Some really great TV

Then two salads, a pasta, and some cinnamon rolls that I'm testing!

Good morning! This week has been more of a testing week than a producing week, which means I’ve had the luxury of watching some really great TV while I generally stress about my cinnamon roll dough. And I do not care if science disagrees with me, one of my life’s greatest joys is eating in front of the TV. Food, full stop, is enjoyable, and of course I know that a dinner with low lights, lots of candles and deep conversation is a delight, but sometimes there’s something about being in your pajamas with a good snack, a good show and your phone in the other room because your attention span is flawless, that is wonderfully trashy and enjoyable. Mindful eating can be boring, THERE I SAID IT. LET ME BE MINDLESS.

So if you want to be mindless with me, I’ve been watching some great TV lately, and I’m very proud of myself for expanding my interest past Vanderpump Rules:

SHOGUN // Hulu - I only like recommending things once they are fully bingeable. My main reason for falling off “The Great” is that I had to keep coming back, and I’m terrible with consistency. Shogun - a Game of Thrones-style show with a plot surrounding Japan’s inner military conflicts and extended Portuguese trade during the 1600’s, sounds very serious, but is really a love story. Highly recommend. 9/10

THREE BODY PROBLEM // Netflix - Normally I would never turn on this show. It feels very “classic primetime network Thursday nights” sometimes, but the plot roped me in. It’s about aliens (another thing I never thought I would be into) and it takes until episode five to get really good. 7/10

FALLOUT // Amazon Prime - A show modeled after a video game which is modeled after a “silly apocalypse.” It’s a little gruesome, but the sets and costumes are great and the plot is gripping. 9/10

VANDERPUMP VILLA // Hulu - For my reality TV show girls, this is a mix of Below Deck and Vanderpump Rules. It’s trash, it’s toxic, no one is happy, everyone is hot. 8/10, I loved it.

So we have our shows, now onto our dinners to eat with them! The weekly round-up is filled with easy meals this week:

The weekly round-up!

More-Salad-Than-Tuna-Salad…Salad - Inspired by the idea of “what would happen if I took everything in a tuna salad, but really amped up the vegetables and toned down the tuna?” Et Voila - a crispy celery salad with tuna throughout, perfect for eating with a slice of bread that you melt cheddar on top of for some tuna-melt-energy.

Pasta alla Mezcal - I made this when I learned Pasta alla Vodka uses vodka to coax out tomato flavor, but impart the *least* amount of vodka flavor in the dish. Which lead to my question: why not use an alcohol that adds flavor? This dish is a classic Pasta alla Vodka, but with the smokiness from mezcal infused in. Rich, easy, delicious.

Carrot Salad with Aleppo Chickpeas & Date Vinaigrette - My favorite recipe of the week. If anything, please try the date vinaigrette. I’m in a date phase, and it’s heavenly.

And that’s it for this week! Thank you as always for being here, I love our weekend catch-ups. Now off to my cinnamon rolls I’m testing - which spoiler alert, may have some nostalgic flare. But I’ve made promises I couldn’t keep before…so TBD on the final reveal.

OK GOODBYE I LOVE YOU VERY MUCH,

Xoxo,

Salad_Snacks