Christmas Salad

This Christmas Salad from Small Town Woman is my new obsession and I plan to make this all year round with seasonal substitutes! I found some citrus champagne vinegar in our pantry and used that for the dressing....*chefs kiss*! 

Cranberry Orange Coffee Cake

I made this gorgeous holiday spiced coffee cake for our church Christmas program and it was so delicious! The zesty citrus and the sweet-tart cranberries are my favourite combo during the holidays. To add a bit more sweetness, I drizzled an orange glaze over the cake, and then served it with cranbery sauce on the side.

Check out the original recipe here from Simply Quinoa! 

Barefoot Contessa's Stewed Lentils & Tomatoes

1. Heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil in a large saucepan. Add 2 cups of diced yellow onions (2 onions) and 2 cups of diced carrots (2-4 large carrots) over medium-low heat for 8 to 10 minutes until the onions start to brows. Stir occasionally with a wooden spoon. Add 1 tablespoon of minced garlic (3 cloves) and cook for 1 more minute.

2. Meanwhile, place 1 28-ounce can of whole plum tomatoes (including the juice) in a foot processor and pulse several times until the tomatoes are coarsely chopped. 

3. Add the tomatoes, 1 cup of green lentils (7 oz), 2 cups of chicken stock, 2 teaspoons of mild curry powder, 2 teaspoons of chopped fresh thyme leaves, 2 teaspoons of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper to the pan. Raise the heat to bring to a boil and then lower the heat and simmer for about 40-minutes until the lentils are tender. 

4. Check occasionally to be sure the liquid is still simmering. Remove from the heat and allow the lentils to sit covered for another 10 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon of red wine vinegar, season to taste and serve hot.

Pumpkin Spice Chia Seed Pudding

This is my new breakfast obsession! Pro tip, layer it onto a mix of chocolate protein powder into Greek yogurt for a little extra protein to fuel you for the day!

1. Mix 1/4 chia seeds with 1 cup of almond milk and a 1/4 cup of pumpkin puree. 

2. Add 1-2 tbps of maple syrup, 1/2 tsp of vanilla and 1 tsp of pumpkin pie spice.

3. Mix it all up until everything is well incorporated and then stick it in the fridge for a few hours or overnight to thicken.

Barefoot Contessa's Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread

1. Combine 3 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 cup of yellow cornmeal, 1/4 cup of sugar, 2 tablespoons of baking powder, and 2 teaspoons of salt in a large bowl. 

2. In a separate bowl, combine 3 extra large eggs (lightly beaten), 2 cups of milk, and 2 sticks of unsalted better. 

3. With a wooden spoon, stir the wet ingredients into the dry until most of the lumps are dissolved. Don't overmix!

4. Mix in 2 cups of grated cheddar, 1/3 cup of chopped scallions, and 2-3 minced jalapeno peppers. Allow the mixture to sit at room temperature for 20 minutes. 

5. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 x 13 x 2-inch baking pan. 

6. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smooth the top, and sprinkle with the additional cheddar and scallions. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. 

Swadesi Cafe in Chicago

The insta algorithm showed me Swadesi in Chicago conveniently right before a work trip so you know I had to make a stop here for some chai! Here you can find food and drinks with traditional Indian flavours mixed with a contemporary twist. I was so intrigued by their unique desserts including the poached pear cake, carrot halwa and dirty chai tiramisu! 

Their menu has lots of savory options as well such as the chicken tikka toastie, samosa chaat croissant and avocado toast but I opted for the breakfast sandwich. I got the masala chai for my walk back to the office but was so intrigued by their rose and orange latte as well as the sparkling tamarind lemonade. The space was pretty  big with plenty of seats and some high top counter space as well. I definitely want to come back here to try the butter chicken croissant and the mango ras malai jar! 

Pink Dot Nails

 

Rhythm Zero

Rhythm Zero is a cute coffee shop in Greenpoint located on Kent Street, conveniently close to the ferry stop. Their menu has every coffee drink you can think of, and more, including unique concoctions like the pear brown sugar latte and matcha drinks! They also serve affogatos for those hot summer days when you can't decide if you want ice cream or coffee (the right answer is both, always!)

Their pastry selection was also pretty impressive. As you can see, I caved and treated myself to an apricot cornetto with my cappuccino. The pastry was not as flaky as I was expecting but the filling was absolutely delicious and the coffee hit the spot.

What I loved most about this spot was the quaint neighbourhood feel. There were tons of people stopping in that were chatting with the baristas, and families settled in with their strollers and dogs in tow. This is a great little spot for a snack and coffee next time you're planning to take the ferry to or from Greenpoint.

Floral Press On Nails

Homecoming

I've been meaning to visit this gorgeous cafe / floral shop for a while now in Greenpoint, and finally stopped in for an afternoon coffee. Homecoming  has the most beautiful flowers as well as goods from super talented designers. They sell gorgeous candles, mugs, coffee table books and other carefully curated ceramics.

I ordered a drip coffee, which was delicious, and just admired being surrounded by flowers! This is not necessarily a spot to perch yourself on for hours, since there was only one bench near the entrance, but it's definitely worth stopping in to take in the beautiful colours of the seasonal flowers! Who knows, you might find a beautiful knick knack for your home as well!

Yale & New Haven

Heart Nails

Bakeri

We've been absolutely loving Greenpoint this summer and have found so many fun bakeries and restaurants here! Bakeri is the latest discovery and it absolutely did not disappoint! As you can see in one of the photos below, this spot was so busy but the wait was worth it. We tried a drip coffee and got a loaf of whole wheat sourdough bread to go! 

Their pastry selection (all made in-house by the way) is on point and the vibes inside are A+. There are actually two locations very close to each other in Williamsburg and Greenpoint so you have two options for a sweet treat and coffee if you find yourself in the area! They also have a third location in Ridgewood. 

Their European-style bread is just to-die for, but if you have a bit more time than me, it seems like the perfect spot to sit in and have a pastry or sandwich as well! We practiced self discipline and didn't get any sweet treats this time, but I have my eye on the croissants and cardamom chocolate chip cookies for my next visit! Can't wait to make sandwiches at home with the loaf we got! 

OOP Cafe

My friend recently went to Brazil and brought me back some amazing coffee from OOP Cafe - I am obsessed! OOP is a group of companies in the specialty coffee sector that works with the entire coffee production chain: from curating producers and their beans, to selecting the best coffees, and roasting and distributing for both retail and wholesale in physical stores and online. 

The AAA blend is absolutely delicious and tastes like a perfect balance between sweet honey and more complex warm spices. It's super smooth and perfectly rich with a splash of cream! 

In Afrikaans, Oop means open, and their mission is to be an "open house" where everyone is welcome to share the coffee experience. This hit me extra hard because this friend who brought back this coffee for me is truly the most open, welcoming and kind human being. This coffee will always be extra special to me because of both the meaning of oop and our friendship! 

Glamnetic Nails

The Cotswolds