Monday, September 23, 2013

Emmys 2013 Fashion

These are my picks for this year's best dressed actresses at the Emmys! I wasn't blown away by much fashion this year, but of all the dresses, these are my favorite, fashion forward, and most flattering ones. Who made your list?

Sofia Vergara in Vera Wang
Kate Mara in J. Mendell
Kaley Cuoco in Vera Wang

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Barley Salad.

The other day I came home from work and I was starving. Trying to keep a healthy diet, I didn't want to order out so I looked around my pantry for ingredients to quickly make something. I found a bag of barley and also a few different vegetables in my refrigerator so I decided to make a salad. For a makeshift recipe that I just put together, it turned out really good!



Ingredients:

  • A handful of cherry red tomatoes
  • A handful of small yellow heirloom tomatoes
  • 1 cucumber
  • 1/2 an avocado 
  • 3/4 can of kidney beans
  • 1 cup of barley
  • crumbled feta
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • salt
  • 2-3 tablespoons olive oil
1. Cook the barley according to packaged directions. Usually, boil 1.5 cups of water to every cup of barley and add the barley when boiling. Put heat on low and let absorb for 30 minutes.

2. While the barley is cooking, wash and cut all the vegetables and strain and wash the kidney beans. Keep in mind, you can use any number of vegetables in the salad, these are just the ones I had in the fridge. 

3. When the barley has cooked, drain and let it cool.

4. To make the dressing, whisk the honey and vinegars. Add in olive oil and salt and whisk.

5. Mix the barley, vegetables, and kidney beans.

6. Top with crumbled feta.

Peanut Butter Cupcakes

The other day, I was feeling like I hadn't baked anything in a long time so I decided to make my favorite dessert...cupcakes! Now, like many others, I am guilty of taking the shortcut at times and using boxed cake mix. However, I thought some aspects of the cupcakes should have my own twist to them so I added some mini Reese's cups to the bottom of the cupcake and I made my own peanut butter frosting.


Peanut Butter Frosting:

Ingredients:
  • 1 cup confectioner's sugar
  • 1 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 5 tablespoons of unsalted butter at room temperature
  • 3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/3 cup heavy cream
1. Mix confectioner's sugar, peanut butter, butter, vanilla, and salt on medium low speed until creamy.

2. Add the cream and mix on high speed until mixture is light and smooth.

(recipe courtesy of Ina Garten)


New York, New York

After a long school year and grueling work project over the summer, I was in much need of a vacation so my boyfriend and I traveled to one of my favorite places, New York City! Even though I have been there countless times, there is always something new to explore and discover in the city. Of course there are also always some old places that never disappoint. Below are some of the highlights of my favorite places in New York. Not to say that there are still many, many places, restaurants, and bakeries I have yet to see in the city. Luckily, many of those places are soon coming to LA!

These are my favorite places in the city where we ate:
         Evergreen Diner
         Da Gennaro Italian
         Treat House rice krispie treats
         Rice To Riches tapioca pudding
         S'Mac macaroni and cheese
         Capital Grille
         Luke's Lobster lobster rolls
         Shake Shack burgers
         Magnolia Bakery
         Brooklyn Bagel Co.
         Thai Terminal

Bubble lounge in our hotel, Night Hotel.
Breathing wall at NBC Studios.
Times Square.
Brooklyn Bagel Co. Sesame Bagel with Sundried Tomato Cream Cheese.
The Highline.
The Beautiful Flora at the Highline.
Modern Art at MoMA.
Across the Corridor at MoMA.
Still Life #30 -Tom Wesselmann 1963.
My favorite speakeasy with an awesome secret entrance, PDT. Not sharing too much more information on this...shhh...
Absinthe at PDT.
Intrepid Sea, Air, &Space Museum. 
Ray's Pizza!

World Trade Center Memorial. 
FDNY.


Central Park from a Different Perspective.
Beekman's Beergarden.