Four Faves

–Spring Sangria – I’m a fan of pretty much all sangria, but there’s something about a fizzy, bright sangria full of fresh fruit that really gets me in the mood for spring!  Here’s our basic recipe:  one bottle of wine, 2 cups fruit, 1/2 cup liquor, 1/2 cup fruit juice, 1 cup mixer, 1/2 cup sweetener (if desired).

Check out this gorgeous Peach Strawberry Sangria from Bon Appetit

–Funky Sunglasses – It’s finally bright outside again!  So it’s time to whip out some funky shades.  I love these cool rounded ones that don’t go full on Lennon. Not to mention they’re the perfect, not scary price point of $50!

Love this pair from Quay

Our recipe of Peanut Butter, Oatmeal Energy Bites from last spring. I found myself wanting to make a sweet treat, but also needing a filling snack to get me through afternoon hunger. Instead of making some sort of cookie or relying on excessive little snacks of fruit, chips and candy I decided to make a batch of our energy bites. Boy do these do the trick, they take mere minutes to whip up, require no baking, and they are also a treat without being packed full of processed sugar, gluten or dairy. One batch makes about 15 and they keep easily in Tupperware in the fridge.   

Rounding out our favorites for the week is The Master’s this weekend. Grant and I love watching this quitensential spring golf tournament. This year we are using it as an excuse to have friends over Sunday afternoon to “watch the Master’s and cook out.” Such an easy get together that will inevitably involve lots of time spent on our porch watching the gorgeous greens.. and golfers (kidding!) at Augusta – Hey Jordan! Hi Rory! As well as pimento cheese in some form or fashion, see the pimento cheese recipe from the Junior League of Augusta pictures below.  

   
 

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Four Faves of the Week

1. Homemade Halloween Costumes. Like the good old school kind that you actually make for yourself or your children. I don’t mean like actually sewing them, just pulling things together from your house to make most of your costume. Sure more effort, but also so much more fun and funny. Julia and I were always the neighborhood kids in the homemade costumes. I chose to be things like David the Gnome, so cute and girly. Julia would be Dorothy or one year she was Lambchop.

2.  Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats.

I am obsessed with this band–they are feet tapping good. Perfect driving or weekend music. My favorite song, S.O.B., is one that I would have had to tell my parents that “I just liked the music and beat and was not even paying attention to the words”.. I tried this trick starting at age 12 with the Spice Girls ‘Wanna Be’ through high school rap songs. I feel sure it never actually worked, but it made me feel better. Look them up on Spotify or better yet download the record from iTunes. You will actually be able to listen to the entire album, not skipping a single song, unless you have children that can talk and are in the car..  Then just skip my favorite one and come back to it after you’ve dropped them off. Not to mention I love the squash blossom necklace on the cover of this album, I am ALWAYS on the search for a good, vintage version of this necklace.

  

3. Burnt

Previews and press for this Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller film have been everywhere, but it comes out tomorrow and we are SO excited. It hasn’t actually my gotten rave reviews, but a coming of age story filled with great actors and lots of cooking – count me in.

4.  The Hot Toddy 

It’s chilly enough for a nice warm drink, and one of my favorites is a classic Hot Toddy.  1 oz. bourbon, 1 Tbsp honey, 2 tsp lemon juice, 1/4 hot water.  It just doesn’t get easier.  And hey, it apparently also cures the common cold, so you’re basically helping your immune system.  You’re welcome.