Mini chocolate chip cookie cup sundaes

It's come to my attention that Matt and I have become creatures of habit.

File this under "Least Surprising Things I've Ever Said."

To be fair, I love our routine.  It brings me comfort and happiness and a welcome sense of familiarity that the rest of the day sometimes usually lacks.  From my morning GMA ritual to Matt's 3:15 phone calls signaling that he's on his way from school to practice, we've learned what it takes for us to be a functional and happy "us."

Mini King cakes for Mardi Gras

TGIFF -- thank goodness it's finally Friday!  Please do me a favor and take a moment to imagine all of the usual conversation found at the beginning of Friday posts: busy week, to-do lists, dreams of relaxation, and assorted fun things!  I can't manage to see past these adorable treats, so I'm going to skip the small talk and get right to it.

What I've really been looking forward to all week is the chance to share these cute and tasty little creations with you.  Mini King cakes.  Yep, that's right.  Mini. King. Cakes!!!  If they had cheeks, I'd pinch them!  ...right before I devoured 'em.

No-bake peanut butter chocolate chip oat bites

I'm not sure where the weekend went, much less how it's already Tuesday.  I had lists of lists of things to do, places to go, and people to see... and accomplished approximately 10% of those tasks.  It's no outstanding victory, but it's no down-in-flames failure either.  Sometimes you've gotta celebrate the smallest of victories, right?

Self high five!

That felt good.  Let's all promise to give ourselves pats on the back and high fives more often, okay?  Deal.

Anywho, at the start of this past weekend, I had peanut butter on the brain.  I also dreamt up many grandiose plans and new recipes to use said nut butter.  But none of them quite panned out the way I imagined.

Mini apple bacon meatloaves

My brain and calendar say it's Wednesday, but my heart and stomach are still in weekend-mode.  That's what happens when you have too much fun.  Shame on me.

We kicked things off with homemade pizza and TV catch-up on Friday.  On Sunday, Matt and I went on a lunch date and visited the Heinz History Center.  But Saturday was so much fun that I still can't handle it.  We spent the day celebrating my sister's birthday, starting with a visit to Soergel's Orchards.

There were oodles of pumpkins, delicious BBQ, warm homemade doughnuts, and so, so many apples.  We brought all of them home with us.

Just kidding.  We only brought half of all of the apples home.

Mini chicken taco bowls

Is there a food in your fridge or pantry that you tend to forget about?

For us, it's 6-inch corn tortillas.  I'll buy a pack for enchiladas or tacos, use 5 or 6 of them for a specific recipe, and toss them back into the fridge.

A week or two later, I'll find them stashed on the second shelf, way in the back, all alone.  Then, every time I open the fridge, that bag of corn tortillas will be the only thing I see.  Tunnel vision, if you will.

I'll become obsessed with using them up, like, yesterday.  And I'll turn it into a challenge to come up with a new way to eat them, too.

Fast Friday: Shrimp & pesto pizzas

By the time this post goes up, I will have been awake for nearly 3 hours.  Even for an early bird, a 5:00 wake-up is a little rough.  I wanted to be awake to see Matt off for his guys' beach trip.  We checked his list twice and made sure he packed the big batch of cookies I made for the guys.  The things we do for love, right? :)

One thing I rarely do -- even for love -- is share my food.

Before you think I'm a total grinch, let me explain.  I love sharing dishes that are planned to be shared at the time of ordering.  And I regularly offer my dining companion(s) a bite of whatever I ordered for myself.  After all, food is love!

But that's where it stops.  You get one bite, sweetheart.  One.  Enjoy it.  Savor it.  Because the rest is mine.  Um, unless I'm full before my food is gone.  Then, have at it, friend!

Last minute 4th of July dessert: No bake flag cake cups!

I know I'm cutting things close, but I've got one more recipe for you to consider adding to your party menu for tomorrow or,  heck, anytime this summer.  You might want to sit down for this one.  Because the overload of cuteness and sweetness might knock you on your behind.

No bake individual flag cake cups!

I know, right?!

I just can't.  Seriously, guys.  I don't know if I have the words or composure to write about this dessert in coherant sentences not flooded with words like cute, adorable, tiny, and best ever.  So, I'm not going to make any promises.  Here goes nothin'!

Juicy ripe strawberries and fresh tart blueberries layered with freshly whipped, lightly sweetened cream and the most squeal-worthy petite cookies you've ever seen.

Basically, all the flavors you know and love from traditional flag cake but in a portable and miniature form.

Mac & cheese bites

If there's one challenge that will always excite me, it's that involved with planning a party.  My friends know that I will truly look for any excuse to entertain.  New digs, birthdays, holidays, the Academy Awards, and sporting events just to name a few.  I also have a mental list of get-togethers I'd like to throw in the future including, but not limited to, a pie party, an ice cream sundae party, a throwback foods and games from our childhood party, and even a girls only Disney princess party.

Wha?  There's no limit on the age of a Disney princess :)

Thankfully, I needed no creative brainstorming to come up with an idea for this party.  Someone is getting married and obviously wanted a bachelorette party!  I hosted the first part at our apartment before we headed out for a night on the town. 

Mini Oreo cheesecakes

I don't know how else to start other than by saying that I was so excited to make this recipe that I could hardly stand it! 

That's what journalists would call the hook, right?

I saw it about two weeks ago and immediately put it on my list of things to make soon.  Not the normal list, where things can linger and be lost for weeks or even months, but the "make this right now" short list.  It's the super exclusive velvet-roped VIP section of recipes.  Basically, this recipe made it straight to the champagne room with just a single nod to the bouncer and was led back by the owner himself.

(This is how I assume VIP sections and champagne rooms work, anyway.  My only experience with said places comes from movies like Night at the Roxbury.  Fantastic movie, by the way.)

Mini cheddar, spinach & broccoli quinoa cups

I've been known to make things that are so darn cute that I literally giggle as I'm plating them.  But I make it a point to never let a food's good looks get in the way of my appetite.

Have you ever heard someone say, "Ohmygosh, that's too cute to eat!"  Just typing that out makes me twitch.  Food is meant to look at, briefly, and then eat.  Get it right.

I'm reminded of my mom who never ate two truffles I bought her one random day; they were decorated to look like a milk chocolate dog and a white chocolate cat.  Sure, they were cute.  My sweet mom was so taken with the adorable confections that she kept them in the box and never got around to eating them before it was too late.  I love ya, Mom, but I learned a valuable lesson from that experience -- I should only buy my mom ugly chocolates.

(I bet she's really excited for Mother's Day this year.  What a prize daughter I am.)

...where was I?

Cute food!  The opposite of ugly food.  Tiny little cups flecked with green vegetables and orange sharp cheddar cheese, laced with fluffy eggs and chewy quinoa.

Mean green mini quinoa cups!

Fast Friday: Two ingredient ice cream

Re-shop-ping

Have you heard of it?  I define reshopping as the phenomenon that takes place when one returns home from a shopping trip and unpacks the bags of new goodies.  Depending on how long the trip lasted, you may discover items you'd forgotten about by the end of the day.  You'll be all "Yessssssssssss!  I'm so glad I got [insert items here]!"

One look at my counter, and I was all, "Eww... there's nothing fun in there."  Then, after some thought, I was all, "Well, that's a lot of food, and it's really healthy."

But wait!  There was one more bag.  What could be in it?

Red velvet cake pops

I present to you red velvet cake pops, some in the (relative) shape of ghosts!

Let me say how much more respect I have for the acclaimed Bakerella and other homemade cake pop artists!  She has practically made cake pops the "it" item in the baking world this past year.  Do yourself a favor and check out her masterpieces.  They are uh-maze-ing!

Mine?  Well, maybe not the prettiest little ghosts you've ever seen.  In fact, I'd say they are quite ghastly.

It's scary how pathetic-looking they are!

I'm frightened by the sight of them!

But, do you know what an ugly cake pop tastes like?

Mini pumpkin whoopie pies (gobs) with cream cheese frosting

I'm a fan of many things: tennis, cashmere, Reese's pumpkins, and Inglourious Basterds, just to name a few. 

Two things I like not?  Brevity and cursing.  (Interesting combination...)

Well, it's time for a change of pace.  These pumpkin spice whoopie pies are damn good!!!

Or, gobs, as some of you may know them.

Visiting Georgetown Cupcakes + mini Monday

Take that, Monday morning!  Did you think you were going to catch me off guard and groggy?  No way!  A very fun and relaxing weekend revived me and made getting up this morning (to exercise, even!) much easier than I would've guessed.  Our DC hosts were fabulous and made us feel right at home!

While we spent most of the weekend lounging and enjoying the good great company, we did make a day trip to Georgetown on Saturday, where we strolled, shopped, ate, and frequented a cupcake shop you may have heard of: Georgetown Cupcakes.  It's kind of a big deal.

Need further proof?  Here was the line to buy cupcakes.

Truth be told, it really wasn't bad at all since we were in the shade.  From standing in line to cradling our cupcakes, it was just under 30 minutes.  And, honestly, I spent most of that time contemplating my order.  So many choices, 18 total for Saturday alone!

 

Okay, so planning our orders and partaking in an quick glamour shots session as well.  No big deal :)  Once inside, there were no sightings of the owners, Katherine and Sophie, but these cupcake purveyors were mighty friendly and efficient.

Anyway, I'll get to the bottom line.  Was the wait worth it?  Did these individual petite cakes live up to the hype?

It's been too long...

...since I've shared something of miniature proportions with you!  My surprise day off yesterday was filled with fun things, namely a trip to the Strip District and the grocery store to pick up some cool treats.

First, a stop at Peace, Love and Little Donuts at 19th and Smallman Streets in the Strip District.  Donuts can be "groovy", "far out" or "funkadelic."  I went with the latter and got a Samoa mini donut -- caramel sauce, chocolate, and toasted coconut on top. 

 

Absolutely adorable and delicious!!  Win win!  Matt got raspberry lemonade and enjoyed his just as much.  A perfect little afternoon treat.

After picking up some super secret supplies for a friend's upcoming bridal shower (so lovely!), we stopped at the grocery store to get yet another treat that another friend told me about this weekend -- mini Twix ice cream bars!

Perfectly proportioned (about the size of a fun size Snickers bar, maybe a little bigger) and just enough to satisfy a taste for something sweet after dinner.  And, by some act of God, magic, or science, the caramel is still runny and smooth!  Amazing!

And, speaking of, that friend who recommended the mini Twix bars has a birthday today!  Happy birthday, Becca! :)  And happy Tuesday to the rest of you fine folks!

Pittsburgh springtime staycation

Have you ever eaten something so delicious and mind-blowing that you (almost) didn't want to finish it?  Then, when it was gone, you couldn't stop thinking about it?  And it wasn't even dessert but the main course?  That was my Thursday evening dinner experience.  But, let me tell you about the rest of the day first.

Though I'm a few years out of college, summer and spring break will always signal vacation time for me.  A friend and I originally planned a trip out of the area for a few days but prior commitments grounded us here.  Discussing how there are so many things we still haven't seen/done in this sweet little city, even after being here for years and growing up a mere 35 miles away, we opted for a Pittsburgh stay-cation -- the basic idea being to enjoy local attractions that may be overlooked in your everyday life.  So, stay and play we did!  First stop: the Strip District.

The streets of Penn Avenue and Smallman Street are known as the food mecca of Pittsburgh.  You'll find vendors peddling fresh food of every ethnic origin, square miles of cheap Steelers and Penguins (Pirates? TBD) merchandise, and restaurants ranging from total dive to upscale chic within the same block.  Being foodies, we popped into a few stores where I picked up fresh spinach fettuccine and amaretti cookies (to be enjoyed this weekend).  And we spotted oh-so-tiny chick salt and pepper shakes perfect for approaching spring.

White chocolate dipped Ritz Bitz peanut butter sandwiches

Before I sat down to write this, I popped one of these cookies into my mouth to give me some brain power.  One of the few lingering treats from the holiday season that I permitted back in my apartment because, you know, being rolled down the aisle 11 months from now might be a bit awkward.  And because they are so darn delicious that I physically can't stop eating them!

Since I was little young, I've always considered peanut butter an almighty brain food.  I think it stems from grade school teachers' instructions to eat a piece of peanut butter toast as part of  breakfast on days that we had exams because the protein would help us stay sharp.

From that time, peanut butter has been my go-to power condiment.  I've had it after long gym sessions when my muscles needed a blend of protein and fat, when I didn't have time for a meal but needed something quick, and even as one of the heralded pre-MCAT snacks... so you know it's all business if it can hold up for eight hours of science mumbo jumbo.  So, to all of those nasty people who point their fingers at peanut butter as the number one evil in America and caution everyone to avoid it, I say thank you -- more for me to use in my next kitchen adventure!

Stocking-sized kitchenware

It's already Wednesday, nice!  And, today is going to be an abbreviated work day since our office holiday party is this afternoon -- it's a potluck lunch at the boss's house.  To some, the word "potluck" conjures up bad memories of tasteless cookies and mystery casseroles.  To the talented foodies in my office, it's a chance to show off your kitchen skills and try some new recipes!  We munch, chat, and marvel at the gorgeous decorations in the house, too.  Always so put together and cozy -- roaring fires in the fireplaces, oversized ornaments hanging from the banister, and trees trimmed to the nines.

Speaking of trees, is your Christmas tree still looking a little naked?  Or are you in need of a stocking stuff for a food enthusiast?  Check out these adorable ornaments that I spotted over the weekend.

While I'm generally against giving Christmas items as gifts for said holiday, these can totally be used year round to hang around the kitchen.  Also a great decoration for gift wrap, tied with some twine or ribbon.  And they're miniature, by golly...!

Do you stuff stockings?  If so, what goes in them?  When do you open them?

We always open stocking gifts first -- usually items like specialty candy, a new ornament, book, or stickers and art supplies when we were little young.

One Year Ago: Baking and cooking FAQ

A Friday kind of list

Because it's Friday, and I just can't fathom constructing well-transitioned paragraphs, we'll all just have to settle for an enthusiastic list :)

1. Another good run this morning, and somehow my times are getting faster as my mileage increases.  I have no idea how this is possible, but I'm going to chalk today's road runner show up to the fact that I took a break yesterday.  Let it be known that rest can be good, though good luck trying to get this girl to slow down for too long.  Also can't hurt that getting to see a sunrise against this backdrop puts me in such a good mood:

2.I had my first experience with the web bargain phenomenon Groupon... and it was fantastic!  If you aren't familiar with Groupon, it's a website that features daily deals, be they for restaurants, salons, or goods for roughly half the price.  Example -- I bought a $35 Groupon for the Common Plea Restaurant in downtown Pittsburgh for $15... practically stealing!  Rock!  Groupon is available for many cities, and deals change each day, so start checking and welcome to this not-so-secret world of paying so much less for things.  Have you tried Groupon?  What deals have you scored?

3. Common Plea Restaurant downtown.  Didn't take any pictures, so no full review, but wow, super impressed.  Laura and I were saying that they spared no details, in serving, clearing, even seating.  Well done!  We each had a small plate, which consists of three appetizers of your choice in smaller portions one (rather large, actually) plate, for $15 each and another full size appetizer for $6.  I ordered the tomato basil bruschetta, pesto grilled vegetables, and crab cake.  Highlight of the meal was our full-sized appetizer the angel hair onion rings with a bleu cheese light dipping sauce.  Heavenly!  Thankfully we were seated in the back room so we could clean out the dish :)  Seriously, we cleaned it out completely.  No crumb in sight a la the Grinch.  A small dessert (pecan-crusted ice cream with chocolate sauce) and tip and we were looking at a total cost (including Groupon purchase) of $17 for a very swanky dinner.  Bonus -- I would've never ventured to Common Plea without the help of Groupon.

4. Heading home to my parents' house for the weekend to enjoy the suburbs and then a lovely bridal shower on Sunday.  Looking forward to this weekend and here's hoping yours is fantastic, too! :)

Update:
(sorry RSS readers!)

5. Dairy Queen now features mini Blizzards!!  MINI!  Or, should I say, mini. As seen in the bottom left of this picture.  Yep, this will definitely be happening tonight if I have anything to say about it :)

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Today is National Filet Mignon Day!

Glazed mini lemon cakes

Happy Monday!  You know what I realized this weekend?  I'm getting older... not old, per se, but old enough that I felt a huge wave of happiness come over me when looking back at how productive I was.  Truly everything was checked off my to-do list, from cleaning the shower and running to a little at-home pedicure and time for a few almost terrible movies.  (If you're wondering, the Red Box selections were When in Rome and Have You Met the Morgans?  The former was even too cheesy for my taste, and I looooove cheesy.  The latter was barely saved by a few charming Huge Grant moments.  And yes, I'm giving these opinions keeping in mind that $1 was paid for each.  Yikes.)   Also a side that someone is getting old?  When said person is genuinely excited for new bathroom rugs.  True story.

One more tiny aside -- In case you were worried that I became a wet blanket, here's a little proof that I'm still years away from such a transition.   On Saturday, when faced with a family size bag of Doritos, I exhibited about as much willpower as a hyperactive child in the buttons and switches section of a Radio Shack store.  The bag was opened upon purchase, eaten on the mile walk home, and by the end of the night, 2/3 of it was gone.  Woops.