Winter Kale Salad and Our Essential Dressing

Lately any of my semi-healthy tendencies have just gone out the window. Do I only eat Doritos and cookies anymore? I'll never tell. Heaven knows this is going to catch up with me all too soon, but it's just so hard to convince myself to change anything when that bag of chips fits so nicely when I'm laying in bed browsing Pinterest and swaddled in blankets.

Enter: maple balsamic dressing. This dressing is life changing. It's the only dressing I'll ever need ever again, and apparently the one dressing that can bring me back to choosing food that is slightly more beneficial than Doritos! It may just be what transformed me from the child I used to be, who when given a salad would wad it up into one big ball and stuff it in my mouth - no dressing, no nothing. I was strictly business when it came to those leafy greens. Anyways, this Maple Balsamic Dressing is absolutely perfect to top a kale salad, or really anything (to be honest). I've found that pecans are the perfect complement to kale, and never make a salad without them now. If you're feeling fancy, you can even toss them in a pan for a few minutes and toast them. Your taste buds will be astounded.



Here are some of my favorite toppings - you can really mix and match!

• apples
• blueberries
• pecans
• almonds
• craisins
• coconut flakes
• feta
• crumbled blue cheese
• red onion
• sunflower seeds
• pomegranate seeds

Then, for the dressing. Smother this on every salad you make, ever.

Maple Balsamic Dressing

• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 2 Tbsp pure maple syrup
• 2 Tbsp dijon mustard

The amounts can be fudged, and adjusted to your own taste preferences. Just mix them all together! I usually make it in a mason jar and just shake it up after I add all the ingredients together.



What is your favorite salad combination?

-a clover & a bee

Lately any of my semi-healthy tendencies have just gone out the window. Do I only eat Doritos and cookies anymore? I'll never tell. Heaven knows this is going to catch up with me all too soon, but it's just so hard to convince myself to change anything when that bag of chips fits so nicely when I'm laying in bed browsing Pinterest and swaddled in blankets.

Enter: maple balsamic dressing. This dressing is life changing. It's the only dressing I'll ever need ever again, and apparently the one dressing that can bring me back to choosing food that is slightly more beneficial than Doritos! It may just be what transformed me from the child I used to be, who when given a salad would wad it up into one big ball and stuff it in my mouth - no dressing, no nothing. I was strictly business when it came to those leafy greens. Anyways, this Maple Balsamic Dressing is absolutely perfect to top a kale salad, or really anything (to be honest). I've found that pecans are the perfect complement to kale, and never make a salad without them now. If you're feeling fancy, you can even toss them in a pan for a few minutes and toast them. Your taste buds will be astounded.



Here are some of my favorite toppings - you can really mix and match!

• apples
• blueberries
• pecans
• almonds
• craisins
• coconut flakes
• feta
• crumbled blue cheese
• red onion
• sunflower seeds
• pomegranate seeds

Then, for the dressing. Smother this on every salad you make, ever.

Maple Balsamic Dressing

• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 2 Tbsp pure maple syrup
• 2 Tbsp dijon mustard

The amounts can be fudged, and adjusted to your own taste preferences. Just mix them all together! I usually make it in a mason jar and just shake it up after I add all the ingredients together.



What is your favorite salad combination?

-a clover & a bee

Kahlua Pecan Pie with Honey Whiskey Whipped Cream

Pecan pie has always been my favorite. Well, that and pumpkin pie. They are in very close competition. I'd never really made pie myself before, and decided if I'm going to claim it as my favorite dessert it is probably about time that I make it myself. My grandparents have a pecan tree in their yard, and would send my family big freezer bags full of pecans, but now that I'm not living with my parents I missed these pecans and got my own share when we went and visited this summer. I've been super excited about making pecan pie, when I came across a recipe for Kahlua Pecan Pie! Mind. blown. Soon after finding this recipe, I happened to find the worlds most adorable pie pan at Target, so I knew it was meant to be. This pie must be made.
Since I'd never made pie before, of course I didn't make up my own recipe. Here are the recipes I used, which I think turned out wonderfully. The pie crust recipe is from here. The pie filling recipe is from here. Also, I may have used Kamora instead of Kahlua. Kahlua is expensive, and it still worked. And the whipped cream recipe is from here- but instead of brandy I used honey whiskey. (I would highly recommend it). And while you're using honey whiskey, can I recommend a fall cocktail?


Enjoy!  -a clover & a bee

Pecan pie has always been my favorite. Well, that and pumpkin pie. They are in very close competition. I'd never really made pie myself before, and decided if I'm going to claim it as my favorite dessert it is probably about time that I make it myself. My grandparents have a pecan tree in their yard, and would send my family big freezer bags full of pecans, but now that I'm not living with my parents I missed these pecans and got my own share when we went and visited this summer. I've been super excited about making pecan pie, when I came across a recipe for Kahlua Pecan Pie! Mind. blown. Soon after finding this recipe, I happened to find the worlds most adorable pie pan at Target, so I knew it was meant to be. This pie must be made.
Since I'd never made pie before, of course I didn't make up my own recipe. Here are the recipes I used, which I think turned out wonderfully. The pie crust recipe is from here. The pie filling recipe is from here. Also, I may have used Kamora instead of Kahlua. Kahlua is expensive, and it still worked. And the whipped cream recipe is from here- but instead of brandy I used honey whiskey. (I would highly recommend it). And while you're using honey whiskey, can I recommend a fall cocktail?


Enjoy!  -a clover & a bee

Creamy Pumpkin Cocktail

Fall weather is finally making an appearance. Kind of. Mostly. That means it's time for pumpkin everything ever. So why not a pumpkin cocktail? Naturally.

I wanted something cold, because the weather hasn't quite calmed down sufficiently yet, and creamy. Cold, creamy and pumpkiny. MAKE THIS.


You'll need: 1.5 oz half & half 1/8 heaping cup pumpkin 1.5 oz honey whiskey a pinch pumpkin pie spice cinnamon to top Put the half & half and pumpkin in a shaker, and get the pumpkin all mixed up in there. Then add the rest of the ingredients and give it another quick shake. Simple.

It's creamy, delicious, pumpkiny and not too sweet. The honey whiskey adds that slight touch of sweet, but if you like your cocktails sweeter I would just add a drizzle of honey. What is your favorite fall drink? -a clover & a bee

Fall weather is finally making an appearance. Kind of. Mostly. That means it's time for pumpkin everything ever. So why not a pumpkin cocktail? Naturally.

I wanted something cold, because the weather hasn't quite calmed down sufficiently yet, and creamy. Cold, creamy and pumpkiny. MAKE THIS.


You'll need: 1.5 oz half & half 1/8 heaping cup pumpkin 1.5 oz honey whiskey a pinch pumpkin pie spice cinnamon to top Put the half & half and pumpkin in a shaker, and get the pumpkin all mixed up in there. Then add the rest of the ingredients and give it another quick shake. Simple.

It's creamy, delicious, pumpkiny and not too sweet. The honey whiskey adds that slight touch of sweet, but if you like your cocktails sweeter I would just add a drizzle of honey. What is your favorite fall drink? -a clover & a bee

Blackberry Pie to Welcome Fall.

Fall is the best for many reasons, including, but not limited to: 1. You don't have to sit around in a pool of your own sweat. 2. Sweaters. 3. Pumpkin everything. 4. It's pie season.


Pie might just be my favorite dessert genre (yes mom, this is a recent development), and it is finally just getting cold enough to justify using the oven. Not that I didn't use it before, we just suffered through it. 
Now that I'm in Kansas one thing that I miss about Oregon is the availability of berries. I used to hate raspberries because I had to pick too many of them as a child... the things you take for granted! I would love to have too many raspberries now. 
Anyways, I don't know why I bought these cans of blackberries a while back, but I did, and they were sitting in the cupboard eagerly awaiting the pie making days of fall. Maybe I was planning ahead, who knows.  I made a blackberry pie, and you should too. Because, yum.
For the crust: 14 whole graham crackers (not those little half crackers) 7 Tbsp butter 1/4 cup brown sugar
For the filling: 2 cans Oregon Blackberries 3 Tbsp cornstarch 6 Tbsp sugar
Crush your graham crackers either in a food processor or with your own fists, then mix in brown sugar. Melt butter and combine. Press into pie pan. Bake at 350° for 6-8 minutes. Save the syrup from one of the cans of berries, and heat on medium in a saucepan, with the cornstarch and 3 Tbsp sugar until it starts to thicken. Remove from the heat and add the drained berries and the rest of the sugar. Pour into prepared crust, and bake at 400° for about 20 minutes. My crust got a little dark, so keep an eye on it. Once done baking let it cool for a bit so that the filling sets. I was a little over eager in slicing mine and it became a little cobbler-esque.
Happy pie season! -Erin Make these indigo tea towels!

Fall is the best for many reasons, including, but not limited to: 1. You don't have to sit around in a pool of your own sweat. 2. Sweaters. 3. Pumpkin everything. 4. It's pie season.


Pie might just be my favorite dessert genre (yes mom, this is a recent development), and it is finally just getting cold enough to justify using the oven. Not that I didn't use it before, we just suffered through it. 
Now that I'm in Kansas one thing that I miss about Oregon is the availability of berries. I used to hate raspberries because I had to pick too many of them as a child... the things you take for granted! I would love to have too many raspberries now. 
Anyways, I don't know why I bought these cans of blackberries a while back, but I did, and they were sitting in the cupboard eagerly awaiting the pie making days of fall. Maybe I was planning ahead, who knows.  I made a blackberry pie, and you should too. Because, yum.
For the crust: 14 whole graham crackers (not those little half crackers) 7 Tbsp butter 1/4 cup brown sugar
For the filling: 2 cans Oregon Blackberries 3 Tbsp cornstarch 6 Tbsp sugar
Crush your graham crackers either in a food processor or with your own fists, then mix in brown sugar. Melt butter and combine. Press into pie pan. Bake at 350° for 6-8 minutes. Save the syrup from one of the cans of berries, and heat on medium in a saucepan, with the cornstarch and 3 Tbsp sugar until it starts to thicken. Remove from the heat and add the drained berries and the rest of the sugar. Pour into prepared crust, and bake at 400° for about 20 minutes. My crust got a little dark, so keep an eye on it. Once done baking let it cool for a bit so that the filling sets. I was a little over eager in slicing mine and it became a little cobbler-esque.
Happy pie season! -Erin Make these indigo tea towels!

adventures in juicing

My most recent thrifted treasure is a beautiful juicer that I found at the Et Cetera shop. My mom had a juicer when I was younger and I always remembered her making these weird juices with strange combinations, but lo and behold, I am turning into my mother. I bought the machine for only twelve dollars! (Only about 100 less than the usual selling price. I investigated.) Because I'm still trying to eat on a budget I didn't go out and buy a whole bunch of obscure foods to run through it, but bought some pretty standard ones - apples, oranges, carrots, grapefruit, etc. This morning I made a delicious orange, carrot and apple juice. I'm excited to try more combinations and will let you know when I find some gems! - Erin

My most recent thrifted treasure is a beautiful juicer that I found at the Et Cetera shop. My mom had a juicer when I was younger and I always remembered her making these weird juices with strange combinations, but lo and behold, I am turning into my mother. I bought the machine for only twelve dollars! (Only about 100 less than the usual selling price. I investigated.) Because I'm still trying to eat on a budget I didn't go out and buy a whole bunch of obscure foods to run through it, but bought some pretty standard ones - apples, oranges, carrots, grapefruit, etc. This morning I made a delicious orange, carrot and apple juice. I'm excited to try more combinations and will let you know when I find some gems! - Erin

cheap chinese take out break

We spend a lot of time cooking up a storm in this little apartment of ours. We love trying new recipes and eating delicious foods. Every once in awhile though, when our taste buds are craving chinese after seeing Erin's boyfriend eat it, and when Erin has a weirdly early dinner break at work, we just can't help ourselves. We give in to the sweet and spicy goodness of Chinese take out-enjoying every bite out of that Styrofoam box. And hey, if you only have an hour and it is a nice day outside, you may as well have a picnic with your greasy goodness, right?!?
What is your guilty pleasure?
-Leah

We spend a lot of time cooking up a storm in this little apartment of ours. We love trying new recipes and eating delicious foods. Every once in awhile though, when our taste buds are craving chinese after seeing Erin's boyfriend eat it, and when Erin has a weirdly early dinner break at work, we just can't help ourselves. We give in to the sweet and spicy goodness of Chinese take out-enjoying every bite out of that Styrofoam box. And hey, if you only have an hour and it is a nice day outside, you may as well have a picnic with your greasy goodness, right?!?
What is your guilty pleasure?
-Leah

sun tea

 Both Leah and I can drink iced tea like nobody's business and sun tea is our new favorite thing. In my opinion, the easiest way to make something is to just set it outside all day, am I wrong? You most recently saw sun tea make an appearance in our last outfit post, and we just can't get enough. Our go-to is Tazo Passion Tea, but I'm excited to try it with Good Earth or green tea.

Instructions: 1. Find yourself a pitcher. 2. Put some tea bags of the tea of your choice into it. 3. Fill the rest up with water. 4. Set outside. 5. Go about your day as usual. 6. Fetch tea from the outdoors. 7. Enjoy... with a spring of mint maybe? Ideally, it would be a nice sunny day. I like to put it together in the morning, then when I get home from work I can pop it in the fridge and pour myself a glass.
The batch pictured here sadly didn't end up so well. I went to bring it inside, lifting the little yellow handle, and it popped right off and shattered onto the ground before I had a chance to get my other hand beneath it. Luckily a trip to the store was already on our list of things to do, so we were able to pick up another pitcher for tea today!

- Erin

 Both Leah and I can drink iced tea like nobody's business and sun tea is our new favorite thing. In my opinion, the easiest way to make something is to just set it outside all day, am I wrong? You most recently saw sun tea make an appearance in our last outfit post, and we just can't get enough. Our go-to is Tazo Passion Tea, but I'm excited to try it with Good Earth or green tea.

Instructions: 1. Find yourself a pitcher. 2. Put some tea bags of the tea of your choice into it. 3. Fill the rest up with water. 4. Set outside. 5. Go about your day as usual. 6. Fetch tea from the outdoors. 7. Enjoy... with a spring of mint maybe? Ideally, it would be a nice sunny day. I like to put it together in the morning, then when I get home from work I can pop it in the fridge and pour myself a glass.
The batch pictured here sadly didn't end up so well. I went to bring it inside, lifting the little yellow handle, and it popped right off and shattered onto the ground before I had a chance to get my other hand beneath it. Luckily a trip to the store was already on our list of things to do, so we were able to pick up another pitcher for tea today!

- Erin

leah's food adventures

Thank goodness Erin is home from her trip... I experienced a small dose of panic and shame when it came down to cooking the first full day without her. I came home from work, already a bit hungry, and threw open the doors of the refrigerator and cabinets. I could not think of a single combination of items I could put together for dinner. I began to freak out a little and I was feeling pretty pathetic. Can I really not cook for myself?? What happened to all of my dreams (according to pinterest) of being able to cook anything imaginable??

The feeling of shame came as I threw my dog into the car and sped to Taco Bell for a crunch wrap. As I sat by the window, professor jumping around on the seat next to me, waiting for them to hand my my greasy goodness, I realized the new low I had sank to. I knew something had to change. So I got home, took out my computer and dug up these recipes to try this week.: One Pot Wonder Tomato Basil Pasta and Corn Bean and Shrimp Salad.

Both ended up amazing and they were so easy to make. My inspiration to cook for myself has been reborn-I will no longer panic and drive through for fast food.

Did you try any new recipes this week?

-e plus l

Thank goodness Erin is home from her trip... I experienced a small dose of panic and shame when it came down to cooking the first full day without her. I came home from work, already a bit hungry, and threw open the doors of the refrigerator and cabinets. I could not think of a single combination of items I could put together for dinner. I began to freak out a little and I was feeling pretty pathetic. Can I really not cook for myself?? What happened to all of my dreams (according to pinterest) of being able to cook anything imaginable??

The feeling of shame came as I threw my dog into the car and sped to Taco Bell for a crunch wrap. As I sat by the window, professor jumping around on the seat next to me, waiting for them to hand my my greasy goodness, I realized the new low I had sank to. I knew something had to change. So I got home, took out my computer and dug up these recipes to try this week.: One Pot Wonder Tomato Basil Pasta and Corn Bean and Shrimp Salad.

Both ended up amazing and they were so easy to make. My inspiration to cook for myself has been reborn-I will no longer panic and drive through for fast food.

Did you try any new recipes this week?

-e plus l

heavenly cinnamon roll cake

Don't judge me for taking pictures on the floor. I followed the sun. It was getting late.

Now that we've moved in, I have gone a little crazy with the sweets. So far we have two different kinds of cookies in the freezer, snickerdoodle blondies, and now this amazing cake. I think I'll start saving our flour for breads instead of cakes, but I had to get all of the sugar out of my system first, apparently.

I found this recipe for Cinnamon Roll Cake on Pinterest and got so excited. It literally melts in your mouth. The best part is that for lazy bakers like me, you just have to mix everything up in a big bowl, so simple. Cinnamon rolls are a bit of a process, and this cake is easy to just throw together in a hurry.




Excuse me, while I go sleep off this cake. Nothing like a hefty slice of cake to put you to sleep.

- e plus l

Don't judge me for taking pictures on the floor. I followed the sun. It was getting late.

Now that we've moved in, I have gone a little crazy with the sweets. So far we have two different kinds of cookies in the freezer, snickerdoodle blondies, and now this amazing cake. I think I'll start saving our flour for breads instead of cakes, but I had to get all of the sugar out of my system first, apparently.

I found this recipe for Cinnamon Roll Cake on Pinterest and got so excited. It literally melts in your mouth. The best part is that for lazy bakers like me, you just have to mix everything up in a big bowl, so simple. Cinnamon rolls are a bit of a process, and this cake is easy to just throw together in a hurry.




Excuse me, while I go sleep off this cake. Nothing like a hefty slice of cake to put you to sleep.

- e plus l

pecan coconut oatmeal cookies

I am so excited about these cookies. Since Leah is still in California, I had to text her after I made them to tell her just how wonderful they are. If you like coconut and/or pecans, you must make these. I demand it. And you know what else? Cookies freeze perfectly fine so you can make a thousand of them, freeze them, and eat them every day for the rest of your life (assuming you have a microwave to thaw them out to a nice faux fresh-baked warm and gooey state).

They aren't too sweet, which helps the other delicious flavors shine through. I like cookies where you can actually taste the awesome flavors, rather than just being covered up by sweetness. I used raw sugar also, which gives nice texture, but feel free to use whatever you have on hand.

Mix:
1 stick butter
1/2 cup coconut oil
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

---

Combine & Add:
2 cups flour
3 cups oatmeal
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt

---

Add:
1 cup flaked coconut
1 cup pecans, in pieces

---

Bake on a greased cookie sheet at 340° for 18 minutes.





I hope you enjoy these as much as I am!

- e plus l

I am so excited about these cookies. Since Leah is still in California, I had to text her after I made them to tell her just how wonderful they are. If you like coconut and/or pecans, you must make these. I demand it. And you know what else? Cookies freeze perfectly fine so you can make a thousand of them, freeze them, and eat them every day for the rest of your life (assuming you have a microwave to thaw them out to a nice faux fresh-baked warm and gooey state).

They aren't too sweet, which helps the other delicious flavors shine through. I like cookies where you can actually taste the awesome flavors, rather than just being covered up by sweetness. I used raw sugar also, which gives nice texture, but feel free to use whatever you have on hand.

Mix:
1 stick butter
1/2 cup coconut oil
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

---

Combine & Add:
2 cups flour
3 cups oatmeal
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt

---

Add:
1 cup flaked coconut
1 cup pecans, in pieces

---

Bake on a greased cookie sheet at 340° for 18 minutes.





I hope you enjoy these as much as I am!

- e plus l

Our favorite places: Ad Astra Food and Drink

Ad Astra is seriously one of our favorite restaurants near by to go to. It is about an hour away from us in Strong City, Kansas so it is a bit of a drive but well worth it.








I, Erin, have been to Ad Astra just a few times, but it is one of my favorites for sure. The first time was with Landon when we were on our way to Missouri this past summer. We had heard of it before, and were dying to visit, but sadly they are only open on the weekends and we'd struggled to find a time to go when they were actually open. It was SO worth it though. My favorite dish there is their Lulu Salad - with blueberries, pistachios and goat cheese - though everything that I've tried there has been excellent. Once they had a cheesecake with gingersnap crust (on my goodness, so good). I could rave on and on, but I'll spare you.



I, Leah, went there for the first time over the weekend with my roommates to listen to our friends, Maggie and Allison sing. The whole atmosphere of the restaurant, plus their beautiful singing, and the delicious food made for a fantastic evening. I seriously had the best burger of my life there. It had bacon, jalapenos, and spicy cheeses that just went so well together.

We would both highly recommend trying out Ad Astra if you are in the area! 

- e plus l

Ad Astra is seriously one of our favorite restaurants near by to go to. It is about an hour away from us in Strong City, Kansas so it is a bit of a drive but well worth it.








I, Erin, have been to Ad Astra just a few times, but it is one of my favorites for sure. The first time was with Landon when we were on our way to Missouri this past summer. We had heard of it before, and were dying to visit, but sadly they are only open on the weekends and we'd struggled to find a time to go when they were actually open. It was SO worth it though. My favorite dish there is their Lulu Salad - with blueberries, pistachios and goat cheese - though everything that I've tried there has been excellent. Once they had a cheesecake with gingersnap crust (on my goodness, so good). I could rave on and on, but I'll spare you.



I, Leah, went there for the first time over the weekend with my roommates to listen to our friends, Maggie and Allison sing. The whole atmosphere of the restaurant, plus their beautiful singing, and the delicious food made for a fantastic evening. I seriously had the best burger of my life there. It had bacon, jalapenos, and spicy cheeses that just went so well together.

We would both highly recommend trying out Ad Astra if you are in the area! 

- e plus l