September 17, 2015

Olive Oil Parmesan Popcorn

Usually I love my popcorn plain with a lot of salt, but the other day I switched it up by drizzling our popcorn with extra virgin olive oil and throwing in a big spoonful of grated parmesan cheese. Have you ever tried Olive Oil Parmesan Popcorn? It’s incredible! I love when you get a popcorn kernel that’s saturated in oil and smothered in cheese. A little bit of fresh parsley might be a nice addition too. And if you’re looking for a good popcorn maker, you MUST get yourself a whirley pop. It’s a game changer!!!

To see more of my Thursday Snack Ideas, follow my Pinterest Board!

And for more popcorn recipes, try:

Hot Cocoa Popcorn

Sour Cream & Onion Popcorn

Mexican Popcorn

Toasted Coconut Popcorn

Brown Butter Kettle Corn

Orange Creamsicle Popcorn

Truffled Popcorn

Coconut Almond Caramel Corn

Inspiration

September 16, 2015

Inspiring Books to Get You Drawing

I have a love/hate relationship with drawing. I’ve always been envious of the people who could pick up a pen and paper a draw whatever/whenever. Me? I want something to look exactly how it’s supposed to; I let perfectionism get in the way. It’s funny….I can see Cooper dealing with the same problem. We’d both rather mix paint colors than draw something.

In an effort to help us both out, I’ve been practicing drawing after school with Cooper a few times a week. After 36 years on this Earth, I can finally say that I really like drawing and it’s because I simply shifted my way of thinking. Instead of making something look perfect I focus my energy on practicing (practice makes perfect?!) my craft. I’ll see something and my brain says “Let’s see how we can draw it!”I kinda liken it to the creative energy I have when I go to a restaurant and want to recreate a dish I made. I look at it as a challenge to put the ingredients together. Through this practice, I have more confidence to keep drawing and push through the crappy work. Plus, I put my own personal touch on something….kind of like you would in a recipe!

I owe a lot of this creative spark to adult coloring books. You can see some of my favorites here. When I’m coloring something in, I pay attention to lines and see the structure of something. It’s fun to dissect someone else’s technique and see how they built their illustration. It actually makes me excited to draw now.

I put together a compilation of Inspiring Books to Get You Drawing. All of these books have helped me draw more. I really hope this inspires you to GET OUT AND DRAW!!! It’s so good for relieving stress. Trust me!

recipes

September 14, 2015

Ginger Pork Meatballs with Coconut Broth

Rice + meat. That’s what the men in my family love. They also really love Asian flavors so I figured I’d kill two birds with one stone and make this recipe I checked out in this month’s Bon Appetit magazine.

The meatballs are tender and flavorful. Cooper, who loves the filling in potstickers loved these meatballs. They’re kind of similar in that they’re both loaded with ginger.

I am so grateful that he’s starting to be a little more adventurous in his eating habits. I knew he had it in him!

When I made the rice, I used coconut milk instead of water to make this dish extra rich. The coconut broth in this recipe can turn your bowl of rice into a soup…I’m not mad at that. I love a little rice in my soup! I’m definitely adding this one to our rotation when the weather gets chillier. Summer is still here but we can plan a little in our heads, can’t we?

Inspiration

September 13, 2015

And I Quote:

my everyday life, Photography

September 12, 2015

My Everyday Life: Week 37

Here’s what My Everyday Life Week 37 looked like:

I have a photo posse at school.

Sundays.

We moved a bunch of furniture around last weekend. It means new light to play with.

Note to self:

Playing with my label maker.

This flower…I’ve been waiting all summer for it to grow. I wanted to plant sunflowers in our backyard but they died and then this one sprouted up from a seed that came from our bird feeder. LOVE THAT.

Contrasty things.

Making zucchini coins.

Last meal worthy.

Our coffee station.

September 11, 2015

I love lists, Friday!

Welcome to I love Lists Friday. It’s Friday. Let’s surf the ‘net together!

I loved reading my friend Lisa’s approach to work + motherhood
I’ve started a Stress Log this week.
This bag caught my eye.
I’m all for stripes & plaid
There’s a new trend in gifting….
These scones have me excited about Fall.
The Myth of Quality Time
I love a good renovation!
Life man, LIFE.
My Mom is a Hero Because…
What happens when you don’t shear a sheep for 5 years
I would only go to Burning Man for the photo opportunities. Here are some more.
Steve Jobs wasn’t so awesome at times.
The universe tests us. Always.
I want this photo for my wall.
All the Single Ladies!
This map is HELLA cool.
Goodbye long intimate emails…sigh…
Preordered this book. So Excited!
Drunk History – How this couple met. AMAZING.
We are finishing up the first season of Mr. Robot this week. Love the way it’s shot. (spoilers!)
How to Keep Your Car Organized– I have some tips!

recipes

September 10, 2015

Zucchini Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Before we said goodbye to summer break, I had a little get-together at my house with our friends who live up the street. There’s nothing like grilling outside and enjoying each other’s company before the hustle and bustle of back to school season starts.

After our dinner of grilled hot dogs, tater tots & salad, I served this Zucchini Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting for dessert. It’s packed with zucchini and none of the kids had any idea until we told them.

This is an incredibly moist cake, thanks to the combination of shredded zucchini and Olivari Olive Oil. It’s not too sweet, which meant that it was the perfect thing to have the night before school started. Also…it was the perfect cake to have for breakfast with a hot cup of coffee. I believe that cream cheese frosting makes mornings, afternoons and evenings better. Don’t you agree?