I'm not a player, I just BLOG a lot.

Check out my blogger shirt!!

As soon as my sister saw this shirt, she scooped it up for me. I'm kind of in love with it. Not only is the quote hilarious, but it's a super soft tee! And it fits well!

Can you tell that I was making the Mango Salsa for Taco Week?!

Tee: Similar to the one by The Shirt Dudes // Necklace: Costume (LOVE this one) // Jeans: J Brand // 

This outfit was perfect for a day of cooking. And now you all know what I wear on my days when I work from home :)

I think I also love this shirt because it makes me feel like Tom Haverford. Who else misses Parks and Rec?!

 

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Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

I'm not much of a cake eater. As I've mentioned before, I don't really like it, if it isn't my pal's Coconut Cake. Since we don't live in the same city anymore, I needed to come up with Plan B for my 26th Birthday. I love Joy The Baker (who doesn't?!) and as soon as she posted this Strawberry Rhubarb Pie, I knew it was perfect for my birthday celebration.

You can see her full recipe post here if you don't mind baking with sugar and butter. I'm always conscious of how much sugar I eat, so I subbed in Truvia Baking Blend. It's a natural sweetener and you really couldn't tell the difference! And instead of using butter, I used Earth Balance instead. Here's how it went!

Ingredients

1 pie crust (Whole Foods makes a great one)

Filling

1 pound of rhubarb

1 pound strawberries

1/3 cup light brown sugar

1/4 cup Truvia Baking Blend

1/4 cup cornstarch

pinch of salt

2 tbsp fresh lemon juice

Topping

3/4 cup flour

3/4 cup old fashioned oats

1/3 cup Truvia Baking Blend

6 tbsp cold Earth Balance

--

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Start by washing and chopping the strawberries and rhubarb. The rhubarb should be sliced into 1/2 inch thick pieces. The strawberries should be hulled and sliced in half.  Add them to a medium bowl. Add the brown sugar, truvia, cornstarch, salt, and lemon juice. Stir together until all of the fruit is covered in the mixture. The sugar will make the fruit juicy and the cornstarch will completely dissolve. Set aside.

Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper. You don't need to fill the pie crust until the topping mixture is ready.

The topping is very easy. In another bowl, combine flour, oats, truvia, and salt. Cut the cold Earth Balance into small chunks. Add it to the bowl and use your hands to mix the butter into the mixture. The butter should we broken down into chunks no bigger than the size of a pea.

Sprinkle the flour/oat mixture over the top of the pie. 

Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes, then reduce the heat to 350 degrees and bake for another 35 minutes.

It will be golden brown and bubbly! Let it cool for an hour or two before serving.

And enjoy! You can slice it like this, but honestly, you are going to want to dig right into the pan. I'm just being honest.

Now I really want to make this again. Who wants to come over for pie?!

Does anyone else bake with Truvia Baking Blend and Earth Balance?

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8 Things to Do in NYC

Oh man. I had the best time in New York last week. I got out of the cab on West 86th Street and felt like a piece of me was coming home.  I got to stay with one of my best friends (who just got engaged!!) and do all of my favorite New York things.

Since I had such a great time, I thought I would tell you guys what I was up to, just in case you find yourself in Manhattan, or even if you live there!

1. The Smith

One of my very dear friends, Graham, suggested that we go to this restaurant. They have a few locations, but we went to the one right across from Lincoln Center. I started with a Manhattan... very fitting for my first trip back in a while. I also ordered the Pot of Mussels and I was a very very happy lady.

*My other friend went to Flex Mussels that same night-- a restaurant that has a menu full of mussels?! Make the reservation for my next visit!!

Links I Love

1) I hate Gatorade, but I definitely want to try this Homemade Electrolyte Drink! It looks so easy.

2) After meeting Jacey at Simply Stylist, I am newly obsessed with Damsel in Dior. How perfect is her Chicago post?!

3) I have been searching for the perfect maxi skirt and this green one featured on Poor Little It Girl is lovely. 

4) Links I Love is being posted today instead of Friday because I am in NYC right now! I am spending the day shopping sample sales with my bestie and drinking margaritas with some other cool kids at Cafe Frida.  Then, I'm headed to Long Island for my sister's Bridal Shower! Such a fun weekend :)

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A Cup of Jo was right. Best Kale Ceasar!

Ever since A Cup of Jo posted Kale Caesar in her Best You'll Ever Have series, I knew I wanted to make it. 

#1 I've always loved Caesar Salads, but I can't bring myself to buy the yucky bottled creamy stuff at the grocery store. 

#2 I love kale. 

Done.

Well, I made it. And then made the dressing again and put it on romaine. And used the leftover dressing from that batch to make a Homemade Chicken Caesar Sandwich. Don't worry, that recipe is coming to the blog soon!

Bottom line: You should make this. It's awesome.