OMG, I do exist!

Let me start by saying Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Happy Chinese New Year, Happy Boxing Day, Happy Friday the 13th, Happy MLK Day, Happy Groundhog Day..... and Happy Opposite Day (It's a real day.)

Yep.... It's been awhile. 

I have been living my worst nightmare for the past few months. This nightmare is called South Beach Diet.... and yes.... it's as bad as it sounds. I have said goodbye to bread, pasta, cake, bagels, pizza fruit, carrots, and worst of all, WINE. But, I have also said farewell to 15 pounds and 2 pants sizes, so I really can't complain that much...neither can my fiancé. 

So, here is my latest excuse as to why I have dropped of the face of the blogging universe:

The downside to any diet (besides the torture and cold sweats that come along with painful carb craving headaches) is really boring food.... I feel like my life has been wrapped in iceberg lettuce instead of spread lovingly between two fresh pieces of homemade sourdough bread. I mean... whats the point of blogging about chicken and veggies every night? 

However, I have recently come to the conclusion that just because I have to suffer through starvation to look like a super hot bride, does not mean that you, my 14 readers, also have to endure this misery. Yup, admit it.... the last two months have sucked without my Facebook wall being plastered with my latest food ramblings. 

To make this AMAZING blogging comeback that you are about to experience, I had the pleasure of shooting my afternoon baking with the wonderful Edward Scott..... (he is also shooting our wedding!!) 

Note: No matter how strict you have been dieting.... if there is cooking dough in your presence it is ALWAYS ok to eat it. 

The perfect milk dunking chocolate chip cookie

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 egg
1 egg yolk
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Beat egg, egg yolk, and vanilla until light and creamy. 

Combine the remaining dry ingredients and the melted butter in a separate bowl. 

Combine both mixtures together. Mix well. Add the chocolate chips. 

Scoop dough onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper using a tablespoon scoop.

Bake cookies in a 325 degree oven for 15 minutes until golden brown.

Pour a tall glass of milk and enjoy. 

Coming soon.... braised beef short ribs and buttermilk roasted chicken. I am going to blow your mind with my blogging dedication.... and my cooking :)

Recipe from SmittenKitchen.com

Pick your veggies.... and eat them, too.

I have a garden.
If you know me, you know this.

If you know me, you also know that I share my garden with this sweet boy who... let's be honest.... does 90% of the work because he thinks I am the bee's knees. (I think he is more, but don't tell him.)

Annnnnd if you know Rich and I and have been to our humble abode anytime in the last 6 months, you know that our garden is blooming.
A lot.

How do you know this?
Because if you have come over anytime in the last 6 months you have been taken (forced) to go on one of Richard's  GARDEN TOURS....  of the deck, the front yard, the side yard.....


Not to brag, but.....

freshly picked garden salad.

Yep. All hand picked this morning from the garden. 

Well, except the chicken. 

Katie will not let me get anymore animals..... can dogs be taught to lay eggs?

PS. I'm pretty preachy about making your own salad dressing..... but I must admit my obsession with Stevie's Vinaigrette. It is well worth having it shipped from North Carolina (thank you Bruce and Cindy)

Delicious. 

Local Fave.

Carmella Ice Cream. 

Amazing flavors. Organic and natural ingredients. AND they let you have as many samples as you want at the Farmer's Market..... I have an endless pit of a stomach, so that to me is definitely a plus.

Favorite Flavors:
Salted Caramel
Brown Sugar Vanilla Bean
Mint Cacao
Lavender and Honey

To name a few........

What: Carmella Ice Cream

Where: Hollywood Farmer's Market. DomainLA (the best wine shop EVER!)

Why: Organic, delicious, creative flavors, local.

Annnnnnd..... if you can buy it at the Farmer's Market, not only are you supporting local businesses, but it's healthy, too..... right? No?

Kitchen Must Haves

I am going to start posting kitchen gadgets and ingredients that you need in your kitchen. Not things that I just think you need.... you actually really need these things.

Hopefully I will do better with my "Must Haves" than I did with my "Sunday Morning" breakfast posts.

soooo vanilla.

What.

Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Products. I have Powder, Beans, Paste, and Extract. Love. 

Where.

Whole Foods, Sur La Table, Williams Sonoma

Why.

Mmmmmm.

PS. You also need a subscription to Bon Appetite Magazine (as seen in the background.) And if you haven't already- you need to go buy Gwenyth's issue because she is perfect and it is amazing. (Thank you Rachel Hoffman for the last two years of my subscription.....I finally just got my own. xx)