Blueberry White Chocolate Crostini

       If you want to make something for the ladies at the Super Bowl party or if you just
    want to make something for yourself that is 100 percent drool worthy and is a must try
    please make this. It will make you happy on a deep level. There is something about a
    buttery piece of bread topped with white chocolate cream cheese and a little dollop of
    blueberry jam.

                                                         Blueberry White Chocolate Crostini

        French bread, sliced
        white chocolate cream cheese
        blueberry jam
        blueberries
        1 or 2 tablespoons of butter

       Heat frying pan on stove-top. Melt butter and place bread sliced in the pan and cook
       on each side until lightly browned. Take out of pan and cool. Top with white -
       chocolate cream cheese, jam and blueberries. Serve.

American Girl Doll Birthday

          Yesterday was my daughters 6th birthday. It's an amazing feeling to think that   

          6 years ago, my life forever changed. When a 6 pound bundle of joy entered my -

          world and made it truly a beautiful place. There are no words to describe my love 

         for this child. She is sweet, kind, thoughtful and loving. Happy Birthday Baby Girl.

           We had a birthday celebration at The American Girl Doll store /restaurant in -

     Los Angeles  and wow, what a fabulous place for a little girl. Full of wonderment

    and packed with pink happiness everywhere. Here are a few pics of our day.

                                                                           Cute Menu

                                     Pretzels - fruit - veggies and dipping sauces...so adorbs.

                                                                         For Mom 

                                          The girls just waiting to be picked....pick me, pick me!

                                                              Such a wonderful book section.

I leave you with "Calissa" Avery named her herself.

Avocado Citrus Salad

                       There are some things in life that taste so good that you think of them for
          days. This citrus salad is one of them...almost as good as a piece of cake. This is
         how lunches should be. Healthy and full of flavor. Make this tonight for dinner
         and savor the flavors with a glass of wine.

                                                              Avocado Citrus Salad

       1 grapefruit, peel and pith removed
       1 large navel orange, peel and pith removed
       1 blood orange, peel and pith removed
       3 cups of romaine lettuce
       2 radishes, trimmed and sliced
       2 tablespoons of olive oil
       2 scallions, sliced thin
       salt and pepper
     
      1) Working over a medium bowl cut out grapefruit and orange segments,
      then squeeze juice from membranes.
      2) Place salad on a platter and top with avocados, radishes and citrus segments
      with juices. Drizzle with oil and season with salt and pepper.

          I would like to give my talented and good friend Jesse - from goodgirlgoneglad a
         big shout out today. She just designed the new look for my blog and she had a -
         greater vision for it than I ever dreamed. Stop by her and say hello to her.

My favorite Valentines Treats!

                                                                  Red Velvet Cupcakes

                    I don't usually go into my archives and repost but LOVE day is coming up
          and I wanted to share some of my favorites with you and they are all so amazing!!!!

                                                                 Champagne Risotto

                                                                   Banana Whoopie Pies

                                                                  Mac And Cheese Soup

                                                                Cheesecake Waffle Cups

Sweet Mini Cheesecakes

          I truly like eating goodies that are bite size...to me bite size means you don't have to
        count calories, right ? Well, these darling cheesecakes are a breeze to whip up and
        you only need to eat  2, 5 or 6. I won't tell. The best part of these are the chocolate
        wafer crust. Today was pretty gloomy out and I could not set up a good shot for a pic
        to save my life... Enjoy and make for LOVE-day.

                                                           Sweet Mini Cheesecakes

         2 packages cream cheese, softened
         1 cup sugar
         2 large eggs
         1/2 cup sour cream
         1 tablespoon flour
         1/2 teaspoon food coloring
         whipped cream

         Crust
         2 1/4 cups chocolate wafer cookies, crushed
         1/4 cup sugar
         1/2 cup butter, melted
         1 egg white, lightly beaten

       1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
       2) In a small bowl, combine crushed cookies, sugar, melted butter and egg white,
       stir well. Press mixture into bottom and halfway up sides of 24 miniature muffin
       tin or cheesecake pans. Bake for 8 min.
       3) To prepare filling. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar on medium speed
      until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in
      sour cream, flour and food coloring, if desired.
       4) Spoon batter into prepared crusts and bake for about 15 min.
                   Note...you will have extra filling....eat with a spoon ; )

Espresso Glazed Twists

      Do you have mommy groups that you go to? Ladies night in? Or just family functions?
      I have the most simple yet impressive recipe for you. Even the special person in your
      life would enjoy for breakfast with a nice strong cup of coffee. I could easily nibble on
      about 5 of these. I did limit myself to one...but oh, I wanted more!! Enjoy.

                                                                 Espresso Glazed Twists

    1 can refrigerated breadsticks
    6 tablespoons sugar
    1 teaspoon cinnamon
    1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
    a dash of ground ginger
           
    GLAZE
    4 tablespoons confectioners sugar
    1 teaspoon brewed espresso

     1) Preheat oven to 375 degrees. I sprayed a cookie sheet lightly.
     2) Unroll dough and separate into strips. Sprinkle generously with sugar mixture.
     3) Twist and place on baking sheet. Bake for 10 to 13 min or until golden.
     Remove and cool.
     4) In a small bowl mix confectioners sugar and espresso.....may need more sugar
     or more espresso depending on the texture you want..

Love Chocolate

            How pretty are these little beauties????? Not only are they pretty but they are
     also super simple and so much fun. 3 ingredients and you are well on your way to be a
     big hit on Valentine's Day!! Make for your loved one or children. Perfect for a school
     party as well. They bag very well. Enjoy.

                                                                 Love Chocolate Candy

      1 bag good quality white chocolate - melted
      1 bag strawberry marshmallows
      1/2 teaspoon strawberry extract

     Melt chocolate and add the extract. Line a mini muffin pan with liners. Fill have way
     with the chocolate and add a marshmallow to each. Fill and enjoy!!!

   Linking to atthepicketfence

Cobb Salad In A Jar

                        I have been on the go lately and when I go to places...I don't always like to
        eat out. I don't do fast-food...So this idea is a perfect and fun solution. Get your picnic
        baskets ready and make a salad in a jar. You will be amazed at how fresh everything
        stays....and let's face it, food tastes better in jars because it's so fun. I store dressing
        in little containers with lids.

                                                              Cobb Salad In A Jar

         1 pint cherry tomatoes
         6 slices, turkey bacon- cooked.
         8 ounces turkey deli meat or chicken breasts
         1 to 2 avocado
         crumbled blue cheese or feta
         3 hard boiled eggs
         romaine lettuce

         Dressing
         3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
         2 tablespoons olive oil
         1 teaspoon dijon mustard
          salt and pepper.

           All you have to do is layer the salad in the jar and be creative. Enjoy.

Wordless Wednesday - Venice Beach

                                                                An evening at Venice Beach.

San Diego - Weekend

I had a girls trip to San Diego this weekend and had such a great time.

Here are some pictures of our mini adventure!

Stayed in Old Town one of my favorite spots!

I love the feel of this area and the great food!

Downtown at Dusk!

Gorgeousness!

We saw so many VW buses. "Pure Bus Love"

Watched Surfers! Very Important =)

Back row...Coconut Cream Dream, Pink Champagne, Red Velvet

Front row...Vanilla Bliss, Chocolate Peanut Butter Ecstasy, German Chocolate.

We ended our trip with a little stop at Cupcake Love!

Made the drive back to LA...enjoyable!

Btw, Pink Champagne was my favorite. Going to try and recreate it.

For YOU!

Pasta Frittata

             My pasta addiction runs very deep.....I was truly craving eggs this morning
      and had some left over pasta and this recipe was created just like that. This is very
      good. I'm a huge lover of trying things out of the norm and this was so great and the
      texture was awesome. If you are a pasta addict like myself and never know what
      to do with your left-overs...this is for you!!!

                                                                     Pasta Frittata

     8 eggs
     1 1/2 to 2 cups left over pasta. " I used leftover bolognese sauce and shells"
     1/2 cup monterey jack cheese
     2 tablespoons milk or half and half
     garlic powder
     salt and pepper
     2 tablespoons butter
     1 cup marinara for serving
     parmesan cheese at the end and parsley

        Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Meanwhile in a warm skillet melt butter. Beat eggs,
      cheese, milk, spices and stir in the pasta. Place in the warm skillet and cook about 5
      minutes and than transfer to preheated oven and cook for about 20 to 30 min until
      done. Serve with sauce.

A day at the Santa Barbara Zoo

             The other day we went on an impromptu trip to the zoo and had a wonderful -
         afternoon. I love the amazement of a child's face as she looks at incredible animals.
                                                 Here are a few pics of our day!

                                                              Colorful and beautiful Parrots.

                                                                     
                                                                         California Trails

                                                                I was loving this little building.

                                                                    my precious little monkey.

                                             Now, I'm off to the movies to go see...We bought a Zoo.

Santa Monica Pier

                   One Day last week I took my girls to the Santa Monica Pier. It's a great place
         to bring your kids. Lots of entertainment and fun. I love walking on the beach deck
                                                    and looking over at the beautiful view.

The colors of these building make me happy!

The best reason to come. The Ferris wheel over the ocean!

                                                                 Hot Dog on a Stick, anyone?

                                                                        Love This.

                                                           A perfect day 85 degree day in the Sun.