I have a huge sweet tooth and in the summer I try to kick my cravings with fresh fruit! I started making this cherry crisp as an alternative to my favorite fruit cobblers. Instead of crust, I add Trader Joe’s Almond Butter Granola but still top the crisp with a little ice cream. I have used cherries, peaches, blueberries, blackberries, and strawberries to make this crisp and all versions were delicious. My cherry pitter is from Crate & Barrel and it is super easy to use and is dishwasher safe. Enjoy! xoxo
Fill a 6 oz ramekin with pitted cherries and top with granola and butter. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes until cherries bust. Top with ice cream or add to plain greek yogurt.
I am a paper person. There is just something about holding a magazine or book in my hand that makes it more special to me. I have very little patience for reading, but find myself always buying books. When we started decorating our house, I already had a large collection of coffee table books that helped add a little personality to our space (and color). I might not have any books on my coffee table (that is where I keep my match book collection) but they fill my media console, side table and entry way table.
Buying enough coffee table books to fill a house can get expensive. I quickly found that Half Price Books has a great selection of gently used books, covering a variety of topics, that make great decor. If you live in Dallas, the Northwest Highway location is full of great finds for literally half the price (or more). I spend most of my time hunting for books in the art, fashion and music sections, but have also found some in the Texas history section. Amazon also has a great selection of hard and soft cover books to fill your space. If you use Honey, you can add books from Amazon to your Honey droplist to know the best time to buy. Shop some of my favorite coffee table books and my living room decor below! xoxo
A few weeks ago while in Chicago, we ate at RL and ordered their key lime pie for dessert. I knew Alex loves key lime pie but is not wild about graham cracker crust and this one had a gingersnap crust. Even after a very filling dinner, we were both scraping the plate with our forks for crumbs. It was the best key lime pie we had both tasted!
When I got home and started looking for the recipe, I discovered that this key lime pie is a favorite of Oprah! There was a slim chance I would find the real recipe, so I started baking. My local Trader Joe’s had these Triple Ginger Snap cookies and loved the flavor they added to the crust. With enough lime in the filling and topped with Chantilly cream, this version is a pretty close second to RL’s key lime pie. Enjoy! xoxo
Crust: Process gingersnaps in a food processor until they are fine crumbs. Add melted butter and sugar, and pulse until the mixture is moistened. Press the mixture firmly into the bottom and up the sides of a greased 9-inch pie plate. Bake at 350 degrees until the edges are dry and set (center will be moist), about 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely.
Filling: Beat egg yolks on medium speed until blended. Add condensed milk, lime zest, and lime juice, and mix well. Pour the filling into the cooled crust and bake at 350 degrees until the edges of the pie are set but the center still jiggles slightly about 15 minutes. Transfer the pie to a wire rack and let cool completely. Refrigerate the pie for at least 2 hours or up to overnight to allow it to set.
Chantilly Cream: Using a whisk attachment on an electric mixer, combine cream and vanilla on a low speed. Add sugar and gradually increase the speed. Continue to beat for about 2 minutes or until the mixture thickens and soft peaks form. Garnish pie with lime zest or lime slices and keep refrigerated.
Now that we have a backyard, Alex and I love hosting our friends for a cookout. With the help of lawn bug repellent (this stuff is amazing) and a variety of meat and veggies, we have a party. I do have a hard time coming up with party appetizers that please most crowds. Spinach Artichoke Dip is my go-to for cooler weather, but I needed something chilled for summer. Alex quickly reminded me how much “I” like pimento cheese (it is one of his favorite dishes)! This dish is not great if you have diary-free guests, but it can be paired with celery for gluten-free guests to enjoy. My pimento cheese recipe is super simple and can be tailored to fit your preference. I am not wild about mayonnaise and love spicy foods, so sometimes I only add about 3/4 cup of mayo and closer to 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper. Enjoy! xoxo
1 1/2 cups (about 6 oz.) grated extra-sharp white cheddar
1 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup (about 2.5 oz) diced drained pimento peppers
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Grate yellow and white cheddar on a medium or fine grate. Mix grated cheese, mayonnaise, pimento peppers, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper in a bowl until well combined. Cover and chill until cold (about 1 hour). Serve with crackers, celery, or on bread.
I seriously cannot believe it is already our one year Anniversary! I swear I was finalizing plans and stuffing wedding invitations just yesterday. Over the past year we have continued to be blessed by the love and support of our family and friends. We purchased our first house, turned our house into a home, added Winston to our family, traveled to new places and learned so much about each other and marriage. 🖤
If you are planning your own wedding, be sure to read my blog post about our planning process and wedding day! xoxo
The first official day of summer is Friday, but it has felt like summer for me for weeks. I love dining al fresco, even when most would consider it too hot outside. The heat makes me crave lighter dishes, but I have a hard time finding something light with flavor. Sorry iceberg lettuce, but a bland leafy salad doesn’t always cut it. My dad introduced me to this spicy chicken salad with cheese wafers and now it is one of my summer staples! I prefer this version of spicy chicken salad because it has less mayonnaise and more crunch. The cheese wafers are a great alternative to boring crackers, but it is difficult to not eat a whole batch. I have not tried to make a gluten-free version, but I am curious how they would taste with almond or rice flour. Download the full recipes below! xoxo
Boil or bake chicken breasts until cooked through. Shred chicken with a fork and combine with other ingredients in a large bowl. Mix well and chill until ready to serve.
1/2 cup unsalted butter, sliced
2 cups coarsely grated cheddar cheese
1/2 cup finely grated parmesan cheese
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
Combine butter, cheese, flour, pepper, and salt in a food processor and pulse several times until crumbly. Then process for 30 seconds to 1 minute until dough forms. Transfer the dough to a sheet of parchment paper and roll it into a log about 2 inches thick and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cut chilled dough into 1/4 inch thick slices and arrange them on a baking sheet where they are not touching. Bake for 12 minutes or until golden and crisp. Immediately sprinkle with salt and cool before serving.
