September 2023 Recap

September was such a big-feelings month. The little one starting kindergarten felt so significant and the start of soccer for both of them meant more schedules than we have coordinated lately. September also included our 12th wedding anniversary. 

In the kitchen, I was most psyched about these chorizo eggs “benedict“. There’s white queso replacing what should be/could be hollondaise which I think is so fitting but go for the way you’d like it. 

The Three Bite Rule - Chorizo Eggs Benedict

This butternut iced coffee was such a fun treat. We straddle the line for iced vs hot as fall progresses but I’d be happy with this in any coffee! 

The Three Bite Rule - Butternut Iced Coffee

I also gave the taco-spiced deviled eggs a little refresh from 2017!

The Three Bite Rule - Redo Taco Deviled Eggs

Next month I have some ideas for a pizza, a fall cocktail or sangria, and we’ll see what else. I’m ready for some fall flavors but we’re very much in kid-activity-timing these days. A few days a week somebody is at a practice so dinners have been more focused on everyone getting enough at whatever time works for them. 

The Big Kid: 
Third grade has kicked off well so far. He loves a routine and is so much better at getting himself ready than we saw in his younger years! Soccer is very fun to see them pass and shoot and score – that’s of course the game, but the bigger kids play for real which is refreshing. He’s still all-in on hard boiled eggs and pasta.

The Little One: 
She LOVES kindergarten and wishes every day would be a school day. I was so proud to see her pop right up onto the school bus. I was in turmoil hoping she made it to aftercare on the bus. It has gone smoothly but is a lot to hope a 5 year old will follow correctly. Since food was all provided at preschool, she loves packing a snack. She’s been great at soccer – though they were all a mess when we had a later time for a make up- lesson learned 6pm they’re tapped out. I’m such a proud coach! She was happy to see soup more often now and all the cheese.

Goals:
Year of workwear! I got a dress that my whole office gushed over. 
Salads or side-dishes: I haven’t made interesting sides but the kiddos couldn’t get enough of heirloom tomatoes with Italian dressing so sometimes maybe less is more?
prep ahead bfasts or lunches for weekdays: I haven’t made anything interesting, but have had stuff around so I’ll get back to it but snacky lunch, burritos I’ve frozen, and chicken salad has been fine
Monthly dates: We celebrated our anniversary at Chickadee and I had the best meal – I chose squid ink pasta and loved it. We started with a trio of dips, what could be better?
Declutter/cleaning: We dropped off a bag at Savers and came home with just a few kid sneaks.
Workouts as a routine: I’ve been doing these “rough around the edges” videos from stunt women and have picked & chosen ones I wanted to do.  
What I’m reading: I read Our Missing Hearts for bookclub and it was too heavy to really enjoy or appreciate. I also read The Mystery of Mrs. Christie and loved it for its intrigue and speed. I read Swipe Up for More: Inside the Unfiltered Lives of Influencers and thought it was pretty good, but all were ideas and convos I’ve heard on podcasts. Anyone who hasn’t will love this one. I finished the month with Same Time Next Summer and loved it. It had serious parallels to Every Summer After but with fun and likable characters and none of the teen spiciness. 

Butternut Iced Coffee

This coffee and butternut syrup is a treat. The syrup is so flavorful and I topped it with tons of thick foam. There’s a richness and nuttiness.

The Three Bite Rule - Butternut Iced Coffee

Butternut Coffee Syrup
Ingredients:

1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
1 teaspoon butter extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1/4 cup milk
1-2 cups ice
1-2 cups iced coffee (or espresso)

Directions:
In a small saucepan, mix sugar and water over medium heat until melted. Stir in butter extract and almond extract. Allow to cool – 1 hour to overnight.

The Three Bite Rule - Butternut Iced Coffee

Serve over iced coffee or iced espresso with 1-2 tablespoons of the syrup.

The Three Bite Rule - Butternut Iced Coffee

Top with cold foam. Enjoy!

The Three Bite Rule - Butternut Iced Coffee

My milk frother was acting up but Mr. J came to the rescue. It reminded me that the wand one does not compare.

I normally drink coffee black but love a very special coffee moment. Make the syrup and reap the benefits for many cups to come. The syrup is good in the fridge for a month. Butter extract is a specialty ingredient but is an easy swap for many vanilla extract uses. I also used it in Snickerdoodle Chex Mix.

Taco Spiced Deviled Eggs

{Originally published in 2017 and updated in 2023}

Anything is better with taco flavors, right? We love all varieties of deviled eggs and these are so good they needed a little facelift. I made just a few of these taco-spiced deviled eggs. I topped them with some corn, tomato, and pickled onion. The filling has my homemade taco seasoning but any would work just fine.

The Three Bite Rule - Redo Taco Deviled Eggs

Taco-Spiced Deviled Eggs
Ingredients:

4 hard-boiled eggs, cooled
2 tablespoons mayo
1 teaspoon yellow mustard
1 heaping teaspoon taco seasoning
1/2 teaspoon lime juice

The Three Bite Rule - Redo Taco Deviled Eggs

Directions:

Slice the eggs in half lengthwise. Pop out the yolks into a bowl (for a hand mixer) or into a food processor. Add in the mayo, taco seasoning, and lime juice. Then blend until no lumps remain. Add more taco seasoning to taste.

The Three Bite Rule - Redo Taco Deviled Eggs

Spoon into a ziplock bag into one of the bottom corners. Snip the very end and pipe into the egg whites.
Fill each yolk divot then go back and top off each egg- then you know how much you have to work with.
Top each one with corn, tomato, pickled onion, or whatever you like!

The Three Bite Rule - Redo Taco Deviled Eggs

Enjoy! Or refrigerate until serving!

We are mild spice eaters around here but I added a drop of a tomatillo green sauce that has some zip to it on mine. One kid ate 2 halves and isn’t always into eggs, the other ate the toppings separately, but ate a bunch. They are fun as a cool side or are always gone when I bring them to a group.

Some other favs are Bacon & Ranch Deviled Eggs & Caesar Deviled Eggs & Truffle and Herb Deviled Eggs.

Chorizo Eggs Benedict

I’m using the “benedict” term loosely – queso is in place of a hollandaise but these still have English muffins + meat + egg + sauce so they are very much like a benedict.

The Three Bite Rule - Chorizo Eggs Benedict

These make a great dinner in case you aren’t having leisurely brunch. Me! I’m not having lots of slow morning meals! This was lunch and I’m sure I’ll make again as dinner!

Chorizo Eggs Benedict
Ingredients: (for 2 servings)

1/2 pound chorizo without casing
2 English muffins
4 eggs
1/3 cup queso sauce

Directions:
Pan fry the chorizo until cooked through, then drain.
Toast the English muffins.
Warm the queso.
Warm a pan to medium heat for the eggs. Cook sunny-side up, or over easy, or poach them, as you like.
Spread a teaspoon of queso to each English muffin, then top with chorizo and eggs as soon as the eggs are cooked. Sprinkle with salt & pepper.

Spoon on the remaining warmed queso to the very top.
Enjoy!

We are mild-medium spice people at our house so these were fun and not too spicy for us. Make your own chorizo to really control the spice level – season ground pork with paprika, chili, garlic, oregano, cumin, and cinnamon as you like.

The Three Bite Rule - Chorizo Eggs Benedict

I’d definitely have these again as this was the easy way to do so. Another way to level- up would be to melt some pepper jack cheese and actually make hollandaise.

August Recap 2023

Howwww is summer over? I cannot believe how quickly it went! Now is is the last bits of summer and getting ready for fall. August was fun with a beach vacation and lots of time at the pool, and with friends.

These deviled eggs with BBQ sauce, corn, & crispy onions were so summery. Make some for labor day and they’ll be gone quickly!

The Three Bite Rule - BBQ Deviled Eggs

Grilled Peach & Ricotta Toasts could be breakfast, lunch, or an app.

The Three Bite Rule - Peach Ricotta Toast

I made lettuce wraps with honey mustard chicken and thought they were so fun. The kids were medium on it but in hindsight one said that was “sooo good”. The next day I used some leftovers to make caesar salad ones with parmesan. They were also delicious.

The Three Bite Rule - Honey Mustard Lettuce Wraps

I gave Tomato Basil Chicken a refresh from the dark ages of 2015. This time it was grilled and got a drizzle of balsamic reduction.

September will be a flourish of activity. Kindergarten & 3rd grade (!!), both kids are playing soccer, and back to more time in the office. I’m kind of already mourning our normal dinner routine and timing. It’ll take some adjusting. I’m going to pull together some weeknight meal head-starts, a fun breakfast recipe, and an app.

The Big Kid: 
He was a bit sad for summer camps to be over. We have some fun before school starts but this kid loves a routine. We saw the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie and loved it. I think he caught 1,000 hermit crabs during our week at the beach. His class next year is packed with friends so he’s ready for 3rd grade.

The Little One: 
She’s 5! A whole hand! She was our little fish at the beach. Kindergarten starts soon and soccer! I’m coaching her team – wish us luck! She’s more than ready to be done at daycare (she isn’t impressed with nap time there) and cannot wait to ride the bus. It has been a lot to juggle in her head of what is happening what days so I’m ready for her to read/follow a calendar better.

Goals:
Year of workwear! I got some tan wedge sandals to dress up summer work clothes.
Salads or side-dishes: 
prep ahead bfasts or lunches for weekdays: Ehh. I’d better get back to this before Sept hits. I blame it on defrosting our big freezer so now I can restock.  
Monthly dates: We went to dinner in Back Bay at Lucie.
Declutter/cleaning: I’ve been on top of pulling out stuff they’ve outgrown or never choose. I’ll count it as a yes.
Workouts as a routine: Yes! I’m medium on these video workouts so I’m giving them a chance but will skip some and move on quickly-ish.
What I’m reading: I read Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo and her first adult novel was fantastic and packed full of dynamic women. I read Best of Friends which had unique characters. Book club’s book was The Paper Palace and did not love. I didn’t connect at all. I also read Park Avenue Summer about NYC and Cosmo in the mid 60s – it was pretty good.