December 4, 2013

Bourbon Salted Caramels

I guess it’s time we kick it into full gear and discuss homemade holiday gifts! I’m trying to get my head in the game…but I’m still mustering up the energy to out my fridge of Thanksgiving remnants. When it comes to holiday gift giving, I like going with treats that are a little bit different. I prefer to make treats that will standout in a crowd of holiday tins filled with chocolate dipped Ritz crackers (totally amazing btw). These Bourbon Salted Caramels are sure to do the trick. They’re salty with the faintest hint of bourbon…so that’s kind of palate cleansing, right?

In these caramels the bourbon and the sweetened condensed milk round out the flavor and give it a little more depth. Less butter notes, more grown up flavors! What I love about caramel making is that it really takes the littlest amount of ingredients, with a bit of patience and some good crafting skills (hello wrapping candies!) and you’re good to go!

If you’re anything like me you’ll daydream about opening up your own salted caramel candy shop while you’re wrapping each delicious caramel square. Sweet/Salty/Booze/YES/PLEASE.

favorites, gift guide

December 2, 2013

Gift Guide: My Favorite Things!!!

So, I guess it’s Cyber Monday, huh?? Are you doing your all shopping online like I am? Awesome! We don’t have to deal with lines! Today I’m playing Oprah and sharing my favorite things. My hope is to give you good ideas for gift giving/wish list making. All of these items are things I love. I own them ALL and consider them GAME CHANGERS. So…

HERE ARE MY FAVORITE THINGS AND LEMME TELL YOU WHHHHHHHHYYYYY!!!!

{totally Oprah voiced that}

my everyday life, Photography

November 30, 2013

My Everyday Life: Week 48

Here’s what this past week looked like:

Giving thanks! Literally.

November 29, 2013

I love lists, Friday!

The time you have….IN JELLY BEANS!!!
Doodles are awesome.
TED talks about gratitude & perspective & joy!
Do you have a junk drawer? Let’s snoop!
My mouth watered ON the last photo.
This is the prettiest/most inspiring cocktail station!
Oh! The irony!
31 Things No One Will Tell You About Becoming a Parent. So good.
ALCOHOLIDAYS!!! Let’s get our drink on this holiday season.
THIS WILL MAKE YOU LAUGH. Promise.
The Top 3 Reasons Food Businesses Fail– Fascinating!
Hmmm. Turning 40 sounds interesting…
This is EXACTLY what I want to eat after Thanksgiving.But in reality….I might just eat pizza.
I made a Clementine Bourbon Spritzer for The Boys Club! Check it out.

I’m cutting this short because I’m entertaining– but I’ll get to your bites around the net next week. Hope you’re enjoying your Friday and eating leftovers! I AM THANKFUL FOR YOU!! XOXOX

Inspiration, Outfitting

November 26, 2013

Outfitting: Let’s Get Cozy!!

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

I feel like we’re close enough in our relationship for me to tell you that I wear clothes that are semi-pajamas most of the time. I feel like one day in my 40s I’ll be called on What Not to Wear for being that woman who wears clothing made from nothing but t-shirt material & pseudo stripey pajama lounge wear….with Converse. I CANNOT HELP BUT WANT TO BE COZY.

Today I’m showing my ideal cozy outfit to wear during the colder months. I live in California so it’s perfectly acceptable to not have a jacket on this time of year. SORRY! This outfit feels like pajamas but when you when you get home and take of the scarf, boots & hat. All you need to do is put on your cozy slippers and you’re IN THE SUPREME COZY ZONE. Now we just need a hot toddy.

recipes

November 25, 2013

Truffled Popcorn

I’d like to introduce you to a REAL CROWD PLEASER popcorn recipe. TRUFFLED POPCORN!! Casey and I had a batch of truffled popcorn at Farley Bar at Cavallo Point a few weeks ago and we just couldn’t get ENOUGH. When our bartender brought out the batch we demolished the bowl in 2.5 seconds. I’m surprised we didn’t choke.

Truffle oil AND truffle butter coat the crunchy/salty popcorn and both shredded Asiago & chopped chives litter each handful.

FLAVOR PUNCH!

It’s a wonderful marriage of flavors. If you make this at your holiday party (I’m making it for Thanksgiving) I’m pretty sure everyone is going to be standing over you in the kitchen begging you for the recipe. I say this from experience. I say from experience that if you don’t want people standing around you in the kitchen, place the bowl AWAY from the kitchen. No one likes a hovering guest. Unless you do…

Inspiration

November 24, 2013

A Thanksgiving Brainstorm

OK. Thanksgiving. Oof. It’s less than a week away. Are we ready?? I just wrote out my TO-DO list and thankfully it’s not as bad because I got older/wiser and decided to divvy up responsibilities. I’ve got turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, dinner roll & gravy duty this year. Oh and I’m gonna add a few appetizers as well. The cleaning the house part is what I’m worried about most. But that’s a whole other post all together! If you’re looking for some fail-proof/no fuss recipes, I dug into my archives for you.

Thanksgiving, WE GOT YOU!