July Recap 2023

Wrapping up July has me feeling like time is flying by. Our vacation is August so there’s a lot to look forward to but I’m here wanting to fit in all the summery things before time gets away from me. That also has me tired yet antsy. With work having a fiscal year ending June 30th, I don’t feel like it is summer until July 1 so time’s ticking!

In July we had a beach day and went to some town events and dog sat! I was at a conference, went to the Red Sox, and went out with friends. 

I made a chopped BLT sandwich which was so so good. I plan to repeat as an Italian sub or maybe caprese. 

The Three Bite Rule - Chopped BLT Sandwich

I made a Lemon Dijon Pasta Salad to feel ohh-so-summery. 

The Three Bite Rule - Lemon Dijon Pasta Salad

Breakfast Crunchwraps were the most exciting thing to come out of the kitchen! (Shhh! You can always form as a burrito or quesadilla if the folding throws you off!)

The Three Bite Rule - Bfast Crunchwrap

The Big Kid: 
He has been loving camps. They’re all repeats from last year and he’s had friends there! Packing lunches is 90% easier this year. I love seeing him endlessly jump into the pool and his swimming strokes are looking great! He is always wanting very specific coloring sheets and is very into Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.  

The Little One: 
She looooves swim lessons and is really proud of herself. Her interest and willingness is what we want. Her birthday is so soon – she has a lot of ideas for themes for this family party…mermaids, wearing her Elsa dress, unicorns and she may have spouted ideas to others.

Next month will include a week at the beach, C’s birthday, more time at the pool, and as much fun as we can pack in!

Year of workwear! I used some store credit to get 2 tops.
Salads or side-dishes: Pasta Salad seems like a side! I had it as lunch, but there are no rules!
prep ahead bfasts or lunches for weekdays: I’ve not been on top of this but need to. 
Monthly dates: We fit in 2! We went to El Centro and Myers & Chang!
Declutter/cleaning: umm, I don’t think I really did.
Workouts as a routine: Yes! I’m doing one that has good workouts but I like the down out the leader with my own playlists.
What I’m reading: I read I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jenette McCurdy for bookclub and we had a lot to talk about. I read Every Summer After and think it was overhyped. Vera Wong’s unsolicited Advice for Murders was kind of fun – the food references and the elderly main character. I thought The Admissions was going to be very different so being so-so on it was prob my own expectations.

Breakfast Crunchwrap

This is such a fun breakfast and the format is the nudge to Taco Bell’s version. The filling is bacon, eggs, cheese, and nacho chips!

The Three Bite Rule - Bfast Crunchwrap

Fill with beans, or sausage, or avocado, or whatever fillings you like!

Breakfast Crunchwrap
Ingredients: (for 2)

2 burrito sized flour tortillas
1 cup shredded cheese (white cheddar and mild cheddar)
2 eggs (scrambled eggs & everything bagel seasoning)
2 tablespoons salsa
4 strips of bacon crumbled
~8 nacho flavored chips

Directions:
Scramble the eggs until cooked through, but not dried out. Sprinkle with everything bagel seasoning, if desired.

The Three Bite Rule - Bfast Crunchwrap

Assemble the crunchwrap with the tortilla, cheese, eggs, bacon, a spoonful of salsa & hot sauce, chips, and extra cheese. Leave plenty of space around the outside.

The Three Bite Rule - Bfast Crunchwrap

Warm a pan to medium heat with a drizzle of oil.
Carefully fold the outside edges inward, working your folds around hanging onto the beginning. Gently put the crunchwrap face down and let crisp for ~2-3 minutes. Then flip to cook on the other side for another 2-3 minutes.

The Three Bite Rule - Bfast Crunchwrap

Enjoy! Serve with extra salsa on the side.

The Three Bite Rule - Bfast Crunchwrap

I loved this! The chips in this are such a pop of flavor and great texture.

If the folding around feels daunting, these could definitely be formed like a burrito. They won’t freeze well with the chips, but I’ll make them again.

Lemon Dijon Pasta Salad

This pasta salad is packed with serious flavor and is anything but forgettable. There’s nothing worse than pasta salad that has some dressing but doesn’t actually taste like anything. This has lots of lemon and mustard. There are a bunch of herbs and pancetta too.

The Three Bite Rule - Lemon Dijon Pasta Salad

These are some starting points but customize as you like!

Lemon Dijon Pasta Salad
Ingredients:

1/2 pound of pasta
1 cup raw pancetta
1/2 cup mayo
1/2 cup olive oil
juice of ~1/2 lemon
lemon zest
1-2 teaspoons dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
salt & pepper
herbs – chives, basil, and mint.

Directions:
Boil the pasta and let cool. Toss with a drizzle of olive oil as it is cooling so it doesn’t stick together.
Pan fry the pancetta and drain.
Mix up the mayo, olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, dijon, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and salt & pepper to taste. Taste it and see substitutions below if it is too strong.

The Three Bite Rule - Lemon Dijon Pasta Salad

When the pasta is fully cool (don’t rush it, let it truly cool) mix in the dressing and the pancetta.

The Three Bite Rule - Lemon Dijon Pasta Salad

Refrigerate until serving and then top with herbs.
Enjoy!

The Three Bite Rule - Lemon Dijon Pasta Salad

This was a really great lunch and it packs well. Swapping dijon with honey mustard would mellow it out a bit or adding something sweet – like a teaspoon of honey or sweet relish or maple syrup would make it a bit more mild and less lemon.

Chopped BLT Sandwiches

This chopped and dressed format of a BLT is pure bliss – you get the best bite every time! A sub roll would better contain the little pieces but these small brioche ones were calling to me as the right size – smaller than a traditional one, bigger than a slider…the perfect lunch size I tell you. 

The Three Bite Rule - Chopped BLT Sandwich

Chopped BLT Sandwiches
Ingredients: (for 1-2 sandwiches)

4 strips of bacon (or rough equivalent of pancetta, prosciutto, etc)
1-2 cups lettuce
1/2 tomato
1/2 avocado
cheese (optional)
pickles (optional)
1-2 teaspoons mayo
1 teaspoon oil & red wine vinegar (or Italian dressing)
2 buns or rolls

Directions:
Chop then pan-fry the bacon (or other B replacement of the BLT). Drain and discard the drippings. 

The Three Bite Rule - Chopped BLT Sandwich

Chop the lettuce, tomatoes, avocados, and cheese/pickles/anything else you’re adding. 

The Three Bite Rule - Chopped BLT Sandwich

Mix in mayo and oil and vinegar or dressing and toss well. 

The Three Bite Rule - Chopped BLT Sandwich

Serve on the rolls and spread more avocado on them or toast them, or serve them as they are. 
Enjoy! 

The Three Bite Rule - Chopped BLT Sandwich

Italian ones will be up next! Or maybe caprese! Or chicken caesar! I love that this format would easily use leftovers or be a good way to not need a whole chicken piece per person or whatever. 

The Three Bite Rule - Chopped BLT Sandwich

These would be great on-the-go with the mixture in a container and spooned into rolls when serving. I picture a sunny day when we head to the pool or beach and bring along this instant lunch/dinner! Ok, off to the pool.

June 2023 Recap

Making it to July always feels like such a win. Just surviving June having my end of the fiscal year, all. the. elementary school festivities., and everything else is definitely survival mode. July 1 is so so close! We wisened up and chose this week for camp – I couldn’t have the busiest week of work and be useful in decisions for where/when/what he’d do otherwise.

I kicked off the month with a girls weekend that was everything I needed. It was perfect to set up this full month. We celebrated Mr J’s birthday and father’s day and fit in lots of very spring-feeling things.

In the kitchen, I was most psyched about this Chicken Caesar Salad Burger! It is such a winner.

The Three Bite Rule - Chicken Caesar Salad Burgers

I also made a cocktail – Pineapple Mojitos with mint, pineapple simple syrup and rum.

Pineapple Mojito - The Three Bite Rule

We had peach pecan waffles which were so so good. It was too early for fresh peaches but the canned peaches also give you that flavorful syrup to go into the waffle mix. You can thank me later.

The Three Bite Rule - Peach Pecan Waffles

The big kid:
He (and Mr J) wrapped up a fun baseball season. Nobody is more bipartisan than the parents at a playoff game who are happy to watch but also happy for the opposing team to keep having more games. He loved the end of year family picnic, field day, all the theme days, and our last day of school party. We had 35 kiddos, 20 parents, and had a great time. He loves a routine which is less of a norm in the summer, but camps are repeats this year so that’ll be good. I cannot believe 2nd grade is done. His teacher was so impressive and I love the friendships he developed.

The little one:
She’s about to start swim lessons and she seems excited! We’re ready for more sunny weekends! She had a daycare “graduation” which was adorable but also she’ll keep going all summer so it could have just been a party for the sake of a party. She seems so big now. There are more and more things she does independently and she cannot wait for kindergarten.

Goals:
Year of workwear! I added some pants that are not exciting, but necessary.
Salads or side-dishes: We had salad bar one night, does that count?
prep ahead bfasts or lunches for weekdays: I had some tomato/mozzarella/arugula sandwiches with balsamic aioli that made for a delicious but mindless-to-pack lunch.
Monthly dates: Ehh, this didn’t fit in.
Declutter/cleaning: I handed over a big bag of hand me downs that will be too warm for our always hot guy.
Workouts as a routine: Yes! I went from one to another one that has too much jump roping but I’m doing it.
What I’m reading: I read Vacationland by Meg Mitchell Moore and liked it for so many points of view in a family/town in Maine. Then I read Bad Mormon by Heather Gay which was pretty good – I don’t know her from Real Housewives of Salt Late City, but imagine readers would be more into it who do. I just finished The Summer Job by Lizzie Dent and was really into it. It is more wine/hotel/hospitality and less summer vibes but that’s fine with me.