Saturday Morning Breakfast

hello friends. Sorry I haven't posted in awhile. When I started this blog I made it a personal goal / requirement to post at least once a week. I figured that would be realistic, given my other commitments. But look at me, one month into blogging and I'm already falling behind. Whatever my excuses (busy weekends,  work, poor weather) they don't really matter. So here I am back to the blog.

So often I find myself cooking the same meals, week in and week out. And while I have no complaints from the husband (he would be happy to eat California burritos 5 times a week), I love to try new things and get out of my comfort zone. So I've resolved to try new recipes, and new crafts for that matter. I will be calling it "Pinned it & Did it". 

So here is my first for this series. I saw the recipe this morning while laying in bed, "pinning" on the iPad. It was simple and I already had the ingredients, so I did it. 

via Pinterest

These Baked Eggs and Prosciutto Cups are so delicious and very easy. I imagine they'd be perfect when you have a lot of mouths to feed, but also worked wonderfully for the husband and me. I used spinach instead of leeks and cheddar, and was very happy with the result. For husband's I scrambled the eggs (since he's not much of a soft yoke person) and added a Mexican blend cheese. He added Cholulu hot sauce to spice them up a bit. 

Here was my Saturday morning breakfast: baked eggs in prosciutto cups with fresh organic spinach, rye toast with plenty of butter, plain Greek yogurt with blueberries and a bit of agave syrup, and English Breakfast tea. 

Lemon Popover Pancakes

hello world. Hope you are having a fantastic start of the week. San Diego was hit with a major rainstorm this weekend... we even had hail! Which in San Diego, is cause for much excitement. I stayed in most of the weekend, reading and baking. As much as I love a good rainstorm, I got a little antsy, longing for the return of sunshine.

Luckily, these breakfast beauties are a helpful stand-in. They have a tart sunny-ness about them, that is sure to lift your spirits on a gray day.

This recipe is originally from Steven's aunt Dawn, but given to me from Steven's mom Debbie. I've altered it a bit, as what may serve 2 normal adults, is not quite enough for the hubs and I. Plus, I prefer a little {read LOT} more lemon.

Lemon Popover Pancakes {serves 2}
3/4 c milk
3/4 c flour
3 eggs
2-4 T butter (melted)

1-3 lemons (juiced)
powdered sugar (to taste)

These "pancakes" are baked in the oven. You can use 2 medium sized ramekins or popover baking dishes. I use a muffin tin and make about 8 small pancakes.

1. In a medium mixing bowl, lightly whisk together milk, flour, and eggs. Do not over-whisk. It's ok if there are a few lumps.

2. Grease baking dishes and then pour melted butter evenly among dishes. Divide batter and add on top of melted butter. Bake in 425 degree oven for 15-20 minutes, depending on what size dish you're using.

3.  While pancakes are baking, mix lemon juice and powdered sugar. Meyer lemons work best as their natural sweetness will let you cut back on the powdered sugar. I usually use 2 medium sized Meyer lemons, but you can use 1 large lemon, or 3 if they're very small. A few tablespoons of powdered sugar usually does the trick.

4. You'll notice that the pancakes "pop" up in the oven. When they're golden brown remove from heat and drizzle with lemon syrup. Enjoy right away!

Gifts from Afar

Let me start by saying that gift giving is not one of my talents. It is also not one of my Love Languages. Have you heard of the 5 Love Languages? It's a book that describes the 5 ways that people show love to one another:  words of affirmation, quality time, acts of service, physical touch, and receiving gifts. The author says that you need to know your own top 2 love languages, and that of those you love, so you will know how to show them you care.

I've been trying for years to be better at choosing gifts, and actually giving them {you have no idea how many would have been gifts are floating around my house}. This gift I've put together today is way past due.

It's for my dear friend, Katie. Katie and I met freshman year of college. In fact, it was our first day in the dorms. We've been together through cramming for finals, stressing about what major to choose, trying to figure out what to do with our lives {I'm still waiting for a definitive answer}, and a few Disneyland trips. She was also there in the very early stages of my relationship with Steven. And I was lucky enough to have her stand by my side as a bridesmaid.

Photo by: Flux Photography

Over the last few years our friendship has been a long distance one. I stayed in San Diego while Katie moved back to Sacramento. We've stayed close, cherishing our telephone dates and the special occasion when one of us can visit the other.

Katie has had some wonderful, life changing events lately. All of which deserve to be celebrated. The first (not so life changing, but more inevitable) was a birthday in December. I meant to send a card. The second was graduating from Sacramento State. I meant to send a gift. The most recent is a brand new job, which she just started last week.

With all of these wonderful happenings, I knew I needed to do something to show her that although I couldn't physically be there, I was proud of her and excited for these new beginnings.

So I decided to put together a little care package with a few essentials for her new career life.

First, a devotional. My Utmost For His Highest was first published in 1927. Decades later it still remains as one of the most popular daily devotionals. I picked up a copy for myself too.

I also found this adorable owl mug and couldn't pass it up. Perfect for a morning cup of jo at the office {or holding pencils on a new desk}. Of course, you need coffee with a cofee mug, so I slipped a little gift card inside.

Now for the wrapping, which is my favorite part of giving gifts. I wrapped the book in brown paper and added a little something extra with this fun scrapbook cardstock. Tied with twine and it is ready to go.

I found an old dictionary in my office break room "give away" section. Does your office have one? We have books, file folders, even small furniture. It's kind of like thrifting... on your coffee break. I cut out pages in the dictionary and used them for wrapping the mug and filling my shipping box.

Topped with a card from my ever growing stationary collection and it is ready to go. I posted it on Thursday Saturday Monday and it should be delivered today. So Happy B-day, Congradulations, and Congrats on the new job!

Berry Iced Tea

Today is another unseasonably warm day in San Diego. It is absolutely beautiful. I couldn't help but brew some iced tea and sit outside to enjoy the sun and a new book. Any other commitments or responsibilities I had for the day will have to wait.

Our gardenia bush had one beautiful flower, tucked away behind the trellis. I snipped it and put in some water so I could enjoy its fragrance while I read my new book, The Hunger Games. I'm sure I am the absolute last person to jump on this bandwagon, but can I just say it is so good! I understand what all the hype is about.

Berry Iced Tea isn't so much a recipe, but a simple upgrade for your standard black iced tea. Regardless, I'll share my steps for a delicious slightly sweetened tea.

Berry Iced Tea {6 servings}
4 black tea bags
frozen raspberries, blueberries
mint (for garnish)
water
ice

1. Heat about 6 cups water in tea kettle and bring to boil.
2. Steep 4 tea bags according to instructions (I use Lipton's black tea)
3. Pour over about 3 cups of ice.
4. Pour into glasses with more ice and add frozen berries. Top with fresh mint.

Distressed Terra Cotta w/ Burro's Tail Succulent

Hi there! I thought I would share on a little project I did this weekend.

I found the perfect sized mini succulents at the local farmer's market early in January. I'd been looking to add some life (literally) to the bookcases I'm in the process of restyling {a post on this will come soon}.

The succulents were resigned to live in their 4 inch plastic containers for weeks as I've searched high and low for the right pots. I'm still looking, but in the mean time I decided to create my own. Or rather, put some crafty love on plain terra cotta pots.

This was almost too easy. I used linseed oil paint mixed with turpentine to make a thin coat {you could also use acrylic paint mixed with a little water}. Using a standard flat paintbrush, I brushed on the mixture, making sure to avoid any clearly defined brush strokes.

 Once I made sure every visible inch was covered, I took a paper towel and roughed it up a bit around the edges, the way natural wear and tear would look. The combination of turpentine and extremely porous terra cotta helped the paint dry in no time. I used some river rocks at the bottom (to help with drainage) and repotted.

The result is a rustic, distressed style terra cotta that is a perfect temporary home for the Burro's Tail succulent.

Try Something New - Chicken Piccata recipe

hello world!


Today is Leap Day 2012. An extra day we get every four years to make up lost time. This year I'm looking at it as a day to do something I couldn't, or wouldn't, normally. Something out of the ordinary. Like start a blog. 


Let me introduce myself. I'm Kristin, a twenty-something Southern Californian making her way through life with family, friends, recipes, crafts, design, and a passion to seize the day. I'm married to a wonderful, hardworking husband and together we have our little one, Chandler, a four year old terrier mutt. 

I love to try new things, especially in the kitchen. So considering today is Leap Day, and my first post, I thought I'd share something relatively new to my recipe repertoire that has become a weekly staple: Chicken Piccata. A co-worker and I started swapping recipes and dinner ideas a few months ago and she mentioned this delightful dish. I'd never heard of it. But lemons, parsley, capers, and chicken. Let's just say "you had me at" lemons. 


The best thing about Chicken Piccata is that there are so many right ways to make it.  I looked through dozens of online recipes, all with the same type of ingredients, but each a little different. Like most of my cooking adventures, I tweaked recipes I found online to meet my tastes and have arrived at something my husband requests on a regular basis.  


Start with fresh ingredients: parsley from the garden, lemons from a friend's grove, and capers from a jar {not so fresh, but they add the perfect zing}.

Saute in a pan with lemon juice and thin slices...

And voila! You have a perfect week night meal.

Chicken Piccata {for two}
2 chicken breasts
1 1/2 c chicken stock
1/2 c lemon juice (1-2 lemons)
2 T olive oil
2 T butter
1 egg (optional)
3/4 c flour
salt and pepper (to taste)


1. Heat 1 T butter and 2 T olive oil in a large saute pan over medium high heat. 
2. Butterfly chicken breasts and pound flat between pieces of wax paper. Dip chicken pieces in a scrambled egg (alternative: olive oil) and then dip in flour that has been seasoned with salt and pepper. 
3. Brown floured chicken in olive oil and butter mixture, about 1-2 minutes per side. Remove chicken from pan and reduce heat. Deglaze pan with about a cup of chicken stock {a lot of recipes call for white wine. I prefer stock as wine gives it too much tartness. Just my opinion.}. Return heat to medium and add remaining tablespoon of butter.  
4. Return chicken to pan and let cook for a few minutes.Cut a few thin lemon slices and juice rest so you have about a half cup of lemon juice. Add about 1/3 cup of lemon juice to pan, along with lemon slices. Taste sauce and add stock or lemon juice as desired. 
5. Lastly, add fresh flat leaf parsley and capers to pan, cooking over low heat for only a few minutes.  


The result is citrus bliss. The perfect combination of tender chicken, tart lemon zesty-ness, earthy parsley freshness and the zing of capers.

Buon Appetito!