Weekend morning coffee is often a little better here than M-F morning coffee. If your schedule looks different M-F than it does on the weekends, and you’re a coffee drinker like myself, you might relate to that. There is something about sipping that morning cup with no rush to get anything done while you put your feet up. I realize things may look a little different right now for many of us, many of you not having a traditional weekend, many not knowing which day it is even if you are working, not really having anywhere to go if you’re now working from the basement or the spare bedroom, or maybe you’re working outside of the home and life just feels crazy as can be. I’m still savoring that morning cup just a little bit more on the weekends.
Tess, my daughter in Dallas, likes her morning coffee just like her momma does, and often, even though miles apart, we have our weekend coffee together. Yesterday we had coffee together for over an hour, both outside, getting caught with each other. Her and her husband are both working from home and I am so happy they bought their house when they did. Staying at home and both working from home in the one bedroom apartment that they lived in would have been really difficult. Now they have a yard for Tucker and room in the house for both of them to set up a temporary office space. It was a good coffee chat with my girl.
I piddled over at Effie for a couple of hours yesterday afternoon. My first “girls camping trip” was scheduled for next weekend. I reserved a spot right on the lake. All of the trips that I took last year, minus my one solo trip, were with my dad and stepmom and the camping groups that they had joined. This would be my first trip on my own camping with a large group of women, all passionate about their vintage travel trailers. I met two of these ladies last summer and I was really looking forward to spending the weekend with this group while camping on the lake in Effie. I had imagined every minute of this trip from pulling in the campground to making new friends to waking up and yes, enjoying my weekend morning coffee at my campsite.
When I had the A/C installed in February, my goal was to, fix my window screens, replace weather stripping on the windows, fix an area of the floor, make my dinette table and paint the outside, all before my first trip in May. I completed my list and for now, I’ll just have to enjoy her myself. I’m super bummed but I also know how incredibly lucky I am to have a place at my dads to keep her where she is plugged in to electricity the entire time and I can go hang out in her whenever I want. I’m just anxious to pull her to someplace that I’ve never been and make new memories.
Mike started painting the dining room yesterday. When we took the windows out and installed doors to go out to the new deck, it was obvious we were going to need to paint that room. When I got home he had the house all opened up and the tunes cranked and was painting away. I decided to make a mocktail, sit on the deck, listen to the music and watch him paint. Well, just for a few minutes. Then I grilled up some steaks and he took a break. I had decided that after dinner I would get in a walk. While cooking dinner my Fitbit threw its little 10K steps party on my wrist and I was like, no need for that walk!
Airfryer fail number two. What am I doing wrong? I made Sweet Potato Fries. They just don’t have the fried texture I’m expecting. I need to play a little.
We enjoyed a fire on the deck last night and I’d say for all that is going on right now, it was a darn good Saturday.
This is happening today. Are you following him? dnice on Instagram! Get your fit points with a little dance party!
Breakfast
Does this look like corn? Or diced potatoes? Be honest.
It’s apples. I had 3/4 of a waffle left and I wanted to really put It to good use. We’re rationing over here ya know. I made Warm Cinnamon Apples to top off my waffle, but this is not a very appealing picture of breakfast. Anyhow, topped them with sliced strawberry and a drizzle of nut butter and a drizzle of vanilla syrup.
Lunch
Getting in some veggies
Snack
Bell Peppers, Carrots, Hummus and White Cheddar.
I’ve been enjoying a few too many cocktails during this stay at home order. Virtual Happy Hours, wine on the new deck, a cold beer after working in the yard. These last few days I’ve opted for a mocktail. I like just about any flavored sparkling water with a lime in it. Put it in a fun glass, even better!
Dinner
Steak, Fries and Roasted Brussel Sprouts
Where are my Air Fryer peeps?
What tips would you share?
What is your favorite thing to make in the Air Fryer?
What is your best source for Air Fryer recipes?
Would you consider your first couple of experiences fails? No? Just me?
Happy Sunday! Coffee people…..enjoy!
“love the life you live, live the life you love”
Julie….:Thank you SO much for all the great air fryer info! This is greatly appreciated!!
Hi Julie,
I’m back again with the magazine type air fryer cookbook I mentioned yesterday. It’s “Air Fryer Perfection.” It has the glazed turkey meatloaf recipe and also a really good one for salmon with orange marmalade glaze. The other magazine cook book we didn’t like as well is “Air Fryer Recipes.” There is a new one called “Easy Air Fryer Recipes“ (Good Housekeeping) that looks pretty good. Another general tip is that nearly everything we cook in it is done by doing half the time, taking out the drawer and shaking – or rotating – the contents, and then cooking the rest of the time. A meat thermometer helps with determining “doneness” and many cookbooks will give a thermometer reading as well as a suggested cooking time in the recipe.
Thanks Donna! I love Skinnytaste and coconut shrimp sounds amazing. I’m adding that to the list to make soon! I love me some pancakes and warm apples. 😋😋Thanks for all of your suggestions!
Hey Celeste! Mine were overcooked as well. I’m sure I just need to experiment and be patient. 😂 I was making them from scratch and I did not realize it was suggested to soak the potatoes in water first. So many things to learn. Thanks for all the great suggestions. Now I’m craving fried food! 🤪
Mine does not have a window Shelley but what a great idea! I have some zucchini and I was thinking about trying that in there so I’ll give that a try for dinner today! Thank you! Also, I’ll check out Pinterest.
Thanks Julie for all the great tips! I was trying to make those from scratch so I will soak them in water and pay more attention to recipes.🤣 I love salmon so now I’m anxious to try that in there. Thank you so much for all of these great tips!
Hi Julie,
I got a Cuisinart Toaster Oven/Air Fryer combo for Christmas. My daughters think it doesn’t work quite as well as a regular air fryer, but its all I know. It does run hot so I have to lower it 50 degrees. I love it for reheating things. I hate to say, but leftover pizza is amazing in the air fryer. On the healthier side, air fried vegetables are amazing. I also like recipes from Skinnytaste. Her coconut shrimp is terrific. Your apple dish looks amazing. I dice up apples and add them to Kodiak pancake mix with some cinnamon and vanilla. I also warm them up with my syrup to top my waffles.
We use our air fryer at this twice a week, and one of our Staples is fries!
We mostly use the recipe book that came with the airfryer…
So tips:
Be sure to preheat your fryer for about 5-10 mins.
Be sure not to stuff it (we have a 7qt fryer for 3 portions of fries)
Shake your fried around (take the bin out and shake it) about 10 mins in.
We actually have more trouble over cooking than under.
Did that help?
Some favs: breaded pork chops, fried chicken legs, thighs, and fries. Oh-we made empanadas twice with egg shell wrappers and LOVED them
Airfryer…what kind do you have? I have a one with a window that helps. I find Pinterest the best place for recipes. Today I made zucchini spiral fries.
Hi Julie!
So enjoying your daily blogs! I am crazy about my air fryer – and this is from someone who can’t be bothered to cook. When it first came, there were no instructions and it wasn’t obvious how to use it, but once I got them, it’s been a godsend! We have a Phillips 9741, kind of small but otherwise great. I’ve never had a failure which I assure you does NOT reflect on my skill. Are you trying to make French fries from scratch or frozen? I haven’t made them from scratch but I do know that all the recipes say to soak the potatoes for at least 30 minutes beforehand. We like Alexia handcut frozen French fries and they come in regular or sweet potato. My fav recipe is WW fish cakes and potato flakes. It calls for talapia but I use salmon. Our other favorites are from an air fryer recipe magazine that I’ll get you the name of. We make hamburgers and there’s a great recipe for turkey meat loaf. Those leftovers actually taste really good in a salad. We have the Williams Sonoma air fryer cook book but it’s really small and I think a rip-off. We are cooking more – and better food – and eating more together since we got the air fryer.
Hmmmm. Well now I know it’s possible it’s not just me. 😂 I’ve only tried the traditional Kodiak, Buttermilk? I have a Cuisinart waffle maker. I think it’s for 6”
Waffles. I do love it. Easy to clean if you remembered spray it before using. 😆
Your weekend so far sounds heavenly! And I totally agree with you about coffee tasting better on weekends. Then again, coffee is always a good idea, no matter where or when, amen?
My sister isn’t loving her air fryer either. Had to return the first one, and not too pleased with the replacement. I don’t have one, so I have no answers! But I do have a question though. I want to order some Kodiak waffle/pancake mix but wanted to know which flavors you prefer? Have you tried the oat? And what kind of waffle maker do you have?