When I opened the door to take Murphy for his afternoon walk, I did not expect to see snow on the ground. Where did those come from? First flakes of the year!

This year, I’ve absolutely loved winter in Boston. It’s been SO WARM! It was 60 degrees and sunny in November and I ran outside in shorts and a t-shirt at the end of October! Crazy, but awesome!

But, now, I think winter is “officially” here. Wicked bummer. But, I guess I could deal with a White Christmas!

Despite the wintery weather, the pug couldn’t wait to get outside and stretch his little doggie legs.

So, Mal and I headed out for a 45-minute walk with him around the neighborhood. I was chilly by the end, but it wasn’t that bad. Maybe I finally learned how to properly dress for winter?

Dinner

It was dinnertime when we returned, so I whipped up a very convenient meal. I’m not sure it gets any easier than this!

I made a box of rice pilaf on the stovetop.

Nuked some broccoli florets in the microwave. (Just add a splash of water, cover, and cook on high for 3 minutes.)

Added about a tablespoon of olive oil + two tablespoons of Wildtree Scampi Blend + 3/4 of pound of shrimp to a skillet.

Then, I tossed it all together with some spring mix.

Viola! Easiest meal ever!

Off to look for something sweet!

Tomorrow is (Cookie) FRIDAY!!!

Today’s 50 degree weather put me in such a great mood! I’ve felt motivated, enthusiastic, and jovial all day long. In fact, Mal and I agreed that today felt more like a Friday than a Sunday. We decided to open a bottle of wine to further enjoy the day!

I sipped on a small glass of Gnarly Head Chardonnay while cooking dinner. 

Tonight’s dinner was inspired by a pasta recipe from Real Simple. One of the key ingredients for the meal was chicken broth, which was used instead of water to cook the pasta. The chicken broth added a TON of flavor to the linguine. 

Instead of chick peas, like the recipe called for, I added broccoli florets that I steamed in chicken broth mixed with minced garlic. The broccoli also had tons of flavor! 

Finally, I stirred in sliced almonds and topped the pasta with a little olive oil and fresh Parmesan from Whole Foods. Using fresh Parmesan made all the difference! 

With vino… 

Have a nice evening, bloggies! Back to the grind tomorrow!