1. Bill Cosby! Fashion Icon! Who knew?
2. Signs that You’re a Homebody (we’re homebodies)
3. I can’t get this Strawberry Coconut Lassi out of my head.
4. 30 Shocking & Unexpected Google Street Views
5. There’s always money in the banana stand. Frozen Bananas!
6. I’ve been using this to keep track of my time online. It’s really helping.
7. Side shots of food! Very cool.
8. I’m craving cookies like WHOA ever since I spied these beauties.
9. This is what happens when you bully kids at school. Good job, Mom!
10. Just another reason to love Zach Galifianakis. 
11. If I was a celebrity kid, I’d definitely do the same…
12. Have you seen the sequel to Ship My Pants? Big Gas Savings!
13. Would you rather? If you love that game, you’ll love this site.
14. 33 Unwritten Rules EVERYONE Needs to Follow. AMEN TO THIS.
15. Joy is turning 32 this weekend. I love her list.

GO GET IT!!! On the most recent Joy the Baker podcast, we talk to our 21 Year Old Selves.

Rosewensian adapted my Cheddar Cheese Bread (and has made other recipes of mine!!)

 Artpology made my Walnut Raisin No Knead Bread

Rocked By Life adapted my Clove Scented Sidecar

Found in Oklahoma made my Cinnamon Sugar Baked Doughnuts

I have this terrible habit of buying the same items of clothing when I’m shopping. I walk in with the intent to get something new and my brain goes into robot mode. MUST FIND STRIPED SHIRTS/BLACK & WHITE ANYTHING/PERFECT BLACK DRESS.  Can one ever have enough striped shirts? (NO) How about the perfect black scooped-neck shirt?  I have to stop myself when I’m about to buy another black dress…It’s just that I can’t help it. I know exactly what I like/want.  If only stores carried nothing but black denim wide leg pants & striped shirts year round, I’d be all set.

I suppose my food cravings are pretty much the same. I love anything almondy. Here on this site you’ve seen me make granola, danishes, bars, cookies,vegan cookiest, raw cookies, caramel corn, appetizers loaded with almonds. I feel like I have the same issue with almonds as I do with my striped shirt collection. NEED MORE. ALWAYS. Thank goodness almonds are good for you.

We enjoyed these cookies a little too much at my house. I had to freeze some and give some away because there wasn’t much stopping me from eating one after another after another. They’re nutty, sweet & fragrant with vanilla. They’re perfect for breakfast or an afternoon snack with tea. I wouldn’t mind a few broken over ice cream with fresh berries. Let’s make that happen! I think on my next go-around, I’m going to add a bit of almond extract because I can’t get enough of almonds.

And we’re off!

First! You pulse the almonds in a food processor to make almond meal.

You’re supposed to go super fine, but I wanted a little almond chunks in my meal.

Melted butter & sugar get stirred together. An egg goes in.

Flour gets stirred in.

Flour & almond meal.

Here’s a weird thing. Vanilla extract at this point. I would have put it in during the egg mixture, but I followed the recipe. I wonder if they forgot about it and then when they went to stir they were like…CRAP. Vanilla. Maybe that’s just my imagination. Maybe I speak from experience…

Scoop out a cookie into the palm of your hand. Flatten the cookie. Put the cookie on a greased baking sheet.

REPEAT. Like… a lot.

Original recipe calls for three sliced almonds on top of each cookie. I got through three cookies and was like……NOOOOO WAY AM I DOING THIS FOR 20+ cookies.

So I took the slivered almonds and smooshed them in the center. Done deal. Time saver. Yeah baby.

They get baked in the oven. They cool on a rack.

Confectioner’s sugar enters the picture…

COOKIE PARTY COOKIE PARTY (Sarah Silverman reference)

Now…I’m off to find my next almond recipe!

Almond Cookies

Note: There is a print link embedded within this post, please visit this post to print it.

makes about 36 cookies

recipe adapted from This Is A Cookbook: Recipes for Real Life

• 1 1/2 cups whole almonds, plus sliced almonds for garnish
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla
• 1/4 cup confectioner’s sugar

Preheat oven to 375F. Put the almonds in a food processor and process until coarsely ground, 15-20 seconds. Stop the machine and pulse carefully until nuts are finely and uniformly ground, stirring in between pulses as needed. Work carefully, as you don’t want the nuts to turn to paste. Set aside.

In a large bowl, combine the sugar and melted butter and stir to mix well. Beat in the egg, then add the flour and ground almonds and mix well. Stir in the vanilla extract.

Scoop out 1 tablespoon of dough, roll it into a ball between your palms, and flatten into a round cookie. Place on a greased baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining dough, spacing the cookies about 2 inches apart on the pan. You will need two baking sheets.

Press about a tablespoon of slivered almonds into the center of each cookie. Bake until lightly golden brown, 9-10 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on a baking rack. Place confectioner’s sugar in a sift and sift sugar on top of cookies. Cookies will keep stored in an airtight container for up to one week.

Ever feel like you need a weekend after a weekend. Yeah. Me too. Like…every weekend.

MONDAYS. Mondays are like jumping into a pool when you don’t really want to deal with the cold water shock but you have to cuz you have to like make a living or something. Mondays are for watching The Voice and eating really easy dinners (POPCORN!) that include comforting carbohydrates. Mondays are for cocktails. Mondays are annoying unless Mondays are your weekend. Then…happy weekend to you! You get to run errands during the day when everyone is working. This is cool. I’m happy for you.

This gin cocktail is just what I/you need on a Monday. The best part is that if you don’t have a crowd of people to share it with, you can totally keep it in your fridge for a few days. Because Tuesdays and Wednesdays call for cocktails too. And by Thursday…you might have a little leftover and Thursdays are for getting ready for  Friday. And the day before Friday calls for more gin. Don’t fight me on this. If you’re a lover of gin, you’re already know how well it goes with lime. In this particular cocktail, orange flower (blossom) water is added to the mix as well as simple syrup, a little bit of salt for balance, and a nice spritz of seltzer. I can/will have this cocktail any day of the week if given the opportunity. All is right in the world with this cocktail. Trust.

And we’re off!

Extreme closeup! All of my favorites. Simple syrup in a bottle cuz…you know…it’s EASIER.

I tend to forget  when I’ve made simple syrup…and then I’m like what’s this jar of crystals in my fridge?

REAL TALK.

Limes get juiced.

Lime juice, gin, simple syrup & orange flower water go into a pitcher. STIR.

\

Top with seltzer.

Add in a few slices of lime.

Get your glasses ready!

Fill them up! Top them each with a lime slice.

CHEERS to you & me.

Make a pitcher of this and we’ll have cocktails for the week(ish).

Bombay Fizz Cocktail

Note: There is a print link embedded within this post, please visit this post to print it.

makes 6 cocktails
recipe adapted from Martha Stewart Living Magazine

• 1/4 cup fresh lime juice (from 2-3 limes)
• 12 oz. gin, chilled
• 1 teaspoon orange flower water
• 3/4 cup simple syrup
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 24 oz. seltzer water, chilled
• ice, for serving
• lime rounds, for garnishing

Stir together lime juice, gin, orange-flower water, simple syrup, and salt in a pitcher until throughly combined. Slowly add seltzer and gently stir until combined. Fill six glasses with ice. Divide cocktail among glasses and garnish with lime rounds. Serve immediately or keep in the fridge for up to 4 days.

I had a case of the drops this week. I can’t tell you how many things I knocked over.

This is right after I spilled Cooper’s pretzels for his lunch.

I made an awesome slaw that I think you’ll like.

Cocktail coming your way soon.

Cookies too!

We had an incredible cloud day this week!

Deconstructed cheese burgers outside.

Everything was perfectly aligned.

The day I thought it was the 16th but it turned out to be the 17th.

We hosted a wine tasting for 11 people this week. Whew!

Greek yogurt, wheat germ & agave syrup. Peonies from Trader Joe’s!

Asparagus + Tomato Basil Couscous!

Raspberries, blueberries, Greek yogurt & Hemp seeds.

Bubble mountain!

Casey made a drink with ginger, bourbon & topped it with lemon balm.

Pure joy.

Looking up at a parking garage.

We went to Hakkasan  in San Francisco for lunch with my brother Ryan.

Casey got the most amazing Fernet Julep. We’re going to try to recreate it at home.

The food was really good. I loved the Coconut Pudding with grilled pineapple.

Driving over the Golden Gate Bridge.

What I requested for Mother’s Day Lunch. DOUGHNUTS. Go nuts.

Me & my boo.

Husband & wife. We’re coordinated!

Mother’s Day dinner at Wayfare Tavern.

My brother flew in from NYC to surprise my mom. It was pretty special!

Hope you’re having a great weekend!

1. Reminds me  of when I gave Cooper a slice of lemon for the first time. hehe
2. I really enjoyed reading An Open Letter to Everyone Who Eats.
3. Well..THAT SETTLES IT. I’m gonna make my own Coconut Whipped Cream.
4. Almond Flour & Bourbon Vanilla Pancakes sounds just perfect to me!
5. OMG Pizza Wheels!!! Where have you been all my life?
6. 8 Signs You Are Actually a Cat. Yes to #3, 5 and 6 for me.
7. I LOVE Nick Offerman.
8. I hope I have time one day to make my own floral tablecloth. Thinking black & white…
9. That’s How Light Gets In– a very touching/honest piece by my friend Andrea.
10. I adore Hugh’s photos in this Mapled Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe. WOW.
11. How to Cook Crispy Bacon! I love the oven method.
12. I’d love to dip this popsicle in a cup of gin. Oh man would that be good!
13. 5 Tips on How to be Mindful.   I so need this.
14. 9 minutes well spent! —THIS IS WATER.
15. An interactive visualization of ongoing Arrested Development Jokes. JACKPOT.

There’s a new Joy the Baker Podcast on Homefries! This week we do Summer Edition WOULD YOU RATHER. It gets SUPER weird. Like weirder than normal…ENJOY!

This week on High Straightenance, I cleaned out my fridge!. You can always tell how stressed out I am by the state of my fridge.

Batch-22 made my Coconut Maple Granola 

Dizzy Loves Icy made my  Spicy Sweet Potato Fries

The Borough and Beyond made a version of my Freezer Breakfast Burritos

Recipe for Success made my Killer Garlic Bread

A Simple Love for Food made my Bacon Fried Rice

Food Loves Writing made a version of my Addictive Brussels Sprouts Salad

Dunn Sweet made my Mini Strawberry Cheesecakes

The Batty Bitch Fhee made my Spinach Feta Pocket Pies 

Eat Your Heart Out made my Coconut Cake