gingersnaps

Southwest Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

2013-05-14T15:51:00.004-07:00

I'm always on the hunt for super easy, quick dinners to make throughout the week; if they are a bit healthy as well, then well let's call that a bonus. This simple little recipe ticks all of those boxes perfectly. Everything in this recipe is store-bought, which is a gross departure from my usual recipes, but again it's ease we're going for here. By subbing Greek yogurt for sour cream, using healthful salsa as sauce, and taking it a little easy on the cheese, you can really make a delicious entree that is pretty darn good for you (especially as far as Gingersnaps goes). All this plus hearty, filling, and ready in less than 10 minutes? Winner!

Southwest Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

1 microwaveable sweet potato (sold ready-to-microwave at grocery stores)
1/2 breast from rotisserie chicken
Hot sauce, to taste (optional)
Scant 1/4 cup Monterrey Jack cheese
Salsa
Dollop of Greek yogurt
Cilantro, chopped

1. Microwave the sweet potato per package instructions. Allow to cool, and cut in half. Scoop out a small amount of flesh from the potato to create space. (You could also make this more of a potato skin by removing more).

2. Shred rotisserie chicken breast and toss with a bit of hot sauce, if desired. Add to potato halves.

3. Top with shredded cheese. Microwave just until cheese is melted.

4. Top with salsa, Greek yogurt, and cilantro garnish.

White Truffle, Parmesan & Rosemary Popcorn

2013-05-13T04:35:00.000-07:00

On a recent trip to Philadelphia, Adam and I stayed in a hotel that had the coolest perk: a free wine and popcorn happy hour! The popcorn was perfectly coated with delicious truffle butter, and I couldn't stop going back for more. I decided to recreate it at home, and add a little something extra with some Parmesan and fresh rosemary. This snack is crazy easy to make, and would be a perfect thing to serve at a party or as a unique treat before dinner. Alternatively, you can just douse popcorn in truffle butter and mop the bowl with each piece (been there, done that), but the added ingredients make it that much more special.

White Truffle, Parmesan & Rosemary Popcorn

6 cups popped unflavored popcorn (1 standard bag)
1.5 T. white truffle butter, melted
1 T. butter, melted
1/4 c. Parmesan cheese
2-3 sprigs of rosemary, leaves finely chopped

Pop popcorn according to package directions. Toss with melted butter until evenly distributed. Toss with Parmesan cheese and chopped rosemary. Serve.

Tangerine Sorbet Prosecco Float

2013-05-04T19:07:00.000-07:00

When I surprised Adam with this cocktail the other night, upon first taste, his response was, "Now that tastes like summer". He couldn't have been more right; with the Maryland weather refusing to embrace springtime (let alone summer), we just had to create our own sunshine.

After tangerine and prosecco paired so well in a previous cocktail, I decided to give it another go, but with a different spin. I hadn't busted out my trusty ice cream maker yet this year, so I thought I'd dust it off for some homemade tangerine sorbet. Then I thought: why not douse that sorbet in prosecco for an even better treat? I was right, it really was better with alcohol.

You really don't need to make your own sorbet, I just get a little crazy sometimes and can't stop myself. Also, you could serve this the way I intended, as a float, or go for Adam's method of immediately stirring everything together for more of a classic cocktail. Either way, it is so refreshing and satisfying, and really does taste just like summer.

Tangerine Sorbet Prosecco Float

1 ice cream scoop of tangerine sorbet, store-bought or homemade
4 oz. prosecco or champagne (if you fancy)

Do you really need directions? No I did not think so.

Tangerine Sorbet

2 cups fresh tangerine juice (or store-bought)
1/2 cup sugar
2 T. lemon juice

Strain tangerine juice into a large bowl to remove pulp and seeds.
Add lemon juice and sugar to the bowl, stir until dissolved.
Process in ice cream maker.

Steak Enchilada Pizza

2013-04-19T06:54:00.003-07:00

One of my favorite recipes on Gingersnaps, a Grilled Steak & Gorgonzola Pizza, came about when I decided to take some of my favorite flavor combinations and throw them onto a pizza. It worked so well the first time that I thought: why not try it again? This time, I went for a Tex-Mex variety, laying the flavors of enchiladas over some dough. Mexican and Italian pair up, and I'm basically a fusion chef now. Okay, maybe not. Either way, the blackened flavor of the meat, the spice and slight sweetness of enchilada sauce, colorful veggies, and a drizzle of cool sour cream come together perfectly on top of a simple pizza crust.

I liked this pizza so much that I made it one night for dinner, then drove to the store the next day to buy more steak so I could make it again. So, if you're using 1/2 a bell pepper or only a portion of the corn, enchilada sauce, etc... why not just double it up and make two pizzas? You could substitute chicken for the steak, or go all veggie if you wanted, but those are just silly thoughts in our household, and I won't speak of it here. Just make sure you buy enough to not make a return grocery trip the very next day.

Steak Enchilada Pizza

Steak

   10 oz. strip steak
   Marinade, see below (optional)
   2 T. Olive oil

Pizza

1/2 lb. pizza dough

Flour (and cornmeal if available), for work surface

Red enchilada sauce, approximately 1/3 cup

1/2 red bell pepper, sliced

1/2 green bell pepper, sliced

1/4 small onion, sliced thin

1/3 cup corn

1/3 cup black beans

1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese

1/2 cup Monterrey Jack cheese

Olive oil, for brushing crust

Directions

1. If using marinade, mix ingredients marinate steak in refrigerator that morning.

2. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

3. Roll pizza dough to a thin crust on a floured work surface (add cornmeal if you have it). Brush perimeter with olive oil, transfer to cookie sheet or pizza stone, and bake in oven until slightly golden, about 10 minutes.

4. While crust is baking, heat 2 T. olive oil in saute pan over medium-high heat. Add steak and cook 5 minutes on each side for medium-rare. Remove from heat, tent with foil, and allow to rest while making pizza.

5. In steak pan or new pan, saute peppers and onions until just slightly soft.

6. Remove crust from oven, add enchilada sauce, cheeses, and vegetables. Return to oven and bake until crust is golden brown and cheese is melted. Meanwhile, slice the steak.

7. Remove from oven, add sliced steak, and serve.

Southwest Steak Marinade

2 T. olive oil
2 T. Worcestershire sauce

2 T. chipotles in adobo sauce
1 T. Dijon mustard
1 T. minced garlic

Tangerine, Pomegranate & Prosecco Cocktails

2013-04-15T17:18:00.001-07:00

When warm weather finally hits Baltimore, there's not much that makes me happier than sitting in the sunshine with a refreshing cocktail in hand. And if Prosecco is involved, it's basically divine. This cocktail is wildly refreshing, and entirely too easy to drink. They were very easy to make, but would be even easier if you grab a bottle of tangerine juice in lieu of squeezing your own. Please do make this cocktail on a warm, sunny day, close your eyes, take a sip, and feel the sun on your skin. You won't be disappointed, wherever you are.

Tangerine, Pomegranate & Prosecco Cocktails
Makes one 8 oz. cocktail

4 oz. Prosecco
2 oz. tangerine juice
1 oz. pomegranate juice
1 oz. Cointreau

Mix all ingredients, shake with ice, and serve on the rocks. This cocktail can be made ahead of time by mixing all ingredients except the Prosecco and storing in the refrigerator. When ready to serve, add the Prosecco and pour over ice.

Miniature Deep Dish Pizzas

2013-04-09T06:04:00.000-07:00

Let me start by saying that this post is 100% dedicated to two of my best friends and our 4(+) years of late nights at Penn State: Lauren and Kelly. Their love of Bagel Bites is both inspirational and contagious. Now, sometimes there's just no reason to reinvent the wheel, and I get that, but I still wanted to try. And actually, I think I managed to improve upon a true dorm room staple.

This recipe is infinitely adaptable, and can be as straightforward or interesting as you want it to be. For example, you could go straight cheese and pepperoni (nothing wrong with that), or get a little fancy with roasted red peppers, goat cheese, pine nuts, balsamic... now I'm just drooling. I went with mushroom, sausage and Parmesan, and it was delicious. The best part is that these are crazy easy, and you can make a ton, freeze them, and reheat later! So go out and make some, or just eat some Bagel Bites.

Miniature Deep Dish Pizzas
Makes 6 Miniature Pizzas

Flour, for rolling surface
2 T. olive oil
Garlic salt
1/2 lb. ball of pizza dough

Small handful of sliced mushrooms
Approx six 1/4" slices of a sausage link (I used a garlic chicken variety)
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan
3 T. marinara sauce

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Brush six cups of a muffin tin lightly with 1 T. olive oil. Sprinkle the oiled tin lightly with garlic salt.

2. Sprinkle flour over clean work surface. Separate dough into 6 pieces, and spread or roll into rough 4" circles. No need to be perfect. Press each dough round into the muffin tin, forming a cup.

3. Add 1 T. olive oil to a saute pan over medium heat. Add sausage and mushrooms, cook until browned. Remove from heat.

4. Add 1/2 T. marinara to each cup of dough. Add mushroom, sausage, and Parmesan to each.

5. Optional: If desired, brush edges of dough with some olive oil and sprinkle with seasoning (garlic powder and Italian seasoning here, but anything goes).

6. Bake approximately 12 minutes. Allow to cool slightly. If desired, dip in additional marinara.

Emerald & Oxfords

2013-03-25T10:00:00.001-07:00

Blouse: J. Crew, Jacket: Zara, Shoes: Shoemint

I've been through some extreme weather swings over the past week or so, from snowing and frigid in NYC, to beautiful 85 degree sunshine in Austin, back to a snow day in Baltimore today. Our trip to Austin was a great one, as my soon-to-be family threw a beautiful wedding shower for Adam and I on Saturday. Full of friends, family, and a lot of love and cheer, we had a fantastic day. We were so happily busy and content that I didn't even take time for photos. Now, that's a feat. Instead, I'll share with you another post from our trip to New York. I paired my favorite new flats with some rolled up jeans, an emerald blouse, a bold necklace (a gift from Jan!), and my favorite jacket for a day of eating, shopping and exploring.

Spaghetti with Spinach Parmesan Balls

2013-03-22T05:20:00.000-07:00

At a recent party, I could not believe which bite-sized appetizer left me hovering over a nearly empty plate, hoping no one would take note of my gluttony. This tasty treat was, of all things, vegetarian... and it didn't even have any dipping sauce! What has happened to me? I'm losing my way here a bit, but I'm obviously talking about these Spinach Parmesan Balls, or another version of them. I perused some recipes to duplicate and tweak this idea, combined a few together, eliminated seven tablespoons of butter from a popular version, and came to a very pleasing result.

I decided to turn these little green gems into a meal by serving them simply with spaghetti, marinara, and some grated Parmesan. It was an absolutely delicious meal that I look forward to making again, this time with enough to freeze some leftover, um, balls.

Spinach Parmesan Balls

1 lb. frozen chopped spinach, thawed and excess liquid squeezed out
5 eggs
1 small onion, minced
1 cup grated Parmesan
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 T. Dijon mustard
1/2 t. dried oregano
1/4 t. cayenne pepper
2 cups Italian-stye Panko
3 T. margarine, melted

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine all ingredients, except melted butter, and mix well by hand.
Form mixture into 1" balls, and place on a baking sheet in a single, slightly spaced layer.
Brush balls with melted butter.
Bake for 20-25 minutes in the top half of the oven.
Allow to cool slightly, and serve with toothpicks as appetizer, or with spaghetti.

Bold, Bodycon & Bubbly

2013-03-20T05:25:00.001-07:00

Dress: Topshop, Shoes: Target

This post has actually been making me giggle the whole time I've been putting it together. Why? Because, as it turns out, when you try to take some quick photos after a bottle of Veuve Clicquot (yum), this is what you get. Actually, this is the best of what you get; the rest of the photos, however, are hiarious. Basically, it goes like this: blurred picture with bad lighting, picture of my butt with laser focus, picture of Adam making a face, blurry with bad lighting... you get the idea. Moving on.

I decided to post these photos anyhow because we had a lot of fun, the bubbly was delicious, and I loved this dress for a night out in NY. With bold colors, an even bolder pattern, and a bodycon cut, this Topshop number is not for the faint of heart. I knew instantly it would be crammed into my weekender for the city, and it was perfect for an unbelievable dinner at Spice Market and, of course, champagne. Read on for my restaurant review.

Spice Market
What we Ordered,and Loved!

I would absolutely recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting NYC. The decor looked like something from a Bond movie; imagining a gorgeous Southeast Asian Bond girl gracefully descending the impressive staircase was hardly a stretch. The ambience was stunning, and the food was nothing short of amazing. Adam's favorite part was the Chicken Samosas, while mine was the Ginger Fried Rice (which I have been closing my eyes and reliving the taste of ever since). The only item I wouldn't splurge for again would be the lobster, as it didn't quite live up to its price tag. If you're ever in NY, you won't regret spending an evening at the Spice Market like 007.

Charred Chili Rubbed Beef Skewers with Thai Basil Dipping Sauce

Spiced Chicken Samosas with Cilantro Yogurt

Ginger Fried Rice

Vietnamese Chicken Curry

Maine Lobster, Butter Fried Garlic, Ginger and Dried Chili

Cobalt & Chelsea

2013-03-19T05:43:00.001-07:00

Dress: F21, Jacket: Zara, Boots: Target, Sunglasses: ASOS

I'm a little sad to say that Adam and I ended a long weekend trip to NYC last night. We had an fantastic weekend together eating, drinking, sightseeing and eating (worth mentioning twice) our way through the city. Right outside our hotel, we discovered the gorgeous and eclectic Chelsea Market: a plethora of lunch spots, coffee shops, wine vaults, and shopping in a building with beautiful details and architecture. We frequented the market often throughout the weekend, this time in a cobalt dress that was a huge steal (at only $25!) and great find from F21. Paired with my trusty Zara jacket, tights and boots, the dress can work for both the tail end of winter and, hopefully soon, warmer weather in spring.

Spring in your Step

2013-03-13T04:46:00.001-07:00

{1} Madewell {2} J. Crew {3} Urban Outfitters {4} Madewell {5} Madewell {6} Piperlime

There are thousands upon thousands of gorgeous warm weather heels and wedges out there that I'd love to say I'm a pro at wearing. I'm just not. I remember the days of college when I would walk/run down College Avenue at any time of day or night, in any temperature, and bear the consequences as they come. I'm not claiming or admitting to be getting old, but rather lazy. It's rarely worth it to me anymore, so I mostly stick to flats. These little colorful gems are a fun way to add some pop into your spring wardrobe, whether paired with a cute, casual dress or incorporated into your work attire.

Thai Peanut Chicken Quinoa

2013-03-12T04:02:00.001-07:00

You really should have seen Adam's face when he pulled a box of quinoa out of the grocery haul; it was priceless. Clearly, I'm not generally a subscriber to healthy foods, but I figured I'd at least try out this trendy ingredient by drenching it in Thai peanut sauce and Sriracha. I love anything with peanut sauce, so it seemed natural to try swapping some grain for my usual noodles, and the result impressed even my skeptical fiance. This dish was actually equally delicious as a hot entree and a cold salad for lunch the next day. I would highly recommend making a large batch, as I did, for lunches throughout the week.

Thai Peanut Chicken Quinoa

1.5 cups quinoa
3 cups low sodium chicken broth
3 chicken breasts
2 T. soy sauce
2 medium carrots, grated
2/3 cup shelled edamame
1/3 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
1/3 cup scallions, chopped
1/3 cup chopped peanuts

Sauce

4 T. peanut butter, melted slightly
4 T. light coconut milk
3 T. sweet chili sauce
1 T. Sriracha (plus extra for drizzling)
1 T. rice vinegar
1 T. brown sugar
1 T. lime juice
1/8 t. ground ginger
3 cloves garlic, minced

Directions

1. Combine all sauce ingredients in a large serving bowl.

2. Lightly toast quinoa in a saucepan on medium heat. Add chicken broth, cover, and cook according to quinoa package directions (usually 15-20 minutes).

3. While quinoa cooks, saute chicken breasts over medium heat until almost cooked throughout. Add soy sauce to pan and finish cooking chicken, coating with soy sauce.

3. Add cooked quinoa to serving bowl and toss with sauce. Add grated carrots, edamame, cilantro, scallions and peanuts. Reserve some of the cilantro, scallions, and peanuts to sprinkle on top for serving, if desired.

4. Slice chicken into thin slices or bite sized pieces and add to quinoa mixture. Drizzle with Sriracha to taste, and garnish with reserved ingredients from previous step.

Enjoy!

Guinness Brownie Cakes with Butterscotch Frosting and Salted Pretzels

2013-03-07T04:23:00.001-08:00

If you're a regular reader of Gingersnaps, you're tired of hearing me whine and make excuses for holidays flying past, either without accompanying posts, or with ridiculous after-the-fact posts under the weak notion that it will come in handy next year. Check it out! This holiday is different! I vowed to assemble a St. Patrick's Day post in time for March 17th, and I've actually done it. Behold my Guinness Brownie Cakes with Butterscotch Frosting and Salted Pretzels; they are decadent, delicious, and also festive. Plus, they just pair oh-so-well with a nice pint.

Google "Guinness Brownies" and you'll find about 1,000 variations of the same recipe. I decided to not reinvent the wheel here, so I cheated. I used (gasp!) a boxed dark chocolate brownie mix, but swapped 1 cup of the water called for in the mix for some stout. To up the flavor, I reduced 2 cups of Guinness to 1 cup over medium heat on the stove before swapping for water. Beer > Water, any day. For the full recipe and assembly, see below.

Happy (Early) Saint Patrick's Day!

Easy Guinness Brownies

1 box dark chocolate brownie mix, and necessary ingredients

2 cups Guinness stout

Miniature cake pan or muffin pan

Prepare a dark chocolate boxed brownie mix according to directions, omitting 1 cup of water. Add 2 cups of Guinness to a saucepan over medium heat, and reduce to 1 cup of liquid. Add cup of Guinness to brownie mix, and bake as directed, ideally in this pan. If you don't want to be a little silly and buy this pan, you can use muffin tins and improvise. After the brownies have baked and cooled completely, slice into 1/3 to 1/2" rounds.

Butterscotch Frosting

1/4 cup unsalted butter

1/3 cup light brown sugar

1/4 cup heavy cream

1 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar

Melt butter and brown sugar in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly, until sugar melts and begins to bubble. At this point, continue stirring for 2 minutes. Stop if sugar mixture begins to darken or smell burnt.

Slowly add heavy cream, stirring constantly for another 2 minutes, until mixture thickens.

Remove from heat and beat in confectioners sugar with hand mixer until peaks form in the frosting. If frosting is dry, add more cream. If frosting is loose, add more confectioners sugar.

Assembling the Cakes

Layer cooled and sliced brownie rounds with spread dollops of frosting. Top final layer with generous frosting layer, and sprinkle with crumbled salted pretzels.

Ida Oxford

2013-03-06T05:50:00.004-08:00

I had the cutest outfit planned for the first fashion-related post in months; really, it was adorable. But then it needed to be ironed. Wah wah wahhhh. Therefore, this is not that outfit. However, I convinced Adam to snap a couple of quick photos on our way home from the Heavy Seas Brewery in Baltimore. We had a really nice afternoon touring the brewery, and of course, sampling the goods. For only five dollars, you get a pint glass, five samples, and a tour. This of course comes highly recommended.

On another note, I loved these shoes from the moment they popped up in my ShoeMint showroom. I struggled to find an excuse to buy them, considering they're fairly out of place in Baltimore, but an upcoming trip to New York provided the perfect/flawed logic. These very comfy, cute little Ida Oxfords will serve me well in the city, maybe even paired with an ironed, wrinkle-free outfit.

Jacket: Zara, Shoes: ShoeMint, Shirt: J.Crew, Pants: Zara, Necklaces: Urban Outfitters and F21

Bridal Shower

2013-03-04T07:29:00.001-08:00

My mom is the cutest when it comes to anything creative and crafty. Just when I thought we were throwing together a last-minute family bridal shower in PA, I show up to a room with every surface adorned in wedding themed shower decor. She worked so hard on the decorations, and I'm so thankful that she cares so much and made it such a special afternoon. Here are a few of the many adorable details from the even, including a redhead Barbie working it in her wedding dress and tiara.

Blood Orange Bourbon Sweet Tea

2013-03-01T04:26:00.000-08:00

I absolutely adore blood oranges, and love finding new ways to use them. Usually, my blood orange consumption involves slicing them up and diving in, leaving my face and our counters looking like a scene out of Dexter... but, guess what? You can actually use them for something other than juice delivery to the face. Such as mixing them with other juices, like liquor. Or, sweet tea. This cocktail provided a perfect way to use this gem of a winter seasonal fruit in a drink that's also reminiscent of summer.

Blood Orange Bourbon Sweet Tea
Makes 1 cocktail

4 oz. sweet tea
Juice of one blood orange
1.5 oz. bourbon
Splash of Cointreau

Mix all ingredients together over ice. Drink. Enjoy.

Luckenbach, TX

2013-02-25T18:11:00.006-08:00

Where do I even start when trying to explain the almost unbelievable town of Luckenbach, Texas? I had heard the name Luckenbach before, but no country song could have prepared me for the sight of this fantastic little place. Essentially consisting of a post office, general store, and dance hall, stepping on the premise is like taking a Texas-sized step back in time. The dance hall boasts an amazing atmosphere of live music (if you're lucky, Willie might just stop by), beer, and BBQ. Adam and I's families had such a great day throwing back some Shiner, Fireman's Four, and pulled pork that I won't soon forget.

wanderlust

2013-02-25T04:33:00.000-08:00

The word wanderlust is definitely trendy right now, at least as much as a word can be trendy, I suppose; but what does it really mean? For me, it describes the perpetual, overwhelming desire to see as much of the world as possible in my lifetime. Given unlimited funds, I would spend most of my life on the go, seeing and experiencing as many places as humanly possible. Given my current state as a dental resident, I'm stuck relying on more sparse trips and buckets of online research and mental vacations. Enter Conde Nast Traveler, who recently released their list of the Top 100 Hotels & Resorts in the World. I can. not. stop. browsing each and every photo on this little list of wanderlust-heaven. If you're like me, and could use a little mental vacation to endure your work day, check out this list of some of the most beautiful, unbelievable places on the planet. Here are a few that topped my daydreaming list.

Hotel Santa Caterina, Amalfi

Ciragan Palace, Istanbul

Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa, Beaver Creek

Londolozi, Kruger National Park

Perivolas, Santorini

Qualia, Great Barrier Reef (#1!)

happy margarita day!

2013-02-22T13:24:00.003-08:00

Prickly Pear Margarita

I can't say I'm a follower of the approximately one million fake holidays that float around the internet these days, unless of course they support something I already believe in... like margaritas. I mean, really, how can you not get behind a day that celebrates such a classic yet phenomenally versatile cocktail. So, enjoy your National Margarita Day with a prickly pear, winter citrus, or jalapeno-cucumber variety on me; and by me, I mean the recipe is on me. You're welcome.

Winter Citrus Margarita

Jalapeno Cucumber Margarita

Sweet & Smoky Chicken Bites with Roasted Red Pepper Goat Cheese Dipping Sauce

2013-02-19T08:35:00.000-08:00

This recipe was adapted from a baked wing recipe that gained Pinterest popularity. I can't always find "Buffalo style" segmented wings at the grocery store, and I absolutely refuse to use the intact wings with that nasty pointed end piece. If you don't know what I'm talking about, that's for the best. So I decided to copy the basic gist of the recipe, especially the dipping sauce, and adjust it for good old chicken breasts. As it turns out, they were delicious little sweet but subtly spicy-smoky morsels that Adam practically hoovered off of his plate... and then I licked mine. Clean. I may have even snuck a small spoonful of the sauce, but I don't necessarily condone that much gluttony. Check out the wildly easy recipe below.

Sweet & Smoky Chicken Bites

2 boneless, skinless breasts
2 T. olive oil
3 t. brown sugar
2 t. garlic powder
2 t. chili powder
1 t. paprika
1 t. ground chipotle powder
1 t. onion powder
1/2 t. black pepper

1. Heat olive oil in skillet over medium heat.
2. Combine all spices in Ziploc bag.
3. Cut chicken into 1" cubes, add to Ziploc bag, and shake.
4. Cook coated chicken in skillet until cooked throughout.
5. Serve with Roasted Red Pepper Goat Cheese Dipping Sauce

Roasted Red Pepper Goat Cheese Dipping Sauce

1/3 cup roasted red peppers
3 oz. goat cheese
1.5 T. sour cream
1/4 t. salt

Blend all ingredients in food processor or blender until smooth sauce is formed.

valentine's day love

2013-02-13T07:36:00.004-08:00

make this

Valentine's Day is upon us, and of course another holiday has come and (almost) gone, without any preparation on my part. I am still feeling the love though; I've been sick and miserable the past two days, and last night my furry baby Oliver curled up and slept with me/somewhat uncomfortably on me while I coughed and sniffled all night. It was pretty awesome, despite some leg cramping when I refused to disturb him. If you're in a last-minute Valentine's Day situation like me, here are some projects you can quickly whip up in time for tomorrow.

do a lot of this

and be lucky enough to feel as content as this

All images from Pinterest or Gingersnaps.

becker vineyards

2013-02-05T19:01:00.002-08:00

Somewhat sort-of, kind-of recently, my parents joined Adam and I on a trip to Texas. Adam's family had organized the five-day visit perfectly, and everyone had the best time. One day, we took a day trip in a fifteen-passenger van (yep, awesome) that stopped off at Becker Vineyards just outside of Austin. Although it was winter, and not much was alive with growth, it was still a very pretty setting with a really nice sampling room. The wine was nice, but the basically endless samples were very, very nice. Even my dad, who never drinks wine, had fun sampling some vino. Now that we're essentially vineyard hoppers (bold claim), I'm sure we'll be sampling more of the hill country's tasty offerings, but Becker was definitely a fun start and a happy memory.

christmas flashback

2013-02-05T18:52:00.002-08:00

It's finally time to fire up some Gingersnaps action after a long, long debate of whether or not to keep. this. thing. up. I've decided to keep it going through the wedding, and go from there. There's no point in trying to cover the last month or so playing catch up. Therefore, I'll be reminiscing briefly about the holidays for today, posting a travel post or two from our family trip to Texas, and moving on. How regal is Oliver looking here? It's almost like he's proud of his Christmas-adorned home... or maybe I just sat a treat literally on my camera. Just maybe. Either way, I want to put my hands right under those cute little ears and rub his cheeks. Too much? Sorry. Welcome back to Gingersnaps!

A cute tablescape I whipped up with these chevron paper placemats and some cheap ornaments.

More Chubs, a homemade frothy pumpkin latte, and my Christmas dinner getup.

Oliver and his brother, Mick, looking way too adorable.

chocolate cupcakes with cookie dough frosting & fudge brownie bites

2012-12-16T19:22:00.000-08:00

Am I serious with this cupcake right now? What kind of munchy monster would create such a decadent, over-the-top indulgence? Apparently I would, because I not only dreamed up the idea, but also saw it through to completion (big step!). It started with wanting to try cookie dough frosting. Then it needed to be paired with chocolate, and lots of it. And well... why not throw a fudge brownie in the mix as well, just for kicks. Do I even have to tell you that these were freaking fantastic? Definitely not when you can so clearly see it for yourself. Yum. Yum. Yum. The presentation is just jaw-dropping, and I know everyone at our work holiday party will be beyond thrilled to indulge.

I used a pretty standard chocolate cupcake recipe, but to be honest, I'd probably just use boxed mix next time to make this process a little easier. Thankfully, the cupcakes themselves had a nice mild chocolate flavor that helped tone down the overt richness of the final product. I did use a boxed fudge brownie mix for the brownie bites because I'm not a complete sadist.

After a little research, the cookie dough frosting became an amalgamation of several recipes, tweaked to my liking (to avoid sickly sweetness, believe it or not). One slight but crucial change I made to these formulas was the addition of lemon juice to cut through the cloying sugar. I have to admit, it was a genius idea that took the frosting from passable to lick-the-bowl-clean in no time. My favorite part of cookie dough is the slight crunch of mini chocolate chips so I added those as garnish. Then I thought to myself: there is clearly not enough s%#& piled on this dessert yet, so I drizzled it with ganache. Hello, heaven.

Chocolate Cupcakes with Cookie Dough Frosting & Fudge Brownie Bites

Makes 24 cupcakes

24 chocolate cupcakes (sample recipe here)

Baked brownies (store-bought, boxed, or from scratch; whatever you prefer)

Cookie dough frosting, recipe below

1/3 cup miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips for garnish

4 oz. semisweet chocolate chips

1/4 cup heavy cream

Allow both baked cupcakes and brownies to cool to room temperature. Cut brownies into 1" cubes. Prepare cookie dough frosting, and ice cupcakes generously. Sprinkle evenly with 1/3 cup miniature chocolate chips.

Make the ganache: heat 4 oz. semisweet chocolate chips and 1/4 cup heavy cream over a double boiler, stirring frequently, until it reaches a smooth consistency. Drizzle evenly over cupcakes.

Cookie Dough Frosting

Adapted from Tidy Mom

3 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

3 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1 cup flour

3 T. heavy cream

3 t. vanilla extract

1 t. lemon juice

1 t. salt

Using a mixer at medium speed, beat butter until soft and creamy, approximately 1 minute. Add all other ingredients, and beat until thoroughly combined and fluffy in texture. Icing should form stiff peaks.

not your ugly sweater

2012-12-16T18:00:00.000-08:00

I love holiday parties; I really do. This year has been sadly sparse for festive fetes, in part because 90% of the people I know in Maryland are Jewish, and in part because 90% of us are also temporarily poor (thank you, residency!). I'm not really big on "ugly sweater parties"; I see their appeal to be sure, but I tend to jump at any opportunity to dress up. I prefer a dress code to be simply holiday-themed. Of course I didn't prepare for the holidays in any real way, so I had to throw together a Christmas outfit last-minute, and ended up loving it!

I used the hook of a Christmas tree ball to secure three small ornaments together and onto a bobby pin. I made a very unfussy (aka I had already had a few cocktails and twisted it up quickly) top knot, inserted the bobby pin, and voila! Paired with a sweet, feminine green top and a red lip, it made for a perfectly spirited, and best of all cheap, party get-up. Also, how can you not love my handsome boy? I could smooch him for hours and hours and hours... but don't worry, not on the lips. Happy Holidays!

Top: Oasis (purchased in Dublin last fall)