Thursday Things

1)     I don’t even want to think of how many days hours of my life I have wasted watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer on Hulu+ recently. I initially took the plunge to get Hulu+ when I was sick of waiting for my Modern Family episodes and now that I’ve found Buffy I.can’t.stop. It’s scary. And, what’s scarier, I don’t think I want to.

2)     I’ve already seen the entire series before.

3)     I am once again terrified of the dark.

4)     I have no life (refer to numbers 1 – 3).

5)     I made these super tasty blackberry lemon scones a few days ago. They were fruity and sweet and crumbly and tart. And they looked terrible. It was one of those recipes that wouldn’t have been photogenic no matter how hard I tried. So, I didn’t try, I just ate.

6)     I also ate this delicious chocolate chunk French toast yesterday that my boyfriend and I made. We were trying to recreate a signature dish from The Bongo Room, where we had breakfast last week.

With one of the offending blackberry lemon scones on the side!

7)     Here’s the original. I’d say they were pretty close(ish).

8)     My mouth still waters when I think about the White Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Pancakes that I had that morning. That dish encompasses all my major food groups.

9)     I think I'll go watch more Buffy...kidding! Kidding! Kinda...

 

Happy Thursday!

Amanda

Caramel Corn Cookies

I pretty much grew up on leftovers. My parents would cook big meals over the weekend and then we’d survive on them throughout the week on busy school nights. I spent many a Wednesday night eating reheated lasagna or warming up a burger. Gosh I miss those days.

I’m still super into leftovers. Partly, because a lot of things taste better the next day (soup, cold pizza, bread, etc.) and mainly partly from laziness.

Leftover spaghetti? Make a pasta bake. Grilled veggies? Into tomorrow’s omelet. Extra puppy chow? In cupcakes!

Bunches of caramel corn? Cookies!

Puppy Chow Cupcakes and a Blogiversary!

366 days. That’s how long I’ve had this blog. One year and one day. That’s a long time.

I had initially wanted to do this post yesterday, on my actual blogiversary. But I just couldn’t get myself to sit down and right. I tried, as I’ve done so many times before, but the words just wouldn’t come. I wasn’t going to force them to, I know that doesn’t work.

We can just consider these cupcakes fashionably late – and completely delicious! I thought of them ages ago while I was sitting in class (my tuition money hard at work right there). I have always had a soft spot in my stomach heart for puppy chow. When my mom made it when my sisters and I were little it was like a holiday, a day that should have been nationally recognized! We would eat cup after cup of it, watching the layer of powdered sugar get thicker and thicker on our fingers, refusing to lick them clean until our mom cut us off from the goods.

Thursday Things

1)     Almost a week later and I still find this guy cute as a button! I could just eat him up!

2)     I could also eat some more milk and honey ribs from SaporiTraitoria. Yeah, dairy and sweet and meat all in one dish, sounds a little weird right? But I can honestly say it was one of THE BEST meals I have ever had. EVER. I want to go back and get more. Like, yesterday.

3)     If I don’t get more ribs I can always eat another cupcake that my boyfriend made me for Valentine’s Day. Red velvet (one of my favorites) with cream cheese frosting (my favorite, favorite)!

4)     My mouth is now watering.

5)     Yesterday I tried fooling around with a one bowl, single serving cookie recipe. I ended up eating with six cookies – that’s one serving right?

6)     This was my morning. Still warm blueberry scone, a caramel cappuccino, and my nook. I want every day to start like this.

7)     I got weird looks from my café-mates when I took that picture. Some people will just never understand.

Happy Thursday!

Amanda

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Today is the day. February 14. The day when we have to shower our loved ones with gifts and adorations and goodies, the bigger the better. If there isn’t a horse-drawn carriage, diamonds the size of tennis balls, and an acoustic band quietly playing Edwin McCain’s “I’ll Be” in the background while doves fly overhead then I’m not interested.

Unless there’s dessert.

This Weekend

I wondered to myself if I'll ever get tired of coming home. Is it something that's possible? Will my home ever stop feeling like "home" to me? Will I ever not breathe a contented sigh of relief as my dad cruises over the hill outside town?

The houses and streets I am so familiar with finally come into view after what seems like such a long time has passed. In only a few weeks, I have experienced enough ups and downs to feel like a completely different person coming to a completely familiar place. I begin to feel like myself again. 

I can still find the beauty on the streets I've walked down too many times to count.

My family is still hesitant to try new recipes that I'm super excited about - but they'll eat them anyways, even if just to appease me.

My grandma still amazes me with her collection of recipes. I am slowly working my way through her boxes, binders, and envelops filled to the brim. Some dishes are new to me, and to her even, and some are old favorites. I've started a large pile to copy for my own collection.

Besides the new recipes, I got to meet a new member of our family. Hank, my sisters red lab who is soft, rambunctious, and full of love and all that other goodness that makes puppies so absolutely adorable.

Hank in comparison to our great dane, Karma

After my whirlwind 48 hours spent at home, surrounded by my family and friends, I decided that no, it simply cannot be possible. One does not outgrow home. Not when home is the source of such wonderful things.

Mini Valentine's Day Cheesecakes: A Trio

Good things come in threes. My sisters and I. The Lord of the Rings movies. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Appetizer, entree, dessert.

And cheesecakes! At least in my world.

These cheesecakes are sweet, decadent, and small enough where you can have a sample of each without feeling like you have to unbutton your pants stuffed! A perfect Valentine's dessert for two, or one, if you're not into that whole sharing thing.

Head over to North by Northwestern to check out my full post and get the recipes!

Thursday Things

1)     I didn’t have my 9am class today, so what did I do? Got up at 5:40 and went to spinning class of course!

2)     Then I came back and made this bread. It failed. The middle sunk. But it tastes delicious!

3)     However, I did successfully make 2 dozen chocolate cupcakes, vegan peanut butter bars, and sugar cookies for a social event tonight.

4)     Remember that Top Chef competition? WE WON! My team’s entry of Citrus Crusted Tilapia Tacos was a huge hit with the judges! It was such an amazing experience, and such an honor to win! One of the chefs there said I had professional knife skills! That still makes me beam.

5)     This is a sad, sad sight.

6)     But this makes me happier. Powdered Peanut Butter?! Wha?! This is only further proof that Pinterest is not a complete waste of time.

7)     The fact that I am going to be on my way home in 24 hours is also making me happy. Very, very happy!

8)     I've got big plans for Saturday. Aww, yeah. 

Happy Thursday!

Amanda

Chocolate Chip Caramel Pretzel Blondies

I have been up since 5:40 this morning. Even my early-rising self knows that is all too early, especially on a Saturday. I had no choice though I had to be at work.

But you have a choice. The choice to throw a last minute addition into your Super Bowl menu (or, if you’re not a football watcher, just into another Sunday).

Thursday Things

1)     This morning I thought the sound of a radiator hissing was an espresso machine. It sounded just.like.it. I swear, milk was being frothed somewhere.

2)     Think I’m sleep deprived? And in need of caffeine?

3)     This weekend is a big kitchen weekend for me! Which I am so excited about! Tomorrow I’m testing a recipe for a Top Chef competition I’m in on Saturday night.* Then, of course I’ll be busy all Sunday prepping for a Super Bowl party!

4)    I want to make this.

5)     And these.

6)     So it would be helpful if I lived here.

7)     Have I mentioned I looooooove Pinterest?

8)     Last night I made some ridiculously delicious cookies with a little help from these.  

Happy Thursday!

Amanda

*By the way, I strongly urge anyone and everyone to donate to Dance Marathon to support the Andrew McDonough Be Positive Foundation in their fight against childhood cancer.