Where I'm From Swap Reveal

I participated in the Where I'm From swap hosted by Kallie from But first, coffee blog. 
I was paired with Rachel, her blog is The Rachel Emily Blog. Rachel is from Indiana.  We both like to cook {and eat!} and love the scent of vanilla and cinnamon!
My swap box from Rachel:

1. Vanilla scented candle 
2. Grippies potato chips
3. Local butter cookies {it looks like my post man got to it first!}
4. Ski soda
5. HGTV Magazine {I love DIY}

 

Easy Summer Potato Salad

As summer is fast approaching, I wanted to come up with a new spin on the old potato salad classic.  I love potato salad, but the mayonnaise can sometimes be a bit much.  I don't usually eat potato salad, as I feel like the mayo makes it seem a little fattening and indulging. That is where my summer potato salad comes in.  Instead of mayonnaise, I used apple cider vinegar and spices in order to coat the potatoes.  As the potato salad sits with it's coating, the creaminess of the baked potatoes give the salad a great texture. 

This recipe is perfect for a barbecue, which I used for my Memorial Day barbecue along with my Touchdown Football Cookies turned patriotic red,white, and blue.

 

What you will need:
1 lb. Idaho potatoes {or red bliss if you're feeling fancy} 
2 cloves garlic
Pinch of salt
Pinch of pepper
1 bell pepper
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
2 TBSP. sugar 
1 1/2 tsp. whole-grain mustard
1 tsp. paprika
1/2 cup chopped parsley
4 scallions, finely chopped
2 slices of bologna {optional}

 Cut up the potatoes into small cubes. 

In a large pot, add the potatoes, garlic, a nice pinch of salt, a few grinds of pepper and water to just cover. Bring to a boil, then lower to a simmer. Cook until the potatoes are fork-tender all the way through, about 15 minutes. 

Drain in a colander and rest the colander over the top of the empty pot to allow the heat to dry the potatoes. Once cool enough to handle but still warm, add to a large mixing bowl. 

If using a gas stove, place the pepper directly over a medium flame and allow to char on one side, then rotate until the entire pepper is black and charred. If you don't have a gas stove, roast the pepper on a baking sheet under the broiler or at the highest temperature of your oven. Carefully watch to rotate the pepper and char on all sides. Remove and wrap tightly in saran wrap, allowing it to steam for 5 minutes to loosen the skin. Once cool enough to handle, remove the seeds and charred skin and chop the pepper. Set aside. 

In a large pan on medium heat, add the bologna and cook, stirring, until crisp, about 8 minutes. Add the vinegar, sugar, mustard, paprika, a pinch of salt and a few grinds of pepper to the hot pan. Cook at a rolling simmer until the sugar and salt dissolve, about 2 minutes. 

 Add to the potatoes and toss until they soak up the vinegar mixture. 

Cut the parsley and scallions and toss into the salad along with the pepper. 

Pour into a serving bowl and serve warm or cold.

Enjoy!

Forgotten Kisses Meringue Cookies

This past weekend I tried out something new with my stand mixer. Have I said lately how much I LOVE my KitchenAid mixer? I don’t know how I lived without it. It’s like having an extra set of hands, but better than the hubby’s who’d be eating any of my raw confections before they can make it to the oven. 

Meringues are light, airy, delicious and low fat! You can add all different nuts, chocolate, sprinkles, food coloring, extracts…the possibilities are endless! And it’s amazing how far so few ingredients can take you. 

What you will need: 
2 egg whites at room temperature 
½ tsp. baking powder 
2/3 cup sugar 
1 tsp. vanilla extract 
1 cup toasted almonds or chocolate chips, optional 
½ tsp. cinnamon, optional 
Yields 2 dozen 

Ignore the 4 eggs- I made two batches in the same day

Preheat the oven to 350°. 
In the bowl of an electric mixer {or hand mixer}, beat egg whites until foamy. {It should almost look like sudsy soapy water.} 

Add the baking powder and beat until fluffy, but on at all dry. Be careful not to overbeat. Add the sugar in gradually, 3 tablespoons at a time. When about half of the sugar has been added, add the vanilla extract {and cinnamon if you're using}. 

Continue beating and adding the remaining sugar in increments until all of the sugar is dissolved and the meringue is shiny and tight. 

Gently fold in the chopped nuts or chocolate chips. 

Working one teaspoon at a time, push a teaspoonful of meringue from the tip of 1 teaspoon with the back of another teaspoon onto parchment lined baking sheet, leaving an inch between the meringues. 

Place the baking sheets in the preheated oven and turn the oven off. Leave the cookies undisturbed in the oven for at least two hours, or even overnight, until the meringues are crisp and dry. 

Enjoy! 

New Fashion Obsession: Kate Spade Staurday

Kate Spade is one of my favorite designers, I have tons of her bags and jewelry.  But, this week I ventured over to her new line Kate Spade Saturday. The stuff on the site is definitely more wallet friendly and I love that it has free shipping on everything and free returns. That means, more for me to buy and say I will only keep my favorites and totally not return anything!!

I just placed my first order this week and it should be arriving today!!

Oh, and what I love even more, it racking up points for liking and sharing my favorite items.  The more points you get, the more free stuff you get! I currently only have 78 points, but I just started two days ago! I'm eying the 5,000 point Weekender Bag.

Some of the goodies I got (plus an extra May discount!)

Assembly Crossbody Bag {$66.50 $49.87}- I love the color of this bag and it's so roomy for all my stuff, plus it can be worn multiple ways!

Mesh Tube Necklace in Metal {$14.00 $11.90}- i love how simple and elegant this necklace is, it can be worn with so many things.

 

May28th & Kate Spade Saturday Watch In Signature Zig Zag {$35.00 $29.75}- Exclusive collaboration, it reminds me of my mom's old Swatch watches and a girl can never have too many watches.

What do you love from Kate Spade Saturday? 

What I Wore Wednesday

This Week it is finally beginning to look a bit like summer!!! I am so happy with Memorial day right around the corner! Summer is my favorite season, and it is always way too short. Am I right? I cannot wait to spend weekends lounging by the pool, soaking up the sun {and getting in a few laps too!}
Yesterday I wore a floor length, I guess you would call maxi dress.  I am in love with the fit and comfort of the dress. This is actually one of the first floor length summer dresses I have ever worn! 

 Sounds a little crazy, but every time I fall in love with one of those long flowy dresses, they always crush my dream when I end up swimming in the length of it. But not this one! I think it's actually a junior's dress, but I don't care I still love the fit of it. Oh, and the armpits are not super saggy so your bra does not show! {Huge problem for me when I buy tanks or sleeveless tops}
Jet was trying to be the center of attention last night, like he always is, and get in the way of a good photo. Took three shots, but finally got him to sit politely for a second to snap a good one.

The necklace is silver spiked with shiny crystals that my sister got for my birthday two years ago.

 On a side note, the hubby sent flowers and chocolates to my work last week for no reason. I got a few people jealous there! And most are still alive a week later, with little sunlight in the office!

Happy Thursday all!  Only two more days until a long needed Memorial Day weekend! Can't wait for beach and barbecue with firends!
What are your plans?
 

Chocolate Filled Vanilla Cupcakes

The other week I finally decided to splurge on a KitchenAid stand mixer.  I had put one on my wedding registry, hoping someone would be ever so generous to spend the $350 on the 5 quart Ice KitchenAid stand mixer.  Well, that never happened!  So, while I did not get the exact one I wanted, I got the cobalt blue 4.5 quart stand mixer, a little cheaper and 1/2 quart smaller bowl.  A little smaller, which is actually a plus for counter space saved and gets the job done just as good!
The first thing I decided to make with my spankin' new mixer was chocolate filled vanilla cupcakes.  I was beyond excited to use my mixer!  And let me tell you, baking will never be the same again!!  I am in love with it.
Now on to the cupcakes:

What you will need:
Cupcake:
1/2 cup softened butter
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 1/2  cup all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
2/3 cup cold milk

Chocolate Filling:
1 cup milk
1 cup creme de cacao  
1/2 cup confectioner's sugar
3-4 TBSP. cocoa powder
2 TBSP flour

(Makes 1 dozen cupcakes)

Preheat the oven to 350°F. 

Cream the butter and sugar.  Add eggs, 1 at a time, letting the mixer run in between each addition.  Add in vanilla.

In a medium bowl, stir together all dry ingredients.  Slowly add the dry ingredients into the mixer.  Add in milk.

Bake for 18-24 minutes.

Allow the cupcakes to cool on baking racks as you make the chocolate filling.

In a medium pot, add the creme de cacao and turn the heat on high until it starts to bubble. Lower to medium heat and let that start to reduce. Add the milk, cocoa powder, and confectioner's sugar and whisk until completely combined. 
Allow this to reduce another 10-15 minutes, whisking occasionally. 
When the chocolate looks like it is thickening up, remove 1/4 cup of it into a small bowl in order to incorporate the flour evenly. Add the flour mixture back to the pot. 
Let the chocolate reduce for another 5-7 minutes, or until really thick. Once done, remove from heat and transfer to a container. 
I refrigerated my chocolate for an hour before piping it into the cupcakes as it was easier to handle.
{I was so excited about using my stand mixer for the first part that I totally forgot to take pictures as I was making the chocolate filling}
Once the cupcakes are completely cool, use a knife to cut a small circle in the middle of each.  Make sure that you don't cut all the way to the bottom of the cupcake, otherwise when you remove the paper the filling will run right out the bottom. 

Fill a plastic bag {or a piping bag if you got one} with the chocolate filling.  I inserted the plastic bag into a glass and let the ends of the bag over hang the glass, it makes it easier to pour the chocolate into the bag. 

Cut one of the corners off and you're ready to stuff those cupcakes!

I topped off my cupcakes with just some packages Hershey chocolate frosting to make it extra decedant.

 Enjoy!

Gillette Venus VoxBox

Yesterday I received my Gilette Venus Snap with Embrace travel mini razor from Influenster. I was beyond excited to open my box. I have been looking for a smaller razor to pack when I go to the gym or vacations. 

This razor fits in the palm of my hand and has a small round pink grip that allows me to hold it comfortably with my thumb while shaving.  

It also comes in a translucent blue carrying case to protect you from it's sharp blades while traveling. 

I can't wait to go on vacation somewhere to bring this with me and hopefully save some room in my toiletries bag.