September 29th - THE EAZY PEAZY WEEKLY - Small Town Whaaaaat???

Friend – here we go again.

And yes, I know, I sound like a broken record. But wow, this week knocked me flat. I clearly underestimated how wrecked my body would feel after that big Sawtooths trip. I kept telling Arn, “I feel like I ran a marathon and can’t catch up on rest.” His reply? “Well…that’s basically what you did.” Touché.

So, naturally, the cure was sneaking away to a cozy mountain cabin with friends - good food, good company, and a dose of small-town…color. Let’s just say we stumbled into a dwarfinator wrestling tournament (yes, that’s a thing). It left me feeling a little conflicted, so we bowed out early. At the end of the day, it was an experience.

**Look over Arn's shoulder.

And no trip into a cozy cabin is complete without a hike. And not just any hike. When you’re with Arn, “hike” means straight up the mountain, because apparently every outing is training for hunting season. Eeesh. I was none too happy about this plan and even purposefully left my hiking shoes at home to send a clear “nope, I’m here to chill” message. BUT…you know me. Somehow I still ended up huffing and puffing my way up the trail, muttering under my breath and wondering how $3 thrift store shoes would even hold up, plus prayers my feet wouldn't get an infection.

**I did find $3 thrift store hiker Keen's because after the Sawtooth's I had ZERO intention on going on a hike. But here we are...me following this hotty just about anywhere. Love him, I do!

Now the food on this trip?

Next level. GF biscuits and gravy for brunch, then a full-on burger bar for dinner: lettuce, tomato, cheddar, swiss, brie, goat, blue cheese, figs, spicy fig spread, caramelized onions, pear slices, BBQ sauce, fancy mayo, fancy mustard. Who masterminded this genius lineup? ME. Mwah. And yes—it was devoured. Compliments flying. Idea stolen? You’re welcome.

And just like that, it was back to reality and no pictures taken of the food. Amateur hour for sure.

Here was my crazy week...

Monday – Back in the kitchen with all your amazing meals.

Tuesday – Private chef gig for a 50th birthday: cioppino with clams, Argentine shrimp, wild cod, sea scallops, dungeness + king crab in a tomato garlic broth. (The only fail? No final pics—rookie move!)

Wednesday – Chicken Pineapple Fried Rice for the freeze-dryer. Someone ordered a bajillion of them - yaaay.

Thursday – Chicken Teriyaki Bowls fueling the BK JV football team. And, Little Man had the most incredible game EVER - e caught an nterception, over 100 rushing yards, perfected the long snapping, and SO MUCH MORE. He played offense and defense. Love this kid we do!!

Friday – egg bite survival mode. Specifically, my jalapeño bacon egg bites that Arn and I literally argue over like 12-year-olds. (Because apparently, marriage = keeping score over breakfast.) Annnnnnnd right back at another football game, plus Arn and RJ packing up for a hunt this weekend. All the things, people. All of them going on all at the same time!

By the end of this week, I realized something: yes, it’s exhausting, but this is the good kind of tired—the “I’m building something, serving people, and feeding souls through food” kind of tired. And that’s the fuel that keeps me coming back into the kitchen again and again, even when I feel like curling up with a blanket and a Hallmark movie.

MENU FOR MONDAY:

SEPTEMBER 29TH - ORDERS IN BY SUNDAY @ NOON

Egg Bites - Jalapeno Popper

Egg Bites - Canadian Bacon & Swiss Cheese

Egg Bites - Onion/Bell Pepper/Spinach & Cheese

Protein Overnight Berry Oats

Chicken Cobb Salad w/ All the Topping (non-blue cheese)

Creamy Green Chili Chicken Tacos w/ Black Beans & Toppings

Sloppy Joes w/ Hidden Veggies over Sweet Potatoes & Toppings

Thai Peanut Chicken Bowls

Creamy Pesto Chicken with Roasted Tomatoes & Veggies w/ GF Pasta

SEE YOU MONDAY - SEPTEMBER 29TH!!

So here we are. Another week, another menu. We’ve got some new dishes rolling out, and I hope you love them as much as I do. Because at the end of the day, it’s not just about dinner being done—it’s about joy, connection, and maybe a little jalapeño bacon bite to fight over.

Cheers,
Nikki