Food & Fun

Happy Holidays: Love With Food!

- Mel

I received this month’s box at the perfect time — while home on my lunch break.

Oh, this month’s box was FILLED with holiday goodies:
Honey Cinnamon Almonds from Nunes Farms
Holiday Salt Water Taffy from Taffy Town (so cute!)
Belgian Milk Chocolate-dipped Nutter Butter from the Big Chocolate Dipper (I grabbed this first out of the box, and it was stale. Whomp)
Candy Cane Truffle from Kara Chocolates (!!!)
Mocha Mint Cappuccino from Hills Brothers
Gingerbread Boy from Nikki’s Cookies
Chocolate Tasting Squares from Madecasse
Fleur de Sel Caramel Popcorn from 479 Popcorn

Love With Food: Great Foods for a Great Cause
For only $10+/month you receive 8 (or more) gourmet foods delivered to your door. Every box or product purchased, Love With Food donates a meal to a food bank. And for the months of November and December, as a promise to help with the Hurricane Sandy relief effort, each food box purchased, Love With Food donates 2 meals to New Jersey & New York food banks. Order by 01/01 to get your January box!

Disclaimer: this post includes referral links, to which I earn “cash back” for all new subscriptions. I donate these funds back to Love with Food to help the organization with their mission. I am otherwise NOT compensated for this post.

Therapy in the Shape of Scones

- Mel

Holidays are hectic. Traveling is hectic. Fitting a 10-hour drive into one day is BEYOND MURDEROUS. I think I’m going to talk my friend into making these Soothing Scones with me on Friday because after driving, and entertaining, and socializing, (and you know, the murdering*) I will be ready to unwind. I knead to. Heh.

Thanks again to Allison for the wonderful recipe!

Soothing Scones from A Taste of Therapy
These scones are not only delicious and a snap to make, but they go perfectly with a cup of tea and a good book in the afternoon. Making these treats is an excellent way to relax and unwind after a busy day through the kneading of dough, and chopping of walnuts or chocolate bits. This recipe makes 8 scones, so it can easily be doubled, to make sure your relaxation continues all week! Mix in whatever you like, it is your decision. Sit down, relax, and enjoy!

Ingredients
2 cups all purpose flour
¼ cup white sugar
1 ¼ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
1 stick unsalted butter, cold, cut into chunks
1 cup mix ins (walnuts, chocolate chips, butterscotch bits, white chocolate chunks, dried
cranberries or cherries or a combination)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2/3 cup buttermilk

Steps:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Line a baking sheet with foil
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
Blend butter pieces into flour mixture
Stir just until dough comes together (Careful not to over mix, use your gut and judgment, you’ll know when it’s right)
Stir in your mix ins! Go ahead, add a few more chocolate bits in, no one will notice
In a separate small bowl, whisk together, buttermilk, vanilla extract, and add to flour mixture.
Transfer to a lightly floured surface and knead gently (get out that stress and tension!)
Knead approximately 4-5 times turning after each knead.
Pat dough until it’s in a circle, 7 inches in diameter and 1 ½ inches thick
Cut circle in half and then into 4 pie shaped wedges
Brush tops with buttermilk
Bake until golden brown

*and by “murder,” I mean, “ate the shit out of some turkey”

Giving Thanks: to friends and family, old and new

- Mel

On this Thanksgiving, I’m so thankful for the life that the boyfriend and I have created together — and those three cute kitties that keep our feet warm at night.

While we’re not with family this holiday (see you at Christmas!), we’re spending it with dear friends who are just as close to both of us (and their newborn *squee*). They’ve graciously opened their home to us and a few “orphans” stuck in Charleston for an epic feast.

I am in this picture… doing my typical Photobomb Face. Or, that was some crazy-good Mac n’ Cheese.

Not gonna lie, but I’m also very thankful for this lovely vacation to a beautiful city. And banana Moon Pies (#keepingitreal).

I’m so happy that I decided to start this new project. I’ve already met a handful of wonderful bloggers through this venture who share in my 30-something passions. And thank YOU for stopping by and reading (are you lurking?) — I hope that you leave a comment to tell me about yourself and your own personal projects.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Love with Food: now with more purpose

- Mel

The Thanksgiving Box (aka: Fall Favorites) from Love with Food was curated by Amy Roloff of TLC’s “Little People, Big World.” As always, it’s such an exciting box of goodies to receive on a monthly basis.

Each box received, a meal is donated to a hungry child via food banks across America. For November and December, Love with Food is doubling its donations to help support Hurricane Sandy relief efforts in the hardest hit areas of New Jersey and New York.

This month’s box included:
Truffle Piglet from Hagensborg Chocolates
Inka Corn from Inka Crops
Chocolate Chunk Cookies from Skeeter Snacks
Mango Pear Pineapple from Fruit.o
Mini Crunch from Mrs. May’s (LOVE!!!)
Turkey Bak Kiva Jerky from Little Red Dot Kitchen (um, boyfriend ate this immediately)
Original Mulling Spices Blend from Aspen Mulling Co.
Pumpkin Spice Tea from Stash Tea Company

Check out last month’s box here.

Disclaimer: this post includes referral links, to which I earn “cash back” for all new subscriptions. I donate these funds back to Love with Food to help the organization feed more hungry children.

MANIAC Magazine Pittsburgh Bloggers Event

- Mel

I’ve been out of the local blogging scene for some time (save for PodCamp). With the “release” of this new blog, I need to start working on my marketing and networking.

I was excited to see the MANIAC magazine invite online for its Blogger Event in Pittsburgh. In an old shoe store — just my style! My coming out party (ha!). I was also happy to have a friend tag along with me to curb any needless social anxiety.


{top: Ella Moss / plum jeans: Paige denim / necklace: Paige Novick (no longer available) / bracelet: Blue Candy (similar) / flat, hat hair: free}

I just adore magazines like MANIAC — and particularly, special issues like this one: beautiful pictorials that include NYFW coverage and street style, and I literally swooned at the “bicycle from behind” photos. On the cover is the fabulous Nikki Reed; inside: local Pittsburgh scene captures… and the one-and-only Mr. Mark Wahlberg (mrwar!). There’s also a few helpful shopping guides and articles updating readers about technology, health and travel news (clever article pun: Turkey! A pleasant surprise, it’s not about Thanksgiving.).

But tonight, I’m sipping on cocktails, checking out the newest holiday issue & connecting with my fellow fashion and beauty bloggers. And crushing on this gifted schwag bag: copy of the new issue, a tarte lipgloss, an adult treat from Wigle Whiskey (yum!) and some generous coupons and samples from local businesses.

I even got a quickie manicure, courtesy of Spa Jema. Totally buying this Zoya color she used too.

Cheers to Bloggers (Tuesday!) Nights out… and one extra clink for the added food and drinks at the Wine Loft afterward.

Check out the MANIAC holiday issue online and follow the magazine on twitter and facebook.

LoveWithFood: continuing your love of monthly subscription boxes

- Mel

Group Therapy Time: Let’s talk a little about these monthly subscription boxes.
I. Am. Addicted.

Monthly beauty boxes.
Samplers of nail polishes.
A personal stylist who ships me a package of designer clothes so I can “shop” at home.
A box full of healthy, organic snacks from small, independent companies.
A box full of snacks that contributes to a GOOD CAUSE.

That last one? Let’s welcome to the group: Love With Food. I mean, who doesn’t love food, right?!

Love With Food - Discover Great Food for a Great Cause

Every month, Love With Food subscribers receive a curated box of unique tasty bites based on seasonal themes. For your $12/month (or $120/year) membership, you get to sample different products each month, earn points by leaving feedback on your shipped products and enjoy exclusive discounts to full-sized products featured in your monthly box. Points can be used to buy products for FREE, and there’s a wonderful online community to discover great recipes and connect with other food enthusiasts.

My box this month included these samples:
Organic tea from Pu-erh Tea
Honey straws from Nature’s Kick
Cranberry Orange cookies from Natasha’s Health Nut Cookies
Mountain Mambo Mix from Enjoy Life Foods
Cheddar Cheese Baked Fries from Snikiddy
Applesauce from GoGo Squeez
Acai Sesame Strips from Mrs. May’s Naturals

Even better? Love With Food helps more than 16 million children in the U.S. who are at risk of hunger. For every box sold, the organization donates a meal to various food banks, such as the Feeding America Network and Share Our Strength – No Kid Hungry.

Snack time feels good, doesn’t it?

Disclosure: Affiliate link used throughout post. Subscribers receive monetary compensation for referrals, to which I donate back to Love With Food for them to continue the Good Work.

An Apple a Day… for probably the next 8 weeks.

- Mel

A friend and I visited an apple orchard in our area to celebrate her recent engagement. Sunday was just SUCH a beautiful Fall day to be outdoors. And apparently, the perfect day to be at an apple farm (fried food! hayrides! live music! live… CHICKENS!).

Fun outdoor activities like this make me so happy — MY kind of therapy!

There are several apple farms and orchards in the Pittsburgh area; we decided on Simmons Farm, since their website confirmed we could actually PICK the apples off the tree in the orchard. But no climbing. That was Rule #1. Rule #2 was no stealing. If I had my guess for Rule #3, it would be to NOT fill the bag until it’s so heavy you can barely carry it back to the car.

SOME rules are made to be broken. 😉

Not only did I come home with a half bushel of apples (52 made it to the sink to be washed. I lost 2 in the street and 3 to just plain being “bad apples” — but I also gained a wasp and two dead spiders, the horror!), but I also managed a large pumpkin roll, sugar cookies and apple cider (so wonderful heated up in my mini crockpot, served over rum). I will soon be in treatment for a sugar overdose.

GET YOUR APPLES!
Simmons Farm is South of Pittsburgh in McMurray.
In the North Hills, you’ll find crowd-sourcing favorites: Soergel’s and Shenot Farm & Market.
Pittsburgh also has a number of wonderful farmers markets that carry delicious ripe apples this time of year — probably the same for whichever city you’re in too!

Meanwhile, I will be eating apple-this and apple-that for quite some time. And enjoying every minute of it.

Here’s what I plan to do with some of those 52 apples:
Crockpot Applesauce
Apple Crisp (possibly, multiple individual servings throughout the week — so easy to make in little ramekins!)
Apple Chips
My FAVORITE apple-cranberry oatmeal cookies.

And then a twitter friends recommended a Sharlotka — a Russian Apple Cake — so I attempted it. And the dessert came out MARVELOUS! (and is already half eaten.)

Do you have any additional ideas for my Much To Do About Apples board on PINTEREST?

Edited to add: I just found another apple in the front seat of my car. APPLES EVERYWHERE!