Showing posts with label holidays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holidays. Show all posts

Friday, February 14, 2014

happy valentine's day!

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Happy Valentine's Day! Wishing you all a day full of love, friendship, food, and fun. XOXO

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We're cooking this meal for the second year in a row. Absolute perfection.


I made these for my Valentine's girls brunch last weekend - so delicious!

Absolutely to die for.

I gave out these valentines this year.

Wishing I was wearing these precious boots today.

These cookies are the key to my husband's heart.

There is no better shop for festive lovey dovey accessories!

This would be such a cute gift to make for girlfriends.

Prettiest date night makeup.

Saving this idea for next year!

On a non-Valentine's note, here are some looks from JCrew's Fall 2014 to drool over.

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Thursday, January 2, 2014

14 recipes to kickstart '14


Happy New Year! Hope you had a great time celebrating 2014 and are as excited as I am about the new year. I love everything about a new year - planning, organizing, setting intentions, etc. Whether you're trying to lose a few lbs. or simply want to feel better about your food choices, a healthier diet is always a great way to start the new year off right. Here are 14 recipes for your '14 that will help you do so!


1. (main photoToasted Sesame Turkey Meatballs on Smashed Chickpea Salad
2. (from top to bottom and left to right) Fiesta Quinoa Bowl
3. Baked Zucchini Fries
4. Halibut with Bacony Corn Saute
5. Lightened-Up Neiman Marcus Tortilla Soup
6. Spicy Peanut Mushroom Kale Rice Bowl
7. Smoky White Bean Chicken Chili
8. Creamy Avocado and Corn Quinoa Salad
9. Crockpot Vegetarian Quinoa Chili
10. Rosemary Salmon over Avocado Pasta



11. Easy Vegan Posole
12. Gwyneth Paltrow's Teriyaki Chicken
13. Vegetarian Gumbo
14. Slow Cooker Spanish Chicken


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Tuesday, December 31, 2013

happy new year!

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Happy New Year's Eve to you lovely people! Thank you for your support, encouragement, laughter, and friendship throughout 2013. Looking forward to sharing another delicious year with y'all in 2014! Stay safe and have a blast tonight. Cheers!

(P.S. Here are your top 10 favorite recipes from 2013, in case you missed it.)

(Also, please have this for breakfast tomorrow.)

XOXO



Monday, December 23, 2013

lemon rosemary shrimp scampi


Hey, hey y'all! Thanks for all your sweet words and encouragement as we moved into our first home last week. I'm happy to say that we are feeling settled and -- as of about 5 minutes ago -- actually have working internet again!

I'm curious - what are you cooking for Christmas dinner? Do you always do the same meal, or change it up every year? We never do the same menu twice, and I love it that way. Every year my mom picks a food theme and we create the menu together around it. We've done Italian, French, Spanish, etc., and this year all of our recipes are coming from my dearly beloved Jerusalem cookbook. So. excited.

Beyond actual Christmas dinner, there is Christmas Eve to think about, and New Year's Eve and Day just down the line. For those meals, I like something super simple and quick that still feels special and festive. Enter Campbell's Skillet Sauces! Y'all know I love these, and this Scampi variety is absolutely fabulous for an elegant holiday dinner that comes together in 15 minutes!

I'm thinking this is just perfect for New Year's Eve because it would go brilliantly with a glass of champagne!

Lemon Rosemary Shrimp Scampi
serves 2

you'll need:
1 cup uncooked orzo pasta
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 shallot, minced
1/2 lb. peeled and deveined shrimp, tails on
1 (9 oz.) package of Campbell's Scampi Skillet Sauce
2 tablespoons butter, softened
1/3 cup panko breadcrumbs
1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
juice of 1 lemon
zest of 1 lemon
for serving: lemon wedges, fresh rosemary

Preheat broiler.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Salt well, then cook orzo according to the package directions. Drain when done.

While the orzo is cooking, heat olive oil in a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add shallot and cook until translucent. Add shrimp and cook until just beginning to turn pink. Add Skillet Sauce and bring to a boil. Bring heat to low and simmer until shrimp are completely cooked through. Remove from heat.

In a small bowl, mix butter, panko, rosemary, red pepper, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Top each shrimp with a bit of the butter mixture. Transfer skillet to the oven and broil until the butter has melted and the breadcrumbs are beginning to brown (this took about 2 minutes in my broiler).

Spoon shrimp and sauce over cooked orzo. Serve with lemon wedges and chopped rosemary.

Happy holidays, y'all!

This post brought to you by Campbell’s Dinner Sauces. Weekend-worthy dinners with only weekday-level effort needed! Learn more at http://www.campbellsauces.com/

Friday, December 6, 2013

have a cozy weekend + 15 gift ideas

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You guys! It's SO cold and snowy here in Dallas. Earlier this week it was legit upper 70s. That's Texas weather for ya. I'm actually home from school right now (snow day!), and this weekend I'm planning on trying to stay warm inside as much as possible as we pack up our apartment. Hope you have a cozy weekend as well!

I had every intention of doing a full-fledged holiday gift guide for y'all, but with the move and wrapping up the semester at school, it's not looking promising. :( But! Here are 15 ideas that have caught my eye, in case you're looking...

Do you mamas know about Home Grown Books? I LOVE the mission. (And a friend of mine is the artist behind The Adventuring Set!)

Dying over this simple necklace.

Lovely spoons for tea and coffee.

Zara coat win.

A great custom ornament.

PJs never disappoint on Christmas, and this is so pretty.

This baking dish is rad.

Am I the only one who gets thrilled over pens? Maybe it's a teacher thing...

A BKR makes a great gift.

Knit kits from Wool and the Gang are so cool.

YES to this phone case.

These mittens!

The cutest mini wallets.

These cozy-looking Toms.

ANYTHING from this gorgeous ceramic shop.

Hope those ideas help! What about you guys - have you started your Christmas shopping? Have you already finished it? What are you hoping to get this year? I'd love to hear!

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Monday, November 25, 2013

peppery greek yogurt cheddar biscuits


Almost Thanksgiving, you guys! But can I plead with you to still take a look at these biscuits and at least think about adding them to your menu?! Let me present my case:

  • They're made with nonfat Greek yogurt (no butter!), so you can totally justify them as a healthy option at the Thanksgiving table. More room for pie.
  • They're only SIX ingredients, including salt & pepper! Easy recipes on Thanksgiving are lifesavers.
  • They are out of this world delicious. Fluffy, cheesy, peppery, tangy, A-MAZING. These belong with you.
So have I convinced you yet? Here's the recipe, if so...

Peppery Greek Yogurt Cheddar Biscuits
yields 8-10 biscuits

you'll need:
1 1/2 cups self-rising flour
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 1/4 cups plain nonfat Greek yogurt
3/4 cups shredded sharp white cheddar cheese
1 egg, beaten, for brushing

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

Mix flour, salt, and pepper together in a bowl. Create a well in the center and add the yogurt. Stir until just incorporated. Add cheese and stir briefly.

Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and pat dough to about 1-inch thick. Cut biscuits using a floured biscuit cutter or knife. Combine dough scraps and roll out again to make remaining biscuits.

Place on baking sheet and brush the tops with egg wash. Bake for 10-15 minutes, until the tops are light golden brown. Serve warm!



Enjoy, sweet friends, and have a wonderful Thanksgiving! xo

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Wednesday, November 20, 2013

thanksgiving sides

Hey there, dears! With Thanksgiving coming up next week(!), I wanted to share some ideas for Thanksgiving sides. I'm one of those who's all about the sides, and love to try new twists on classics every year. Here are some ideas from this site, as well as some from around the internets that have really caught my attention...

slow roasted green beans

crispy smashed potatoes

cheesy baked jalapeno mashed potatoes

roasted brussels sprouts with creamy mustard vinaigrette
turkey bacon asparagus bundles with balsamic syrup

sweet potato dinner rolls

cream biscuits
...and 10 more I can't WAIT to try!
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Friday, June 14, 2013

happy friday + links i love

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Happy Friday, y'all! What are your plans this weekend? Miles has been out of town for work this week and gets home tonight, so I'm looking forward to having him back! We're going to a wedding on Saturday, and then celebrating Father's Day with his family on Sunday. (Happy early Father's Day to my dad!) Have a fantastic summer weekend! Here are some links I loved this week...

The best summer salad imaginable.

The summer issue of Chickpea Magazine is out and is gorgeous.

Still need a last minute Father's Day gift? Here are 11 ideas.

Make this ice cream without an ice cream maker.

This dog has mastered grammar.

8 great outdoor music venues for summer concerts. Have you been to any? We've been to the Snow Park in Park City, and will be back again in July!

Sponge cake is the new black.

I could live in this cute, classic dress.

Have you ever made your own mustard?

The prettiest yoga mat I ever did see!

10 best summer food festivals. Anybody going to one?

A seriously great article by Jonathan Safran Foer.

Plus, lovely recipes for your summer weekend:


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Friday, May 3, 2013

cinco de mayo recipes!


Sunday is Cinco de Mayo! Are you ready? I'll take any excuse to indulge in excessive amounts of guacamole. Here are some ideas for a whole day of feasting on Cinco de Mayo!


Buenos Dias!



Snacks and Appetizers



Meal Ideas!



Something Sweet!
Dulce de Leche Sandwich Cookies

What about you? Are you cooking up anything for Cinco de Mayo?


Thursday, February 14, 2013

happy valentine's day! + ideas for a dinner date night...

Happy Valentine's Day, loves! What are your plans tonight? We're staying in and cooking (I'm making this for dessert and I CAN'T WAIT). There's nothing I love more than a relaxed night in with nothing to do but go all out for dinner and spend really good time together. I know a lot of people (maybe you) hate Valentine's Day, and while I've never been one for enormous teddy bears that you have to haul around all day or singing Valentine telegrams designed specifically to embarrass you, I can get behind a day especially for reflecting on and being thankful for who we have in ours lives - whether it's a husband, your boyfriend, your parents, your girlfriends. It's easy to take our relationships for granted, and I think it's sweet and necessary to stop every once in a while simply to notice the blessing of the people around you.

On that note, my friend Shanna of Food Loves Writing wrote the loveliest post about being intentional with your time with your loved one. She writes this about creating meaningful time together:

We don’t do this because we’re sappy or silly or romantics—we do it because we’re not. We do it to purposefully seek connection, even when what motivates us is realizing how we’ve forgotten to seek it again. We do it because in those moments of facing each other, seeing eye to eye, asking questions and listening to answers, endeavoring to both know and be known, we remind ourselves of the gift right before us, the one we find too easy not to stop and see.

How beautiful is that?

If you're planning on staying in and cooking tonight, here are some ideas for your menu! Just click on the captions to see the full recipes!

rosemary salmon over avocado pasta


beef bourguignon with baguette dumplings


scallops and shrimp with tomato and feta



one of my absolute favorite meals ever: braised pork ragu


black truffle pasta is date night perfection: incredibly simple, insanely decadent

Whatever your plans are, I hope you have a day filled with love, laughter, and fabulous food. :)






Tuesday, January 1, 2013

spicy black eyed pea fritters


HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

i hope y'all had a great night last night ringing in 2013! i can't believe how quickly 2012 came and went. a lot happened - miles and i got married(!), i finally made a bundt cake without destroying the cake and my self-esteem, and i started this little blog! i'm so excited to see what 2013 has in store...

it's a southern tradition to have black eyed peas on new years day. why? well, like most superstitions, there are a million answers to that. but my reason - they taste good! and fried up with jalapeños and cheese? well, you know me. :)

spicy black eyed pea fritters
makes about 6 fritters

you'll need:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 egg
1 can black eyed peas, drained, rinsed, and mashed with a fork
1 jalapeño, diced
1/3 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.

in the bottom of a large mixing bowl, lightly beat your egg with a fork. add black eyed peas, jalapeño, cheese, salt, pepper, and flour and stir until well-mixed.

with a large spoon, scoop mixture and drop into the hot skillet (i fit 3 at a time into my skillet). flatten the mounds slightly with the spoon and cook 2-3 minutes. flip fritters and cook another 1-2 minutes. transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil and cook the rest of the fritters the same way.

serve these with a dollop of greek yogurt or sour cream on top, and enjoy!

wishing you all lots of love, fun, and yummy-ness for the coming year. here's to 2013!

Monday, December 24, 2012

marinated bocconcini


first of all, big shout out to the fabulous and lovely amber henrie for being a rockstar and giving this little space a facelift! i'm thrilled! lots of love and xoxos to you, amber.

now, what's the food plan for christmas eve in your house? we usually go out to a late lunch at an insanely good italian restaurant and then, since we're usually still pretty stuffed for most of the day, we just do antipasti for dinner after our candlelight church service. these little appetizers are always my favorite part of the spread! our local market sells amazing ones pre-made, but i decided to give it a try on my own and was thrilled with the result! if you can't find bocconcini, just use sliced fresh mozzarella... it'll taste just as delicious.

marinated bocconcini
4-6 servings

1 lb. bocconcini
4 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 tablespoons italian parsley, chopped
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
salt and pepper to taste

combine olive oil, parsley, red pepper, salt & pepper in a small bowl. drizzle over bocconcini. let stand for at least 20 minutes, or keep in fridge for longer.

that's it! serve these with olives, nuts, breads... whatever you like on your antipasti platter!

merry christmas!!! hope y'all all have a fun and tasty holiday :)

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

hot pepper raspberry brie puffs


these little appetizers are so festive and yummy! they're perfect to take to a holiday party because they're super simple, great at room temp, and you can double, triple, whatever the recipe as needed. this is party food for winners.

hot pepper raspberry brie puffs
makes 6 puffs

you'll need:
1 package frozen puff pastry shells (i used pepperidge farm - has 6 shells per package)
6 oz. brie cheese
6 tablespoons hot pepper raspberry preserves

preheat oven to 400F. arrange pastry shells on a lined baking sheet. bake for 20 minutes.

allow shells to cool for about 5 minutes, then remove top of each shell carefully with a fork. divide brie into each shell and top with 1 tablespoon of the preserves. return to oven and bake for 2-5 minutes, until cheese is melty and delicious.

allow to cool a bit and serve warm or at room temperature. enjoy these yummy little bites!


Monday, December 17, 2012

beef bourguignon with baguette dumplings


this was amazing.

i saw this recipe in precious rachel khoo's darling, darling cookbook and just about died simply from reading the name of the recipe. it's a slight twist on the ultimate french classic, and OH MAN is it wonderful. the real standouts are the baguette dumplings, which are unlike anything i'd had before. but this will not be the last this little kitchen sees of these dumplings - i see them going along several meals in our future, like this pork ragu or a bowl of tomato soup.

this would be a killer christmas dinner. it's really perfect for any special dinner. or even for a weekday night spent watching the mindy project, which is how we enjoyed it. it really doesn't matter when you make this; just that you do.

beef bourguignon with baguette dumplings (adapted from the little paris kitchen)
serves 4-6

you'll need:
2 lbs. beef stew meat
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons olive oil
5 pieces bacon
10 frozen pearl onions
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon clove powder
1 bay leaf
1/4 cup chopped parsley, plus a couple more tablespoons reserved for garnish
1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
2 cups red wine
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
10 cremini mushrooms

...and for the dumplings...
1 baguette (stale bread is best for this, but if all you have is fresh, don't fret. your dough will be stickier. but it will still taste delicious. you can trust me because mine was fresh - who just lets a yummy baguette sit around for a couple days?! - and it was juuust fine. i'll stop talking now.)
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1 cup milk
pinch of nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 egg
1-2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon butter, for frying

ok, let's do this! preheat the oven to 300F.

dust meat with flour so all sides are coated. heat olive oil in a large dutch oven over high heat, and fry the meat in batched until browned. set aside browned beef, and add the bacon and onions, and cook until browned. add the garlic. add in pepper, clove powder, bay leaf, parsley, rosemary and thyme, and return the beef to the pain. add 1 1/4 cup of water, the wine, tomato paste, mushrooms, salt and sugar. make sure you're scraping the bottom of the pan as this all cooks together - that's where the flavor is! cover the pot and place in the oven for 3 hours.

now it's time to make the dumplings! in a small saucepan, heat milk until it's boiling. while it's heating, cut the baguette into small cubes and place in a bowl along with the chopped parsley. once the milk is boiling, take it off the heat and immediately pour over the bread. stir so the milk is absorbed, then cover and let sit for 15 minutes.

once 15 minutes is up, uncover and season the bread mixture with nutmeg, salt and pepper. stir in the egg and mix in 1 tablespoon of the flour. if the mixture seems too wet, add a second tablespoon of flour. using your hands, form about 12 dumplings (wet hands will help prevent a sticky mess!) and place them on a baking sheet in the refrigerator until ready to fry.

when the beef is almost done, it's time to fry the dumplings! heat about a tablespoon of butter in a skillet over medium heat. fry dumplings until brown on all sides, about 5 minutes.

remove beef from the oven. check for seasonings and add salt and pepper to taste. serve in bowls with dumplings and chopped parsley on top.

it's just. so. good.

Saturday, November 24, 2012

holiday gift guide - for the food lovers in your life

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it's that time of year!! here are a few ideas for all types of food lovers in your life...

for those who are building their kitchens:

i love, love, love these mixing bowls.

a great set of kitchen tools.

i use this french oven pretty much every day. (mine is the lovely marseille blue, but all the colors are GORGEOUS.)

nothing makes you want to cook more than a darling apron.

ina's new cookbook is full of simple, delicious recipes.

the ultimate. (a good hand mixer is a terrific, less-pricey option.)

for the cook who loves to entertain:

a perfect set for serving signature drinks.

the prettiest serving platter ever!

soundtrack for a holiday dinner party.

whimsical cocktail napkins that guests will adore.

this chic slate cheese board includes two knives.

such a cute nautical champagne bucket.

for the best baker you know:

the most charming pie dish and rolling pin.

alphabet cookie cutters.

a sweet print for her kitchen.

an inspiring cookbook.

lovely recipe cards in a pretty box.

cake stand that will make treats look like they're straight from a french bakery.

for your foodie friend:

jeni's ice cream holiday collection sounds fab.

a fresh loaf from poilane at their doorstep.

our family swears by this toffee.

the famous apple pie in a bag.

send a friend who's moved far away some local favorites. (i'd send la fogata's salsa.)

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hope these ideas have helped you brainstorm for the cooks, bakers, and food lovers in your life! what are your favorite foodie gifts to give and/or receive?!









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