Sky rockets in flight

"Coconut Delight"

I don't know who came up with the name for this dessert but as cheezy as it sounds, it is truly delightful. So light and delicious, very complimentary to any meal. I love making it, but it calls for Coconut pudding which was near impossible to find in Brooklyn, so I only made it when I could stash a few packages into my suitcase, and I usually used them up within a month. But now that I'm back in Utah where the grocery stores are endless and well, lets just say I've made it a few times too many.

A friend of mine just had twin girls a few weeks ago so this afternoon I made her a batch and of course doubled it for myself. The few times I have served it at parties etc., I usually get many calls for the recipe so I thought I would share.

Combine
1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted        1 cup flour
1-1/4 cup flaked coconut                      1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup slivered almonds

In a bowl, mix the above ingredients together, press lightly into a greased 13 x 9 inch baking pan. Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown, stirring every 10 minutes to form coarse crumbs. Cool. Divide crumb mixture in half;press half into the same baking pan.

Combine
1 pkg. (3.4 oz) of instant vanilla pudding mix
1 pkg. (3.4 oz) of instant coconut pudding mix
2 2/3 cup cold milk
Fold in 2 cups whipped topping ( I use heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla)

 

Spoon over crust. Top with remaining crumb mixture. Cover and refrigerate overnight. (It tastes better the longer it sits).

And enjoy!!

I can't get enough

I seriously worship this guy, Charles Spencer Anderson. Like many others I admire, he is a graphic designer and is based out of Minneapolis. If Tom would have applied and gotten a job with him, I would have moved immediately to Minnesota despite my intense loathing for really really cold weather. He's that great.

My favorite of his stuff is what he designs for French Paper Company, and more specifically his Pop Ink Line.  If I could own all of it I would. He has a knack for camp, and I'm a sucker for it, always have been.

My love for his stuff first started a few years ago, when Tom picked up this book. It has no purpose other than it is filled cover to cover with the cutest illustrations of little animals. It's one of my all time favorite books.

Come on, who wouldn't to use some of this stuff for very special occasions? And yes, these are seriously dinner plates, but wouldn't they look so great on a wall?

And this wrapping paper

 

One of the perks of having a graphic designer for a father and husband is the free paper samples they get. Usually they are from boring paper companies but every now and then they give out something really great. Well, French Paper Company distributed these posters to potential clients, and I couldn't have been more delighted. I think I will frame them and put them in Luke's room, or even in a nursery someday. Oh I really love them, and they are even available on dinner plates.

fyi

This Monday  Today, Built by Wendy, one of my most favorite brands, is having a 50% off summer sale. I post about this only because I always always seem to miss the sales. By the time I get to a site, everything is usually gone, so I thought I would let those who maybe interested know. I mainly browse for inspiration, but sometimes her sales are really awesome. I mean 50% off? you would only need to spend around $150 for something really great and unique. Bargain eh?

These are some of my favs. I especially love the denim bag and all the high waisted stuff!

  

I'm no hippie...

but I love my hippie sandals.

I debated on getting these, for several months. For one, I have plenty of sandals, and two, I just wasn't sure I could pull them off the way I imagined in my head. While I was in Vegas a few weeks ago looking for running shoes, I stumbled on these. I put them on my feet and the comfort was so tantalizing, I thought hell, I'll make them work.

And these gladiators. I saved up forever for them, just kidding I used some of the money from the equity of our the sale of our house. Tom got a bike, I got these. You probably think I'm crazy, and I am, but I have been wanting them for three years now and I knew I would never ever be able to have them unless I did what I did. And I wear them almost every day. An investment for an investment.

 

And if you happen to like my skirt, check back next week. I'm going to put one or two in the shop. I'm just looking for the perfect fabric.

Cravings

I have been trying to eat healthy lately, not allowing myself to have many indulgences. For the most part I have enjoyed it. I feel better, I have a bit more energy, and have been able to finally fit more comfortably into a few of my jeans from last year. But I have two food cravings that are really getting in my way of  fitting into my last two pairs of skinny jeans: pizza and sweet rolls.

Both of these foods are possibly the worst foods to crave in my endeavors towards a healthy lifestyle, but the pizza I have been craving actually in my head seems like it could be actually good for me. What I really have been wanting is a thin crusted pizza  piled high with fresh veggies, either light or no sauce, and just a sprinkling of cheese. I have been to many pizza joints this month, they have definitely been tasty, just not exactly what I've wanted.

So last night I gave it a shot. Thin whole wheat crust (I improvised on this one), no sauce, lots of veggies, & light on the cheese. I still have some kinks to work out on the dough, and I would have liked to have added more vegetables if I had had them, but overall it was quite good, and I don't feel like I have a huge lump of dough lingering in my stomach.

I used a recipe for the crust that I found here on Cooking light. It called for bread flour, didn't have of that on hand, so I used whole wheat flour. It could have been a bit crunchier and thinner, for next time, but I really loved the flavor of the whole wheat, and will definitely use it again.

For the topping mixture, I used onions, fresh garlic, green peppers, tomatoes, and mushrooms.  I will probably try to add a few more veggies for the next go around, maybe some zucchini or red peppers, but this mix felt fresh and healthy. To give it a kick, I spread  a mixture of apple cider vinegar, olive oil, fresh garlic, and one teaspoon each of basil, rosemary, and thyme on the top of the crust before adding the veggies, and on top of the pizza right after taking it out of the oven. For the cheese I used a handful of mozzarella and a sprinkling of parmesan. But the best part about the pizza besides the taste was that it only took 15 minutes to bake at a temperature of 425.

And the sweet rolls. I don't feel so healthy about this craving, but it won't go away. Maybe it's just because I have yet to find the perfect one to indulge this craving once and for all. I've tried though, there have been a few unnecessary trips to Ikea, Great Harvest, and Kneaders, and I even picked myself one at an Australian BBQ, but I'm not satisfied yet. Can someone please pass along a recipe, one that is tried and true?   

Come on, help a girl out, I'm dying here....