baked potato barrrr

i promise, this will be the last blog post of today.  i decided to break them up so that you didn't have to read one super long one! 

here's koda checking me out as i sit flogging...what a pup!!  it is absolutely gorgeous today and i am LOVING this sunny weather!  this past weekend has been soo full of fun activities and good people.  on friday, my family took family portarits together!  we used to do them all the time when my sister and i were younger, but the last one i remember taking was back in middle school, so getting to take one again was really fun!  since everyone in my family has now graduated or is going to the university of washington, my mom thought it would be cool to all dress in husky gear!  it actually turned out pretty cool!  i'm excited to see them!!

on saturday i was lucky enough to help out with a fundraiser for a program i've been apart of every since i started going to uw, the dream project!  it is a student-initiated college-access and retention program that partners UW students with first-generation and low-income students in Seattle area high schools to assist in the college admissions process (including SAT prep, applications, writing essays, applying for financial aid, and finding scholarships).  i would argue joining this amazing program was one of the single best decisions i've made being at the uw.  just the people i've met and the experience i've been able to share with these people have been life changing.  really this program has helped me in so many more ways that just working with high school students.  anyways, the dream project held their first ever fundraising event and it was quite an experience!  it's times and events like these that remind me why i'm passionate about the work i'm doing with them. everyone worked so hard to make this a special evening and it paid off when they raised $77,000!  congrats dream project!  :]  i also got to enjoy a sunny day at a mariners game!  it was the perfect weekend and i'm glad that this weather has been soo nice...let's just say...I'M READY FOR SUMMER!!!

earlier this week i was able to get together with some of my friends for a baked potato bar!  my roommates theresa and kelly and i have a whiteboard in our kitchen that we keep a list of things we want to do this quarter on.  here's what we wanted to do this winter/spring quarter:

well this past wednesday we were able to check off at least one thing on the board...baked potato bar!!!!  we invited everyone over on wednesday night and told them to bring a baked potato topping to share.  i made an awesome jacket potato mushroom and bacon sauce

jacket potato with mushroom, onion, and bacon sauce

• 12 oz bacon, chopped
• 4 medium-sized russet or other baking potatoes, well scrubbed
• 8 oz sliced button mushrooms
• 1/2 an onion, diced 
• 1 cup cream 
• salt and pepper 

1. preheat oven to 375°
2. prick potatoes with a fork and bake until soft - about 1 hour
3. Saute bacon, add onions and saute, add button mushrooms and cook until golden brown.
4.  Stir in the cream and heat through, without boiling. Salt and pepper to taste.

 this sauce is soooo good!! honestly i could eat this like soup...it's that good!  seriously if you ever need a bomb sauce...this is it.  when i open my only breakfast restaurant, this sauce is about to be on gravy and is going to be on EVERYTHING!!!

the baked potato bar was soo much fun!  we baked a ton of potatoes and at the end of the night there was only one left! 

the bar with all the toppings

becca's potato

my potato

theresa's potato

josh's potatoes

ariel and alan came later, but i forgot to take some pics of their potatoes.  it was such a fun night, just catching up and playing bananagrams and appletters!!!  (side note: i LOVE banangrams and appletters has just become another favorite!  they are amazing party games and have become a mark family game - whenever my dad's side of the family gets together we end up playing bananagrams and it's great because both the young and the old get involved!) having a baked potato bar is a great idea for anyone that wants to host a bunch of friends - potatoes are super cheap (theresa and i got a 10 lbs bag for $2.99!!!!) and all you have to do is wash them and poke them with a fork and then let them bake for an hour. SO EASY!  and seriously...who doesn't love a good baked potato?!?!?