New Favorite Sides Part II: "Just the Best" Broccoli

So back to that perfect day (see part I).  And that perfectly grilled steak.  Even with a fabulous main course, what makes a dinner spectacular are the sides.  Check out the creative and edgy Hasselback potatoes.  Now for the green.

I have never had a problem with broccoli.  Maybe it's because mom would put a cheese sauce with it when we were kids... no problem there.  And then there's the super healthy "steaming" method to get all the nutrients: the veggie in it's purest form.  Honestly, I could eat a whole head of steamed broccoli and would be content, but other members of the family mights run and hide... and this time I have Stacy Snacks thank for some creativity.

New Favorite Sides Part I: Hasselback Potatoes

A perfect day.  Just us.  Special trips to the store for ingredients.  Lots of time to cook.  A great bottle of wine.  And getting a good night sleep.

We were given some great quality sirloin strips.  AND Chris fixed our grill!  I can't believe how long we waited to fix it.  Chris is back to his manly self. :-)  I wanted to round off the perfect steak with a few sides, but not just any sides.

Dining Out: Food Cart- Fernando's Mundo Fiesta, Portland OR

The Food Cart Revolution.  Food on wheels has been around for years, especially on the streets of major cities.  It may seem a little odd, but that's why their presence is renowned in Portland.

They are everywhere.  Hundreds of them adorn the neighborhoods here.  Food for cheap: fast, meat or meatless, on a stick or in a bowl, wrapped up, fancy, and from around the world.  It's a beautiful thing.

http://www.foodcartsportland.com/

Chicken Noodle Soup with Cheese Tortellini

All my Californian loved ones have been texting me all week.  "It's POURING here, how's the weather for you?"  "Being washed away, all the way to Oregon!"  So as we continue to receive Spring showers, our dear friends and family are getting dumped on as well.  Thought we could all use a piping hot bowl of Chicken Noodle Soup.

Scott (Chris' brother) and his wife Carrie came in last night to visit us for the weekend.  What better way to kick off a wet weekend than with a little warm comfort food.

"Chris' Surprise" a.k.a. Perfect Eggs on Toast

Our first morning back from our honeymoon back in 2007, Chris set out to make me breakfast.

"Whatcha makin' me?" I asked.

"Surprise..." he said with a boyish grin.

I trusted him with breakfast that morning, and he's been sworn in as breakfast man ever since.

Eggs on toast became known as Chris' Surprise after that first day as a married couple in our own home.  The funny thing is, it's not a surprise any longer, but we still call it that.