Italian Burrata Cheese Appetizer

Ryan and I went to a dinner party a little while ago, and a friend made this Italian appetizer. It was so delicious that I had been craving it ever since. I decided to make it a few weeks ago, and am so glad I did. I paired it with a salami & provolone plate for a light tapas style meal. (I love eating appetizers as entrees!) It’s really a pretty simple recipe, I definitely recommend trying it out.

What You’ll Need:

Heirloom Tomatoes
Burrata Cheese (Mozzarella Cheese Filled with Cream)
Arugula & Basil Pesto (quick recipe here)
Olive Oil
Balsamic Vinegar
Salt & Pepper
Italian Loaf

Directions:

Dice the heirloom tomatoes into little pieces. Place burrata cheese on plate, and cover with pesto. Arrange the heirloom tomatoes around the cheese. Drizzle the tomatoes with olive oil & balsamic vinegar. Top tomatoes with salt & pepper. Warm the bread, slice, and top with butter and garlic (if desired). Serve. (Scoop some tomatoes, cheese, and pesto onto the bread. Yum!)

Almond Chip Scones

   A few weeks ago my sister came into town to visit. Her flight came in mid morning, so we had a little brunch at my apartment after I picked her up. I wanted to keep it pretty simple with scones, a breakfast casserole, fruit, and coffee. This was my first time making homemade scones (I chose almond chip scones, similar recipe here) and was pretty pleased with the results. Overall, the brunch was a success!

Adventures In Hiking

                                                                 [Malibu Creek State Park]

   Since moving to California five months ago, hiking has become one of my new favorite pastimes. Coming from Florida, where the landscape is extremely flat, the beauty of the mountains overwhelms my spirit. I feel so at peace when I am outside in nature, especially when I get to share the experience with a good friend. Meaningful conversations ensue as we bask in the beauty around us.

  Two of my favorite hiking trails are Malibu Creek State Park and Eaton Canyon Park in Pasadena. In Malibu, you feel like you are in another country – the landscape is unbelievable. And then to top it all off, you get to go for a swim at a swimming hole in the middle of the mountains. Incredible. At Eaton Canyon, you get to jump and skip across rocks as you cross over multiple streams until you make your way to the waterfall there. It’s such a fun hike. Overall, my experiences in hiking have meant a lot to me. Thought I would share some of the pictures with you.

Hope you have a wonderful & inspiring week. ♥

                                               [My friend Erin at Malibu Creek State Park]

                                                 [The hubs climbing on rocks in Malibu]

                                   [The swimming hole in Malibu, shot of a man cliff jumping]

                                                       [Eaton Canyon Park in Pasadena]

                                                     [Me at the waterfall at Eaton Canyon Park]

Homemade Edamame Hummus

Ryan and I are big fans of hummus. It’s the perfect afternoon snack. I’ve made homemade hummus before. But this time I wanted to try something a little different, so I made Edamame hummus. It’s pretty much the same but it is made with Edamame (soy beans) instead of Garbanzo beans. Overall, it was quick to whip up & tasted great!

Ingredients:

1 ½ Cup frozen shelled edamame
¼ Tahini
3 Tablespoons lemon juice (1 lemon)
1 Clove garlic (smashed)
1 Teaspoon of salt
3 Tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
Pinch of Cumin (optional)
Sugar snap peas, carrots, and/or warm pita bread to serve with.

Directions: Bring small pot of salted water to boil and add the edamame. Let boil 4-5 minutes, then drain & cool. Combine the edamame, tahini, lemon juice, garlic, salt, olive oil, and cumin in a food processor and puree until smooth. Serve with the suggested ingredients & enjoy!

Necklace Display

Until recently, my necklaces were in a tangled heap in a little jewelry box. I’m usually rushing out the door, which means little time to choose a necklace and then untangle it. I decided I wanted to get organized. I loved the idea of displaying my necklaces on the wall, so I went on a hunt for some cute hooks. I found these ones at Urban Outfitters, hung them on the wall, and finally untangled my jewelry. I am happy with the results… It definitely makes accessorizing a little bit easier!