Erica

The Last Wedding Planning Update!

September 12, 2014 by Erica

I am on board and buckled up for the emotional roller coaster ride that is monitoring the 10 day forecast before my wedding.

Just kidding – it hasn’t been too emotional (so far). Mostly because right now the weather forecast looks like this:

72 and sunny on Saturday, September 20th. You really couldn’t ask for a more perfect fall day in New England.

While I’ve by no means been great about giving regular wedding planning updates on here, I thought I’d give it one last shot before the big day. And this is pretty much my last chance! I cannot believe it’s just 8 days away. On the one hand, we’ve been planning our wedding for almost a year, and at times it felt like it would never come. But on the other, it has totally snuck up on me. Time is such a funny thing.

So we are (I think) completely prepared for the wedding. Marriage license? Check. Rings? Check. Final payment to the caterer? Groan, check.

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Creamy Smoked Trout Pate

September 10, 2014 by Erica

This recipe is my way of pretending I’m still on the Vineyard. Every smoky, creamy bite brings me back to vacation… delicious, delicious vacation!

Actually, this recipe is my way of mashing up vacation and real life. A creamy fish pate is definitely an island treat, but the one we had on the Vineyard is made with smoked bluefish. Well, in Utah, there is nary a bluefish to be found, never mind smoked. Trout, however, we have in abundance, and that’s how it made its way into this pate.

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Layered Asian Salad with Sesame Ginger Dressing

September 8, 2014 by Erica

Layered Asian Salad with Sesame Ginger Dressing | coffeeandquinoa.com

The final wedding countdown is on! 12 days, you guys. TWELVE DAYS.

Nate and I were in Atlanta this weekend at our friends Sara and Anthony’s wedding. Sara and I got engaged right around the same time, and were checking with each other as we planned our weddings to make sure we picked different dates. So all year, I’ve known that we were flying to Atlanta for their wedding, and then ours would be just around the corner. Being there this weekend made our wedding seem SO REAL!

Not to mention the fact that they had the most beautiful wedding ever. It was at her parents’ house (an old horse farm), very Southern rustic, very DIY. It was absolutely perfect, and I can only hope I’ll look half as overjoyed as I walk down the aisle as my lovely friend did! Except I know I’ll look terrified instead. I remember distinctly from my sister’s wedding the feeling of not being able to control my facial muscles as I walked down the aisle because I was so nervous. The chance of that happening at my own wedding is preeeetty much 100%. I will be clinging to my dad for dear life!

Layered Asian Salad with Sesame Ginger Dressing | coffeeandquinoa.com

I was crossing my fingers that I’d be going through a quiet spell at work in the weeks leading up to the wedding, to give me a little spare time to take care of last-minute wedding details. Instead, pretty much the opposite is true. Isn’t that always the way things work? Everyone is being super understanding, and I’m trying to stay focused and not take advantage too much. Because of that, easy salads like this are going to be our best friends over the next week or so!

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Avocado Horchata Smoothie

September 4, 2014 by Erica

Avocado Horchata Smoothie | coffeeandquinoa.com

Green smoothies are the name of the game today. Funny-lookin’? Oh ja. Delicious? You betcha.

Let’s kick it off with my top 5 reasons you should make this smoothie:

5. It’s vegan.

4. It’s silky smooth from the avocado.

3. It’s like horchata, but healthy!

2. “Horchata” is fun to say.

1. And the number one reason you should make this smoothie is… {drum roll please} that you will get it all to yourself because it is green and gloppy but secretly delicious.

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