Pumpkin Coffee Cake

For our anniversary weekend, I knew I wanted to make a delicious fall treat for us to snack on with our morning coffee. It didn't take much searching before I realized it needed to have pumpkin, it needed to be fairly simple to make, and it needed to be extra scrumptious! What's an anniversary without some great food to enjoy together?!

I've always loved coffee cake, but I rarely let myself splurge on it. It's usually a treat for vacations or special occasions, but I've never actually had a homemade version until this recipe. I say this about all the recipe's on DLD, but as a coffee cake fanatic, this homemade treat is one of my absolute favorites! Everything about this is amazing. As in... we ate the whole batch and then made a whole new batch the next day amazing. (Insert bug-eyed emoji)

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Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte

With all the recent hype on what's in (or isn't) in the infamous Starbucks PSL, I decided to forgo my usual 'First Day of Fall' treat. The normal version is too sweet for my taste anyways, so I would always add in a few extra expresso shots to get more of a coffee flavor. This seemed like the perfect opportunity to make my own version that didn't give me a stomach ache after drinking it!

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Life and Style Linkup: Favorite Summer Recipe

Calling all chefs to the linkup! This week we are switching gears from fashion to food. Whether you're a top chef or just learning your way around the kitchen, the ladies at Posh Pair and I want to see your favorite summer recipes!! See how to make their delicious Zucchini Squash 'Pasta' and Guacamole 'Quesadilla' here.

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Trail Mix Bars

I love a good trail mix bar. It's easy, convenient and tastes great! I originally wanted to find a great recipe to make some bars for our camping trip last weekend, but a combination of procrastination and not finding a recipe I liked resulted in no such bars.

I was really surprised by the first few "healthy" trail mix bars I came across. Yes, they had some good qualities like nuts and oats. But let's be real, two cups of sugar and a few sticks of butter? That's a candy bar people, and that's why it's the 'best trail mix bar you've ever tasted.' I have nothing against candy or sweets (see my Candy Cookie Bar post for proof!), just not when it's masquerading as a 'healthy' snack. If butter and sugar are the main ingredients, then let's call it what it is!

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La Boulange

Chris and I were driving home from a friend's house the other day when a restaurant name caught my eye. The sign read 'La Boulange' and it only took a few seconds to realize why it sounded so familiar. I'm sure you've noticed the rebranding of Starbucks pastries about a year ago- the new pink pastry bags, new marketing, and an upgrade of new savory and sweet menu options. 

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Candy Cookie bars

Holy. Cow. That's all I have to say about these everything-you-could-ask-for cookie bars. My friend Kathy keeps sending me new recipes to try, and every single one of them has been delicious! It's about time I shared one of them with you! 

Snickers, Reese's, pretzels, and peanut butter.....do I have your attention yet? Good, because if you like all of these goodies, you will love this easy to make dessert!

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Brussel Sprout and Mushroom Egg Bake

I've been on a breakfast kick lately, trying out new recipes on the weekends and even some for dinners during the week! One of my favorites so far is this Brussel Sprout and Mushroom Egg Bake. 

I've never really baked eggs in the oven other than in a breakfast casserole so I was a little apprehensive about how this would turn out. Thankfully I discovered that baking eggs is even easier than cooking them in a skillet! And just as delicious :) 

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The Little Door

I've used the term 'hidden gem' a few times already...but when I say this place is a hidden gem, I mean I literally walked right past it on the way to our reservation...much to Christopher's amusement. ;) It's sister restaurant, the Little Next Door, is open to the street and has a French patio cafe look to it, so naturally I gravitated toward that scene and walked right past the entrance. 

To be fair, there is no sign, no windows, no indication of what lies on the other side of the wall. Just an address and a small wooden door. This is part of the allure of the restaurant, as you feel like your in on a little secret as you quietly step through the unmarked door.

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Star Spangled Berry Tarts

It's 4th of July this week, so in honor of this all-American holiday we're bringing you red, white, and blue themed posts all week long! To start us off, I wanted to share this easy and delicious berry tart recipe. It's great for summer potlucks and what better treat to have on the 4th than tons of fresh red and blue berries?!

This recipe reminds me of fruit pizza, but it's a little more on the savory side thanks to the crescent dough crust instead of using sugar cookie dough. It's a refreshing twist on the classic, and you are able to eat more of the tart since it isn't overwhelmingly sweet. It also allows you the option of serving it as a pre-dinner appetizer instead of only as a dessert. 

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The Ugly Pizza

Homemade pizza is pretty amazing. You can get as creative as you'd like with endless combinations and flavors. My favorite mix will always be tons of veggies. This week I wanted to make something extra fancy and threw some ricotta cheese and basil into the mix. I also used raw dough instead of a pre-made pizza crust for the first time. The difference is unbelievable.

That's not to say that it didn't come with some challenges...but I'll get to that later. Now that we've tasted the amazingness of this pizza, I don't think we'll be able to go back to pre-made crusts ever again! This whole recipe is easy peasy, which means it will be a new go-to meal in our house. Not to mention my husband is an avid pizza lover (who isn't, right?). But seriously, he could probably eat it everyday if he had his way.

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Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

This past week I've been feeling under the weather with a sore throat and a growing cough. Apparently the one thing LA doesn't have is a specialty soup shop. Of course there's always Joan's on 3rd and various places that carry some soup options, but I was hoping to find a Zoup (soup restaurant chain) equivalent. Unfortunately, I couldn't find such a place and therefore had to make do on my own.

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Sugarfish, Beverly Hills

Two years ago, my friend Victoria took me on a girls night out date for the "best sushi I would ever have." Chris and I are avid sushi lovers so naturally I was pretty excited.

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Watermelon, Strawberry, and Cucumber Cooler

With summer just around the corner, I have been long awaiting watermelon season. A recent trip to Whole Foods and I was juggling as many as I could carry! It's great on it's own, but it's even better mixed with cucumber and strawberries. The perfect way to cool down in the summer heat!

The health benefits of watermelon are just as good as they taste!
Studies have shown that watermelon can actually help alleviate post-workout soreness due to high amounts of lycopene (which is also good for your heart!). This summer fruit is rich in antioxidants and helps improve skin and repair sun damage. It doesn't really get much better than that!

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A.O.C.

A.O.C. is our neighborhood go-to for good food and wine. It's laid- back, relaxing, and chic all at the same time. The walled-in patio lets you enjoy the California sunshine without the chaos or noise from the street. The beautiful vines along the walls and bricked fireplace make you feel as if you've been magically transported to a restaurant in Tuscany.

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The Glazed Donut Bistro

Perched in West Hollywood, this little donut shop is serving up 'grownup donuts' alongside your choice of coffee, beer, wine, or mimosas. Open until 2am on the weekends, I'd say that's a good recipe for success.

My sister-in-law, Jessyca, introduced us to Stumptown coffee in Portland, so I knew before I even walked through the door that this place was doing a few things right. I ordered the Salted Caramel coffee and it was delicious. Again, salted caramel anything is usually one of my faves, so no surprise there!

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Nobu, Malibu

Ah, Nobu...so many memories. I first visited Nobu with my sister and cousin in the Bahamas at the Atlantis Resort. We really had no idea what we were getting into, and couldn't believe how amazing the food was. We also couldn't believe all those numbers at the bottom of the bill (!!!). 

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Tortilla Soup

You HAVE to make this soup. It is beyond amazing, I can’t believe it came out of my own kitchen! Better than a restaurant, it’s honestly the best tortilla soup I have ever had. And I have tried a lot. Anytime we go out to eat and it’s on the menu, I will usually order it. 

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The Brownie Company, Beverly Hills

One of the things I love about LA is there seems to be a specialty shop for everything. You name it, and we probably have it. By putting all their efforts into doing one thing great, they are able to accomplish near-perfection.  

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Black Bean Salad

This recipe has so many good things going for it. It's fresh, it's incredibly easy, and it just also happens to be really good for you too!

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The Ivy, Beverly Hills

The Ivy was one of my first California experiences. Years before I knew I would live in LA, my dad took my sister and me to the west coast for a summer vacation. 

Halfway through our trip, I specifically remember him asking me if I could ever imagine living here. I thought about it for a second, and was surprised that my answer was yes. I never thought much more about it until several years later when I was looking into design schools. And as they say, the rest is history!

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