Friday, January 23, 2015

Friday Foodday

Happy Friday lovebugs, here are my favorite recipes this week.

The XYZ Cocktail
c/o The Kitchn
Ingredients
1 1/2 ounces rum
3/4 ounces orange liqueur
3/4 ounces lemon juice


Directions

Combine all the ingredients in a Boston shaker or cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake vigorously for 10 seconds. Strain the contents into a chilled cocktail glass.

Brussel Sprout Hash with Sweet Potato and Bacon
Ingredients
  • 4 strips bacon, cut into 1 inch pieces
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 1 small sweet potato, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
  • 1 clove garlic, chopped
  • 1 pound brussels sprouts, trimmed and sliced
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 4 eggs

Directions
  1. Cook the bacon in a pan over medium heat and set aside.
  2. Add the onion and sweet potato to the pan and saute until tender, about 5-7 minutes.
  3. Add the garlic and saute until fragrant, about a minute.
  4. Add the brussels sprouts, saute until tender, about 5 minutes, let sit until the bottoms start to caramelize, about 5 minutes, mix everything up, let sit for 5 minutes and mix it all up.
  5. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  6. Create 4 small wells in the hash, add the eggs and cook until the desired level of done-ness.


Red Velvet Biscotti
Ingredients
for the biscotti
  • 6 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 large egg
  • 3 Tbsp BAILEYS Red Velvet Cupcake Coffee Creamer (or heavy cream)
  • 2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp red gel food coloring
  • For the glaze:
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1 Tbsp BAILEYS Red Velvet Cupcake Coffee Creamer (or heavy cream)
  • ¼ cup mini chocolate chips
Directions
  1. In a large mixing bowl, beat butter with granulated sugar. Add cocoa powder and egg to the mixture, beat until combined. Add in the creamer, and mix until fully blended. Add flour, baking powder, and food coloring and mix until combined. 
  2. Line a 15inch x 10inch x 1inch baking sheet with parchment paper. Divide dough in half. With hands, pat dough into 9inch x 2 ½ inch rectangles. You will have TWO rectangles. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 25 minutes. Remove biscotti from oven. Slice each rectangle of dough into 9 even slices. Tip each slice onto one side and return to oven. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and flip biscotti to opposite side. Bake an additional 10 minutes. Remove from oven and cool completely. 
  3. In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, cream cheese and creamer until smooth. Spread a generous amount of glaze onto each slice of biscotti. Add mini chocolate chips, if desired. Allow glaze to set, about 15 minutes. Store in airtight container for up to one week. ENJOY.

Thursday, January 22, 2015

Outerwear Your Ears

The latest trend in earrings: the ear jacket. Seriously. I think it's more wearable than the ear cuff but a bit more unexpected than your normal stud earring. The ear jacket is part stud and part drop earring.

BaubleBar, Pearl Arc Ear Jackets, $28
Step up your normal pearls for these whimsical accessories. You can also vary the length of the earring with adjustable holes for the stud.

Bloomingdale's, AQUA Paige Bar Ear Jacket, $20
A little door knocker and a little hoop. This is going to look great with a suit. 

Got a special occasion or an LBD that need a boost? These babies. Elegant and interesting.

Stella and Dot, Crescent Ear Jacket, $49
I saved my favorite for last. These have four different way to wear them. Wear just the studs, switch out the stud and just enjoy the compliments.

I'm loving this trend. I think it's different without being isolating to us 9-5 folks. 

Be fabulous today!

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Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Split Down the Middle

What is it about the slightest details that transforms the entire look of a skirt? Texture, shape, movement, or as we will see today, the slit. What we think of when we think of a pencil skirt is a back slit. Turn it around and you have a completely different look. Something powerful, corporate, and sexy. I give you the front slit skirt.

Here we have a stunning midi that has a slim cut and hugs in all of the right places.

Let's talk beige. This effortless and cool shade is oozing confidence.

Jones New York, Black Pencil Skirt with Front Slit, $64 $39
Simple, elegant, and work ready. This skirt is understated and yet show stopping.

Asymmetrical front slit. This skirt has structure and movement at the same time.

The front slit is such a simple switch but totally changes the silhouette of the outfit.

Be fabulous today!

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Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Hard Rock Life

Let's go au naturale. Sometimes chic is getting back to basics with some earthy materials. I'm talking about natural stone jewelry. Big statement with some weight.

BaubleBar, Howlite Goodall Drops, $32
A stunner with varying shapes with a great length.

Sole Society, Natural Jasper Bangle, $54
I love this stone. It reminds me of the aerial view looking out of a plane window. Beautiful movement in this blue stone.

Anthropologie, Norrland Necklace, $88
This is absolutely an outfit maker. Look at everything that's going on here. So many dimensions and layers, just beautiful.

Free People, Five and Two Gemma Ring, $88
How raw and edgy is this ring? It's quite delicate in the band but the stone does all of the talking.

I really like the natural stone as a nice break from the big bling options. Each piece is unique and it comes in every shape and size.

Be fabulous today!

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