Dark Cocoa Dreams..........

  Dear friends, 

Happy Saturday! It is a crisp and chilly day here in the emerald city...I am wearing my newly bought navy blue Ralph Lauren cashmere sweater and my clip on diamond earrings, I feel like a million bucks......

When I think of ways to warm up in the Fall, I like to think of the healthiest ways to do so. I used to think that carob was the way to go when making the traditional hot chocolate, however after doing careful research I have learned that dark chocolate is the way to go. 

There are natural anti-oxidants found in dark chocolate. It is the same natural compounds that are found in fruits, vegetables, grains and nuts. It also reduces blood pressure, improves blood pressure, it also has a mild clotting effect and prevents plaque from forming in the arteries. 

 Dark chocolate has Phenylethylamine (PEA)

This compound may be responsible for some of the pleasurable feelings you get after eating chocolate because it releases natural feel-good chemicals called endorphins in your brain. PEA is released by the brain when people are falling in love. Perhaps this explains why chocolate and Valentines Day are so closely linked.

This is so interesting! I can't wait to run home and make some! 

Reese's Dark Hot Cocoa Recipe

My recipe for hot dark cocoa. Get a bar of unsweetened dark cocoa and melt it down in a pot with almond milk, honey and a touch of cayenne pepper. Stir until it thickens and serve in a humongous mug with a cinnamon stick. Did you know that cinnamon is a natural anti-inflammatory? So sprinkle some in your coffee or cocoa the next time you pour a cup! 

Also if you're looking for vegan whipped cream because your sinuses can't handle dairy like mine, then below is a great recipe I found!  

Vegan Whipped Cream Recipe

Chill coconut milk in the cans overnight. Open the cans without shaking them and carefully scoop out the thick, creamy part. Add this thick cream to your mixer bowl. With the whip attachment, start on medium speed and increase to high. Whip for about 5 minutes until you have thick whipped peaks.

Well kids that is all for today! Enjoy a cup of dark hot cocoa today and if you make any of these recipes please let me know how they come out! 

Is anyone out there reading this? :) Hope so! I would love a comment or two! 

Keeping it light,

Miss Reese 

Bon Jour Autome!

                                        Tomato soup is piping hot
                                                Argyle socks keeps my toes so warm
                                                                  Warm cocoa in my belly
                                                                                                                 By, Reese Carri

Happy Fall Friends! 

What a lovely time of year! This morning I walked to work on a bed of apple red leaves, while Frank Sinatra played "I get a kick out of you" on my headphones. I was sipping a piping hot rice milk latte and I danced across the street as I realized that it is officially Autumn, hip hip hooray! 

What does Autumn mean to you? To me it means home made tomato soup! 

Ingredients For Vegan Tomato Soup:

• 3 1/2 lbs. Tomatoes, Sliced into Wedges
• 3/4 Cup Onion, Sliced into Wedges
• 7 Cloves of Garlic
• 1 Tbsp. Olive Oil
• 1/2 Cup Fresh Basil, No stems
• 1 Cup Vegetable Broth
• 1/2 Cup Vegan Sour Cream, I used toffuti
• 1 tsp. Sea Salt
• 1/2 tsp. Red Pepper
• 1/4 tsp. Black Pepper

                                                                Directions:
   

 1. Pre-heat oven to 375°F. Place tomato wedges, onion, garlic and olive oil into a large bowl and  toss until the oil is distributed evenly. Spread bowl contents onto a baking sheet and roast in the oven for 30-40 minutes, or until the onions are singed but not burnt. 

2. Get a large pot ready on the stove. Once you are done roasting the tomatoes, get a food processor or blender out and puree them along with the fresh basil a little at a time; you may need to divide it into three or four batches. After each batch is completely smooth, pour it into the pot and raise the heat to medium.

3. Then pour the tomato puree into the pot of vegetable broth and simmer. Season with salt and pepper...15 or minutes or so and it should be done.....Sprinkle with cheese and serve with a quesadilla.

I will be making this tomorrow and I am going to serve it with vegan quesadillas! :)  Yummy for my tummy! :-)  I use an almond milk cheese that my friend Katie told me about. Once melted it tastes like the real thing! :)

It means big bulky sweaters with wooden buttons.....

It means argyle socks with dressy loafers...

It means a crisp new book, I am currently reading "A walk on the beach" by my most favorite writer; Joan Anderson! I love to wake up on a crisp Autumn day, make a pot of French press coffee and get back in to my cozy bed and read for an hour or two.  :)

It means fresh new throw blankets to wrap yourself up in while you watch movies in bed.....These cashmere blankets are from Restoration Hardware, they are $199...Just in case any of my more wealthy friends read this, my birthday is coming up and I have been dreaming about owning a cashmere throw..I love all of these colors! :)

 

Happy Autumn Everyone! 

Love,

Miss Reese  

                                        

                                                                                                       

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Farewell Summer......

  

               

             Summer books have been read 

                                         The iced tea pitcher is almost empty.....

                                                 Oh summer how I will miss you

                                                    

          

 By, Reese Carri

Is it true? Is it almost September? 

I feel as though my summer has just begun and the fun is just starting! 

School ended on the 15th and doesn't start up again until the end of September! Thank the sweet baby Jesus up above! :) 

It's been a fun summer none the less.... Lots of "The real housewives of Vancouver", sun-bathing in the park, reading in the sun and burritos!!!!

I bid farewell to this glorious season and welcome Autumn with open arms! Looking forward to apple picking, sweaters, hay-rides, pumpkins, squash and my birthday! 

Lots of love,

                       Miss Reese :) 

  

My favorite summer flower.....

                            
                          Hydrangeas bloom in the garden...                 

                   Sprinklers shoot high and far across grass...

                                Snip go the flowers into the jar...

Dear Friends

Hello, how is everyone doing? Seattle is having the most sunshiney blue  day ever! I am eager to skip aboot town later and cut some more Hydrangeas so that I can make some more bouquets for my home! 

Here are some tips so that your Hydrangeas stay as fresh for as long as possible......

Don’t cut fresh blooms: Be sure that the hydrangeas are at least a few weeks old. The older the bloom, the longer it will last. Color pigments should be fully developed before cutting.

Cut all the leaves off: Leaves take moisture away from the flower head so strip the leaves off before cutting. Long stems are nice for vases but the longer the stem, the less water that reaches the bloom.

Immerse cut blooms immediately in water and soak for two hours: this may require that you weigh the hydrangeas down in the water. Cold water that has been boiled works the best because it has less oxygen.

Some other methods for cuts that eliminate the oxygen bubble in the stem:

Florist gel is expensive, time consuming and can be messy but works
Put the cut ends in boiling water
Smash the cut end with a hammer right after cutting
Cut another inch off the stem underwater

What great tips! I hope that you all have a lovely rest of the day* Can't wait to head home, throw on some flippies and go into the yard to soak up a little sun and reading time! 

Until next time,

Miss Reese  

Laying in the grass.......

Skipping in the green grass                              

                                       Sammiches always taste so much better outside           

                                   A jar of iced tea sparkles like diamonds

 

Hello friends! How is everyone doing today? It is finally Saturday, hooray! Out here in the pacific northwest, I spend my summer weekends having lovely picnics by the water...This blog is dedicated to the art of eating and drinking alfresco and enjoying the sunshine and the starry night skies with those I love! I hope that you are taking time to relax and enjoy delicious nibblees and sippies with those you call love...

Enjoy! 

 

 

I am a sit on the grass or the sand type of picnic lover! I love the idea of bringing a super comfy blankie and I think that one of the most coziest additions to a picnic is pillows....It's so nice to make your own cozy living room outdoors......

 

 
I love this picnic basket! It looks big enough to hold a few sammiches, chips and a jar of iced tea! What else does a girl need? 

Oh wait! It's always nice to have a sun hat too! 

 

 I really like having an abundance of goodies to nibble and sip on! My favorite picnic sammich is the caprese! Take a fresh baguette and load it up with organic heirloom tomatoes, basil and mozzarella....Drizzle with olive oil, balsamic vinegar and sea salt and pepper.....

I am a chip lover and nothing says summer like a bag of crunchy sea salt chips.....Dip them in hummus or eat by themselves, both ways are yummy!  My next favorite thing to nibble on is cherries and peaches! Summer time births some delicious fruit and these two happen to be my favorite! 

I also enjoy a bottle of champagne to sip on and of course a jar or two of home made unsweetened lemon iced tea......

Top it off with some dark chocolate covered espresso beans and then lay back to read or take a peaceful nap* 

Ahh, life is sweet! I love you all! 

Hugs,

Miss Reese  

 

A dream for tomorrow*

Dreaming of a new......

Happy Saturday Everyone! 

I am dedicating this blog to my dreams! I have decided to do a virtual vision board! This is going from my heart to the universe! I hope you all enjoy seeing a few of my favorite things! :-) 

I hope that you are all enjoying your summer so far! Have a great rest of the weekend! 

Love,

Reese

Summer Sun, Yes Please and Thank You! :-)

   

Too hot to stay on land

Salty cool water refreshes her dry fins

Golden hair shines in sun

Hooray it's official! The sun is a shining in this beautifully bright city of Seattle! Yesterday upon waking up, L and I went and got some yummy sammiches and iced coffees and we sat in the park and sunbathed while we talked aboot our favorite Summer treats! 

One of my favorite summer lunches is the good old American turkey sammich! I feel like when I am out in the sun I need protein and substance and that's why this is my fave! 

Turkey Sammich Recipe:

Whole Grain Bread

Low sodium organic turkey

Spinach or romaine lettuce

Avocado

Grey poupon mustard

Cut in half and serve with a bag of sea salt potato chips and a refreshing glass of iced tea with lemon! 

Affogato

 So you're having a few friends over for dinner and you want a no fuss no muss Summer dessert? Go for the Affogato! It means drowned in Italian! It's so easy, just take some vanilla gelato, pour a shot of espresso over it, serve and enjoy!  My friend L recommended putting it in a martini glass for some added flare! Sounds delicious! :) 

Well that's all for today! I am looking forward to getting off of work soon and going home, changing into some cotton shorts and a t-shirt and heading over to the park to read my book and enjoy some of the last sunshiney moments of this Sunday ! 

I hope that you all enjoy the sunshine and remember to hydrate yourself and your skin! Be good to yourself and those around you! 

Big love,

Miss Reese

 

Sandy toes and burnt shoulders........

  

Driving along the sandy road 

warm beach towels folded in the back

salty air drifts into car

By, Reese Carri 

                                   

            

Happy first day of Summer everyone! 

It was a beautiful morning here in the Emerald city......Logan and I went to Pesos for their happy hour breakfast burrito and it was delicious! Then I walked on over in my jammies to get a pedicure and a shoulder massage! It was heavenly! Hello Neon bubble gum colored toes! 

I can't wait to throw on my swimsuit and flippies this Summer and head to the lake for a day of sunning....I am ready to crack open my new book "Toast" (written by Nigel Slater).....I just saw the film starring Helena Bonham Carter and I loved it!

I also look forward to Summer evenings when you can still feel the heat of the sun on your body as you eat peanut butter and chocolate ice cream and watch films with your friends on a big comfy couch...... I am excited to see "Submarine" (directed by Richard Ayoade).

Well that's it for now......Tomorrow is the Second day of Summer party! Looking forward to seeing all of my friends and having a fun time......Lots of yummy niblees and sippies to enjoy! Hope my brie and pear crostinis come out great! I will be following up with some pictures for sure!

Remember to hydrate and moisturize this summer and last but not least be safe and have fun!

Keep it light,

Miss Reese 

 

Summertime sippies and nibbles*

Fresh pears swim beneath faucet

baked brie begins to brown in oven

first sip of chilled wine

Hello friends! 

I hope that you are all having a delightful Sunday! I am at work with my two favorite guys ever! I am drinking some earl grey tea and thinking of some of my favorite Summertime sippies and nibbles.......

I will be making some yummy treats soon for a party and I decided to share some of them with you! I hope that you enjoy your Summer solstice and welcome the scintillating season with open arms! 

Pear, brie & honey rosemary crostini recipe.........

Ingredients:

1. French baguette, sliced 1/2 inch thick
2. Brie cheese, thinly sliced, rind removed
3. pears, halved, cored, and thinly sliced
4. Honey
5. Fresh rosemary, finely chopped

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Place the baguette slices on a large baking sheet. Place one slice of cheese on each baguette slice. Bake slices in the oven for 5-7 minutes or until the brie is melted.

2. While the baguette slices are baking, brush the pear slices with honey and grill on each side until soft.

3. Place a slice of pear on top of each cheesy baguette slice. Drizzle with honey and garnish with fresh rosemary.

Can't wait to make this for the first time! I will take pictures and share it with you on my next blog! :) 

This is a beautiful tray of Summer nibbles that makes my mouth water and gets me in the  mood for one of my favorite summer cocktails; the white wine spritzer!!!!! 

Here is the recipe for my white wine spritzer! 

Ingredients:

Bottle of pinot grigio 
Bottle of pelligrino 
A handful of limes and lemons
A bucket of ice

Directions: 


Use a white wine glass and throw in a generous amount of ice, then pour in the pelligrino and fill her up half way. Then pour in the pinot grigio and fill her up the rest of the way. Follow with a heaping squeeze of lemon and lime. Stir well and enjoy! :)

This has been so much fun! I hope that you have a wonderful evening and last but not least Happy Father's Day! My father passed on his love of travel and flowers with me, thanks Pop! 

Until next time,

Keep it light,

Miss Reese*