Spicy Spicy!

The best part of the work week is Family Dinner night. I love living by myself and not worrying about being a good roommate to anyone except Tucker, but that makes Family Dinner night so much more special. When I lived with Brett, we had dinner together every now and then but usually without any formality. Cooking for him, Joe, and the "Guest of Honor" every week is the perfect time to catch up on each other's lives. Last night, Rob came down from Winston Salem since he has no class on Fridays and no tests this week (yipppeeeee!). Meg also stopped by, but was more interested in snuggling with Tuck than socializing with humans:

For dinner, I wanted to make something easy and cozy given that the weather has been chilly this week. I decided on Cuban Black Bean Soup made in the crock pot and baked chicken taquitos.

I used Smitten Kitchen's recipe for the soup, but instead of chipotle chiles, I accidentally got chipotle chiles in adobo. This soup turned out crazy spicy. I love spicy foods and douse everything I eat in Cholula/Sriracha/Texas Pete, but man oh man this was like a deep, fiery, burning heat. We obviously ate it anyway (I mixed lime juice, cilantro, and cheese into mine) and it was delicious. The baked chicken taquitos were absurdly easy and really yummy. I also made an avocado crema (just avocado, Greek yogurt, and lime mixed together until smooth) in lieu of guacamole for something a little more sophisticated because we're such a classy bunch.

The orange tablecloth really brought the Mexican theme home, right?

As far as juicing goes, I had one every morning this week and there's no turning back.
Day 4: Kale, cucumber, mint, carrots, ginger, squeeze of lemon (this had no fruit, tasted the "greenest," but was still amazing)
Day 5: Romaine, cucumber, apple, ginger, squeeze of lime (I loved the lime juice - it tasted kind of like a margarita!)

I'm really looking forward to this weekend because...we're going to a NASCAR race! I've lived in North Carolina for five and a half years (what?!) and have never been. So excited to put on my camo and jorts.

In honor of Friday...thanks to Emily, the best big sis ever, for finding the GIF that truly embodies who I am:

WHEN I SEE THE WAITER WALKING WITH A TRAY OF FOOD & IT TURNS OUT TO BE MINE