Spring has sprung! The bees are buzzing, the birds are chirping and flowers are in bloom!
And most importantly? I’m taking my food outside! Everything tastes better on the patio.
Breakfast (unpictured): Egg-and-veg scramble, hot coffee, good book. (Okay, I didn’t eat the book, but it was part of the morning spread).
Lunch: Salmon salad in bell pepper boats, grilled romaine and a branch of grapes for even more color.
Dinner: A spin-off of this crockpot Coffee-Ancho beef recipe–using strip steak instead of ribs. Plus fried plantains and a dollop of Greek yogurt as “sour cream.” Super fast (well, slow) and pretty much hands-off meal.
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What’s the last meal you took outside?
ForgottenBeast 
I can’t believe you eat STEAK!!!!! Yayyyyyy
Right?? Crazy stuff! Although, I have to admit I’m not going to go out of my way to eat it that often–it’s definitely not a favorite. But fish and chicken? Yummmmmm…
FRIED PLANTAINS OMGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
Seriously, I’m so jels of your delicious food and gorgeous patio. I live in a 3rd floor apartment š¦
You need to come visit TN and chill on the patio with me š And on my gosh, I am obsessed with plantains right now–I’ve been having them pretty much daily. YUM.
um, ON MY WAY š
Are you thinking of Costa Rica? I always think of CR when I see fried plaintains. nom nom!
I actually wasn’t! But now I am…and wishing I was there, haha. So once you get to Nashville, let’s hang out here for a week then hop on a plane to CR ;D
haha, yes! If I’m going to go all the way to TN, I may as well hit CR, too š
I now want to eat my weight in gallo pinto and avocados. mhmmm. When do avocados come into season in Pittsburgh? š
Haha, I dunno, but they’ve been super cheap around here as of late, so they’re in season somewhere!
Amazing food! I am in the UK and the spring has only really just started nearly a whole month late so I am looking forward to lots of eating outdoors of an evening!
Spring took forever here too! It usually starts weeks earlier–so I’m definitely loving all this outdoor time now!
Fried plantains are my favorite jealous you are able to get outdoors the wind over in LA has been dreadful so I’m stuck indoors hopefully not for long :-). Last thing I had outdoors was breakfast at Urth Cafe egg whites and veggies! Have a great day Love + Shine Court
They are so easy to make! You should give ’em a go š And I have a feeling I’d like that cafe…
You know, I always forget to just simply stuff my peppers with whatever mixture I have! **Note to self: Stuff a damn pepper this week!!**
Have a fabulous rest of the day ā¤
And it’s so easy! I totally forget too, or think I have to cook them and decide not to take the time. Nope, crunchy fresh salad boats are so easy and delish š
I’m eating outdorrs in AZ right now. Happiness.
YES! To both AZ and the outdoors š
Nothing I love more than an outdoor cafe! I found some outdoor cafes in London and I was like, it feels just like I’m in Europe! Oh wait … I am in Europe! We don’t often get weather to allow outdoor eating š
Finally! One way TN can one-up Europe–dinners outside allllll spring, summer, fall and the occasional weirdly warm winter day!
I seriously want a grill so bad. I miss being able to just throw things on that and get some nice delicious grilled food
You can totally make “grilled” romaine under the broiler in your oven–pretty much just as good!
I’ve got to try that grilled romaine! Our weather is finally getting closer to being able to eat al fresco! I can’t wait.
It is SO good, and so ridiculously simple! Plus it just screams “summer evenings.” I don’t know why I haven’t been grilling my salads for years…
Al fresco dining is the best! Last time I took it outside was a few weeks ago when I went for coffee & dessert with some friends :)!
Now that sounds like fun! I need to wrangle a dining partner into joining me outside š
Mmmm fried plantains!!! The last meal I had outside was breakfast at my lake house! Homemade buttery biscuits, bacon and cheesy omelet. YUM!
Buttery biscuits? On the lake? Can I be invited next time? ;D
OK, don’t laugh at me, but today the lighting in my little office/classroom was so frustratingly bad, making my broccoli look pukish instead of green, that I walked out of the front door, snapped a picture, and then came back inside. So…I took that outside, literally.
And actually, you should DEFINITELY laugh at me.
I’ll laugh WITH you, not AT you. Since I’ve totally done similar things…
Food always tastes better outside- why is that? I ate outside this weekend at a restaurant. I love doing that. That salmon salad in a pepper looks delish!
I need to find a good restaurant nearby with outdoor seating! Although, restaurant de la back patio is so nice, I have a hard time paying to eat out this time of year š
Unf fried plantains sound downright sexual right now. Yum. Oh and grilled romaine?? So strange, but I’d totally try it!
Oh my gosh, I am now always referring to them as “sexual,” haha. They totally are.
Everything really does taste better outside. I’m loving that salmon salad in bell peppers!
I haven’t had steak in ages! To be honest I’ve probably had it just a few times in my life… Not sure why…
Those sound like delish meals!
Everything does taste better outside…unfortunately it is still a bit too cold for me to do that though! š¦
Look at your mood! It’s bursting from the page. So happy for you!
Dude, salmon pepper boats? I need to get on that. Oh wait..our peppers are $4/lb…
These were on “sale” for $1 each. Still ridiculous, but I wanted colorful food.
I never cook lettuce, but that looks so good. I was recently at our local corner deli and one of the girls was making her own lunch. Grilling lettuce, peppers,onions and something else I can’t remember. I told her I was going to ask her to make me one next time I’m looking for lunch. It looked and smelled SO good!
Oooh, grilled romaine in a sandwich would be AMAZING, I have got to try that next time!
It wasn’t a meal but the kids and I were just outside yesterday afternoon reading books. But I am a huge fan of outdoor eating, less mess in my kitchen š
Man how I wish I could sit outside on a porch and eat! It is just so peaceful and relaxing! I can’t remember the last time I ate outside! Maybe last August in Aruba? lol Those steak tips look BOMB!!! xxo
I’m not sure if this counts as a meal, but I recently enjoyed oysters & prosecco outside. Oyster happy hour is one of my favorite warm-weather treats!
Omg, you cooked a steak!?! And you ATE IT?!? Woo hoo! Go meat! That’s what she said? š I need to try frying plantains. I baked some a couple of weeks ago but they were so dry…like cardboard dry! Nothing could save them…not even peanut butter! Haha!
I enjoyed my breakfast on the porch last week and it was fabulous! Dining al fresco is where’s it’s AT! There is nothing like enjoying a meal in the sun! Now if only Mother Nature would take away this damn cold front that’s been lingering here the last week! Grrr!