The Weekend of Food

You know its a good weekend when it begins and ends with good food. That was mine. I had been craving food from a local restaurant all week, so off we went to Bird Cafe. They have set up shop in one of the oldest buildings in Fort Worth and have a great patio to view the new Sundance Square. Oh, did I mention they have awesome food. Farm to table, local vendors and food artisans, and a great wine selection. It was just what the doctor ordered for my week end.

Saturday I was pretty down and out for the count all day. Stomach issues and exhaustion. However, we did make it out to Joe T. Garcia's for a friend Fort Worth wedding reception. They bride and groom arrived in a horse-drawn carriage and it was a fun evening to celebrate the newlyweds and eat Mexican food.

Sunday I had the urge to bake and bake I did. I made sweet biscuits for breakfast and then chocolate chip cookies. I mean USA was on, and what is more American than chocolate chip cookies? I ended with a garlic parmesan salmon with roasted cauliflower.

Now I am trying to get through the rainy day still plagued with stomach stuff.

5 on Friday

TGIF ya'll! Its been quite the week and needless to say, I am in need of a weekend. So, here's to World Cup, Dad's and pageantry.

1. Miss USA - Did ya catch it? Yup, we crowned the lovely Miss Nevada in that stunning red dress. But the real kudos? Miss Indiana who looked like a real woman in her size 4 glory! Amen sister for not giving into the thin is fit.

2. World Cup! Need I say more?

3. Father's Day! Yup, I know my dad situation is not the best, but I have an amazing man I am honored to have in my life. Thanks D for being a great role model, supporter, and all-around stand-in dad.

4. Baking! This week has been a chocolate chip kinda week! I made banana chocolate chip muffins and then peanut butter chocolate chip protein muffins. MMMM, muffins... MMMM chocolate chips!

5. New Make Up! Yup, I decided to grow-up my makeup and invest in some good products. I splurged on my skin and went with Armani. And... I am in love. Their primer is like silk, the foundation stays and their serum has been a god send to my skin damaged skin. I also invested in the best concealer on the block: Clé de Peau! OMG this stuff is amazing. Yes, its a tad expensive at $70, but so worth it. Covers everything from my blemishes to the awful melanoma brown spots I have all over.

That's all I have this Friday! Happy Father's Day to all and happy weekend!

  

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Then I got to Baking

I had a wild hair sitting at work yesterday. I got in the *gasp* baking mood! All these holiday posts and cookie books floating around just got me going. So, post work I headed to the store and grabbed a few supplies. On my list:

• almond bars (aka Christmas crack)
• cherry walnut bars (courtesy of the lovely Jessica) thanks for sharing!
• coconut cookies

I also picked up some Shiner Cheer for le guy, so he would have something to do while I baked and he watched TV.... I am sooo good or smart, either way he was le happy!

All the goods and my kitchen before the mess

cherry walnut bars in the oven (and me opps)

coconut cookies

 Ingredients:

1 1/4 cups flour                       

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup brown sugar ( I used Splenda)                                                  

1/2 cup white sugar  (I used Splenda)                                                  

1 egg

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1 1/3 cups sweetened, shredded coconut

 

Directions:

1.  
   -Preheat oven to 350.
2.  
   -In a separate bowl, mix together flour, baking soda, salt and set aside.
3.  
   -In a separate bowl cream butter and sugars together.
4.  
   -Add the egg &vanilla and mix well until fluffy
5.  
   -Combine the flour mixture with the sugar mixture.
6.  
   -Add coconut  (just stir to combine) 
7.  
   Bake for 8-10,

                          

 

 

Christmas crack

Ingredients:

1 lb almond bark
2 cups rice cereal
1 tsp. almond extract
1 cup PB
1 cup mini marshmallows

Directions:

1. Melt bark in pan
2. Add PB and almond extract
3. Remove from heat
4. Add rice cereal and marshmallows
5. press into 9 x 13 pan ( or 8 x 8 brownie pan)
 (sometimes I add mini chocolate chips or drizzle with chocolate)
6. let cool on counter then put in fridge

Needless to say, I enjoyed my inner Betty Crocker and Le Guy enjoyed his Cheer; and my office and him enjoyed my desserts!

I'm a Horrible Blogger

I aspire to be one of those bloggers who remembers to take pictures of everything.... I mean it. From the grocery buying, to the mixing, the mess, the finished project... yup I just don't. And why.... well because my life is one giant whirlwind!

I left work at about , eh 6pm.... trekked to Sam's to return the ornaments I do not need, ran to the store to buy a couple ingredients to make a homemade dessert for Bunco that I am hosting at my house tonight and cornbread fixings to accompany the crockpot turkey chili I am making for the meal & mac & cheese stuff for tomorrow's church party.... So.... I got home about 6:55 and began to make the various parts of these delicious skinny cranberry bliss bars. I had dogs running about, le guy on his way post workout and my house needed cleaned, dishes put away and laundry folded... So, yeah I decided to make a huge mess in my kitchen which needs to be spotless... And in swoops le guy! Sweet, wonderful man he is. Put the dishes away, cleaned the ones I was dirtying up, attended to the pups, made us sandwiches, helped me get the table I am borrowing from C and managed to still spend some quality time listening to be drone on about work...

So, yes it would be lovely to photograph this scene of baking delight, but no... I do not know how those bloggers do it, but I applaud thee! Kudos to you! Perhaps, if I remember amidst the doctor appointment, outfit fitting, mediation prep, conference call and getting home by 6:30 to let 11 women into my home, I might snap a photo or two... but don't judge me if tomorrow's post is baron... Yes, I am a horrible blogger.

Wish me luck tonight, if I'm lucky I'll win back the cost of the meal I made. xoxo

What's Cookin Wednesday

I am so excited to link up with Jenn today to share this awesome recipe with you all! I have been on the cooking and baking mood as of late and well what more could you want this time of year than pumpkin anything! Here is my healthier twist on pumpkin bread!

 

What You Need:

 

- 3.5 cups flour ( I used spelt, but plain ole All-Purpose will work)

- 1.5 teaspoons salt

- 2 teaspoons baking soda

- 3 cups sugar ( I used Splenda for a sugar-free option)

- 1 teaspoon nutmeg

- 1 teaspoon cinnamon

- 1 can (16 oz) pumpkin

- 1 cup unsweetened applesauce for lower fat (or 1 cup oil)

- 1/3 - 2/3 cup water

- 4 eggs

 

 - 2/3 cup chocolate morsels

 

What You Do:

 

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. (I did 325 on my convection oven)

 

2) Grease 2 loaf pans (or you will have one giant loaf)

 

3) Combine dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl until combined.

 

4) Add remaining wet ingredients and mix until well blended. (I beat the eggs separately first and then added them). *start with 1/3 cup water to see how wet/dry your batter is, add a lil more if you feel like the batter is too dry

 

5) Fold in the chocolate chips

6) Place batter in prepared pans (approximately half full) and bake for 1 hour. 

 

Voila! Enjoy the smell and taste of pumpkin and chocolate!