Whoopie Love

Holidays allow for over-indulgence. Maybe that's why I love them so much. Either way, I'll take any excuse to bake sugary treats! I headed over to a dear friends house who has a kitchen equipped with frosting guns...frosting guns, people!! 

I'll forgive you if you think these look like tiny butts & not hearts. Because I agree. 

You may be wondering why we're pouring Jack Daniels into the frosting, so here goes: While touring the Jack Daniels Distillery on a whirlwind Nashville weekend trip, our 80 year old tour guide named Betty, gave us her baking secret. Directly replace vanilla with Jack Daniels in all things baking & it tastes just as good, if not better. This may be a direct result from all employees receiving a bottle of Jack  the first of every month...blame it on the booze! 

Inspiration found here and recipe found here. Bon Appetit! 

Carpe Diem, 

Mandy 

Celebrate Love

I am a sucker for all holidays. I'll take any excuse for a celebration- champagne, decor, oodles of candy & gifts. I think Valentine's Day is a fantastic reminder to tell the special people in your life just how much you love them. Of course, it would be ideal to celebrate those people all year long, but how about you treat them extra special on February 14th? Celebrating love is a glorious occasion & a girl can't complain if it's accompanied by flowers and breakfast and chocolate and jewelry.....

Speaking of love, I adore Instagram. Above are a few of my favorite photos lately, all lovey-dovey themed of course. 

1. Ombre heart inspired by Valentine's Day while creating Vanillawood's window display

2. Red Velvet Woopie pies (recipe coming soon!)

3. Almond French Toast stuffed with Vanilla-Coconut Blueberry cream cheese filling (recipe here)

4. My new Bevin bronze ring gifted from Mr. Riggar for our first married Valentine's Day <3 

What's your take on Valentine's Day? Love it? Hate it? Hallmark Holiday?

Carpe  Diem, 

Mandy

Valentine's Breakfast

With Valentine's Day being on a Tuesday this year, we decided to indulge in a lazy Sunday morning breakfast instead (thanks for the inspiration, Camille!).

I added some twists to the recipe I found here (via Pinterest) & they were well worth it! We ended up with a Brioche Almond French Toast sandwich stuffed with Vanilla-Coconut, Blueberry Cream Cheese. Naturally paired with an Orange Mango Mimosa, of course. Living above a Starbucks means we start nearly every morning with some soy lattes & this special occasion was no different. Plus, those Valentine cups are just adorable...I can't resist them!

Ingredients


French Toast 
3 eggs per 6 slices
Brioche loaf (Lovejoy Bakers is delicious!)
1 tsp. Vanilla
1 cup Almond Milk
Dash-o-cinnamon

The French Toast drill: Slice. Mix. Dip. Grill.

Cream Cheese Filling
12 oz. Whipped Cream Cheese
1 tsp. Vanilla
1/3 cup coconut
Pinch of granulated or powdered sugar*
Blueberries

Whipped is the-way-to-go for this recipe. It is beyond easy to mix up & even easier to spread. Don't waste your time with regular cream cheese! Add ingredients, mix together & spread over the french toast. Garnish with additional blueberries & more coconut inside & out of the sandwich.

Drench with maple syrup & enjoy!

* The original recipe called for powdered sugar, which we did not have, so I mixed in vanilla & coconut for the sweetness.

Side note: I barely cook. I am a total beginner, so these directions are easy-peasy because that's the way I like it!

As beautiful as this sandwich looks, it's also ridiculously indulgent. I'd like to try the same recipe again, but use the cream cheese as a "frosting" rather than filling & keep the slices separate. Either way, it is a delicious breakfast!

Enjoy!

Carpe Diem, 

Mandy 

Eat Drink Portland: Oven & Shaker

My favorite Italian restaurant in Portland recently shut down to my dismay. In its spot though, came Oven & Shaker, a combination of Nostrana Chef Cathy Whims & NW Native bartender, Ryan Magarian. As disappointed as I am to see yet another local business shut it's doors, the saying rings true in this instance: "when one door closes, another opportunity opens." 

Needless to say, this restaurant rocked my socks off! From the sexy atmosphere to mouth-watering food AND cocktails, I will without a doubt be returning. Part oven, part shaker, this restaurant offers mind-blowing pizza AND out-of-this-world cocktails in one sitting. Served family style, it is perfect for groups & for a saucy date night (Lady & The Tramp style...). 

From the classic Margarita Pizza to a Bacon Brussel Sprout Pizza, the options range from one spectrum to the other, with perfection in between. 

As the signature cocktail, the Pineapple Trainwreck is sweetness at it's best (aka: sans the sugar-high & hang-over). This baby is lovingly hand made, down to the fresh, house-squeezed juices. 

I rarely leave new restaurants without trying their dessert (shocking). This past weekend, the homemade gelato was  Dark Cherry Buttermilk & yes, it tastes just as good as it sounds. 

Every detail of this restaurant has clearly been executed to perfection. I look forward to heading back & trying out their late-night happy hour as well. 

Also, any classy restaurant that serves fried mozzarella is fantastic in my book. Don't let that discredit my opinion though.... 

Carpe Diem, 

Mandy 

*Instagram photo taken by me (@Mandy_Jae). All other photos taken by Oven & Shaker photographer, John Vallis. 

Cookie Bombs

Let's talk about sweets. I get my sweet tooth from my grandmother & father and boy, when I have a hankering I am unstoppable. It's an issue some days. When I saw these cookies on beloved Pinterest, I had to eat them immediately. So began my dive into the baking world.

These are very simple: homemade chocolate chip cookie dough, wrapped around an Oreo. For convenience matters, I also tried with store bought cookie dough and it was an epic fail. Domestic-fearing cookie addicts, the "quicker" route is not the solution this time (I will not even show photos, they are that terrible). So, roll up your sleeves & start pouring the sugar because theses babies are all homemade.

These make a great party favor & are easy to transport to a pot luck. Most think they are traditional chocolate chip cookies at first sight, until the first person eats one...and then those cookies become the life of the party. I did not win the Super Bowl cook-off, but I totally think the contest was rigged anyways. I don't believe it one bit.

Recipe found here.

Carpe Diem, 

Mandy 

Eat Drink Portland: Smokehouse21

NW 21st has two new restaurants in town, both featuring local yumminess, true Portland style. Aka: local meat from a nearby farm, local bread from the neighboring bakery & menu's listing exactly who, what & where. I'll admit it...I love everything about this! Welcome to the 'hood Smokehouse 21 & Dick's Kitchen!

First up  is Smokehouse 21, a tiny BBQ hot spot with a short, but delicious menu. Choices are simple: meat & sides with spices/sauces already on the table. The meat is served dry, allowing you to pick & choose at your convenience. Talk about a man's heaven, right? My particular favorite is the beer list: only requirement is it's served in a can (with a coozie...duh). Also, don't forget to try the Bacon Molasses Cornbread with warm honey butter syrup & the homemade Mac & Cheese. So good, I refused to waste any....I wish I had Mac & Cheese to-go every day!

More to come on Dick's Kitchen soon!

Carpe Diem, 

Mandy 

*Instagram photos by me (@Mandy_Jae). All other photos taken by Smokehouse21 photographer Erin Berzel. 

Cafe Nell

Is...that....a...meal in a drink? Why, yes, yes it is. Equipped with a fantastic (medium-priced) menu paired with their signature "Mary Nell" & "Man-Mosas" (mimosa in a pint glass),  Cafe Nell is my new favorite breakfast joint. With so many delicious breakfast hot-spots in PDX, it's hard to find a spot without a line...outside...in the rain. Cafe Nell is tucked away in lower NW Portland and, hear me out, there is never a line. I cross my heart! Even at 10am on the weekends. My particular favorite is the Creme Anglais French Toast with a Man-Mosa. Warning: Afternoon naps will taunt you after downing a pint glass of champagne topped with orange juice. A full pint glass; straight up college style! But, of course, classy because this is Portland and we're weird foodies here. 

Try it out next time you're craving delicious breakfast food. You won't regret it. Unless you have more than one man-mosas and an afternoon date with grandma on the schedule. 

Carpe Diem, 

Mandy 

Image credit clockwise: Cafe Nell, Mandy Knapp, 365 Things Portland, Instagram Mandy_Jae