Monday, February 20, 2012

Gooey Butter Cookies...


Butter, cream cheese, sugar, fresh vanilla bean, can't go wrong, you know these little beauty's will be amazing, nuff said.

Gooey Butter Cookies
  • 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoons salt
  • 1 8oz package cream cheese
  • 1 stick unsalted butter
  • 1/2 vanilla bean, scraped (optional but so yummy)
  • 1 1/4 cups sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • zest of one small orange
  • Confectioner’s sugar for rolling and dusting
Stir together the flour, baking powder, and salt.  Set aside.  In the bowl of an electric mixer with the paddle attachment, cream the cream cheese, butter, vanilla bean seeds, and sugar together until fluffy.  Add the egg and vanilla extract. Incorporate the flour mixture.  Chill for at least 30 minutes.  Scoop roughly 1-ounce balls and toss in the confectioner’s sugar.  Place on a baking sheet, lined with parchment, a couple of inches apart.  Bake at 325° F until they spread and puff slightly, about 12-16 minutes.  They will be really soft in the center.  If they start to brown, they’ve gone too far.  Cool to room temperature.

These cookies taste better to me cold out of the refrigerator..... cookie doughy yummi-ness. 


Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Happy Valentine's Day!

I'm not big on Valentine's day. Never have been but Asher always gives me flowers and takes me to a nice dinner and I truly do love that he is that way but this year we agreed not to do any of that but Asher didn't hold up his end of the bargain. He brought flowers to me while I was at work and later that day when I got home from my hot yoga class he told me to get ready and that we needed to leave in 20 minuets (which it not enough time for me to get ready with a shower, makeup and hair) so I jumped in the shower and threw on some clothes and out the door we went no makeup and all to our favorite restaurant Isabella's Ristorante in downtown Redland's.  I really enjoyed our impromptu date and I love that man more and more everyday!

Asher's kissy face cracks me up!

Friday, February 10, 2012

Call Me Green....

I've been feeling a little green lately and I must say I feel great. Amazing how adding some spinach to everything gives you such a boost!


1. Farmer market veggies chopped up for my green egg scramble
2. Super yummy breakfast
3. Enjoying my green smoothie after a long day of work
4. Ginger Tofu noodles, soooo good!

Adding greens to my smoothies always turned my stomach but I decided to really give it a try and it's not that bad. I have not ventured into any other greens like chard, arugula or kale mainly because those never taste good to me in anything but who knows what next week will hold for my green loving taste buds. 

For my Green Smoothie I use:
2 Frozen Bananas 
About 2 cups of frozen Mango and Pineapple (fresh or frozen mango always makes the smoothie extra creamy and smooth)
2 heaping handfuls of Spinach
a pinch of Stevia 
A few dates and teaspoon of Maca powder(for an extra energy boost, it truly does work for me)
And a little water and a splash of almond milk to blend the ingredients.

You know you want to try it, so go make one!
xoxo

Saturday, December 31, 2011

Happy New Year!!!

What are you all doing this New Years Eve???


Love this

Happy New Year!!!

xoxo

Saturday, August 27, 2011

This Week...

  • Asher went back to Texas for his last semester. Sad day.
  • Got back into my yoga routine. Can you say ouch! 
  • Ate a lot of frozen custard and painted my toes
  • Bought an antique claw-foot bathtub
  • Checked 3 big things off the wedding to do list. Ceremony musicians check, reception musicians check, photographer check. Let's not talk about everything else that is still on that long list of things to do 
  • Ate some amazing tacos, I found my caterer!

I feel like there is so much change going on in life right now and if I let my mind wander, it gets to overwhelming to handle, mostly about the uncertainty....Not of my love for Asher or what dress I'm going to wear on our wedding day, unsure of where life will take us in 10 months from now. He might take that job in Alaska. Or maybe that job in Orange County meaning we would be living near the cost that we both love so much and I could become an event planner that I've been working towards. But hopes and dreams aside, we will be married--that's all we know. 

I am slowly learning to embrace the uncertainty and take whatever may come our way and let go of my constant need to know and my perpetual planning, regardless of  careers, states, where we may live or wedding dress, in 10 months our biggest dream will already have come true, with two little words..

I do

Friday, August 19, 2011

it all started with a plane ride...

 August 4th was one of the best days ever, mainly because Asher asked me to spend the rest of my life with him and gave me a beautiful 1920's vintage engagement ring.


Other highlights of our wonderful day


  • Asher flew me to a surprise location
  • Rode up the Palm Springs tram which I have been dying to do
  • Asher lead me on a beautiful hike to a breathtaking veiw
  • After the proposal took place {with a hired photographer and all} Asher arranged for some of our most loved ones to meet with us at the restaurant that is at the top of the mountain for dinner
Asher really put so much thought into our day, he is such an amazing man and I can't wait to start our married life together.
 
"there is no greater risk than matrimony.
but there is nothing happier than a happy marriage."
--Benjamin Disraeli,
1870 in a letter to Queen Victoria's daughter Louise,
congratulating her on her engagement.
via the book Committed by Elizabeth Gilbert

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

My Birthday

Today I am 25 and what better way to celebrate than baking a cake for myself, eating Thai food and being surrounded by people I love. I spotted Benjarong Thia Cuisine in the Inland Empire magazine, with it's rave reviews and fancy pictures we had to give it a try and I must say it was a fabulous birthday dinner.








I've never tried this recipe before but it looked delicious and I must say it's a keeper, despite the recipe being very vague. Definitely a summer cake, I used farmers market peaches that are so sweet that I barley added any sugar to the cooking process for the syrup.  Perfect dessert for an end to a wonderful day.


25 is going to be a great year!!!