{weekday breakfast with starbucks & keurig}

I am so excited to partner with Starbucks for a 3 part series about their flavored K-Cup® Packs because let’s face it people...my lifeblood before noon revolves around coffee. We’ve had a Keurig machine for almost 3 years now ever since we received one off our wedding registry and it really satisfies my push of button instant gratification needs (read: I’m a bit lazy in the morning so anything that takes significant effort or laborious clean-up isn’t going to work).

Today’s post is all about my favorite breakfast pairings. My dream breakfast situation (besides going out for a boozy Sunday brunch) is a leisurely morning spent cooking (probably this French toast) and maybe even getting back in bed to eat it, but most days that’s not a reality.  So today I thought it would be fun to show two of my favorite go-to breakfasts for quick weekday mornings: a super-food packed acai parfait and avocado toast using my secret ingredient!

Most mornings the very first thing I do (after taking out our high maintenance dog) is brew a cup of coffee in our Keurig and add a splash of cream.  I enjoy that cup of coffee while getting ready, watching the news, trying to make myself presentable to leave the house, etc.  I always drink that first cup of coffee like it’s my last and it disappears in about 15 minutes, so I’ll brew a second cup to enjoy with breakfast.  I usually just add a splash of cream to my coffee so I was excited to try out the flavored Starbucks® flavored K-Cup® Packs hoping that the sweet flavors like Vanilla or Cinnamon Dolce might prompt me to use less cream (which they did! win.).  Scroll down for my secret avocado toast ingredient and simple acai parfait recipe that I pair with my morning coffee!

{custom coffee sleeves with our wedding crest from here}

{sugar bowl from here & gold tongs from here}

{you guys. this Tajin Seasoning is the secret ingredient to out of this world avocado toast. trust.}

Simple Acai Parfait:

what you need:

• acai smoothie packet (I like the unsweetened version from here - and you can find it cheaper at your local Whole Foods or Costco)
• 1/3 cup granola 
• 1/2 cup light vanilla soy milk
• 1 cup kale (or leafy greens like spinach)
• 1 half banana, chopped
• 5 strawberries, sliced
• toasted coconut flakes

1. Place granola in bottom of glass or bowl. 
2. Chop bananas and strawberries. Set aside.
3. Place acai packet, kale and soy milk into a blender.  Blend until smooth and then place contents on top of granola.
4. Top acai blend with strawberries, bananas and coconut flakes. 
5. Enjoy!

The rich aromas and sweet flavors you love from Starbucks®,now brewing at home. Introducing two new K-Cup(R) flavors for fall, inspired by our café favorites.

LEGAL: Developed in partnership with Starbucks Coffee Company and their new Starbucks® K-Cups® packs. K-Cup® packs for use in Keurig® K-Cup® brewing systems. Keurig, the Cup and Star Design, Keurig Brewed, K-Cup and the Keurig brewer trade dress are trademarks of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc., used with permission.

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Starbucks Coffee Company, via Mode Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Starbucks Coffee Company.

{grilled appetizer + cocktail pairing}

An alternate name for this post was "all grilled everything" because that's basically the mentality I took.  In the second to last post in my series with Pinnacle Vodka, I thought it would be fun to try mixing up a cocktail using grilled fruit- especially since everyone is currently saying these are officially the last days of summer.  Inspired by the recipes in this post, I grilled up some peaches and lemons for a delicious cocktail with a charred and smokey flavor.  One of my favorite things in the world is grilled bread so we tossed some of that on to the grill as well to make an accompanying appetizer using the leftover grilled peaches.  Scroll to the bottom of the post for the cocktail recipe which I'm calling the Burnt Sunset as well steps to make its twin sister appetizer of grilled bread topped with charred peaches, burrata cheese, fresh basil and lemon zest.  

This is little pairing is the perfect combo to savor the last days of summer!

Grilled Bread with Peaches, Burrata & Basil (serves 6)

what you need:

• loaf of french bread (or whatever bread makes you happy)
• olive oil
• 8 oz burrata cheese
• 2 ripe peaches
• 6 fresh basil leaves
• zest of half a lemon
• salt & pepper

1. Heat up your grill on high heat.
2.  Cut bread in 1 inch thick slices, lightly brush oil on both sides. Set aside.  Cut 1 inch thick peach slices and lightly drizzle with olive oil.
3. Chiffonade the fresh basil leaves and set aside.
4. Place both the bread and peaches on to the grill.  Peaches will take about 5 minutes per side and the bread should take about a minute per side.  Keep an eye on both until they get a nice char then remove from the grill.
5. Spread a healthy spoonful of burrata onto each slice of bread, top with 3 or 4 slices of grilled peaches.  Place a few small pieces of basil on top then sprinkle lemon zest on top.  Top with salt and pepper to taste.
6. Enjoy!

Pinnacle Vodka shakes things up with unexpected experiences and delightful discoveries. Explore with other fun flavors at http://www.pinnaclevodka.com.  Also, check us out at www.facebook.com/pinnaclevodkas and https://twitter.com/PinnacleVodka or find more fun entertaining and drink ideas on our Pinterest page at http://www.pinterest.com/pinnaclevodka/.

Pinnacle® is a registered trademark of Jim Beam Brands Co. and is used with permission.  This is a sponsored partnership, with Pinnacle® Vodka, via Mode Media.  The information, comments, and ideas expressed on this website are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or positions of Jim Beam Brands Co., its affiliated companies, or any of their directors or employees.

{summer bbq gourmet hot dog bar video}

A few weeks back, I flew out to LA from Chicago to shoot two fun videos with Hebrew National- one of which centered around ideas for an easy yet chic summer BBQ (the other video will be out later this summer and I cannot wait to share the theme for that one!!).  You guys know I love a good DIY toppings bar, whether it's a grilled cheese situation or a slider bar, so for the video we came up with the idea to do a gourmet hot dog bar.  Instead of slaving away making each guest's hot dog to their specifications, simply grill up some hot dogs and toast some fresh buns then let you guests do the rest of the work creating an interesting flavor combos from your toppings bar.  The sky's the limit with toppings, but a handful of interesting sauces such as salsas or spicy ketchup alongside fresh veggies like avocado or red onions is a great place to start.  A fun place to find inspiration for toppings is to look up your favorite gourmet sandwich shop's menu and use some of their flavor combos.  Check out the video above for more details as well as three of my favorite flavor combos for a gourmet hot dog bar.  

While celebrating the 4th this past weekend with family and friends in Huntington Beach, we even whipped up a few of the Banh Mi style hot dogs inspired by the video.  I have always loved Banh Mi sandwiches ever since a friend introduced me to Lee's back in high school (thank god a great spot for Banh Mi opened around the corner from our new place!).  Recipe and directions for a Banh Mi dog at the end of this post! 

Banh Mi Hot Dog

what you need:

• Hebrew National Bun length hot dogs
• hot dog buns
• one white onion
• 1 cup vinegar
• cilantro
• jalapeño
• shredded carrots
• Hunts Ketchup
• cucumber

1. Slice the white onion and place in a bowl with the vinegar for at least an hour to pickle.  Drain vinegar and place in individual serving bowl. 
2. Chop cilantro, cucumber, and jalapeño.  Place in individual serving bowls. 
3. Grill up hot dogs and lightly toast buns. 
4. Allow guests to create their own or you can plate their Banh Mi hot dogs for them by placing a spoonful carrots, onions and cucumber along the bun topped with a few jalapeno slices, two pinches of cilantro and ketchup if desired!
5. Enjoy!

With grilling season upon us, everyone is craving an all-American hot dog. What makes a kosher hot dog different? It's all about what makes the cut (and what doesn't). Hebrew National is choosy about what goes into their franks – only 100% pure kosher beef so you know what you’re getting and they taste great.

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Hebrew National via Mode Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Hebrew National.

{outdoor moroccan dinner party recap}

I am so excited to share all the details of how our outdoor moroccan dinner party came together with the help of Pier 1 today!  You've already seen the initial inspiration board here as well as the shopping/party prep here.   After spotting all the moroccan inspired lantern options at Pier 1, I knew that filling the table with a few different styles would be the perfect centerpiece rather than flowers.  Since this was going to be an outdoor party, the candles would add an extra romantic touch after the sun went down.  Instead of a traditional tablecloth, I picked up 2 and half yards of this bright pink fabric to really give the table a vibrant pop of color.  To top everything off I accented the awesome trellis pattern melamine plate set with touches of gold with the glassware and flatware.

Chris helped me develop the perfect Moroccan inspired menu based on some of our favorite dishes on our trip to Morocco.  The biggest factor when planning this menu was making sure the dishes were simple to make with most of the prep being done the day before the party so that we could enjoy alongside our guests.  To take even more work off our plate, we picked up a selection of desserts from our local middle eastern grocery store and served them alongside classic moroccan mint tea to end the meal.  Links to all the menu items are the bottom of this post!

 {charger plate  |  melamine dish set  |  crochet edge napkins}

 {large lanterns  |  orange lanterns  |  small colorful lanterns}

 {floor lanterns}

 {mini appetizer trio set + recipes from this post}

 {prepping veggies for the grill}

 {melamine serving bowl}

 {our guests happened to be the two other couples that had joined us on our trip to Morocco!}

 {lanterns at night}

{ending the evening with classic moroccan mint tea in these glasses}

MENU:

Mini Appetizer Trio

Simple mediterranean salad

Preserved Lemon Chicken

Fresh Grilled Veggies

Pita + Hummus

Garlic Dipping Sauce

Find what speaks to you.

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Pier 1 via Mode Media. The opinions expressed 

herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Pier 1.

{moroccan dinner party: decor shopping}

A couple weekends back we hosted the Moroccan themed outdoor dinner party I have been dreaming up (check out the inspiration board here). Today I'm sharing the decor pieces I picked up from Pier One to complete the look and I absolutely cannot wait to share how it turned out as well as the recipes behind the delicious menu in a few weeks!

There are about 5 or 6 different styles of outdoor lanterns at Pier1 and they are what originally inspired the look for the table decor.  Instead of going for floral centerpieces like I normally do, I decided to buy a ton of different lanterns in various shapes and colors to create a tablescape entirely of lantern candlelight.  I started with picking up a few of the large moroccan lanterns and then filled in with the more colorful glass lanterns in orange, purple, green and blue.  Here's a few shots of the shopping process and some sneak peeks of the table!

charger plate  |  moroccan tea glasses  |  caged lantern  |  melamine dishware  |  large lanterns

Find what speaks to you.

Compensation was provided by Pier 1 via Mode Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Pier 1.

{easy sunday brunch + the perfect bloody mary}

There are few weekend activities I love more than brunch.  Whether it's at a swanky brunch with my girlfriends or a greasy neighborhood spot to nurse a hangover or even hosting a big group at our place, I will never turn down a brunch opportunity.  I think what makes brunch so amazing is that the sole purpose is to enjoy a leisurely Sunday meal rehashing the weekend's activities and stories alongside plenty of bloody marys!  Whenever Chris and I don't have plans on a Sunday, we love to celebrate the end of the weekend with a casual brunch in our home with my favorite layered breakfast dish and a ulta decadent bloody mary complete with an over the top garnish.  Check out below for our go-to brunch dish and the recipe we use for a perfect bloody mary including my secret ingredient!!

{this layered brunch dish has made many appearances for breakfast in our house.  It consists of a simple base of arugula tossed with a light vinaigrette and fresh cherry tomatoes.  Then we add a Belgium waffle from Trader Joe's frozen section topped with crispy bacon and a poached egg.}  

{if you love that salty/sweet combo for brunch then you can even drizzle a bit 

of maple syrup on this dish!} 

{everything that goes into the perfect bloody mary- just add vodka!}

{over the top garnishes are my favorite part of a bloody mary and this one includes cornichons, olives, lime wedges and fresh cucumber- check out the little video I made of turning up your bloody mary right here}

{my secret bloody mary ingredient is to top the finished cocktail with a few dashes of Scrappys celery bitters to really kick up the celery aroma}

The Perfect Bloody Mary Mix

mix together in a large pitcher the following ingredients:

• 1 quart tomato juice
• lemon juice of 1 lemon
• 1/4 cup lime juice
• 2 tablespoons Worchestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons hot sauce
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon celery salt
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne powder

**I omitted horseradish from my mix because its just not my thing, but feel free to doctor up your mix however you desire! 

Place plenty of ice in a high ball glass, add 2oz Pinnacle Vodka and then top with bloody mary mix. Garnish with celery stick, garnished skewer and straw.  Place a couple dashes of celery bitters on top and enjoy!

Pinnacle Vodka shakes things up with unexpected experiences and delightful discoveries. Explore with other fun flavors at http://www.pinnaclevodka.com”. Also, check us out at 

www.facebook.com/pinnaclevodkas and https://twitter.com/PinnacleVodka or find more fun 

entertaining and drink ideas on our Pinterest page at http://www.pinterest.com/pinnaclevodka/

Pinnacle® is a registered trademark of Jim Beam Brands Co. and is used with permission.  This is a sponsored partnership, with Pinnacle® Vodka, via Mode Media.  The information, comments, and ideas expressed on this website are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or positions of Jim Beam Brands Co., its affiliated companies, or any of their directors or employees.

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