the chocolate chipper.

I can't think of a reason to ever turn down a homemade chocolate chip cookie.  Not one.  Tonight my mom tried a new recipe for this classic cookie, and they turned out to be incredibly delightful. Yum!

finally focaccia.

I'm not a bread maker.  However - the last few weeks I have tried a few different recipes for Focaccia Bread.  I guess I just want to know I can succeed at making bread if I really ever needed to (I have no idea why).  I'm pretty sure the reason I don't care to make bread is that the dough usually needs to made the day before, and I don't plan that far ahead.  See, usually if I decide to bake something it's because I want to make it and eat it within a close time frame. 

 I'm very patient.  

 This weekend, as TT and I walked in the door from a late movie Saturday night, I decided it was a good time to quickly make this bread dough so I could experiment with it the next morning.  Finally, I have found a great recipe for Focaccia!  The onions are totally optional, but I decided they would not only add some flavor, and but some color too!

study cakes.

TT is pretty much in the middle of midterms.  So tonight I thought, I should go workout why not make him some pancakes while he studies?  In my mind, they're the most perfect study snack ever.  So I made some,  and decided to photograph some,  and could not figure out this photo for the life of me.  On the bright side, I did master one thing tonight, pancakes!!  It has taken me 2.5 years to finally make some decent tasting pancakes for my man.  So even if my shoot didn't go quite as planned, at least I have a go to recipe for pancakes.

::Fluffy cakes::

3 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons white sugar
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
3 cups buttermilk
1/2 cup milk
3 eggs
1/3 cup butter, melted

Good luck to TT on his test tomorrow! Oh, and if you can't tell, we love David McCullough!

his favorite treat.

TT loves scotcharoos.  They're his favorite treat, and it's one of those things I can make that taste pretty much the same as if his mom were to make them.  These things are addicting.  Once you start, it's hard to stop!  What I love most is how simple they are.  

--Scotcharoos--

6 cups Rice Krispies

1 cup Light Karo Syrup

1 cup Sugar

1 cup Peanut Butter

1 cup Chocolate Chips

1 cup Butterscotch Chips

Bring Karo and sugar to a boil, and mix in peanut butter.  Pour over Rice Krispies and pres in a 9x13 greased pan. Melt both chocolate chips and butterscotch chips together and pour over Krispies.  Let chill in the fridge, once set, serve up!

photo by me*

fish for dinner.

This last weekend we branched out and picked out some tilapia while grocery shopping.  I am working on getting over my fear of cooking fish because we really enjoy it!  

TT cooked the wild rice and we chopped up some fresh tomatoes, avocados, limes, cilantro, canned corn, and threw it all together to create the entire meal.  The flavor was unreal!  We'll definitely be having this again.  Making dinner with TT is one of my most favorite things to do.

I will say this , it is a little difficult to try and photograph, cook, and sit down to enjoy the meal too!

a breakfast trifle.

Whenever I hear the word trifle, my mind goes straight to the Friends episode where Rachel makes a Thanksgiving trifle for dessert but put two recipes together so it has beef and peas in it.  I thought it would be fun to make a breakfast trifle because I currently have raspberries and strawberries.  I used Greek Yogurt and Grape Nuts for the remaining layers.  I think I may just be hooked on this simple, but tasty breakfast treat!

*photo by me

breakfast time.

I have a confession.  I look forward to breakfast when I'm getting ready for bed.  I love breakfast.  I love oatmeal, cereal, protein bars, apples, orange juice, chocolate milk, pancakes, waffles, french toast, crepes, fresh fruit, breakfast casseroles, cinnamon rolls, mcdonald's breakfasts, toast, scrambled eggs... we get the picture.  Lately, I've been lovin' on oatmeal with fresh berries and chia seeds.  Our new super food!  Chia seeds are a staple of the ancient Aztecs and best known for the crazy amount of calcium, omega-3 fatty acids and dietary fiber.  The best part? They are tasteless. 

"Ch-ch-ch-ch-chia!"

sunday dessert.

Sunday dinners are so reliable.  Wherever we eat, we always have such delicious food.  My sister made these delicious cookies for dessert tonight, and I told her I needed 6 to take home with me so I could eat photograph them.   She found the recipe here.

soooo delicious!

the green drink.

I've fallen in love with green drinks.  I've made some really really delicious ones, and I've also made some really gross ones.  Today I tried a recipe from italktofood.  She calls it the Banana Bread Green Monster.  It called for almond flour, which I needed to get, as I had never even heard of it.  It was definitely different from any other green drink I've made, but I liked it.  Yay for green!

photo by me

inspiration for the weekend - a banana.

Each weekend right here on this blog I plan to gain some inspiration from all kinds of different food, straight from my own kitchen.  This weekend, it's a banana.  As cheesy as it may sound (and after a little bit of thought), here's how I plan to let this banana inspire me for the weekend. 

1. Smile more, smile a lot.

2. Don't be afraid to show my imperfections - perhaps no makeup?  (Mascara doesn't count!)

3. Wear something yellow.

4. Make a breakfast banana smoothie.

5. Gather 3 recipes from people I admire that call for bananas.  

In the words of Rachel Zoe, "that's bananas."

photo by me

This morning I made chocolate chip cookies.  This afternoon, we're eating them all.

That's efficient.

the cutest valentine's card.

from such a beautiful paper shop! isn't it perfect?

superbowl accessories...

 arm candy, and a statement belt.

 a classic, and insanely beautiful crossbody chanel.

a big, bold, yet simple necklace.

and lots of stripes.

look what i found.

(photo via)

I found this jacket in Vegas last time TT and I were there and fell in love with it, and snatched it up.  It was fun to find this unique piece on one of my favorite fashion blogs.

february.

february.  i can't help but fall in love with all of the heart shaped candies and sweaters, warm home decor, baking heart shaped treats, cooking the perfect meal for two, and maybe these for dessert (so cute),  and mostly showing my love to those i love.  also, i'm going to throw this outfit in there, just because i would love to have it.

right now i love these fresh roses currently blooming on our kitchen counter! happy february!