(photo by Charley Star)

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Sunday Morning Delight


I think the perfect way to start off a relaxing Sunday is to sleep in and cook a delicious brunch which is exactly what I did on this beautiful morning. Cooking breakfast is a great way to slowly start your day and cook without creating too much of a fuss. For all of those who are intimidated by cooking and aren't quite sure about how to get started I would highly recommend starting with breakfast. Simple breakfast meals can teach you (in an un-intimidating way) the basics of how to prepare a meal. Below are a few tips on how to make a delectable plate of french toast and for some tips on cooking eggs go here.

- Choose your bread wisely. This morning I used sliced ciabatta bread but some other options are challah bread, sourdough baquette or (my personal favorite) Wheatfield's walnut raisin.

- Coat the pan in butter. Yes this adds a few extra calories, but the added flavor is definitely worth it.

- Season your egg mixture. I haven't experimented much with different flavor profiles but my favorite is to pour in a little milk, add a touch of vanilla extract, sprinkle in a generous amount of cinnamon and add a dash of salt.

- Add in extra flavor when plating. Before serving I add a layer of homemade jelly in between each piece, drizzle with maple syrup and sprinkle with crushed pecans. The extra flavors and textures add an extra kick to each bite.

Enjoy your next Sunday brunch!

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Wedding Shower!

Last weekend there was a wedding shower for my future (very near) sister-in-law. The shower was hosted by my aunts (one of which is the proprietor of the Monogram Shop of Kansas City) and my grandmother. It was a lovely setting with great company!

Party Favor! Cute matchsticks and a candle! (Also doubled as a place card, so clever and fun!)

Pretty Flowers!

Monogrammed napkins! All of the napkins at the tables were monogrammed with the letter 'G.' The bride got to take all of the napkins with her new initial home as a gift! Great idea!! (All courtesy of The Monogram Shop)

All of the guests were asked to bring their favorite recipes. Recipe cards were sent out with the invitations. Also, in the picture, you can partially see the invitation. So cute!!

The beautiful bride-to-be! (With her onion glasses) We gave her a group gift for this shower. I think this can be a great idea, especially if the bride doesn't want to be the certain of attention for too long!!

So excited for the upcoming festivities!! I will keep you posted throughout the week!!

Monday, August 23, 2010

Happy Wedding Week!!!


Happy Wedding Week to my brother and soon-to-be sister-in-law. We are so happy for you and can't wait for all of the fun events this week!! Love you both!!!



xoxo

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Happy Weekend!


(Photo from Much Love)

I will be spending my weekend hanging out with friends and enjoying the weather :)

What are your plans?

Thursday, August 19, 2010

A New Adoration - Rachel Comey







I recently was introduced to Rachel Comey’s beautiful bags, shoes and clothing. Here are a few of my favorites.
All available to buy at Rachel Comey - Polyvore

Happy Shopping :)

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Better Late than Never

Happy 33rd Anniversary to my parents! Thanks for being such great role models! You are the greatest! Love you both!


(Not really blog related, but wanted to recognize my parents. Their anniversary was actually August 6, so it's a little late, but better late than never!)

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Delicioso!









Sopaipillas for breakfast, what a treat! My new favorite “only on the weekends” breakfast is a plate full of freshly made sopaipillas with plenty of honey and a side of scrambled eggs. The best part is dipping the eggs in the extra honey, a perfect morning combination of sweet and salty. Luckily, I brought home plenty of sopaipilla mix from Santa Fe – Sadia’s Sopaipilla mix. It is so easy!

Add water to the mix
Knead dough until it is very smooth
Let sit for 15-20 minutes
Heat 3 cups of oil
Cut dough into desired shape
FRY! ;o)


These also make for a wonderful after dinner dessert!

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Eat, Eat and More Eat







Recently I think I have come to the conclusion that I have a favorite meal and above are the images of it. While vacationing in Vail, Colorado my family and I put together this feast for a movie-night in. All of the ingredients were bought at one of our favorite spots, EatDrink! Our dinner consisted of cheese (served with almonds, pistachios, dried fruits and candied ginger), bread, bruschetta, paninis and a simple arugula salad (drizzled with olive oil and salt). This dinner, along with a bottle of wine, makes for a perfect meal to enjoy any time of the year and goes great with a good movie.

We made two bruschetta's and one type of panini for the evening and below are the ingredients we used. This meal can be tailored to anyone's palette and is best when prepared with fresh ingredients. Bon Appetit!

Bruschetta 1:
- Ricotta cheese
- Fig jam
- Prosciutto
- Crushed pistachios

Bruschetta 2:
- Ricotta cheese
- Honey
- Pine nuts

Panini:

- Mozzarella
- Prosciutto
- Pesto
- Fresh sun-dried tomatoes
-