Portland Eats ... [First Night & Day 1]!

Okay, so remember how I talked about that Memorial Day trip to Portland?  Well, I went to see my friend Mallorie a.k.a 'MalPal.'  You see, she's awesome.  And we love to share our love of food and stuff.  We just so happened to take a trip together to San Diego last year Memorial Day weekend as well.  I thought I would introduce you to her:

We ate, ate, ate, and drank, drank drank, and then ate, and then drank again while we were in Portland.  

To start off, we tried out PCG.  The views were amazing, drinks and food fantastic, and the prices were phenoms [please excuse the terrible nighttime photography, I'm learnin' here!].

Not to mention I was in GREAT company [Mr. Busy B was there too...]:

Then came VooDoo Doughnuts:

We had the maple bacon doughnut which was THE BEST, as well as the Old Dirty Bastard.  Out of this world!  I've been craving maple bacon doughnuts since we left [perhaps I should make these]...

The next morning we got up and checked out Petite Provence.  I highly recommend the steak benedict!  Incredible, and only $12 for BEEF TENDERLOIN on your benedict!

There is like a bazillion McMenamins spots in Portland.  It's the coolest restaurant/bar/entertainment concept I've seen yet.  We tried out Blue Moon Tavern and Grill on our first day and Kennedy School our last day.  I LOVED the Ruby beer.  Light and refreshing - just screams summer!

Here's Mal with her sampler! 

I was too sleepy and needed a latte...

Next up was Henry's [12th Street] Tavern.  Mal and Mr. Busy B had another sampler, I had a blueberry beer and we all shared the gorgonzola fries.  Increds!

Cheers!

Seriously.  It happened...

We checked off Deschutes Brewery next.  Between the three of us we probably tried a dozen beers and loved all of them.  Deschutes is so great on draft! 

I also got to see an old pal Mia!

So happy :)

After Deschutes came time for Rogue.  We each had another sampler [here's mine]!

Rogue has a VOODOO MAPLE BACON DOUGHNUT beer!  Sounds delish, right!?  No.  Nast, in fact!  Tasted like campfire in yo mouf.  I highly do not recommend it...

Never Again...

We ended the night at BridgePort.  By this time we were so full of beer and tired I didn't take a single picture!

Stay tuned for day two with more great eats!

The MOST of Monday!

- I have made FOUR batches of these babies in the past two weeks.  I took some Ghiardelli brownies (from Costco, of course), with some freakin' cookie butter melted on top, and then baked it.  It was so amazing... increds.

- Remember that challenge [see #4] I was doing?  I hit a bump in the road last week when we stopped by here and had this:

Moscow Mule

And this:

Truffle Oil Mac 'n Cheese

And this:

Nogales Burger

And this:

Warm Doughnuts with Salted Butterscotch Dipping Sauce

- ... and then our server gave us a free blood orange cosmo.  Who can't say no to free?  This gal...

-In other news, I bought this nail polish last week:

Essie Turquoise & Caicos

You see, I was having buyers remorse.  Who does shopping at Walgreen's on their lunch hour?  ... and then buys EIGHT DOLLAR trendy nail polish?  Apparently me?  Well, buyers remorse released.  Trust nail polish lasted through 4 loads of laundry, nightly dishes, home cleaning, moving a friend, and the daily grind for 6.5 days and NO CHIPS!  Whaaaa? 


-I TOTALLY took advantage of the redunkulous SWA sale and booked a trip to SanFran/Napa in the Fall.  The wiiiiiiiiiinnneeee is calling me! :)

-My birthday is coming up.  If any of you talk to my husband, tell him he can buy my anything from this site... especially this or this.... LOLz, in my dreamsssss

-Ok, have you guys seen THIS?!  Sprinkles Ice Cream.  Fo reals.  I might be making the trek to Beverly Hills ASAP to check this out.  Outta control!

Hope everyone is having a fab Monday so far... make the most of it!  

- Busy B

Bunless Chicken Burgers with Grilled Pineapple

Okay so here’s the deal.  I don’t have a step-by-step for this one.  I just need to share it.  As you can see here, have been on this beach-themed kick (and there are more tropical recipes coming!).  Like, I dream about pineapples and tropical drinks and stuff.  So I just had to share this dinner I made last week!

It blew my mind.  We GRILLED fresh pineapple slices!  I don’t know what it is about grilling them, but it takes them from fabulous fruit to OUT. OF. THIS. WORLD. DELISH-NESS!  I slapped them with some awesome ground chicken burgers (which I lightly seasoned with a teeny-tiny bit o salt 'n peppah), some island sauce from Sprouts Market, and some avocado.

 

So go… go out there and buy yo stuff for this meal.  You won’t be disappointed!

Aloha!

- Busy B

The Most of Monday... on Tuesday?

So I admit it, I forgot the most of Monday yesterday!  I was confused.  But don’t worry, here it is!

1.   I ate here on Friday night.  It was IN. CREDIBLE!  Like, we ate these redunkulous loaded chips that were outta this world!  And the No. 17 cocktail was phenoms.  We enjoyed the company of two of our favorite lovebirds on a double dater… too fun!

     2.   Saturday we played Bananagrams and had dinner at our house with some friends which was a blasteroo!  We love entertaining and it was so GREAT to see some more people we love!

3.   Sunday consisted of church and a whole lotta layin around and napping like toddlers …

4.   We started another 24-day challenge of fitness and healthy eating anticipating our trip to Florida at the end of the month …

5.   … and then I found this and want to re-think my decision.

6.   Instead, I am eating a whole lotta shredded chicken and egg whites.  LOLz!

7.   … and then I was watching Big Bang Theory and saw a commercial for this.  Good thing they don’t have a store close to us, I would eat it every. single. dayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!

8.   Speaking of Big Bang Theory, there is this guy at work named Will Withers and I keep wanting to call him Wil Wheaton.  Makes me chuckle every time! 

9.   And also about Big Bang Theory, have you freakin’ seen this episode?!  It’s my favorite.  I need to watch it daily to remind me about the simple things in life.  Like being a PRINCESS WITH MY TIARAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!  Seriously. 

10. Someone take me here.  Now!  We are planning our vacays for the rest of the year which HAVE to include a tropical place, some visits with some really cool peeps, and who knows what else.  Like here and here.  And we realllyyyy wanna go on a cruise with our besties!  Where have you gone on a cruise before?  Likes and dislikes?  Do’s and don’ts?  I’d LOVE your input!

The Most of Monday!

Happy Monday!  I hope everyone enjoyed their day and had some fun in the sun or somethin'!

1. Today is Memorial Day… I hope everyone took a few minutes to think about what today means.  It means life.  And death.  And freedom.  And fighting.  The thought of these things just blows my mind.  I’m so thankful for all of these things.  Thankful to be an American, to be protected, and to have the opportunities I have…
2. I had the most incredible weekend in Portland visiting my dear friend Mallorie.  Like, outrageous.  The food and drinks in the city are beyond good.  Like, realllllllyyyy goooood (don’t worry, a separate post of all the foooood will be coming soon).  There are three things I my best friend Mal and I do; talk about life, eat ridiculous amounts of food, and drink tasty adult beverages.  I ate so much I think I gained 5 pounds.  Operation eat-healthy-and-workout-a-ton for 32 days starts… tomorrow.  Hey, it’s all about a balance, right?
3. Speaking of eating, I ate here, here, here and here (and MORE!).  Don’t worry, they were all as incredible as their Yelp reviews.
4. I am still dreaming about this from Voodoo Doughnut.  Mallorie, if you’re reading this, please, please send me one!
5. I read Blue Like Jazz on the plane en route to PDX/PHX… I HIGHLY recommend it!
6. I start a new job tomorra… wish me luck!
7. In Portland, people do this really weird thing, called walking, biking, and utilizing public transportation… something I need to do more of.  Too bad it’s five billion degrees out for six months of the year!  Good thing I have a pool with a slide!   Seriously… a SLIDE.  Fo reals!
8. I am headed to Jacksonville, FL for a few days at the end of June and need recommendations of where to eat and drink… anyone?  Anyone?
9. I had the opportunity to be a part of the Nike culture this weekend through my friend and stuff.  It’s incredible!  What they do for the community, their passion, their people, their corporate campus.  Mal has worked there for eight years and I knew it was awesome, but I felt somewhat a part of it this weekend. Neat-o!
10. What kinds of things are you passionate about?  What is your life purpose?  I know part of my purpose here on Earth is to feed people and love people… I hope I am doing a good job of this!

That's about it for today... I think I am still in a food/drink coma from the weekend and need to recover (my brain, pocketbook, and body)... catcha later!

- Busy B

A Bridal Shower and Key Lime Meltaways!

My little Bride-To-Be, Aubri (in her Flirty Apron)!  

Adam and Aubri are getting married in just 37 days!  We had the wonderful opportunity to celebrate Aubri and her single days with a girl's night out in Scottsdale last weekend!  We did a bar crawl ("Billy's Bachelorette Bar Crawl," Billy is her nickname) and ended the weekend showering her with love and gifts with a beach-themed bridal shower.  It turned out so stinkin' cute and now we are thinking about doing the same theme for my niece's 2nd birthday this summer.  I made Key Lime Meltaways for the favors and they were ohhhh soooo tasty and easy to make!  

Aren't they beauties?  I packaged them in little pink cellophane bags with some cute labels and they were a hit!

I found this recipe via Smitten Kitchen... I am somewhat obsessed with her site and can't wait for her cookbook to come out this fall (if someone wants to buy it for me, I promise I won't mind)!

Anywho, here's whatcha need:

 Cream up your butter and 1/3 cup sugar.

 Add your key lime juice, zest, and vanilla.

 Whip up your dry ingredients!

Add the dry ingredients to the butter/sugar/limey mixture. 

 Place it on your wax paper and roll 'em up into lil logs!

 Look at these beauties, all ready to go in the fridge for an hour!

 Slice 'em up!

 Lovely.  Just lovely, I tell ya!

 Place them on two cookie sheets with wax paper.

 Bake for about fifteen and allow them to cool on the racks for about three-four minutes.

Yes, that is a Penny Laine Dogger in the background!  She loves to be a vulture and watch me cook waits for me to drop something on the floor for her to eat!


After the sweet babies cool for about three minutos, place them in a plastic bag with the remaining sugar and coat well.

Look at these beauties! So Nom!

Key limes are KEY in this recipe, but it would work JUST FINE if you were only able to find regular limes!

I ate wayyyyy tooooo many of these sweet treats!  I had to give some to my neighbors before I gained 300 pounds or had to workout for 6 days to burn off all the calories I consumed!

I am going to try these with lemons/lemon juice and oranges/orange juice as well... Mr. Busy B is obsessed with Orange-anything and Momma Busy B is a lemon addict!  


Here is the recipe, I hope you enjoy these as much as I have!


Key Lime Meltaways
Recipe thanks to Smitten Kitchen


1 cup confectioners' sugar
Grated zest of 4 tiny or 2 large key limes
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (a.k.a 2 cups minus 2 tablespoons)
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt
12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature


Note:  You can make these with regular limes as well, but if you get a hold of some key limes they will be that much better!  You can also keep the logs frozen for up to two months and pull them out and bake them as cravings arise!


Yield: Approximately 5 dozen


1.  In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, cream butter and 1/2 cup sugar until fluffy.  Add lime zest, juice, and vanilla; beat until fluffy.
2.  In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, and salt.  Add to butter mixture, beating on low speed until combined.
3.  Between two-8x12 inch pieces of parchment paper, roll dough into two 1-1/4 inch diameter logs.  Chill at least one hour.
4.  Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.  Place remaining 2/3 cup sugar in a resealable plastic bag.  Remove parchment from logs; slice dough into 1/4-inch thick rounds.  Place rounds on baking sheets, spaced 1-inch apart.
5.  Bake cookies for approximately fifteen minutes.  Transfer cookies to a wire rack and cool slightly, approximately three to four minutes.  While still warm, place cookies in sugar-filled bag; toss to coat.  Bake or freeze remaining dough and store baked cookies in a sealed container for up to two weeks.

It's HOT! And the MOST of Monday ...

It's MONNNNNNDDAAAAYYYY!  Hope it's fabulous so far.  Sooooooo, It's May.  And we're in Phoenix.  And its HOTTTTTT!  Like, really hottttttt.  Holy smokes!  


All I can think about is food... and WATER.  Good thing it's restaurant week again!  Hubby and I are trying to watch the budget so we are stayin' in instead.  SUCH a bummer considering I realllllyyyyy wanted to take him to J&G or Bourbon Steak.  Oh well, there's always the fall restaurant week!


I'm going to start the most of Monday since most Monday's are a dragggg and I try to think about anything but work and working out on Monday's!


The Most of Monday...


1.  My sister made a bison sirloin steak with goat cheese sauce last night and I dreamed about it all night (and I didn't even have any).  NOTE TO SELF: Need.  Goat.  Cheese.  Sauceeeee.


2.  I am going to Postino's with my girlfriend tomorrow night.  She got engaged on Saturday night!  Can't wait to hear the deets, so exciting!


3.  Hubby got an offer to begin teaching online... should be interesting considering we are BOTH in school and working... totally worth it.


4.  It's exactly FORTY days until my best friend's wedding in Florida.  She told us this weekend during her bachelorette/bridal shower weekend that there will be a signature drink at the wedding called the 'GEORGE' ...  seriously, the GEORGE.  I can't wait.


5.  We went to Nimbus last night and had a Dirty Guera.  It was fantabulous and Rob seriously had the mac 'n cheese pizza.  Fo reals, it happened...


6.  We are headed to Portland to visit my best friend soon!  I can't stop thinking about this place... and this, and this, and this... needless to say, we're foodies and I'm pretty sure that's the reason why we're friends (well, and of course she's like, one of the coolest chicks I know...)  No worries, I don't have to fit into a bridesmaid dress in FORTY days...


7.  I NEED like 5,000 things from this website.  It's my favorite makeup but too bad I'm not a bazillionaire that can spend $42 on loose powder.


8.  I have a pinterest addiction and someone NEEDS to stop me.  Outrageous.


9.  Speaking of pinterest, I made this for the bridal shower this weekend.  It's HEAVEN.  In yo mouf.


10.  My dog won't stop eating soap... nast.  What in the world!?  She's eaten approximately 1.82 bars in the last few weeks... should I be concerned?


I hope your Monday was GREAT and you started your week off supercalifragilisticexpialidociously!

Busy B