Friday, March 22, 2013

Friday Foodday

Happy Friday lovebugs!
Here are some great recipes for this week.

The Breakers 75
Ingredients
Champagne, about 3 to 4 ounces
1 ounce gin
1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice

Directions
Pour gin and lemon juice into the bottom of a champagne flute. Top with your bubbles. Down the hatch.
Tasting Notes: In addition to using the best gin and capital-C Champagne you’ve got, I highly suggest shaking the lemon juice and gin together in an ice-filled shaker tin to get them nice and chilled before building your drink.
Chicken Marsala Casserole
Ingredients
2 tbsp butter
10 oz sliced mushrooms
1 1/2 tbsp flour
1/2 cup marsala wine
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 cups chicken broth
1tsp dried parsley
Salt and pepper
1 cup long rain rice, uncooked
2 cups chopped rotisserie chicken (or any cooked chicken)
2 tbsp parmesan cheese
Directions
1- Preheat the oven to 350.
2- Melt the butter in a large skillet. Add the mushrooms and cook for about 5 minutes, until softened. Add the flour and stir well to coat.
3- Stir in the marsala wine and cream, allowing to cook and thicken, about 3 minutes. Stir in the broth, parsley, and season with salt and pepper.
4- In a 9x 13 dish, spread the rice in an even layer over the bottom of the dish. Top with the chicken.
5- Pour the mushroom gravy over the chicken and rice mix. Cover tightly with foil.
6- Bake 35 minutes, until bubbling.
7- Remove foil, sprinkle on parmesan cheese, and bake 5 minutes uncovered.

Nutella Cream Cheese Turnovers
Ingredients
1 sheet Puff Pastry, thawed
¼ cup Cream Cheese, softened
2/3 cup Nutella, divided
2 Tbsp Flour, for dipping fork to crimp turnover edges
1 Egg
1 Tbsp Water
2 Tbsp Powdered Sugar
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
On silicone baking mat, or floured surface, roll out puff pastry into a 12x12 inch square. Cut into 9 equal square shapes.
In bowl, whisk together cream cheese and ½ cup of Nutella until smooth and evenly mixed.
Drop 1 Tbsp of cream cheese/Nutella mixture into the corner of puff pastry. Leave a small edge on the puff pastry so when you fold the squares over the edges can be crimped together. Fold opposite side of the square over the Nutella/cream cheese mixture. Using a fork dipped in flour press the edges of the turnovers with the tines of the fork to seal the edges together.
Places the turnovers onto a baking sheet lined with parchment or a silicone baking sheet. In small dish, whisk together egg and water to make an egg wash. Brush each turnover with the egg wash.
Bake for about 25 minutes or until golden brown. Allow to cool on a wire rack. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and drizzle with additional warmed Nutella. Serve warm.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Flowers, for Me?

Floral is so easy for spring, we looked at some just a little while ago. Today we're searching for floral pumps. I love this trend because it combines the sometimes severe stiletto with the soft pattern and colors of a floral.

Look at how the patten continues down the heel. This is perfect with jeans or a sundress.

The Limited, Patterned Mid-Heel Pumps, $69
I LOVE these colors. Tan legs or pale legs, it works with them all.

A little Grease sock hop but in a Cha Cha DiGrergorio kind of way. Hot.

This pattern should be stretched onto a canvas. Just lovely.

Floral pumps, a little sexy, a little girly, a lot easy for any style. Pick a hue, pastel, purples, reds, you name it, you will find something in your taste for this trend.

Be fabulous today!

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Shifting Gears

Shift dresses are the epitome of simple. They can be boxy, which is a great look paired with some stacked heels, or you can belt the dress to accentuate the waist. So many of these dresses are sleeveless though, and that's not always work appropriate. Today let's look at some shift dresses with short sleeves.

Loft, Placed Floral Print Dress, $79
I love this cascading floral pattern, I would dress it down with a denim jacket.

Express, Short Sleeve Colorblock Shift, $29
These peachy colors are perfect for spring. It also comes in a navy hue!

Modcloth, Camp Get Enough, $89
Check out this adorable graphic landscape! This is just asking for a skinny braided belt and some flat sandals.

The Limited, Colorblock Dress, $79
A work appropriate shift that is needing some red pumps. I love placement of the black band.

Shift dresses can be styled to fit any shape or size. The short sleeve adds just a bit of class vs the sleeveless option.

Be fabulous today!

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

The Quirky Animal

Yesterday we did girly, today, we're going on safari. Leopard print is always an easy go to, even zebra. But what about giraffe? Yep, you heard me, that not so graceful, awkward and gangly animal that has a fantastic big print. Not sold? How about we ease you into it with some jewelry?
Fossil, Giraffe Pendant, $58
How cute is this? A little blingy, a lot unique. Perfect for layering.

OK, you can pay $99 for a similar bracelet here or $12 for this one.

Sweet, simple, easy, and quirky.

This tiny pendant is a great gift or a great add on for your weekend outfit.

See? Giraffes are sweet! They're lovely creatures so why not try them? Also, fun fact, giraffes sleep approximately 30 minutes per day. You're welcome.

Be fabulous today!