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Thinking Out Loud: The Late Edition

Posted on November 7, 2014 by kissmybroccoli

Life happens.

I planned on getting a post up yesterday, but well, I kinda suck at the whole planning ahead thing. Wednesday, I was just too tired and felt more like eating pizza and watching a movie. And yesterday was spent traveling to see family. By the time I made it home, it was nearly midnight and all I felt like doing was eating ~~pizza~~ 3-minute gnocchi and watching a movie. But since I just couldn’t bear to miss out on a week of my favorite ADD-fostering linkup, I’m up early (for a night shift worker) on a Friday…struggling to write this intro when I should just be thinking OUT LOUD! 😉

So let’s get to it already!

Starting with that 3-minute gnocchi…that I bought two years ago?…that I because I was in desperate need of a quick oh-my-god-get-food-in-my-face-right-now meal after being in the car all day. Topped with a little marinara and some grated parmesan, it was a picture of potato perfection! 🙂

I finally got myself to a Redbox the other day to rent The Fault in Our Stars. Verdict? Pretty good…and yes, I sniffed all the way through it. Also, I realized something. It’s been about two months since I finished reading the book and I’ve decided that that’s the perfect amount of time to wait for me to forget enough details to actually enjoy a book-to-movie performance. I understand that they have to leave out certain parts of a book for time purposes, but I’m glad I didn’t tear this one apart like I did The Hunger Games.

On Tuesday, we had some of the most AHHHH-mazing weather! It’s pretty much been rainy and cold here for a week or more, so when I saw that the temperature was forecasted to reach the high 70’s (21°C), I made sure to take advantage of it…with a FIVE mile hike on The Bike on a Stick trails with nothing but the sound of crunching leaves around me!

And the next day (Wednesday…aka, my lazy bum day), it rained ALL DAY LONG! But hey, my hair looked awesome! And I stayed cozy in the house all day in my new favorite sweater, yoga pants, and fuzzy slippers…ohhh, maybe I should think about switching over to fashion blogging! 😉

Nah, I think food (and this unexplainable need I feel to taste-test every new/different flavored treat out there) is more my thing. With the help of a friend the other day, I sampled all the different Reese’s bars that just happened to be on sale. My top favorite was the sticks…they taste like Reese’s Kit-Kats! Second place went to the Crispy Crunchy bar which was basically chocolate and peanut-covered Crunchy Peanut Butter Bar. Anyone else remember those?

But the best thing I’ve eaten ALL week, was this BACON AND FETA cheese bread that I ordered from Jet’s Pizza on Monday night…that feed me FOUR times…that literally made me moan and utter obscenities while trying to catch my breath…especially after I ditched the marinara and broke out some ranch dressing for dipping! 😉

Be sure to check out all the ToL link ups over at Spoons. And show Amanda a little love for helping us all to embrace our inner squirrel! 😉

How’s the weather been in your neck of the woods?

What’s the best thing you’ve eaten this week?

Posted in Thinking Out Loud | Tagged bacon, candy, cheese, chocolate, movies, night shift, park, pizza, selfies, walking | 18 Comments

Fig & Prosciutto Cheese Toasts

Posted on November 5, 2014 by kissmybroccoli

Surprise guests at your next party with crisp garlicky toasts topped with sweet fresh figs, salty prosciutto and melty mozzarella. With the explosion of flavor in these little bites, you’d never guess how easy they come together!

Soon to be known as your favorite non-recipe recipe! 🙂

I’ve debated for over two months whether to share this recipe on the blog or not. It goes against many food blogger standards in the way that a.) there aren’t actually any specific measurements and b.) the only two pictures I have I took with my phone. and c.) fig season is pretty much over. BUT I’ve seriously dreamt about these babies non-stop since I made them back in September and they’re just too good not to share. And we’ll just ignore the fact that I haven’t posted a recipe in almost six months. Ha!

Fig & Prosciutto Cheese Toasts

By: Heather @ Kiss My Broccoli

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10-15 minutes

Ingredients

1 loaf french bread or baguette
garlic butter (or butter topped with a sprinkle of garlic powder)
sliced prosciutto
fresh mozzarella balls (the small ones torn into pieces)
fresh or dried figs (or fig jam)
grated parmesan cheese
marinara sauce for dipping

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Instructions

1. Using a serrated knife, cut bread into slices.
2. Spread the top of each slice with garlic butter.
3. Top with pieces of sliced prosciutto.
4. Add sliced fresh figs (or chopped dried figs or a spoonful of jam) and mozzarella.
5. Place bread slices on a cookie sheet and broil on low for 10-15 minutes (or until cheese is melty and toasts are crisp around the edges).
6. Sprinkle toasts with Parmesan cheese and serve with warmed marinara sauce.

And just trust me on the marinara…you WON’T regret it!

What is your go-to non-recipe for parties?

What is your favorite dip?
I’m a sucker for Ranch!

Posted in Holiday, Recipe | Tagged bread, cheese, figs, Italian, party food, prosciutto | 16 Comments

The Adventures of Lucky the Leprechaun

Posted on November 3, 2014 by kissmybroccoli

Ok, ok…I teased enough in my last post.

It’s time to show you guys my Halloween costume…especially since it came together fantastically in the last COUPLE OF HOURS before leaving town Friday night! What can I say? ~~I’m the world’s worst procrastinator~~ I work well under pressure! 😉

“They’re magically delicious!” *

*What I may or may not have screamed while running up and down the streets of downtown Nashville throwing handfuls of cereal up in the air! 😉

My friends and I arrived at our hotel in Nashville ready to head to our concert and otherwise take over the town around 8pm that night. The following nine hours were full of singing, dancing, toasting, bathroom selfies, a squirrel, and way too many belly laughs to even try to count.

Basically, the MOST fun I’ve ever had on Halloween!

The concert ended up being great! While I didn’t know all of the words to the songs, The Devil Makes Three had a great way of getting their energy out into the crowd. And it didn’t hurt that the opening act, The Cave Singers, already had me bouncing around. Before I knew it, was square dancing with a farmer and jumping around a penguin!

And Forrest Gump, Sulley the monster, a chicken, a pirate, and a kitty cat! 😉

But those weren’t the only interesting costumes of the night. I was able to snap a few pics of the best ones I spotted…and then stole the rest from my friend’s Facebook page. I love dressing up for Halloween, but I love seeing what others come up with even more…the creativity of some people is just amazing!

Like this crew straight from the set of The Wizard of Oz…though I think someone must’ve slipped something in Dorothy’s preworkout drinks.

These “witnesses” had everybody stopping in their tracks.

I’ll take all THREE of these blind mice over a dead one in my pantry ANY day!

Oh and I can’t forget to mention my encounter with good ol’ Pee Wee!

Scooby Snacks for everyone!

And omg, it’s a freaking SQUIRREL!!! 😉

At the end of the night, we carried our worn out bodies back to the hotel (partying like a rock star is hard when your almost thirty!) and ended the night right…with copious amounts of pizza and chicken wings delivered right to our door followed by…

My very FIRST Goo Goo Cluster!

I know…I know, I’m a disgrace to my fellow Nashvillians. HOW did I not know these things were freakishly delicious?! Now I have GOT to get my hands on the peanut butter one! 😯

What did you do for Halloween?

What was the most unique/interesting costume you saw?