The Friday Five 1.4.13

1. What I’m Reading: I haven’t read a novel in a while. Book club girls: what are we doing?! For a refresher, I picked up The Elements of Style, an American English style guide on grammar and writing. Classic.

2. What I’m Eating: Roti Rolls came to Daniel Island on Thursday. Cory let me know ahead of time, so I was able to whip up a batch of cookies for them the night before. I love those guys and they deserve some homemade treats from one of their biggest fans.

In return, I got a Funky Farmer: a roti roll filled with curried local sweet potato, parsnip, carrot, rutabaga and ginger with braised greens and pickled beets. On the side I had a beet and arugula salad.

So worth standing in the rain!

Later that night, my friend Eric was at The Green Door, their sister restaurant, where he received some of the chocolately goodness. They knew we were friends and handed him a cookie. Charleston is so small and this made me smile.

3. Recipes I’m Bookmarking: Best Ever Beet and Bean Burgers. Say that 5 times fast. Then make them. 

4. What I’m Watching: Even if just one of you readers is a Parks & Recreation fan, then I will make someone laugh with this video. I cry laughing every.single.time.

5. GIFs I’m Loving:

PRETENDING TO LIKE A PRESENT

DRUNK FLIRTING

EXPECTATION

REALITY

WHEN I REALIZE IT’S FRIDAY!!!

Happy Friday! Have a wonderful weekend!

Since We Last Chatted…

I celebrated Christmas…

So what if I wore yoga pants all day? I wanted to be comfy while I unwrapped presents and stuffed myself.

I made a lot of fun recipes that I can wait to share with you. I copycatted the Okonomiyaki that Carter and I had at Xia Bao Biscuit.

And the Basil Honey Vinaigrette I love from Five Loaves. (Ignore my half gone tattoo – I’m still in the removal process.)

I also made blueberry pancakes using Greek yogurt and cottage cheese.

I continued making healthy recipes like Spicy Lentil Patties…

and a vegan tofu scramble.

I celebrated winning The NYE Challenge with an IceDream from Chick-fil-A…

…and made a lot of cookies.

Seriously, so many cookies.

But it’s okay, because I did a ton of running…

including another 10 mile run on NYE…

and maybe a little trespassing.

And finally, I rang in the New Year with some of my favorite friends.

Cheers to 2013, getting back into regular posting, and sharing lots of recipes! As always, thanks for reading and staying caught up in my very hungry and healthy life. XO!

The Friday Five 11.23.12

1. What I’m Watching: We all know I have terrible taste in television. The only time I watch something worth mentioning is if a boy sits me down to watch a show. Last week I saw the pilot episode of Homeland.

Let’s just say that Claire Danes’ character is a wreck and makes me feel like a normal human being. I’ll probably only watch this show again if said boy puts it on in my presence. 

2. What I’m Eating: Tis the season for gluttony. Who wore leggings to Thanksgiving dinner? This girl. Last weekend, my grandmother introduced me to Talenti Sea Salt Caramel gelato.

This stuff is ridiculously sweet to the point where you’ll be satisfied with just one serving. The chocolate caramel candies inside are deeeeelicious. I’d just pick those out if I bought a pint. 

3. Recipes I’m Bookmarking: Peppermint Sugar Cookies. So festive! 

4. What I’m Listening to: WHY WHY WHY did I not go see Passion Pit when they came to Charleston? Seriously regretting that. Their song “Where I Come From” is on the Breaking Dawn 2 soundtrack and I’ve probably played it 400 times in the past week.

Regardless of whether or not you are a Twihard, all of the soundtracks are full of great music. I promise!

5. GIFs I’m Loving: Cheers to you, Boding!

WHEN I WANT MY ROOMMATE TO DO SOMETHING WITH ME

WHEN MY ROMMATE GETS HOME AND I’M EXCITED BECAUSE I HAVE SO MUCH TO TELL HIM

WHEN MY ROOMMATE AND I ARE THE BEST DRUNK CHEFS

***

Next week I’m hosting a jewelry giveaway with the etsy shop Peppermint Lollipops. In the meantime, Jenny has offered a discount code for my readers to enjoy! From now until Sunday Nov. 25th, use coupon code BLACKFRIDAY30 to receive 30% off all items in her shop. Here’s a little preview:

Have a great weekend!

Please don’t get trampled by Black Friday shoppers!

Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies–Brrr, It’s Cold!

In my head I’m belting out “Baby, it’s cold outside!” It’s in the 40s right now. The 40s. Last week I was complaining about the 50s and I feel like a jerk for that. I’m sorry! I was adjusting. Funny thing is, I’m going to North Carolina next weekend and it’ll be even colder there. Thank goodness I’ll have the mittens my Grandma made me. Maybe when I’m there she’ll teach me how to make a pair. That would be sweet!

Meanwhile, I’m doing everything I can to stay warm. I’ve got on my fuzzy socks and am under about 42 layers of blankets as I type this. If I had hot chocolate, I’d be drinking that, but instead, I have cookies. Of course I have cookies.

Mexican Hot Cocoa Cookies, from Martha Stewart

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 3/4 cups sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon chile powder

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees, with racks in upper and lower thirds. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, cocoa powder, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and 1 1/2 cups sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Scrape down side of bowl. Add eggs and beat to combine. With mixer on low, gradually add flour mixture and beat until combined.

2. In a small bowl, combine remaining 1/4 cup sugar, cinnamon, and chile powder (if using). Using heaping tablespoons, form balls of dough and roll in cinnamon-sugar mixture. Place, about 3 inches apart, on two parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake until cookies are set in center and begin to crack, about 10 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through. Let cookies cool on sheets on wire racks 5 minutes, then transfer cookies to racks to cool completely. (Store in an airtight container, up to 1 week.)

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Martha Stewart is a genius. Her recipes, or at least those that I’ve tested, are solid. They’re not fussy, they’re to the point, and they are good. Very good. I’ve made these cookies several times and they are always a crowd pleaser. They’re sweet with just a subtle hint of spiciness. If you didn’t know the recipe called for chili powder, you’d wonder where the kick came from. They’re light, tender cookies that will stay soft for a couple days. But don’t expect them to last that long – they’ll be gobbled up in no time.

Next time it’s too cold outside to leave the house, fire up that oven and get to baking.

Might I suggest having a couple with a glass of hot chocolate?

The chocolate chip cookie is a classic. What is your favorite unconventional cookie?

New Seasonal Food Finds

One of the main reasons I love having a food blog is because I get to share new food precuts with my readers. Whenever I find something fun, be it a food, restaurant, recipe, or trend, I share it through every social media platform possible: facebook, twitter, instagram, youtube…you get it. Here are some new gems I’ve discovered.

1. I first spotted these Toasted Coconut almonds at Target. Into the basket they went and (after paying) into my mouth they went.

Honestly, I was underwhelmed. They smell really good, but the flavor just isn’t quite there. Boo. I went online to look up other flavors and found these promotions.

Have you tried any of these three flavors? I suppose you could very easily create these at home.

2. It seems that there are about 70 different flavored creamers out there, and most that I’ve tried have been somewhat nauseating. The S’mores flavor, however, is right up my alley and perfect for the coming chilly months.I also need to try the Salted Caramel flavor. I will wait until they go on sale at Publix because I don’t love the idea of spending silly money on things that just fatten me…. ok that’s sort of a lie.

This list started out strong (healthfully speaking) but it’s about to go down the clean eating drain. Please accept my apologies for this and for almost lying to you in #3.

3. Jell-O. Gingerbread and Candy Cane. Should I buy these? I feel like it’s the equivalent of eating fair food. Could be the worst moment of my life or the best moment of my life. But nothing in between. 

4. Yoplait Pumpkin Pie and Apple Crisp flavored yogurt. I was a huge fan of Trader Joe’s pumpkin yogurt, but for some reason I’m nervous to try these.

5. I gagged a little when I saw this but had to include it anyway. Pumpkin Spice cream cheese.

6. Pumpkin is taking over! Who’s sick of it? I’m not. Yet. Give me a couple more weeks. These sound crazy sweet.

7. Now this I could get on board with, especially with a healthy serving of peanut butter. Weirdo combo?

8. First there were the Birthday Cake Oreos. Then there were the Candy Corn Oreos. Now there are Gingerbread and Peppermint Oreos.

Interesting fact: In 2010, Nabisco came out with Peppermint. I wonder if they’re the exact same thing.

9. Like I said on Friday, I am ecstatic for these to appear at, let’s face it, Target. All the good seasonal junk is exclusively at Target.

10. Last but not least, I’m praying to the chocolate gods that these come back. Pray with me!

What seasonal items are you loving?  Anything you’re sick of?

Do your teeth hurt after reading this post? I’m off to brush mine.