Chocolate & Spirit Tasting

While entertaining, I like to give my guests as many options as possible. It’s always fun to see what people gravitate towards. Everyone enjoys different things! I also like to see how many plates & dishes I can use on one table, but that’s an entirely different topic we’ll talk about (never).

Ghirardelli sent me a bunch of their new Intense Dark™ Chocolate to taste, and I decided to throw a little Chocolate & Spirit Party with them. I mean…what’s a girl to do with a six bars of chocolate?! I thought it would be fun to encourage my guests to create fun flavor profiles with all of the food/spirit options I provided.

recipes, Uncategorized

March 20, 2013

Sweet Peas & Shells Alfredo

As the person responsible for putting food on the table in our household, I’ve found quite a few helpful shortcuts to keep me sane. I occasionally employee the good ole doctored up box of mac & cheese trick. It’s something I rely on when I come home from work to hungry boys and my brain is fried from looking at Quickbooks all day. No matter how hard I try, boxed mac & cheese always tastes like boxed mac & cheese. Sure, I’ll sometimes throw peas, broccoli, red pepper, bacon and tons of Parmesan in and yep…the boxed cheese taste shines through. Husband doesn’t mind, but I kinda do (although I keep eating it).

This recipe from The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook (YAY DEB!) can be whipped up in NO time. And boy is it good!

What you have is a creamy shell pasta dish with TONS of peas, herbs & lemon zest. It screams SPRING to me with it’s light & creamy nature. It’s a crowd pleaser for the adults in my house. Picky 4 year old still is on the fence about pasta/cream sauce/peas. I’ll pay you 50 bucks if you can get him to eat a bite. But for now….us greedy adults will make this recipe serve TWO.

recipes

March 18, 2013

Goat Cheese Arugula Pizza

Now that we’re creeping into the warmer weather months (at least here in California!) it’s time to start thinking about a new food season! My brain is preparing myself for bathing suit weather which means I’m beginning to think about adding greens like WHOA to my diet. My brain is also trying to convince me that it’s cool to eat 5 pieces of pizza. This brain can’t be convinced otherwise.

Let’s compromise. Let’s make baby steps to getting bathing suit ready. Sure, I really just want to eat potatoes on my pizza, but that’s not gonna get me into a bathing suit anytime suit. Sidenote: Have you ever eaten pizza in a control top bathing suit? It’s the worst.

I think this pizza is practically salad. Pesto coats the dough (that’s green!), goat cheese adds a creamy tang, roasted tomatoes provide sweetness and that mound of arugula on top? Peppery salad component! Control top bathing suit, here I come!

Just not while eating pizza…

my everyday life, Photography

March 16, 2013

My Everyday Life: Week 11

Here’s what this past week looked like:

Today we’re hosting a Wine tasting party. I’ll tell you more about that soon!

Uncategorized

March 15, 2013

I love lists, Friday

This dude. I love this dude. I want to dance with this dude.
I spent hours researching how to patch jeans online and fell upon this video. Fascinating!
16 Relatively Simple Tips To Overcome Blogger Burnout.
What’s working from home REALLY like?
I love that Joseph Gordon Levitt is trending.
Organizing porn!!! I want pull out laundry baskets!
Also, while you’re on whoorl, DRESSES!!! I want them all!
You had me at whiskey soaked raisins.
I want this sorbet like nobody’s business.
Why there’s just no substitute for paper….
I’m in love with this fireplace.
THIS BLT. THIS BLT. OMG THIS BLT (sans mayo of course!)
This is the reason why Casey and I keep saying Moet Chandon at home all day long.
I enjoyed Erin’s update on slowing down. I like her thoughts on priorities.
Celebrities looking like real people. HAHAHA.
I should totally keep mylar balloons in my car….

A-PARENT-LY! On episode #87 on the Joy the Baker Podcast, we real talk thinking about having kids. We take your questions, talk about gluten free websites, and how to deal with creepy dudes hitting on you.

I’m starting to merge my Gmail account!!! If you want to tackle your inbox too, I’ll let you in on my process. Here’s part one!

My Bites Around the Net:

Sincerely, Erin made my Cheddar Cheese Bread

Chasing Capers made my Espresso Glazed Doughnuts.

The Sweet Life adapted my Dark Chocolate Doughnuts

TypeBea made my Peppery Chicken Wings.

What 2 Cook made my Sour Cream Chocolate Bundt Cake.

Forbidden Rice Blog adapted my Maple Olive Oil Banana Bread into muffins!

recipes, Uncategorized

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.