A Pink and Green Thanksgiving

We're mid-way into November and I've got Thanksgiving on my mind.  One of my favorite parts of Thanksgiving is setting up the table.  I love to go all out and use the china that I don't get to use as often as I'd like.  Here's a mock - up of a table setting I'd love to do this year - or for any party really.  I have a huge soft spot for a soft pink + green combination.  Incorporating gold touches into the color scheme was a no brainer.  I love that the green still gives it an organic feel  - perfect for Thanksgiving.  Also, instead of spending a ton of money on a single floral centerpiece, go with kale flowers.  They're inexpensive, the perfect size, and you can recycle them by planting them in your backyard.  I love me some win- win situations!

pink table cloth (local fabric store) | gilded runner | green chargers | gold plates

| botanical plates | stemware | flatware | salt + pepper shakers | pitcher | serving platters

While this setting probably won't happen in my house this year (we're always atleast 35+ people for Thanksgiving!), I can always dream.  Oh, and there would definitely be more food than just a turkey, bread, and sweet potatoes.

San Diego Eats

One of my favorite things about traveling is trying new restaurants.  Unfortunately, Memphis is bombarded with franchises and while there are a select few privately owned restaurants, there has yet to be one that keeps me coming back.  We didn't eat out much in Los Angeles, mainly because my Teta was there.  And well, you don't tell Teta that you're going out to eat.  She cooks amazing food, so it really wasn't much of a sacrifice.  Just a quick note :these may not be the most amazing restaurants in San Diego, but I thought they were worthwhile to share.  Even more, the majority of which I would love to re-visit one day.

Cafe Chloe

This was our first bite to eat upon landing in San Diego.  It was recommended to us by a local and ohmygosh..i loved it!  The atmosphere is so very chic and alluring.  There's outdoor and indoor seating, and a menu that is just as inviting.  It doesn't hurt that our waiter was incredibly nice too.  Go here with your girl friend or with your beau..just go!

Snooze

via Snooze website

  This restaurant is breakfast only and closes it's doors at 2:30.  The wait is kinda long (about 1 hr to 1.5 hours), but in the mean time you can take a stroll around the downtown area.  Buy coffee and relax or shop next door at Urban Outfitters.  If you're remotely sleepy, Snooze will definitely jolt you awake.  It's a hip, vibrant restaurant that has songs blaring and a very modern feel.  I ordered the OMG! French Toast and it was OMG - to die for.  Super sweet, just like dessert.  And I was pleasantly surprised that the grapefruit juice I ordered had pulp.  Pulp makes me happy

The Mission

via Mission website

Again, another breakfast eatery in downtown San Diego.  Doors close at 3 so be sure to come before then.  Our hotel clerk suggested this restaurant to us, and I'm glad we went.  It's an eclectic space with a very tex-mex influenced menu.  They've got a ton of fun coffee's to try and the portions are huge.  If you're a potatoes for breakfast person, this is your place.

Costa Brava

( I can't seem to find a decent picture, so I won't do it the injustice of putting something up that isn't attractive.)

My original plan was to look for a good hispanic restaurant, and I kept seeing Costa Brava's name pop up.  This is an incredibly romantic restaurant that's known for serving things Spanish style a.k.a. tapas.  I had never been to a Spanish restaurant before, so in lieu of a traditional entree, Alaa and I just ordered a few tapas and split them.  It was late, and we weren't that hungry so around 5 tapas (split between the two of us..they're pretty small plates) was enough for us.  Try the croquettes..so so yummy!

George's Ocean Terrace

via Georges website

I wanted our last night in California to be special so we decided to dine at Georges.  Apparently, there's three parts to this restaurant:  California Modern, George's Bar, and the Ocean Terrace.  We decided to go to the rooftop and have dinner.  Again, be prepared to wait around 1 - 1.5 hour to be seated.  Luckily, there's a ton of gorgeous little shops lining the street and surrounding area.  A lot of really lovely galleries are right across the street, so that's how we killed time.  It was already a pretty chilly day, so naturally sitting on the roof, in front of the ocean, outside we were pretty darn cold.  But they've prepared by having outdoor heaters between every few tables, and they'll give you a fleece blanket if you ask.  I'll be honest, Alaa's steak and fries were actually really good..my Mahi Mahi on the other hand, was nothing spectacular.  But, I wouldn't mind going back again to try something else.  And my recommendation is to book a table at a time where you can watch the sunset.  I bet it'd be beautiful.

There's a ton of cute little shops that I would have loved to try, but even I can only eat so much.  Take Chocolat for example.  I'm a huge sucker for cute little restaurants and Chocolat is no exception.  Just look at all of the gorgeous gelato!

Dear Chocolat, 

Next time I'm in San Diego I will love you in my own special way.

Yours truly,

N

*a huge thanks to Megan for some amazing recommendations!*

Summer Lovin

there are infinite amounts of reasons as to why we wanted to stop renting and finally make the big step to buying our first home.  ya know, things like annoying neighbors, lugging groceries up the stairs (5 times, up and down, up and down..thank you garage inventor), and the restrictions when having guests over.  i would internally cringe just about everytime alaa would walk (he sounds like big foot!!) or when we would have guests over (the neighbors are going to kill us!)  but really, the thing i was most excited for?

grilling.

loooooveeeeeeeeeeee

i can't get enough of it.  everything taste better when there are char marks on it...so so good.

and you know what's even more exciting than grilling "regular" food?

grilled pizza.

oh. my.

i'll tease you with this photo today...i'll post the recipe another day.

this pizza is 100% from scratch

well about 90% because technically i didn't make the olives or the chicken or the cheese...but that's just minor details.

catch ya on the flip side kids!

Rosemary Herb Bread

After this post, I got a couple of requests for the rosemary herb bread recipe.  Let me tell you, this bread is good!  Here is the original recipe, but I've adapted it a bit.  I'm bit of a herb hoarder and I love to add tons of different herbs to everything I make.  (Lemon Basil cupcakes anyone?!)

Rosemary Herb Bread

{adapted from this recipe}

1 tablespoon yeast

1 tablespoon sugar

1 cup warm water

3 cups flour

1 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons butter

 rosemary

oregano

Place yeast, sugar and water in large bowl or food processor and allow mixture to become bubbly.  Mix in 1 T butter, salt, and 2 1/2 cups of flour.  Add the fresh chopped rosemary and oregano (not all of it,save some to garnish).  Knead for about 10 minutes by hand or in food processor about 5 minutes until smooth and elastic.  Add more flour if necessary.  Oil a bowl, put dough in it and cover with a towel.  Let dough rise in a warm place for one hour until doubled.  Punch down dough and divide in half.  Let dough rest about 5 minutes.  Spray baking pan or cookie sheet with cooking spray.  Shape the dough into 2 small rounded oval loaves.Sprinkle remaining 1 Tablespoon of rosemary over the loaves and press lightly into the surface.  Let loaves rise again until doubled, about 45 minutes.  Preheat oven to 375°F.   Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until lightly browned.  Carefully remove from oven, brush with remaining butter (and salt if desired)

----------------------------------------------------

If you're using fresh herbs make sure you use a good amount.  I'll be honest, I take more of a "whatever looks good" approach when it comes to cooking, (that's why there's not an exact measurement for the rosemary & oregano).  So feel free to adapt this recipe to whatever you like.  Whenever I'm ready to serve the bread, I brush the top with olive oil & melted butter and throw on some more rosemary and oregano.  Let it broil for a few minutes and voila you've got the most delicious bread. 

Bon appétit!

True Life : I'm obsessed with food

I was going to title this "True Life : I'm obsessed with baking" but I figured you all know that by now.  Instead, I'm broadening my confession horizons and letting you know that I'm a lover of food.  Seriously.

 I wake up in the morning with two questions I have to answer I must answer.

1.) What time is it?

2.)  What's for breakfast?

You see I love breakfast.  Love Love Love it.  I could eat it at any time of the day.  But I'm kind of stumped for new and yummy treats to enjoy that are also healthy.  I'd love to indulge in nutella pancakes covered with strawberries, cinnamon, and nuts everyday...but then I'd be 500 pounds. 

 No bueno.   Any suggestions for yummy, healthy treats?

Anyways.....

After my exam yesterday, I figured I owed myself a treat.  So I stopped by Barnes & Noble in search of a Macaron book.  But no such luck.  Here are a few books I salivated over enjoyed looking at.

1.)  Cake decorating for dummies.  I think this may be fun to have around in case something goes wrong.  (because something always goes wrong..)

2.) Magnolia Bakery cookbook.  What the fluff?!  How did I not know about this earlier?!

(The icing on the red velvet cupcakes are divineeeee.)

3.)  The Cake Bible.  I must get this book!  I've heard so many great things about it.

4.)  Party Cakes.  So much inspiration!

5.)  Martha Stewart's Wedding Cakes.  Oh, hey Martha...I love you.

6.)  Dylan's Candy Bar.  I'm the kid at the candy bar that fills up 15 lb. bags of candy within 5 minutes of being in the candy store.  I'm also the same kid that has to return 14.5 lbs of it back because candy is so expensive!  (What's your favorite candy?  Mine is grapefruit slices.  So yumm-ay!)
{P.S.  Did you know that the owner of Dylan's Candy Bar in NYC is Ralph Lauren's daughter?}

7.) Bible of Southern Cooking.  As soon as I saw this I thought of Jessica.  She once told me she's never had Southern food.  It's heavenly J, let me tell you.

Other books I want .

 { You know in case a family member reads this and wants to buy me a present for no reason. } 

Julia Child : Mastering the Art of French Cooking.  I feel like my cook book collection would be incomplete without it.
Martha Stewart's Hors D'oeuvres Handbook.  Hi Martha...I still love you.

Friday: Food & Fashion

It's a peachy day I tell ya! 

 Actually not really, I'm technically on Spring Break but I still have a million things to do ( online test, two online essay questions,  a paper, etc.).

But I've decided that today is going to be just peachy.  

Oh the things I would do for this outfit.  So boho.  And those pants?

My jaw just dropped to the floor.

Have I ever mentioned by obsession with Blake Lively?  Usually I have girl crushes on brunettes, but seriously...I cannot get enough of B.L.  My infatuation only grew when she invited Bakerella over for a play date.  

Me = green with envy.

And I'm embarrassed to say that I've never watched a single episode of Gossip Girls.  Maybe I'll rent them over Spring Break.

And how about this mouthwatering salad?

Okay okay, so maybe their nectarines.  Toe-may-toe ..Toe-mah-toe!

Via Wandering Spice

 My gorgeous cousin Yasmeen has started her own food blog : Wandering Spice ( our passion for food must run in the family) .  

Stop by and say hello!

Also, a huge thank you to Christina over at Hungry Meets Healthy.  She had the sweetest thing to say, and I am so flattered! (P.S.  I definitely have a girl crush on you too!)

National Pancake Day

Did you know that today is IHOP's National Pancake Day?  If you happen to stop by an IHOP today you can get a free short stack  (just don't forget to tip your waiter/waitress....I say this from experience)

I worked there for 5 years and surprisingly enough I still love pancakes haha.   Actually if I had to choose between breakfast, lunch, and dinner, breakfast is the one I couldn't live without.  

{Oh, and I met my husband at IHOP too.  I was his waitress, and thought that his whole table was obnoxious.  How wrong was I?!}

Anyways, this is basically an excuse for me to eat pancakes.

{Picture quality is horrible, sorry!}

Whole Wheat Buttermilk Pancakes + Pecans +a *smidge* of Nutella +Strawberries +light Maple Syrup.  Trust me...it's good.  Now, if only I had bananas to top it off.

I have a pretty busy day ahead of me today, so how about we meet back here tomorrow?

Siyanara Suckas!

Ciao!

Friday: Food & Fashion

*I just finished watching Julie & Julia. Needless to say I am typing everything with the sound of Julia Child's voice in my head. - Bon apetit!*

Food & Fashion: Two of my most favorite things.

The food & the fashion today are both unexpected, surprising, and wonderfully delightful.

A perfect way to wrap up the week and welcome its more beloved half - the weekend.

Food

 I've introduced you to Jessica from Monster Cakes before, but unsurprisingly I must mention her again.  This girl is such a doll.  She is so entertaining and honestly, her genuine personality is evident all over her blog.  She was sweet enough to share a family recipe with me and I thought I'd share it with you!  The unexpected part is that the recipe calls for pumpkins + cloves + cinnamon + nutmeg.  Something you would expect in the fall, but is wonderful in the late winter.  

But I feel it's necessary to warn you before you try these. 

As soon as the muffins cool down, take only one muffin out.  The rest you will need to lock up with a code that will only grant you access once every 24 hours.  This is in your best interest.  Trust me.

Robins Famous Pumpkin Muffins

1/2 cup oil

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 3/4 cup flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp ginger

1/4 tsp cloves

1 cup pumpkin (The cans are usually 15 oz. - only use half)

1 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix oil, sugar, & eggs.  Set aside

Mix flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, pumpkin, & chocolate chips.

Combine wet + dry ingredients.

Lightly spray muffin/cupcake pan and evenly distribute. 

Bake for 20 minutes.

* I omitted the cloves because I was too lazy to grind them...whoops*

Thank you Jessica (and Robin!!) for sharing these!!

Fashion

Martha Stewart was a Chanel model?!  Say whaaattt?!

 It's true!  

And I thought my love for the woman couldn't get any stronger.

You never cease to surprise me Martha.

Martha Stewart images via 

T.G.I.Food :Tabbouleh

Growing up tabbouleh was one of my most favorite treats.  It was that dish that was the first to go.  {Actually, every party I go to salad is usually the first to go. You'd think the opposite right?}.  During the school year, I'm usually looking for meals that I can throw in my slow cooker.  I love cooking, but sadly school gets in the way a lot.

I've spotted tabbouleh around the blogmosphere  lately so I decided to make some.  I'd share my recipe with you but I'm an eye-baller so I don't really have one.   I can tell you ingredients, but proportions are a different story.

I think this recipe looks about right.

Oh, and I have a confession to make....I didn't hand chop the parsley or onions...I used a food processor to speed  up the process

*hangs head in shame*

But I did hand chop the tomatoes

:)

Oh, and did I mention it's healthy?

Yep!

Update: Bulgur is also known as cracked wheat.  I usually get it from the local Arabic food store, but I'm pretty sure I've seen it in the international section in Kroger.  Just make sure you get fine (#1) bulgur.
Also, I use red onions, because I like the color. Regular yellow/white onions work just as well!

Serendipity

I recently discovered Amy Atlas' blog and I am obsessed.  I love the way she creates  these gorgeous themed tables that look too pretty to eat.

In lieu of the holiday season and all of those bad-for you goodies how about setting aside one table specifically to healthy foods?

Here's a table Amy featured on her blog.

My heart is fluttering... I think it's love!

As always, I'm a sucker for things color coordinated and mini and this is right up my alley.

I am seriously going to have to try this out very very soon!!  I'd love to see pictures if you end up trying it!

xoxo

Delicious Dresses

There's nothing I love more than food and fashion (Well, except for my husband..and my mom...and warm toes..).  So when my sister e-mailed me these dresses I knew I had to share them with you.  

Not to be confused with 

VIA daily stab

I'm speechless...

Which ones your favorite?  And would you have even guessed that these were made out of food? 

Brilliant.

Banana Dress

Bread Dress

 Bubble Gum Dress

 Chicken Halter Dress (back view)

 Chive Dress

 Eggplant Dress

 Fried Egg Dress

 Lotus Root Dress

Red Cabbage Corset

 Shrimp Corset

 Spring Onion Puff Sleeve

 Tomato Dress

 White Radish Dress

Winter Mushroom Fringe Top

My favorite is the Spring Onion Puff Sleeve.  The bubble gum and eggplant are close seconds.

This just makes me wonder...Who thinks of this stuff?!

VIA

P.S.
I plan on doing some work on the blog after exams, so check back to see the new do!