Monday, March 29, 2010

Mexican Fiesta & Brunch

How was your weekend? Mine turned out to be very nice. I taught Attack Friday night and then did dinner with Josh. Saturday morning, I taught Step & Pump, worked around the house, and then we had friends over for a Mexican dinner. I laid out all the fixings: jalapenos, sour cream, Mexican cheese:



...Pinto beans that I made up in the slow cooker (put dried beans in slow cooker, cover with water + ~1", add in chopped onion and desired spices (chili powder, cumin, etc), cook on high 2 hours, low for an additional 4-6 hours). Excuse the dark picture:


Onions & peppers, prior to cooking:


And after:


Corn & shredded lettuce:




White & whole wheat tortillas:


And for the meat eaters, grilled chicken:



and flank steak:



I just seasoned the meat, Josh was the grill master!! Our friends brought over some beer & chips and salsa. It was a fun night :)

Sunday morning, I slept in a bit and then headed to brunch at Charleston's Cafe. I was supposed to meet up with another local blogger, Christina, but she and a friend got locked out of their car and couldn't meet up with us :(. Fortunately, we still had delicious eats! We brought our friend Jeremy along and he tried one of the Southern breakfast items, Dewees Island Potato Casserole (bed of chippers, onions, peppers & mushrooms, eggs, turkey, bacon & cheddar cheese topped with a spicy tomato cream sauce, served with a biscuit).

Josh had his usual three grain pancakes:


And I had my usual Granny Apple Parfait


The rest of my day was spent weeding the yard, running some errands, and relaxing with Josh & Frank :).
Is it Monday already?? What are you looking forward to this week?

57 comments:

Diana said...

LOVE those flower plates! Eats look yummy!

I'm looking forward to being productive this week and the announcement of a secret project I've been working on the last couple weeks. It's always nice when you get to share the details of something you're working on, no? :)

Jessica @ How Sweet said...

I love that dish that you put that cheese and sour cream in! Where did you get that???

Anonymous said...

I'm looking forward to trying Zumba for the first time tonight.

homecookedem said...

What a great mexican dinner! Looks better than eating out at a mexican restaurant, for SURE!!

Tiffany said...

mmmm homemade burritos are the best! your dishes are so cute!

thanks for your suggestion on my blog -- i'm working on not eating out of the bag. slowly but surely! :)

Stephanie @cookinfanatic said...

The Mexican feast looks great, so fresh and delicious! Glad you had such a nice weekend :) Is it sad that I'm looking forward to only having a 4 day week (off Friday) and it's only Monday?!?!

Heather said...

I love all your home cooked meals - looks yummy!!

Nicole @ Geek Turned Athlete said...

I really need a yogurt parfait stat since I saw that pic! I haven't had one in forever, and it looks delicious! I'm looking forward to bike riding in Brussels this next weekend!

Molly said...

Yum! Those beans look good!

I have Thursday and Friday off this week, so I'm looking forward to getting my classes out of the way and then relaxing!

Pam said...

Lovely feasting my eyes on all those beautiful photo's...yumm! Your fixing dishes are so cute!

Have fun today Sweetie!

xoxo

CaSaundraLeigh said...

I think Mexican is becoming a food group in my book-I just love it! The little fiesta looks fun! Have a good week dear :-)

Jessica said...

I really like the theme night with your friends. I love dinner parties.

This week I'm looking forward to the sun and warmth! A 4 day week and Friday is supposed to be the warmest day so far this year! I think we'll be able to get by with just t-shirts! WHOOHOO!

Holly said...

I love the Mexican buffet! It all looks delish and way better than restaurant food!

I'm looking forward to my sister having her baby this week....SO excited!!

Anonymous said...

I love your serving dishes! I've never thought about doing beans in the slow cooker. Genius! Yours look just as good (if not better) than Chipotle.

I'm looking forward to nice weather and running this week.

Lauren @ Eater Not a Runner said...

Everything looks so delicious! I just can't believe it's Monday already....where did the weekend go?!

Andrea @ CanYouStayForDinner.com said...

Sounds like the best weekend! I love the Mexican dinner you had for your friends! I'll have to try the slow cooker pinto beans- I would love them!
Have a great Monday darlin!

Jessica said...

I LOVE those flower dishes! So cute.
I love the idea of making Sunday brunch a tradition - that Parfait looks yummy!

Heather @ Get Healthy With Heather said...

Great mexican spread! I've never made beans in the crockpot... something new to try.

You taught 9 classes, geez I'd be worn out! Yes, I've made sure to eat enough protein too I bet that helped. Foam rollers aren't that expensive and with how much you work out I'd suggest investing in one. They hurt when you use them, but then you feel so much better after.

Jenna said...

I always forget about adding corn into Mexican dishes, it adds a crunch and some sweetness, wonderful idea. :)

I am looking forward to warm weather this week!

Anonymous said...

The mexican dinner looks fantastic!

Naomi(Onefitfoodie) said...

awww too bad christina couldn't make it..gues that means you'll have to go back there soon!! :)

taht parfait gets me EVERYTIME looks so goooood!!!

mm chicken and steak fajitas..flank is my favorite cut of steak!

laura dishes said...

You always manage to make having people over for dinner look so easy! :)

I'm looking forward to a long Easter weekend- and seeing my sisters, BIL, and new nephew!

Maria said...

Glad you had a fun weekend! My dad was in town so we spent a lot of time with the family. We had everyone over for a big dinner last night. Of course I went to pump:)
Have a great week. I am busy with work!

Beth @ DiningAndDishing said...

I love those little flower dishes...so appropriate for spring!

Holly said...

seriously, how is it monday already? i am so with you on that. why do i need a weekend from the weekend?!?!

anyways, your mexican fiesta looks like so much fun! i love the grilled peppers + onions...gah, i think i could eat those for EVERY meal. no joke.

have a wonderful week dear erica!

vanillasugarblog said...

food buffet, love those they are the best.

Lauren said...

What a great Mexican feast!!!! :)

Too bad about the blogger meet up but at least you still got to enjoy a wonderful brunch! ;)

Glad you had a great weekend girl!

The Blonde Duck said...

Can I come over for the next Mexican fest?

Stefanie Cross said...

Thanks for visiting my blog, I love Mexican food, yumm! That is our Bulldog in my profile picture, she is cute and full of life. Her name is Lola and she is laying next to me snoring right now. My favorite dog ever! Is yours male or female?

Sophie @ yumventures said...

I love build your own burritos! Awesome beans, I'll have to make them when I FINALLY get a crock pot :)

Susan said...

I lurve those flower plates too!

And I love seeing what you cook up at home for everyone - you win for best food blogger hostess in my book!

Have a good Monday girl : )

Sarah said...

I love those flower-shaped bowls you have, what a beautiful way to lay out condiments! I saw Giada's Weekend Getaways' Charleston episode last week and I thought of you the whole time. She went to some good sounding places, I wonder if you've been to any of them. Makes want to visit Charleston, what a beautiful city!

I'm still around, just can't get myself to think about food and blog lately. :( We're actually cancelling our trip, I'm too sick now. But I'm here!

Britt said...

Sounds like a great weekend! I LOVE mexican. :-)

I'm looking forward to some nice weather later this week. We have been either cold or rainy or both lately......

Anonymous said...

Love, love, love Mexican fiesta nights!! I am actually going to make pork carnitas this week in my crock pot.

My goal is to organize my closet this week - if I just spend 30 minutes a night, I should be done by the weekend - and yes, its that bad!

Julie said...

yeaaaah pennstateeeee hahaha my brother went there and we had some good times there with the football games, tailgaiting the usual haha plus some vbll game heckling ;) good times there hahah

what a fun little mexican fiesta you had there! hope there were some coronas poppin round!

Anonymous said...

HEY LOVE!!
ahh i am so sad we couldnt meet up over the weekend :( it was all family planned and what not. i am sure i will be in charleston again soon and we MUST meet!! we went to boulevard diner!!

Krista said...

I gotta ask what the heck is on Josh's pancakes! Looks like peaches and beans....???

I would like to be at your next Mexican dinner, please! ;)

Therese said...

Tacos/fajitas are a great thing tpo fix for a group...everyone can make theirs the way they want!

Josh's pancakes looks yummy everytime you post a brunch pic ;)

Anonymous said...

I have Friday off. Im looking forward to that!

Your meal looks good. We actually had something really similar tonight.

Averie @ Averie Cooks said...

love the food, you're rocking it out there!
as for me, my week is going to have 2 blogger meetups, in one week, i know, i am lucky :)

thx for ur awesome comment re my layout, and bikini comps, have u ever done one? and also my ethical stance on veganism. I loved reading what you had to say!
xoxo
p.s. if you have any tips or advice for me on the comps, holla back! I am not going to do much diff than what i do now. show up and get judged and see where the chips fall!

Mom on the Run said...

I love your taco bar. My girls love when I let them make their own tacos. Those flower bowls are way too cute :)

Esi said...

Delicious feast. Hope I get an invite next time :)

Anonymous said...

Taco bars are so much fun- that was my favourite dinner when I grew up!

I am looking forward to a blogger meet-up later this week :D

tam said...

Yummy eats! I'm looking forward to going to the dentist and getting my tooth sorted pain is not my friend!

Yum Yucky said...

you Attacked people on a Friday night?? oh wait, I read that wrong. Gimme that Mexican!

Anonymous said...

I LOVE your serving bowls..the flowers! TOO CUTE! I'm a sucker for any kind of party dishes...

Janetha @ meals + moves said...

holy crud those flower bowls are SO cute! i love the assembly line style. every time i see that granny apple parfait i want it more and more :)

I Run for Fun said...

Sounds like an ideal weekend.

I love those bowls...so pretty. My cutlery is so boring!

Pam said...

Sounds like you had a fun weekend. Your Mexican fiesta looks fantastic and how I would love it!!! I too love your plates too!

Michelle @ Find Your Balance said...

We're doing some Mexican stuff tonight for Lost! I'm making a salad with sweet potato, corn, red pepper, swiss chard, quinoa and mexican spices :-)

Kathleen said...

What an incredible Mexican feast! Yum!

Anonymous said...

Those pinto's look great! I made black beans in my crock pot this wknd and will need to give those a try since that was my first bean cooking/soaking experience.

I love your bowls, they are just damn cute :)

I am looking forward to going to Indianapolis for the Final 4. WVU is playing Saturday night and I dont have a ticket but will be fun to see people from college and be in that atmosphere. Not looking forward to the 18 hour round trip drive though :(

teresa said...

woo hoo! love mexican food, this is making me crave it. glad you had such a nice weekend!

Amanda Meadows said...

All of your food looks SO GOOD! The corn and peppers look absolutely delicious :)

erica said...

I absolutely love those flower dishes they are insanely adorable. Your food looks so good!

xo

carla said...

I am looking forward to DRAGGGGING my husband from the office on friday and compelling him to play with me :)

seriously.

Amanda (Two Boos Who Eat) said...

Yum that dinner looks delish. I need to try making beans in the crockpot!

My husband and I work for the school district so I am excited for Spring Break!!!! We are going to Las Vegas.