Friday Foodday

Happy Friday lovebugs! Here are my favorite recipes this week. 

Pok Pok's Rhubarb Blush Cocktail

c/o The Kitchn

Ingredients

1 ounce London Dry gin
1 ounce fresh-squeezed lime juice
1 ounce Aperol
1 to 2 dashes Fee Brothers Rhubarb Bitters
Orange or lemon twist for garnish

Directions

In a cocktail shaker filled half way with ice, combine the gin, lime juice, Aperol and bitters. Shake until well-chilled. Pour both cocktail and ice into a glass and garnish with an orange twist.

Million Dollar Pasta

c/o Buns in My Oven

Ingredients

• 1 pound penne pasta
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 jar pasta sauce
• 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
• 1 cup cottage cheese
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 tablespoon chopped chives
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package directions.
2. While the pasta is cooking, brown the hamburger meat in a medium skillet, crumbling it as it cooks. Drain the fat and return to the pan. Stir in the pasta sauce and set aside.
3. Meanwhile, beat together the cream cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream, chives, salt, and pepper with an electric mixer until well combined.
4. Drain the pasta when it's finished cooking and return to the pot. Stir in the cream cheese mixture and the meat sauce until well coated.
5. Serve immediately.

Lemon Crumb Cake

c/o Shugary Sweets

Ingredients

FOR THE CAKE

• 1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp kosher salt
• 6 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 Tbsp lemon juice
• 1/4 cup milk

FOR THE FILLING:

• 1 package (8oz) cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 lemon, zested

FOR THE STREUSEL:

• 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 tsp kosher salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

FOR THE GLAZE:

• 1 Tbsp lemon juice
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 Tbsp milk
• 
  

Directions

1. For the cake, grease and flour a 9-inch cake pan. Set aside.
2. In a large mixing bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt on low until combined. Beat in softened butter until crumbly. Add in eggs, vanilla extract, lemon juice and milk. Beat for about 3-4 minutes until light and fluffy. Pour into prepared pan.
3. For the filling, beat cream cheese with sugar, egg and lemon zest for about 4-5 minutes. Pour over cake layer, being careful to not let it touch the sides of the pan.
4. In a small bowl, combine streusel ingredients with a fork. Sprinkle over top of cake. Bake in a 325 degree oven for about 38-42 minutes. Cool completely in pan. When cooled, remove from pan and place on a serving plate.
5. Whisk together the glaze ingredients until smooth. Drizzle over cooled cake. Serve and enjoy!

Working for the Weekend

Tis almost the weekend lovebugs. Let's celebrate. I love a great graphic top and who doesn't love the weekend? Here are some fun graphic tops that celebrate just that.

Ily Couture, Weekend Eco-Grey Sweatshirt, $58

The perfect relaxed top for the best two days of the week.

Nordstrom, BP Graphic Rolled Sleeve Shirt, $32

Simple sentiment, major comfort.

Modcloth, Life in the Breakfast Lane Tee, $29

Yes they really are, Modcloth.

Lord and Taylor, I Love Sundays Fleece Pullover, $58

When the AC is on high and you want to keep your under the covers cozy going, slip into this and some leggings.

Who doesn't love a graphic top, especially when they celebrate the best days of the week?

Be fabulous today!

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Buy Me Flowers for No Reason

It's hump day. We're getting there. To spruce up today let's look at something pretty, some unexpected florals. The following florals are modern, cool, sophisticated and not your mom's Easter floral.

Saks Off Fifth, Floral Print Paneled Fit and Flare, $69

The exposed front zipper gives this pretty print some edge.

Loft, Modern High Waist Skinny Ankle Jean, $39

Told you these were a different kind of floral. I love the mustard with black and white on these jeans.

Macy's, Ronni Nicole Cap Sleeve Floral Colorblock Sheath, $69

The best part about this dress isn't the floral, it's the epic orange stripe down the sides. So chic.

JCPenny, Stylus Twill Shorts, $17

A bright pair of shorts are going to get a lot of wear this summer. And the price is right.

The right floral will do wonders for your wardrobe and these options are quite lovely and unexpected. Try a floral in more than just a Sunday dress. Wear it to work, add tasseled jewelry for date night, you name it, the floral will help.

Be fabulous today!

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Mule-ing it Over

Mules are weird. Both the animal and the trend. I'm not sure why it's a thing but it's one of the more comfortable trends we're seeing right now so I'm on board. Mule sandals are particularly great because they're usually very walkable with some nice support versus a strappy option.

Anthropologie, Lien.Do Sol Mules, $99

Woven rafia, does it get more summer than this? They're just so pretty.

Swell, Rebels Hallie Perforated Peep Toe Heel, $72

The detail of the perforation is so quiet that it add just the right amount of style to these otherwise organic and simple heels.

Nordstrom, Jessica Simpson Romy Leather Mules, $88

Gotta love J Simp for adding  pop of pink to this nude sandal. This is white jean ready.

Bare Necessities, Seychelles Leather Mule Sandals, $78

I'd save these shoes for a cool summer night with a breezy maxi dress. The leather is going to give you some sweaty feet but with this much style, who cares?

The mule trend is sticking around for a while and in this variation of a summer sandal, that is just fine by me.

Be fabulous today!

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