Been to Derek & Adri’s New Home #NeverHaveIEver
Girls’ Night In
It’s hard to see all my friends in one place sometimes. We all have busy lives and not everyone can make a night out or commit to plans in advance. So it’s always so nice when we can agree on a date and can all make it.
Derek’s err I mean & Adri’s New Apartment
This time, we were all meeting at our good friend Derek’s new apartment in Glendale, California. Those of you not familiar with Glendale, it’s about 9.4 miles from where I live in Koreatown (around 20 minutes). Depending on who you talk to, this could be considered a “drive.” Nonetheless, Derek moved from North Hollywood to Glendale to be closer to his girlfriend and her family/our other good friend Adri.
I call Derek’s apartment Adri’s well because… she basically lives there too now. While Derek was gone directing a music video, Adri finally hosted our Sunday Funday dinner with us girls: Amy, Nikki, Lila (Nikki’s youngest sister in town visiting from Virginia), and myself. It was everyone’s first time visiting their new apartment.
I say “finally” because out of the four girls, everyone had hosted a get-together at their home. Adri had moved into her apartment a year ago and was supposed to throw a housewarming party. Fast forward to a year later and some change, it’s now her boyfriend’s apartment (I mean hers too). But hey, better late than never right!?!
Been to Derek’s & Adri’s New Home #neverhaveiever
What’s For Dinner
Are you ever stuck at the grocery store wondering what to bring to a potluck? This dinner we put together had all the right elements.
Main Dish: Garlic Noodles
Adri made our group’s go-to pasta dish. So easy and so good.
Ingredients:
- Your choice of pasta (I prefer angel hair or spaghetti for this dish)
- 4-6 whole garlic cloves
- Olive oil
- Salt & Pepper
- Shredded Parmesan cheese
Directions:
- Boil water and cook pasta to desired texture
- In a separate pan, add enough olive oil to cover the bottom of the pan
- While noodles are half way done, heat olive oil, add salt and pepper, and whole garlic cloves
- Move garlic cloves around as they begin to cook
- Once noodles are done, add cooked pasta to pan with olive oil, and stir
- Let noodles cook a little longer (2-3 mins)
- Once done, top noodles with Parmesan cheese
Side Dishes: Burrata & Peaches, Caesar Salad, Cheese/Nut/Fruit Plate
Adri also prepared a delicious burrata plate.
Ingredients:
- Loaf of bread (we used sourdough)
- Burrata
- Peaches
- Balsamic vinaigrette
- Olive oil
Directions:
- Cut loaf of bread into small rounds
- Put cut rounds on oven pan
- Add a drizzle of oil olive on bread
- Put bread in oven until lightly toasted
- Slice peaches in equal size
- Plate peaches, bread, and burrata
- Drizzle balsamic vinaigrette onto peaches
I brought over a Caesar salad and blueberries. Amy made a delicious cheese plate that we completely killed.
Ingredients:
- Brie cheese
- Trader Joe’s Fig & Olive Crips
- Trader Joe’s candied pecans
- Dark chocolate
- Strawberries
Dessert: SK Donuts & Croissant
Nikki and Lila brought the so-freaking-good SK Donuts!
Flavors:
- Peanut butter chocolate
- Glazed blueberry
- Regular glazed
- Chocolate with peanuts
- Red velvet
- Chocolate frosted
Overall
Dinner with my girls is always a good time! It’s so nice to sit, share a meal, and catch up on all the good, the bad, and the meh that’s happening in our lives. It was also great to meet Lila and to see the love Nikki has for her sister.
I’m blessed to be surrounded by accomplished women who inspire me to keep pushing and glow up. As I get older, I crave more intimate dinners in more private settings. Home cooked meals and lots of wine is always a good place to start or end the night. Not sure whose turn it is to cook/host next, but I look forward to it!
Until the next meal…