Fig, Blue Cheese & Pecan Salad

August 18, 2015August 18, 2015 / mikeysinmykitchen / 6 Comments

Sometimes we eat healthy things at our house.

On the weekends we eat like absolute fat kids. But then Monday rolls around and the detox must begin again before the next weekends retox. It’s a vicious cycle.

This is the best salad I’ve made this summer.

Not only did it look pretty, it tasted amazing. Sweet and salty with a hint of funk from the blue cheese…it’s everything you could ever want in a salad!

I could eat salad for every single meal of my life but living with a man can make that difficult. They require things like meat, red sauce and starches (at least the man I live with does).

Mikey does love to eat healthy and we try to stick to lean meats/proteins and tons of veggies and fruits during the week (which leads to binging on pizza and Chinese foods on the weekends).

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Lately

August 14, 2015August 14, 2015 / mikeysinmykitchen / 2 Comments

It’s already Friday.

That doesn’t even seem possible. The days they are a flyin’.

I hope you are having a great week and enjoying the summer weather and festivities while you can! My Mom is in town this weekend and we have a full schedule of events planned! I’m looking forward to exploring my own city and spending some quality time with Mi Madre.

I hear that 70’s style is making its way back and I am SO EXCITED. I’ve always had some hippie in me and love love me some chunky shoes, bellbottoms and flowy tops. This outfit is 100% what I would love to wear every single day. I am obsessed with it. Her legs go for days and that hat…I just wish I could have been alive in the 70’s. Ever since I was little I have been obsessed with that era. There was something so lighthearted and beautiful about it (minus the crazy drug use…or maybe that’s why everyone seemed to be so happy?). Either way, the fact that I can bust out my favorite jeans (yes, I kept some of my high school flared jeans) and still fit into them…I can’t be mad about it.
These cookies, though. They are alpacas. I mean, really? How could you even eat them?? They are from a Japanese blog and I don’t know what any of the details are about them…but I want to go to Japan and I want to find the creator of these immaculate cookies. Mikey and I plan to finish some updates and styling in our house this fall and we want to do a low bookshelf/shelf like the one below. I was having an obsession with this beautiful leather floor mat for a few minutes. I then clicked the link and realized it is a VINTAGE GYM MAT. I threw up a little in my mouth.

The things that have discharged onto this mat can not be imagined. No matter how beautiful, how cleaned…It just makes me uncomfortable. Even if you told me it was never used…I just don’t know if I could do it. It does, however, look stunning and I want that room to be in my house…But I just can’t think too long about where it’s been! I think I’m completely over my whole animosity toward bacon thing.

I still wouldn’t be able to just eat a piece (maybe I could)…but I love the salty and smoky flavor it adds to most dishes now. This BLT with heirloom tomatoes, smoked gouda, and fried eggs…hang on a minute while I stuff my face full of all this flavor. Not only is it beautiful to look at but I know for a fact each bite will be a little different and a little better. Runny egg + sandwich = heaven. And last but not least, some pretty cupcakes.

Pear cupcakes none the less. They are from a Swedish blog (apparently I find my inspiration on blogs I can’t actually understand this week) and I couldn’t find a recipe link, but I think the inspiration is enough to get started. I’ve never thought about a pear cupcake but I’m sure it would be delicious with a few spices and a light, fluffy buttercream. So pretty and I imagine just as tasty as they look.

Coconut Bread

August 12, 2015August 12, 2015 / mikeysinmykitchen / 7 Comments

I am back in my kitchen, babes.

I spent most of the day Sunday making some meals for a friend and trying a couple new recipes. Boy did it feel good to make a complete disaster of my kitchen. I am still finding coconut shred’s throughout the house.

This simple, one bowl, coconut bread is fast to whip up and smells absolutely amazing. It turned out beautifully with a golden brown crust on the top. There is a slight hint of cinnamon followed by the nutty chew of coconut. A tasty bread that is great for breakfast, lunch or a midday snack.

Baking is so therapeutic for me. I usually will turn on some music and get totally lost in whatever it is I’m making. Whether it’s cooking or baking, I love to watch simple ingredients transform into beautiful dishes. I think one of the ways I show love best is by gifting people. Sometimes that’s in the form of an actual gift, a bottle of wine, or a jar of granola. I just feel like it’s a giant hug and a way that I show my gratitude to my friends and family for all they do for me.

Sometimes I’ll get stressed out trying to get the perfect picture of food, and stress out about the edit, or blur, or lighting. But the process from the very beginning (scouring the internet and cookbooks) to the end (clicking publish on my blog or licking the last crumb from a plate) can be so rewarding. I love seeing the comments, shares and reblog’s I receive through this blog. I love the smiles and feedback I get when I bake for someone or bring tasty treats to work. I’ve always been that way. I think I watched my Mom do the exact same thing and loved the way people would light up when they saw her coming with a plate of cookies or a pie.

It’s the little things that can really make such an impact or brighten someones day. You may be a terrible baker. Cooking might be your jam. The idea of carefully measuring out a few dozen small powders and ingredients may be your idea of a nightmare. But, you may be able to throw together the most bomb stir fry with whatever you can dig up in the refrigerator (cough…mikey…cough). No matter if you love to spend time in the kitchen or absolutely hate the thought of turning on your stove, I guarantee you are gifted at loving well.

I encourage you to focus on whatever that talent is. Maybe you can write beautiful words to change someones day. Or perhaps you give a kick ass back massage. Whatever you’re best at, try sharing it with someone today or this week. Not only will you leave someone feeling lighter, loved and with a smile on your face but I promise you it will brighten your day as well!

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Lately

August 7, 2015August 7, 2015 / mikeysinmykitchen / 4 Comments

Mikey and I celebrated our 6 year wedding anniversary last weekend.

6 YEARS?!?! It has been the fastest and greatest 6 years of my life! We are celebrating this weekend and I can’t wait to spend some time doing our favorite things together!

I am also SO excited to spend some time baking and cooking in the kitchen. It has been WAY too long since I posted a recipe and I am so ready to get back in there and whip up some delicious recipes for you!

I don’t think I’ll make this S’Mores Custard Cake…but someday I will have this in my life. Look how absolutely stunning and downright perfect this little cake looks!

I refuse to think about fall fashion/weather yet. So instead I am going to think about a cool summer night with this adorable outfit. You could swap the jeans for any color denim short and you would be good to go. You can buy this adorable hat from The Oxford Trunk by clicking on this link here!

What do I love as much as a glass of bubbly? A glass of Rosé.

Check out this amazing list of summers must-have bottles of Rosé from a price point starting at just $9 all the way up to $50. You’re sure to please anyone if you serve them or show up with a bottle of this pretty, tasty vino!

Mikey and I have been told by many that our wedding was one of the best parties of all time (honestly, I think it’s because we were young and fresh out of college so our friends just wanted to party for free).

My Mom is a better version of Martha and let me tell you, girlfriend can throw a bash. I was young and had a few ideas which she made a reality x12. I don’t know if our wedding was necessarily the best party ever (I’m obviously biased) but Mikey and I always talk about how we would love to throw an anniversary bash with our friends and family back in the north woods of WI one day.

If we were to do it again, you better believe donuts would be on the menu if not a part of the cake like this cake pictured below. Maybe we can make a kickstarter to raise funds to throw the ultimate wedding reunion party in my hometown? I somehow feel like people are saving for their own weddings and parties though, ha! Maybe if I promise dancing, donuts, boating and champagne people will jump on board?

Summer is always too short, which is why we should stock up on this Campfire Scented candle from Cb2. We can light this in the dead of winter and remember the warm summer nights that are ahead of us. I always love more masculine, smokey scented candles and I can only imagine how great this candle smells!

Lately

July 31, 2015July 31, 2015 / mikeysinmykitchen / Leave a comment

July flew by in a series of Lately post’s.

I have spent little to no time in my kitchen for about a month. We have been eating a lot of quick salads, smoothies or find ourselves walking to a nearby restaurant to sit outside on the patio and bask in the glorious summer weather.

We had the most relaxing and fun weekend up in Wisconsin with family and I feel refreshed. Lots of vitamin D and time in the water thanks to the beautiful, hot weather. Thankfully, the warm trend seems to be sticking around and this weekend looks to be another abundantly sunny and warm few days.

I am super excited for this weekend. Mikey and I, along with all our friends, are headed to Lollapalooza Music Festival. And by headed to I mean we are walking down the street, which is super convenient. We took last summer off since we had been to Coachella in April so we’re excited to enjoy some amazing music in the steamy hot sun (I am loaded up with sunblock).

I apologize for the lack of food and recipes but promise to get the ball rolling in the next couple weeks! I hope you are having an amazing week and looking forward to the weekend!

Here are some thing’s I’m loving on lately:

This Falafel Burger Slider looks like an amazing way to switch up your BBQ scene. It’s such a great option to offer along side your typical burger and the sauce/topping list could go on and on with this delicious slider!

I dream of piercing my septum. It is my favorite accessory right now and this gorgeous model is super tempting me to get mine done! Not only is the piercing amazing, but her hair is killing me too. This picture sums up the summer for me.

Chocolate Hazelnut Cream Puffs. I don’t think there is much else to say.

I found these wedges and fell head over heels instantly. They are Michael Kors and I scoured the internet to find them but sadly they are no where to be found. HOWEVER, I found a summer version with an open heel/toe and they are on sale, and amazing. You. Are. Welcome.

I’ve always been a giant fan of the Boho look. I go through stages, some are more intense than others, but I will forever love chunky silver jewelry (especially when turquoise is added). This look is not practical for swimming in the ocean or lakes…but I can dream that I could just wear all this to the beach like it ain’t no thang. This is such a whimsey and carefree style and I love every single thing about it.

And here is one more because it’s summer and we have to soak it in while we can!