The weather on Sunday brought some much needed endorphins and we hope you were able to get out and play. One bonus is that many of us are still home so no need to deal with a messy commute! Our fur-babies all enjoyed themselves so we thought we’d share a little bit of that love below.
Of course, DC’s favorite fur-babies at the Zoo had an amazing time - click to check out the Pandas playing in the snow!
Our Favorite internet find this week:
https://www.geoguessr.com/ - A surprisingly addictive game in which you are shown a random Google Maps image and you try to guess where it is! (Pro tip: you can use the 360 view and zoom in on any signs/landmarks that might be in the frame to give you a hint!)
Super Bowl and Winter Comfort Recipes
It’s hard to believe it is Super Bowl Sunday this coming weekend! In case you haven’t worked out your menu yet, here are our suggestions!
Smokey Sweet Potato & Beef Chocolate Chili - I know, it sounds too good to be true but I’m here to tell you, it is actually THAT good. I made this last night for my family and it was fantastic. The chocolate gives it that slight Mole flavor that was lip smacking. It’s also gluten & dairy-free. Some variations - I added pinto beans and smashed the beans and sweet potato so my kids didn’t see it. ~ Molly
This past year I have been cooking my way through three different cookbooks: SkinnyTaste, Cravings, and Half Baked Harvest. My favorite by far has been Half Baked Harvest. Her recipes are simple, filling and she NEVER skimps on butter or heavy whipping cream. Her books have her best recipes but she also has some great ones on her website! Here’s one I’m trying for the Super Bowl: Cheesy Pizza Rolls. ~ Haley
Minestrone Soup - I made my first instant pot soup ever! It came out delicious, but here are my suggestions:
If you like your soup pretty thick like me, I would barely use any water & just use the veggie broth. I added some water to cover the veggies like they said, but I found that instantly made the mixture thinner.
I would definitely listen to them when they say cook the pasta separately & add in if you plan to eat leftovers. Each time I reheat, the pasta gets soggier. Otherwise, it was super delicious & packed with healthy veggies and protein! ~ Lexi
Boiled Peanut Hummus - You can use any hummus recipe and sub out the chickpeas for boiled peanuts for a saltier more delicious dip! ~ Rebecca
Cowboy Caviar via Mama Mac (Jacob’s mom)
1 packet of dry, Good Seasons Zesty Italian Dressing mix
1 can black eyed peas (can substitute black, pinto, cannellini beans)
1 can whole kernel corn
4oz can of chopped jalapenos or green chilis
1 bunch of green onions, chopped
1 bunch cilantro, chopped
3-4 roma tomatoes, chopped
Directions:
Drain liquid and rinse canned veggies
Mix all ingredients in a large bowl, season with garlic salt and 3-4 drops of tabasco/hot sauce
Sit overnight in refrigerator
Serve with scoop-chips!
And if these don’t help, the WaPo did a nice write up with more ideas for a watch party with a smaller crowd.
Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is coming up (and on a Sunday) and we have two ideas to share:
Impressive Chocolate!
The Food section in the Post had a fantastic article this week about fancy, artisan chocolates. This writer is definitely getting some. Read the article but we will save you some time and tell you some are already sold out - 3 that are still available include: Midunu, Borough Chocolates and Chocolate Secrets (that name seems a little racy but we vetted the website for you and it’s safe). Not mentioned is local Chouquette!
Take-Out+
Some DC faves are already putting their Valentine’s menus together and they look amazing! DCist has a great list, but you should also take a look at Le Diplomate, Sfoglina and St. Anselm.