July 2013 – Loving Food, Fashion, & Life

More Butter Cake Love

Posted on July 30, 2013 by LFFL

How awesome is it that I keep having the privilege of getting a fabulous slice of heaven in a gooey butter cake from the extremely nice man who is always buying these for me by surprise?!

He’s so sweet! He usually just shows up outta nowhere and hands me a sack with butter cake in it that he bought me only moments ago, says his hellos, gives his hug, and off he goes. I just adore him!

So, if you have nothing else to do today, either go find yourself some butter cake, bake yourself some butter cake, or be extremely nice to anyone who is within butter-cake-range that knows it’s one of your favorite things.

Take-Away Life Lesson: You really don’t need to eat this with a fork all the time like a proper princess. Direct hand-to-cake-to-mouth contact is just as fun, exciting, and delicious. Eat like there’s no tomorrow!

Baked Panzanella Caprese

Posted on July 28, 2013 by LFFL

Made with tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, mozzarella cheese, fresh chopped garlic, fresh basil, salt & pepper, ciabatta bread, and drizzled with extra-virgin olive oil.

I absolutely LOVE this baked panzanella caprese. I just love the combination of tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, and a good vinegar. Oh, dear, just look at the CHEESE!

Anything with cheese is fine by me. I love buying a big fat mozzarella ball and cutting it into big chunks as I eat it along the way.

I used ciabatta bread for this recipe and sliced it to fit. This is SO simple to make and I make it every chance I get. It’s such a good snack food. I can eat at least half this pan straight up—which leaves little left for guests.

Recipe for—Baked Panzanella Caprese

So, if you have nothing else to do today, you should definitely make this panzanella caprese and maybe find only one other person to share it with.

Take-Away Life Lesson: This is best eaten straight from the oven while it’s good, hot, and crispy. You could microwave leftovers the next day, but it’s just not the same.

OMG, I've Been Nominated!

Posted on July 24, 2013 by LFFL

WordPress Family Blog Award — WordPress Family Award

Best Moment Blog Award — Best Moment Award

ABC Blog Award — Awesome Blog Content Award

Versatile Blog Award — The Versatile Blogger Award

Beauty Blogger Award — Blogger of the Month Award

Beauty Blogger & Very Inspiring Award — Very Inspiring Blogger Award

Click here to check out ‘My Blog Awards’ page! (I’ve since removed this page.)

So, if you have nothing else to do today, check out ‘My Blog Awards’ page. (I’ve since removed this page.)

Take-Away Life Lesson: If you know what’s good for you, you’ll have a look-see at ‘My Blog Awards’ page. (I’ve since removed this page.)

Garlic & Basil Happiness

Posted on July 21, 2013 by LFFL

So my day starts off with me consuming 74 grams of sugar all at once within two small bags of Boston Baked Beans. Who knew? I read the ingredients on the bag AFTER I ate the first bag and ONLY out of sheer boredom.

But I clearly didn’t care, as I consumed the second bag right after I read this. But that’s neither here nor there. Only informational for you readers as I’m not sure how this post will end up sounding with that much sugar in me.

Well, I love cooking with basil, garlic, and olive oil—and I’ve been on a fresh basil kick lately. I bought a bag at the grocery store and 3 different bunches at the city farmer’s market. It smells divine and there’s always something you can throw a basil leaf into.

I also love when the garlic farmer comes to market with his super large humongous garlic bulbs. I love fresh garlic from the market more so than the grocery store. I buy lots of it and put it into everything. As great as garlic tastes in cooking, I hate the after effects it leaves on yourself for the next 3 days. It can be offensive to say the least.

So, if you have nothing else to do today, discover different olive oils, fresh garlic, and basil (preferably at your farmers’ market) and find ways to incorporate these into your cooking.

Take-Away Life Lesson: It’s probably not a great idea to consume 74 grams of sugar within 5 minutes time. It gives you sugarhead.

Five Guys Burger Love

Posted on July 16, 2013 by LFFL

Double Cheeseburger with grilled mushrooms, grilled onions, lettuce, mayonnaise, ketchup, and mustard with Fries and Fruit Punch.

I think the picture speaks clearly enough for itself, don’t you? I sauntered into this burger joint because I LUUUVVV me some Five Guys Burgers and Fries.

And I did this, of course, AFTER I drove 30 minutes to the warehouse furniture store we have just for chocolate-covered caramel marshmallows. Yeah, you heard me! I didn’t go for the furniture, but FOR THE CHOCOLATE!! And it was worth the 30-minute ride going and coming.

So, if you have nothing else to do today, saunter into a Five Guys burger joint, take a seat, and enjoy your burger and fries—then head to a furniture store afterwards for chocolate (or before depending on your priorities).

Take-Away Life Lesson: The ‘little’ burgers on the menu are not actually “little” as in small, tiny, or quarter-sized—they are actually single patties. The burgers without the word ‘little’ in front of them are double patties. So if you walk in and order a ‘hamburger’ or ‘cheeseburger’, keep in mind you’re ordering a double burger. The menu just doesn’t make sense if you’re a first-timer reading it.

Triple Salad

Posted on July 11, 2013 by LFFL

Fried Chicken Salad with lettuce topped with strips of fried chicken, tomatoes, cheese, green onion, and homemade croutons with Ranch dressing.

I was on a salad kick the last 3 days at the diner. And even though I got them all to-go each day, these were rare moments that I did NOT set the car up like a dining table for the drive home.

I figured it’d be a big mess if I dared try eating a salad while driving. Plus you can’t really smell a salad wafting through a car like you would, say, a hamburger. So the temptation wasn’t as great.

Cobb Salad with lettuce topped with grilled chicken, bleu cheese, tomato, bacon, red onion, cheddar cheese, and hard-boiled eggs with Ranch dressing.

And every time I called my order in ahead of time, they would ask if I wanted the ‘lunch’ or ‘dinner’ portion. Why is this even a question??? HELLO, it’s ME! You knew who I was when I said my name.

Isn’t dinner bigger? DINNER, PLEASE!! Let’s wake up over there, people!!! In what world do I want the smaller size?

Chef Salad with lettuce topped with turkey, egg, cheese, green onion, tomatoes, and homemade croutons with Ranch dressing.

So, if you have nothing else to do today, try out different salad varieties at your favorite restaurant—and make sure it’s the dinner-sized portion.

Take-Away Life Lesson: Dinner sizes are bigger than lunch sizes—enough said. Now back to meat and potatoes.

It's A Rock Star Mexican Night

Posted on July 8, 2013 by LFFL

Chicken Chimichanga with rice and beans.

So I decided to stop at a Mexican joint to get take-out. Surprisingly, the food actually made it to my house this time without getting devoured in the car first.

If you’re wondering why there are two entrées, wonder no more. It’s ME we’re talking about here! When you can’t decide between entrées, you know my rule of thumb—just get them both to enjoy.

Chicken Quesadilla with rice, beans, lettuce, guacamole, and sour cream.

My fun evening:

Eating Mexican, listening to ‘Treasure’ by Bruno Mars blasting through my crib, bobbing my head like a rock star, dancing all around the house, and stuffing my face.

Yeah, it’s what I do. If you could only see me now. I’m having a great time! Can it get any better than this?! It’s one big party for ONE, y’all!! Heeeyyyyy!

Topped it all off with a Gooey Butter Cake. Yeah, that’s right. The super nice man who is always surprising me with butter cake all the time, DID HIS THING AGAIN!! And I’m LOVIN’ IT! Yeah, baby.

I love unexpected surprises (it makes me smile BIG) and I’m not one to turn down a free butter cake—EVER!

So, if you have nothing else to do today, find your favorite Mexican restaurant and order up some take-out food, crank up Bruno Mars ‘Treasure’ (or one of your favorite songs), and dance like there’s no tomorrow while you bob your brains out!

Take-Away Life Lesson: When you can’t decide what you want the most of off of the menu—just get one of each and stop stressing your brain. It’ll be ok. Eat from both entrées. And if you try really hard, you could probably stretch some of it out for tomorrow’s leftovers.