My FroYo obsession is obvious if you see my Instagram.
Hello Lovelies!
Ok, so if you follow me on Instagram you've probably gathered that I have a ridiculous obsession with froyo. I post about it probably once a week and eat it maybe more than that. Luckily this "healthy" alternative is a little bit better than softserve ice cream, but it is definitely not cheaper. That, and when a craving hits, I'm not always able to jump up and leave the house.
Hello, lovelies! Macarons (or "mac-ah-rhons" as said in my terrible french accent) are ridiculously popular right now. That is a-ok with me. I've got to say, these are a fairly intimidating cookie to make, and I've had my share of fails... but when you finally get it, it is SOOOOOO worth it! I literally burnt the first batch that came out with "feet" because I was so excited I felt the need to dance around my kitchen. I totally forgot that I hadn't taken them out of the oven. Whoops. Oh well. Now that I've gotten that litte thrill out of the way, I feel fairly capable of making these adorable little treats. Hopefully after my fails (which have led to quite a bit of new found wisdom) I will be able to steer you a little clearer. Be sure to fully read through this recipe and watch the video before starting, and you should be fine. Should be... (even if they don't turn out with fancy little feet, they still taste pretty damned good!)
Hello lovelies!
I've been having a crazy chocolate craving lately. I don't know what is going on. It's like the chocolate monster has taken over. I've been hoarding any and all mini cadbury eggs that I can find and have created a fairly sizable stash that should last me well into the summer.... but now I'm just rambling.
What I'm trying to tell you is that I came up with just the thing to satiate my cocoa cravings: single serve s'mores cake. Made in the microwave. How easy is that!?
Did I mention that I used homemade marshmallows? This is officially the best thing ever. I mean, marshmallows and chocolate basically equal heaven. What's not to love?
"Olive eggs and cheese" sandwich w/avacado spinach and hot sauce.
by Ariels boyfriend Andrew
Hey Everyone,
I was making breakfast this morning and took a picture of some eggs and then it hit me! Break into Ariel's blog while she's gone for the week without her knowing and post my breakfast ! Its been deemed the blog takeover! or just me making breakfast with a nicer plate.
( Disclaimer: Tho it isn't Ariel's style I thought I would hold true to the blog world and use excessive punctuations {Disclaimer about the Disclaimer: I'm techie not a writer and the aforementioned disclaimer sounded like a good cover for my poor use of punctuation's} guess I have to close the other
I have a whole heap of things that I just fell in love with (or rediscovered) over the past month. You all seemed to enjoy last month's favorite video, so I thought I would make it a regular event. Check out the video below if you'd like to see what I loved... also, stick around until the end of the video and check out my springtime giveaway! It was so fantastic getting feedback from all of you and getting to chat with the lucky winner of my last giveaway, that I decided to do another to celebrate spring! Make sure to click the link and enter...good luck!
I was really struggling with a St. Patrick recipe this year. I don't know what it is... I knew I wanted to do something that could and would be eaten year round, but was festive enough for leprechauns. What I came up with is actually nothing particularly new in my recipe rotation. Mashed Potatoes! How much more festive can you get than potatoes? Well, how about green ones?
It is time that I let you all in on one of my favorite little known holidays. Yes, it's another one of those "made up" food holidays, but whatever. It's the perfect excuse to indulge. What day is it? Why, it's National Sticky Bun Day! (Feb. 21, 2013) That's right. You read correctly. Some amazingly ingenious person came up with a day just for celebrating one of the best breakfast items ever made... and I'm inviting you to join me in the celebration.
Hello lovelies!
I have a super exciting announcement to make... Over the weekend I passed the 1K mark of Instagram followers! I also have over 150 YouTube subscribers!
As you've probably figured out by now, I'm just about as happy as a clam...or maybe an oyster, since they make pearls. As a way to show my appreciation and give you all a big "thank you" for your continuing support, I've put together a little giveaway. I'm calling it my "giveback giveaway" because it is my way of giving a little to my supporters.
Happy Hallmark I mean Valentine's season! Ok, I admit I do love this holiday, even if it has become a total sell out. The idea behind it is quite nice. I mean, we should celebrate love more often. To help do that, I've re-imagined one of my favorite salads.
Ciocolato. One of my favorite treats on the entire planet. If you've never had the pleasure of sitting in a cafe in Rome, Barcelona, or your bff's Italian grandmother's kitchen sipping (well, more like eating) this amazing treat, you've missed out. But fret not! Try your hand at this crazily easy and obnoxiously delicious dish.
You won't regret it.
I promise.
Happy National Croissant Day, everyone!!! These fun, random food holidays are definitely some of my favorite. They provide the perfect excuse to indulge.
Making a professional looking cake can be a daunting task. I've recently learned the world's easiest way to make an amazing looking cake with absolutely no fancy pastry skills required!
Not only is this a super simple task, you can personalize your creation however you choose. Now you can add your favorite graphic or customized lettering to any cake. Ever since learning this amazing technique, every cake I've made has had a unique decoration suited perfectly to the birthday person.
So basically, I'm 100% obsessed with anything cheesecake! I absolutely love it. Can't get enough. I've always loved making a cheesecake spread and dipping anything and everything in it. Namely those delicious sweet Carrs' crackers, graham crackers, strawberries bananas, and all other assortments of fruit. My sisters and I used to make little cream cheese sandwiches with cookies or crackers and sliced fruit.
I was beyond excited when I pulled into my driveway this afternoon and say a lovely looking package waiting for me on my back steps! I'd been out holiday shopping and listening to carols in the car. What a perfect way to end my afternoon!
Thanks to The Pescetarian and The Pig for these amazing pumpkin ginger molasses cookies! Also LOVING this adorable snowman oven mitt. Time to cozy up with some hot cocoa and a good book.
I was so excited to have the opportunity to participate in the 2nd Annual Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap this year! If you haven't heard of it, it is this awesome collaboration hosted by Love & Olive Oil and The Little Kitchen. So basically, you sign up and get anonymously matched with three other food bloggers, and send each of them a delicious box of goodies. Meanwhile, three other lovely bloggers send you a delicious box of goodies. What could be better, right!? Well, if that wasn't an awesome enough deal to draw you in, this crazy cool cookie swap is also for a good cause! There was a $4 "entrance donation" that went straight to Cookies For Kids' Cancer (a non-profit organization). Pretty cool, eh?
Hello lovelies! It's that time of year again; the holidays are here! The next few posts are going to be seasonally focused foods. Pumpkin, peppermint, and pomegranates! Three of my favorite "P"s.
So this particular post isn't exactly a recipe. This time around I'm going to give you more of a "how-to." "How to deseed a pomegranate" to be precise (You know, just incase you missed the title.) Pomegranates are in so many recipes this time of year. Everything from salads, to soups, to drinks have this delicious fruit.
Hi everyone! Today I'm going to be sharing one of my all time favorite lunch items EVER.... and yes, it was totally necessary to have that be in all caps. I freakin' love this stuff. What is is? Well, if you haven't guessed from the title, it's NIME CHOW. Again with the caps, I know. I'll stop know. My apologies.
Anywho... if you haven't guessed yet, I love this stuff. Basically it is a salad-like wrap served with some form of a vinegar-y, peanut-y sauce. My version is generally a little more closely related to a summer roll, in that I tend to leave out the noodles.
One of the best parts of this particular dish, is that it is absolutely 100% customizable. For example, my leaving out the noodles. But it doesn't stop there. Oh, no. That'd be too boring. Basically, you can put almost anything you want in these babies. The protein can be whatever you like. The most traditional is shrimp (or plain vegetarian). One of my favorites is chicken; specifically chicken teriyaki. You can also vary the herbs, if you add any at all. I prefer mint, basil, and cilantro. This combo gives a very distinctly southeast asian flavor.
Nime Chow:
Spring roll wraps (you want the semiopaque white ones that soften in warm water)
Bean noodles (or glass noodles)
vegetables for filling: carrots, cabbage, cucumbers, lettuce, radishes, etc.
protein for filling: shrimp, chicken, beef, pork, or leave vegetarian
herbs wanted: basil, mint, cilantro, etc.
warm water
If using noodle, prepare as package instructs. Fill a shallow dish half way with warm water. I used a pie pan because it completely fits the wrappers. Dip wrappers in warm water and allow to soak for 15-45 seconds, or until very pliable. The temperature of the water may make the soak time vary.
Place pliable wrapper on a large plate. Add desired fillings, making sure not to over stuff to avoid tearing. Keep in mind that the fillings directly touching the wrappers will be visible once the roll is wrapped, so try putting the pretty, brightly colored items down first.
Wrap up like a burrito. Fold in two opposing sides first, then turn and roll the entire thing in on itself. The wrapper sticks to itself, so there is no need to worry about it unrolling. Just take your time and be gentile, because it is fragile and will rip. It may take a few tries before making a perfect roll. I had a very difficult time at first, but my friend Jenn (who is a self proclaimed nime chow aficionado) made a perfectly beautiful roll on her first go.
For fancy plating, cut on a bias and serve with dipping sauce on the side.
Dipping sauce:
1 tsp natural peanut butter
1/2 Tbs gluten free soy sauce*
2 Tbs seasoned rice wine vinegar
1 tsp garlic chili sauce
1/2 tsp fish sauce
5 dashes roasted sesame oil
1 tsp honey
Combine all ingredients and stir thoroughly.
*Regular soy sauce lists wheat as the first or second ingredient. Gluten free soy sauce simply removes this ingredient. I prefer gluten free soy sauce because it has a fuller, deeper soy flavor. I also tend to lean towards "reduced sodium" blends.
Apple chips are one of my favorite "healthy" snacks. The one problem is that they are so darned expensive. I mean really, $6 of a 2 oz bag!? Luckily, I live in New England and it just so happens to be apple picking season... And you know that means that I dragged poor Jenn out with me (on a "partly" rainy day) to go traipsing around a local farm. We collected more apples that either of us knew what to do with. My solution? Apple chips.
Nothing quite says fall like being able to turn the oven back on. I'm not much of a cool weather fan, so this is a bit of a saving grace. Steaming soups, warm cakes and cookies... I love being able to cook dishes that require cooler weather.
Today I woke up to the cool sound of rain drops and the crisp smell of autumn. This immediately meant that I had to make a heart warming dish. And today that meant zucchini bread.
Just a heads up to anyone in the Southern New England area: the annual Federal Hill Columbus Day Festival is back! Come visit the Italian district of the quaint New England city of Providence, RI and enjoy some live music, fun games, and of coarse...FOOD!
What I'm trying to tell you is that I came up with just the thing to satiate my cocoa cravings: single serve s'mores cake. Made in the microwave. How easy is that!?
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Ciocolato. One of my favorite treats on the entire planet. If you've never had the pleasure of sitting in a cafe in Rome, Barcelona, or your bff's Italian grandmother's kitchen sipping (well, more like eating) this amazing treat, you've missed out. But fret not! Try your hand at this crazily easy and obnoxiously delicious dish.
