Cooking with Ashley (and Karen!): Part 2

Cooking Assignment: Crab Puffs (Crab Rangoons), Stir-Fry, and Fresh Berry Tart.

I love Crab Puffs. I was very distraught when I couldn't find them here in New York. While talking with Ashley one day I was delighted to find out they they do have Crab Puffs here, but they are called Crab Rangoons and Ashley knows how to make them! Of course she had to show me! We decided on Crab Rangoons, Stir-Fry, and a Fresh Berry tart for our Sunday dinner menu. Karen joined us and made the Stir-Fry (she makes some good Stir-Fry). Everything turned out great! I love cooking with the girls!

So, Ashley was taking my picture and I'm not sure what we were talking about, but I exclaimed, "I'm a tart!" We all started laughing and this is the resulting picture. I love the conversations we have in 0ur apartment. We just laugh so hard. (Liz is currently out of town and very missed)
Next Cooking Assignment: Corn Chowder and Rolls

Cooking with Ashley: Part I

One of my goals for this year is to improve my cooking skills. I'm not a bad cook, but I'm really inexperienced. I'm good at cooking a few select things. Well, I decided to recruit some of the amazing cooks I know to help me improve. Luckily I live with one of the best cooks I know...Ashley!...and she's willing to help me in my cooking education.
Our first cooking assignment: Cheesy Garlic Bread Swirls (click for recipe)
Ashley follows a blog called Our Best Bites and found this recipe. If it has bread and cheese, I'm there! They're so good! It's always fun cooking with Ashley.
Karen (another one of the AMAZING cooks I know!) is coming over tomorrow and we are making Stir-Fry and Crab Rangoons (crab puffs!). I can't wait! Cooking with Ashley and Karen?... I'm going to be in the presence of greatness!

Friday Favorites: Brunch Spots

As many of you know I am obsessed with brunch. It is my favorite meal and favorite Saturday activity. Here's a list of a few of my favorite NYC brunch places. If anyone is planning on going to of any of these places and would like a little company, please let me know! Also, let me know if you have any favorite brunch places that you think I should try.

Alice's Tea Cup

I love Alice's Tea Cup! The crapes are amazing and I'm the biggest fan of their hot chocolate. This is the place I take anyone that comes to visit me (It's now tradition). It has great atmosphere and located close by, so it's the perfect brunch spot.

Bubby's

Bubby's was recommended by a friend and I will confess I fell in love it with it. I have loved everything I've ever eaten there and Sarah says their Eggs Benedict are amazing! It is located down on Hudson Street, so it takes a while to get to. But I love still!

Sarabeth'sMy visiting teacher took me Sarabeth's for my birthday when I first moved to the city. Once again, I have yet to have something at this place that I didn't love! I live right around the corner from it, so I'm surprised I don't go more often. I will have to change that!

Gold St.

This is another place that Sarah and I discovered together. I thought it was good (not the best), but I remember wanting to come back. Sarah had the Eggs Benedict and while it wasn't as good as Bubby's it was very good. It's all the way downtown, so I haven't been able to go in a while.

Serafina

I have mentioned Serafina before. It's a favorite place of mine. This is another one of those places that Sarah and I walked by and had to try. They do a good brunch, but I'm the biggest fan of their lobster ravioli. I heart you Serafina!

Popover Cafe

This is one of my new places. I went here with my roommates and friends earlier this year. I really enjoyed it. I had heard it wasn't that great, but I thought they did a great brunch! It's also just up the street from my house. I love close brunch places.

Nice-Matin

Sarah and I passed Nice-Matin on one of our BYU intern outings and vowed we would return and eat there. We stopped by for light lunch before going to ballet one Saturday, and we loved it so much that we decided to come back for brunch. Best idea ever. This is another place that is right around the corner from my house.

I'm officially in the "depths of despair"...

...this helps a little. Get Fuzzy always makes things better.

Pride and Prejudice (New and A&E versions) + serious craft time = the perfect weekend.

Since I had the apt to myself this weekend, I decided to stay in and make it a complete mess (translation: had a little craft fun in the living room). I love making cards, but I sure make a mess when I do it.

I have been wanting to have a "lazy" weekend for several months now, but never seem to make it happen. Something always comes up. Well, this weekend I finally did it. I spent the whole weekend making cards and watching ridiculously long movies (one of my favorite past times).

After two versions of Pride and Prejudice (I so love the A&E version), Sense and Sensibility, and North and South, I created three sets of cards. I'm not really happy with how two of them turned out. What do you think? (The first two pics). I feel like they are missing something. Any crafty people out there willing to give me some suggestions? (PS. I swear the third one looks better in person)

I don't know why I make so many cards. I never do anything with them. But for some reason I can't just make one card. I need to make several of one kind. I'm out of control.

Friday Favorites: Blogs

I read a blog that does a post called "Friday Favorites." I thought it sounded like a fun/cute idea, So I'm going to try and do "Friday Favorites" and share some of my favorites things with you. You never know...you could learn something new about me.

One of my favorite things to do is read blogs. I'm probably borderline addicted. Here are 10 of my favorite blogs (I did not included friends/personal blogs, since I love them all the best!) Most of these are craft blogs. I love blogs that give me inspiration.If you happen to read/write any blogs that you think I might like, please share.

How About Orange
Pioneer Woman Photography - I secretly want to be a professional photographer
Black*Eiffel
Cupcakes Take the Cake - I have recently fallen in love with cupcakes. It's an eternal kind of love
[Ali Edwards]
A CUP OF JOE
Make It and Love It
My Favorite Things - I just love the title of this blog.
Kwernerdesign Blog - currently my favorite blog. I love card ideas.
you are my fave

A married man in possession of a dark fortune must be in want of an eternal wife...

I know I shouldn't read this book...but I'm probably going to!

I normally don't read the "other" versions of Pride and Prejudice (don't mess with Jane), but this one is tempting.

A woman at work gave this to me. (She's really into the whole vampire thing). She said Darcy reaches a whole new level of sexy. Hahahaha. I didn't even know that was possible.

So I need to be conscious of my posture...and what?

This quote was shared in Sunday school today. The lesson was on Celestial marriage (my favorite)...

I repeat some words from the newspaper column “Dear Abby”:

“The key to being popular with both sexes is: Be kind. Be honest. Be tactful. If you can’t be beautiful (or handsome), be well groomed, tastefully attired, conscious of your posture, and keep a smile on your face.

“Be clean in body and mind. If you’re not a ‘brain,’ try harder. If you’re not a great athlete, be a good sport. Try to be a standout in something. If you can’t dance or sing, learn to play an instrument.

“Think for yourself, but respect the rules. Be generous with kind words and affectionate gestures, but save the heavy artillery. … You’ll be glad you did” (Chicago Tribune, 17 March 1991, 6).

So, that's all I have to do... Hmm, I guess I will start with my posture and slowly work through the....who am I kidding...I'm screwed.