A FEW GOOD THINGS...

{Last week's treat for actually making it through a busy few weeks! A big bunch of reasonably-priced roses from Costco always seem to make things right with the world... }

Hi there! How was your weekend?? I achieved a record amount of much-needed laziness this weekend. Other than a workout and a massage, I was home cooking, binge-watching Girlfriend's Guide To Divorce on Netflix (why I chose that show- who knows - but I think it's good!), finishing up a soon-to-be released book that I look forward to telling you about, and watching the Oscars... Needless to say, the weekend was good! Here are a few other things that I think are pretty darn good, too. Happy Monday!

{This amazingly structured Zac Posen bag ... I've been searching for a new everyday black bag and this one is a contender! I ordered it so I could see it in person. I love it, but it's honestly a bit on the heavy side for an everyday bag. But it's so classy and perfect for a casual afternoon or night out! What do you think?? Yay or nay?? }

{My latest cookbook purchase!! Chrissy's "keepin' it real" skills along with the food and the photography make this easily one of my favorite cookbooks at the moment. I made her Vegetable Tortilla Stew for dinner yesterday and it was DELISH!!! Most of the recipes in the book are definitely not on the lighter side, but they are the kind of recipes that I will totally reference for special dinners and holidays. Her Mac & Cheese is definitely a contender for Thanksgiving... }

{So if you are intolerant to dairy and/or a vegan, then this is a super tasty option for "ice cream" by Ben & Jerry's. I'm not a vegan, but love almond milk and chocolate, so I thought I would try this out. If I wouldn't have put a few spoonfuls into a bowl, I could have easily eaten the whole pint. Naturally it has a slightly different flavor than an ice cream made with whole milk, but it's definitely GOOD and has a super rich chocolate-y flavor! 

Images by me

EASY SKILLET APPLE PIE...

So I'm fully aware that it's not apple season, but I can't recall a season when I've ever turned down an apple pie. I LOVE apple pie - but I've never made one...until now. A friend of mine told me about this version of a "fake-out" apple pie last week and I immediately knew I had to try it. Well I tried it - and I'm truly amazed at what a 10in cast iron skillet, two store-bought pie crusts, a few fresh apples, traditional apple pie seasonings, and 10 minutes of my time created. Oh and did I mention that there is a layer of homemade caramel on the bottom of the pie??? It's SO GOOD! It tastes and looks exactly like a homemade pie from my grandmother's kitchen. It's pure heaven when it's served piping hot with a side of ice cream. If you are already planning ahead for Easter, Mothers Day, Thanksgiving (anyone other than me already thinking about Thanksgiving??), then this pie would be absolute perfection... :) 

Here is what you need and what to do:

1 10 in cast iron skillet
3 large granny smith apples, peeled
3 large braeburn apples, peeled
Juice of 1/2 a lemon
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
6 tablespoons butter, melted
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1 egg white
2 store-bought pie crusts (a14oz package)

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2. Cut the peeled apples into 1-in slices and place them in a bowl. Add the lemon juice, granulated sugar, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg to the bowl. Toss the apples and make sure they are completely and evenly coated with the other ingredients. Set the bowl aside.

3. Add the butter to the skillet that is set over medium heat. Once the butter is melted, add the brown sugar. Stir continuously until the sugar is melted.

4. Take the skillet off the heat and add the first pie crust over the top of the butter-brown sugar mixture. Pour the apples over the pie crust. Make sure they are evenly distributed in the skillet.

5. Place the remaining pie crust over the apples. Cut a few slits in the crust to allow the steam to escape while backing. In a small bowl, whisk the egg white until frothy. Then brush the egg white evenly over the top of the pie crust. Then sprinkle the crust with about a tablespoon of granulated sugar.

6. Bake for about 1 hour or until the top of the pie is golden brown. You might want to place a cookie sheet on the rack under the skillet just in case the filling spills out of the skillet while it's baking. This didn't happen to me, but just in case! If the top is browning too fast, cover it with aluminum foil until the filling has baked. Again, this didn't happen to me, but just in case!

7. Once it has baked, remove it from the oven and let it sit for about 15-20 minutes. Scoop it out with a spoon (because trying to cut it like a regular pie just won't work!). Top with ice cream and or whipped cream. It's best eaten the day it's baked!

Enjoy!

Images by me

THAT TIME I WENT TO L.A. FOR THE ELLEN SHOW...

{The view from our hotel room. It had a new Hollywood look on the inside and an old Hollywood look on the outside. Loved it... }

Hi there!! Sorry for the silence over the last few weeks. There are reasons - the most exciting of which is that I was in Los Angeles! I love people who make me laugh and Ellen Degeneres has always been one of those people. I have been requesting tickets through her website for years and I FINALLY got them! So my mom and brother flew with me to L.A. to see a taping of the show and we had so much fun! In a nutshell, what I saw at the show is exactly what you see on TV. The taping is an hour (it goes by so fast!), and not much is edited out. The show actually aired on TV the day after it taped! The only thing you don't see on TV is the audience dancing before the show and during the commercial breaks. We got quite a good workout! My mom even got to do a little solo dance with tWitch! I was lucky enough to get a coveted aisle seat, so Ellen danced right next to me at the beginning of the show. Surreal... Ryan Reynolds was the guest - such a cutie. Note that if you are even in L.A. during a time where she is taping and want to see a show, stop by the studio and stand in the standby line! I'm pretty sure everyone I saw in the standby line actually got in the show!

I didn't bring my big camera with me, so here are a few fun moments via my iPhone. So fun to check things off of my bucket list!

{My first trip to In-N-Out Burger! My quick review: The burger was really good and fresh! The fries - not so much. They lacked a little flavor... But I'd go back in a heartbeat... :) }

{Me and my brother... He doesn't watch Ellen like Mom and I do, but you couldn't tell from his amazing attitude. He was just excited to be along with us for the ride. I just love him... }

{Sunny L.A... The weather alone made me consider moving there. But then there's the traffic. My goodness!! God bless the Uber drivers - who were amazing to us by the way... } 

{ We ate at a cute little healthy lunch spot called Grilliant in Burbank before the show. I would have packed the whole restaurant up in my suitcase if it would have fit. The freshness of the food was on a totally different level. So good... }

{So here was my "ticket" to the show along with a little questionnaire we had to fill out before we went in. They didn't tell us who was going to be on the show until right before we lined up to go to the studio, so of course I was thinking we were going to see Adele!!! But Ryan sufficed... :) }

{The Ellen gift shop - aka the Riff Raff room - where I fell right into the trap of buying everything from an Ellen hoodie to a water bottle. Anything to remember such a fun time! }

AN AIRY ENTRY + LINKS...

Friday is here peeps! So thrilled... What's up for the weekend? I'll be running errands in preparation for my trip to L.A.!! My mom and my brother are going with me and I couldn't be more excited. It's my mom's first trip in a very long time with just her kids in tow, so it should be quite special. Of course a Super Bowl party on Sunday is in the plans with my bestie, so that should be fun, too! Hope you have a great weekend!

Good Things
My new natural alternative to dryer sheets...
Wishlisted for my future dining room update...
These $78 things are on order and I'm hoping they work out!
Update: They worked out perfectly! So comfy!!


Good Spaces
I don't love them, but their homes are stunning...
Another one of her beautiful before & afters...
One of my favorite bloggers has the MOST beautiful home...

Good To Know
The power of a lemon...
The best foods for your skin...
These are essential for your health...
57 small things to do for yourself this year...

Good Food
This book is definitely on order...
30 "fresh" slow cooker meals...
And 16 fresh Super Bowl recipes...
Click here to find out why this cake is so crazy...
Made this soup for my Sunday dinner last week. So simple and GOOD!

Image by Alyssa Rosenheck via Domino

INSPIRED BY...

{ The simple styling here... It makes me want to deep clean my house and buy a plant or two...}

{ The little corner view of this home. It has to be a dream home. Has to be... }

{ This little kitchen display... }

{ The bed and the fresh linens on it. Wouldn't a nap here be amazing?? }

{ The perfect mix of textures in this bathroom... So fresh and so clean. }

Images 1/ 2/ 3/ 4/ 5

ORANGE LIQUEUR TRUFFLE BARS...

Happy Monday! So I know that searches for the best chili, hot wings, dips, sandwiches, etc. are probably the most popular this week due to the Super Bowl happening this weekend. I know, I know, I know. But you will have to forgive me for skipping right over the Super Bowl food and heading straight toward something that is probably more suitable for Valentine's Day. I mean, I personally could watch the game with this recipe alone in hand and be fine because it's CHOCOLATE, but still...

So last week I was looking through one of my favorite cookbooks, "The New Classics," by Donna Hay (It's well worth the investment if you love good cookbooks and stunning food photography). I ran across her simple recipe for truffles and it just looked too easy and good to ignore. So I whipped it up a version of it yesterday and well, it's official. These are the truffles I will make when time permits instead of buying them at the store. These are the truffles I will now make for my friends on special occasions. These are the truffles (minus the liqueur) that I will sneak into my future children's lunchbox. They are SO GOOD! The key here is to buy the best quality chocolate you can get (i.e cacoa content of 70% or higher). It makes a huge difference. The truffles have a rich taste and texture with this hint of orange flavor that just takes these over the top. AND if you sprinkle them with a little cocoa powder or sea salt (my fave), then your taste buds are in for the most perfect explosion of chocolate-y flavor. The bottom line is that if you love chocolate and have 10-15 minutes of prep time to spare, then make these for yourself or for someone you love. They will love you right back. Promise. :)

Here is what you need and what to do:

300g dark chocolate, chopped
300g semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
3/4 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons orange liqueur, optional (I used Cointreau)
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Sea salt (I used Maldon sea salt)
Cocoa powder

1. Line an 8x8 baking pan with parchment paper and set aside. Cut the paper a little long so that it hangs over the sides of the pan. This will make it easy for you to lift the chocolate out of the pan when it is ready.

2. Start a bain-marie by adding a small amount of water to a medium sauce pan. Bring that water up to a simmer. Then turn the heat down to low.

3. Add the chopped chocolate to a heat-proof bowl that will eventually fit over the pot of simmering water. The add the heavy cream to a small saucepan over medium-low heat and bring it up to a tiny simmer.

4. Once the cream starts simmering (you will see tiny little bubbles on the edge of the saucepan), turn off the heat and pour the cream over the chopped chocolate. Place the bowl over the pot of simmering water and stir until the chocolate has completely melted.

5. Add the orange liqueur and vanilla to the melted chocolate and stir until they are incorporated. Pour the chocolate into the pan and spread it out evenly with a spatula. Place it in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours until it has completely set.

6. Once the chocolate has cooled, lift it out of the pan and let it come to room temperature. Then cut it into bars or squares. Sprinkle a little sea salt and/or cocoa powder over the bars and serve!

Images by me