Here’s what this past week looked like:
Our eyes in the morning. Pinot is getting extra love.
I love lists, Friday!
- Some people don’t have a knack for grammar…
- I think I like life with cats?
- The Most Painfully Awkward Things That Happened in 2013. SO. AWK.
- Currently reading/loving the book: One Simple Change
- MUST make this Gingerbread Caramel Corn. OH MAN.
- Anonymous Lies Told to Children. Hilarious.
- I kinda feel like I would react the same way on my podcast. Maybe.
- Autocorrect. The struggles!
- This Pomegranate Lemonade Punch makes my mouth water.
- I bet the guy who wanted underwear & socks regrets his request.
- Congrats, Kristin! And WOW your Spicy Cocoa Mix looks amazing!
- I can definitely relate to this post about juggling work & motherhood.
- I wonder what this house is like in the snow. Sigh…
- Kale is here to stay! I want this Kale Farro Salad immediately.
- Self Saucing Chocolate with BOURBON CREME FRAICHE. OMG.
- I’m hoping to add one of Katie’s pieces to my home decor one day.
- These cookies look chewy and I LOVE CHEWY COOKIES.
Hey! The holiday party I hosted/styled for thekitchn is up! You can see the final post (including parts of my house) here. It was so much fun!
Have you listened to the latest Joy the Baker Podcast??! DON’T CUSS AT ME. There’s a lot of giggling in this one. I hope you enjoy it.
Budget Bytes made my Crunchy Peppermint Bark
Clara Persis adapted my Thai Beef Salad
Think Fruitful made my Cheddar Cheese Bread
Food Snob STL adapted my Coffee Marshmallow Krispies
Outfitting: Navy Cream & Rust
ONE/TWO/THREE/FOUR/FIVE/SIX/SEVEN/EIGHT/NINE
It’s kinda crazy but I wear more dresses in the winter than in the summer. I think it’s probably because I like wearing leggings and/or tights instead of baring my legs. It’s just a comfort zone situation. I also really love wearing boots because they make me feel powerful. I don’t know why…they just do. So today I put together an outfit that channels what I’d wear if I was in college during the winter time. Of course I’d pair a thick wool jacket on top. ‘Tis the season to dress in layers!
Pear Cranberry Arugula Salad
New post! Pear Cranberry Arugula Salad
Today there’s a bunch of food bloggers throwing a virtual Baby Shower for Bev of Bev Cooks. Will I tell you what kind of candy bar is melted into a diaper in this virtual shower situation? No. But! I will contribute an amazing winter salad to the party! A baby shower just wouldn’t be right without salad, don’t you agree? Bev is pregnant with TWINS and she’s one of the funniest bloggers out there. I absolutely adore her writing and her food combinations make me weap sometimes. HELLO Bacon Wrapped Stuffing Bites and get out with your Spicy Breakfast Taquitos, Bev! Anyways, congratulations to you, Bev! I have no doubt you’ll be the best mom! Also, my mom’s name is Bev so I can speak from experience as a child with a mom named Bev that moms named Bev are awesome. (Hi Mom!)
OK. SALAD. I’m currently engaged in a love affair with this salad. I made it RIGHT after Thanksgiving when we still had a few leftovers and MAN! It was just what the doctor ordered when I wanted to be healthier but still wanted a little indulgence. It’s also a good way to stretch out that last bit of cranberry sauce and if you have any fried onions leftover from your green bean casseroles. THOSE ONIONS BELONG IN SALADS, folks.
If you don’t have any cranberry sauce left, you could use a scoop of jam. Fig, raspberry, strawberry and even marmalade would be good substitutes. It helps emulsify the dressing and gives it a little sweetness. It’s like dijon, but the exact opposite. This salad is heavy on the toppings (the best salads are!) so feel free to add more arugula to stretch it out. I think you’ll see why it’s currently in my salad rotation. Those onions, man. They’re everything.
Crunchy Peppermint Bark
When I posted this recipe 6 years ago I didn’t know it would become such a staple in my Christmas gift giving repertoire. I also didn’t know much about food styling & food photography! It’s amazing what can happen in 6 years, right? Like…I have a 5 year old! CRAZY. I decided to rehash this recipe because I feel like it NEEDS to be shared.
It seems like everyone has a good peppermint bark recipe, but most of the ones I encounter have a full chocolate base…and that makes me…THIRSTY. I can only each a small bite and them I’m out. I love this recipe because it’s different and I can’t stop eating the bark when I start…It’s because it’s creamy & crunchy because of the combination of good white chocolate, Rice Krispies & mashed up candy canes.
It’s always a hit with the company I keep. Everyone dips into their stash the moment I gift it to them. That crunch is ADDICTIVE. You’ll see. I have another bark recipe coming this week that’s a riff off of this one. I can’t wait to share that one with you so please stay tuned!
I love lists, Friday!
- I love Sally’s packaging skillz. She has MAJOR talent.
- 11 Awkward Things about Email. UGGH. So true.
- Kale CRAVING!! Look at these salads.
- David Tanis always has good kitchen tips.
- How jealous are we of Matt’s Studio? SUPER JEALOUS.
- Portraits of Children & Where They Sleep. Stunning.
- TEAM NIGELLA all the way!!
- If you have a holiday sweater party to go to…consider this!
- The answer to the question, “What Do You Do All Day?”
- Peppermint ice cream makes its way on my TO DO LIST.
- YAAY! I’m excited this dress is on sale! Would be cute with black tights & boots.
- WOW. Is it weird that I wanna hang out in the paperclip room?
- I really want a stack of these Gingerbread Waffles.
- Cookies I want: These ones and these ones.
- When I dip, you dip, WE DIP. I wanna make that ranch one!!
- Dogs being awkward. As per.
- I’m a 7, Casey is a 6 and Cooper is a 4.
If you’re in San Francisco, you should check out Tony’s Pizza. I shot this article for Sites & Bites. YUM.
There should be a new Joy the Baker podcast up within the next few days. Stay tuned!
Mod City Mag made my Hot Cocoa Popcorn
Channeling Contessa turned my Pumpkin Cake with Brown Butter Icing into donuts!!
