Festive Friday - Part II

and...we're back with Part II of festive friday. so to make up for not making the first festive friday (say that 10 times fast) recipe i am back with one that i have made & LOVE. it is so tasty, easy and you will get lots of compliments. even if they are just from yourself.

up this week...

love them silly lemon bars

(yes, i made that up)

Ingredients
1 1/8 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 eggs
2/3 cup confectioners' sugar
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar

Directions
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). In a medium bowl, mix together the flour, 1/3 cup of confectioners' sugar, and butter until butter is in very small crumbs. Press into the bottom of a 11x7 inch pan.

Bake for 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until firm and lightly browned. While the crust is baking, whisk together the eggs, 2/3 cup of confectioners' sugar, lemon juice and lemon zest in a medium bowl. Just before the crust is done, stir in the baking powder. Pour over the crust while it is hot, and return to the oven.

Bake for another 25 minutes in the preheated oven, until set. Dust with remaining confectioners' sugar when cool.

yum! enjoy!

The Knot Southern California

if you are in the Southern California area keep your eyes peeled for the newest issue of The Knot Southern California. why you ask? well, you just might recognize a couple of people in there! Jason & I are a featured wedding. you can see photos of our big day & read a little more about our story.

i know what you are thinking & i would never leave you out. we know all of you don't live in southern california. i mean hello?! we don't even live in SoCal anymore. below is the front cover of the mag & our four page spread! Eek...so exciting. it is so fun to think that brides will be flipping through the pages of a magazine and just might see something that they LOVE from our wedding. it really is such a compliment to what jason & i created for our BIG day.

Enjoy!

Festive Friday

what is it about this time of the year that just makes you want to bake? i always have amazing intentions to bake up some goodies for my honey. ahem...let's be honest for me too. it usually doesn't happen for one reason or another. but, really, i want to.

this year, i am determined to try at least one new treat recipe. do you hear me? determined. wish me luck and cross your fingers! in an effort to encourage myself and spread some holiday treat cheer, friday will be my day to bring a fun new recipe to YOU and me. the goal? try the recipe over the weekend and report how it went. Hence, festive friday!

first up...

Banana-Walnut Chocolate Chunk Cookies

mmmm...my mouth has been watering since i found this recipe.

Makes about 3 dozen

use a ripe banana, which has more concentrated flavor than an unripe one

Whatcha need:

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup whole-wheat flour

1 teaspoon coarse salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup packed light brown sugar

1 large egg

1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1/2 cup mashed ripe banana (about 1 large)

1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats

8 ounces semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped into 1/4-inch chunks

1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts (about 2 ounces), toasted

1. Preheat oven 375 degrees. Whisk together flours, salt, and baking soda in a small bowl; set aside. Put butter and sugars into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; mix on medium speed until pale and fluffy. Reduce speed to low. Add egg and vanilla; mix until combined. Mix in banana. Add flour mixture; mix until just combined. Stir in oats, chocolate chunks, and walnuts.

2. Using a 1 1/2 inch ice cream scoop, drop dough onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper, spacing about 2 inches apart. Bake cookies, rotating sheets halfway through, until golden brown and just set, 12 to 13 minutes. Let cool on sheets on wire racks for about 5 minutes. (always the hard part for me) Transfer cookies to wire racks; let cool completely. (uh, really hard for me!) Cookies can be stored in airtight containers up to 2 days.

time to hit the market!

Enjoy!

oh so thankful

jason and i were spoiled with a week off from work. it was so incredibly relaxing for me to be home. seeing our families & friends was just what i needed and i am so thankful for the time we had. our time was so amazing i didn't capture many photos because i was taking it all in. the week went by so, so quickly!

we flew in on monday afternoon and danny snagged us from the airport. kristen and i took a dance class together while the boys watched monday night football. oh how i miss our weekly dance class, dinner & shopping.

tuesday we headed to jason's folks house. we were able to grab our first taste of in-n-out and enjoy some time with his mom, dad, marc, erica & his grandparents. very cool to see them all. plus jason got to drive his baby. it still hasn't sold! sad lip. anyone looking for a car?

wednesday...jason had to head to LA for some business & i got to spend the day with my mom and granddad. we enjoyed a tasty lunch and ran some errands to prepare for turkey day! that evening i spent some much needed time with erica & linds. we sat and chatted until 2am. uh nothing in the world like girlfriend time. heaven.

thursday...we enjoyed a scrumptious meal that included everything thanksgiving has to offer. thank you mom & dad for making such an amazing dinner for us to devour. we were truly blessed to spend the holiday with so many people we LOVE.

i know this photo is blurry but i just can't resist how cute my grandma is!

brent & taka came and celebrated thanksgiving with us!
what a treat to see them! thank you guys for coming!!

every year (since i started working for classic) the tradition has been for me to design the table.
i LOVE it. i LOVE thinking of a new look each year. this year was not over the top THANKSGIVING but still festive...i think. a farmhouse chic look is what i would call it.
bundles of wheat. mason jars stuffed with hydrangeas. milk glass vases filled with kale and ruffled white flowers. i was pretty happy with the finished look. clean. crisp.

each napkin was tied with twine and accented with wheat.

friday was spent relaxing. jason and i took my granddad to breakfast. my mom and i went to target. oh how i miss target. and then we went to dinner with all my fav peeps.

saturday we headed down to the boyle's. the harper's joined us. we grabbed lunch. did some shopping. and just spent time hanging together. love this time together.
oh and the super bonus...we got to see Brooke's new house and her adorable family.

erica getting a little massage! oh yeah!

sunday. one of my favorite things during the holiday season is my parents house during christmas. it is so magical there. my mom constantly has christmas music playing, fires in the fireplace & sweet holiday smells filling the house. i was so glad i was able to help decorate her mantel & see their christmas lights before we left. we won't be home for christmas...so this was a special treat for me.

we are back in NYC now. i am fitting off the flu, which is a bummer. but, i am so thankful for the week we had. thank you all for making our thanksgiving so special.

oh & SNOW is in the forecast for SATURDAY!!!
we'll keep you posted.