Creme de Menthe Brownies & a Special Birthday

Last Wednesday, my middle sibling turned 21! She's (we've) been counting down for moooonths. My other sister and I have been trying to plan something special for a while. My mom wanted to take us 3 older sisters to Vegas for a weekend...however, that was a big dream. PLUS, we still have one more sister that has yet to reach this exciting age, and we'd hated to leave her behind!

The final plan was a night in D.C. for the three oldest sisters this past weekend, which ended up being such a good time! We stayed near Dupont Circle and were able to meet up with some of our college sorority sisters so that we had a huge entourage when walking into our one and only bar for the night (whoops?).

Food Highlights: New York City [Cupcakes]

I had two important (personal) goals while in New York City--for the first time--for work the other week -

1. Eat pizza
2. Eat cupcakes
3. Bonus: Be on the Today Show (check!)

Upon arriving in the big apple, my co-worker and I's first stop was a pizzeria for lunch. Recommended by the hotel's concierge, we ate to John's Pizzeria, located just off Broadway. It's situated in what we were told was a church; the presence of a stained glass ceiling and a balcony made the rumor believable. Two brick ovens were situated against both sides of the restaurant's back wall, which allow you the pleasant experience of viewing the pizza masters at work. Seeing as money wasn't much of an object (oh the small luxuries of business travel), we both ordered our own pizzas. Mine was half traditional and half pizza bianca (white). The traditional was NYC-pizza-perfection...the white side had a ridiculous amount of ricotta, which honestly made it somewhat unappetizing.

Food Highlights: Nassau, The Bahamas

Its been two weeks since I first step foot off the plane onto New Providence, The Bahamas.
Two weeks since setting my feet into the Bahamian sand and dipping my toes into the chilly turquoise water.
Two weeks since feeling the salty sea breeze run through my hair and warm sun kiss my shoulders.
And two weeks since biting into my first conch fritter of vacation.


Vacation with Boyfriend was wonderful...and I'm so sad that its over. Its been over. Ugh.

Not "buying" into the holiday [Homemade Snickers]

Too many people have strong feelings about Valentine's Day. Some love it, some hate it, some pretend to hate it but really love it, and some change their mind depending on the year. Me? Its just another grand excuse to bake something extravagant, whether its for someone else...or just me. And it was supposed to just be me, until Monday night. Then Boyfriend decided he would come down for a visit.

Good Boyfriend...behavior deserving of a treat! Nevermind it being our FOURTH Valentine's Day together :-P

So on the day that everyone typically receives boxes of store-bought chocolates (And flowers. Good lord, the flowers at my office!), I decided to show how much I really care by MAKING Boyfriend snickers bars. Yes, snicker bars. You can make them!

Happy Birthday...To Me! [Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cake]

My birthday was yesterday...and I got to spend the morning on the Love Beach, New Providence in the Bahamas...with a Bahama Mama in my hand...and Boyfriend by my side. A dream. 

And then I had to come home. To the cold. To work. To reality. Ugh.

But I did have this waiting for me in the freezer, which at least gave me SOMETHING to look forward to: chocolate chip cookie dough sandwiched between two layers of a chocolate buttermilk cake. Then last night, when I dragged my carry-ons and sad, tired booty into my dark apartment, I made a chocolate ganache to finish this birthday dream master piece.

The complete recipe will be shared later. I need to unpack my bags, THEN repack for NYC tonight.

Yes. I'm headed to N-Y-C in the morning (for work). FINALLY!!!!!

24 is destined to be a year of dreams <3

Blueberry Pancake Pound Cake...Oh yes I did.

I've been trying my hardest to use up everything slightly "spoil-able" in my fridge before the Bahamian vacay (which is TOMORROW!!!!)

When dealing with situations such as these, fate has a funny way of stepping in and helping me out. E.g. I stumbled upon a new baking blog when doing some baking "research" and this recipe for a maple yogurt pound cake caught my eye. I know maple syrup is terribly bad for me, and that the name POUND cake should be off-putting, especially as I finish tucking my bikinis into my suitcase. But no, doesn't matter; I am addicted to sugar and only a mammoth-amount of motivation will snap me out of it. And, well, it just so happens mammoths are extinct.