{Friday Challenge}...Cooking Without Mom

So last week, I challenged myself (and you!) to try a new movie. I ended up seeing Apollo 13 for the first time! So this challenge is completely different. With deep fall weather sinking in, it's time to start cooking those hearty meals. My mom makes a mean beef pasty. They're like little meat, potato, carrot, rutabaga hand pie. Yum! When mom makes them, I help out, but I've never done it on my own. Surprise! That's my challenge this week. Cook mom's meal without mom. Are you up for it? What will you make?

Photo via

{Curious}...Food for Thought

Question: Would you go to dinner with a professor? If it was paid for by an outside third party? 

My college sponsors an event every semester called Food for Thought which invites students to take a professor to dinner. It allows the faculty and students to get to know each other outside the classroom, or just as an individual, which can be tricky at a Big Ten University sometimes. Last year I went and it was awkward, so this year I was super hesitant . . . after all, you know how office hours can go. 

But it was great! I went with my English professor, and although I had tons of back up questions to ask in case dinner did get weird, I never used them! We chatted about books, movies, films, different cities around the states. Initially I thought that taking my professor would make class with him perpetually strange and tense, but I think not now. 

So, would you do it? 

Photo via old Instagram

{Weekend Update}...A Day Late!

The Bag Girls...

Hello, all! So sorry about the post few and far between. Seeing as it is in the middle of midterm season, life is getting busy! But, amidst all the studying and copious notes, I was able to have a fantastic girls' weekend! Two of my best friends came to the cities, and did we have a blast. When you're feeling stressed, spending time with the girls is so therapeutic. Even if you're busy with mountains of to do lists, it's actually productive to be unproductive and silly for a bit. So we pampered ourselves with delicious food, shopping, and outdoor walks! 

I hope your weekend gave you ample time to unwind, be worry free, and girly!

Abby + Katie at Broder's 

Red Velvet Cupcakes...yum!

Photos via Instagram and by me. 

{Eat It}...Morning Treat

My favorite morning delight is a coconut cherry parfait. I like to use a basic vanilla yogurt with fresh cherries. I pit and quarter them. For every 3/4 cup yogurt, I find 6 or 7 cherries are a nice ratio. Although you don't have to, I like to layer my fruit and yogurt in a pretty stem glass. I feel so fancy! Top it off with whole granola, coconut; drizzle with honey, and drop on a cherry to finish it off! Yum! This is so fresh and sweet. The cherries and coconut are seriously amazing. 

What's your favorite breakfast treat? Parfaits can be great for those days you're feeling healthy. They're also fun if you have some friends over for brunch. Build your own parfait bar? Delicious!

{Fall Threads}...Dinner Partay

Nothing says welcome fall and friends like a fabulously fun dinner party. I'm imagining a roasted chicken or pumpkin soup with asparagus mixed in with some sweet potato and eggplant. Yum! We just had a huge family dinner the other night! It doesn't have to be anything super fancy, but it's a blast having a feast when the weather cools down!

Use a fairly neutral dining set so that your food can really pop. White dishes and dark silverware make a bold statement on the table without taking the spotlight away from the beautiful colors in your food. A fun way to incorporate hues in dish ware is the serving vessel. Imagine some butternut squash and asparagus in that turquoise serving dish! Love!

Of course you want look great, but you also want to look comfortable. Make your guests feel at ease with the modern kaftan...a simple shift dress and flats. You'll be looking the part in a versatile outfit. 

Don't forget the music! You'll want it just in case conversation drags...OR you feel like dancing!

P.S...How cool is this carbonator? No need to buy tonic water, make your own as needed!

Napkins / Plate / Serving Dish / Pitcher / Silverware / Dress / Carbonator / iPod / Shoes

That Tastes Happy

Are you an emotional eater? Many of us know that it's bad. Technically. So we all say, "Of course not!" We think we have enough control, enough self respect and common sense to reasons with our emotions on a more contemplative, logical level. I'll admit it, though...

I do eat based on my emotions sometimes. When I'm feeling sad or blah, I make comfort food. There is not way you can get me to eat a salad if I had a really bad day. If a friend is feeling down, I make a batch of cookies. 

Emotional eating doesn't mean that you gorge yourself on crap only when you feel bad. When I got my college acceptance letter, we celebrated with a fun dinner. When your friend gets engaged, you throw a party complete with food. Having a baby? Throw a shower with light pink macaroons and punch. WE even have food after funerals, or even little snacks at wakes!

So is it really as bad as everyone says it is? Is emotional eating seriously an eating disorder? Perhaps, but if so, then all of America is suffering from a collective eating disorder. I'm not telling you to hide from your feelings through food. But let's not feel bad about that pint of Ben and Jerry's you ate after your last break up. 

{Weekend Update}...Farmer's Market Finds

The weather was so incredibly gorgeous this weekend it would have been a crime to not go out and enjoy it. My family went down to the local farmer's market held at Phoenix Park, which is breathtaking.  We had to take one or two strolls around the place before actually deciding on what we wanted. Fresh bread, crisp greens, hearty tubers and flowers make the entire market explode with color. Oh, and did I mention there are local artists and musicians, too? Yeah, it's pretty much ridiculously perfect. I definitely felt and acted like a tourist in my own town this weekend, which can be fun. 

We decided upon fresh peaches (yum!), finger potatoes, freshly baked focaccia bread and caramel apple bread, both from Bohemian Ovens. We know the family who owns it and they seriously make the best breads and pastries. In Bloomer, WI, they use a brick oven and old techniques. It's the bomb. 

So happy Monday! I hope you got out there to enjoy nature's beauty! When you really look around, there is some pretty amazing stuff. For example, some of my favorite things in life are looking at fresh produce. Weird, I know. But it's gorgeous. And did you see the meteor shower? Sadly, it was a bit too cloudy for me. I'd love to know what you saw!

{Eat It}...Chewy Ginger Cookies

It seems like ages ago since the Olympics started. For the opening ceremonies, my family had a little viewing party, complete with all the fixings; burgers and brats were grilled, berries picked, desserts made. Abby and I were in charge of desserts, so instead of going with the classic chocolate chip cookie, which can feel a little heavy and overly sweet in summer, we opted for a chewy ginger cookie. Since it wasn't a snap, but a softly dense cookie, it was the perfect dessert. 

Ginger also helps settle upset stomachs (that's why you should have ginger ale when feeling queazy), so after a huge dinner the cookies were actually just right. I know it seems like a winter cookie, but with cold milk, or iced coffee, they're a great dessert for any season. Bonus: your house smells amazing throughout the whole process. I just love how fragrant ginger is. It's not overly sweet and is almost savory. Fantastic. 

{Eat It}...Let's Roll

Ages ago I actually made dinner. Can you believe it? I've always been a huge asparagus fan...then tomatoes entered the picture. And I liked them! They look beautiful together, so they must taste amazing when paired, right? Right! Oh, and did I mention I'm a chicken? Well, sort of. I've never really cared for red meats. I don't know why, but given the choice between a fancy steak and a piece of chicken, I'll take chicken. I'm a poultry junkie. So I was craving this delicious pairing and followed this recipe. They're chicken roll ups with asparagus and tomato. Add a little parmesan cheese and some tooth picks and you have yourself a great meal! Note, they look ultra fancy and elegant on a plate, but are sooo easy to make!

If you try these, I'd love to see what you think of them! What else would you do with a chicken roll up? I'd love to try rolling in onion and pineapple and then serving with a sweet & sour sauce! What about you?

{Eat It}...Good on Toast

I love breakfast, but I'm not the biggest breakfast chef. In the morning I just want to roll out of bed and have a quick (but delicious) bite to eat. Enter, Strawberry Rhubarb Jam! It's easy enough to make and will knock your socks off! Depending on the size of your rhubarb crop, you might have enough jars to last you all year. It's a real treat in the winter. 

Abby and I planted two rhubarb plants a few years back. We desperately wanted a garden, but in the city all we had room for were the two plants. It turns out, rhubarb is the plant that keeps giving! Coming back every summer, we now enjoy jam, crisp, pie, and tarts. Delicious to the last stalk!

Let your diced rhubarb sit overnight in water and sugar. In the morning it will be super gloppy. That is a good thing!

Get some strawberry Jell-O, which you will add to the boiling sugar-water mixture.

Let boil and cool; then transfer to mason jars. Put the caps on immediately and let sit. The tops will make a popping noise when completely sealed. Refrigerate one and put the rest in the freezer!

RECIPE

5 cups of finely cut rhubarb

3 cups of sugar

Mix and let stand overnight

In the boring, boil for 15 minutes and add 1 package of strawberry jello.

Put in jars and seal.

Cool before freezing.

Feel free to double, triple, quadruple! Trust me, it'll go fast! 

{Weekend Update}...Taste of the Valley

 Warm breezes, blue skies, fluffy clouds and a bit of rainfall made this weekend perfect for cool treats and sweets. Nick and I drove to Chippewa's locally owned Olson's Ice Cream Parlor with his Grandma Rose; what a blast we had. I delighted in licking a delectable three-flavor (and three scoop, oh my!) combination of orange pineapple, strawberry, and classic vanilla. I expected the orange pineapple to be more like a tangy sherbet, but it was a creamy, straight up ice cream resembling a dreamsicle filled with pineapple bits. I also made a variation of this bean salsa with bagel chips. It's the perfect complement to hot summer days! Last but not least, The Taste of the Valley dominated Phoenix Park in Downtown Eau Claire. As always, it was characterized by rich smells, live music and great vendors! I sampled the cheese curds, BBQ wings, iced caramel latte and a giant Betty Bar! Needles to say, I was stuffed. As if my weekend wasn't lovely enough, our family had a good ol' bonfire and Nick surprised me with my favorite flowers in a sparkly bouquet. I hope you had an equally tasty and fragrant weekend! Happy Monday!

photos via instagram. Follow me!

{Weekend Update}...Back to Back

Happy Monday, everyone! Welcome back after what I hope was a fantastic weekend. I'll fill you in on some highlights. 

My WAY old stomping ground-DeLong Middle School

We started the weekend off with a bang by having our May/June birthdays! Singing "Happy Birthday" 13 times (different and lovely harmonies every time) whilst delighting in Better Than Sex Cake (which we called "BTS (bits) cake" around the little ones) was good fun! My extended family really knows how to celebrate. Brandon, who is in first grade, was a mini MJ. He danced along to the King of Pop's songs for at least a half hour! What a performer! Without any bias, let me tell you: he's fantastic! 

Caramel + Sweetened Condensed Milk 

Devil's Food Cake. Seriously sinful.

Combine!

I can't say I didn't snack on the topping...

Nearing completion.

Almost final product!

Saturday proved to be even crazier than the night before! Nick, the great, cool guy that he is, came back to Eau Claire for his good friends' wedding. We had so much fun eating and dancing with friends. For the first time in my life I did line dancing! The reception was in a barn decorated with twinkle lights and candles for a good old hoedown. It was beautiful, simple and down right fun! Congratulations, Dani and Grant! I might have a new hobby! Looks like I'll be investing in some cowboy boots. 

Necklace (Gap); Dress from a different season (J.Crew-similar style here)

My God-brother, Matt, was performing for The Big Band Bash that evening as well. So, as Nick and I finished up our line dance, we sashayed right out the door and drove to our other event! The BBB featured great performers (Matt's high school jazz band was a finalist at Essentially Ellington!), good food, and a beautiful venue at the Heyde Center for the Arts. The band was tight, strident, cool and sophisticated. Some amazing soloists (vocal and instrumental) were featured and definitely did not disappoint. What a totally neat evening. 

After enjoying the smooth and funky sounds of Eau Claire North's Jazz I, the girls and I finally got around to watching Breaking Dawn Part 1. While I'm still mystified by why Kristen Stewart is famous, let alone a sought after actress, the movie was surprisingly endurable. Snarky remarks, laughing at inappropriate times and the like were at an all time low compared to the other films. The music was also pretty decent. Bravo!

What did you do this weekend? I do hope you had lots of laughs, sunshine and stories!

Pictures from instagram, and fanpop

{Weekend Update}...Spring Fling!

Prosciutto and Arugula Pizza + Blood Orange San Pellegrino

Yum is all I can say about this weekend. In short, I ate like there was no tomorrow. I had my very last concert of the year, The Spring Fling!, which was great fun. A cappella, pop, you name it. It was relaxed and fantastic. I also went to "Fresh Scenes" on Friday night put on by the BFA company. They were amazing. I can't really put it any other way. You know when you go to a production and you know the people in it? The entire time all you think is, "I know these people. This is weird." It wasn't like that. Every scene I was totally engrossed in these characters' lives. I was floored. Before our concert on Saturday, my family and I went to Broder's. They were feature on 'Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives' so we of course had to try it. Great, authentic Italian food. Someday I'll go there again and do a full piece on it. Promise! In case you wondering what else I consumed over the weekend, here's a list: pizza, tiramisu, a cannoli, carrot cake, cappuccino brownie. Don't forget frozen yogurt from Chilly Billy's! Needless to say, I won't eat for another week. Well, probably for a few hours. 

Happy Monday to you all! I hope your weekend was fantastically entertaining and food-filled!

Carrot Cake + Cappuccino Brownie

Amazing.
Original Tart + Raspberry Pomegranate froyo + almonds, coconut, blackberries, raspberries & passionfruit bobas.

Photos via Instagram.