Peruse {Food Edition}

Hello friends! This week, I started University, did lots of wedding planning, and ate! University doesn't have much to offer for a blog post, wedding planning has TOO MUCH to offer for a blog post (have you seen how many wedding apps there are?) so food it is! I've been trying some new recipes, inspired after the holidays. And I have lots of ideas to try yet. 

Here are a few of my favourites. I LOVE pasta, so this post might be an indication of that!

Here is a delicious baked ravioli recipe I tried.

                                                                          Source: marthastewart.com via Kristen on Pinterest

The original recipe is on Martha Stewart. I adapted it a little bit. Instead of the ravioli, I used tortellini. I also took out the canned tomatoes (both kinds), and added a 156ml can of tomato paste, filled that can with water and added it. I also added about 10 cherry tomatoes, halved, as I had those on hand. I added some rosemary and some spinach just after the sauce has thickened. I baked mine with lactose free smoked gouda! Delicious!

 One of the next pasta dishes I want to try is Roasted Red Pepper and Goat Cheese pasta! It has a hint of cilantro as well. Looks divine!

                                                                            Source: laurenslatest.com via Kristen on Pinterest

Here's the original recipe.

Okay, lasagna is great on its own, but with roasted butternut squash? Yum! I can't wait to try this one! Maybe with herbed goat cheese as a lactose-free substitute?

                                                                      Source: closetcooking.com via Kristen on Pinterest

I found this recipe on Closet Cooking. Great recipes there!

So, what are your favourite post holiday recipes? Do they involve pasta like mine? Or are you going for healthier options? (good on ya!)

Enjoy!

DIY Cookbook

Today brings you yet another seasonal themed post! I have a ongoing project this autumn that I have been working on. My cookbook! I have a rule for it. I can only add recipes that I actually have eaten and like. So often, I buy a cookbook that I think looks so delicious, but only end up trying one recipe, and either not being impressed, or totally forgetting about the cookbook and having it get dusty in my cupboard. With my 'only tried recipes' rule, I have a cookbook to keep going back to, and it gets well-used! 

I found this old Betty Crocker cookbook while thrifting, and decided it was really okay to cover up some of these dated recipes with my own. Some of them I'll keep, such as a pie crust recipe! I'll definitely need some help with that - Thanks Betty! 

This project is really enjoyable to me, as I used to be an avid scrapbooker. This got kind of old, as printing off photos seems to be few and far between (and the scrapbooker scene isn't quite as cool as it once was. I'm sure there are cool scrapbookers out there - hello to you!) This scrapbooked cookbook allows me to be creative, which I love. I need that creative outlet! Little drawings, pretty paper, and stamps adorn the pages. Over the years, eventually, my little book will be filled with recipes I love! 

{this peanut butter chocolate cookie recipe is the best!}

Does autumn put you in a cooking mood? 

Enjoy!

Fall Transitions.

Fall is here! And I love it. Autumn leaves, new blog viewers (thanks craft gawker!) cozy layers, and LOTS of baking. And I have double the fun - baking at home and work! Cranberry Raspberry Scones, anyone? Craving a delicious Blueberry Streusel Cake? Nope, can't transport them over blogland. Sorry! (but more for me!)

                                                                Source: allthemountains.blogspot.com via Moorea on Pinterest

                                                                         Source: morefruitplease.net via Moorea on Pinterest

                                                                  Source: twopeasandtheirpod.com via Amanda on Pinterest

                                                        Source: smileandwave.typepad.com via Smile and Wave on Pinterest

                                                                   Source: m.anthropologie.com via Moorea on Pinterest

                       And for more fall fun, head over to Koi Story to win some free ad space!

                    Enjoy!

Cooking. Sort of.

                                                                   Source: thetalkingkitchen.com via Kristen on Pinterest

I definitely don't claim to be a cook, but I'm slowly learning! And I like it. Here are a few of the recipes I've tried out this week. Next on my list is the recipe above. Garlic cilantro fries. Yum!

Hummus. I added a little curry powder, as it's good in everything (almost). 

Cranberry Orange Scones. Delicious. I added an orange slice on top as it baked. Gave it lots of moisture!

Vegetable Creamy Pasta. I half followed this recipe. But throwing in other things is fun!

Espresso Chocolate Chip Cookies. I used three ounces espresso instead of espresso powder. The real stuff!

Sometimes it's fun to cook, but buying fresh made soup from the local market is fantastic as well! Do you cook often? What are your favourite recipes?

Enjoy!

Saturday Scenes.

It's a lovely day, this Saturday in May. The wind is a little gusty, but it was no reason not to take a bike ride down to Broadway and mow the lawn. Amongst my outdoor activities, I spent a little time indoors when the clouds rolled in. Did you spend today outdoors or indoors?

Fresh, juicy tangerines. 

Cozy nooks.

New sandals. 

Trying a new recipe. 

What has your Saturday entailed?

Enjoy!

Thursday Treat.

Need something to get you through until the weekend? Take ten minutes and make this tasty Chocolate Bark I found over at Please Note.

All you need is: (other than love)

chocolate chips - or any kind of chocolate)

toppings - I used pretzels for one and peanut butter and peanut butter chips for the other. 

Melt the chocolate and pour it onto parchment paper on a pan. Add toppings. I swirled in peanut butter and added peanut butter chips on top. 

The other one is pretzels. I crushed them in a bag, and I would recommend pressing them well into the chocolate layer.

Then freeze for about fifteen to twenty minutes.

Chop it up and enjoy! I'm storing mine in the freezer.

See the full recipe here. 

Enjoy!