CHRISSAYYYY GIRL

Happy birthday to my most sexifed beautiful friend Chrissy!! I miss you so much and wish I was with you today, I am going to come to DC as soon as I can!!

she is a model

Pumpkin Sausage Cream Pasta

I was so excited to make this recipe! I still am all about pumpkin! This recipe is one of Rachel Ray's from 30 minute meals, and as she promised it was really easy to make.  I cooked dinner for my parents and AY and it went over very well.  I thought it turned out really well but instead of all Italian sausage next time I am going to use half spicy sausage (thanks dad for the suggestion) I always like a little bit of hot.  Anyways this meal is totally awesome and tastes like Fall!

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus 1 tablespoon

1 pound Italian sausage (or 1/2 Italian and 1/2 spicy!)

4 cloves garlic, cracked and chopped

1 medium onion, finely chopped

1 bay leaf, fresh or dried

4 to 6 sprigs sage leaves, cut into chiffonade, about 2 tablespoons

1 cup dry white wine

1 cup chicken stock 

1 cup canned pumpkin

1/2 cup (3 turns around the pan) heavy cream

1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 

Coarse salt and black pepper

1 pound penne rigate

Parmesean cheese

Directions:

1. Heat a large, deep nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the pan and brown the sausage in it. Transfer sausage to paper towel lined plate. Drain fat from skillet and return pan to the stove. Add the remaining tablespoon oil, and then the garlic and onion. Saute  until the onions are translucent

2. Add bay leaf, sage, and wine to the pan. Reduce wine by half, about 2 minutes. Add stock and pumpkin until sauce comes to a bubble. Return sausage to pan, reduce heat, and stir in cream. Season the sauce with cinnamon and nutmeg, and salt and pepper, to taste.  Allow sauce 10 minutes to simmer to thicken up!

3. Take out bay leaf and serve sauce over cooked pasta with lots of cheese!

such a pretty color! and it smelled so good!

we ate the pasta with prociutto and melon with some balsamic drizzled.  This is always the perfect addition to a meal!

Breathing

Over the past two years I have had random occurences of anxiety.  In the last week all of a sudden it crept back up on me.  And lucky for me the way my body handles it is by constricting my breathing.  I have to take these huge breaths and it never feels like I have enough air- its very attractive let me tell you, oh the looks I get while in public. (Also thoroughly scares my family and friends) The weird part is that I do not feel like there is anything to be anxious about- but who really knows whats going thru my brain?!

yesterday I was doomed my horoscope:

The seas are a tad choppy this morning, Cap, but try to roll with the punches. Things will get easier–promise! You’re being pulled here and there by coworkers and friends, and you’re not getting as much done as you hoped for. Stay calm, and know that this feeling too shall pass. Try to shuffle your schedule so that you do more social tasks earlier and handle the focused solo missions later in the day.

Today I still have to take a couple deep breaths but it is so much better! I took time out for myself yesterday and did the things I wanted and needed.  Went on a walk with Sabrina around Balboa Island (friends always do the trick!) And I made a fire @ my house for AY to enjoy, which we did while watching a movie- simple as that and today I woke up anxiety- free!

AND Tomorrow evening I am driving up to San Francisco for the weekend! so much to look forward to.. we are staying in a Motel 6 tomorrow night- should be an adventure! Things are only getting better!

Weekend Adventures

Last weekend was a total blast for me... on Friday night Mimi and I went up to LA to go see Minus the Bear @ the Wiltern.  It is right in the middle of Koreatown so we thought it would be fun to try some Korean BBQ... what an understatement the word fun is in this situation.  When we walked into the restaurant we chose (across the street from the venue) we definitely stuck out A LOT. But the waitresses were very nice to us and tried to help us even with the language barrier.  The menu was impossible so I immediately called AY (he eats Korean everyday) he gave us a couple tips... we ordered a chicken and some cold noodle soup.  Little did we know they were going to bring us out about 12 little appetizer things- this was prob the highlight- we had no clue what anything was but just dove in. 

ok some of this was delicious- and some of it was downright odd.  I liked the cucumbers... I think I can say I was pretty brave trying most things, did skip the fish head salad tho...

                 never figured out what this was...

anyways Mimi and I had such a blast, but the poor waitress did not know what to do with us. The vibes were great we shared a lot of laughs and I got to enjoy what I believe was a Korean Keystone Light- yumm!

 oh and they use metal chop sticks- AY always says these are better, and I have to agree!

  The chicken was dank! It really was just teryaki chicken, but still soo good!

After dinner we headed over to the concert and it was great. I had not been to a concert in a while, I had forgotten how much I love live music. I am going to try to do that more often!

              Minus the Bear- I like these guys! I would highly recommend the song "Pachuca Sunrise"
After the concert we headed home and I ended the night with my two favorite pple...

Parentals

Today my parents left for another one of their "adventures". Since they are empty nesters now (well not really I did just move back in) they decided to take themselves on two road tripping vacations.  Today is the second installment- they are on their way up to Sun Valley then Montana and Wyoming.  They are leaving me for 2 weeks... thats how I feel this time around I am being left. It also doesnt help that my mom felt I could not sufficiently take care of Blondie and had her boarded.  So I will be alone in the house. (literally my nightmare I hate being alone) I am such a wimp, when I sleep @ home I sleep under the covers completely so just in case, no one will think I am there.. how pathetic.  I can not even do a check around the house after dark! I really consider myself a very independent person, but since moving back in with my parents I like being them around.  I cant believe that I actually now consider my parents my friends! i look forward to coming home from work and catching up with them.  They are no longer the annoying pests who I was trying to avoid for so long.. Could I even say they are my best friends.. probably so. 

awww arent we adorable? i really am turning into my mother.. but of course a much more toned down version! Actually I do not mind as much as I used to.. that crazy momma of mine raised 4 kids and did pretty decently with her husband! ha.  I have also come to really respect my parents relationship.. they have been together for 30 years- not all good but they still continue to make each other laugh, which is really all I have ever wanted with someone.

oh and here is a throw back right after they got married! so cute

maybe it will be a good thing being alone @ home for a while I will have lots of time to blog!

Sunday Brunch

Today I had a very delicious Sunday Brunch @ Haute Cakes in Newport.  Minus the overwhelming crowd my breakfast was unreal. I absolutely love Haute Cakes, it reminds me of growing up.  I can remember when my mom was pregnant with the twins and going to Haute Cakes with her friends and all us kids.  Its one of those staple places in Newport that I am so glad has always stayed consistent. Today  I ordered the Pesto Eggs on a total whim, and now I am already thinking of an excuse to get back there as soon as possible.  The eggs were prepared on a grilled baguette with spinach, pesto, heirloom tomatoes, parm cheese, and poached eggs! umm amazing and i am thinking it is definitely I could figure out how to make at home- save me $11!

on a side note I went to American Apparel on Saturday and bought my new favorite Fall piece! I wore it last night and got so many compliments, I just love that... AY even wanted to trade tops with me, who woulda thought pink 3D flowers were so attractive to guys.  Good lord I love clothes!

My 1st Student!

my dear friend Amanda and i have been trying to get together to bake for a couple of weeks now.  She doesnt seem to think that she is much of a whiz in the kitchen.. so i decided to make her my 1st student! I had her bake her boyfriend the chocolate chip pumpkin cookies I made a couple weeks back.. Amanda totally agreed that baking for ur significant man friend would be fun! I was laughing the whole time watching Amanda get everything prepared- she was such a good baker! Maybe a little messier than I am, but lets agree I am a type A perfectionist in the kitchen hahah.. Best part of all her new 2 mos old niece Mallory was visiting from Washington! I am such a sucker for babies I held her for a good hour and half.  I would have walked right out the door with her, but I know the family so it probably would not have worked in my favor! Mr. Barto even said I was a natural, oh man I was beaming! However I am not that crazy and am fully aware that a baby is a good long while off! Not there yet no way!

 Baker Barto

all done look soo good! i am so proud!

"Doing Dinner"

I have gotten to the point where I do not miss college anymore...BUT I do miss "doing dinner" with my girlfriends. Every weekend it was a new spot (Dallas restaurants are better than anywhere) we would get all dressed up and have the best time eating! Newport is great but it definitely lacking in the dinner spots. I mean it also doesnt help that my 10 best friends are not here! It set the perfect tone for the night, get all our girl time out of the way then head out to a bar dance or do god knows what else.  oh well it will just have to be saved for those much awaited reunions.. see u crazies next labor day! Until then I will continue to try to drag whoever I can to do dinner.

SMU homecoming is this weekend I am pretty bummed I am missing out on those dinners! Mambo taxis!

Chin Chin Noodle!

Very rarely I get sent up to LA for work.. sounds miserable but it is always such a treat because I get to visit my best friends Sabrina! She was married in December and moved to Beverly Hills so things are a bit more spaced out.... anyways we went to my favorite place CHIN CHIN! this place is not ur boutiquey look at me Im in LA place its just Chinese food but I dream about it all the time! such great vibes too (well that could be cuz Brini and i are quite the duo) and this trip Vic joined us! I think she is prob converted too.. oh there are 3 locations, Sunset Blvd, Beverly Hills and Brentwood! BOMB! I could go for those peanut noodles everyday I think!

 Brini's favorite Spicey Garlic Eggplant- too die!

PEANUT NOODLES W CHICKEN!!

hey here we are! and Sabrina and I both wore our purple to support gays and anti-bullying! ok lets be honest I just grabbed a purple sweater that day i never know whats going on- but good choice love being a part of!

this has nothing to do w Chin Chin but saw this house on my way home... dreaming of my home one day- Spanish style obviously!

Beverly Hills

even on a rainy day I still totally appreciate the palm tree lined streets of Beverly Hills! got to sit @ coffee bean w brini yesterday afternoon- had 1 1/2 celeb sitings! britney from glee and brad pitt (or brini thought it was brad pitt) soo funny!

Adventure

lately at work I have been going on sales calls, well this week I have.  yesterday was an adventure, 2 1/2 hr drive to lovely downtown LA in the rain.  Oh this was a fine vendor day in an ancient old warehouse with no air circulation,  me surrounded by creepy male vendors and contractors... they all just seem to rub me the wrong way- umm hello this is professional and i have a name that is not dp hottie! anyways the smarty pants that I am, I accidently left my car keys on a wall while I attempted to "fix" my hair- this very nice homeless man began to chase me which made me immediately think rape bc I am paranoid but really he was just giving me my keys- good pple exist in the world! that would have led to disaster esp since sabrinas mink coat was in the backseat- sorry brini.. my mom put me on these daily vitamins that are supposed to help my brain, I wonder when they kick in.

Raspberry Cheesecake Cupcakes

I first stumbled upon these little treasures on smittenkitchen.com and thought they looked so wonderful... however after a couple weeks I forgot about them.  Luckily my best friend clearlyclaireblog.blogspot.com started her foodie blog and I was re-introduced! I was mildly nervous about baking cheesecake, I dont know why but i thought it would be difficult and something I could easily screw up- WRONG! these were easy and came out delicious! In fact as i type this I am enjoying one right now...my parents definitely love me more this week.  And AY he isnt even sharing them with his roommates and declared them to be his favorite!

CRUST:
1 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 tablespoons sugar

Combine crust ingredients and stir with fork... (butter should be melted) Press 1 tablespoon in each cupcake and bake for 5 minutes

TOPPING:
6 oz fresh raspberries
2 tablespoons sugar

combine raspberries and sugar in food processor- pour thru fine sieve to remove seeds.

FILLING:
2 lbs cream cheese
1 1/2 cups sugar
pinch salt
1 tablespoon vanilla

beat cream cheese on medium- high until fluffy- blend sugar. mix in salt, vanilla and beat 1 egg @ a time.

Spoon cheesecake mixture in linter and dot raspberry and swirl with a toothpick.

Bake for 22 minutes and refrigerate for up to 4 hours

sooo good!

Isn't She Lovely?

my pride and joy! Blondie!

Lemon Rasberry Yogurt Cake

I really love lemon flavored desserts.  I found this cake on smittenkitchen.com one day @ work.  Work has been pretty slow and this website has become my go-to! Technically it is a "lemon anything yogurt cake"- she used blueberries.  I think rasberries and lemon are such an awesome combo I just changed the recipe to make it my own.  It comes out so delicious and the glaze that I put over the cake made it really shine.  The cake was not really desserty, I really liked it for breakfast in the morning, it kind of reminds me of the lemon pound cake they sell @ Starbucks, but obviously much better!! Oh and of course well recieved by both my parents and AY!

INGREDIENTS:
1 1/2 cups + 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup plain whole-milk yogurt
1 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar
3 extra-large eggs
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest (approximately 2 lemons)
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups rasberries
1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease loaf pan. Line the bottom with parchment paper. Grease and flour the pan- really go overboard on the greasing this cake sticks!

2. Sift together 1 1/2 cups flour, baking powder, and salt into 1 bowl. In another bowl, whisk together the yogurt, 1 cup sugar, the eggs, lemon zest, vanilla and oil. Slowly whisk the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Mix the rasberries with the remaining tablespoon of flour (this is so they do not sink- mine did anyway), and fold them very gently into the batter.

3. Bake for about 50 minutes, or until a cake tester is clean.

4. Cook the 1/3 cup lemon juice and remaining 1 tablespoon sugar in a small pan until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is clear. Set aside

5. After the cake is finished let it cool for about 10 minutes before taking it out of the pan.  I had a little difficulty getting it off the paper and got bit of help from my dad... after on the cooling rack pour the lemon mixture on the cake- this will make the cake really shine! Mine was so pretty!!  ENJOY!

                                        my cake was glowing!

my rasberries still kind of sank to the bottom of the cake but I didnt mind tasted great!

I LOVE Trojan football. I get goosebumps @ every game! these were my parents seats from the game on saturday when SC crushed Cal.. sorry Mimi

how do i put this...

i think i could be a shop-a-holic.. my mom taught me from a very young age how fun and exciting shopping can be and as a result i cant keep myself out of stores.  Lucky for me though i have a love affair with forever 21. some people do not understand all that it has to offer or how to shop there.  i mean how can you go wrong with jeans for $9.99? everytime i look at my drawer full of jeans it elates me that those 10 pairs only cost me $100! forever21.com has even more than my store has to offer! best news yet though is @ fashion island we are currently constructing one of the largest stores in the country, I mean a damn circuit city used to be in there... lately my excitment has been for shoes! here are the last 4 pairs I bought this month, oh by the way not one was more than $27.50... this is shopping done right!

hello these are from the website i love them.. dont they scream bottega venetta?

these look like miu miu... the flats run a little small @ forever tho.. i wear them anyway

brown suede botties, i was so impressed with these perfect for fall!

these are my newest pair they havent even made it out of the car yet.... i think they will be worn tonight.. they came in black too.

a little bit of patriotism for the day!

Adventure

Adventure for the day: babysitting my bosses two sons; one in 8th grade and a junior in high school- its going to be a long 4 days!

breakfast

I love breakfast food.. mostly because its just another meal that i get to have entirely made of sugar, i can never get enough of waffles, pancakes or any other breakfast pastry.. no wonder I am hyperglycemic! 

here is my favorite in Dallas- Captain Crunch French Toast with Cinnamon whipped cream from Nick & Sam's Grill (damn!)

and while these stay far away I will just keep going by A Market in Newport for my sticky buns!

and if neither of these are readily available I will just stick to my regular old waffle with peanut butter, whipped cream and syrup- always hits the spot i suggest everyone tries it!

home.

i love where i live.

                                               

i love my turbo sandals