March 13, 2013

The Last Word Cocktail

People like to interpret those who like to have the last word as overbearing/control freak type people. As someone who enjoys having the last word, let me tell you that that’s not necessarily true. As a Leo, I think it’s important to say & do things that have IMPACT. The last word is an opportunity to leave a mark. My hope is always to leave a good/lasting impression. You know, like that time I told my new yoga instructor he’d make a great birthing coach. I’m pretty sure he’ll never forget me…

I suspect this cocktail is called The Last Word because it lingers after you’re done. It leaves an aftertaste of herbs, licorice, citrus, cherries and juniper. It makes an impact! It’s a bold drink that will both charm and seal the deal. Consider it the microphone drop of the cocktail world.

recipes, Uncategorized

March 11, 2013

Spicy Sweet Potato Fries w/ Avocado Dip

I think it’s perfectly acceptable to have Sweet Potato Fries for dinner–especially on a Monday night. Sure you could add a side salad into the mix or even pair it with a perfectly grilled steak, but what I want on the first day of a busy week is something that’s both easy and comforting. I also don’t want to share Spicy Sweet Potato Fries with anybody else on any day that ends in Y. And that’s a true fact.

These fries have such a wonderful spice to them…at times a little too spicy…but the spice is extinguished by this cool avocado dip that’s both creamy and tangy thanks to the limes. I like it when something spicy stops me in my tracks. I like an avocado dip that makes it easier to eat things that stop me in my tracks. It’s a win/win situation here. I feel like I’ve somehow won the balancing act.

I imagine some of you might enjoy a batch of these while watching trashy TV. Yes, Mondays are hard and dinner shouldn’t have to be. This is like a step up from eating popcorn for dinner (which you know that I’m a fan of!). Now what do we drink with it? My vote’s for a Moscow Mule.

my everyday life, Photography

March 9, 2013

My Everyday Life: Week 10

Here’s what this past week looked like:

A sunny morning with blossoms.

Uncategorized

March 8, 2013

I love lists, Friday!

I’d love to do make some napkins with this DIY.
Love plants? Here are the best indoor plants that you probably won’t kill.
I am in love with this little video.
The captions. OMG. This is HYSTERICAL.
How come there isn’t a Taco Emoji on this list?!! Nachos are cool though.
If someone showed this cake to me in person, I’d steal it and eat it all by myself.
That drizzle of caramel going into that pie? I die.
This is the reason why I just stared at my palm for 30 minutes.
The shoes in the 90s were TOTALLY UGLY. I’m guilty of owning a few of them…
NIN meets CALL ME MAYBE. Kind of in love with that.
Mila Kunis is AMAZING.
This Fried Ravioli recipe looks off the hook!
I love infographics. Especially when food is involved.
These looks are fierce! I’d rock them all.
I’m envious of this apartment. It’s gorgeous.
If you need a mental vacation this Friday, Danielle’s trip to India will help.

There’s a new Joy the Baker Podcast up! On episode #86 “Farul”We talk about not managing our inbox, our thoughts St. Patrick’s Day and we answer a bunch of your questions!

My Bites Around the Net:

Plaid Skirt adapted my Maple Olive Oil Banana Bread.

Six Degrees LA made my Cheddar Cheese Bread.

TheArtFulLife made my Everyday Crepes

Snaxilicious adapted my Dark Chocolate Cake Doughnuts.

The Roasted Root made my Blueberry Yogurt Coffee Cake gluten free.

Elephant Eats made my Chocolate Sour Cream Bundt with Wine!

Candied Yans turned my Pumpkin Cake with Brown Butter Icing into cupcakes.

Snaxilicious made my Baked Cinnamon Sugar Doughnuts.

Relishments made my Apple Galette.

The Misadventures of Kelly and Kelly made my Arugula Salad with Fig Balsamic.

Fresh From The… made my Cheddar Cheese Bread.

recipes, Uncategorized

March 6, 2013

Bacon Cheddar Waffles

There’s one thing we’re guaranteed to have in our freezer besides Freezer Burritos and that item is WAFFLES. It’s one of the most requested breakfasts from our 4 year old. He absolutely adores them and I like making them because they’re super easy and I secretly (not so secretly) like to stockpile them. I feel good about having a surplus of waffles in our freezer. I get twitchy when I see we’re running low.

Remember how last week I tried to get him to eat Bacon Fried Rice and failed? Well, I was on a mission to use the leftover bacon and get him to like a new recipe I made. If there’s one thing I’ve learned about parenting, it’s that you should never get in the way of a determined mother. You should also never get in the way of a tired mother. Just ask my husband.

These waffles from the Weelicious Cookbook are fantastic. The melted cheddar gives them a slight chewy bite and when you get a few little chunks of bacon mixed with maple syrup it’s like a sweet & savory explosion. Finally! Two foods combined that my son likes. We have a winner with Bacon Cheddar Waffles. VICTORY. This pretty sums up how I feel about that.

recipes, Uncategorized

March 4, 2013

Maple Olive Oil Banana Bread

It’s Monday. Let’s make banana bread! I swear the only thing better than coming home from work to a nice strong cocktail is digging into a slice of warm banana bread with a slab of butter on top. Please tell me that I am not the only person who enjoys baking when I get home from work. I feel like it easily erases all the stress the first day being back from a weekend can bring.

This banana bread recipe is a real treat. Instead of vegetable oil or butter we substitute extra virgin olive oil. It’s amazing! It adds a nice depth to the bread. It gives it a good oomph/intriguing/what’s that in there? taste. Brown sugar & maple syrup provide the sweetness. And you know what’s really fantastic? You can use up that Greek yogurt you have in the fridge to make this. All of this is practically at my fingertips on a moment’s notice. That’s exciting yet terrifying because I could seriously eat a whole loaf if I didn’t have to share it with the boys in my household.