Lentils and roasted vegetables

I saw this recipe on Sacramento Street last week and immediately pinned it.  

I think I've pinned all of Caitlin's "On the Menu" posts and made quite a few of them.  They've all been delicious!

Apparently everyone that I follow did the same because it kept popping up in my feed.

Then I saw it in a few linked posts as well.  I figured I had to try it.  

(I think I just discovered the basic principle of advertising).

While I was making it, I definitely had a few moments where I thought "there's no way this is turning out".  Add to that I was making it for my future mother-in-law who is an amazing cook and I was a bit stressed.

I'm a very good baker, an okay cook, but not a food stylist in anyway. So bear with me here.

{hers}

{mine}

I feel like this could be one of those "nailed it" posts on pinterest. But I don't mind because it was delicious - delicious enough that we had it the next night too.

Notes on the recipe:

- 2 cups makes a lot of lentils - a lot more veggies can be added than what's listed in the recipe

- I added herbs de provence on the veggies before roasting and cooked them 20min, flipping them part way through so they browned on both sides and didn't dry out

We served it with an arugula salad that had dried cranberries, parmesan, pomegranate balsamic and a bit of olive oil.  Perfection.

LMF

cheesecake {plain + simple}

I made a cheesecake for the first time for dessert on Easter.  I mentioned it before; it wasn't a pretty as I wanted it to be, but it tasted wonderful.

My mother used to sell hers when she catered and they always looked beautiful! I'm going to have to practice a bit to get it to look as pretty as hers.  

I wanted something simple and classic.

I feel like after big heavy holiday meals, it's not the time to try peach lemon cake with jalepeno whipped cream or key lime peanut butter pie.

I want the classics.

I based it off of Jenny's recipe here, with a simple cookie crust and served it with fresh berries.

Cheesecake {plain + simple}

Crust:

 - 1 cup flour
 - 1/4 cup sugar
 - zest from 1 small meyer lemon
 - 1/2 cup butter
 - 2 egg yolks, slightly beaten
 - 1/4 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 400F.

Combine first three ingredients in large bowl. Using pastry cutter (or fork), (or fingers), cut in butter until crumbly.  Add egg yolks one at a time and vanilla.  Pat a thin layer on the bottom of 9-inch spring-form pan, with the sides removed. You'll probably use about 1/2 the dough.  I didn't love working with this dough at first, but it tasted light and delicious, so you just have to be patient with it.

Bake until golden, about 7 minutes.  Let cool.

Attach spring-form to bottom and pat remaining dough on sides of the pan.

Filling:

 - 3 packages cream cheese (24 oz), room temperature 

 - zest from 2 small meyer lemons

 - juice from 2 small meyer lemons

 - 1 1/2 cups sugar

 - 1/4 tsp salt

 - 1/4 greek yogurt

 - 4 egg yolks

Add cream cheese to mixer bowl.  Beat until creamy.  Mix in sugar, zest, lemon juice and greek yogurt.  Add eggs one at a time, beat after each just until blended.

Turn into crust-lined pan.  Bake 55 minutes.  Let cool before removing spring-form.  Serve straight from the fridge with fresh berries.

LMF

nutella rolls & dark chocolate almond butter cups {recipe}

One of my favorite things to do on the weekends is wake up, head to the kitchen and bake something delicious.

Reasons this is good:

1.  It makes my house smell wonderful.  

2.  I have a delicious homemade treat to serve when friends come over. 

(Or I can do baked-good drive-bys)

3.  It starts my day accomplishing something, (even if it is just cinnamon rolls)

Last week I found a couple recipes I wanted to try and they both turned our beautifully, so I thought I needed to share.

Nutella rolls from a gorgeous blog I recently found: Lingered Upon - recipe here

I absolutely loved this dough.  It rose perfectly and was so easy to work with.

before / after dough shots

The hardest thing about this recipe was spreading the nutella.  Just make sure it's room temperature and you've stirred it around enough.  I'll probably throw it in the mixer next time for a minute or so, just to make it more spreadable.

After they come out of the oven you flip over the pan (onto a plate please) and you get these ooey gooey delicious buns.

I also made these dark chocolate almond butter cups from Sprouted Kitchen.

Please excuse my messy paper liners.  They were still delicious even if they weren't too pretty.

I ended up with a bit more filling than chocolate so I made a few just topped with chocolate.  

Maybe it was because I used such a rich dark chocolate (73%), but I liked these best.

LMF

Breakfast for Dinner {book review}

I got a new recipe book. :) These sorts of things make me smile.  

I finally got to sit down with it last night and go through it.  I honestly have no idea what I want to make first.  Everything just looks so delicious.  And so different than what I had expected.  This is definitely not just a bunch of frittata and pancake recipes.

Bacon fried rice will be made asap.  

I don't know why I've always been intimidated by this, but this recipe looks really easy!

Egg and chorizo burritos made with sweet potato and spinach with an avocado lime sauce. Yum!

Now I've never really understood the appeal of chicken and waffles (I'm not knocking it, I just haven't tried it); but I can definitely get on board with chicken and biscuit waffles.

Throughout the book, there are easy basic recipes: homemade pizza dough, savory and sweet crepes, homemade pita dough, how to make raviolis, how to poach an egg. Love that.  I've always wanted to make my own raviolis.  Is that on anyone else's bucket list? (hello?)

And lots of sauces: easy marinara, cream cheese and artichoke dip, avocado cream sauce, buttermilk ranch.

When we were in Dallas a few months ago, I had the most delicious shrimp and grits. I had to keep pushing Dan's fork off my plate.

 If anyone knows where to find them in Northern California, I would love to know.  This recipe, with andouille sausage, butternut squash and kale chips. looks amazing.  My Dad's been asking for it, since he saw the book.

Bacon Jam.  At first glance this sounded a bit weird.  Then I read the suggestions - spread on a hamburger, on biscuits, on crackers with stinky cheese.  Look again. Always look again.

Isn't this crepe cake pretty?! I love this idea.

Just in case you can't read this, it says: chocolate peanut butter glazed banana bread cake. 

Mocha ice cream with biscotti crust, "e un espresso per favore", and I'm in heaven.

I honestly don't know which dessert to make first.  They all look so amazing.

They suggest pouring this chocolate maple fudge sauce over not only ice cream, but pancakes too.  Yes!

And of course, who can have breakfast without cocktails (???).

Breakfast for Dinner, From the lovely Lindsay and Taylor of love & olive oil, is on sale on February 12, 2013 but is available now for pre-order here.

Enjoy!  And come back and let me know your favorite recipe!

LMF

Tiny Food Party {& a Giveaway!} {book review}

Have you heard of spoon fork bacon?

It's Jenny and Teri's gorgeous food blog with the most delicious recipes and stunning photos.  

The first thing I ever made from their blog was the cinnamon sugar messy bread {here}.

{via}

It was amazing and now has become a regularly requested item for weekend brunches.

These talented girls have just come out with their first recipe book and
I managed to snag myself a copy.

I always wonder when food bloggers come out with a recipe book if it's worth buying it since they post so much online.  This one does not disappoint.

True to their blog, the photographs are amazing and the recipes look delicious and uncomplicated.  I don't do well with long lists of ingredients and complicated steps.

All of the recipes are for small bites or finger foods.  My favorite way to eat!
I love to try a little bit of everything.

It wouldn't be difficult to make things on a larger scale if needed.  But why is food just so much cuter in mini size?!

Did I mention that Teri is the photographer and Jenny is the stylist.  Serious talent here.

Throughout the book, they've given ideas for different menus.  

I love the breakfast food party one!

We're making these cinnamon spiced cupcakes for a party this weekend.

This says candied bacon churros and they show how to make it with three different dipping sauces.  And it looks easy!

They really left nothing out.  The last chapter is titled "Darling Drinks" and includes recipes for some yummy-looking cocktails (or mocktails - if you so choose).

Dan will be making the Bloody Marys for the next NFL Sunday.  I'm not sure if the guys will go for the itty bitty version though. :) But I think they're adorable!

I loved the raspberry champagne cocktail for a pretty brunch idea.

And great for the holidays - eggnog shooters!

Amazing book, Ladies!  I am seriously overwhelmed by your talents and so thankful for your delicious recipes and clever ideas!

Here's where you can find a copy: Tiny Food Party at Amazon

The book release date is Tuesday, October 9, 2012.  Tomorrow!
And for an amazing pre-order price of $10!

{GIVEAWAY}
I'm also giving away one copy.

To enter:
Follow Champagne Reveries on bloglovin' or your favorite blog reader and leave a comment below telling me which one.
{Please make sure your email address is linked or leave it in your comment.}

Winner will be announced next Monday, October 15, 2012.  Please check back next week to see if you've won!

Good luck!

LMF

Paris

I can't believe we're back already.  I don't know why I thought six days would be enough time in Paris.  At least I had those six days there though.

Returning home from Paris always makes me want to be better.  Does anyone else have a place like that?  I always feel rejuvenated and motivated to be a better me after I've spent time in Paris.

I want to practice my french more, plan more trips abroad, eat more fresh foods, leave the car at home and walk more, brush my hair more often for photos...

{in front of my old apartment building - 56, blvd de la Tour-Maubourg - I wish I could've remembered the code to have a peak inside!}

I think my favorite part of the trip was seeing Dan's reaction to my favorite Paris sites, foods, places, everything.

{I was thrilled that he loved the Musée Rodin - one of my favs}

We woke up each morning and had coffee and croissants.  Dan was shocked how much better they were in Paris. (Seriously, how do they do it?! - the boulangeries are so much better there.)

We'd leave the flat in the morning and walk all over the city, returning in the afternoon for a rejuvenating nap and then back out for dinner and nightlife.

We found a flat on airbnb - which I highly recommend.  It was much more affordable than a hotel and we had a much larger space for our money (this may only apply to Paris and other $$$ cities).

{a sweet little courtyard we walked by everyday when leaving our flat - I love how there are so many of these all over Paris - most hidden behind the large street doors}

{pensive at St. Chapelle}

{being weird together - I think that's love}

{daily afternoon café - helps with jet-lag too}

{at the Louvre - apparently I packed a lot of polka dots}

{there's something about a Paris sky}

{in love with the doors at Notre Dame - Parisian buildings have the most amazing details}

I'll post later this week about our favorite restaurants and eateries.  There were so many good ones!

What are you favorite things to see in Paris?  Or if you haven't been, what would you most wish to see there?
I'm always curious what other people think of Paris.

A bientôt.

LMF