HEY THERE, FRIDAY

Now that I'm officially a grown-up with a salary, health insurance coverage and all hints of midterms and finals behind me, I really could go on vacation whenever I wanted. January ski trip, off to the beach in May, San Francisco in October... there's no calendar that dictates my adventures except my own.

With the exception of some true crime novels, and a few books by Norman Mailer, I don't often read nonfiction lit. In fact, when I found Five Days at Memorial and added it to my, "To Read" list, I thought I was picking up some type of historical fiction.

I held this in for much longer than I intended. I started to write this, decided I was using too many adjectives to describe the best sandwich you will ever eat in your entire life, then rewrote it and rewrote it, but it is just not fair for me to keep this sandwich from you for another weekend. I cannot do it.

Last Saturday morning the Husband and I were wandering around the house, doing house things. Cleaning the pool pump, sorting mail, mopping the floors... all of the things you do to make it look like you didn't just throw your briefcase on the floor and eat chips straight from the bag all week. Ahem.

It came to be about 11:30, and we realized we hadn't eaten. We are brunch people. We are food lovers. This was a sin.

I was several mugs of coffee into my day, and I was feeling adventurous. I opened the fridge and saw... possibilities.

For dinner earlier that week, I had made a modified version of these Steak Fajita Stuffed Baked Sweet Potatoes (which were delicious, trust) with chicken instead of steak, just using all of the same seasonings. They were heaven on earth, and I had loads of shredded, savory chicken left over, plus two sweet potatoes that would surely wither and die if I left them in my fridge for a moment longer.

That, plus eggs, bacon and a homemade chipotle mayo = sandwich nirvana.

Behold.

This is the light of the morning and my iPhone camera. This is un-edited reality.

 So, how do you create your own? I'm here to guide you into perfect sandwich perfection.

I used "perfect" and "perfection" in the same sentence. I am serious.

Saturday Sandwiches - Serves 2
You'll need:
Chicken (one large breast or two to three tenderloins seasoned with this recipe [I recommend making a full serving of the chicken - it reheats really well] a good helping of rotisserie chicken from your grocery store or shaved deli chicken, your choice)
One small/medium-sized sweet potato
Two eggs
Eight pieces of bacon
Bread of your choice (I used sourdough rolls from our grocery store bakery)
Chipotle mayo (recipe below)

Chipotle Mayo:
 - Measurements are fluid, so adjust to your personal preference -
Sauce from a can of Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce
Hellman's Mayo (use full fat or low fat, but I can't vouch for Miracle Whip)
Paprika
Red pepper flakes
- Mix to your liking. Add more or less of each ingredient to taste. This will keep in the fridge for at least two weeks, but it probably won't last that long, because this stuff tastes great on everything.

1.  Wash your sweet potato and cube into small chunks. Coat a skillet with oil and add potatoes, seasoning with salt and pepper. Cook all the way through. Set aside.

2. If you're starting from scratch with your chicken, mix the spices/seasonings together and place your chicken breast/tenderloins in the mixture. Make sure they get really coated - you can even let them sit in there for a few minutes while you pour yourself another cup of coffee.

3. Fire up your cast iron skillet with a little bit of oil, and cook the chicken all the way through. Shred and set aside.

4. Cook your bacon however you cook your bacon. Oven, skillet, microwave... whatever. I lay down paper towels on a plate and zap slices in the microwave. It depends on your microwave, but I do 4 pieces for 4 minutes for crispy bacon.

5. In a pot, mix 2-3c hot water with 1/2c vinegar and bring to a gentle boil. Crack two eggs into the water and allow them to poach. Cook to your liking. (Husband's were more cooked through than mine - I like runny yolks.) The vinegar isn't absolutely necessary, but it helps keep your whites together while your eggs are tossing and turning in the water.

6. Using a toaster oven/toaster/oven, lightly toast bread until you get a little bit of a crunch

7. Smear generous portions of chipotle mayo on both sides of your bread. On one side of your bread, stack sweet potato cubes and top with shredded chicken. Add your poached egg on top of the chicken. On the other side of your bread, layer bacon pieces. Put your pieces together for the best sandwich you have ever eaten.

No, there are no green things on this sandwich. I thought about it, and decided against it. You can do whatever makes your heart happy.

So go on, make your heart happy.
           

T.G.I. FREAKING F., y'all.

Thank goodness for weekends. We've moved into a (temporary) new home for the next year, and while we still have boxes that need to be unpacked and things that we need to find homes for, I'm feeling more settled than last week. Much more settled.

The husband has a "settling in" routine that I've learned not to mess with. He knows where all of the garage and electronics boxes are, and his first task is to organize the shelving in the garage and set up the entertainment system. That's what makes it feel like home to him.

Me? I need my shoes out of boxes/bags/suitcases and into their proper shelves. I need a place to put my jewelry. And I need candles.

Speaking of candles and jewelry... here are this week's Friday Favorites!



I've been experiencing a year-long fascination with tortoiseshell accessories, starting with a linked tortoiseshell necklace from a friend's boutique & trunk show. It's no longer available on their website, but I did find a cheap copycat option for you to steal, at Claire's of all places!

My jaw dropped when I saw the price on this baby. $3.59. Not joking.

My favorite candles are by Voluspa, and I've just acquired a new obsession - the Moso Bamboo. Even better, it comes in this gorgeous jar, which looks gorgeous on a nightstand.

The sunglasses are my go-to favorites from Super, a daily necessity considering I've been riding with the top down and the wind in my hair all week long.

Get out there and enjoy some sunshine. Happy Weekend!

I used to have a real thing for popcorn. Once upon a time, I could go through a whole buttery feast all by myself, licking the salty sludge from my fingertips as they plucked the last barely-popped kernel from the bag. That was back in the days of barrel-shaped juice boxes and Lunchables. These things were not organic. Not available at Whole Foods, or your health Mecca of choice.

... like every morning.

I can't be the only person who doesn't bound out of bed with the strength of Samson, excitedly heralding the incoming e-mails and stress of yet another workday. Some mornings, yes, but those are rare. Most mornings, I hit the snooze button for about 30 minutes and find myself rushing out the door, promising that I'll never, ever do this again if I can just get to work on time and in one piece.

Which is always a lie.

So sometimes I need steps that can be taken care of while I'm at the various red lights on my way to work. I don't have time to dig through a massive bag filled with blue eyeliner and shimmery shadows when I'm in a rush - I need products that work fast.