bits and bites

It’s been a while since I’ve done one of these posts.  Figured it was time to be random.

1.  I mentioned this in the last post, but I’m currently reading (almost finished!) Dark Places by Gillian Flynn.  Loving it.  This is not a happy-go-lucky book.  You’ve been warned.  Also, recently read Her (Laura Zigman) and love love loved that as well.  Witty, well-written, chicklit at its finest.  Couldn’t put it down. 

2. A week or so ago, Nathan and I were out and about and the Google Maps Car passed us!  We waved from our vehicle.  Then, the other night, Nathan was in our front yard and it drove down our street!  He waved (let’s hope that's all he did).  How cool is that?!  It’s the little things :)

3. So I am officially obsessed with four new blogs:  Sally’s Baking Addiction (great indulgences, great detail as to how each ingredient is imperative to making every treat delicious), Averie Cooks (more indulgences and more detail- which has aided me in tweaking some of my recipes at the bakery to make my goodies even better!), Joy the Baker (awesome recipes, awesome writing.  Something about her wit just sucks me in), and The Small Things Blog (hair and makeup help, anyone?  This girls got you covered.  So many cute hair ideas.  (I’m hooked on the alternative bun.)

4. Speaking of following blogs…I added a Bloglovin’ gadget.  Feel free to follow me!

5.  And last but not least, a girl I work with at the bakery recently asked me if I cook at home after baking all morning.  My response:  "not at much as I would like". 

Here is a (large) handful of recipes I came across during July that I hope(!) to make :) I dream big.  Enjoy browsing for yourself, my friends.

whole wheat no-knead dinner rolls with honey butter.  who doesn’t love warm, soft, homemade rolls?

blt pizza.  with roasted corn and crumbled feta.  wow.

cherry vanilla layer cake.  beautiful.

chipotle chicken salad.  let the chicken salad obsession continue.

easy oreo ice cream sandwiches.  simple and genius.

frozen coconut mango pops.  they’re healthy too!

banana zucchini pudding cake.  moist moist and more moist.

homemade honey roasted butterscotch white chocolate peanut butter.  crazy yum!

green chili and bacon cheddar corn muffins.  oh yes.

tomato cobbler with blue cheese biscuits.  i’m a tomato freak.

maple dijon salmon with bacon.  made this.  loved this.

buttery parmesan sour cream bread.  so making this.

peanut butter cheesecake with chocolate chip cookie crust.  this might convert me to love cheesecake.

smores cookie sandwiches.  graham cookies + marshmallow filling, dipped in chocolate.

strawberry tuxedo cake.  gorgeous.

salted dark chocolate truffle cookies.  so making these for Christmas.

united states of burgers.  there’s a burger for every state!

oh, and what's that picture at the top of the post, you ask?  just you wait. 

just you wait.

Bits and Bites and Peanut Butter

You know the drill: I ramble and post fun links; you browse and pick and choose and click as you wish.  Here we go:

1.  Did I ever tell you Nathan makes his own peanut butter?  Yup, little chef he is.  Simply add peanuts, a splash of olive oil and a dash of salt to the food processor and blend until smooth.  Then he totes it to work, eats it for breakfast, and brags to his coworkers that he knows what a food processor is.
ps don't use the mini processor.  it's a wee bit hard on the motor.

2.  This blog fascinates me as of late.  i'm liking the cereal milk ice cream.  yummmm

3.  Beautiful kitchen redo.  mine??...someday....

4.  Awesome beauty blog I came across recently.  super cute hair ideas girls!

5. Gorgeous cake for easter.  This girl's got talent.  I'm jealous of every cake she's made.  not fair.

6.  How to clean your engagement ring at home.  I do the baking soda/water method and get lots of compliments on my shiny sparkler.  It also helps that Nathan picked out a very lovely ring.  he done good.

7.   Peeps Cake Batter Candy.  We're big peeps-eaters in this house so this wouldn't last a day.

8.  Gooey Chocolate Skillet Cake Ice Cream Sundae.  Can't get enough of the skillet!!

9.  Awesome drive-thru prank.  You need to watch this video. Hilarious!

10.  Went to Pei Wei for lunch today (again) and had some good food and good fortunes.  Mine: "Your love of life can carry you through any circumstance".  Nathan's: "This is a night for love and affection."  Oh boy...

11.  And to cap BB off, an awesome quote from the book I'm reading, Gone Girl (by Gillian Flynn- HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!):  "Stay away from boys.  They'll either throw rocks or look up your skirt".  Amen.

Bits and Bites

Ok, so I want to change up Bits and Bites a little bit.  I want to include more fun links of interesting web finds and yummy recipes and of course I will still talk about myself.  And since I'm in charge I can*. 

1.  First off, I hope everyone had a good weekend! (I know I'm a little late with this, but that doesn't change the fact that I hope your weekend was wonderful).  Nathan went out of town so I took full advantage and went on a little shopping spree.
And shoes were bought.
And a fancy new cookie scoop.
And some pretty home things at Target.  Target = Love.
And I drank one of his Pepsi's.  Pepsi Next.  It's new and it's good and for some reason made me unusually hyper, which was kinda nice because I ended up getting a lot done!

2.  Oh yea, and as a result of the Pepsi Next Surge of Hyperness, I stayed up til 2am Saturday night  catching up on The Bachelorette since I can't do this while Nathan is home because, well, I like to keep the fact that I watch this show a secret.  Secret's out.  Don't judge me.  But I did  find the best blog ever for episode recaps and hilarious commentary! 

3.  Speaking of hilarious:  currently reading The Big Love by Sarah Dunn.  Hil. Ar. I. Ous.

4.  Grilled cheese anyone?? (Or toaster cheese?)  I tried one of these guys using some everything bagel thins, opened faced, topped with some roasted tomato salsa.  yummmmm......yyyyyy......

4.5.  Go Pokes toaster!!!  Want!  (Bday list idea?)

5.  Another new thing I'm a little hooked on: savory oatmeal.  I've made myself the soy sauce one topped with a fried egg a few times lately.  I have a feeling I may be weirding you out a lot today.

6.  Oreo ideas.  I'm on board.  Want the smores.  Now.

7.  Produce Calendars.  Excellent source. 

8.  Ok, that's all I've got for you today.  Another recipe coming soon! 

*Clarification: so I may say that I'm in charge but you can be in charge too :) I gladly accept input and suggestions on anything and everything: from what I put onto my blog to what I put into my mouth.  Please don't hesitate to share :)

Bits and Bites

** First and foremost, I want to announce that I have finally created my recipe archives!!  Check it out!


1.  I currently have this written on the top of a NEW salsa recipe I recently made.  Stay tuned this week to find out what deserved such rave reviews.

2.  Speaking of salsa and my love for all things tomato, I eat my grilled cheese by dunking each bite in ketchup.  May be weird but omgsogood.  Try it.

3.  I have decided to jump on the Hunger Games bandwagon and finally realize what I have been missing!  Crazy good book and need to see the movie asap!!

4.  Yes I own I rather large bag of flour.  And yes that says 25 pounds :)

5.  So I did in fact end up doing a little shopping over the holiday weekend.  I'm a sucker for a cute pair of earrings.

6.  And since we're talking about cute stuff.  I own the cutest puppy in the world and thought you should know.  She's the most photogenic little lady I know.

Have a great Memorial Day!!



Bits and Bites

1.  This is my idea of health food.  BEST CLIF BAR EVER.

2.  Made some rootbeer floats at lunch the other day.  Apparently you're never too old to stop playing with your food :)

3.  The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin is my newest read and wow I'm hooked.  Highly recommended.  Full of interesting thoughts, insights, theories, and opinions.  I can already feel a change within myself and love it!

4.  Fun eats I found across the blogosphere this week:

Herb Gorgonzola Crusted Artichokes with Parmesan Hollandaise (How Sweet It Is): I have always been a HUGE artichoke fan and these look absolutely delicious.  If only those chokes weren't so gosh darn expensive...

Oreo Cookie Spread (Buns In My Oven): What a clever idea to do with America's Favorite Cookie!

Browned Butter Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies (Beantown Baker): I already have my tried and true chocolate chip cookie recipe but the addition of browned butter and cream cheese could never hurt in any dessert.

5.  These are the springtime favorites I am making at work.  Strawberry, hummingbird, and banana cupcakes.

6.  They taste disgusting.

7.  More beautiful flowers appearing in our yard!

Happy Spring!!



Bits and Bites

Every so often I plan to do a little feature of randoms- just bits and pieces of everyday life with recipes and fun finds sprinkled in.  Here's my first attempt at this "grab bag" post:

1. While I didn't win the "cupcake war" with my Lucky Charms creation, Nathan came home with a little surprise for me and insisted that I "won in his eyes".  So at the end of this week of luck, one thing is for certain: I am lucky to have him :)

2. This is apparently along the lines of what the winner made.  Don't ask.

3. Lucky Charms Treats- this may have to be where the rest of that box of cereal goes...

4.  Went to the store this weekend and had to snag these.  Happy Birthday Oreo!

5.  So ready for spring!!  Flowers are beginning to bloom in our front yard and I love it!!

6.  Spring = Easter = Peeps and I love my peeps!  This idea makes them even better!

Happy Monday!