Lavazza

Phew. I'm sure glad this holiday weekend is over and done with. I've had my fill of BBQ, boating, and family. And you know what? I didn't even get any sparklers. #lamesauce 

Anyhoo, I'm stopping in real quick to share a delish recipe and my favorite coffee power house, Lavazza.

If you haven't read about my professed love for this coffee company, you can read my thoughts HERE and HERE. Other wise, let me reiterate myself, I heart Lavazza, and we are in love.

Since Lavazza is based out of Italy, I decided to whip up an Italian dessert.. I found a perfect recipe in Extra Virgin: Recipes & Love from Our Tuscan Kitchen, my new go-to Italian cookbook. I made carnival fritters! I was actually thinking they would taste more like beignets, but they tasted more like biscotti. I might have cooked them a little too long, though. I'm no Paula Deen. 

William and Adrienne ate five a piece. My food critics both loved them. That's all that really matters.

Carnival Fritters

|| recipe from Extra Virgin: Recipes & Love from Our Tuscan Kitchen ||

2 cups all purpose flour, plus more for dusting

1/4 cup granulated sugar

3 tablesppons unsalted butter, melted, at room temperature

2 large eggs

1 shot (1 1/2 ounces) Vin Santo (or rum or brandy)

Grated zest of 1 orange

4 cups safflower, vegetable, or canola oil, for deep-frying

Confectioners' sugar, for dusting

- In a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, combine the flour, granulated sugar, melted butter, eggs, Vin Santo, and orange zest. Mix for 5 to 7 minutes, until the dough begins detaching from the sides of the bowl.

- Remove the dough from the bowl, seal it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

- On a work surface lightly dusted with flour, roll the dough until it's as thin as fresh pasta. (A pasta machine can also be used for this part.) Using a pastry wheel or pizza cutter, slice the dough into 5-inch-wide strips.

- In a high-sided skillet, add the oil to a level of 2 inches. Heat the oil over high heat until a deep-fry thermometer reads 360 degrees F. Fry the strips of dough (the cenci) in batches, flipping occasionally, for 4 to 5 minutes per batch, until they curl slightly and acquire a golden brown color. 

- Transfer the cenci to a platter line with paper towels to absorb the excess oil. Dust with the confectioners' sugar and serve with a glass of Vin Santo.

I collaborated with Lavazza for this post. They provided me with their coffee and the Extra Virgin cookbook.

Chili Egg Casserole

Stopping in real quick-like today, because it's absolutely gorgeous outside. It feels like we're on the verge of fall right now with this sun-shiny, cool weather. And we need to go enjoy it.

Anyiwishthisweatherwouldlastforeves, I love a good breakfast dish. Especially when you have company. William's grandmother makes the most delicious chili egg casserole when we visit, and there are never any leftovers. So, I thought I would share the wealth. 

Chili Egg Casserole

|| ingredients ||

10 Eggs

1/2 cup Flour

1 tsp. Baking Powder

14.5 oz. can of chopped Green Peppers

1/2 tsp. Salt

1 pt. Cottage Cheese

1 lb. Monterey Jack Cheese

1/2 cup Butter (you could also use 1/4 cup instead)

- Melt butter in 13x9 inch pan in oven. 

- Beat all ingredients together in a large bowl. Pour in the pan and stir again.

- Bake at 350 degrees for about 35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Disclaimer: I shot these photos with my point and click. There was a huge smudge on the lens that I didn't catch. Don't judge.

DIY Cake Stand

Stopping in real quick like to share a super easy DIY. Who doesn't love homemade jaunts? This cake stand that I whipped up in, oh, about two minutes tops, makes a gorgeous gift. Need a housewarming present? Look no further. 

DIY Cake Stand

|| supplies ||

Large Plate (found mine at the Dollar Tree. Hey-oh)

Bowl (Dollar Tree)

Ceramic Glue (E-6000 is a good one, I just didn't have any on hand)

Twine (optional)

Cookie Mix (optional)

- I probably don't even need to type out instructions. But for those of you non-visual types, just basically put glue around the bottom rim of the bowl. 

- Place the plate's bottom on top of the bowl's bottom. Okay. Did I just make that sound really confusing? 

- Let dry. 

- Wrap the the cake stand with twine (or ribbon, yarn, whateves) and add a bag of cookie mix. Done. It's a wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am type of thing.

Now go get to crafting. I also guest-posted this DIY over at Love Joleen Photography a few weeks ago!

Weekend Wrap Up

DIP

Mexican dip via William's mom. Always hits the spot. We spent this past weekend with his parents and that equals delicious meals and QFT. That's quality fam time, if you didn't get my abbrevs. 

MUSIC

Instruments? She plays them. Canvases? She paints them. Artistic kid? Why, yes. Yes I do.

 SNACK

I have been on a avocado kick for a bit now. They're so yummy and filling. I cut mine up and add garlic powder and drizzle balsamic vinegar over. Tah. Die.

SOMETHING I LOVE

E'nuff said. She is wearing a shirt and vest from Old Navy. Owl hat? I know. Adorbs. It's c/o Head Candy. And just wait til I show you what else I scored from them. I'll show you  swoon  soon.

NEW OBSESSION
As you may know, I have a lip balm addiction. A major one. So, I decided to give these tubes of greatness a try. The flavor doesn't make you wanna eat your lips off, and it's not sticky. The best part is my pout stays hydrated to the max. Buhbye Cherry Chapstick. I am now with Baby Lips and we are in love.

SHOES
 My Tory Burch Alexandra driving moccasins have gotten some action this week. They've been in hibernation for quite a while. Alas, so have I.

Weekend Wrap Up

 NATURE

It was warm enough to play outside this past week. Warm enough to wear a tank top. This weather is getting cray cray. Oh, and my child has something for collecting pine cones. She doesn't mind how sharp they are. All she cares about is getting as many as she can. 

 SHADOWS

This photo fills me with so much happiness and sorrow at the same time. My tiny baby looks like a kid. What's next? A teen? Please help me.

REFLECTION

My little fashion queen has been playing dress up and pretending to put makeup on on the reg. She has to copy my every move. And. I. Love. It.

GUILTY PLEASURE

On Super Bowl Sunday, I made this delicious football-shaped cake.

HELP

 She is my partner in crime, even in the kitchen. No doubt.

BREAKFAST

I made some yummy beignets the other day. Just a roll of biscuits, separated, fried in oil til golden brown, and then dusted with powdered sugar on top. Easy. Peasy.

HAPPINESS

I caught my little free spirit in the corner of our bedroom, with my jewelry on, drawing. By herself. She is so beautiful. 

 COFFEE

 I don't know why I haven't put my homemade frappuccino recipe on here. But, I should. It is so amazingly good. I should just pay myself five dollars.