September 24, 2014

Masala Kale Chips

New Post! Masala Kale Chips!

Kale chips are on the list of Things I Will Never Buy at a Store. I don’t care how good they are, they’re EXPENSIVE and I can just make my own dang kale chips, thank you very much. But maybe if I’m on a road trip and I’ve eaten too many of my obligatory road trip red vines & beef jerky THEN I’ll buy kale chips. If the rest stop has kale chips, I’m also getting a kombucha. Just so you know.

It’s really the special flavoring that commands the price. I mean… $7 for a bag of cheesy kale chips? There’s not even a whole bunch of kale in that little air filled bag. You’re ultimately paying for cheesy flavoring. These Masala Kale Chips, though? I’d pay the premium if I had to. Fortunately, I can make them myself WHENEVER I feel like it. All I really need is kale and access to my kitchen pantry.

The recipe comes from Aarti Paarti: An American Kitchen with an Indian Soul. To say these kale chips are fabulous is an UNDERSTATEMENT. You combine curry, ground cashews, maple syrup and nutritional yeast with oil and you saturate the kale with it. Then you bake until the kale is crispy and the topping is nice and golden and OMG YOU CANNOT STOP EATING THEM. I have this weird pet peeve about people drinking their food (you know… tipping a bowl or a bag of chips and funneling food into their mouths) but I would totally understand if you funneled every last crumb from the bottom of the bowl into your mouth. I totally forgive you…just don’t let me hear you doing it. I may or may not have my eyes closed.

Inspiration, Outfitting

September 23, 2014

Outfitting: Huckleberry

ONE/TWO/THREE/FOUR/FIVE/SIX/SEVEN/EIGHT

Now that it’s officially Autumn, I’ve been daydreaming about scarf weather, fireplace living, and coffee dates with baked goods. I kinda can’t wait to hibernate. You feeling it too?? I’ve had a copy of the Huckleberry: Stories, Secrets, and Recipes From Our Kitchen by Zoe Nathan sitting on my coffee table this week and I’m so excited to start baking from it this Fall! The book itself is absolutely beautiful. The graphic design/layout is equally breathtaking as the photographs (shot by my friend Matt Armendariz!). Wait til you see the spine of the book! It’s yellow & white polka dotted!!!!

I’m using this cookbook as inspiration for my fall wardrobe because LOOK AT THAT COVER. Gorgeous, right? I put together an outfit that has a base of black, a hint of stripe (to be layered under the dress), pops of plum and I’ve added little bit of yellow to add some visual interest. I bet it would be cute with a pair of bright colored tights or maybe a cute cardigan for layering when the weather gets chilly.

recipes

September 22, 2014

Stracciatella Soup

With the colder weather coming up, my brain is craving childhood comfort foods like whoa- hence the Pizza Bagels and now this soup. Before I left for college many many MANY years ago, my grandmother taught me how to make her Stracciatella Soup. It was always something she made me when I was over at her house and HUNGRY (which was all the time). She’d give me extra cheese because she is my grandma and that’s what grandmothers do. I ended up eating this soup a lot in college because it rained so much in Oregon and it was CHEEEEEAAAAP. Also it’s ridiculously easy. So, basically this soup wins.

Four simple ingredients— chicken broth, spinach, eggs and Parmesan combine forces and turn into this amazing soup. It’s ALLLL about the Parmesan if you ask me. The more, the merrier.

Thanks for the life skills and the extra cheese (always), Grandma!

Inspiration

September 21, 2014

And I Quote:

my everyday life, Photography

September 20, 2014

My Everyday Life: Week 38

Here’s what this past week looked like:

I traveled to Arizona (briefly!) this week.

September 19, 2014

I love lists, Friday!

Love this clever video.
12 Ways to be the Meanest Mom IN THE WORLD.
Surviving Whole Foods.
If I didn’t have a child in the house, I’d wear most of these tees.
These shoes have a funny name…and it makes me want them more.
Starbucks Spelling. Yup. There’s a whole tumblr.
This is a good life skill to have.
I’m thinking of having a Sex and the City marathon…look at these facts.
AS YOU WIIIIIIIIIIISH!
It says I’m great.
My brother photo-bombed one of my wedding photos.
What a pretty dish!
How you’re supposed to eat sushi. (Hey Ryan- Yasuda!)
Congrats, Bakerella on your new line of products! I LOVE the alphabet & the gem molds!
Saying this word kills your credibility.
Yes. TO THIS.
Two of my favorite things. Ever. Marzipan + Challah.
I enjoyed listening to my two friends chat.
I totally have a crush on this blog.
This is a MUST READ.

On the latest episode of the Joy the Baker podcast, we talk about the Essential Oils class I recently took. There’s also some ghost action in Joy’s apartment. AHHH!!

Check out episode # 130– Comfort Ladies

The Gourmet Housewife made my Grilled Zucchini Roll-Ups

Jessica Rodarte made my Breakfast Pizza French Bread Pizza

Love Laurie made my Baked Pumpkin Pecan Doughnuts

Mom. Fashion. Lifestyle adapted my Pasta Fagioli Soup

Forbidden Rice Blog adapted my Raspberry Peach Buckle

September 18, 2014

APPLES + PEANUT BUTTER + GRANOLA

My brain wants there to be three extra slices of apple off to the side of the frame here. Then I could make these slices of apple with peanut butter and granola into little sandwiches. Wouldn’t that be nice? I wouldn’t even mind the peanut butter that oozed out of the sides. Make sure you pop the seeds out of the apple…or even core it of you feel so inclined. It turns them into little apple doughnuts…sorta.

In this little snack of mine, I used one of my favorite granola recipes for the top. It adds just enough crunch to balance it all out. This is one of those good breakfast/after-school/OMG when is itgoing to be time to GO HOME from work already?!!! situations.