Thursday, May 16, 2013

The Foodie Files

My Dinner and a Suit boys are back from tour!  I'm so happy I don't even have words.  Nina and I made a big 'ol welcome home dinner for them last night and whipped up these peanut butter cookies for dessert.  The reviews were highly positive...give 'em a try!

Cookies:
1 1/2 cups quick oats

1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup honey roasted peanut butter (you can find it freshly ground at Whole Foods. all it is is honey roasted peanuts ground into peanut butter, which gives it a slightly sweet, roasted honey flavor)
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

1 egg

Filling:


1/2 cup confectioner’s sugar

1 cup smooth peanut butter

Preheat an oven to 350°F.  In a medium bowl, mix the oats, flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  Set aside.


In a large bowl, mix butter, both sugars, egg, peanut butter, and vanilla.


Pour oat mixture into peanut butter mixture, stirring until just mixed.  Place rounded teaspoonfuls of batter on an ungreased baking sheet, leaving 2 centimeters between each one.  Using your finger, pat dough down so they form small flattened circles.


Bake for 8 minutes.  Let cool completely on cookie sheet.

  While the cookies are baking, whisk together the confectioner’s sugar and peanut butter until light and airy, about 5 minutes.




On a work surface, place half of the cookies upside down.  Whisk the filling to lighten it.  Dollop 1 tablespoon of filling into the center of each upside down cookie.  Place second cookie on top of filling and press together until filling just comes to the edges.

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Mirror, Mirror

Sometimes outfits need to serve two seemingly opposite purposes.  If, as a...hypothetical example...I was taking a 9 hour road trip and meeting my boyfriend's family for the first time tomorrow, I'd want to be both exceptionally comfortable and exceptionally put together.  An outfit similar to this- with it's comfortable material and shape yet sharp style and color- would do the trick.  Also, by hypothetical example, I meant that's 100% literally what's happening...I have got to go pack!



1. Shannon Pleated Chiffon Maxi Skirt, Alice + Olivia $396  2. Whisper Tank, ShopStyle $58  3. Pretty Tough Necklace, ASOS $84.85  4. Luella Sandals, Loeffler Randall $295  5. Sally Hansen Nail Polish in Petal Pusher, Amazon $4.47  6. Rockwell II Ring, The Cools $315  7. Hawaii Beach Bag, ASOS $22.04

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Friday, May 10, 2013

Working For The Weekend

I'm all about countdowns at the moment...T-minus 1 day 'til the roomies and I go see Gatsby, T-minus 5 days til my favorite Dinner and a Suit boys come home from tour, T-minus 6 days 'til I get to meet my boyfriend's family for the first time and T-minus 10 days 'til my brother's 25th birthday.  It's all very exciting!  Since I'm in planning mode for all of the above I'm gonna keep this short and sweet...there's lots to be done!  Hope you guys have a spectacular weekend.  Enjoy the links!

Some great ideas here...

Very cool, very cool.

My Dad has a great signature...I'd totally wear his.

While they don't seem to grasp what easy means, there's a few homeruns here!

I just loved this.

Cheers!

Really lovely.

A couple Mother's Day hail mary's for those of you still looking...

Thursday, May 9, 2013

The Foodie Files

My ability to discern exactly what I'm craving at any given moment is both a blessing and a curse, depending- of course- on whether that particular item is available to me in the somewhat immediate future.  Sometimes it creates a wonderful opportunity for instant satisfaction (cue craving for asian pear and vermont cheddar cheese, walk to kitchen, eat asian pear and vermont cheddar cheese).  Other times it just makes me miserable (cue craving for my Dad's brick oven pizza...weep and pout).  Earlier this week, for example, I knew I had to have some Thai inspired food.  The fact that I had stacks of tupperware filled with Cinco de Mayo leftovers was all of a sudden irrelevant...it was Thai or bust and that was that.  Some of my favorite recipes were born in moments like this so at this point I don't even get aggravated with myself, I just get cooking.  Come to find out, this Thai vegetable salad is what's been missing from my repertoire...it's delicious, healthy and a great staple for summer.  And if the satisfied craving wasn't enough, I even got to christen the gorgeous Jadeite bowl my grandmother gave me!  It was a banner evening.  Now- get to enjoying this salad.  You're gonna love it!  

Ingredients: 
2 medium zucchini
2 cups carrot matchsticks
1 cup edamame, shelled
1 avocado, cubed
1 TBS black sesame seeds
2 TBS chopped cilantro
Dressing:
1/4 cup Thai peanut sauce
1 tsp sesame oil
1 tsp basil infused oil

Create ribbons by peeling zucchini with a simple potato peeler, rotating until you reach the seeds.  Cut ribbons into matchsticks and set aside.


Combine dressing ingredients in a small bowl (if you don't have access to basil infused olive oil, simply double the sesame oil), then throughly mix with carrots, zucchini and edamame.   


Add avocado cubes, cilantro and sesame seeds and toss gently.


Since the Thai peanut sauce has a little kick of heat to it, I served the salad alongside some simple coconut friend rice (which is another recipe for another day).  The combination was so tasty and strangely filling, especially for a completely vegetarian, nearly raw meal!

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Mirror, Mirror

This last week was so glamourous!  I mean, not for me but for some people...the Kentucky Derby, the Met Gala, it was just bucket list event after bucket list event.  Needless to say it's put me in a fancy mood (hence today's bejeweled Mirror, Mirror).  I think I'll get it out of my system (to the extent which I'm able to get fancy out of my system) this weekend when I check out The Great Gatsby.  And yes, of course I'm dressing up to go see The Great Gatsby movie...don't be silly.


1. Sybill Embellishe Peplum Top, Net-a-Porter $1,187  2. Morley Metal Box Clutch, Kotur $395  3. Straight Leg Pants, Alberta Ferretti $885  4. Four Gold Vermeil Rings, Saint Laurent $1,180  5. Topaz Earrings, Larkspur & Hawk $800  6. Geometric Gold Tone Cuff, Anndra Neen $475  7. Suede and Metal Sandals, Luis Viaroma $650  8. Cat Eye Sunglasses, Saks Fifth Ave $315