December 23, 2014

Persimmon Spice Cake

I always make big plans for special breakfasts on holidays. Last year I made Breakfast Tacos (I spiced it up with soyrizo) for Christmas morning and this year I was thinking of making a ton of bacon, scrambled eggs, mushrooms and grilled sourdough but who am I kidding?!! We’re all just gonna eat my mom’s sour cream coffee cake for breakfast. Well…FIRST breakfast…

Coffee cake is always a great addition to your breakfast game lineup. It’s nice to have out in the morning when people do that I’m hungover/up too early zombie shuffle into your kitchen looking for coffee. Hand them a mug and serve them up a slice. First breakfast is for those of us who wake up EARLY with the kids. We’re a special breed.

Casey and I picked at this cake for a whole week. One slice turned into two…and then a few slivers here and there and suddenly it was gone. It’s slightly dense, super moist (sorry!), studded with juicy raisins, sweet dates and toasted walnuts. It’s not too sweet. It’s perfect. It’s definitely going in the coffee cake rotation!

December 21, 2014

And I Quote:

my everyday life, Photography

December 20, 2014

My Everyday Day Life: Week 51

Here’s what this past week looked like:

My life’s mantra. I am so glad I found this.

Always look in puddles. You’ll never know what you’ll find.

In between rain.

What does that accomplish?

Following my dad in Fisherman’s Wharf.

CRAB SEASON!!!

December 19, 2014

I love lists, Friday!

31 Days of Pie has been awesome. Faves so far: One Two Three Four
This makes me want eggnog.
I’ve always been on the toast train. Never got off.
I think I’d work well on a 10-6 schedule if I didn’t have a kid.
Time Travel.
Hilariously Similar. My brain enjoys these.
Marriage lasts longer when you do these things.
White Chocolate Almond Butter Cups (YUM!!)
I’d love to see this one day.
She has my dream job.
Serial- What We Don’t Know.
These photos are incredible.
I suppose I should get on with reading this book.
What an EPIC CHEESE PLATE!
This is what I’ve been thinking about a lot.
Why we hate seeing photos of ourselves.
Animal migration is beautiful.
Creating a Logo from Scratch. LOVED this.
This hot chocolate intrigues me.
I plan on reading this this in the new year.

Thank you to EVERYONE who entered my giveaway! A lot of you love my favorite scents- vanilla, lemon and lavender are my go-tos! I’ll be emailing the winners soon:

recipes

December 18, 2014

Spicy Hummus Cucumber Bites

One of my current favorites! Hummus on top of thickly sliced cucumbers, a drizzle of sriracha and a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds. Reminds me a little of my ultimate veggie sandwich!

around the home, sponsored

December 17, 2014

Homemade Sugar Scrubs

I’ve always been obsessed with scents & smells and in the past few months I’ve developed a thing for Essential Oils & Aromatherapy. This year I’m including some homemade sugar scrubs in my homemade gift repertoire because I know I’d love to get them myself and they’re EASY to make. The best part is that they’re all edible…not that you SHOULD eat them, but it means that everything is non-toxic in these sugar scrubs. Skin exfoliation & hydration is super important this time of year, so it’s a nice reminder to treat yo’self!

Before we get started, you should know that not all essential oils are created equal. A few months ago, I took a SUPER informational class by the owners of Floracopeia and have been a huge fan of their oils since. I’ve been trying out some other companies, but so far I’m really enjoying their oils, blends & flower essences. Their quality is exceptional and they’re extremely helpful & knowledgeable. Just thought you should know that!

Here’s a little peek into my stash. I call this my emotional tool kit. As you can see, I labeled my oils with washi tape so I’d easily be able to spot the oils I need.

OK so I’m about to drop a lot of information on you. You ready?

recipes

December 16, 2014

Roasted Cashew Sesame Brittle

New recipe! Roasted Cashew Sesame Brittle

I hate to humblebrag but I’m really good at staying away from candy. Like…with all the Halloween candy we had in our house this year, I only ate one piece. I made sure it was a Take5 bar. Worry not!

However…this brittle? I totally LOST MY FREAKING MIND eating it. There’s something about the salty/sweet/ savory/ crunchy/ buttery/ nutty goodness that makes it absolutely irresistible. I polished off a good portion in record time..spurring me to make another batch. I think it’s the crunch…It’s all of it really.