Chocolate Chip Cookies, A Quest

Let's talk about chocolate chip cookies. I have a handful of different chocolate chip cookie recipes saved to my food for thought folder on pinterest. My goal is to eventually try them all. My mother is slightly offended I am not content just to use her recipe. While her recipe creates a divine pan cookie, it does not meet the requirements of my ideal chocolate chip cookie. My favorite CCC can usually be found in bakeries and cafes. Thin to medium thickness, crispy edges, soft middle, chocolate in every bite. That is chocolate chip cookie perfection in my book. And if it happens to almost be the size of my face, that's okay too :)  I'm on a quest to find the best recipe!

This first batch of cookies was quite lovely, but not exactly what I'm looking for. This recipe, slightly adapted from here, creates a thick cookie, but with a really lovely chewy texture. I started with this recipe because I happened to have all of the ingredients on hand. I would make these again, but my quest shall continue!

INGREDIENTS (yields approximately 24 cookies)

1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup margarine
1 1/2 cups light brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
4 tsp vanilla
4 1/3 cups all purpose flour
2T cornstarch
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips

INSTRUCTIONS
1. In a stand mixer, mix butter, margarine, and both sugars until light and fluffy.
2. Add in eggs and vanilla, mixing until well combined.
3. Combine dry ingredients (except for chocolate chips) in a separate bowl.
4. Slowly add the dry ingredients into the wet, mixing on a low speed to incorporate the ingredients without making a mess.
5. Stir in chocolate chips.
6. Use a 1/4 cup measure to scoop out dough and form into balls.
7. Place dough in freezer for 2 hours. This will help the cookies maintain their thickness.
8. Preheat over to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
9. Place frozen cookies onto a greased baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes, until the edges are starting to brown.
10. Let the cookies cool for 2 minutes, then remove to a cooling rack.

Simple Chocolate Mousse

This chocolate mousse takes just minutes to make and requires only 3 ingredients. I suppose it isn't a traditional mousse. It may be more aptly named chocolate whipped cream, but it is quick, rich, and delicious. It makes the perfect dessert as is, but would probably be equally as delightful used as frosting for a cake or as a dip for fruit or maybe as a filling between cookies! Ready to change your life in the span of 3 minutes?

Ingredients
10 oz of heavy cream
1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 cup powdered sugar

Directions
Pour all ingredients into a stand mixer. Beat on low until the dry ingredients get somewhat incorporated into the heavy cream to avoid making a mess, then beat on high until stiff peaks form. This should only take a couple minutes. You will want to keep an eye on it to keep from over mixing. Quite honestly, the amounts of the ingredients are more of a guideline. This is a forgiving recipe. Taste as you go to adjust for flavor and sweetness!

Frozen Strawberry Peach Smoothie

You will need:

1 cup frozen strawberries

1 cup frozen peaches

1/2 cup old fashioned oats (optional)

1 cup yogurt

3-4 tablespoons of milk

a drizzle (or two) of honey

Combine everything in the blender with the frozen fruit on the bottom. Blend until smooth and well combined. You may need to adjust the amount of milk (or water or juice) to get a consistency that works for you. I made this smoothie the other day and had some left over so I decided to make it into a popsicle! If you go the frozen route, just pour the smoothie mixture into a paper cup, set a popsicle stick in the center and freeze for several hours until solid.

Pizza Rolls

 Let's talk about pizza. I could write odes and sonnets and sing a million serenades to pizza, but I won't. At least not while you're watching. Just know that this love is real. There are countless delightful variations of this major food group; thin crust, deep dish, New York, Chicago, calzones, stromboli...the list goes on. Today I want to talk about these delicious pockets of wonderfulness: stuffed pizza rolls!

You don't have to, but I highly recommend making your own pizza dough. It is easy. It is delicious. It will change your life for the better.

Simple Pizza Dough
(wet ingredients)
3/4 cup milk
3/4 cup water
1/4 cup olive oil

(dry ingredients)
2 cups flour, plus 2-3 more cups
2 tablespoons instant yeast
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt

1. In a microwave safe container, combine the wet ingredients and microwave for 1 minute and 30 seconds.
2. In a bowl, combine 2 cups of flour with the other dry ingredients. I used an electric mixer. It can be mixed by hand, but the electric mixer takes care of most of the kneading.
3. With the mixer on medium low, slowly pour the warm liquid mixture into the dry ingredients.
4. Gradually add another 2-3 cups of flour. Add just enough flour that the dough completely pulls away from the sides of the bowl. If mixing by hand, add flour in until the dough is no longer sticky, but is still pretty elastic.
5. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead a few times then let rest for 10-20 minutes under a towel.

While the dough is resting, get your toppings together. You can go buck wild here. Put anything your heart desires in there! We had some italian sausage crumbles, chicken, sauteed sweet peppers, mushrooms, onions, mozzarella cheese, and bleu cheese. We did a variety of combinations. After the dough has rested, cut it into roll size chunks and stretch and flatten them.

Place a small mound of toppings in the center of each dough round. To seal, bring two edges together, press, and then twist the opposite sides up and press together. It should come together pretty easily to create little pizza dumplings :) Place the rolls on a lightly greased baking sheet. Brush with an egg wash (1 egg beaten with a few tablespoons of water) and top with sesame seeds or a seasoning if you're feeling fancy. Use a knife or fork to poke some small holes in the dough to release steam and avoid them exploding in the oven. Bake at 400 degrees, until lightly golden brown, 15-20 minutes. Optional: serve with a side of pizza sauce. Mandatory: devour!

Lemon Lime Lemonies

(slightly adapted from Bakerella) These are totally scrumptious, by the way, and wicked simple to make. Think lemon bar, but with a fudgy brownie consistency. Here we go!

INGREDIENTS
Dry
1 cup flour
1 cup sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking powder
1 T lemon zest
Wet
3/4 cup butter, melted and cooled
2 eggs
3 T lemon juice
1 tsp vanilla
Icing
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
2 T lemon juice
1 T lime juice
1 tsp lime zest

1. This is a one bowl recipe! Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8x8inch square pan with cooking spray.
2. In a bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients. Then add the wet ingredients, using the whisk until the batter is well combined.
3. Pour the batter into the greased pan and bake 20-25 minutes until a cake tester comes out clean.
4. Allow the lemonies to cool completely. While they cool, sift the powdered sugar into a bowl to get rid of any lumps. Add in the lemon and lime juice and zest. Whisk to combine until the icing is a smooth and silky consistency.
5. When the lemonies have cooled, pour the icing all over those bad boys. Place in the fridge for a bit to set the icing then dig in!

These are SO delicious! I want to try making an orange or grapefruit version. If you love citrus, give these a try :)

Baked Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal

 This post is heavily inspired by Elizabeth of Delightfully Tacky who made Strawberry Rhubarb Banana Baked Oatmeal the other day. Admittedly, I'm not a big oatmeal person, but it just sounded like it would hit the spot so I adapted her recipe for ingredients we had on hand. I love that baked oatmeal is one of those recipes with limitless flavor combos.

 Ingredients
(Dry)
2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1 cup of chopped apple
1/2 cup of slivered almonds
1/2 tsp salt
(Wet)
2 cups milk
1/2 cup applesauce
3 T butter, melted
2 tsp vanilla

Crumb Topping
1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup brown sugar
2T sugar
pinch of salt
4T cold butter cut into small pieces

• Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Grease an 8x8in baking dish and place on a baking sheet.
• Mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Mix wet ingredients separately. Then combine the wet and dry and pour into the greased baking dish. Bake for 25 minutes.
• While the oatmeal is baking, make the crumb topping. Squish the ingredients together to create a loose crumble. It's getting warmer here so I let my crumb topping sit in the fridge until I was ready to use it to keep the butter cold. 
• At the 25 minute mark, pour the crumb topping over the oatmeal. Bake for an additional 15 minutes until golden brown and the milk mixture has set. Enjoy hot out of the oven!
• For extra decadence, try serving with maple syrup or caramel sauce drizzled over the top.

 Finn was so excited. He wanted some too ;)

Glazed Apricots

 I made glazed apricots for the first time today for my momma's birthday. I had no idea how they would turn out, but I am thrilled to report that they are incredible! And seriously addicting, so watch out.

You will need:
1 cup of water
1 1/2 cups of sugar
6oz package of dried apricots (or more)
good dark chocolate (optional)

This recipe is really simple. The most important tip I have is to buy good dried apricots. They should feel soft and moist. Start by boiling the water in a small saucepan. After the water reaches a boil, add the sugar. Stir until the sugar completely dissolves then allow the sugar water to come to a boil and simmer for about 10 minutes. This will thicken the syrup/glaze a bit. Take the glaze off the heat. Prepare a plate or pan with wax paper. Dip your apricots in the glaze and place on the wax paper to dry. I dipped mine twice and then placed them in the fridge for a few hours to set. I decided to dip half of my glazed apricots in dark chocolate. No secret here. Just buy good chocolate and melt it in the microwave in short increments to prevent burning, then dip your apricots. Place in the fridge for a few minutes to set the chocolate, then try not to devour every last one all by yourself!

Chocolate Cake Waffles

Chocolate. Cake. Waffles. That's about as great as life gets folks. A warm chocolatey waffle topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream....pure bliss. I feel bad even calling this a recipe because you just need to follow the instructions on your favorite box of cake mix to make the batter and then make according to your waffle maker. Imagine serving these at your next birthday party. Instead of everyone getting a slice of cake everyone gets there own waffle to top with ice cream, berries, whipped cream etc. Maybe funfetti waffles instead of chocolate. Who knows?! The possibilities are endless. It's exciting!

Simple Saturday// Strawberry Daiquiri

This is the most delightful of strawberry daiquiris. With or without the rum. Perfect for the beach....or a rainy day stuck indoors.

Ingredients
1/2 bag of frozen strawberries
1/2 can of frozen limeade
8-12 oz of water
8 oz of mint simple syrup
rum (optional)

serves 6-8

Directions
Combine all ingredients in the blender and blend till smooth and frothy. If you don't know how to make a simple syrup, simply combine equal parts water and sugar in a saucepan on medium low heat, stirring until the sugar is completely dissolved. Add your flavoring agent (in this case a handful of fresh or dry mint) to the pan, lower the heat, and allow it to simmer for 30 minutes to an hour. Let the simple syrup cool before using. Extra syrup can be stored in a mason jar for several weeks. It's great for sweetening tea and other drinks :)

Simple Saturday// Candied Orange Peel

 Guys. This recipe is divine. If you like those candy fruit wedges or chocolate oranges then you have to try making your own candied orange peel. It's super simple and the end candy is chewy and delicious! You could also use grapefruit, lemon, or lime peel. Keep in mind that the candy needs a day or two to dry out so plan ahead!

You will need:
2 oranges
2 cups of sugar
water
1 bar of dark chocolate (optional)

 1. Cut off the ends of your oranges and score the peel. You want to try to keep the peel as intact as possible when you remove it.

2. Remove the excess pith (inner white stuff on the peel) by gently sliding a knife along the peel. Slice the peel into quarter inch slices.

3. Boil the peel slices for 15 minutes. Drain the water, rinse the peels, then drain again. Set aside.

4. In a medium saucepan, combine 3 cups of water with 2 cups of sugar over medium heat. Stir to dissolve the sugar. Bring this to a boil then add the peel. Wait for the sugar water to reach a boil again then reduce the heat to a simmer. Let the peel simmer for 45 minutes until very soft. Remove the peel and save the orange syrup for cocktails, ice cream, waffles etc.

5-7. Now you have a few options with what you can do with the peel. You can leave it plain, you can toss it in sugar, or you can coat it in chocolate. If you're leaving it plain, separate the slices on a sheet of foil and let it dry on the counter for a day or two. If you're tossing it with sugar, do so right after cooking then set out on a sheet of foil to dry for a day or two. 

8. If dipping in chocolate, lay the slices out to dry for a day or two then coat in chocolate. I found it easiest to melt my dark chocolate with a bit of butter over a double boiler just to make sure I didn't burn it in the microwave. Let it set up. If you're impatient like me, throw it in the freezer for a few minutes.

9. Devour!

Leftover Diaries: Rice

Whenever we make rice at home we always seem to have leftovers. It always grow more than we think it will. Usually, we just toss the leftover rice into a veggie stir fry, but we recently tried something a bit more interesting! Here is a delicious and customizable fried rice ball recipe.

INGREDIENTS
Leftover rice
Cheese(s) of your choice, shredded (I used a mix of cheddar and pepper jack)
Seasonings of your choice (I just used salt and pepper)
2 eggs
a bit of flour
bread crumbs
vegetable oil

1. Start by pouring 1.5-2 inches of oil into a frying safe container. Put the heat on high.

2. In a bowl, combine your rice, cheese, seasonings, 1 egg and a few tablespoons of flour. The egg and flour will help the mixture stick together better.

3. Form the rice mixture into small (1-2 inches) balls.

4. Prepare two separate bowls. Beat the second egg in one and pour the bread crumbs into another.

5. Roll your rice balls first in the egg and then in the bread crumbs until completely covered. Pat the bread crumbs so they're fairly secure.

6. Put one rice ball in the friar to test the oil. If the ball bubbles and starts to brown immediately then your oil is ready, if not give your oil a few more minutes to heat up.

7. When your oil is ready lower the heat to medium. Fry as many as your rice balls at once as you are comfortable with. After a few minutes, rotate the balls making sure it browns evenly on all sides.

8. Let the rice balls cool for a few minutes then enjoy!

Leftover Diaries: Mashed Potatoes

The Leftover Diaries might become a mini series here on the blog as inspiration for what to do with some common leftovers. Today is starring mashed potatoes! Now, I know that there are a lot of voracious mashed potato eaters out there. Maybe you don't typically have leftover mashed potatoes. Solution: just make more mashed potatoes than you typically would because this recipe is worth it. Like a lot of my cooking recipes you'll notice that I don't give specific measurements of ingredients. That's because cooking is as much art as science and I really just add ingredients in until I get the consistency and flavors I want and those will depend on how much leftover potatoes you're starting with and your taste preferences. Cooking is customizable! Have fun with it :)

YOU WILL NEED:

leftover mashed potatoes

shredded cheese (I used cheddar)

pepper

flour

milk

butter

1. Shred some cheese and dump it into your bowl of leftover mashed potatoes. It helps if your mashed potatoes are cold from the refrigerator. Add a dash of pepper, a few tablespoons of flour, and a splash of milk. Stir to combine. The consistency should allow you to form patties in your hand without them being super crumbly.

2. Melt a few tablespoons of butter in a nonstick pan. While the butter melts, form the potato mixture into small patties. After the butter is melted, place a few of your patties in the pan. Be careful not to crowd the pan too much because these are pretty delicate and you'll need a bit of room to maneuver. Give them about 5 minutes on the first side. You want a nice golden crust to form so just let them sit and do their thing. Gently flip them and let them cook another 3-5 minutes on the second side. Enjoy!

These are super delicious and I think I actually prefer them to just regular old mashed potatoes. Something about the golden crust and melty cheese....perfection. I like to make these for breakfast the morning after we have mashed potatoes with dinner. Give them a try!

Simple Saturday// Gnocchi Mac'n'Cheese

First off, food photography (or I guess photography period, gosh). Not my strong suit. I'm workin' on it. Barring my lack of awesome photography skillz, this is delicious. Baked gnocchi mac'n'cheese. I'm all about it. Mac'n'cheese is my go to comfort food and this just kicks it up a couple notches into decadent. Perfect for special days, or like if you want to have a really rad Tuesday. Zach and I made this for our Valentine's Day dinner. It was awesome.

You will need:
2-3 slices of slab bacon
1 small onion
1-2 tablespoons of butter
a few tablespoons of flour
cheese of your choice (I used smoked gouda and colby jack)
some milk
a bag or package of gnocchi (fresh or frozen, doesn't matter)
bread crumbs (optional)

Instructions:
1. Fill a medium sized sauce pan about half full with water and put it on to boil.

2. Shred your cheese(s). Smoked gouda is one of my favorites and colby jack melts well, but you do you.

3. Chop your bacon into bite size pieces. Place them in a dry saucepan over medium heat. As the bacon starts to render, chop your onion into bite size pieces. Add to the bacon and stir.

4. At some point during all this your water should reach a boil. When it does, dump your gnocchi in. Check the package for cooking instructions.

5.When the bacon is basically done, observe how much fat rendered in the pan. If it seems too dry, add a few tablespoons of butter. Lower the heat. Once the butter is melted, add flour 1 tablespoon at a time. Stir it into the bacon onion mixture until it disappears. Add flour until the bacon and onions stick together in a little ball. This is called a roux. It will help thicken the cheese sauce for the gnocchi. There aren't exact measurements here, you just have to go by sight.

6. Now that your roux is set, stir in a bit of milk using a wooden spoon to smooth out the roux. Again, this isn't an exact science, but you should have enough liquid to completely dissolve any clumps. It's always a better idea to start with less and add more as needed.

7. Let the milk mixture heat up for a few minutes then start to add in your shredded cheese a handful at a time. Stir to combine as you go, letting it melt pretty thoroughly between handfuls. Keep adding cheese until you're pleased with the consistency of the sauce. It should be creamy and fairly thick. (I know, I know. That's what she said. Real mature guys.)

8. Drain your gnocchi and toss in the cheese sauce. Optional: Put mixture in an oven safe glass pan, dust with breadcrumbs on top, and put it under the broiler on low for a few minutes to get a little crusty.

9. Enjoy the party your taste buds are about to have.

Five on Friday// Comfort Food

 pesto tortellini

 chocolate peanut butter rice krispie treats

 homemade bagels

 brussel sprouts (with bacon)

homemade double fry potato chips

It's still comfort food season. These are some of my favorites that I've shared on the blog! What foods do you turn to in the doldrums of winter?

Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats

 Today I bring you: chocolate peanut butter rice krispie treats aka food of the gods. This is a pinterest inspired recipe gone awesomely, deliciously, stupendously right. It is easy. It is quick. It tastes amazing. I will be making these regularly from now on! Oh, and it's perfect for a Valentine's Day treat too ;)

You will need: 
1 10.5 oz bag mini marshmallows
5 1/2 cups rice krispie cereal
1/4 cup butter
1 cup peanut butter
1 1/3 cup chocolate chips

 1. Start by lining a baking sheet with wax paper. Spray the wax paper liberally with non-stick cooking spray. This will make rolling the krispies much easier later.
2. In a microwave safe bowl combine the bag of mini marshmallows with the 1/4 cup of butter and a 1/4 cup of the peanut butter. Microwave for 2 minutes.
3. Pour the 5 1/2 cups of rice cereal into the melted marshmallow concoction. Stir until well combined.
4. Dump the krispie mixture out onto the wax paper lined baking sheet. Put a little non-stick spray on your hands and press the cereal down into an even layer.
5. Combine the rest of the peanut butter (3/4 cup) and the chocolate chips (1 1/3 cup) in a microwave safe container. Microwave in 20 second intervals so as to avoid burning the chocolate. Stir to combine.
6. Pour the delicious chocolate peanut buttery goodness onto your krispies. Use a spatula to evenly disperse the chocolate.
7. Lift an edge of the krispies and roll them until you have a log. Press the edge together. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, then slice into wheels.
8. Devour this magical creation.

Brussel Sprouts

 Let's talk about brussel sprouts; weird looking baby cabbages with so much potential. I have to say, I really truly love brussel sprouts...particularly when paired with bacon! Brussel sprouts wouldn't be quite so appealing all by their lonesome. Here's a quick, simple recipe that will get your taste buds humming.

 Chop part of an onion and a slice or two of slab bacon into small pieces. Cook in a saute pan until it's almost done. While the bacon starts, cut off the ends of your brussels and slice them into thirds (or whatever size you see fit). When the bacon is almost done, add the brussels into the pan. If the bacon didn't render enough fat and the pan is too dry, add a bit of olive oil or butter. Grate in a clove of garlic. Salt and pepper to taste. Stir everything to combine. Let cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Enjoy! Warning: this is addicting (but it's okay because it's pretty healthy!).

Simple Saturday// Ginger Syrup (used 3 ways)

 I've mentioned before my love for whiskey gingers. It's one of my favorite cocktails. Normally I just use ginger ale, but I decided to broaden my horizons and create a ginger simple syrup. It makes such a huge difference! I'm a total convert. Ginger syrup is so easy to make. There's no reason not to have some on hand all the time. It can stay in the fridge indefinitely and can be used for cocktails, stir frys, over waffles or ice cream. Whatever you can think of! It's delicious. Today I'm sharing three different drinks using ginger syrup.

 First, the simple syrup. I did a 1cup-1cup-1cup ratio of water, sugar, and grated ginger. Make sure you peel the ginger before grating. The easiest way to do this is to take a spoon and just lightly scrape off the outer layer. It should come off pretty easily. From the package above I found that I got about 1 cup of ginger from grating 2 pieces (one big, one small). In a small saucepan, combine the water and sugar over medium/low heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves then add the grated ginger. Simmer the mixture on low for about 30 minutes. Let cool slightly then strain the liquid into a jar. Set ginger pieces aside. Instead of tossing out the ginger, blot it dry between paper towels and dip both sides in sugar. Let it dry out for several hours and then use as a garnish.

Here are 3 simple and delicious drink recipes using the ginger syrup. Adjust the amounts of alcohol and ginger syrup to taste. If we're being honest here, I just eyeballed the amounts of everything and tasted as I went for balance so the measurements are a bit of a guess. It's part of the fun!
(Modified) Tom Collins: 1 part gin, 4 parts club soda, 6-7 tablespoons ginger syrup, a splash of fresh squeezed orange juice, orange zest
Whiskey Ginger: 1 part whiskey, 4 parts club soda, 6-7 tablespoons ginger syrup
Homemade Ginger Ale: 6oz club soda, 8 tablespoons ginger syrup

All of these drinks were pretty exceptional, but my favorite actually turned out to be the (nonalcoholic) homemade ginger ale! It was so refreshing with more of a bite than regular pop and way less sugar. I highly recommend making your own ginger syrup and having a little cocktail party of your own. Slainte!

Simple Saturday// Greens&Beans&Shrooms

 Guys. Greens & beans is one of my favorite things to eat. I LOVE it. It's super delicious and, as a bonus, it's good for you too! It's one of those dishes you can mix and match what greens and which beans (and whatever else you want to add) you want. I've used kale, escarole, and endive; chick peas, northern white, and black beans. My favorite combination is endive with northern white beans. I just love the texture and flavor of white beans after they've been cooked! For this round I also included a giant portobello mushroom because we had it and they're delicious.

 Open, rinse, and strain a can of beans. Chop your green of choice and mushroom into bite size pieces. Throw everything into a saute pan with some olive oil. Add salt and pepper to taste. Let cook uncovered for 10 minutes or so until the greens are wilted, the beans are thoroughly warmed (better texture), and the mushroom is cooked. Drizzle with a little extra olive oil and enjoy!

Let Them Eat Cake

 

 Today was a cozy, live in my sweat pants, cuddle under a blanket, and read a book, blustery, snowy day. So I did that for a while. And then I made a cake. Because, why not? And we didn't have eggs. So I give you the egg-less chocolate cake with whipped cream frosting and toasted coconut.

For the cake:
1-1/4 cup flour
1/3 cup cocoa
1 tsp. baking soda
1 cup sugar
6 T of vegetable oil
1 cup skim milk
1 T white vinegar
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray two 8" round pans with cooking spray. In a bowl, combine all dry ingredients. In a liquid measuring cup, combine all of the wet ingredients. Slowly pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, stirring all the while until well combined. Pour evenly between the two pans. Bake for 20 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean (I think I took mine out at about 17 minutes). Let the cakes sit for a few minutes before putting them on racks. While the cakes cool completely, make the whipped cream frosting. I used a 16 oz container of heavy whipping cream and powdered sugar to taste. Put in a standing mixer and whip until you have stiff peaks. I put a layer of whipped cream between the two layers and then frosted the tops and sides. For a little extra flavor I sprinkled some toasted coconut on top. This cake is super light and delicious!

Home//Feed//Style//Travel

 Today I thought I'd share some of my favorite things and what's been inspiring me lately. All pictures are from my pinterest account unless otherwise noted. I love looking at other people's living spaces. I have so many ideas for my future house! I love the dark wood paired with white walls in the first photo and all of the windows and textiles in the second. I would love nothing more than to have an entire wall of windows in my future home!!

 I think this berries and cream chocolate cake is in my future. Yum! I'd also really love to make homemade ginger ale! Whiskey gingers might be my new favorite beverage and I bet homemade ginger ale would knock it out of the park.

 Loving hats always and this one is especially cute with the bow! Can't go wrong with a pair of sparkly gold shoes :)

I've been feeling quite the desire to travel lately. I want to experience everything and see as much of the world as I can! I'm looking into getting my passport in the hopes that this will help push me into realizing my dreams.

I realize I haven't done a really solid post in a week or two, but I vow to make up for it! I have the next 5 days off so my plans include getting crafty on the blog and looking/applying for jobs. I hope you all had an awesome holiday season and are staying cozy!