Spicy Refrigerator Pickles

I love pickles! They are seriously one of my favorite things to eat and I crave them 99% of my waking time. I thought I would try a very, very simple take on Refrigerator Pickles to see if it is something I can make myself instead of buying them.

Spicy Refrigerator Pickles: (This recipe fills a Vlasic/ regular pickle jar)

4 Thinly sliced Organic Persian cucumbers
1/3 cup Thinly sliced red onions
1 Jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely chopped
2 cups of white balsamic vinegar
3/4 cup organic granulated sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt 
1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
1/2 teaspoon celery seeds
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cloves (light sprinkling works since the measurement is tiny)

Place cucumber in the jar of your choice; we love reusing "upcycled" pickle jars.  Since this recipe doesn't need to be "canned" by cooking on the stove top, cleaned and sterilized jars are perfect to make your own pickles in.

After adding the first layer of cucumbers to your jar top with 1 cup onion; then add jalapenos.  Repeat this process until the jar is full and layered with all the vegetables.

Combine vinegar and remaining ingredients in a small saucepan; stir. Bring to a boil; cook for 1 minute.

Pour over cucumber mixture; let cool.

Cover, chill and let reach full flavor in 4 days.
*Pickles can remain in the refrigerator for up to one month.

I hope you enjoy & that this will curb all of your pickle cravings ;) Yummy!

XOXO, KC

Pinned: Success or Fail? Avocado Macaroni and Cheese

So this avocado mac and cheese has certainly made the rounds on Pinterest. The photo is what really sells it, right? Well, I guess that's probably why it's so big on Pinterest. Plus it sounds like it would work well. Avocado, plus cheese, plus pasta... what's not to love? 

Well, if you basically want guacamole on top of pasta, then topped with melted cheese that is basically what you are getting. It was edible, but only for like a day because it browns quickly. This photo makes it look amazing and if you cook it yourself it will not resemble this at all. See my photos below.

I was excited to use the avocados I bought from the side of the road when KC and I went to the lavender fields.

I used some ricotta in place of some of the milk. I also used gluten free noodles. These changes shouldn't have made too big of a taste change.

You can see it has an ugly color even after just being mixed together.

So, the verdict: FAIL. I really had high expectations for this and it fell very short. Don't bother with this recipe.

How-To's Day: Crafting Cocktails - Lavender Love

Today's How-To's Day post is in preparation for celebrating CRAFTED at the Port of Los Angeles and the big Grand Opening this weekend!!! What better way to celebrate than with a signature cocktail after a hard day's work! I picked up some culinary grade lavender when Sharon and I made our day trip down to Keys Creek Lavender Farm.  I will be using it in this recipe for Lavender-Infused Vodka and a Lavender Simple Syrup.
The vodka needs to sit for ~4days so this recipe will be ready just in time for celebrating Friday night after the big day :)

This is a great project to use upcycled bottles that you my have saved because you like the shape or style of the bottle. Here we have saved an old Kracken bottle and a maple syrup bottle since they both have the fancy handles.

Lavender Infused Vodka

You will need:
1/3 cup of fresh or dried lavender flowers
Enough Vodka to fill your container. This container can accomidate 750 ml of vodka 

To Make:
Drop 1/3 cup of fresh or dried lavender flowers into your cleaned and sterilized bottle using a funnel. 
Pour in vodka.
Cap tightly and shake/mix thoroughly. 
Place in freezer for up to 4 days.
Strain out lavender leaving the infused vodka behind.

Note: Leaving the vodka and lavender flowers in the freezer for less than 4 days will result in a more delicate infusion. Infusing it for longer than 4 days may make the infusion too strong to consume. If you aren't sure whether you will enjoy a stronger infusion, start off with a 15-minute infusion and taste as you go.

Lavender Simple Syrup

You will need:
1 cup water
3 Tbsp fresh or dried lavender flowers
2 cups sugar

To Make:
Bring water and lavender to a boil.
Stir in sugar until fully dissolved.
Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
Remove from the heat and allow to cool.
Strain out the lavender using a funnel lined with a mesh produce bag shown.
*I used cheesecloth because it is reusable.
Pour the mixture into a bottle and keep in the refrigerator.
**Note:It will store well for about 1 week.**

If you need some more inspiration and recipes to use your Lavender Infused Vodka or your Lavender Simple Syrup check here for more ideas.  Let me know what you come up with.

Enjoy!
XOXO, KC

Cinco De Mayo Recipe

Looks like once I finish this post I am ordering Miss Gypsy an outfit for the upcoming holiday!!!

This Cat Hat Sombrero from ToScarboroughFair on Etsy - in Black Mariachi is FAB!

Now that you know what one of the guests will be wearing at our Cinco De Mayo party, here's what I am trying my hand at in the kitchen.  On the menu:

Sparkling Margaritas and Spicy Roasted Jalapeno Guacamole. 

~The recipes are for a party of 6 guests~

Have you seen the new West Elm catalog? It is pretty amazing! Flipping through the catalog feels like getting to read my favorite magazine.  It has great inspiration for interior design projects but it also includes a handful of really tasty looking recipes.  This Roasted Jalapeno Guacamole has been calling to me ever since last week when we had a fun night at West Elm. I am going to put my spin on the featured jalapeno guacamole pictured.

Roasted Jalapeno Guacamole 

- 2 limes, juiced

- 1 tsp coarse salt

- 1/3 cup chopped red onion

- 2 large jalapeno

- 2 avocados

- 1/4 cup chopped cilantro

- black pepper to taste

Combine lime juice, salt, pepper and red onion in a medium bowl. On a grill blister a jalapeno turning frequently as it roasts. Once blackened to desired char, remove from heat and let cool. Using a knife completely peel and seed the peppers. Dice into strips and combine with onion mixture. Slice and dice avocados into medium-sized chunks leaving the pit in with the mixture to keep it from browning - Secret tip ;) Folding in chopped cilantro and avocados into the marinating onion and pepper mixture. Mash slightly as you stir the mixture completely.

What is Cinco De Mayo without a signature cocktail? Definitely a party foul I aim to avoid with a sparkling margarita! Yes please!

Sparkling Margarita

- 1 1/2 cups blanco tequila (Suggestion - Cabo Wabo Tequila Blanco)

- 1 cup lime juice

- 1/2 cup agave nectar

- 1 1/2 cups sparkling wine or champagne (I always like a good Prosecco)

For garnish:

- Lime peel strips or lime slices

- Salt for rim

Depending on the size of your cocktail shaker you should be able to make ~ 3 glasses at a time. With this in mind, mix half of the tequila, lime juice, and agave with plenty of ice. Shake and strain into 3 glasses. If using the salt, rim the glasses before pouring in the shaken mixture. Repeat for the remaining guests. Top the glasses off with the sparkling wine and add the lime peel or strip to garnish.

We hope you have a super fun Cinco De Mayo!!!

Cheers! XOXO, KC, Kevin, and Gypsy

St. Patty's Day -Sham ROCK your socks off!

St. Patty's Is Almost Here!!! Yay! One of my favorite Holidays is fast approaching and I am ecstatic!

Here are some Shamrocks you can make as stand alone decorations or make a handful to make a Shamrock Garland.  If you followed the post we did on paper heart garlands the process is similar. You can modify this project here to make these fun paper shamrocks.

These Green Straws (found at Whole Foods or online here) are made from plants not petroleum, and are fully compostable.  I like that they are already bright green and perfect already for St. Patty's Day!

  
When Kevin and I were in school down in Savannah, GA we were spoiled to have the biggest celebration for  St. Patty's Day just down the street from us.  IT WAS CRAZY! The fountains would be tinted green at the beginning of March. All the bars that had a 365 Countdown 'till St. Pats would finally drop down to single digits getting us all excited :) In fact our favorite bar would do a free breakfast buffet out back with the purchase of a drink (from 7-11AM- super classy!Lol) The city would be so crazy that you would love it and hate it at the same time- Prepping for dealing with all the tourists would make sane people want to hunker down at home, staying out of the party scene. 

The idea of having a fun Beer & Pizza Night is definitely how I chose to celebrate the fun :)
It is great to  have a reason to eat Corned Beef and Cabbage, but as someone who doesn't eat beef... Cabbage and Potatoes only go so far on the fun meter to me. 
However a night of celebrating including beer & pizza is just about my favorite thing ever!!! Seriously- EVER!

MAKE these shamrock stamps from Green Peppers-

When shopping for these projects- Make sure to pick up an extra pepper to stamp with as well as some for eating.  All you need to do for these wonderful stamped accents is to slice the top off a pepper and dip the whole thing into paint :) Super easy and fun to get the kids to help with too! We have a stack of saved napkins that were just waiting for a theme stamp and a pizza party to go to.

Speaking of Pizza Party- We will be having a St. Patty's Beer & Pizza Party :) Here is a sweet Beer Pizza Crust Recipe that makes a hearty pie fit for a night of fun with the gang:
         

 (Sorry- it's not gfree! You can swap out Redbridge Beer &amp Gfree flour and see how that works out.)

2 Cups white flour

1 Cup whole wheat flour 

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 12oz. beer

1 teaspoon garlic powder

Combine Ingredients in a large bowl and mix well. Spread onto a greased 9X13 baking pan or pizza pan. Sprinkle with your favorite toppings including: sauce, cheese and veggies. Here is our ode to St. Patty's the Shamrock Beer Pizza is topped with green peppers a top a mixture of cheeses. Bake at 425 for 25 to 30 minutes or until crust is golden brown. Let stand about 10 minutes before cutting and serving.

Hope y'all  have a SUPER St. Patty's Day and enjoy yourself responsibly on a heavy drinking night- It's never cool to drink and drive so host a pizza party and keep your friends off the road ;)
XOXO, KC