Asparagus w/Caramelized Onions

Spring is the absolute best time to buy asparagus because it's so cheap!  I made a simple side dish of asparagus with caramelized onions over the weekend.  I wish I could have snapped a picture of the finished product, but it was gone before I could grab my camera!  Usually, caramelized onion recipes call for adding a few tablespoons of sugar.  Personally, I think the added sugar is unnecessary because yellow onions are naturally sweet.  This side dish is so simple and delicious.  Uncomplicated dishes are usually the BEST dishes, don't you agree?  Enjoy.

Asparagus w/Caramelized Onions

   

Ingredients

  2 tablespoons butter
  2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 1 large thinly sliced Vidalia/yellow onion

1 lb of rinsed and chopped asparagus Salt and pepper

Directions

In a large skillet, melt the butter and olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onions and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper, and cook, stirring constantly, until the onions begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Continue cooking and scraping the browned bits off the bottom of the pan frequently, until the onions are LIGHT golden brown. Next add the chopped asparagus and reduce heat to medium.  Continue to saute for about 10-15 minutes until the onions are caramelized and the asparagus is al dente.  Then enjoy!

 

Linked up with Tasty Tuesdays 

The Delicious Weekend

What a YUMMY weekend....  

Friday evening, I had dinner and drinks here.  It was fantastic (the first two photos).  The pan seared red fish was amazing and their specialty cocktails were even better.  Saturday afternoon while shopping with the family we found a cupcake food truck!  YES, that's me with the smirk of guilt as the picture was snapped.  SMH.  What can I say, I can't resist a good cupcake.  Saturday night, I made room for my husband's specialty: BBQ.  I can't get enough of his grilled spicy honey BBQ chicken.  Then on Sunday, we  enjoyed a relaxed family brunch (at home).  I'm. Stuffed.  Thank goodness I started working out again! :)

-Shelly

Drop Earrings

Hi Peeps.  I was M.I.A yesterday due to an ever-increasing workload.  I won't complain because the day job pays the bills.  Anywho,  I hope everyone is having a great week so far...

Drop earrings.  Personally, I'm a fan as long as they're clean, modern and free from feathers or what not.  Feathers just aren't my thing I guess.  Yesterday, I finally wore a pair of drop earrings I'd purchased months ago.

 I usually stick to diamond studs or hoops.  I have very short hair so I worry about wearing drop earrings during the day.  But yesterday it worked!  There's something about wearing drop earrings that make you feel so glam.  I received SO many compliments that I did a quick search of the web and found these beauties.   

 

Images 1 / 2 / 3

-Shelly

Creamy White Cheddar Grits

If you love creamy grits, do yourself a favor and try this recipe.  It's the same recipe used by a local brunch spot.  These creamy white cheddar grits were a hit when I served them for my mom's birthday brunch last Sunday.  They have a sinfully, velvety smooth consistency.  The sharp 'bite' from the Vermont white cheddar makes them even more amazing.  Be sure to use a wire whisk when you make them.  It helps.  The recipe makes a very large batch--which isn't a bad thing.  These grits reheat so well and the good news is that there will be plenty of leftovers.  Enjoy!

Creamy White Cheddar Grits

Ingredients

6 cups water
2 cups half-and-half
3 teaspoons kosher salt
¼ teaspoon white pepper
2 cups quick-cooking grits
1 cup white cheddar cheese , grated
4 tablespoons unsalted butter , cubed

Directions:

In a saucepan, combine water, half-and-half, salt and white pepper and bring to a boil. Slowly pour grits into boiling water while whisking the entire time. (Watch out for splattering; mixture is very hot.) Reduce to low heat and continue to whisk often, until thick and completely smooth, about 10 minutes.Add cheese and stir gently until cheese melts. Whisk again to combine. Turn heat off and allow grits to rest 5 minutes. Add butter and stir until completely smooth, silky and shiny.

Linking up with Tasty Tuesdays!

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Weekend Snapshots

I had a fantastic weekend and I hope you did too!  Last Friday, I celebrated my 32nd birthday.  So I treated myself to a much needed hair appointment, two scoops of vanilla ice cream swirled w/red velvet cake and a solo HBD-to-me cocktail!  I came home to a lovely Edible Arrangement from my BFF and a dinner prepared by the hubby.  Saturday, we enjoyed the awesome Spring weather.  I spent the afternoon wine shopping (pure bliss) then came home to relax, indulge in some yummy BBQ and catch up on episodes of Californication.  Sunday, we enjoyed breakfast with my mom and then a Sunday drive for ice cream.  This was one of those weekends that makes me feel insanely blessed and grateful.

 My spirit feels recharged, let the week begin. 

-Shelly 

Glam Files - Nicole Richie

Boho chic. Ladylike. Simple, Relaxed Style.

Via

I listed Nicole Richie on my glam squad because I admire her knack for keeping it simple.  She's never too trendy or too made up.  While part of me aspires to pull off trends like Solange, I naturally gravitate to Nicole's style--which is so easy going.  Usually, the paparazzi catches Nicole in simple maxi dresses or over-sized tops paired with designer scarves and skinny jeans.  And when I'm in mommy mode/on the go, Nicole Richie's style is my go-to attire.  

Via

I'm a big fan of her accessories line, House of Harlow

Via

-Shelly

The Designer {for less} Blues

Marni for H&M

Marni. Lanvin. Versace. Missoni. Jason Wu.

Like most women, I get SUPER excited when a haute couture brand collaborates with a retailer like H&M or Target.  It gives us 'every day women' a chance to wear luxe designs for less.  Since these lines sell out so fast, I never have an opportunity to snag any of the designer duds.  Therefore, I won't end up with the designer-for-less-blues anymore.  Nope. Not this gal. When the next announcement about a luxe designer partnering with a big box retailer comes around, I won't allow my heart to skip a beat.  I'll continue cruising consignment stores for my designer duds.

 Have you been able to snag any of these highly coveted collections?

Photo challenge updates here

-Shelly

 

Crab and Ricotta Cannelloni

Hi Peeps!  In my early days of Food Network fanaticism (2004), I was addicted to the many recipes of chef Giada De Laurentiis.  Her recipes pay close attention to colors, textures and fresh ingredients.  One of the first Giada recipes I tried was Crab and Ricotta Cannelloni.  Actually, this is my first time revisiting this recipe since my husband and I dated.  Crab and Ricotta Cannelloni is a great dish for impressing at small gatherings.  Since quality lump crab meat can be pricey (depending on where you live) try this recipe for special occasions.

Crab Meat

Crab stuffed shells prior to pouring the Bechamel over it

Making the roux for the Bechamel sauce

Crab and Ricotta Cannelloni

Ingredients

1 box (8 ounces) cannelloni or manicotti pasta (about 12 shells)
1 cup whole milk ricotta cheese
3/4 cup grated Parmesan, plus 1/4 cup for sprinkling
1 egg yolk
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
1 pound lump crab meat
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper
Bechamel Sauce, recipe follows

Directions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain pasta. In a large bowl, mix together ricotta, 3/4 cup Parmesan, egg yolk, basil, crab, salt, and pepper.  

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 

Fill the cannelloni with the crab mixture and place in a buttered baking dish. Top the filled cannelloni with the Bechamel Sauce and sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan cheese. Bake until bubbly and the top is golden brown, about 15 to 20 minutes. Serve immediately.

Bechamel Sauce:

5 tablespoons unsalted butter

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

4 cups whole milk, warmed

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper

Pinch freshly grated nutmeg

In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the flour and whisk until smooth, about 2 minutes. Gradually add the warm milk, whisking constantly, until the sauce is thick, smooth, and creamy, about 10 minutes (do not allow the sauce to boil). Remove from the heat and stir in the salt, pepper, and nutmeg. (The sauce can be made up to 3 days ahead. Cool and then cover and refrigerate.)

Linked with Tasty Tuesdays

and Totally Tasty

In Living Color...

Bright colors and pastels like pistachio and coral are having a moment right now.  Or maybe it's just color in general.  I used Polyvore to conduct a fashion experiment with one of the season's biggest trends: color blocking.  Not only was building the looks below lots of fun, it was also cheaper (read: free) than trying to update my personal wardrobe!  Let's have some fun! Check out the pictures below and take the poll at the end.  Would you try any of these looks?  I'm curious to see your answers.

Option 1

    

Option 2

Option 3

 

Fantasy Shopping

Men have fantasy football.  I have fantasy shopping.  Yesterday evening, I decided to e-fantasy shop on one of my favorite home interior sites: Restoration Hardware.  The rules to fantasy shopping are simple:

1. Visit your favorite fashion or home decor website

2. Don't do the usual by jumping straight to the 'sale' or 'clearance' tabs

3. Instead, swan dive into the tabs that read "just In" or "new arrivals"

4. Proceed to put everything you LOVE (not just like) into the e-shopping cart

5. Don't spend more than an hour or two doing this. Any longer and it's just not fun anymore!

I do this for a few reasons:  (a) It's pretty darn fun (b) I like seeing just how much damage I could do if I weren't responsible (c) it inspires me to find/make items for less and finally (d) that marked up item I adored may hit the sale bin sometime soon, so I'll be on the lookout.  

Isn't this birdcage chandelier insane?!? I love when rustic meets elegant.

Vintage Birdcage Chandelier

 Photo a day challenge updates here.

-Shelly

J'adore {this and that}

Right now I'm lovin'...

wine

sunglasses

magazines (covering food, fashion, mom tips)

practical, modern home decor

salted caramel anything

photos/art that make me smile

hugs from my kid

constant consideration & support from the hubby

planning for a summer 2012 family vacay...

...and the following items found around the web. Have a fantastic day!

Vintage Christian Dior Sunnies

Ralph Lauren Collection Tasseled Clutch

Pamela Love Rose Gold Dagger Necklace

Click here for photo-a-day updates!

-Shelly



Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies

  When the hubby deployed last year, I sent a care package containing a variety of instant fruit oatmeal packs, among many other things.  This package led to the following request: 'Hey Shell, do you think you could find a recipe for oatmeal blueberry cookies next time?'

No prob babe. 

 I found this recipe and the rest is history.  During the holidays, these chewy oatmeal cookies were a staple on our counter-top.  They never last more than a day because they're so good!  I've changed-up the recipe with dried cranberries or cherries.  I think the dried cranberries are my favorite.  These cookies are warm (due to the cinnamon) and deliciously chewy (from the oatmeal and honey combo).  Enjoy!

-Shelly

Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies

Ingredients:

  1 cup flour

  ½ teaspoon baking soda

  ½ teaspoon salt

  ½ teaspoon cinnamon

  1 ½ cups rolled oats

  ½ cup butter, softened

  ½ cup white sugar

  ½ cup brown sugar

  1 large egg

  2 tablespoons honey

  ½ cup of dried cranberries or blueberries 

Directions:

Mix dry ingredients together and set aside. Cream butter and sugars. Add egg and honey, mix well. Stir in dry ingredients. Stir in dried cranberries.  Drop by rounded teaspoons on parchment lined cookie sheets. Bake at 350° for about 8-10 minutes, until golden on the edges and just set. Cook them too long and they will be hard and they are better chewy. Cool on racks, store airtight.

Linked with: 
 Tasty Tuesdays 
This Chick Cooks 
Ginger Snap Crafts
Ms Fox's Sweets 

The Wonder Woman Complex

via

How was your weekend?   My weekend was so fast paced.  I felt overwhelmed after trying to be everywhere all at once!  Which leads me to the lovely woman pictured above.... I'm sure my mother can recall my childhood fascination with Wonder Woman.  I had the pajamas, coloring books and even a stationary set.  I would spend hours imagining I was the baddest chick in the Justice League (Hawkgirl had nothing on me...  I meant Wonder Woman).  Clearly, that active imagination carried into my adult life and sometimes I really believe I'm Wonder Woman.  I can't understand why so many of us fall victim to the 'Wonder Woman Complex.'  Despite having only two hands, we try to juggle so much.  Why is that?  

Anywho... Click here to see the photo-a-day-challenge snapshots that I didn't post since I take Friday - Sunday as "days off" from blogging!  Happy Monday :)

Glam Files - Solange Knowles

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Natural Beauty. Trendsetter. Bold, Colorful Style.

Solange paved her own lane when the world thought she'd forever be in Beyonce's shadow.  Over the years Solange's style veered further into full-on hipster territory.  And it's working: she recently signed to Next Models, is a guest fashion blogger for Vogue UK and endorses Rimmel and Carol's Daughter products.

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Solange made my glam squad collage because she inspires me to open up my wardrobe to vivid colors and bold prints.  Her fashion sense is daring and in her own words "expressive."  She's great at staying on trend and effortlessly pulling off what so many people get wrong: 

color blocking

mixing prints

and neon

via

 I love that she's fearless with fashion instead of sticking to what's mainstream boring.

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Enjoy the rest of your week, see you Monday!

-Shelly