red velvet cookie sandwich

I made a batch of these the other day for work. The recipe was so easy I thought I'd venture into making my own frosting. This was a first as I'm pretty fond of marshmellow puff to top off my cupcakes. (I bet that would be dang good with these cookies). Anyway, it turned out to be pretty easy! These cookies can be eaten as is...they're chewy and pretty awesome on their own. Up the ante with the super simple frosting recipe below.

Red Velvet Cookies
(recipe via howsweeteats)

1 box Red Velvet cake mis
2 eggs
1 tspn vanilla
1/3 cup vegetable oil (I think I used canola)
3/4 cup choco chips

Mix all the ingredients (minus the chocolate chips) until incorporated. Fold in chocolate, roll into desired size, and bake in preheated 350 degree oven for about 8-11 minutes.

Cream Cheese Frosting
(adapted from this recipe--incorporated user comments)

1 8-ounce cream cheese package (softened)
1/4 cup butter (softened)
2 cups sifted powdered confectioners sugar (more or less depending on your taste)
1 1/2 tspn vanilla

Cream together cream cheese and butter. Add vanilla and then gradually stir in sugar.

*Make sure you don't overbake these! I did and ended up with a batch of red velvet biscuits. No bueno.

orange + spoon

My friend, Brian (writer and expert rock climber), is chalk full of random know how and the most awesome kitchen goods. I learned an easy and clean way to peel an orange from him this weekend...with one of these cool kitchen gadgets called a spoon.

Score the orange...or use the spoon to cut into the top. Gently insert spoon underneath skin and orbit the orange.


Unwrap & enjoy orange...and clean hands.

{joy}

twenty something

{Hawaiian Paradise Cake from King's Hawaiian Bakery in Torrance, CA...light, fluffy, perfectly sweet...and quite possibly the best birthday cake I've ever had}

I celebrated my 26th birthday today. The weekend festivities were full and well spent with some of my favorite people in the world. (and please excuse me...may I gush for one moment? my special friend aka my man aka Abe...you are great and I am one lucky fish.)

So as birthdays and new years would lead, I decided to make yet another list. I'm sure I'll be adding and editing along the way, but here goes...things to do this year:

*pick up guitar, piano, and/or the skateboard
*learn 10 Korean recipes (learn a kale salad recipe too)
*turn something old into something new
*travel to a place I've never been
*take my parents on a vacation*take French and/or Spanish classes
*and lastly, blog more. Starting this blog has been something I've wanted to do for a long time. And though 'challenging' at times, it's been fun more than anything else. So thank you for visiting/reading, inspiring content, and indulging me with your comments and good cheer. A wise friend's words come to mind and remind me to, "always stay grateful"...and that I am. Cheers.

chocolate covered almond + orange biscotti

I'm not a big coffee drinker. I wish I was sometimes.
That look on people's faces after their first sip of coffee in the morning or on a cold day looks so gratifying...is it anything like first lick of McDonald's soft serve after a spicy meal? or finding the golden egg at an Easter Egg Hunt??? (two things I did in the past 48 hours...felt awesome).
Anyways, I've been on a baking craze so I thought I'd give this recipe a try. I will indulge with a cup of green tea or hot chocolate instead.


I like these colors together...


I substituted orange zest and almonds for the lemon and pecans.


The oranges looked so sad and naked...like I stripped them of their dignity with the zester...


I discovered making biscotti was much easier than its fancy Italian name led me to believe. Bake. Slice. Bake. Enjoy.

*Note: I used this faux double-broiler method to melt the chocolate...see step six. Also, this recipe was good, but next time I'll add a tsp of vanilla. I like mine with a little more sumthin sumthin.