Recipe: buttery almond cookies with cranberries and chocolate chunks

Vintage button up (seen here) | Marc by Marc Jacobs jeans | Wedges gifted from Urban Blues 

These cookies are totally delicious.  I would highly recommend making them. However, next time i bake them, I would add actual almonds instead of using only almond meal.  I found the recipe here.  

So, it's supposed to snow here this week.  This is frightening to me.  I am not ready for snow yet...I think I may have to take another trip to LA if this actually happens. I mean, I am extremely excited for jacket weather, but snow is pushing it.  

Hope everyone had a good monday! 

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Outfit du jour, et je ne sais pas

Urban Blues top & boots (gifted) | Thrifted shorts 

My new favorite lunch obsession is officially a rice-cracker with peanut-butter.  I have no idea why, but, I am currently completely addicted to it.  I also have been dressing incredibly simply and casually lately, which is really funny to me.  I have been so insanely busy lately too I haven't had time to do a good shoot.  I'm excited for the weather to start getting cooler so layering can begin.  This time of year though the sunsets are just gorgeous.  I think I almost died last night because of how totally fantastic the sky was.  

Bisous.

Julia

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Outfit du jour, le matin

J. Crew top | Acne shorts | Vintage Coach bag | Steve Madden oxfords

Today I realized how obsessed and addicted to granola and fruit I am and I wanted to share with the world how wonderful it is.  I'm going to be so sad when summer is over and the local fruit stands are gone.  While it is still summer though, I suggest mixing non-fat yogurt with granola and copious amounts of fresh berries.  There is nothing better.  

I walked through the park on the way to work this morning.  It was lovely.  Have a good weekend every one! 

-J

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Recipe: pizza love

Florian and I went up to my cabin this weekend and it was so lovely.  It was actually pretty cold (which I was super happy about) and we had to bust out our sweaters.  I always love going to my cabin because it is a chance to escape from the city and feel like I'm on vacation, even though I'm just and hour from home.  That is the great thing about this city.  How close we are to the mountains!

We decided that we wanted to have a pizza making competition so I decided to make a classic pizza with tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, and lots and lots of garlic. Florian choose to do a pizza with andouille, pepperoni, tomatoes, mushrooms and a fancy cheese (right now I can't remember the name...).  They were both delicious (better cold the next day, but I always find that true with pizza) and I'm not sure we ever decided on a winner.  

I forgot how easy it is to bake a pizza.  I debated on making the crust from scratch but since we were going to be in the mountains I decided just to buy a frozen crust from Whole Foods.  It was a decent crust, but it wasn't as crunchy as I would have liked it.  You can really just throw anything you want on a pizza and chances are it's going to be wonderful.
-J

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Recipe: Pumpkin Muffins

I thought these where quite delicious and easy.  I think I am going to try to make them again and instead of using chocolate chips, try putting some walnuts and carrots in the them.  They make a fabulous breakfast, especially when dipped in a fresh cup of coffee. 

Adapted from the American club, in Kohler, Wisconsin via Gourmet Magazine

1½ cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 cup canned solid-pack pumpkin

1/3 cup vegetable oil

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon pumpkin-pie spice

1¼ cups (plus 1 tablespoon) sugar

½ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional)

Preheat oven to 350°

Put liners in muffin cups.

Whisk together pumpkin, oil, eggs, pumpkin pie spice, 1 1/4 cups sugar, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl until smooth, then whisk in flour mixture until just combined.

Stir together cinnamon and remaining 1 tablespoon sugar in another bowl.

Divide batter among muffin cups (each should be about three-fourths full), then sprinkle tops with cinnamon-sugar mixture. Bake until puffed and golden brown and wooden pick or skewer inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes.

Cool in pan on a rack five minutes, then transfer muffins from pan to rack and cool to warm or room temperature.

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Recipe: the best & healthiest cookies ever

These little cookies are amazing.  They are gooey and delicious.  I only made half the recipe and it made about 20 cookies.  I made mine bite size though.  What's brilliant is that there are only about 70 calories per cookie.  Next I want to use this same recipe but try making peanut-butter chocolate chip cookies.  It might work...it might be a giant fail. I will let you know. 

Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

About 36 cookies

Adapted from Nick Malgieri’s book, Perfect Light Desserts: Fabulous Cakes, Cookies, Pies, and More Made with Real Butter, Sugar, Flour, and Eggs(HarperCollins).

1 cup flour (spoon flour into dry-measure cup and level off)

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1/2 cup (packed) light brown sugar 1 large egg 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 1/3 cups rolled oats (not instant) 1/2 cup dark raisins (or dried cranberries)

2 baking sheets lined with parchment paper, foil, or silicone mats

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and set the rack on the lower and upper thirds of the oven.

2. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

3. In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter and granulated sugar until smooth. Mix in the brown sugar, then the egg, applesauce, and vanilla.

4. Stir in the dry ingredients, then the oats and raisins.

5. Drop the batter by rounded teaspoons 2-inches apart on the baking sheets and use a fork to gently flatten the dough.

6. Bake the cookies for 10 to 12 minutes. Rotate baking sheets during baking for even heating.

Happy baking!

-J

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