(784) ce jeu

I'm about to start my fourth week of school tomorrow! That just sounds crazy. I was recently "elected" the co-secretary of our French Club, which I'm incredibly excited about! I am so ready to immerse myself in French culture, watch more French films, make crepes and madelines! Our first official meeting, after the preliminary, is tomorrow. I also took a lovely trip to Charlotte this weekend to visit a friend

Easy dinners are what have been keeping me going lately. This scramble was incredibly easy to put together and a great end-of-summer dish. Lee fried the potatoes, which were amazing

French toast skills are getting slightly better. This batch turned out just a bit burnt, but still delicious and filling

On our way to Charlotte after about 5 detours!

Beautiful mason jar lights at Fern, a restaurant in Charlotte

The most beautiful bloody mary. Tasted pretty good too!

Cory's dashi ramen topped with a poached egg. This was made with zucchini noodles, so it was gluten-free too!

My farmhouse vegetable ragout. Braised in a delicious, vegan sauce, the fingerling potatoes were so tender and that was definitely the best tempeh I've ever had. It was so soft and tasted nothing like the tempeh I've eaten for years.

My new found love: Amelie's French Bakery in Charlotte. Not just because they're the only place to have macarons outside of NYC, but the atmosphere was so inviting...and French! They had everything, from pate, to madelines, French cheeses, etc. It is definitely my new favorite place. The macarons were delicious! They're also open 24 hours, which is pretty lovely. If I lived in Charlotte I'm pretty sure I would live in this bakery...and be broke.

They also had lavender French lemonade, which is amazing. I have to say, I am a huge fan of that lemon San Pellingrino sparkling beverage I had.

These were the only jam filled ones they had, but they're marvelous! Look how perfect the feet are

Tried to start off today with a healthy breakfast: avocado toast drizzled with balsamic vinegar and salt.

My new apple pomegranate lemon tea from Teavana (yet another place I wish we had here).

I made a very interesting twist on granola today from Shutterbean: candied walnut, coconut, black sesame seed granola (with many other things involved!) It is currently cooling but I'm sure it'll be great for breakfast this week.

(644) momma manatee

Mother's Day weekend was quite successful. I bought these flowers (below) from work and they are beautiful. I really love the Mason Jar as a vase (which I will totally do when I get my own place!). My mom really loved them. I made her cupcakes and my sister made French macarons. She does so much for our whole family. Thank you mom, we love you.

Red devil's food cupcakes with sour cream chocolate frosting. These are by far the most moist, chocolaty cupcakes I've ever made, I was so surprised! My mom claims they are my best yet. I adapted them from my go-to cupcake source: Ming! I've already made 6 of her cupcakes and I have many more to go!

I let my mom choose the sprinkles. Can't beat simplicity.

I have to admit, I am a little jealous that my sister defeated French macarons before me, but I am also super proud of her. What an interesting flavor to choose for a first time around too: saffron and cardamom. You wouldn't believe how delicious they are. I usually don't like a lot of saffron so these were perfect! She made them a little smaller but they were awesome! She filled them with a cardamom buttercream.

She also made this packaging for our mom! Note my recipe notebook!

Delicate and delicious. Took me right back to NYC

I have to say, I am really growing fond of homemade pizza. I still haven't made homemade GF pizza dough but the Udi's pizza crusts work really well. I'm sure that when I move out it'll be much easier to make pizza dough. This has been one of my favorite pizzas so far: kale red onion and pistachio pizza. This pizza hits all of my taste buds on a high note; the salty, almost bacon-like flavor of roasted/salted pistachios, the sweet red onion, the chewy green kale, hot thinly sliced garlic, and delicious-coma-inducing melted vegan jack cheese. I ate the whole thing in one sitting, and I recommend you follow suit.