Likers Gonna Like

It's been way too long. Way too long. 

I seriously don't know what to write about. I should be doing homework. But lately no school work has been interesting or inspiring or super duper cool. I've given up a little. I just want to flash forward and have a job and a husband and kiddies. But so many good things are always beckoning and I'm excited for adventures and spontaneity and ice cream. Lots of ice cream. 

Kale and Fennel Salad

I have wanted to write a new post for a while now but every time I sat down to write one I felt stuck. I felt unoriginal and uninspired. I wanted to know how to make this blog our own. I want it to be a place where we can share our creations, our musings, our laughter, and the steps we take everyday towards the rest of our lives. But I struggle with the idea of getting lost inside this vast expanse of bloggers--a whole world both inside this flat computer screen as well as-what, up in the clouds? I mean really where does it all go? 
For some reason today felt like the right time to try again, give myself a little push to share a slice of the pie that is my life. Or in the context of this post, a salad. As Regina Spektor says "today we're younger than we ever gonna be". There's no time like the present to do what makes us happy because with each passing day we are growing older. With each step forward we a leaving something behind--only to be replacing it with our current and our now. Our future is a blank canvas and it is time to start exploring and experimenting, cover that canvas with all the colors of the rainbow. There is no stopping us now.

Kale and Fennel Salad: A colorful crunch of exploding flavor

1 fennel bulb

1 bunch of kale (this amount totally depends on how 'kaley' you want your salad to be. I used about 7 leaves)

2-3 Carrots, grate

Orange slices from half an orange

the dressing:

Orange juice from the other half of orange

Orange zest from the whole orange

4 Tablespoons olive oil

2 Tablepoons Apple Cider Vinegar

1 Tablespoon Distilled Vinegar

2 teaspoons fresh grated ginger

salt and pepper to taste

Finely chop the kale and fennel into bite sized pieces. Grate the carrots. Before peeling it, zet the orange, setting the zest aside for later. Peal the orange and using only half slice into thin pieces. Pile all your delicious veggies into your favorite salad bowl.

Whisk together the orange zest, the juice from the other half of the orange, olive oil, vinegars, ginger, and salt and pepper, adding more vinegar or oil to taste. Time to drizzle drizzle!

Top with toasted slivered almonds, fresh grated parmesan cheese, and the leaves from the fennel bulb (just to add some extra flare).

This is a collage of a salad, make it colorful, crunchy, sweet, salty, bold. Add ingredients, try new combinations of flavors. This is your time to shine! A salad bowl is the perfect blank canvas for a truly ingenious and satiating creation, enjoy your piece of art. 

Cheers!
-The Whisk

On that V-Day Grind

Hey Fans! Tomorrow is Valentine's Day. Which is a strange day, but hey, love those around you. If you wanna be reminded to buy someone you love a nice card and some chocolates, do it up son. I mean, I would never refuse a day of love (but it's all about the chocolate, duhh). So in honor of the glorious day of pink, red, and white, I baked up some delicious edible valentines. 

Cookie // Heart // Poptart

Spread some love. Stay groovy. Be a gem. 
Zee Pencil

Monday Mornin'

Watch Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros "That's What's Up" on PBS. See more from Austin City Limits.

Stay groovy.

Pinky Promise

 Spring = Color. 

Yes. Oui. Sí.

On a cold weekend in Boston full of sore calf muscles from walking around the MFA and the city, stomachs full of delicious food, and movies (1 and 2: sense a theme??), the Whisk and the Pencil were reunited at last! Best Weekend Ever. Amen. 

Sign Sealed Delivered,
The Whisk & The Pencil

Major Life Update

My resolution for 2013 is to be able to do a handstand. A handstand out in an open field with no help. Last year, I vowed to floss everyday (gross that it wasn't a daily habit I know...) and I have yet to break that. I think I like concrete activities. A handstand is so all encompassing: exercise, healthy eating habits, and awesomeness duh. 

1

P.S. My mom can do a handstand. Cool. 

covered in snow

A quick little hello from the whisk, currently in Chicago. 

While this cold weather is emphatically not my pail of blueberries, 

it does bring some joy into my life

specifically in the form of 

warm socks

and

hot drinks

Going Out with a Mental Bang

1

So I wrote this deep, intellectual description about hopes and dreams and accomplishments, but it's all a pile of shitake shrooms. Take every day to do the things that you want. Help other people. Be a good person. Because that's all that really matters. Love yourself. Be kind. And life will fall into place. 

Keep it real. 
Stay adventurous. 
Cheers! 
El Lápiz 

Christmas Dinner Please

Salad

Beet, Goat Cheese, and Walnut Tart

Christmas Brownies

(I'd add some crushed candy canes)

Home

1 / 2 / 3 / 4

There are people I miss and places I can't wait to go. Happy going home season. 

'Tis the Season

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 

Yes, Christmas is a time of materialism. But hey, sometimes it's nice to wear sparkly moon and star earrings, take underwater pictures, paint your nails with glitter, nom on some chocolate covered oreos, pin your hair back with jewels, take a bath, and cuddle up in some pjs. 

Sending love and cheer, 

The Pencil

Right On

to be cooler than you already are...

hit the beach in the winter

(one piece for warmth)

 speak like you mean it

get yo mouth on some vegan carrot cake 

Wise Words

picture taken by the whisk 

“Growing apart doesn’t change the fact that for a long time we grew side by side; our roots will always be tangled. I’m glad for that” — Ally Condie, Matched

MusicCrush

This was my favorite song in the 11th grade. 

Department of Eagles. No One Does it Like You.

Give it a listen. 

Eat some turkey.

Savor some pie.

Give some thanks. 

Love,

The Pencil

WonderFull

Lets talk pumpkin. Its sweet, orange, soft, and oh so very seasonal. Here are just a few dessert ideas for your future feasting. 

pumpkin bread pudding

pumpkin for breakfast

whoa baby

pumpkin layer cake

or if you think you've had quite enough pumpkin, how about these super cute mini apple pies?!

apple and cheddar

xo,

the whisk

Art from the Pencil

Oui Americans, Donut Photograph by Jennifer Jackson

I like art. 

A lot. 

So sometimes I make it. 

And sometimes it sucks. 

And other times I like it.  

It's a confidence thing.

And I should get some more of that. 

Have a super fly week,

The Pencil

"Get Your Political Opinions Off Facebook" Pie

A Brownie Pie Crust

Slightly Sweet Mascarpone with Crushed Blueberry and Raspberry Filling

Topped with Almost Burnt Caramel Sauce

Happy Eating, Dancing, and Creating! Stay warm. 
xoxo,
The Whisk and The Pencil

Moving on Up

1/2/3/4/5

Living in a cloud would be pretty cool. I'd bring jewels these along with me.

 (I've always wanted one of those beds ever since I saw this movie). 

xo,

The Pencil

Our First Recipe

It's our first recipe post! hurray!

You can't really go wrong when you put pumpkin, chocolate, and halloween together, and this is just another example of that.

The one thing I will say about this recipe is that pumpkin puree is a tricky ingredient to bake with because it is so gooey. In the case of these brownies it was hard to tell when they were actually done. Usually you can simply insert a toothpick into the center of your brownie and when it come out with a few crumbs then they are done but in the case of this recipe it never seemed to come out clean no matter...so, if by 45 minutes the center of your brownie is still oober goey, keep baking it for 5-10 more minutes watching it carefully and wait till the middle firms up slightly. Once out of the oven I let my brownies sit for about an hour until they were completely cooled and set. The middle was still slightly less firm but still delicious. 

Even though the baking time is a bit finicky these brownies are a truly delicious Fall treat. I'm thinking of making them again for Thanksgiving...but I may not be able to wait that long!

(I made my brownie is a pie pan but a 9x9 square pan in preferable)

Pumpkin Swirl Brownies

adapted from Martha Stewart

1/2 cup of unsalted butter (1 stick or 8 tablespoons)

6 ounces semisweet chocolate chips (bittersweet works too!)

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

4 large eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1 1/4 cups (packed) pumpkin puree *not pumpkin pie filling

1/4 cup canola oil

1 teaspoon maple syrup

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 tea ground ginger

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and butter a 9x9 baking pan (or pie pan in my case). Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper and butter the sides. 

Melt the chocolate chips and butter until smooth either in the microwave or over a pan of simmering water.

In a large bowl whisk together the flours, baking powder, salt, and cayenne.

In a separate bowl (or if you have an electric mixer use that!) beat the sugar, eggs, and vanilla until well combined and thick. Slowly beat in the flour mixture.  

Divide your batter into two bowls. I scooped two cups into another medium sized bowl and that was about even. 

In a small bowl quickly whisk together the pumpkin puree, canola oil, maple syrup, cinnamon, and ginger.

In your first bowl of batter, stir in your melted chocolate and butter.

In the other bowl, stir in your pumpkin mixture. 

Pour half of the chocolate batter into your prepared pan. Top with half of your pumpkin batter, Repeat with the rest of your batter. 

With a butter knife, lightly swirl the layers together to create that fancy marbled effect.

Bake for 40-45 minutes until set. You can tell it is down when the top no longer jiggles.

Once your brownies are out of the oven let them cool in the pan for as long as you'd like before cutting them! I drizzled caramel sauce over my piece :)

Here is a good looking recipe if you so desire. caramel sauce

DesignCrush

Kitchen Envy

1

Bedroom Envy.

2

Gimme the Deets

1/2/3

Let's wear sequins. Let's be epic. Let's eat pie. Let's love the little details. 

Wise Words

Just some thoughts to get you through your day :)

"To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting."
- E.E Cummings

1

2

3

"We accept the love we think we deserve."

-The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Breakfast Please!

The most important meal of the day!

What would you choose

pancakes

or

waffles?!

WonderFull

1

We can't wait to be adults for one reason. We want to have grown up dinner parties. All the people we like would sit at one table, eating and laughing. We would be grateful for the company and warmth. And we would definitely have this for dessert.