Impulse Shopping

      When I first met my room mate Lauren she introduced me to the website BakeItPretty.com. A lovely website filled with baking goods galore (as well as books and such)! Here are a few of my current favorites from the site that would make any item even more delectable:

Straws that would make any cocktail 

or glass of ovaltine more fun!

Small blue sugar eyes, perfect for topping a white mini cupcake with red sugar veins! 

Fruit sprinkles that will 

bring a smile to your face:

Green crystal sugar sprinkles that I 

would use to top a cupcake 

along with a fresh flower:

There's something whimsical 

about these printed cupcake liners:

These large summer picnic gable 

boxes are great for taking extra 

treats to friends and neighbors:

Inspired to bake? I am....

check back with me tomorrow.

Yours,

Nico

The BEST teriyaki sauce you will EVER make. (EVER!)

      A few days ago I was having a craving for "Teriyaki Time." A drive thru teriyaki joint that created its own home made sauce that I would consider pouring on anything from proteins to pancakes even (no joke!). Sadly, Teriyaki Time is now closed and I was forced to invent my own version of the sauce (teriyaki sauce from the bottle was NOT going to cut it this time!). After some careful research and crafting a list of the ingredients that just had to be in this sauce (fresh tangy ginger, vibrant orange zest, intense garlic, and sweet clover honey) here is what I managed to come up with:   

Magic Ingredients:

2/3 of a cup water

2/3 of a cup soy sauce (I prefer low sodium)

4 Tbsp honey

2 Tbsp brown sugar, packed

2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar

2 Tbsp cornstarch

4 cloves of garlic, minced

1 Tbsp of fresh ginger, grated

Zest of one medium orange 

Juice of one medium orange

(use the zest/juice of an additional orange for a more intense citrus flavor)

Let's get started!

1: Add soy sauce, honey, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, garlic, ginger, zest, and orange juice to a medium pan and cook on medium to high heat for 8 minutes or until thickened. Stir frequently:

2: While sauce is beginning to cook, mix cornstarch and water in a small bowl or measuring cup until combined:

3: Add cornstarch and water mixture to pan and continue to let cook and thicken for another 8 minutes and that's all it takes for a spectacular teriyaki sauce!

(I wish I would have taken a beauty shot of this 

teriyaki sauce but between you and I, it was so 

delicious that I devoured it pretty instantaneously)

 For teriyaki chicken....


4: Preheat oven to 425 degrees, and coat boneless skinless chicken thighs with olive oil (I used Mandarin Orange Olive Oil from the Olivas de Oro Olive Company, its my favorite!) and add a sprinkling of salt and pepper:

5: Cook chicken in skillet on medium heat for 5 minutes on each side:

6: When chicken is done browning, transfer onto a foil lined cookie sheet and coat both sides of the chicken with teriyaki sauce, bake in oven for 15 minutes. 

7: While chicken is in the oven, prepare garnishes. Chop scallions on a bias cut:

8: Create orange garnish:

9: Remove chicken from oven and coat with an additional layer of teriyaki sauce. Slice chicken into bite sized morsels.

10: Serve teriyaki chicken over steamed rice and top with sliced scallions and orange slice:

(beauty shot courtesy of Shahin Gutierrez)

     I'll more than likely be making an additional batch of this recipe VERY soon, it was so very tasty!

                                      

                                    

Yours,

Nico

Dream a dream for me:

This is what I dream of when I fall asleep at night:

(image courtesy of Net-A-Porter)

Or sometimes these:

(image courtesy of "the dog says hello")

But if I'm having an especially good 

dream, this is what it's about:

(image courtesy of Overstock.com)

Cowboys and Cookies!

      Saturday I attended a fabulous western themed party complete with amazing decor and a mechanical bull! I also got to drink beer from a keg for the first time ever (Sad but true!). I had a fantastic time, and in hopes to say thank you to the Fernandez family, I took some oatmeal cookies along with me. Here is a recipe for oatmeal cookies with m&ms and pretzels that I would love to share with you as well: 

Magic Ingredients:

2 sticks of butter at room temp.

1 cup brown sugar, packed

1 cup granulated sugar

2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp ground cinnamon

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups of pretzels, chopped

1 1/2 cups of mini M&Ms (plus an additional 1/2 cup for garnish)

Let's get started!

1: In standard or hand held mixture, combine butter and sugars:

2: While butter and sugars are mixing, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, and cinnamon in a fine mesh strainer (this really helps reduce clumping in the dough):

Shake well!

3: Add eggs and vanilla to the butter and sugar mixture:

4: Gradually add dry ingredients ( flour, baking soda, etc.) to the dough until fully combined:

5: Chop pretzels into bits:

6: Add pretzels and M&Ms to dough:

7: Scoop 1/4 cup portions of dough onto a parchment lined cookie sheet and bake in a 375 degree oven for 11 minutes and..... TA DA!

D'LISH!

Yours,

Nico

Break the bank VS save some bank:

      Sigerson Morrison lace-up suede ankle boots. An unusual shoe that suits my tastes exactly. But at $208.25 (and that price is after a 65% discount!), I can't reasonably spend that much on shoes as much as I'd like to: 

      A suitable alternative! You may have recognized these shoes from this post. I couldn't understand when I saw these why I liked them so much and then I realized its because they are reminiscent of the above sigerson morrison ankle boots. Also, these cost a grand total of $49.99, that's $158.26 you could be saving!

Have you been making any wallet savvy purchases this weekend?

Yours,

Nico

Let them eat cake!

      

      Did you know that Marie Antoinette didn't actually say "Let them eat cake?" she said, "Let them eat brioche." However, let's pretend (just for this post) that the word cake was used.  Here are a handful of snap shots of my favorite cakes over the last several months:

Hello Kitty cake with a swiss meringue buttercream frosting 

created by my dear room mate Lauren:

Red Velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting, chopped 

pecans, and topped with a chocolate covered strawberry . 

Served at a ladies only xmas party last year:

Another red velvet confection made to 

show my patriotism for the 4th of July:

Earl Grey mini cupcakes with apricot 

frosting and garnished with pecans!

And a basil & mint cake I'm dying to try making myself:

(image courtesy of http://chasingdelicious.com)

.....And now I'm hungry all of a sudden.

Yours,

Nico

All dressed up and I need somewhere to go:

      I wouldn't say that I hate getting all dressed up, I've just come to realize that I enjoy getting dressed up for every day life rather than for a night out on the town. Recently, I have been frequenting the night life with people who like to get all gussied up and I realized that my "going out" attire needed a massive make over (Jeans and a low cut tank top is just not cutting it anymore!). I needed an outfit to wear out that was comfortable enough to dance in, sexy, but still pulled together. Here is what I came up with:

Blazer- GAP (purchased 3+ years ago)

Handbag- Kate Spade 

Seamless cami- GAP (similar one here)

Sequin shorts- Express

Snake bangle- BCBG

Watch- Michael Kors (similar here)

Nail Polish- OPI

Earrings- F21

Shoes- Kate Spade (thrifted)

      I thought this would be a great outfit to wear out for drinks and dancing! The sequin shorts are so very rock star but the conservative blazer immediately keeps these shorts from looking too over the top. The shoes were also a great pick for this ensemble, they were purchased at crossroads for twenty five dollars and perfectly worn in. I added shoe clips to this pair for a sudden make over and instant glamour! Also there are Dr. Scholl's foot pads in there....AMAZING for dancing the night away. Finally, I'd finish this look with a red mani-pedi and a bright red pout!

     Now I just need some weekend plans, girls night anyone?

Yours,

Nico

PS: Stay tuned, lets see if I can style these gold shorts for a day time look, Im always up for a challenge!

"Watch" your budget!

     In case you haven't read this post, I'll let you know that I adore expensive and luxe watches (like these ones). However... let's be honest, at an average of $250 a pop, its just not in the cards. Never fear! I have a solution to this devastating conundrum! Quality look-a-likes for a much prettier price tag! All between $40 - $135, you can rock this season's trends for a fraction of the cost! 

Rose gold watches are crazy on trend right now:

This Timex watch gives off an 80's geek vibe. 

Do you think it will help me look smarter as well? (For $40 it's worth a shot!):

I've been searching for a silver watch for a few 

months but haven't found anything that fit the bill 

(men's wear inspired but still regal and elegant). 

That was until I met this lovely:

I've been lusting after mixed metal watches 

forever! Love how they can be worn with 

both silver and gold hardware: 

Tacky watch....which is why I want to 

wear it everyday and be buried in it:

What will your wrists be wearing?

Yours,

Nico