Dinner Snacks + The Weekend

Happy Friday! Is anybody else as ready for the weekend as I am? So I don't really have any recipes or food stories to regale you with since I haven't been at home any nights this week. In fact, last night I had a pick dinner (you know, picking at a few different things to comprise a full stomach, but not quite feeling fulfilled like dinner). A plate of cheese and crackers, followed by fresh popcorn for dinner. Possibly even a few scoops of snickerdoodle dip too. Shaun was out, so whenever it's just one for dinner, I find myself picking on a multitude of things, rather than preparing a real meal. Not exactly what you call healthy. This weekend it's my mission to get back on track!

So since Valentine's Day falls on Monday, Shaun and I have some things planned for the weekend to celebrate. If you remember this post from just over a year ago, we like to use V-day as a reason to stop with the craziness going on in our lives and simply spend some time together. Nothing fancy, but a day of giving up chores to relax and even go on a date together. This year, we're celebrating on Sunday.

While last year we took a trip to Bobby's Burger Palace...

...and snacked on Valentine's Day whoopie pies from Whole Foods...

...this year, we're staying local with brunch at Lighthorse Tavern (my favorite Jersey City restaurant), a trip to the movies and topping off the day with a nice dinner at home and watching TV on the couch. A fun-filled day without breaking the bank. Sign me up! Oh and you know that Shaun got me a pretty sweet gift this year...

So I have a few tricks up my sleeve to surprise him. Aside from Sunday's fun, I'll be spending some time tomorrow with this little cutie...

...while I clean out my old bedroom at my parents house (a task that I've been putting off for about 2 years...sorry mom!).

So that's my weekend plan. What do you have planned for the weekend? And bonus question, do you ever have a pick dinner for one (as I did last night) or do you always cook, even for one?

Snowed in + Popcorn Machine

Like most of the Eastern seaboard, Shaun and I were snowed in yesterday.

We filled the time with lots of football, pizza (since I haven't done a non-baking food shopping in longer than I care to admit...) and playing with our shiny new Christmas presents.

 

 

Santa was very, very good to us this year! Especially to me, the new owner of a Nikon DSLR camera! When Shaun presented me with my new gift, I was over the moon with excitement and couldn't wait to dig into the goods. Though I took all of the photos that you see here now on the new beauty, I realized that I have a lot to learn about it so stay tuned as {hopefully} my photography skills get better and better!

Meanwhile, I also realized that a certain someone gets a little antsy when being stuck in the house for too long...

Luckily, we received this fun toy to keep us busy.

 

It's a popcorn machine! This awesome appliance was gifted to Shaun and me on Christmas Eve from my Aunt Diane. Cool, right?

 

Shaun got to work setting it up and within minutes we had fresh, salty popcorn worthy of movie theater status.

Mixed up with salt in a giant red mixing bowl, this popcorn was ready for eating! With popcorn and soda, a snowy window, a lit Christmas tree and a couple of throw blankets, we settled in to catch up on Top Chef. I'd say it was a pretty fabulous evening.

So what do you think? Have you ever made your own popcorn? I bet there are lots of ways to change this up; from my favorite butter and salt to parmesean cheese or cinnamon sugar!