season's eatins!


(from l to r: oatmeal chocolate chip, gingerbread, chocolate)

'tis the season to be baking! well, at least in my kitchen. and there is nothing i like baking better than cookies. large batches of cookies come from my kitchen two times a year - christmas & valentine's day. so, let's take a look at who made this year's christmas cookie "nice" list!

first, (and everyone's favorite) aunt jean's oatmeal chocolate chip cookies...

what you need:
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
1 cup sweet butter
2 eggs
2 tablespoons milk
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 1/2 cups of old fashioned oats and chocolate chips (walnuts are a tasty option too!)

how you do it:

first, beat the sugars & butter until smooth and fluffy. once everything looks fluffy, add eggs, milk, & vanilla. in a separate bowl, combine flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder. then gradually beat that mixture into the batter. finally, stir in the oats & chocolate chips (and walnuts) by hand. drop spoonfulls of dough on a cookie sheet and bake at 350 for 12 minutes.

next up, steph's chocolate gooey butter cookies...

what you need:
1 (8oz) brick cream cheese, room temp
1 stick butter, room temp
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 (18oz) box moist chocolate cake mix
confectioners sugar, for dusting

how you do it:

in a large bowl with an electric mixer, cream the cream cheese and butter until smooth. beat in the egg. then beat in the vanilla extract. beat in the cake mix. cover and refrigerate for 2 hours to firm up so that you can roll the batter into balls. roll the chilled batter into tablespoon sized balls and then roll them in confectioner’s sugar. (the batter is still really sticky after 2 hours but the powder sugar will help form the balls). place on an ungreased cookie sheet, 2 inches apart. Bake at 350 for 12 min. the cookies will remain soft and “gooey”. cool Completely and sprinkle with more confectioners sugar, if desired.

and the newest addition to the list, gingerbread(!)...
adapted from food network magazine, december 2009

what you need:

1 3/4 cups of dark brown sugar
1 stick butter
1 egg
1 teaspoon of vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup molasses
2 tablespoons minced crystallized ginger
large pinch of ground cinnamon & cloves

how you do it:
beat sugar and butter until fluffy, then beat in egg, vanilla, molasses, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. in a separate bowl, whisk flour, salt, and soda together; stir into butter mixture. drop by the spoonful, sprinkle with coarse sugar and bake 8-12 minutes at 350.

thanks to all my friends & family who pass along their recipes for all to share! season's eatins!!

'tis the season!!

isn't this just the most amazing picture?!? the gal over at ezrapoundcake.com posted this dandy of a recipe. cheers, indeed!!

cranberry margaritas
adapted from rebecca rather’s “the pastry queen christmas”

yield: 4 servings

wedge of lime
sugar
ice cubes for shaking and serving
1/2 cup cranberry juice or cranberry juice cocktail
1/2 cup silver or other 100% agave tequila
1/4 cup orange liqueur (grand marnier, triple sec or citronage)
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
garnishes: thinly sliced limes or fresh cranberries


1. run a lime wedge around the rim of the glass, and dip the edge in sugar to coat. fill glasses with ice. Set aside.

2. in a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine all the ingredients, and shake like hell.

3. strain into ice-filled glasses and serve.

holiday guilty pleasure

two of my favorite performers, tristan prettyman (aka: my girl-crush) & jason mraz, doing a original holiday diddy. the recording is live - the video is not.

enjoy!

say it ain't so!

one of my favorite go to sources for all things new, hip, & happening is cutting back. daily candy, a daily e-newsletter, will no longer be publishing daily emails to many of its 12 specific city editions (philly included). check out the specifics on gawker.com & philly.com.

little known fact, when i was looking at honeymoon destinations back in '07, daily candy is what led me to our honeymoon destination - jade mountain in st. lucia (see photo).
thanks, dc! keep up the good work - at whatever pace you need. :)


yikes!

i know, i know. it's been a while since i last posted anything here. my excuse? well, it's a combination of work, laziness, and computer viruses. but i'm back and i promise to keep your holidays merry & bright with all sorts of delightful things!

here are few links to check out while i'm compiling my list:

  • did someone say rum? yep!
  • it's cookie season!!!
  • if you don't find this adorable, then you don't have a soul. :)
  • this one's for my Momma (and for you to try making this holiday!)
  • guys, if you have no idea what to buy that special lady in your life - you can't go wrong with a love quotes scarf.
  • dined at mercato in philly not long ago - YUM! the risotto was amazing!
  • the swell season (the guy & gal from the film "once") did a daytrotter session just the other day - give 'em a listen.

that should hold you over for now. and i promise to be back soon with more holiday posts!! until then, keep it real!

something fun

with fey & carell star power, it's certainly got potential. no golden globes or oscars, but a good guilty pleasure for sure! check out the trailer for "date night."

"om nom nom nom"

today is the 40th anniversary of everyone's favorite children's show - sesame street! one of my favorite characters on the show is cookie monster (it was always a toss up between him and grover). so i was delighted to find this video posted on seriouseats today. enjoy! (and you might learn little something too!)

dinner out

if anyone is taking part in jose garces' progressive dinner tomorrow night i MUST get details!

just check out the menu. yum.

and if you're not familiar with garces and his goods - check out his website.

halloween happy hour!

now this week, instead of mixing up the usual pumpkin-infused (which i love) and spooky cocktails, try something a little different. something a little more like this cocktail from yumsugar...

happy apple rum twist

ingredients
1 1/2 ounces light or dark rum

3 ounces apple juice or cider
1 1/2 tablespoons lime juice
1/2 cup crushed ice
apple slice, optional for garnish

Directions
1. combine all ingredients except the slice in a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously.
2. strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with an apple slice.

my new favorite song

the xx - vcr
love it. and apparently, so do a lot of other people.


a little taste of new fall music

here is a playlist of new(ish) music to get your weekend going or to slow the work week down. however you wanna see it - it's up to you. enjoy!


1. kick drum heart - the avett brothers

2. say yes - langhorne slim

3. just say yes - snow patrol

3. daylight - matt and kim

4. don't upset the rhythm - noisettes


5. oscar wilde - company of thieves

6. dear god (sincerely, m.o.f) - monsters of folk

7. 40 day dream - edward sharpe & the magnetic zeros

8. ain't no friend of mine - mason jennings

shhhh...don't tell

there is a speakeasy in philly. now, it might not be the same kinda of joint you guys & gals in nyc, san fran, and chicago are used to (i've been to one in nyc - it was fantastic!) but it's what we got here in philly.

and i figured you could go out tonight and celebrate (yet again) the phillies going to the world series with a brew from your favorite bar - OR you can do something a little special and savor the moment at the franklin mortgage & investment company. with a drink menu like this i might just want to start celebrating every weekend! i'm dying to try the airmail!

cheers, darlin'!

tunes

check out this chill/happy new little diddy from devendra banhart, called "baby." making his first major label release debut next week, this is one of the first singles off the lp. i like it! great for that fall playlist you're putting together.

best dressed


loooooving this dress from see by chloƩ! such a great alternative to the little black dress. and at the same time makes you feel like the most sophisticated gal at the party. simply lovely!
you can find it now on intermixonline.com (another one of my favorite online shopping destinations) just in time for the holidays!

rainy day diy


photo courtesy of starbucks.com

or at least it's raining in my 'hood. and it is supposed to continue raining all weekend. yuck. i though it would be a good time to share recipe a found a few weeks back on making you own pumpkin spice latte (a la starbucks) at home. 'cause who really wants to go out for coffee when there is a wind chill of 35 degrees and the rain is coming down?

i thought so. here's the breakdown:

pumpkin spice latte
from thekitchn.com
makes 1-2 servings

ingredients:

2 cups milk
2 tablespoons canned pumpkin or 1 teaspoon of torani pumpkin spice syrup (your choice)
2 tablespoons sugar or sugar substitute - you can halve this amount
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1-2 shots espresso (about 1/4 cup of espresso or 1/2 cup of strong brewed coffee if you don't have an espresso machine.)
directions:
in a saucepan combine milk, pumpkin and sugar and cook on medium heat, stirring, until steaming. remove from heat, stir in vanilla and spice, transfer to a blender and process for 15 seconds until foamy. if you don't have a blender, don't worry about it - just whisk the mixture really well with a wire whisk. pour into a large mug or two mugs. add the espresso on top.
optional: top with whipped cream and sprinkle pumpkin pie spice, nutmeg, or cinnamon on top.

if you don't have the time (or ingredients) for all this, try just sprinkling a little pumpkin pie spice in your everyday morning brew. truly delightful!! (thanks kj in boston for hooking me up with that idea!)

thirsty thursday...on friday

sorry i'm a day late guys and gals, but the rain is drowning my blog inspiration this week.

check out this great post from serious eats. i myself lurve a good belgian dubbel! my favorites are ommegang abbey ale and classic allagash (i have a few hanging out in the basement right now!).

drink up! it's friday!!

"the list"

if you haven't already taken a listen, check out roseanne cash's new release "the list." the tracks on the album come from her daddy's (yes, Johnny) list of 100 essential country music songs that he gave to her back in 1973. i don't know about you, but i would consider him a pretty good authority on the subject. npr is letting you take a listen to the album in its' entirety, but i suggest going ahead and making the purchase. beautiful music.

i think a "list" is a great idea. what songs would you put on a list for your children? what songs would you like them to know and understand as they go through life?

one particular bakery

i love everything about bouchon bakery. after my first visit to their outpost in yountville, ca i knew that it would be a lifelong love affair. and now, i see this?? whooooooa, nelly. i think i need to take the train up to the city this weekend.

(photography courtesy of newyorkseriouseats.com/robyn lee)

shoppin' fridays

i thought i would let you all in on some online shopping deals while you countdown the hours until the weekend "officially" begins.

today is the last day to enjoy 25% off the ADAM fall '09 collection online. to enjoy the private sale, become a fan of ADAM on facebook and let the shopping commence! you will be sure to find THE perfect piece for your fall wardrobe. their fabrics are simple gorgeous!

also, check out the sweater sale over at martin + osa. there is a chill in the air, so stock up on some basic cozy pieces and enjoy 50% off of all sweaters through this monday.

it's friday - it's payday AND you wanna look good for the weekend! enjoy dahhhhlings!

cinderella would have sipped this on her way to the ball



it's thursday! why not get a little fancy this blustery fall weekend and enjoy a little champagne and pumpkin?? (i got your attention now, right?)

check out this recipe from cocktailtimes.com:

pumpkin french 75
ingredients:
- 1 oz. plymouth gin
- 1 oz. pumpkin puree
- 1 1/2 oz. fresh lemon juice
- 1 1/2 oz. simple syrup
- champagne

shake all ingredients (except champagne) in a cocktail shaker with ice. strain the mixture into a champagne flute. top with chilled champagne and serve

happy, happy music!

this song makes me feel really happy! and i love that nbc's "community" is using it in the show. bravo nbc! (well, kudos at least with your comedy and the first 3 hours of the today show.)

all i want for christmas


photo courtesy of neimanmarcus.com

yep, a cupcake car. that'll do me. thank you, neiman marcus christmas book. thank you.

"and I got such a long way to go..."

right now, i'm lecturing on self-disclosure in my interpersonal communication classes. we are discussing the risks associated with self-disclosure as well as the appropriateness of what to disclose and what not to disclose about yourself in various situations.

as for me, i'm not much of a self-discloser. i keep my thoughts, likes, and dislikes mostly to myself. but i will share this with you - i have a special place in my heart for yacht rock music. hellz, yeah. put on some christopher cross and i will indeed be "sailing" away to a world where everyone rides a catamaran and drinks champagne while wearing sweaters.

imagine my delight when jimmy fallon invited christopher cross AND michael macdonald on his show to perform with the roots! just send me on child.

academia can be funny

this is from insidehighered.com today...

U. of Florida Is Prepared for Zombies

The University of Florida's disaster preparedness Web site contains information on dealing with hurricanes, pandemics and ... zombies. The Associated Press reported that a university employee added the zombie response plan to "add a bit of levity" to the Web site. The guide for dealing with a zombie attack ncludes a helpful list of signs that zombie attacks may be increasing. You should watch, for example, for "increasing numbers of gruesome unexplained deaths and disappearances, especially at night" and listen for "lots of strange moaning." The guide includes an "Infected Co-Worker Dispatch Form" for Florida employees to let superiors know when a colleague exhibits signs of zombie behavior, with a checklist of such behaviors, including "references to wanting to eat brains," "recently dead but moving again," "lack of rational thought (this can cause problems confusing zombies with managers)" and "killed and ate another employee." A footnote in the plan suggests the importance of maintaining sensitivity in a time of zombie attack: "While many people refer to 'undead,' practitioners in the field of Zombie Studies and zombie advocates such as PETZ: People for the Ethical Treatment of Zombies, and supporters of Florida Zombie Preserve, Inc. insist that the term 'undead' clearly connotes deficiency; specifically the absence of both life and death. Hence, we suggest here the term 'life impaired' to recognize the difficulties imposed on a former person by zombie behavior spectrum disorder (ZBSD) but without suggesting the former person is somehow 'deficient' as a result of the infection."


spooooooooooooooky.

they might leave one heck of a carbon footprint...

but we love them bananas.
happy friday!



for another take on bananas, check out this book.

why i love pbs

have y'all been watching the ken burn's series about america's national parks on pbs? i got sucked in last night and i will tell you it's fantastic! if you see it on your channel guide, either check it out or set your dvr to record. great stuff. really. it's amazing to see and think about all the beauty that our 'lil 'ol country has to offer.

here's a little snippet...

two things i love...

are shoes and champagne. and wouldn't you know...
(photo courtest of colette - where you can purchase for my birthday in November!)


feeling kind of this today

amazing song. amazing album.

instant gratification?

are y'all ready for instant starbucks? if you didn't notice all the ads during saturday night live over the weekend, you certainly notice the pomp and circumstance all up in your local starbucks this morning. today starbucks is launching it's via ready brew across the u.s. and canada (those of you in seattle & chicago have been sampling the stuff since february).

what is it? well, from the best i can tell it's a tiny packet of "coffee" that you pour into your mug and then just add water. after that, add your regular java fixin's.

and since there was a tasting at my starbucks this morning, i decide to give it a whirl. why not?

the verdict? pretty much tastes like brewed coffee. which is kinda scary.

chillin'

music you can chill to on a chilly day.
also, they are a world cafe next artist .
check out one eskimO...

i almost forgot!


happy 250th anniversary to guinness!! go out tonight and celebrate with a pint!


eat, drink, & be merry

and to borrow a line from the avett brothers, "when i drink" i like to drink well. call me a snob, call me a nerd, but hey, i'm over 30 and i know what i like. and there is a place right down the road from me that knows exactly what i'm talking about - it's called teresa's next door (and in case you were wondering, it's beside teresa's cafe in wayne, pa. obviously.) this fine drinking establishment has been around, well, at least for as long as i have been around in pa (so not that long). but let me assure you that it's bible of beers will not disappoint you. i mean, just take a look at what tnd has on tap! wowzas, right? and they have some fine fare to go along with their brews. (you must try the crispy artichokes!)

so next time you're in town visiting or if you're out and about in my neck of the woods, stop by tnd and indulge your inner beer geek. happy thursday!!

hellooooooooooo wilmington!

to all my peeps down in wilmington, north cackalacky - don't forget to check out my pal's (and fellow elon alumna) new production company that is looking to "make a positive impact on a city that they love" as do i. :)


ggp has an awesome concert lineup for the fall, so if you're in the area you should check it out!

happy day, happy song.

the band is called the very best. and indeed they are...

pdxoxo

portland, oregon. the land of all things green and yummy. i've already mentioned my love for portland-based stumptown coffee . and recently, i read that stumptown is making it way to the east coast. yay!!

my nyc friends, i invite you to take a trip to the ace hotel on one of these beautiful, crisp fall weekend mornings and have a most "seductive" (couldn't have said it better myself nyt) cup of java. it truly is delightful. i agree with the writer - the west coast, they get the idea of seriously good coffee. hopefully, after tasting the pdx love, the east coast will soon follow suit.

and speaking of coffee...can anyone fill me in on nc-based counter culture coffee? has anyone tasted the goods? i keep hearing good things and i know they have a training center here in philly, but i wanna know more. hit me up and share your experience:delightfullykiki@gmail.com.

mmmm...marshmellows.

too cute not to share!

something old, something new...

if you're in the philly area this weekend and are looking for something to do on saturday or sunday afternoon, well do i have something for you! my girl over at phantastic phinds (yes, with a "ph". it's a philly thing.) is having a big 'ol yard sale this weekend. she is moving locations and everything must, as they say, "go! go! go!" and besides, who doesn't love a good 'ol fashioned yard sale?

the idea behind phantastic phinds is simple - "save the planet & your wallet, buy second hand." with a tag like that how could you not stop by and take a look?

so stop by this weekend and find that treasure that you didn't even know you were looking for!

i don't speak spanish.

but i wish i did.

i love california. the first time i visited california i went to san francisco. beautiful city. it was there that i first became aware of tequila. now, you might thinking, "kiki, haven't you every had a maragarita? or do a shot of it??" of course i have. heck, in college someone even purchased some kind of blue tequlia with a spider on the label. that wasn't a good idea.

the kind of tequila i'm talking about is the kind you enjoy. a neat tequila you sip on. lately, i've been very curious about tequila - the different kinds, different regions - all that and then some. i'm finding out the tequila discipline is quite vast. i'm thinking it might take me a while.

but you gotta start somewhere, right? let's start with a drink recipe featured in the philadelphia edition of daily candy last november. it's a drink called the deseo. which, i believe, means desire (again, i don't speak spanish). the drink is featured at a great philly mexican restaurant called (of course) tequilas. AND, one of the guys in charge as his own boutique tequila distillary called siembra azul. perfecto!

so, if one would like to start a tequila adventure, why not start with something fun and then move on the real stuff?

the deseo
(taken from daily candy, 11/10/08)
ingredients
1/6 green apple
½ lime
¾ oz. agave nectar
2 basil leaves
1½ oz. siembra azul blanco tequila (it is his restaurant)
1½ oz. champagne

1. muddle the apple, lime, agave nectar, and basil in a cocktail shaker.
2. add tequila and ice.
3. shake and strain into a champagne flute.
4. top off with champagne, stir, and garnish with a starfruit slice.

blue-eyed soul

it seems that this guy's name is all over the place lately - mayer hawthorne. and i really like this tune. not only is the phrase "lord have mercy" in the lyrics, but he also throws a "don't be scurred" into the mix. love, love, love!



you learn something new everyday

is it a cheese or a font? you be be the judge. (for the record, i can waste many minutes on websites like this.)

top 10

"if you were stranded on a desert island with only your ipod, what are the songs you just couldn't live without?" that is the question being asked by my favorite radio station (and one of the reasons - besides my husband of course - i moved to philly) wxpn. every year wxpn compiles a countdown of the 885 most fill-in-the-blank songs. why 885? 'cause they are 88.5 on the dial, silly!

so tell me, what are the 10 songs you can't live without? i would love to see your playlist and post what you guys and gals think! so, if you get the notion email me at delightfullykiki@gmail.com and tell me your top 10. as for my list, i'm still working. yes, i know that today is the last day to submit your top 10 to wxpn. nothing like waiting until the last minute, right? but i thought this might be a fun friday project. so have fun!

thirsty thursday

(photo by becca chambers)
my friend over at twisu recently suggested that maybe i should start a weekly cocktail feature over here at delightfully kiki. and since i'm not one who normally denies a cocktail invitation, i thought that would be a fantastic idea! so on thursdays (my favorite day of the week) i'm gonna do my best to post this, that, or other things about some of my favorite libations.

since i have been musing about the approach of autumn as of late, i thought i would use this first post to talk about pumpkin beer. mmmmmmmm, beer. mmmmmmm, pumpkin. one of my favorite pumpkin brews was introduced to me a few years back by a couple who knows good beer and can throw a heck of an octoberfest shingdig! this beer is delaware's own dogfish punkin ale. for me, it's just the right amount of sugar, spice, and all that is fall and nice in a tasty brew. just one or two will do the trick. it's the perfect cocktail for a thursday happy hour this time of year!

fall fashion

there is something you need to know about me. i LOVE fall clothes!!! there is just something about boots, sweaters, jeans, tights, and scarves that make me just lose my mind when i'm out shopping this time of year. ladies, i know you're with me on this one.

what are some of my "must-haves" for fall '09? well, i'm glad you asked! :)

1. over-the-knee-boots (woot! woot!)
2. boyfriend jeans (i know they've been a trend for a while now, but they are weekend-perfect!)
3. a pair of raleigh denim jeans (supportin' nc folks)
4. embellished tees and tanks (i love sassy comfort)
5. a bright, girly cardigan (for those cool evenings in pa)
6. a statement jacket (it can bring a whole look together)
7. a smart hat (timeless)
8. a simple, yet funky necklace (i'm still obsessing over jessica biel's necklace from a few months back)

wow! that's quite the shopping bag! here's to a fabulous and fashionable fall! cheers!

cupshake? tastyshake?

not too long ago i mentioned that stephen starr was opening a burger shack in philly. unfortunately with my summer schedule putting me all over the map, i have yet to try said shack. however, word has the cake shakes are beyond words.

now i hear tale of another decadent creation - the cupshake. whhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaa? these cats out in utah are dong big things. in the words of my girl tiny fey, "i want to go to there."

(note: i'm not even going to post a picture. you must see for yourself. also, just for fun, google "cakeshake." we are not alone. )

jon arbuckle

growing up, my favorite cartoon character was garfield. i always found the books (yes, i bought books - at the book fair), saturday morning cartoon (even the accompanying cartoon u.s. acres), and the holiday specials all so funny.* that dry humor gets me every time.


which brings me to this post. take a look at the site called garfield minus garfield. it takes a look at jon's life without garfield. poor jon. it's kinda like you talking to your cat. or me, talking to my dog. now i know why i'm a fan. perhaps i'm jon.
*the exception to this rule is the garfield movies. were those really necessary?

wtf?

really??? for more on the "story"...

mmmm...cupcakes

if you're around philly on friday you might be lucky enough to catch the "debut" of the buttercream cupcake truck! (you can also purchase the goods at pumpkin market.) and i'm sure you might already had your fill of the cupcake-craze of the past few years. but when you take a look at these little bits of heaven and whimsy you'll forget all the madness and just enjoy the sweetness. and isn't that what life is all about?

(photo courtesy of buttercreamphiladelphia.com)

is it really over?


the unofficial end of summer is labor day. i know this. officially, it's september 22nd at 5:18pm est. (also the hubby's birthday.) but i don't feel like summer is quite over.

or maybe it is.

there are many things i adore about fall:
leaves, scarfs, mums, cool breezes, boots, football, going back to school, warm lattes, and of course - pumpkins.

that's right. pumpkins. pumpkins on the porch, pumpkin bread, pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin cookies, pumpkin pies, pumpkin candles, pumpkin seeds, frost on the pumpkins, carved pumpkins...you get the idea.

if you start peeking in to some gardens, you can see pumpkins starting to pop up in late august/early september. and that is my unofficial sign that fall is near and summer is on it's last legs.

and i thought since we all might be struggling a little bit with the seasonal transition, we should lighten the mood. with pumpkins, of course.

last year i was lucky enough to stumble upon this little treasure on pbs. and if you like those pumpkins then, you'll LOVE this!

random, i know. but you know you're ready for a visit to the pumpkin patch, aren't you? (more on my fall fascination with pumpkins to come.)

we're gonna party like it's 1999...

well, kinda.

pitchfork (an awesome site for the latest and greatest in music) came up with a list of the top 500 tracks of the 2000s. sweet, huh?! now the list was voted on by their staff, and man is it some good, good stuff! the link i've posted is for numbers 20-1, but you can check out the rest once you get there.

any list that sings the praises of creativity to r. kelly's "ignition (remix)" is fine by me!

enjoy, y'all!

rain

ah, yes. another rainy day in pa. i'm pretty sure raindrops and clouds have decided to holiday in the northeast this summer. it's pretty annoying, but i get by.

and since i've been on quite the music kick lately (which i apologize for those who would like to see more food-related posts) i heard a delightful song this morning that fit the day and this summer season pretty well...it's called gray or blue by jaymay. gray or blue - you never what the day may look like when you open your eyes. today, gray. tomorrow, maybe blue? here's hoping.

loving

if you haven't been turned on by the casual, carefree loveliness of madewell, well let me introduce you. lucky for me, they opened a store at king of prussia earlier in the summer and I recently wandered in to take a look around.

it was love at first sight. (kinda like the cookie cake pie.)

madewell has the perfect t-shirts that ooze casual elegance and jeans that you will go ga-ga for (and prices that will make you do the same!).

if you don't have a store in your neck of the woods, you can always find select styles on shopbop.com. and if you haven't visited and/or shopped that site yet - you're welcome.

tunes on tuesday

today is for sharing some new tunes with you guys!

first off, my new favorite (and wxpn "artist to watch") - edward sharpe and the magnetic zeros....



and some new radiohead (sidenote: "house of cards" from their last album changed my life)...



that's all for now. i'll probably be back later today with some more music for your soul. :)

scuppernongs!!!

there are a few ways i can always tell that summer is drawing to a close:

1) a few of the leaves at the top of the trees begin to fade, fall, and drift towards the ground,
2) mums start popping up in the garden centers,
AND...
3) it's scuppernong time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

now some of you may ask, "kiki, what's a scuppernong?" well, my friends it is just one of my most favorite things! as a kid, i used to eat 'nongs straight from the vine in my granny's yard. and they always seemed to taste best right before school started. maybe the sweet taste of the 'nong is why i never minded going back to school in the fall? (that, and the fact i'm kinda a nerd.)

not only is the 'nong delicious, but the it is also the state fruit of my home state - north carolina.

the most important thing to know about the 'nong is how to eat a 'nong. or at least, how i eat a 'nong. the most desirable part of the grape is it's sweet juice. so, here we go:

first, find a quart at your grocery store or farmer's market...


next, pick a nice big juicy one...

then, pop the 'nong in your mouth and suck out the middle (photo not available)...

here's the final result!

it may sound a little strange, and heck it may look a little strange when you have several grape hulls lying in a pile, but trust me they are yummy! go ahead, you know you wanna try!

it's gonna be a good weekend

how funny is this picture, really?! silly squirrel! (click on the photo for more on the story.) and now the squirrel is everywhere!!! just the kind of thing i need on a friday. :)

speaking of the weekend, if you are in the philly area tomorrow and are lucky enough to be going to this show two things: one, i am extremely jealous and two, do you have an extra ticket you would like to share? if not, don't worry i'll be listening online.

it's a feel good friday, people! so sit back and enjoy a little passion pit and tori with the ps22 chorus.




sunday brunch

everyone needs a little "chicken" 'n' bacon on sunday morning! (for those of you puzzled by "chicken" - that is one of peyton's many nicknames.)

but seriously, this morning (in the pouring rain) mike and i went to brunch at sabrina's cafe down in the italian market. wowzas!!! so delightfully yummy! i had the egg white turkey bacon frittata and it was scrumptious! mike got special green onion griddle cakes with pepperjack scramble eggs and black bean salsa. also aaaaaaaaamazing! and no, i did not see reese and jake while we were there. however, it seems witherhaal (hehe!) is fond of alma de cuba too - maybe we can all enjoy a few black cherry caipirinhas sometime. and of course paul rudd can join too. :)

in another life...

photo courtesy of eattoblog.com
i want to drive around in a food truck and serve up yummy food to the masses. sounds weird, i know. but there is something so simple, yet urban, about walking down the street and eating the best taco/cupcake/ice cream/whatever of your life from a little truck parked on the corner. and i know that this trend that has been going on for quite a while, but i'm still intrigued. maybe it's because when i was growing up the ice cream man never made it out to my house. (i lived waaaaaaaaaaaay back in the woods and honestly thought that the ice cream man coming to your house only happened in the movies.) and then when i was in portland and seattle last month there were entire city blocks that were occupied by glorious food vendors. admit it, even you are curious now.

but today, i saw this. the newest food truck in la - frysmith. where was this in my 20s?? hungry yet? i am. what kind of truck can we start?

(and i apologize for not posting much lately. but sometimes, i just don't have much to share. i think my friend said it best on her blog recently. while you're there, you should check out her blog - she's much cooler than i am!)

come monday

here is a nice little interview of jimmy interviewing jimmy. and then monsieur buffett took a trip to "margaritaville" with the roots. something nice for monday morning. :)

summer tunes

yesterday i mentioned something about creating a little summer play list for your listening pleasure. so let's do it!

1. Sunshine (Come on Lady) - Josh Rouse
2. Soul Refreshing - Robert Randolph & The Family Band
3. Up and Away - Dave Matthews
4. Burning in the Sun - Blue Merle
5. Her First Mistake - Lyle Lovett
6. Diner - Martin Sexton
7. I Love the Rain the Most - Joe Purdy
8. Saint Behind the Glass - Los Lobos
9. Summertime Thing - Chuck Prophet
10. Nothing But A Miracle - Diane Birch
11. Orange Shirt - Discovery
12. Little Secrets - Passion Pit
13. When I Drink - The Avett Brothers
14. You're My Favorite Waste of Time - Marshall Crenshaw
15. It Don't Matter - Donavon Frankenreiter

a little something for everything - a little old, a little new, and it will all make you feel good! and just wait until the first fall breeze comes sliding through the windows. my "music that i listen to only during the fall months" is incredible!! or at least i think it's pretty awesome. :)

life is good - in the summer

here we are. smack dab in the heart of summer. and it's about time. (i'm looking at you philadelphia weather.) so i thought today would be a great day to share a few favorite summer '09 must-haves for kiki! so here we go!

nail polish:
i don't know about you guys, but a good pedicure is key in the summer months. but this summer, "budgeting" for a pedicure every 2-3 weeks just isn't happening. so i found the perfect way around it! meet mambo. mambo is a easy, neutral color by essie. it is absolutely fabulous for summer toes because not only does it go with everything, but even if there is a chip - you'll never notice because it blends in so well! so if you're looking for a color to stick around for while, do a little mambo next time you visit the nail salon!

shoes:
i am loving a pair of gold matiko sandals i purchased from my favorite store in wilmington, nc - island passage. they are sooooo comfy and i can take them from casual to a night out with the greatest of ease! along with my go-to havaianas, i only need two pairs of shoes this summer.

music:
oh, my! this is a tough one. this summer i have been listening to a lot of passion pit and zee avi. groovy stuff! (maybe tomorrow's blog could be a summer playlist? ah-ha!)

cocktail:
oo-la-la. one of the best parts of the summer months is enjoying an end-of-day cocktail on your porch or patio. as i mentioned a few days ago, my florida vacation last week rekindled my love of rum. all types of rum. and let me tell you, it gets no better than pineapple juice (real pineapple juice) and malibu rum. that's it. it may sound too easy (and girly), but who needs complication when all you wanna do it sit back, relax, and enjoy the evening? i didn't think so. :)

eat:
tomatoes!!!

enjoy your thursday everyone!

wacky wednesday

y'all know it's funny...



(thank you buckwheat boys for your moving lyrics)

and y'all know i'm kinda a nerd...



(the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. get it??)

and well, this one speaks for itself...



(can i steal him?)

that's all folks!

it's been awhile

good morning! sorry i've been mia for a week or so. i took a little vaycay down to sunny florida with my girls from da 'burgh. oh such fun! nothing like happy times drinking cocktails (how did i ever forget how much i adore rum?!), sitting by the sea, and watching the food network with those you love. happy times indeed!

and when i found this website on one of my favorite food blogs it just made me happy all over again! the tasty kitchen is kinda like a food and recipe social networking site. (think facebook, but yummier!) you can find me one there - my username is delightfullykiki - of course! i don't have any recipes up yet, but i will. if there is one thing i know about my friends and family, it is this - we love food! better yet, we love to cook and share our kitchen creations! so this website sounds like a good idea to me! even if you don't cook all that much, it a great place to find a little inspiration from people just like you and me!

plus, one of the most popular search topics on tasty kitchen right now is "cheese." i like these people already!

love at first sight

when i saw it, i knew i had to make it. the cookie cake pie. cookie. cake. pie. admit it, those three words bring a sweet smile to you face.
so i did it. i made my own cookie cake pie. and my, oh my was it good. so good in fact that every time i make it friends ask how i did it. i wish i could tell them it took hours of slaving in the kitchen to create such a perfect, yummy dessert. but it is really soooooooo simple. the original recipe called for making your own pie crust and cookie dough. now, i'm sure making your own crust and dough would be delightful - and i plan on trying that one day - but this summer i've been sticking to using the following method:

  • one box of cake mix (i did use funfetti cake mentioned in the original recipe)
  • one bag of cookie dough mix (i use chocolate chip)
  • one frozen pie crust (i use plain)
  • one container of butter cream icing (yum!)

i prepare all three as directed and then i begin the process:

  • cover the pie crust with a good-size layer of the cookie dough
  • pour the cake mix over the cookie dough and pie crust
  • put the concoction in a preheated 350 degree oven for about 40-50 minutes (until the cake is cooked through and a nice golden brown)
  • cool the cake, frost, and decorate to your liking
viola! the cookie cake pie is made! quite possibly the cutest, yummiest thing you can bring to a summer bbq or a sunday gathering! and the cookie, cake, and pie combination possibilities are endless...enjoy!

music monday

i figure steal a little of twitter's flavor and do my own version of "music monday." today, i celebrate life and summertime this beautiful monday morning. and what better way to enjoy life and the summer months than shaking your booty to some music? for me, that's the only way to do it.

now those who know me, know my musical taste vary. and that might be a slight understatement. my playlist today, is made up of latin/bossa nova/salsa music. one my personal favorite genres anytime of the year, but partcially in the summer months. this morning, i'm movin' and groovin' to yerba buena and bebel gilberto. plug either one of these into a pandora station this morning and i promise you will not be disappointed.

and now, take a listen to this! oh, happy monday!!! i wish i could speak spanish...

almost forgot! big shout out to my brother for my pretty awesome new title banner!

music and film



hahahahaha! happy friday!

i love coffee

yes i do! i have been lucky to come across some pretty amazing coffee shops here and there. i love exploring new little cafes and seeing what they have to offer. not only that, but i love places that roast their own beans. i mean there is only so much starbucks (very interesting article, btw) you can take after a while.

take, for instance, portland. in portland there is an amazing roaster called stumptown coffee. Very, very good. between there and voodoo doughnuts, portland seemed like a place i could really get used to visiting - or staying! (i'll save that adventure for another blog.)

but, lucky for me, i don't have to travel all the way to portland to find excellent beans. ladies and gentlemen, i give you la colombe. with two locations in the philly area and many more brewing their goods, la colombe's latte is quite possibly the most perfect latte i have ever tasted. smooth and light with a kick that will keep you moving all day. if you are traveling to philly and find yourself in need of caffeine you MUST stop in to la colombe. i promise you will not be disappointed.

i will always try to support local businesses and give them a shout out whenever i can. but don't discount your local starbucks baristas. they are just trying to make a livin' like everyone else. the girls at my local 'bucks love me, and i love them back!

there is a website for everything

i'm not quite sure what direction i want to blog in today, (music, food, travel?) so in the meantime check out this too cute/pitiful website. (warning: although the website content is totally sfw, the name of the site uses a completely unnecessary word that is probably nsfw.)

here's a little taste...

i'm not a fashionista, but i know what i like.

last night i tweeted (yes, i use twitter and i call it "tweeting") about a lovely marni handbag that i keep seeing ms. reese witherspoon toting around. simply put, i love it! it kinda reminds me of a larger, much more fancy version of the allison burns faithful bag from a few years back (which i loved!). but alas, i am not a hollywood celebrity nor a mainline socialite, so my hopes of getting such a bag will remain just that - hopes. i will admit i have a thing for accessories. shoes, handbags, bracelets, earrings...but what girl doesn't? one of my fashion mantras has always been to take the simple pieces you have (my closet consists mostly of denim, white, and black) and then decorate! but keep decorations minimal. a great pair of earrings needs nothing more than a simple bracelet and some killer shoes in a great color. a funky necklace just needs a little jacket and some high, high heels. keeping things simple, classic, and, most importantly, true to you is the key to looking fabulous!

i digress. back to my bag. through a little research, i discovered the same bag, in brown (ooo-la-la!), at 50% off!!! i kid you not. i can see me now walking the streets of philly this fall, latte in hand, scarf around my neck, with this lovely bag draped across my body. my birthday is in november kids! :)

"how's your burger?"

looks like stephen starr's burger shack is finally opening this week in franklin square. ummmm, "cake shake?" vanilla ice cream with a tastycake? i'm there!

videos, anyone?

thought it might be nice this morning to share a few videos that made me giggle or made me say yeeeeowsa over the past few days.

first, the giggling...



everyone loves summertime watermelon nibbling!

and now the yeeeeeowsa!



love me some funky covers! enjoy your tuesday morning!

sunday mornings, i love.

typically on sunday mornings mike and i wake up, make some french press, have a little breakfast, take peyton for a walk, and then decide what culinary adventure i will dive into for the rest of the morning. this morning, since i am a golf widow, i decided to try my hand at peach scones. yum!

since it is peach season, and i just got back from carolina, i though that would be well, delightful!


never made scones from scratch before (and in full disclosure most of my scone experience comes from starbucks - sad.) so i went searching on the web for a peach scone recipe. and viola! I found one!

trust me, they are much better than they look (my wedges didn't quite work out). i sprinkled a little sugar on them for an added sweet touch. :) the recipe created very moist and crumbly scones. they will be perfect for breakfast or afternoon tea (or in my case, latte).

and as always my trusty assistant, miss peyton mae, was there to help in the kitchen. our soundtrack was a little joshua radin. his voice is perfect for sunday mornings.

so that's my first post. yay! more to come....

archives