Friday, Friday, Friday – we made it! Is anyone else looking at their calendar just absolutely horrified that October is well underway, and dunh, dunh, dunhhhhh, the holidays are quickly approaching? I just barely squeaked by getting Ben’s birthday gift (half a hog in the spring – yeehaw!) and am already panicking at the thought of picking out a Christmas gift. Are dudes the most difficult people to shop for, or what?
In completely unrelated news, if you follow me on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter, you may have seen my recent announcement that Iowa Girl Eats is going through a complete redesign that’s been two years in the making!! I remember having a conversation about redesigning IGE with my then developer at our kitchen table while Lincoln, who was just a few weeks old, was strapped to my chest in a sling. Yesterday he was throwing logs in a wheelbarrow then wheeling them around the playground.
Aka it’s been a grip, and it’s also high time this other baby of mine got a face lift!
The new site will likely launch by the end of October and I’m just so excited to share everything from a fully functioning Recipe Index with tons of search options to help you find exactly the recipe you want, to new and improved site search capabilities, and a gorgeous homepage. Here’s a sneak peek (or rather, full reveal,) of the logo. I can’t wait to share more details about how to use the new site in a few weeks, so stay tuned!
In the meantime, wherever you are and whatever you do have a wonderful weekend, and please enjoy my favorite finds from around the web and beyond in this week’s Friday Favorites!
Favorite yum: Spicy Lentil Nachos with Three Cheese Sauce. Get in my flipping face! These three cheese nachos from Pinch of Yum are the perfect game-day food. Miami plays Florida State this weekend which means I’ll likely be losing my mind over a platter of these nachos while Ben will be losing his mind in general. Pray for me.
Favorite print: Animals You Might See. I started following the most hilarious Instagram account last week called Sad Animal Facts. Adorable hand drawn sketches of animals with sad little facts about them in conversation bubbles. You have to check it out. Anyway, the artist combined all the animals into one print which I thought would be adorable in Lincoln’s room. It came this week and I can’t wait to frame it!
Favorite swirl: Chorizo Bolognese with Buffalo Mozzarella. Ummmmm chorizo, buffalo mozzarella, and pasta – there is no need to anything different ever again. Think I’ll make my homemade gluten-free egg noodles for this dish. YUM!
Favorite travel: 50 Trips to Take in the United States. This is a great list, and I was happy to see we’ve been to a bunch of the places in it. Overseas will always have a huge part of my heart but isn’t that realistic when you’ve got little ones (a 12 hour plane ride with a 2 year old isn’t high on my to do list!) Just a good reminder that we don’t always have to travel far to get a wonderful experience!
Favorite slice: Italian Pressed Sandwich. How meaty, crunchy, and fantastic does this vegetarian sandwich look?? Love the combination of tangy artichokes, pickles, and olives with creamy cheese.
Favorite flair:Â 15 Super-Easy Hairstyle for Lazy Girls Who Can’t Even. I am completely hairstyle challenged so this article is a God-send, plus the title made me giggle. ;)
Favorite snack. This month I created a snickerdoodle/cinnamon toast snack for my partnership with The Laughing Cow! Toast gluten-free (or regular) bread then cut into quarters and top with The Laughing Cow Creamy Original Swiss cheese, then dust with cinnamon sugar. Sweet, savory, crispy, creamy – so, so yummy!
Favorite dessert: Real-Deal Caramel Cake. So much yes. SO much yes! Caramel is one of my love languages, and this cake that’s absolutely drenched in it is perfection.
Favorite find: 3/4-Sleeve Color Block Sweater. This is one of the sweaters I recently got at Old Navy. The detail down the center + color blocked sleeves is super cute plus it’s just. so. comfy (and 50% off right now – dangit!) A must for me and my life motto: life is short – wear comfortable clothes!
Favorite easy: Marcella Hazan’s Tomato Sauce with Onion and Butter. I made and shared this recipe many years ago here on IGE and just rediscovered it. Three ingredients – tomatoes, onion, and butter – combine to make the best tomato sauce in the world. It’s the reason I add a little butter to my Pasta Pomodoro!
Favorite trip: Ultimate Irish Road Trip. Ireland has been on my travel bucket list for as long as I can remember and I can’t think of a better way to see the rolling hillsides, crumbling castles, and beautiful coastline than on this ultimate road trip.
Favorite bite: Melt-in-Your-Mouth Pumpkin Cookies. I attempted to make Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies this week and, while I thought they were ok bordering on good, Ben took one bite and said they had the texture of cotton balls. Lincoln took a bite and started feverishly scraping every last crumb out of his mouth. Thanks, guys!! Think I’ll stick with this recipe instead. ;)
Have a great weekend everyone!
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Lisa 03.06.2017
That’s why i love Friday because the food of Friday is ummmm really yummy and fantastic. My mom also cook food on Friday night and this will really fantastic day for me.
em@onwardsandupwards 10.20.2015
LOVE that hair idea – so unique! Always looking for ways to mix up my look.
Kari 10.12.2015
OMG…..”I’ll likely be losing my mind over a platter of these nachos while Ben will be losing his mind in general”!!! I spit pop out of my mouth reading that!!!
Lee 10.11.2015
I started following Sad Animal Facts on IG after reading this post. I love the randomness. Maybe not the best to read when you’re trying to rock a baby to sleep though. My giggling seemed to be disruptive
Kristin 10.11.2015
HA – totally! I can relate!
kenzie negron 10.10.2015
those pumpkin cookies look to die for! xx, kenz
Emily @ Life on Food 10.10.2015
Oh my those pumpkin cookies and caramel cake look amazing. I love Fall and all of its treats.
Kacie 10.09.2015
Oh man- that chorizo pasta dish reminds me of the most delicious leftovers I had a few weeks ago. I don’t remember what else I threw together with it but I had chorizo over spaghetti squash and it tasted amaaazing! Also I’m excited to try that technique for tomato sauce. So simple and it will please my onion-hating husband to take the whole onion out!
Kristin 10.10.2015
ooo, I love the idea of chorizo over spaghetti squash – I’ll have to try that!
Bella B 10.09.2015
I can’t wait to see your new design! :) I am completely hair style challenged. I need all the help I can find.
xoxoBella | http://xoxobella.com
Lynne 10.09.2015
If you ever do that Ireland road trip, you’d be driving right past my house – call in for a cup of tea! ?
Kristin 10.10.2015
Lovely! Will do, Lynne!
Terri 10.09.2015
Thanks for the Ireland link! I’ll be in Ireland for the third time in May! So cannot wait!
Traci | Vanilla And Bean 10.09.2015
OMGeee I know, the holidays! And How? Congrats on the upcoming redesign. I know its a big project, but improved site functionality is always a worth it! Thaaank you so much for sharin the sandwich love Kristen! Have a beautiful weekend!
Kristin 10.10.2015
You bet, Traci – I can’t stop thinking about it!! :)
Lauren @ Oh Hey, I Like That! 10.09.2015
I just looked through the 50 Things to do in the USA–I’ve only done 6! I guess I’d better get traveling!
The site looks GREAT!
Melissa 10.09.2015
Congratulations on the redesign! And can I just say how much I love that you got Ben half a hog?? OMG that is the best. You rock.
Kristin 10.10.2015
Think we’ll have to get a deep freeze of Craigslist, but it will be worth it!
Stephanie 10.09.2015
Your pasta pomodoro is absolutely amazing! I agree, the butter definitely makes it! Have a great weekend :)
Kristin 10.10.2015
You too, Stephanie!
Becki 10.09.2015
Can’t wait to see your new site! I love that tomato sauce and haven’t made it in a while….now I am thinking about having it for dinner with some grilled chicken and pasta..mmmm.
I have to laugh at our pumpkin cookie story. My family is the same way. Not afraid to tell me when something is awesome, but also not afraid to cut to the chase and tell me when they hate something, too!
Kristin 10.10.2015
Same – sheesh! I wish there was a *tiny* bit of editing involved in describing the dishes they don’t like – HA! ;)
Leesa 10.09.2015
That animal print is adorbs! I especially love the goose doing hopscotch. :)
Def going to have try out that caramel cake recipe. Yum.
Laura ~ RYG 10.09.2015
I’m so with you on the hair. I’m not lazy. I just don’t know how to do hair. I would love my hair to look better!
And that Irish trip sounds great ~ ever watch Rick Steves? We love his PBS videos on Ireland. Soda bread and Steve. Doesn’t get any better than that.
Kristin 10.10.2015
Rick Steves is my JAM!!! I used to watch his shows every Saturday but my toddler (and Ben) have taken over Saturday morning TV time! ;)
Mallory 10.09.2015
I’m with you on the gift buying for guys. My husband just had a birthday and I had to say..sorry I didn’t get you anything because I couldn’t find anything at several stores that I thought you’d like! It’s such a struggle! Same goes with my dad and father-in-law….ugh..i hate it.
Mallory 10.09.2015
I’m with you on the gift buying for guys. My husband just had a birthday and I had to say..sorry I didn’t get you anything because I couldn’t find anything at several stores that I thought you’d like! It’s such a struggle! Same goes with my dad and father-in-law….ugh..i hate it.
Kristin 10.10.2015
So glad to hear I’m not alone – I was on the verge of you’re not getting anything, when I had a lightbulb moment at the 11th hour. Christmas is going to be a disaster though. :(
Katie @ Talk Less, Say More 10.09.2015
Blog designs are so FUN! I recently underwent one (nothing TOO major) but I am just loving the crisp, clean look of my site now. There’s still plenty of work that I want to do but I have to do it myself right now so it’s going to be slow and simple changes… ;)