December 20, 2012

Tomato-Parsley Bloody Marys

Before we all had kids, Casey and I used to go bowling regularly with his sister & her husband on lazy weekend afternoons. What do I remember most from those times besides being able to sleep in super late? The killer Bloody Marys we used to inhale. The bowling alley we frequented had a CRAZY deal on $2 Bloody Marys during happy hour and we took welllllllll advantage of that. To say it improved our bowling game is an understatement.

There was something about those bowling alley Bloody Marys that sealed my love for Bloody Marys. Must have been the horseradish… I also love Worcestershire & tons of pepper in my Bloody Mary. I can’t get enough! The celery is a fun addition too.

Here’s my first attempt at making Bloody Marys. It’s ridiculously easy. I don’t think I’ll ever rely on Bloody Mary mix again! You best believe this will be on the menu for brunches yet to come. I know what we’re drinking the morning after I host Christmas at my house…

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December 18, 2012

Treat Yo’self (and others!)

Last minute baking/cooking/infusing help is HERE!!! We’re gonna brainstorm with my recipe archives.

Ready? ALL SYSTEMS GO!

recipes

December 17, 2012

Candy Cane Vodka

While googling for fun facts about candy canes, I found out that first candy cane was made over 350 years ago and for the first 200 years they were solid white. Can you imagine a candy cane without stripes! CRAZY. I also discovered that National Candy Cane day is on December 26th. That means we should drink this candy cane vodka to celebrate! Take all of your broken candy canes (which should be PLENTY) and do something with them.

Candy Cane Vodka is really the simplest of recipes. Two ingredients are required candy canes & vodka. How could you go wrong? And look at that color of this concoction! It’s the most brilliant shade of red!

Can I also note how fun it is to break candy canes ON PURPOSE. There’s just something about it that delights me.

Imagine a mug full of spiked peppermint hot chocolate with whipped cream and a teeny candy cane hanging off the edge.

I just figured out what I am drinking tonight.

my everyday life, Photography, Uncategorized

December 16, 2012

My Everyday Life: Week 50

Here’s what this past week looked like:

Connecticut has been on my mind. It doesn’t make sense. How could it?

Somehow life goes on. Life MUST go on. Life DOES go on. My thoughts & prayers go out to the families who are suffering the tremendous pain of loss.

Uncategorized

December 14, 2012

I love lists, Friday!

7 Signs You Can’t Party as Much as You Used to. REAL.
$hit My Students Write. (Head slap)
This video. I NEEDED this video this week.
Two words: BACON. JAM.
Utterly OBSESSED with this Homemade Coconut Body Butter!
Make Your Own DIY Hex Earrings! Yes, I will.
You had me at Persimmon, Joy.
Homemade Bitters? YES, PLEASE.
Looking for a way to change up your gift tags? These printables are awesome.
Also. Can someone make me this? I’d like a bin necklace. K, thanks.
Don’t like the word MOIST? Here are some alternatives to that word. (I’m fine with moist)
Florence + The Machine – Try A Little Tenderness – MTV Unplugged, 2012 INTO THIS SONG.
Yet again, I fall prey to Anna’s skin regime. I already have three of the items on this list.
To booze or not to booze? How about BOTH?
AMEN.

Well Yo-played. Candles, mice, questions, GIFTS. All new Joy the Baker Podcast is UUUUUP.

Oh, hey! Look! Joy and I are in the latest issue of Foodie Crush talking about our podcastio.

My Bites Around the Net:

Gluten Free Girl made my White Chocolate Dipped Pretzels gluten free!

Lick My Spoon included my Flourless Chocolate Coconut Drops in her cookie roundup.

Pippi’s in the Kitchen Again made my Apple Pecan Sticky Buns.

Spill the Beans made my Dark Chocolate Baked Donuts.

The Game Plan made my Roasted Brussels Sprouts & Butternut Squash.

Elly Says Opa! made my White Bean Soup with Crispy Prosciutto Soup. (sorry about your injury!!)

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December 13, 2012

Unique Gifts for your Unique Friend

I’m a hard person to shop for. That’s a fact. If you get me something that’s black & white, striped, bold & graphic, I will almost always love it. Unless it’s a stuffed panda holding a heart that has lace trim. I won’t be into that. That’s also a fact. You may have someone in your life that’s super particular like me. Someone who has unique taste. Someone who knows what they want and usually just gets themselves a treat instead of asking for it. Here’s a list of gift ideas that I (one of the most particular people in the world) approve of! CONTINUE READING

recipes, Uncategorized

December 12, 2012

Chocolate Chunk Blondies

Can I be really really REALLY honest with you? When I do Christmas shopping for other people I slyly throw in a few *little* presents for myself. I KNOW!! I KNOW!! It feels equally wrong as it feels right. Let me also say that holiday baking is no different. I usually make what I’m craving and I hope/pray people will like what I’ve made. I do have some good cravings…

I had really dense/chewy chocolate chip cookies in my mind the other day so I turned my craving into a gift for friends. That’s not so bad, right? I totally shared!

Remember how I gave you cookbook ideas for gifting? Let’s add another one to the list!

Barefoot Contessa Foolproof: Recipes You Can Trust is Ina Garten’s latest cookbook. It definitely belongs on my cookbooks to gift this Christmas. My copy has a sticky on almost every single page for the recipes I want to make. GOOD SIGN. Totally. Like major good sign.

Ina’s Chocolate Chunk Blondies are unreal. They’re buttery, dense, chewy, slightly salty, studded with melted chocolate and enhanced by walnuts. Casey and I LOVED the walnuts. I might be guilty of only giving half of this batch away. It was those dang walnuts! I plan on making at least three more batches this Christmas. Don’t look at me like that!