend we made the trek to Prince Frederick (only about 35 minutes away) to Nagoya that has some awesome rolls.  So good and it should have quenched my craving for a few days! 

Though the weather has been crap, there are signs of spring finally.  These Daffodils are growing wild all over the American Chestnut Land Trust Trails just outside of Prince Frederick.  I hope they are a sign of good weather to come! 

I made some homemade Ramen this week and I always forget how delicious it is.  I use Trader Joe's Pork Belly and a ton of veggies and of course a pocked egg, but I over poached it this time.  Still amazing! 

 I also have to acknowledge National Margarita Day yesterday... Cheers!

Today I'm linking up with:

Bright on a Budget / Style Elixir / Simply Sweet Home / 

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*Recipe* Oreo Cheesecake Cookies

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day... I'm not really sure how; wasn't Christmas, like, last week?  Anyway, I'm always looking for fun holiday themed recipes and was having some trouble finding a good Valentines one this year.  I came across this recipe and it wasn't Valentinesy at all but sounded delicious and I knew I could doctor them up and make them pretty.  Not only did they turn out delicious, they are ridiculously simple and only really have five ingredients.  From what I understand they were at hit at work and I have barely had the willpower to keep my hands out of the cookie jar myself.  Have a Love-ly Valentine's (or Galentine's or Singles Appreciation Day or whatever you celebrate) and whether its a happy day or not, these cookies will make your day even better!

Ingredients

*I recommend making a double batch*

• 4 ounces cream cheese softened 
• 6 Tbsp  salted butter at room temperature 
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 cup plus 2 Tbsp all purpose flour
• 10 Oreos broken into pieces (I used Red Velvet Oreos to make them more for V-day and they were delicious)
• If you are making them for V-day, add 2 or 3 drops red or pink food coloring 

Directions

• With a mixer, beat cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy.
• Add sugar and beat well.

• Add in flour, a small amount at a time beating on low speed until just incorporated. (add in food coloring here if you are using it)
• Fold in the broken Oreos.

• Cover bowl and refrigerate for at least 45 minutes and up to 2 hours. 
• Preheat oven to 350F
• Line a large baking sheet with Parchment paper.  
• With a spoon, scoop out about a tablespoon of dough and roll it into a ball and put onto the cookie sheet. Lightly press down on each cookie.
• Place pan in the oven and bake for 10-11 minutes until the edges are just barely golden.  They will be very soft but will firm up later.

• Cool for at least 10 minutes on the cookie sheet and then transfer to counter or cooling rack and let cool completely.  

thank you to www.bakerbynature.com for the recipe!