Zucchini Patty Sandwiches

Let me just preface this post with, I constantly pin delicious looking recipes and then never get around to actually making them.  However, the other night I was looking for some culinary inspiration and I realized I had almost all of the ingredients for making these zucchini patty sandwiches on hand.  We didn't have any breadcrumbs so I ended up subbing them for a 1/2 cup of almond flour and instead of mixing mint leaves with the Greek yogurt I added a hearty dose of Sriracha hot sauce {we are addicted to the stuff} for a little extra kick.  You guys, Kiwi LOVED them and he usually not a fan of any recipe that doesn't revolve around meat.  The success of this dish has inspired me to try and execute one Pinterest recipe each week just to shake things up.  Wish me luck!

*Recipe originally found here via Whole Living.

Our Christmas, Instagram Style

Our Christmas this year was quiet and lovely. Kiwi and I cooked up a delicious Christmas brunch {we made this and this} and we celebrated with our families. Decorations were minimal, but I loved the pops of color from bright washi tape accents and the sweet simplicity of this garland from Anthropologie. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday, enjoy the rest of 2011 and ring in the New Year in style!

The most delicious brussels sprouts recipe EVER.

Yes, that's right... I used the words delicious and brussels sprouts in the same sentence. I know what you're thinking... Delicious? Brussels sprouts? I'm here to tell you it's true folks. I cooked up a batch of these lovelies from 101 Cookbooks for Thanksgiving this year and there was not a single morsel left in the house. My 14-year-old sister even went back for seconds! I think the grated Parmesan makes them extra yummy. The recipe was simple and easy to follow, so if you're looking for a way to add some tasty greenery to your next meal this is it.

*I added some toasted almonds for a little extra crunch. I highly recommend it.

fika: coffee break

Fika is the Swedish tradition of taking a break with friends, family or colleagues to have coffee accompanied by baked goods, cookies or cake. I love the idea of taking a few minutes out of the day to pause and enjoy a little moment of camaraderie... not to mention a hot coffee and sweet treat. Forget bringing back cocktail hour... I'm all about fika.

*All photos by Swedish photographer and graphic design student Hilda Grahnat. Her exceedingly lovely blog offers a beautiful little sneak peek into daily Swedish life.

broccoli crunch salad

{images via 101 cookbooks}

For our family Easter gathering this year I decided to bring broccoli crunch salad made from a 101 Cookbooks recipe. I dare say it was a hit! Next time however, I will follow the instructions a little more closely and not dress the salad until just before it is served. Some of the "crunch" may have lost its punch on the car ride over!

*Do you have any recipes you'd like to share? I'm always on the lookout for new additions to my {very limited} repertoire!

pizzeria bianco

{pizzeria bianco}

{bar bianco}

{playing the waiting game}

{we're in!}

{enjoying a glass of vino}

{the wiseguy}

{margherita goodness}

After Pizzeria Bianco was voted "The Best Pizza in America" by Oprah viewers I knew I had to check it out. The wait time for a table can be up to three hours so when our name was called after only an hour and a half we felt like we won the lottery. Thankfully, they have an adorable little historic house turned wine bar next door for patrons to pass the time in, so it really wasn't all that bad.

Once we were seated inside the tiny restaurant service was fast and friendly. After the long wait we decided to sample as many pizzas as possible. We tried the Margherita, Sonny Boy and Wiseguy pizzas. My favorite was the Sonny Boy, made with fresh mozzarella, salami and salty Gaeta olives.

Final verdict? The pizza was fresh and flavorful and the atmosphere was charming. I highly recommend it, but only if you have an entire evening to dedicate to your dining experience. We will definitely be back... I'm dying to try the pistachio pizza!

left coast envy

{i heart san diego}

{the coffee cup}

{so delicious}

{sunset cliffs}

{stone brewing co.}

{beer and barley}

{the finished product}

{cross-roads}

{sand and surf}

We had so much fun in San Diego. We had breakfast at the Coffee Cup, hiked Sunset Cliffs and toured the Stone Brewing Company. Oh San Diego, how I heart you.

*If you are ever in the area, I would definitely check out Stone Brewing Co. The tour is free and includes four tastings! But get there early, the tours fill up fast.

a malaysian vacation

{temple on the hill}

{so peaceful}

{prayer flags}

{kuan yin goddess}

{chicken satay}

{a stroll on the beach}

{lone rider}

{beautiful butterflies}

{stunning foliage}

{mamma laying her eggs}

{all in a row}

{batik presses}

{kiwi checking out the batik}

{durian, king of the fruits}

The first stop on our tour of Southeast Asia was Penang, Malaysia. Kiwi's dad grew up there, so it was great having a tour guide who really knows the area. We took walks on the beach and went to the butterfly farm and batik factory. And don't even get me started on the food.... I could eat chicken satay with peanut sauce every day for the rest of my life! My favorite place was the temple on the hill... It's where they filmed Anna and the King. It was so peaceful and serene up in the mountains... Such a wonderful experience. I heart Malaysia!

*Don't forget to enter the giveaway! I'll leave the comments open until the end of this week.

i heart birthday brunch

{birthday brunch}

{champagne bar}

{birthday peonies}

{what's on the menu}

{penne frittata}

{coconut cupcakes}

{fun with the fuji instax}

{i heart my friends}

There is nothing I love more than a champagne brunch with my girlfriends... especially when it's to celebrate my birthday! I don't officially turn 25 until Wednesday but I have a feeling it's going to be a really wonderful year.

*Penne frittata and boozy fruit recipes via Cup of Jo.... They were super easy to make and incredibly delicious!