Friday Foodday

Happy Friday! Here are my favorite recipes this week.

The Greyhound
c/o The Kitchn

Ingredients
Ice
3 ounces freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, preferably Ruby Red
2 ounces vodka
Grapefruit wedge, for garnish

Directions
Fill a lowball glass with ice. Add the grapefruit juice and vodka and stir to combine. Garnish with the grapefruit wedge.

Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup
c/o Shugary Sweets

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup diced onions (yellow or white)
• 1 cup shredded carrots (I used matchsticks that I cut into half inch pieces)
• 2 1/2-3 cups broccoli florets, chopped small
• 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup milk (I use skim/fat free)
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• pinch of crushed red pepper flakes (or more as desired)
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Directions

1. In a large pot over medium high heat, melt butter. Add in onions, carrots and broccoli. Cook to soften about 5 minutes (may be more or less depending on the size vegetables you cut).
2. Slowly add in broth, milk, and cream. Sprinkle with flour and add salt, pepper and red pepper flakes. Continue stirring and heating over medium heat until thickened. This will take about 10-15 minutes.
3. Once thick, add cheese and stir until melted and smooth. Serve soup and enjoy!

Valentine's Surprise Cugar Cookie Stacks

c/o Country Cleaver

Ingredients

Cookies

• 2 Packages Pillsbury Sugar Cookie Dough
• 1 cup Valentine Colored M&M Candies

Frosting

• ½ cup Butter, room temperature
• ½ cup Shortening
• 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
• 5-6 tsp Milk
• Pinch Salt
• 4 cups Powdered Sugar, sifted
• 
  
• Decorating Accessories

1 − 3" Heart Shaped Cookie Cutter

1 − 1" Round Cookie Cutter

Assorted Food Colorings - Pink, Red, etc

1/4 cup Red/Pink/White Assorted Sprinkles

Directions

Pre-heat oven, slice cookies and place on prepared baking sheet. Bake according to package directions. Remove cookies from sheet. Cut a 1-inch hole out of every other sugar cookie using the 1-inch round cookie cutter, while still warm. Remove center and set cookies aside to finish cooling. Discard (or eat) the center cut out of the rest of the cookies.

For Frosting

In stand mixer or with hand mixer in a large bowl, beat together the butter and shortening until smooth and combined. Add in vanilla extract, pinch of salt and 5 teaspoons of milk. Slowly mix in powdered sugar and beat until combined and smooth. If the frosting is to thick, add in additional teaspoon of milk so that is a spreadable consistency.Divide the frosting into small bowls and tint in desired colors. *Note* If the frosting doesn't immediately turn the desired color after repeated attempts to darken the frosting, let it rest and it will darken as it sets. Place into separate piping bags.

To Assemble

For the bottom cookie, use a whole cookie. Pipe around the outer edge of the cookie and top with a cookie ring. Repeat the piping process with another cookie ring. With two cookie rings attached to a bottom cookie, fill the center well with M&M's. Pipe a frosting ring around the edge of one full-cookie and place on top to cover the M&M wells. Frost the top cookie as desired. Dip frosting side down into sprinkles, then top onto cookie stack to complete. Serve immediately.

Guest Post: Immigration Nation

Immigration, Immigration, it’s people movin’ to another Nation!

Well here we are a few days out of the “Immigrant/Refugee Ban.” I desperately hope that by the time you are reading this post, this horrible order doesn’t even exist anymore. If you’re like me, you’re racking your brain for things that you can do, buy, post, etc. to help the situation. It’s not much but it’s something. My mom always told me, if you can’t be the solution, be a link in the chain….

What follows is a collection of goods that support refugees as they resettle and begin again—products that help rebuild, heal, and restore. This guide is a celebration of courage and resilience and an invitation to become a part of a refugee's story.

{Thanks to Bittersweet Foundation for the inspiration}

For the Ladies:

Safari Stripe Small Pouch, $38

GAIA creations are handmade by resettled refugee women in Dallas using vintage, artisan-made, & sustainable materials. Its mission is to empower marginalized women through employment, encouragement, and dedication to their long-term success in their local communities.  

Suede Braid Bracelet, $24

WORN is a socially-conscious business whose mission is to provide refugee women living in Fort Worth, Texas, a supplemental source of income. All products are hand-knit in the USA by women who have survived the afflictions of their war-torn and poverty-stricken homelands.

Faraxsan Floral Pillow, $29

Mend Creative provides employment opportunities for newly resettled refugees in Denver, Colorado. This home decor brand provides jobs, builds community, and offers an outlet for creative expression. Mend creates high quality, custom sewn home decor, and 100% of net profits are re-invested back into its non-profit partner, Hope In Our City, which is working to foster community in refugee neighborhoods.

For the Men:

Bikes Blue and White Tie, $45

Knotty Ties creates dignified employment opportunities for skilled resettled refugees in Denver, Colorado. By partnering with local refugee and asylee resettlement agencies, the company is able to offer jobs to refugees based on skills they already possess or want to learn. In addition to crafting unique ties, bowties and scarfs, the company offers custom designing for weddings, companies or individuals who just want to express their own personal style.

Camel Dopp Kit, $65

Anne b strives to provide you simple and practical designs made from quality materials sourced in the U.S.A. The company partners with local leaders of refugee employment organizations to identify, train, and employ local refugees as seamstresses for anne b designs.

Kinsman Soap, $35

Every bar helps Iraqi refugees provide for their loved ones and reclaim their lives from the ashes of war. Give the gift of empowerment to men in Iraq. With you by their side, they will defy hate, care for their families, and remake the world.  

For the Kids:

Matching Fruits Memory Game, $29.50

Child's Cup Full is a non-profit social enterprise with a mission to create lasting economic opportunities for refugee and low-income communities in the West Bank. At its artisan center, talented women artisans are given employment and trained to make beautifully handcrafted educational children's toys and other handmade products for the global marketplace. 

Guest Post: Get Back on the Horse

Hi everyone! I’m Heather, Kelsey’s BFF from middle school (yeah, we’re getting old), filling in while Kelsey sleeps for a few days in wedded bliss.

While Kelsey is bringing the fabulous to DC, I live in Memphis. And while DC is nice and snowy this time of year, it’s been in the 60s half of January here. And then it drops 30 degrees. In these uncertain times, my go-to outfit is riding boots and a long-sleeved dress. Here are some of my current faves.

DSW, Unisa Tereza Riding Boot, $69.95

My go-to boot style - they literally go with EVERYTHING.

H&M, Wrap-front Dress, $24.99

I love a great print - why wear solids when you can have so much more fun?

Modcloth, Fresh Air to Spare Long Sleeve Dress, $39.99

Obsessed. The fit is spectacular and that print is to die for.

Old Navy, Crepe Swing Dress, $19.99

I could (and do) wear florals year-round - it’s never too cold for flowers!

Modcloth, Do You Coffee? Shirt Dress, $69.99

Again with the florals - and this one has the added bonus of being green and white for this KD.

This look is great for a business-casual office like mine, and then for going straight to happy hour. And keeps you warm but not overly toasty on those crazy weather days!

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All In: Date Night

Thanks for giving me the day off yesterday. Today we are back at it with the first Monday Tuesday of the month and our All In post. Let's get ready for date night for under $100.

dress/heels/earrings/clutch

Be fabulous today!

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