....is a Few Favorites, April TwentyThirteen

The last day of April brings some of my favorite things. Not surprising, two of my favorites were birthday gifts I received at the end of March. I hope you enjoy my favorite things as much as I do, just a few things that make me smile....

....is a Classic, Beef Bourguignon

Sauté de boeuf à la Bourguignonne, is "certainly one of the most delicious beef dishes concocted by man," Julia Child in Mastering the Art of French Cooking.

My Beef Bourguignon (adapted from Fresh Taste) might not be the most delicious dish but the slow cooked beef & crispy potatoes was a worthy attempt at a classic. Luckily, I had the afternoon at home to give this dish the required time to simmer for hours and it was worth every minute....

....is Brown Sugar Cinnamon Rolls for Breakfast

I've baked some Brown Sugar Cinnamon Rolls for the Breakfast Hub this morning!

They're sweet, gooey & all things wonderful.

Happy Cooking!

....is Brown Sugar Cinnamon Rolls

These are almost,  Almost Famous Cinnamon Rolls the key diference being: Brown Sugar! I have never made Cinnamon Rolls before. The closest I've come is popping open a Pillsbury can. I thought it was time to give it a try, I made sure I had a few hours to dedicate to the process. The dough is what worried me the most, I pictured a burnt outside and completely doughy center or hard as a rock, rival only to the worst of Christmas fruit cakes. Luckily, for me and my taste testers these fears were not realized.

What do you like to add to your Cinnamon Rolls?

....is a Better Chicken Salad Sandwich

I like the idea of Chicken Salad, it seems nice on a warm summer day to have a cold sandwich. This sandwich typically has two flaws though and for me they're deal breakers. Celery and Mayonaise. I know, it's odd, who doesn't like celery? Even as a kid I would lick the peanut butter and raisins off 'ants on a log'. I think celery smells funny too but it provides a nice cool crunch to the Chicken Salad. Mayonaise is a little less odd and probably disliked by more people. The only thing I like to eat it with is Artichokes, but I've even started eating those with Olive Oil instead. I tried to come up with a few substitutes to turn the idea of a sandwich in to one I would actually eat. I decided to switch them out for Baby Bok Choy (for the fresh crunch) and Greek Yogurt (something creamy but a little healthier). I shared a sandwich with my boyfriend and  he forgot I made the substitutions, he liked it just as much and I was saved from the dreaded Celery and Mayo.

....is an Image Transfer, Part 1

Sometimes craftiness doesn't go as planned. I was watching an episode of Restaurant Impossible, the designer on the episode described how to transfer an image to plywood using gel medium. She made it sound so simple. Apply acrylic gel medium, place image, let it dry, dampen the paper & rub away the pulp. Sounds easy enough. Here's my attempt at what should have been a simple craft.

....is a Made for My Niece

My adorable niece is almost 2! This picture is a a little outdated but it's one of my favorites. Her birthday is coming up this summer and I've had the chance to work on some fun projects these past few years (her mom is the lovely Michaela at Covered in Mod Podge, and my bestest friend from high school). I started with her birth announcement, a little nursery decor, her dedication, family christmas card and her first birthday invitation.

I thought I would share a few of the things I've put together for Miss Emma Madison in her first year!

....is Ginger & Sweet Chile Hash for Breakfast

My post on a delicious breakfast hash with a Asian twist is at The Breakfast Hub this morning!

Happy Cooking!

....is a Spinach, Walnut & Pear Salad

The Salad
A Handful of Spinach
1 Pear, Thinly Sliced
Walnuts, Roughly Chopped
Crumbled Gorgonzola

The Dressing
4 Tbsp Olive Oil
4 Tbsp White Balsamic Vingar
1 Tbsp Honey
Salt & Pepper

Happy Cooking!

....is a BBQ Brie Burger

What do you get when your boyfriend has a craving for Burgers and you want to make a fancy Steak Sandwich with Brie? A BBQ Brie Burger!! This was a delicious compromise that came together in the grocery aisle. It was a nice sunny day, perfect for grilling Burgers, and with the start of baseball it almost feels like summer! 

....is a Creative Exchange, TwentyThirteen

It's that time of year again! The Second Annual Creative Exchange Hosted by the lovely Covered in Mod Podge, the Grant life & Covered in Grace.

I was paired with the darling Jaimie @ ROXYLOVE. We've been writing back and forth and I've really enjoyed my big kid penpal time. I did a little research on her blog to figure out what to send her. I adore the Jewelry she makes, she has such a great eye for putting pieces together. Her 'Life Lately'  posts frequently feature a very handsom little man. And, I noticed a recent post where she showed off her latest craze: scrapbooking! This seemed like the perfect choice for this creative exchange. So, I began gathering supplies....

....is a Simple Veggie Rissotto

Did you know you can make risotto like rice?! Like bring liquid to a boil, add arborio rice, lower heat, wait 20 minutes....and DONE! It's not glamorous but there's no laborious stirring and adding just the right amount of liquid each time. It's less likely to burn this way as it cooks over a lower heat, stir it a few times just to be sure. I made this in about 30 minutes this week when I got home late one night and it hit the spot!

....is Ginger & Sweet Chile Hash

A delicious breakfast hash with an asian twist! The combination of Ginger & Sweet Chile goes wonderfully with the potatoes, meat & greens. I was on the hunt for new savory breakfast recipes I came across this Serious Eats post and used it as inspiration. Add as much or as little Sweet Chile & Sriracha, I like it hot but I err'ed on the side of mild with this recipe. Enjoy!

...is a Mascarpone & Mixed Berry Breakfast

There's a delicious new post up at The Breakfest Hub this morning. Go take a look at the Mascarpone French Toast & Mixed Berry Syrup I made last weekend for Easter!

....is Mascarpone French Toast & Mixed Berry Syrup

I made this treat for Easter breakfast last weekend. I found this recipe in Sunset Magazine (May 2012) and it's a lovely combination of creamy mascarpone, berries & bread (mmmm bread). I didn't find the bread I was looking for at the grocery, so I made this loaf the night before. The majority of this recipe can be made beforehand (this works well if you like sleeping in!) all I had to do in the morning was reheat the syrup, assemble & panfrying the French Toast. I can't say this is a particularly healthy meal but it was so good, the plates were licked clean.

....is an Easter Bike Ride

On Easter Sunday the San Diego looked a little like this, blue skies and sunshine. My day started with some French Toast, and I honestly thought that was going to be the highlight, it was really good French Toast. My boyfriend suggested a bike ride in La Jolla, there's a beautiful beach and a whole lot of ocean to see. The only problem, small problem really, is the BIG hill between my apartment & the sandy shore.

View from the top of the hill.

The Scripps Institution of Oceanography & Caroline's Seaside Cafe.

A few reflection pictures at the bottom of the hill.

Lunch at Puesto, Mexican Street Food on top of another hill.

After lunch we sat on the grass and enjoyed the sunshine a little more.

The only downside was the up hill required to get back.

(Notice there are no 'after' pictures showcasing our sweat, exhaustion and my sunburnt arms.)