HAVE A [yummy] WEEKEND!

It's going to be a beautiful fall weekend here in the north. We might even see our first freeze tomorrow night (yikes!). My family is coming into town and I will be hosting a dinner and a birthday party. After an extremely busy week... I just might be in the kitchen all weekend! 

I hope you all enjoy your weekend, and get some time to do something you love!

A FARMHOUSE AFTERNOON

With as busy as the last few weeks have been, I would love a little weekend getaway, or just a simple late afternoon dinner party with great friends, and light drinks...

in a beautiful and quiet setting...

with yummy organic food...

enjoy your tuesday!

[via] house beautiful, sunday suppers

CHIC + YUMMY

I hope you all are having a truly wonderful Memorial Day weekend, and indulging in some free time with family and friends, as well as lots of delicious things to eat.  I wanted to share this stunning Maison du Macarón, in Mexico. The bright colors of the sweet macaroons against the stark white is appetite inducing...

[via] graphic exchange

One of each for me, please!

Spice and Tea Exchange

I love the opportunity to tout a local business that I love, and while I may discuss these locales with my friends, it is rare that I am so in love with one I just want to shout it from the rooftops. But, The Spice and Tea Exchange has got me singing its praises. Originally I thought it was just one little store here in Winter Park, but there are several other locations throughout the country..  I'm not lying when I say you will die and go to heaven in this store. Every single wall is jam packed with spices, herbs, teas, all different types of sugars and salts you had no idea even existed. The best part? They mix it all themselves. I literally could ramble on for the next four hours, but I will just let you see for yourself...

they have everything you could possibly need to go along with your blends, beautiful mortar and pestels, tea strainers, and containers to suit the masses.

If there isn't a location near you, call the one in Winter Park, or shop online. Bryan and Jeffrey who own the store are the nicest, most helpful guys and have a true passion for their unique little niche.  There is no question that the quality of their product is far superior to any other offerings.  I even brought in my own containers to create a tea basket as a gift, they helped me create and package it and the recipient loved it!

I have so many favorites here, how could you not love anything unique, fresh, and super yummy! My true obsessions are the almond cookie tea (a dessert in itself), tuscany and coastal blends, as well as Vik's garlic fix. The tuscany and garlic fix you can mix into olive oil to serve with bread.  I recently served this at a dinner party along with salmon seasoned with the coastal blend and it had my guests running out to get it for themselves. 

You are seriously missing out if you haven't already tried this, believe me, it is well worth the visit or stop by their website.  Here is the Winter Park locations email: winterpark@spiceandtea.com

YUMMY in my Tummy (Recipe of the Week)

If you and your valentine are planning on spending time together at home... you must make this. Not the most romantic of foods, but certainly the most delicious. Baked mac and cheese is considered a comfort food in the south, and I can totally understand why, it is yummy, yummy, yummy!  I got the recipe (and picture) from here, but its a little willy nilly, missing some directions and such... so, I will give you instructions below...

To make 1 casserole dish, you will need:

1/ 2 Box Elbow Noodles

1 Cup Evaporated Milk

1/2 Pound Sharp Cheddar Cheese Grated (you can add more if you want it really thick)

1/4 Pound Parmesan and Romano Cheese Grated (Sargento makes a little mixed bag, and I just threw the whole thing in)

2 Tablespoons Butter

1 Egg

Ground (or Powdered) Mustard

Salt and Pepper

- Begin by bringing water to a rapid boil. Put the noodles in the boiling water and cook until al dente.

- Strain the noodles into a strainer in the sink, empty the pot of water and put it back on the stove.

- Put in the butter and lightly brown it. Then add the whisked egg, and evaporated milk, and stir together well.

- Add the cheeses and mix well until the cheeses are melted (this mixture should not be overly thick)

- Season with the ground mustard, salt, and pepper.

- Add in the noodles and mix well.

You can either serve it as Wisconsin style mac and cheese, or put it into a casserole dish and bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until the top is lightly browned.

ENJOY!

Serving Up Sweetness

Friday I'm hosting a big dinner party, and I am really hoping to impress my guests with a great food presentation on my kitchen island. I've been looking for some great servingware and I came across this new collection from Rosana Inc. on Real Simple. Its all so sweet!

{via} real simple

One of each please!

I (still) Love Macarons

So, I know that I already posted about this a couple of weeks ago, but I just had to share, because what could possibly be better than a non-french friendly approach to making macarons at home. This book by Hisako Ogita is a step-by-step with pictures and offers recipes for an array of different flavors. I picked mine up at Urban Outfitters.

A Wonderful Little Treat

If only I could look this glamourous cooking for the holidays. Such a beautiful dress...

and... in your beautiful party gown, you may consider making these, they are sure to be a crowd favorite, and a welcome departure from the holiday norms of generally unfulfilling finger food. Not to mention, these turkey sliders are so scrumptious and far healthier than hamburgers.

enjoy these gorgonzola turkey sliders

Fabulous Find

Next week I promise I will be back to posting everyday, this week is so hectic with a job that I am trying to complete with only this week!

Bakerella is an awesome blog if you haven't seen it before, and her cake pops have become all the rage, I have even featured them on luxe + lillies. Yesterday I found these "brownie pop" molds at Michaels, but, they may as well be cake pop molds. They are perfect and will save lots of time and energy!

images via bakerella and wilton

Hot Chocolate, Please!

I promise to you that I'm not going to make a habit of scanning things in, however, these I couldn't resist sharing. Getting ready for our trip up to Minnesota yesterday, I was thinking of all the things I love about the cold weather and the holiday season. Possibly one that has been longest with me, since my childhood, is my love for a great hot chocolate...

These look SO delectable, and I plan to try each one! Unfortunately the recipes were not online, but, you can pick up the latest issue of Food Network Magazine (which is an exceptional issue), and get all these recipes for yourself!

What is one of your favorite things about the holiday season?

Mmmmm Macroons

Laduree Macaroons are such a scrumptious treat, unfortunately, they don't stay good for very long. With these knit little macroons by Sian Keegan, you can have macaroons all year! Instead of longing for some of these sweet treats, pull out a cake stand you love and pile the knit macaroons on top.

images via flickr

Bringin' Home the Bacon

Ok, I have to admit, when M picked this up at Whole Foods, I thought this was the most disgusting idea I had ever been witness to. But, when we got home, and it sat on our counter for a day or so, I go to thinking about how I like bacon, and I like chocolate and decided to secretly try it.  The distain I once had for it immediately vanished. This is utterly delicious! Try some for yourself, here or pick it up at Whole Foods.

Recipe of the Week

As last week was lacking a scrumptious recipe, this week I must share these two totally delectable recipes (what kind of person would I be to withhold this goodness!?)

chocolate layer cake recipe

chocolate chip cupcake recipe

yummy!

Heavenly Cheese

If you have not heard of Purple Haze Goat Cheese, please go to your local cheese shop or Whole Foods and indulge yourself immediately. I buy this cheese at lease once a week and put it on lots of different things for that extra little luxury. Its simply divine on a cracker, but I also put it on chicken breasts with some basil and rosemary, its a yummy little snack!

Recipe of the Week

For those of you who haven't checked out Bakerella, you must, it will change your baking life. These Cake Pops are so adorable, tasty, and SO easy to make. I made some for halloween last week with white chocolate frosting and orange and purple sprinkles. Find the recipe on Bakerella's website. Happy Baking!

Hostess with the Mostess this Halloween

photos courtesy of Country Living

Are you inspired to be the hostess with the mostess this halloween yet? Hopefully you are... here are some finds to make you the most popular house on the block!

 

pillows available at Target

 

beaded placemat and dinnerware along with napkins, napkin and place holders available at ZGallerie

frankenstine mug available at Patina

candle holder pumpkins from the Smith and Hawken line, available at Target

     knife available at Patina

 

recipes available at Hostess with the Mostess

whatever you may be doing to celebrate in halloween style, hopefully you can indulge yourself in one of these treats... Happy Haunting!

Recipe of the Week

Going along with the fall theme of today, this is quite possibly the most yummy cake ever. Barefoot Contessa has outdone herself. This recipe is so easy, and a sure hit. Enjoy!

Pumpkin Roulade Recipe