June 13, 2012

Coconut Cake with Berries & Cream

Do you ever look at the serving amount on a recipe AFTER you’ve made the recipe and think

UHHH…UMMM…WOOPS?

REAL TALK: I never really pay attention to serving amounts when it comes to baking. Unless I HAVE to bring something to a party and wanna make sure I have enough. Things get difficult when I make a big batch of something (ahem, COCONUT CAKE) and realize there’s only three of us actually eating it. Whhhhhyyyy are my neighbors out of town?! If the cake wasn’t so amazingly bonkers (first post using the word bonkers!) it wouldn’t be a problem…but now I have the rest of the week to finish it.

And that’s only a problem because I can’t stop myself from eating it. It’s so bad that I have a spoon in my fridge right now so that whenever I open the fridge I can swipe a bite. I’m not sure if that’s me being plain lazy or straight up genius. I’m going with genius.

So what’s it like? Imagine a tres leche cake made with coconut milk and a heavy dose of coconut flakes up in the batter. It’s kinda wet, a little spongy, sweet, creamy and nicely berry topped. It’s super light & refreshing because it’s cold! I think I figured out what you’re making for 4th of July this year. I can assure you it most certainly makes enough for a crowd! Oof.

Inspiration

June 11, 2012

Last Minute Father’s Day Gift Guide

Last Christmas I had Casey do a Man’s gift guide. It was pretty popular so I asked him to do another one for Father’s Day. I know he has #5, #3& #6 already…Maybe I’ll surprise him with something else…If you’re last minute shopping, here are 6 cool items you could easily have overnighted from Amazon. Take it away, Casey!

1. Band of Brothers / The Pacific (Special Edition Gift Set) The Twilight Saga would not be a good gift. Let him know you are thinking of him when you buy two epic mini series from HBO in one box set. Band of Brothers and The Pacific are loved by men, but surprise, ladies enjoy the shows as well.

2. Hamilton Men’s H70655733 Khaki Officer GMT Watch Last gift guide for Men included a Hamilton Dress watch, the Khaki officer has a more casual yet classic look that will not go out of style. This has a 44m face so if he has tiny girly wrists, skip this watch and buy the man some weights instead.

3.Milwaukee 2497-22 M12 12-Volt Cordless Lithium-Ion 2-Tool Combo Kit Hammer Drill and Impact Driver If it’s been a few years since he’s bought a cordless drill, he’s probably still using the old NiCd battery technology. The M12 Lithion Ion technology is compact, light weight and powerful. In addition to this Drill and Impact Driver, there are dozens of other tools and accessories that are compatible, including a heated jacket for him to wear that uses the same rechargeable battery! This kit includes a hammer drill, impact driver (awesome) charger, 2 batteries and carrying case. Lots of power in a small package, using these tools is so much easier without the big bulky battery pack strapped to the handle.

4. Pelican 7060 Rechargeable Tactical LED Flashlight Good enough for the LAPD, good enough for dad. This tactical flashlight is this century’s MagLight. Every man needs one and it will last a lifetime. Don’t let the compact size fool you, it is crazy bright with good battery life. The only downside is the compact size means it’s not an ideal weapon for beating bad guys over the head.

5.The Art of Shaving – The 4 Elements of the Perfect Shave Full Size Kit – Unscented Watch the videos on the website and you too will want to join the brotherhood of the perfect shave. There’s just something cool about the ritual of shaving now. Start with your pre-shave oil which provides lubrication for the razor, lather up using the badger hair brush, go to work using a standard Gillette razor and finish off with the soothing after-shave balm. Inexpensive starter kits or full size kits available.

6.Grado Prestige Series SR80i Stereo Headphones Could you picture him rocking a big set of Beats by DrDre headphones like all the neighborhood thugs? Didn’t think so. He’s a man of substance who only wants the very finest in audiophile grade sound. Discover nuances in familiar recordings that you never heard before with the amazing clarity and detail these provide. The retro appearance is a hallmark of Grado Labs. There’s a reason why everyone I’ve let listen to these has gone and bought a pair or two for themselves, you just don’t find this quality at this price from anyone else.

recipes

June 11, 2012

Frozen Cappuccino

Deconstructed coffee ice cream. That’s what this is.

Espresso, sugar and cream combine forces to make a simple frozen treat that will have people coming back for more.

I can’t imagine a better treat eaten under strings of outdoor lanterns on a warm summer evening. This is how I’d want to have coffee in the morning on a super hot summer day. Can you really blame me?

Hooray for three ingredient recipes. That’s what summer living is all about!

my everyday life, Photography, Uncategorized

June 10, 2012

My Everyday Life: Week 23

Here’s what this past week looked like:

The last half of this week, I went to Seattle for BlogHer Food.

Sliders at the W hotel.

Inspiration, Photography

June 6, 2012

My Favorite Trader Joe’s Pantry Items

It’s pretty obvious that I’m a big fan of Trader Joe’s. No, they didn’t sponsor this post. They did give me a bunch of raffle tickets for using my own bags yesterday. One day I will win that raffle. ONE DAY!

Because I’m somewhat obsessed with shopping at Trader Joe’s, people always tweet me asking what they should get when they’re going to a Trader Joe’s & they’ve never been before. BTW-I think it’s so awesome that some of my Canadian friends make special trips across the border to stock up on items. Love it! Canada deserves their own Trader Joe’s. For real.

This is the post I will reference when someone asks what they should stock up on.

These are my favorite Trader Joe’s Pantry Items:

June 4, 2012

Crispy Chicken Fingers

I woke up to the strangest dream Sunday morning. In my dream, I was attending a wedding and when I went to find a seat in the front, I noticed there was a spot open right next to Oprah. I quickly took it. She was wearing a shiny pink two piece outfit and I had on a hot red number. I almost remarked that we looked like we’re attending a Valentine’s Day party…but I held back. We said our casual hellos, the wedding service continued and then I felt her nose smooshed against my scalp…sniffing my hair. I let it go on for a bit (umm HELLO, if OPRAH wants to sniff your hair, you let her!) and then she immediately relocated three chairs down. I asked her, “What was that?!!” Then she replied, “I don’t like the smell of your shampoo.”

Then I woke up.

This dream haunted me all Sunday. Why did I dream this? Was it because I just bought new shampoo? Casey told me he liked the way it smelled…

Then I figured it out. This dream was meant to tell me something. In life, you HAVE to take risks. It was a risk for me to chose to sit next to Oprah. So, she didn’t like the way my hair smelled. SO WHAT. At least I got to sit next to Oprah. You never know how things will turn out unless you try.

What does this have to do with chicken?

It turns out cornflakes are a really good coating for baked chicken fingers! They make them taste fried. It’s pure genius.

My girl Oprah would no doubt enjoy these. I even made a tasty honey mustard dipping sauce!

THEY’RE BAKED & DEEEEEELICIOUS (As said in my best Oprah voice, naturally)