White Chocolate Confetti Popcorn

I am a little obsessed with popcorn right now. I keep on put it in menus for events that I plan. My current favorite is citrus salt popcorn with warm truffle butter.  I had something like it at one of my favorite hotel's  restaurant and could never get it off my mind. The Glitter Guide wrote about the above popcorn and I think I am going to plan a party just to try it. You know, we just bought a microwave over Christmas after not having one for about a year and a half. We never missed it, we never really use it but we have popped some popcorn in it so therefor it is now worth it.

i bet I could eat a box of donuts, one day i might do it. i really think i could. in truth, i never eat them. i just think about them a lot and try to put them into the menus for the events i plan. ohh they are so good and i am convinced they are the next big thing. i would be happy to never see a cupcake/mini cupcake again. mark my words "designer donuts" are where its at!
image from 'Tis so Sweet

chocolove xoxox

The other day I posted about a salted chocolate bar that I had fallen in love with, well my friend Sarah read the post and sent me a bar of Choclove Almond & Sea Salt in Dark Chocolate in the mail. Is that not the nicest gesture ever? Well, Alex and I had to try it right away and we ate the whole thing...it was just so good we could not save any. Thanks so much Sarah! Everyone must give it a try!!!

Stick it.

image

image

image

image

image

image

In love with all of these!

Pop Tarts Pop

Pop Tarts are pretty fantastic...I might have the pleasure of eating one like every 5 years...maybe less. I would never in a million years buy a box but if offered one I would take it in a heart beat. You can eat it hot or cold..how amazing is that.

Pop Tart Pops, that are handmade might just be the coolest idea ever! I need to find a way to work this idea into an event. The recipe can be found here. I wish I could eat one right now.

little bites

image

 image

 image

image

image

Little bites that would be so fun for a party!

my kind of breakfast

the perfect most wonderful breakfast of all time. The owl tea cup makes it even better.

dinner

Last night for dinner I made this creamy broccoli and white bean soup. It turned out great. Alex, nicely pointed out that I used about every single pot, pan and appliance to make this. But, we loved the final out come so it was all worth it. 

yumm

Egg on toast topped with avocado. Looks like the perfect snow day food to me.

image

Tis the season

image

image

image

image

image

image

image

image

To eat treats!

What I will be making tonight...

Brie and Chive Biscuits

Spiced Pumpkin Cake

This holiday I found two recipes from Real Simple that I am going to try my hardest to make.  Brie and Chive Biscuits and Spiced Pumpkin Cake. Really, my favorite part of Thanksgiving are the leftovers. I love love love making a turkey sandwich the next day with mayo and salt and pepper. They are the best. I also love stuffing. Have a great holiday!! What is your favorite dish? What will you be making? Hugs to all.

Food for Thought

This apple snack looks delicious. I love snack food or maybe I just love kiddy food. I love apples, carrot sticks, cheese and crackers, ants on a log ( celery, PB and raisins) grilled cheese and peanut butter and jelly... Anything a kid might like I love too. Little bites are my favorite. I like adult food too but this apple, peanut butter, granola and chocolate chip concoction looks amazing. I don't really think you need the chocolate chips but I really want to try this.

image

yum

pain au chocolat....yes please... with a cafe au lait.

question time...

Do you like sugary cereal? My favorite is Lucky Charms.

image

milk and sugar please

After Alex makes coffee in the morning I rush to put our huge canister of sugar away. It is so ugly. But, if our sugar was in a pretty little bowl like this.... well, then I would not mind so much if it stayed on the counter. The milk jug is pretty cool too.

Manger, New Orleans

Irene's is one of NO best places to eat. The meal that Alex and I had was some of the best food we have ever tasted. The wine list was amazing and we still talk about how my rib-eye melted in my mouth and Alex is yet to meet a crispy duck as good as there. The staff was so nice and when my parents dined there 5 months later they claimed to remember me and Alex. My dad description of us was that I was really beautiful and that Alex was bald. Ha ha. I am sure they were just being nice but I like it. I swear to you this restaurant rivals any New York or Philadelphia place.

Stella is were you go for fine dinning at it's best. Every dish is a work of art and the presentation is like nothing I have ever seen before. We were drawn to go here because of the name and man were we happy we did.

Lola's was the first place we ate. It is a short cab ride outside of the French Quarter and has a neighbor-hood feel to it. The wall are covered top to bottom with works from local artists. Its really laid back there and you can see into the kitchen.  The Spanish style garlic shrimp was to die for!!! We felt really comfortable there. Like, I could imagine being a regular there.

Bayona has the most amazing outside courtyard dinning. It was truly magical sitting out there drinking a glass of Malbec waiting for our table to be ready. The food was good, but the atmosphere was better.

Last but not least Cafe du Monde. I would just do anything for a beignet and a cafe au lait right now. It is a major tourist spot but I swear to you there is never not a right time for a beignet. These French donuts are just the best, melt in your mouth goodness ever.  They are perfect for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack. Alex and I bought a can a chicory coffee to bring back and a beignet box mix...but its just not the same. We are going to brew ourselves some coffee on our anniversary. Which, just happens to be 24 days away. I can't believe how fast the time has gone.

Ohhh, Alex and I can't wait to go back! We loved it there!!! I hope you all enjoyed my little tribute to New Orleans. xoxo claire

peaches....

Summer fruit is just the best. I mean nothing beats a perfect peach or a local strawberry. On Sunday, I made peach strawberry cobbler and well I wish I had not. I now wish I just ate the peaches as is. They don't need extra sugar and the crumble topping...they are best just on their own.

4th of July by Twig & Thistle

Fabulous and I mean fabulous 4th of July decor and dessert idea from the one and only Twig & Thistle. I could not pass up sharing these ideas with you all. For free template download click here and full dessert instructions click here. Have a great holiday!!! Thanks T&T!!

Breakfast for Dinner.

My best friend Eliza gets mad at Alex and me when we have breakfast for dinner. We see to do it a lot. Sometimes we don't feel like cooking and sometimes its just what we both have a taste for. When I was little and my Dad would be out of town for work that was what my Mom would do. We all loved it so. But, come on... does this not look so good. Scrambled eggs on a thick piece of crusty bread that has a smear of goat cheese and a sprinkle of chives. Add a side of fresh strawberries and that sounds like the perfect dinner or breakfast to me! Full recipe, directions and more pictures here on Smitten Kitchen.

inspiration

From food to room design.....