Peppermint Brownies...

My improved version of HERSHEY'S Brownies 

What you need:

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, melted

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 eggs

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/3 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup peppermint dust

1/4 cup milk

Directions:

Heat oven to 350°F. Grease 9-inch square baking pan. 

Stir together butter, sugar and vanilla in bowl. Add eggs; beat well with spoon. Stir together flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt; gradually add to egg mixture, beating until well blended. Stir in peppermint dust and milk. Spread batter evenly in prepared pan. 

Bake until brownies begin to pull away from sides of pan, for about 20 to 25 minutes. Cool completely before decorating. 

Add some frosting (I used vanilla Betty Crocker frosting) and add some crushed candy canes on top.

I made bite-size brownies and put them on small boxes to give as Christmas gifts.

song recommendation: Cold December Night - Michael Buble

In Good Company...

Happy Birthday little sister!

Tropical Taco

Arugula Salad

A sister is a little bit of childhood that can never be lost 

- Marion C. Garretty

Crème Brûlée

song recommendation: Halcyon - Delphic

Happy Thanksgiving!

(Pictures here & here)

song recommendation: Peacetime Resistance - 

Kings Of Convinience

Tuna Taco...

I had this tuna taco for dinner the other day, and I don't think it's so hard to imitate,

I haven't try my own version though... 

This one had seared tuna, avocado, chipotle mayo, purple cabbage and cilantro leaves on a flour tortilla... it was delicious!

(don't forget to add a spicy tomato sauce)

song recommendation: Call it off - Tegan and Sara

Paella (Behind the Scenes)...

(Same hair color...)

song recommendation: Young Folks - The Kooks

Saturday Paella...

song recommendation: Walking - The Dodos

Strawberry Bites...

Ingredients:

Homemade or store-bought graham crackers

1 tub non-dairy cream cheese (or regular if you prefer)

1/2 cup- 3/4 cup icing sugar (confectioner’s)

2 vanilla beans or 1 tsp fresh lemon juice

1 pint strawberries, hulled and diced

Sugar, for sprinkling

Method:

Make your homemade graham crackers in advance or simply purchase graham crackers from the store.

In a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese until fluffy. Slowly add the icing sugar to taste. Add in a couple scraped vanilla beans and maple extract or a teaspoon of fresh lemon juice if you prefer. Store in fridge. You can also make this in advance!

Hull a pint of strawberries and dice.

Lay your graham crackers onto a large serving plate and spread with cream cheese frosting. Sprinkle on diced strawberries and sugar.

(Picture and recipe Oh She Glows)

song recommendation: Don't let me fall - Lenka

Summer drinks...

 Angela Hardison's light and summery drinks...

Embellish summer drinks with raspberries, orange and lemon slices, mint leaves and more!

Another cute idea are fruit ice cubes or even flavored... get creative!

(Pictures 1, 2)

song recommendation: Goods - Mates of State

Berries on top

Ingredients:

Butter or cream cheese

1 Baguette or any kid of bread you like (1/2 inch slices)

Berries 

Jam (any flavor)

Method:

If the bread you're using is not previously sliced, then do it.
Toast the bread...
Spread some butter and jam and put some berries on the top. 
Simple, easy, delicious...

song recommendation: You and I - Ingrid Michaelson

Eat, eat, eat...

 

Talk about a funny face (My "spoon!" moment from Alice in Wonderland lol)...

song recommendation: Dance Anthem of the 80s - 

Regina Spektor