Honey, What's Cooking?

Friday’s Favorite Things - 5.17.13

noreply@blogger.com (Honey) — Fri, 17 May 2013 04:00:00 +0000

1. MIAMI
A short while ago my friend, Anu, and her husband planned a trip to Miami, and I recently decided to join them on their trip with my husband. It’ll be nice to getaway and do a group vacation for a change. Since my trip is only a couple weeks away, my South Beach Diet, haha, officially starts today. For me this translates to… NO CUPCAKES, NO DESSERTS, NO SUGARS! If you know me, you know this ain’t no easy peasy task for me.
Let’s face it, Miami is a bit snooty when it comes to weight/image so there is a little pressure to tone up. During my time in South Beach, I look forward to meeting up with my blogger friend, Parita… let’s make it happen, P! I’m so excited to finally meet you! So if you are from the Miami area, or if you’ve ever visited, I would really appreciate tips on where to dine (Cuban, Latin, Mexican, Asian), what to see, where to lounge, and where to club. Please advise! Many thanks! ~ hoping to make happy memories!

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Bread Poha

noreply@blogger.com (Honey) — Mon, 13 May 2013 04:05:00 +0000

After making this Rotini with Creamy Mushroom Sauce that you all seem to love (thank you very much), but my husband hated with passion, I figured it was time to take a turn to the far east and spice things up in the kitchen.
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Friday’s Favorite Things - 5.10.13

noreply@blogger.com (Honey) — Fri, 10 May 2013 04:00:00 +0000

For all you moms out there, it’s a big weekend celebration! Happy Mother’s Day to all of you! This weekend I'd like to wish my mom not only a Happy Mother's Day, but also a Happy Birthday! Here are some great recipe suggestions to make your mama happy this Mother’s Day, including my Oatmeal Blueberry Applesauce Muffins (151 calories) which was recently featured on SheKnows Canada. Hope you make them!
And I was so happy to hear about the 3 girls (Amanda, Gina, Michelle) who were rescued in Cleveland, but just like everyone else, I couldn’t help but find this Charles Ramsey’s interview hilarious, especially by his constant reference to McDonalds. He has become an overnight media sensation! Not too many people would have the courage to help someone in a situation like this, and I hope he receives some kind of reward for his bravery.

1. NYC Food Scene
This past Cinco de Mayo, I headed to New York to celebrate and eat my heart out with my friend. To share with you are some of the highlights:
    Banana Cupcake @ Billy’s Bakery ~ heaven!
    Salsa @ Rocking Horse Café ~ the best salsa at any Mexican restaurant, so authentic, I want the recipe!
    Chicken Tacos @ random taco truck ~ they tasted better than they appear, I couldn’t resist, & super spicy!
    Mango Margarita on the rocks @ Rocking Horse Café ~ succulent!

p.s. I love InstaCollage, thanks Ameena!

Jalapeno Popper Cream Cheese Sandwich

noreply@blogger.com (Honey) — Sun, 05 May 2013 05:24:00 +0000

HAPPY CINCO DE MAYO!

Being that I’m a lover of Mexican food, how could I possibly not celebrate Cinco de Mayo?
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Friday’s Favorite Things - 5.3.13

noreply@blogger.com (Honey) — Fri, 03 May 2013 04:00:00 +0000

1. Red Velvet Cakecup @ The Bees Knees Baking Company
This past week my friend, Lauren (LaurenLovesToEat), and I met up for a “Cakecup Date” at The Bees Knees Baking Co. Lauren in someone I met at a New York Press Dinner, and we sorta just clicked. It was so nice to talk to her for a couple hours while we enjoyed coffee and cake on a beautiful day in Manhattan. Last week I raved about The Bees Knees’ Banana Marshmallow Cakecup, this week I tried 3 other flavors in mini sized cakecups. All 3 flavors were delicious and not too sweet, however my favorite amongst the 3 was undoubtedly the Red Velvet, their best seller. I'll eventually do a full review once I try the remaining flavors. And for those of you ever visiting NYC, check out Lauren's blog where she reviews restaurants all over the world, primarily New York City and Hong Kong. ~ 3 mini cakecups for $7 @ The Bees Knees Baking Company, New York City (West Village)

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Rotini with Creamy Mushroom Sauce

noreply@blogger.com (Honey) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 04:00:00 +0000

You know when you’re dining at an authentic Italian restaurant and you take that first bite of your pasta dish and you wonder how the hell did they make such a delicious sauce that doesn’t taste like something out of a bottle, well, this is one of those type of sauces.
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Friday’s Favorite Things - 4.26.13

noreply@blogger.com (Honey) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 05:05:00 +0000

1. Almond Butter Creamy w/Sea Salt @ Trader Joe’s
Thanks to Alexis who writes for Hummusapien, I have been enlightened about Trader Joe’s Almond Butter. Prior to TJ’s Almond Butter, I had only tried Barney Butter’s Almond Butter and I was really disappointed. Trader Joe’s version is awesome, it’s super creamy, spreadable, and made with sea salt. With 8 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber per serving, my new favorite almond butter is absolutely delicious, but nothing beats homemade almond butter. ~ $6 @ Trader Joe’s
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Lightened Carrot Cake with Honey Cream Cheese Glaze

noreply@blogger.com (Honey) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 04:00:00 +0000

HAPPY 75th to my DAD!

Last week was my Dad’s 75th birthday, it truly was a milestone event. My family celebrated by getting together at his favorite Thai restaurant in Jersey.

Beauty & Essex | New York City (lower east side)

noreply@blogger.com (Honey) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 04:40:00 +0000

My friend, Bin, and I met up after a long time and headed to Beauty & Essex for dinner one evening.

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Friday’s Favorite Things - 4.19.13

noreply@blogger.com (Honey) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 05:11:00 +0000

1. Estee Lauder's Advanced Time Zone SPF 15
My normal/combination skin is more on the dryer side nowadays, hence I've been on the lookout for a cream based moisturizer that contains SPF and defies the aging process. So far I’ve been using the Time Zone moisturizer for normal/combination skin and my dry flaky skin is all gone. I’m not sure I look or feel any younger, but my skin definitely feels hydrated and moisturized. :-)
This month Bloomingdales was offering a free gift with any $40 Estee Lauder purchase, and I wanted to give the Time Zone moisturizer a try, or maybe I just love the packaging. I'm a marketer's dream. I'm not sure if I was more excited about the moisturizer or the gift. Anyway, since Bloomies is no longer offering a free gift with a purchase, check out Nordstrom for a similar gift. ~ $65 (1.7 oz.) @ Nordstrom

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Toasted Coconut Blueberry Muffins (reduced fat)

noreply@blogger.com (Honey) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 04:00:00 +0000

Anyone who knows my mom knows she is a highly overprotective woman who needs to speak to all four of her kids every single day.

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Crunchy Tortilla Salsa Mac & Cheese... reduced fat!

noreply@blogger.com (Honey) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 04:00:00 +0000

It is tax day! Assuming y’all are done with your taxes. Whew!
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Spring Favorites - Designer Crossbody Bags under $600

noreply@blogger.com (Honey) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 04:00:00 +0000

You know the weather is perfect when you need an iced coffee instead of a hot coffee in the AM. Now that Spring has finally sprung, a crossbody bag is a must have this season. Just look at ‘em! They are so cute, stylish, and effortlessly dress up any outfit. Pair a crossbody bag with a dress or skinny jeans and cute flats. A perfect spring look for a casual day out. Here are some of my picks ranging from $128 to under $600, there is something for everyone. My absolute favorites are the Tory Burch, Rebecca Minkoff, and of course, Burberry which retails at almost $600. YOLO!!! :-)

Crossbody Bags by honeywhatscooking

Top: J.Crew teeny edie purse genuine leather handbag / Tory Burch robinson crossbody / Rebecca Minkoff skylar mini crossbody
Middle: Henri Bendel milliner crossbody / Marc by Marc Jacobs goodbye columbus mini leather crossbody / Burberry berkeley coated canvas haymarket crossbody / Dooney & Bourke small safari crossbody
Bottom: Rebecca Minkoff mini blake bag / RED Valentino bow crossbody / Rebecca Minkoff mini mac

TELL ME: What are some of your favorite crossbody bags this season?
My top 3 faves are the Tory Burch Robinson Crossbody in poppy red, Rebecca Minkoff Mini MAC in periwinkle, and Burberry, of course!

Ofrenda | New York City (west village)

noreply@blogger.com (Honey) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 04:13:00 +0000

Last week I had the opportunity to check out a delicious Mexican gem in Manhattan's West Village neighborhood with my friend, KP.

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Almond Joy Hot Chocolate… vegan!

noreply@blogger.com (Honey) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 04:00:00 +0000

When I was 9 years old, I moved to the United States from Nigeria.

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Friday’s Favorite Things - 4.5.13

noreply@blogger.com (Honey) — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 04:00:00 +0000

SPRING is such a tease this season, it comes for a few hours and then disappears again. Hopefully the weather will warm up here in the tri-state region soon enough.
My sister is in town for a week which equates to hanging with the family and eating a LOT, unfortunately since I lack self-control when it comes to food (sometimes), I ended up overeating broccoli, carrots and dip, and thus getting sick. While I was sick, I kept telling myself to memorize this feeling and to not eat so much at one time. What else?
My blogger buddy, Ameena (FancyThatFancyThis), was in town and we ended up meeting for a 2 hour lunch in New York. It was so nice to catch up with her, and I speak for both of us when I say the Blackened Salmon we ate @ Whym was pretty yummy. Thanks for a lovely talk, Ameena.

1. Linen Top @ H&M (purchased in natural white & black)
This past week I went on a bag hunt, but unfortunately the bag I wanted wasn't available at the store, hence I opted for plan B ~ clothes shopping. At H&M I picked up a couple linen tops with lace short sleeves. I love lace and I love linen, which are both perfect for the spring & summer seasons. The ivory top would pair so well over white skinny jeans with cute white flats and a short black leather jacket, or just some linen shorts as shown on the model below. Just fyi… the tops look much prettier when worn. ~ $18 @ H&M

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Triple Coconut Cake w/Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting

noreply@blogger.com (Honey) — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 04:00:00 +0000

Today is April 1st which marks my brother in law’s 6 month death anniversary. I wish that were an April Fool’s joke.
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Friday’s Favorite Things - 3.29.13

noreply@blogger.com (Honey) — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 04:00:00 +0000

1. A Sweet Surprise
‘Twas a good week at work. On Thursday my manager called me into his office to go over my annual performance review, and I was totally expecting my #% annual raise, however to my surprise he informed me that I have been promoted. EXCUSE-MOI?!?!? Now even though I do all my work and meet my deadlines, I have to admit my promotion came as a complete shock since I wasn’t even thinking about it nor was I expecting it. It’s a good feeling to receive this kind of recognition from an employer, it just gives you that extra drive to work harder and smarter. I guess sometimes good things happen when you least expect it and this is one of the best things that has happened to me in a while so I was really pleased. Now I have an excuse to go shopping so I can buy myself a "real" pressie… I think this calls for a designer handbag!

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Egg White Grilled Veggies with Manchego Cheese… inspiration from Mexico

noreply@blogger.com (Honey) — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 04:43:00 +0000

Did you know Whole Foods allows you to sample cheeses? Yup, I didn’t know that either.

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Blueberry Banana Coconut Oatmeal Bake… bressert!

noreply@blogger.com (Honey) — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 04:00:00 +0000

bressert = breakfast + dessert! I thought I invented a brilliant new idea, but then I googled bressert and it already exists. Darn!
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Friday’s Favorite Things - 3.22.13

noreply@blogger.com (Honey) — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 04:00:00 +0000

1. New Girl & The Mindy Project
Now that Monday night Bachelor is over, Tuesdays may just be my favorite night of the week because I watched New Girl and The Mindy Project for the very first time, thanks to my friend Kshama. I loved both shows, but I preferred The Mindy Project more. The writing for the show is hilarious, sarcastic, partially offensive, and totally my kind of humor. Check out both shows Tuesday nights at 9 pm and 9:30 pm on FOX!

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Brunch @ Jane | New York City (greenwich village)

noreply@blogger.com (Honey) — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 04:00:00 +0000

As one of the most famous brunch spots in New York City, I finally made it to Sunday brunch at Jane with my friends Jhiane and Ally.
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Sweet & Spicy Mayan Hot Chocolate (reduced-fat)

noreply@blogger.com (Honey) — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 04:08:00 +0000

My dad’s a short, cute, funny guy… who loves Facebook!

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Friday’s Favorite Things - 3.15.13

noreply@blogger.com (Honey) — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 04:00:00 +0000

Last Saturday would have been my “late” brother-in-law’s 44th birthday, and in memory of him I baked a Triple Coconut Cake that I shared with my family. We (NJ family) all Facetimed with my sister and the kids in California while both parties cut a cake and sang happy birthday simultaneously. It was really sweet. Clearly we all still miss him a lot, and I don’t think his memory will fade away anytime soon, or ever for that matter! He was just so full of life and left his mark on each and every single one of us.

After the mini birthday celebration, my friend, Jhiane, and I headed over to our friend’s, Anu, home where we hung out until 4 am drinking wine, enjoyed a Thai dinner, gossiped, and indulged in my leftover Triple Coconut Cake w/tea. Sleepovers are so fun and therapeutic with girlfriends, they make me feel as though I am 21 again and back in college. I don’t think this tradition of ours will ever get old, married or not, kids or not, I am all about needing my “me” time with my girls!
Onto FFT…

1. Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado
After reading rave reviews on the Avocado Eye Cream, I recently purchased this Kiehl’s Eye Cream. Now although this eye cream is NOT an anti-aging cream, I still wanted to purchase it to see what the hype was all about. After using it for about 2 weeks now, the skin around my eye area is left feeling moist and cool after applying. There is no stinging whatsoever, and the fine lines around my eyes appear softer. It’s a thick moisturizing eye cream that would probably work best for women in their early to mid 20s. Great stuff, but I definitely need to invest in an eye cream that defies those wrinkles. ~ $29 @ Nordstrom

Bakeries in Playa del Carmen | Riviera Maya, Mexico

noreply@blogger.com (Honey) — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 04:00:00 +0000

Mayan Hot Chocolate was on my mind the entire time I was in Playa del Carmen… think sweet and spicy liquid hot chocolate, oh yeah! After strolling up and down Avenida 5 multiple times, I took note that cafes are not that popular in Playa del Carmen, especially on Avenida 5. After doing some research, I noticed many of the local coffee shops were on Avenida 10 or beyond. My biggest regret is not having tried a single Mexican dessert, such as flan, tres leches. Since they were such few bakeries, I should have just ordered dessert after a meal at one of the Mex restaurants. Honestly, it just never even occurred to me until I returned home. I think this calls for another Mexican getaway!