New year..new leaf? (Or at least a new recipe)

Sigh.

(puppies make it ok, right?)

I've tried to start writing this post probably about a dozen times...mostly in my head. It feels like the break-up letter circa 1495 and I'm using up all my parchment, my ink has doth spill'd...and I've started using olde english to compensate for the fact that I haven't written anything in eons. 


The real motivation is the fact that I'm becoming aware that I may be repressing some unresolved stress in my life. Hell if I know what stress that might be at the moment, but I heard from my resourceful coworker that that constant leg jiggling, that a lot of people do (mostly me) is a sign of repressed stress. Argo, the slow revival of this little blog in hopes that this repression is radically relieved (on the other hand my alliteration skills have been vastly improving). A creative outlet is probably going to do more good than harm anyway, it's a far more productive procrastination pastime than updating my Pinterest, or trolling Nasty Gal...


So, without further ado, a new recipe! As always I love hearing any variations that you lovely creatures come up with. These lip-smacking morsels were originally supposed to be linzer heart cookies, but I followed the advice of one of the commenters on the orginal blog and made them into thumbprint cookies! Still vegan, still dairy and gluten free. Raspberry jam is awesome but I'm sure you could make them just as delicious with a different kind.

2 ½ cups blanched almond flour (I used equal parts brown rice, tapioca flours and potato starch) 

½ teaspoon celtic sea salt (I found the regular variety to work just fine)½ cup grapeseed oil (also a possible substitution...maybe almond?)

¼ cup agave nectar (or honey! Let me know if you try this with success!)                                                          

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1 cup raspberry jam

(I also added a tsp of cinnamon)

1. In a large bowl, combine flour(s) and salt
2. In a smaller bowl, combine grapeseed oil, agave and vanilla
3. Stir wet ingredients into dry
4. Chill dough in freezer for 30 minutes (I fridge'd that bad-boy...freezer dough is hard and I don't have the patience to wait for freezer dough. You just might have to chill it for a few minutes in between rolling out sections of dough. This timing works out nicely as your batches of cookies bake)
5. Between 2 pieces of parchment paper, roll out dough 1/4 to 1/8 inch thick

I followed these steps from the original recipe (Elana's Pantry) But it calls for two different sized heart-shaped cookie cutters. This is where I broke free and chose to make them into little round cookies. 

6. Once you've cut and laid your cut-outs on a pan (I kept mine lined with parchment paper) GENTLY press your thumb into the middle of each one to create a slight indentation. 

7. Place a small dollop of jam in said indentations.

8. Bake hearts at 350° on a parchment lined baking sheet for 5-7 minutes until brown around the edges (I found they needed 7 min but my oven runs on the hot side)

9. Cool and Serve

I should have taken a photo as evidence of my success but alas they did not last long, too many cookie nomm nommers in my house...I'll try to make them again soon with other modifications. 

Hope you enjoy this very belated baking blurb. I'll try alleviate my alliterary austerity...

Today I Believe

I believe that daydreams can sometimes be the best therapy. Let yourself dream, inspire, yearn. It's what keeps us human, makes us stronger.

I believe in the power of music. Lyrics can bring you up when you're at your lowest.

I believe that you can never say "I Love You" too often. If you feel it, it's never excessive. Love with your whole heart or not at all.

I believe beauty is everywhere, best of all in the places you least expect to find it.

I believe in second chances. Even thirds, sometimes.

I believe nothing lasts forever, except love, in all it's forms.

I believe that there's a 50/50 chance you'll wake up on the wrong side of the bed. The trick is learning to deal with that chance and turn it back around.

I believe some of my best poems are written in my sleep. I only wish I could wake up in time to write them down.

I believe there's always a rainbow after a hurricane.

I believe in the magic of summer nights.

I believe it's going to be a long time before I figure out who I am. The longer it takes, the longer the ride, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

I believe that my children are going to love this planet like we should've been doing this whole time. I believe each generation will start helping a little younger, a little bit more.

The Glutinous Avenger

As I'm getting closer to my Italian departure, I started doing some research on eating gluten-free in Italy. When I went to Italy before, I had been cautioned by my doctors to eat wheat/gluten minimally, but not told that it was the cause of all my digestive woes. Alas, I was an unwary traveller, and not being familiar with the country, or that there were even gluten-free options, I paid the price for eating not-so-gluten-free. Half a panini into my lunch, I felt the familiar ache, cramp and nausea. Yup, wrong choice. Fortunately, my teachers were very accommodating when it came to group meals,  otherwise my diet consisted of a lot of produce (not always the cheapest option) and asian food from the supermarket. This time, being fully realized of my dietary dilemma (I love alliteration) I did some searching for tips from fellow gluten-avoiders. I found some amazing ideas! And something I would have never thought of on my own, the farmacia (pharmacy) carries gluten-free goods! Whoda thunk it?? That will definitely be my first stop once I arrive in Florence. Along my interweb travels, I discovered some helpful lasses who gave me gluten-free hope for my travels! Thanks so much ladies!

Celiac Chicks

A Gluten-Free Guide

Gluten-Free Girl

Aha spaghetti, we will meet again. This time you will not be so fortunate as to upset my tummy. 

Photo Picks

What's wrong with a little visual indulgence? A little beach wishing, dress envy, accessory jealousy, and maybe a mystery locale, too. Have a great Saturday!

1/2/3/4

Sat-err-day.

It's another Saturday, and as usual I have a ton of work to do and little motivation to do it. Upon realizing that I'm on something of a plateau in my life, I've started to think more about what I want to do in the future instead of what I want to do right now. The truth is, I haven't a clue what I want to do, in future or present. I feel stumped and confuzzled with what I should be/want to do with my young life. I wrote a post the other day, which was something of a existential rant and a little rambling so I decided not to post it just yet. The first time I've felt apprehensive about a blog entry. And it got me thinking, what am I even doing with this blog? I want something that connects with people, maybe even gives them a feeling of wanting to connect back. I feel like by putting my words out there, foolish and naive as it may feel, I may be a little more optimistic that there's more to what I should be doing than going to French class or writing a term paper.
I think we all like to feel a little bigger sometimes, even in a miniscule way. Even if we only touch one person (metaphorically), it seems to puff us up into a slightly more noticeable speck.

So, to summarize my little episode of self-examination and blog scrutiny, What drives you, readers?
What makes you confess your favourite outfits, delicious recipes and design schemes?


And also,
I made cookies. Flourless Peanut Butter Banana cookies.
Stay tuned for the recipe!

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What's up weekend?

Sometimes, when I get the urge to write, nothing worthwhile comes out. I 'd love to be able to ramble on about my theories on current events, or my favourite trends for spring (hello 70s retro!), but sometimes words fail me. I wish my photography skills were a little more refined so I could attempt to make a pretty photo blog. Or know how to make scrapbook montages of weekend favs or outfits. Sadly, my dear readers, you will have to suffice (for now) with my daily musings and ramblings that are not necessarily always about the same thing.

Today, i got a much needed manicure (thanks mom!), and had an always uplifting trip to the vet for my little Cinni's annual vaccines. Successful Saturday I'd say. I'm keen to turn my semester around in these last 4 weeks, starting tomorrow. Today just doesn't seem right....My mom's convinced that reading this book on procrastination and the brain will somehow make me do it less? Apparently people are biologically wired to procrastinate. Seems like a justified excuse to me. So if you ever catch yourself cruising blogs or window shopping online, just remember, it's in your genes, and you can't fight with science!

Oh and my brother discovered an amazing snack that I made wheat free: waffles with, wait for it, crunchy peanut butter, nutella, and strawberry jam. Put that in your mouth and tell me it's not the tastiest thing you've had all week. You're welcome, readers' stomachs.

What's on your plate this weekend? Anyone busting out the BBQ yet??

 I'm dying for something hot off the grill (hint hint at my boyfriend, BBQ oysters next weekend??)

Until then, maybe I'll have to make a trip to Memphis Blues BBQ? 

Have a great weekend everyone!
P.s remember it's daylight savings tonight! Spring is almost here!
xoxo

Book Lusts

So far, I've complied a short list of books that I'm currently lusting for. I have a dream to have a varied collection of coffee table books, classic novels, poetry and art books. 

• Hadrian and the Triumph of Rome - Anthony Everitt
• The Birth of Venus - Sarah Dunant
• The Essential Rumi - Coleman Barks
• Notes From The Underground - Dostoyevsky
• IE: A Million Miles In a Thousand Years - Donald Miller
• Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger
• The Great Gatsby - F. Fitzgerald
• This Side of Brightness - Colum McCann
• Paris Secrets: Architecture, Interiors, Quartiers, Corners - Janelle McColloch
• For The Love of Old - Mary Randolf Cartar
• 50 Artists You Should Know - Thomas Koester
• Love Poems by Pablo Neruda

What's on your list? 

all the pretty little boxes

I love antique suitcases and old looking cases, containers, boxes and furniture. There's just something about things with a story to them, or a little wear and tear that I love.

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Snowy Love

Snowy love.
It's a cold hand to hold.
Yours is the hand
that hands it on, chilled, and
poured over ice.
the glass' edge cusped with
The drip drip.
The icy dew.

On winter's nights,
yours is the hand
that holds mine tight.
veins pulsing with
frozen vodka,
a popsicle concoction.

Chilled hands.
Frozen feet.
The two short covers.
One might think,
you cut it short on purpose.
Just to see the icy sweat
freeze along my spine.