Cinnamon Sugar Donut Muffins

October 10, 2014 by Christine Skari

Let’s take a look at that title, shall we?

Cinnamon=love

Sugar=love

Donuts=love

Muffins=love

I really don’t see where we could go wrong here.

It’s that time of year now where the baking bug has officially hit me. I’m still waiting for California to decide that it’s time to change up the weather (hello00 80+ degree weather), but I’m ready to break out my fuzzy pajamas and sit under piles of blankets with a cup of coffee and baked good. Since it’s way too hot for that right now, I’ve been settling for cozying up on the couch with my friend Martha and watching Dance Moms while eating (literally) half the brownie batter from a box mix I picked up at the store. I can’t say I’m complaining.

But back to these scrumptious little things! Think all the fluffiness of a cake donut, but with the soul of a muffin. Then cover all of that with a coating of butter and a lil sprinkling of cinnamon and sugar. And by lil I mean dunk that sucker in and fill every crevasse with as much of it as humanely possible 😯 . Swoon.

One thing I really love about these is how freakishly easy they are to make. You can’t go wrong with a recipe where you just throw all of your ingredients into a bowl, mix, and bake. The donut muffin urge could strike you and you could satisfy it within 20 minutes flat, which is bueno for a girl like me who needs needs needs to eat something the minute I start craving it.

And these, my friends, are definitely crave worthy. Get out your (one) bowl and get to baking!

Salmon with Citrus Gremolata and Roasted Garlic Asparagus

October 5, 2014 by Christine Skari

Everyone grab a fork and get those pinky fingers up, cause we about to get all fancy like up in huurrr. And by fancy I mean a ridiculously easy with a snazzy foreign name slapped on it. Repeat after me: Gremolataaaaa. Even better if you use your A-class Italian accent. Roll that rrrrrr. Grrrrrreeeemolataaaa!

Is your pinky still up? Good.

So let me first start off by saying that I heart citrus anything. It’s not a bad thing, though. IN FACT, it saves lives. A few weeks ago when Kyle and I went up to Big Bear with a group of friends, I practically (emphasis on the practically) saved all of their lives when I insisted on bringing a few oranges on our pontoon to protect us against scurvy. I mean, 4 hours on the raging Big Bear lake can really do a doozy on your vitamin C levels.

CHRISTINE SAVES THE DAY!!

Speaking of Kyle, one of his all-time favorite foods is salmon. Whenever we go to a steakhouse, I get my man on and always end up with a big hunk of juicy prime rib with mashed potatoes while he goes for the lean salmon dish. I don’t know if I’m just accustomed to growing up with a dad who eats beef like it’s going out of style and sits around relaxing with an iPad in one hand and a two day old baked potato in the other, but I’ve always associated salmon with being a more feminine food.

And don’t go thinkin’ that I’m hating on salmon. Luuuurrveee it. Especially when it’s as easy as this recipe! Super fresh, super fast, and super delicious! I don’t think cooking this could possible get any simpler. Both the asparagus and salmon cook together in just 15 minutes and are topped with a refreshing citrus gremolata, which is just fancy Italian for a chopped herb topping. The salmon comes out flakey and tender and when you get that perfect bite of succulent salmon, garlic-y asparagus, and flavorful citrus gremolata, your mouth will thank you. BOOM. Dinner is served! Not bad for a week night dinner, am I right?

Apart from being able to impress all my friends when they ask me what I made (oh, you know, just some Salmon with Citrus Gremolata and Roasted Garlic Asparagus… no big deal) this recipe is also super healthy. Salmon is packed with omega-3 fatty acids which help contribute to normal brain function and keep your heart and joints healthy and asparagus is naturally low in calories and is a great source of potassium, folate, fiber, and several important vitamins. Doesn’t get much better than that!

Skinny Vanilla Glazed Raspberry Swirl Scones

October 1, 2014 by Christine Skari

Stare deeply into your computer screen into the swirly depths of these scones. Vibrant red whirls of raspberry goodness. Are you hypnotized yet? 😯

You take one bite of these and you’re sold. Tender golden scone bites that are punctuated with sweet and tart bits of sugar-coated raspberries. I repeat, SUGAR-COATED RASPBERRIES. OH! And that drippy vanilla glaze. Mhm. It delivers the perfect extra touch of sweetness and just makes them look oh so cute, doncha think? So pretty in pink!

Kyle and I are heading back up to Santa Barbara tomorrow night, so I thought it would be good to get in one last baking session at my parent’s house before getting back to a crowded kitchen. I don’t think I’m ready to jump back into class and studying… what a rude awakening from the last few vacation weeks I’ve had of binge watching Netflix, spending all day in pjs, camping, and scone-making. While the house I’m living in up at SB is gorgeous and has a big kitchen, the temperature knobs on the oven have had their measurements rubbed off from years of use, so we aren’t to sure how hot things are really getting in there. I’ve had more than my share fair of burnt cookies and rock-hard brownies and was not about to risk the lives of my little rosy love bites.

NOT THESE SCONES OVEN. You can’t win this one.

These raspberry scones are deceiving, and not in a bad way. Full of sweet flavor and flaky dough, they seem like they should be packed with tons of calories, but they’re actually much lighter than most baked goods and come in at less than 250 calories each! I love when you can lighten up normally indulgent comfort food so that you feel better about treating yourself everyday! Whole wheat flour and light on the sugar, but still full of flavor! Yummers.

Life Lately

September 28, 2014 by Christine Skari

Hi friends! I know I haven’t been too interactive with the blog world lately, but I promise things will return to a more normal schedule soon. Here’s what I’ve been up to lately:

I’ve been photographing people… a lot.

While I love capturing photos of food and cooking that make your mouth water, I’ve come to realize that I have a HUGE passion for portrait photography. I started putting more of an effort into understanding movement and the dynamic nature of people (food is much more stationary, believe it or not…) and think I’m getting a little better with every shoot I do. Progress is exciting! Here are a few shots that I took of Kyle’s little brother, Adam, and his girlfriend, Taylor, a few days ago. Adam is incredibly stubborn when it comes to taking photos, so the fact that Taylor and I were able to convince/bribe/threaten him to go down to the trail behind Kyle’s house and stand still for some shots was a victory in itself. I like to think that if I can handle him, I can handle anyone haha!

If any of my lovely readers live up in the SB or Los Angeles area and need some photos done, feel free to shoot me an email !

I’ve been relaxing at home.

After finishing the summer courses I was taking up at Santa Barbara, I headed back to my hometown to spend some time at my parent’s house and get a change of scenery. This means drinking copious amounts of homemade lattes (mooching off their Italian espresso machine) and vegging my life away in front of the TV with some Netflix. I started watching Bridezilla and actually can’t stop from having it playing it in the background when I’m in the living room. It’s such a mindless watch and beyond entertaining. Those girls are absolutely INSANE and I can’t help but laugh out loud by how ridiculous they are.

I’ve been (reluctantly) getting ready to start college again.

Last year was really rough for me. Not just busy rough, but the sort of rough that drains you and makes you feel uninspired and stressed beyond belief. I didn’t mention how bad it got on the blog since I wanted to keep my little corner of the web a happy place, but I lost weight because food started to make me nauseous, couldn’t sleep at night for more than a few hours at a time, was studying 24/7, and was just very unhappy in general. I even considered going on anti-anxiety medication to help me stop worrying about every little thing. I’m not predisposed to needing medication for anything, but the recommended schedule for bio majors last year (two bio classes, physics, organic chemistry, physics, plus labs for all the classes) left me with not enough time to put in as much time as I’d like for each, making me feel unprepared since I didn’t have as many hours as I would usually like to put into each class. I have a type A personality when it comes to school, so this took a huge toll on me and the stress got pretty unbearable at times. I just don’t feel ready to start again.

Luckily, I’ve gotten through my hell year (and actually got great grades, so at least all that work paid off!) and am excited to actually be able to pick the classes I want, rather than having to follow an exact predetermined schedule. Even though I’ll still be busy, this next quarter should leave me with more free-time and I’ll be taking classes that I actually care about and that won’t ruin my life haha. My current schedule include courses in molecular genetics, neurobiology, psychology, and an American literature class. WHEEE!

I’m heading back Tuesday night with Kyle (classes start Thursday), so hopefully the year will start off on a good note.

I’ve been crafting.

Newest obsession? FLOWER CROWNS.

So there ya have it! A quick look into the gist of what I’ve been up to.

I hope your Monday goes by quickly, my friends!

Guest Post: 10 Tips for Buying Gifts Online

September 26, 2014 by Christine Skari

Hi friends, happy Friday! I’m coming at you with a quick and helpful guest post from my friend Jai on tips for buying gifts online. I do most of my gift buying online, especially when it comes to buying presents for Kyle, so I definitely found this helpful and hope you do too .

10 Top Tips for Buying Gifts Online

Buying a gift online for someone can seem like a bit of a daunting task if you’re not that familiar with the World Wide Web and if you don’t buy things online regularly. However, it’s a great way to get a gift as you can find some really unique things online at competitive prices. We’ve put 10 tips together to help you on your way.

1. Aim to have a rough idea of what you’re looking for before you start

There are zillions of gift websites out there so it can be easy to get a little overwhelmed, and you could end up buying/spending more than you intended. Aim to have a slight rough idea of what you’re after before you begin, or at least how much you’d like to spend.

2. Think outside the box

Shopping online will open you up to a world of different gift options, so don’t be tempted to just look at the web versions of your favourite high street stores. Instead, think outside the box and check out sites like Virgin Experience Days where you can buy your loved one a once in a lifetime experience rather than an actual gift.

3. Opt for something they may not buy themselves

When buying gifts online, the same rules apply as if you weren’t. This includes opting for frivolous options that the recipient is unlikely to indulge in for themselves. In other words, spoil them!

4. Keep your eyes peeled for offers and promotions

The internet is a great place to compare options and prices after a few clicks, which is much easier than traipsing round the stores. When you’ve chosen your gift, click around to see if you can get it cheaper anywhere or at least with better delivery options.

5. Check out new websites for something different

There are new sites all the time offering new and exciting products. New gift sites like www.zippi.co.uk are great as they’re modern and have lots of great fresh ideas.

6. Ensure it’s trustworthy when it comes to looking after your details

Sharing your personal details online can be off-putting, so ensure they are reputable in that they have things in place to look after your details (particularly your financial ones). Paying through PayPal.co.uk is always a good idea where possible, too.

7. Give yourself plenty of time for delivery

There’s nothing worse than a late gift, especially when you think you’ve been organised. Check the website’s delivery times and opt for express delivery options if you’ve left it late to be sure it’ll get there on time.

8. Check out the returns policy

You can’t get things right every time, and if you change something in a store, it can feel much easier than doing it online. However, many sites are making it easier to return things to them, so check out the site’s policy when it comes to refunds.

9. Remember you can get other birthday stuff online too

It’s not all about gifts these days; you can even order things like flowers, balloons and birthday banners online too which is really useful.

10. Don’t forget the extras like cards and wrapping

Shopping online can sometimes mean you’ll forget the little things like cards and wrapping paper, so make sure you make a note not to forget them. Some sites even offer gift wrapping services when you order so that can be a good option.