a silly muse

There are many simple and inexpensive ways to show your love for that someone special to you. One fantastic way? Food. Instead of buying a cliche chocolate heart box, make something that will make their hearts (and stomachs) happy.

white cake and carnations | heart shaped salad | eggs in a basket | laced heart pancakes

Greetings! Please forgive me for my lack of postings this past week, I’ve been enjoying a few adventures and hadn’t time to write a proper post. Last weekend was spent in San Diego - lots of sight seeing, family visiting, and fun-having.

First, Aubrey, Elly, and myself ventured to Balboa Park, where Aubrey almost got eaten by a shark and Elly noticed that the shark teeth were bigger than her! After nearly becoming shark food, we visited my aunt and uncle who have the pretty view in the bottom left photo above. We also visited the zoo, where Elly demanded we take lots of pictures of all the elephants (real and fake).

We even spent a day with A’s mom and ventured to the Maritime Museum of San Diego. We enjoyed our hand at ‘steering’ the ship, and Elly decided it would be more fun to fire a canon. We were also given this most exquisite sunset.

Of course, no adventure is complete without delicious food. First, I had a little too much fun picking citrus from my aunt and uncle’s fruit trees. Then my uncle made us the best guacamole. Ever. I also ate a delicious burger from In-N-Out. I was so excited to eat it, I neglected the before photo. Back in LA, we went to Diddy Riese, a fantastically brilliant cookie shop where you get the most delicious ice cream sandwiches in the existence of the universe. Best part? They’re only $1.50 each. For real.

I decided to make meat-free stuffed peppers the other day, and I was very happy with how delicious they tasted.

Ingredients:

1 can of pinto beans, 2 whole peppers (color of choosing), small white onion, white or brown rice (1/2 cup uncooked), fresh cilantro, fresh parsley, tomato sauce, and salt & pepper to taste

Directions:

Cook rice (about 30 minutes). While rice is cooking, cut top of peppers off and gut out. Chop up tops of peppers, onion, parsley, cilantro, and mix together. Set aside. Preheat oven to 375*F. When rice is finished cooking, mix in pinto beans, and the pepper & herb mix. Add sauce to desired consistency and salt & pepper. Fill gutted peppers with mixture, place on oven safe dish and bake for 20-30 minutes (depending on how soft you like your peppers to be).

I also made a little side salad of spinach, cucumber, carrot, and clementine with an olive oil/balsamic vinegar vinaigrette.

Eat and enjoy!

Happy weekend lovely readers. Happy September! I really can’t believe it’s September already. This year just disappeared with a snap of my fingers. I swear yesterday was New Years Day.

I’m very excited to be heading down to NYC this weekend for my very dear friends bachelorette party! We get to have a fun night on the town while looking our prettiest! I’m so excited for Steph, and I’m so so so happy about her upcoming nuptials. So happy, I want to jump with glee like Fred & Rita (photo above).

- Heart maps!

- This is probably the most adorable picnic basket I’ve every seen.

- Cute his & hers mugs.

- Even though I don’t have a landline, I still want this pretty yellow rotary phone.

- I would like to eat about a dozen of these cookie cupcakes (with raspberry frosting!).

- Pretty necklaces with cute charms and tassels!? Win win.

(image)

This pie is definitely on the ‘must bake’ list. It’s quite easy too! The recipe is available here. I’d say you’d be the hit at any Memorial Day or 4th of July party if you brought this along.

(image via Woman’s Day)

I made some rather yummy (and very spicy) tacos last night and they were boyfriend approved. I used one can of pinto beans with rice, taco seasoning mix from Trader Joe’s, and salsa. Then placed the mix in blue corn taco shells with some lettuce and mozzarella cheese (it was all I had). Meat free! I wish I had remembered to grab some sour cream, but other than that, they were delicious!