Happy Halloween!

Since Halloween is a perfect day to talk about pumpkins, I have one pumpkin recipe that will almost trick you, it's so easy. What's my trick? The crock pot. It sounds a bit weird to make bread, but I can vouch and say that it makes a bread that is cooked all the way through. One of my Pinterest adventures led me to a recipe for crock pot pumpkin bread. It never crossed my mind to make bread in the crock pot and thought I would give it a try. I am continually surprised at what an awesome appliance the crock pot is. The recipe from Lets Get Crockin (you can find the recipe here and on my Pinterest) is simple and put together as if you were baking it in the oven. The best part was that I happened to have all the ingredients on hand!

First, you mix together the oil, brown sugar, and regular sugar; then add in the pumpkin and eggs. Add in the sifted flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Mix well. I was feeling festive and threw in some chocolate chips, but those are optional. Grease a loaf pan and pour in the batter. Literally, the hardest part of this recipe is setting the crock pot up. Add two cups of water to the pot and put in the loaf pan. It sits on top of the edge of the crock pot (as shown in the picture). Next, lay paper towels over the top to catch all the moisture that will condensate on the lid. I used 8 paper towels. Place the lid over the paper towels and cook on high for 2 1/1 hours.

 

I'm serious that this is a delightfully simple recipe and the aroma the comes from the baking bread is amazing! To check make sure it is baked, I recommend inserting a toothpick into the center, which should come out clean. Let it cool and then cut yourself a slice and enjoy! I don't usually put anything on my breads or muffins, but I wanted to try the pumpkin cream cheese from Trader Joe's. I put it on half so that I could taste the bread with and without it. It was not an overwhelming pumpkin flavor and gave it a hint of creaminess. But by itself, this bread was just as delicious! It was not crumbly and the little pockets of melted chocolate created a wonderful symphony of flavors with each bite. However, I know that it would be just as yummy if you didn't use the chocolate chips. You can also make a simple glaze and drizzle it over the top.

However you decide to customize it, I know that you will be impressed. I know I was and will definitely be trying another bread in the crock pot. Who knew that steaming baked good worked out so well?! (Maybe I will finally get the perfectly cooked banana nut bread I have been wishing for...) I wish everyone a Happy Halloween and I hope that you have had a day of treats and not tricks!

Snowflake Ice Cream

If you are up for a little adventure, then head on over to China town for a dessert you don't want to miss. It might be a little overwhelming because you probably won't be able to read anything and you might not know what things are, but stop at Nu Cafe for some snowflake ice cream. Let me just start by saying this is not something that is easy to describe. It is ice cream that they shave off in thin slices (which makes it look a bit like string cheese) that falls into super thin layers. It comes in traditional flavors like vanilla and chocolate, and more exotic flavors like green tea and taro (which is a root veggie that is somewhat like a yam). Then you get to choose a sauce and topping. The traditiona; sauce is sweetened condensed milk (I know it sounds odd), and since I was all about authenticity, I decided to give it a go. I ended up with vanilla topped with sweetened condensed milk and strawberries. It tastes exactly like ice cream, but it is super light and fluffy and doesn't have a really heavy dairy taste to it. The milk wasn't too sweet and the strawberries added a nice textural difference. Snowflake ice cream is really hard to describe, but super delicious so take a walk on the wild side and stop by and try this dessert from the Far East.

Hair Whipped Cream

Finding good hair products that don't cost a fortune can be very difficult. I got this coupon to try Pantene Silky Moisture Whip. Fortunately, I ran out of the other mousse I was currently using, so I figured this would be the perfect time to try it out. Once it comes out of the can, it looks exactly like whipped cream and smells so good! (Be careful because you can't actually eat it!) This product is light weight and doesn't make your hair feel greasy or weighed down. Afterwards, my hair felt softer and the ends weren't dry. It didn't make my hair look greasy even between washes. For a non salon product, it is really great and worth a try. Don't worry...all products are not created equal, but just because it's not from a salon doesn't mean it's not effective.

Fabulous Flats

I can always count on DSW to come through for me when I am looking for shoes. Statement necklaces are all the rage this season, so I thought why not have a statement shoe. This chocolate brown suede shoe is simple but screams for attention with the beautiful amber stone outlined with clear smaller stones. They definitely take an outfit from drab to fab. They can dress up an outfit, but are still simple and sophisticated. I am sure that I will get plenty of wear out of these this season. Plus they are cushioned on the inside and super comfy! So what's not to love about these eye catching flats?! Hurry into DSW and snag yourself a pair before they are all gone.

Cookie Butter

So I didn't know that heaven came in a jar until I tried Trader Joe's Cookie Butter. First of all, Cookie Butter is not butter at all. It is a topping, but not like peanut butter either (though it does look somewhat similar). The magic of this is something called speculoos. This is a shortbread/biscuit like cookie that originated in the Netherlands and Belgium for St. Nicholas' Eve (no wonder it's so fantastic... it's a Christmas cookie) and is made with butter, sugar, and spices. Cookie butter is basically a spreadable form of the cookie. It is silky, creamy, and somewhat sweet with a hint of salt. It literally melts in your mouth. I almost can't describe it because it is such a unique flavor and is so delectable! All I can say is that you need to get to a Trader Joe's as soon as possible and try it out for yourself. Come back and let me know what you think about it!

Soft Pumpkin Spice Iced Cookies

I know it's been a while since I have posted about pumpkin (and I am sure some of you are really excited about that), but I figured that I better get back to the pumpkin before it's too late. The shopping centers have already put up the Christmas decorations and the countdown to the holidays has begun. I found this great recipe on Pinterest from The Baker Chick for soft frosted pumpkin spice cookies. The recipe looked pretty easy and the cinnamon cream cheese frosting sounded amazing. You can find the original recipe here or on Pinterest. I have never made a pumpkin cookie and figured that this would be a great one to try. They came together very quickly and made enough to share.

You should have most of the ingredients on hand, expect for maybe the pumpkin and some of the spices. Mix together all the dry ingredients in a medium bowl. In a separate bowl, cream together the butter and sugar, then add in the pumpkin, egg, and vanilla. Add in the dry ingredients and then drop onto a cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees F for about 15 minutes.While the cookies bake and cool, make the icing.

The interesting thing about this icing is that there is no liquid. It is only butter, cream cheese (I used non fat), powdered sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla.  Cream together butter and cream cheese. Then add in powdered sugar until thick and creamy. Finish by adding in the cinnamon and vanilla. However, mine got a bit too thin, so I ended up frosting my cookies twice (maybe it was because I used the non fat cream cheese, though I am not sure). I let the first layer harden and then added a second layer of icing. Even though, my icing turned out more like a glaze, the cookies still turned out very well. They weren't overly sweet, had a great pumpkin flavor that was highlighted with fall spices, and everything came together with the icing.

These were so delicious! They really were soft and fluffy on the inside, but they didn't get soggy. Since they made so many, I decided to share most of them and got rave reviews. I would say that this cookie is definitely going to be making another appearance and may even become the cookie that I always have on hand. These are a super quick and easy cookie that you can go to whenever you need to whip up a quick dessert. Make sure you try these because you won't be disappointed. Enjoy these pumpkin delights!

Momma Mia is "Mia's" Delicious!

Houston is a big food city and I can honestly say I am never at a loss for places to go. No matter what you are looking for, there is some place that serves it. But sometimes you are just in the mood for some good old American food, so we headed on over to a precious place called Mia's. Named for the daughter of Johnny Carrabba's, this little house has a beautiful patio and a cozy, retro feel like you stepped into someone's home. The menu is simple, but turns the classics into something more upscale. My food exploration buddy chose the cheeseburger which also looked delicious. Feeling a bit adventurous, I opted for a meatball burger and sweet potato fries. It was served in a white, almost tub like plate rimmed in blue (a plate I had never seen before). The burger was served on a ciabatta roll with lettuce, onions, tomatoes, and Jamie's secret sauce. The meatball was flattened in the shape of the roll, but it was laced with herbs and tons of flavor. It was definitely not a bland meatball! The sauce added a little extra kick and the thinly sliced onions weren't overpowering.

The sweet potato fries weren't oily and had a touch of salt. They were crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. I would have to say that these are some of the best sweet potato fries I have had. We sat outside on the double deck of the patio and enjoyed the beautiful weather and great food. Since they bake their own cookies in house throughout the day, there was definitely a chocolate chip cookie that was calling to us. The chocolate was perfectly melted on the inside and there was a light crunch when you bit into it. On the way out, make sure to stop by and get yourself a cup of the vanilla custard. It's rich, creamy, and silky smooth. It is the perfect way to end a delicious lunch. If you haven't been to this little gem, make sure you stop by soon because it is definitely one that you will visit frequently.

Vermont Brownie Company

I like to find thank you gifts that are unique and not something that they would ordinarily get. I found out about the Vermont Brownie Company from my sister. She had been lucky enough to sample them and said they were pretty delicious, so I took her word and sent some to a few people. However, I had not personally sampled them until now. Luckily, I got a package in the mail that had these yummy brownies in them. This was the sampler pack which had walnut chunk, maple toffee crunch, apple blondie (a season flavor), signature, peanut butter, and espresso dulche de leche. All of them sound amazing and I had a hard time picking out which one to try first. In the end, I opted for the signature brownie. It was chocolately and moist with chunks of chocolate, and surprisingly a touch of salt. The salt balanced out the sweetness and added an interesting twist on a normal brownie. These were just the right size, where you got enough to satisfy your sweet tooth but weren't feeling sick afterwards. You definitely want to try these, even if you just order them for yourself because we all deserve a little treat every once in a while and I can't wait to try the rest of them!

Pecan Pumpkin Perfection

So you know it's about to be the holidays when... restaurants start bringing out the seasonal menu items. I was so excited when I saw that The Cheesecake Factory was serving the pumpkin cheesecake and the pecan pumpkin cheesecake! I decided to go for the pecan pumpkin cheesecake which is a combination of pecan pie, pumpkin pie, and cheesecake. The bottom layer is a graham crust and then the gooey caramel pecan pie filling. It isn't overly sweet and balances well with the pumpkin. The top layer is a light, fluffy pumpkin cheesecake. It has a great pumpkin flavor that is laced with cinnamon and nutmeg. The sweeter pecan layer adds depth to the pumpkin cheesecake and the pecans add crunch and texture. This really is the best of both worlds, so you never have to choose between pumpkin and pecan pie. So hurry on into The Cheesecake Factory and grab a slice before it's gone! 

Cheescake Factory...For Brunch?

I love The Cheesecake Factory and have been there more times that I can count, but I have to admit that I have never actually been there for brunch. I figured now was as good a time as any to try it. Fortunately, the brunch menu is a bit more manageable than the normal menu, but Sunday for brunch is the only time that the whole menu is available. I stuck with brunch since trying it was the whole reason for going. Again, I faced the ever difficult task of trying to decide whether it was a savory or sweet day. Good thing, I didn't have to decide and got to try some of each. The first dish was a morning quesadilla with eggs, black beans, peppers, onions, bacon, and cheese. These were not flat little things that barely had any insides. These were filled to capacity and full of yummy goodness. It was served with sour cream, pico de gallo, and guacamole. The guacamole was pretty good and the was perfect for the quesadilla. The quesadilla was browned in a pan, so it was crunchy on the outside and warm, which melted everything all together. The eggs were light and fluffy and the cheese was the glue that held everything together. It was really delicious!

 

For my sweeter offering, I sampled the bruleed french toast. Usually when you think of french toast, it's done with flat toast bread, but this was done with a much different type. It was huge, but held the texture nicely so there wasn't a soggy middle. It was dusted with powdered sugar and topped with strawberries and maple syrup on the side. The french toast wasn't overly sweet and had a nice crust on the outside. It was a much different french toast than what I was expecting, but was a great way to satisfy the sweeter brunch craving I had. This is definitely some place to keep in mind the next time you are looking for a brunch spot. Be sure to get there early, as it does get pretty crowded really quickly. Whether you are looking for brunch, lunch, dinner, or dessert, The Cheesecake Factory has you covered and knows how to do their meals right.

Spiced Cake

I don't know who invented scented candles, but I owe them a big thank you! For some reason, they can immediately erase all the bad things and put me in a better mood without me even realizing it. There is nothing like having a super stressful day and then lighting a candle, where the scent fills the room and suddenly everything is much better. Let me say that the spiced cake candle from Pier 1 is beyond amazing! Its scent fills the entire room and lingers long after you blow it out. It wraps you in the aromas of fall and it has made me fall in love. It's spicy and sweet all at the same time...like a glazed spice cake was just pulled out of the oven. It isn't too sweet smelling and has a wonderful color. This is a perfect candle for fall. Thank you Pier 1 for this magical candle.

'Fall'ing in love with Shooties

Fall means chilly weather, sweaters, fires, and just being warm and cozy. But let's just be real here for a moment. This is Texas and those kinds of days happen only a handful of times each year and it is usually around Christmas. So the idea of wearing boots sometimes just makes me hot. However I love fall and hate that I can't wear boots. The somewhat recent introduction of the ankle boot has sort of helped with that, but I can never seem to find ankle boots that I really adore. Enter the shootie (or bootie...it's the same thing). Now this is a versatile fall shoe that I can learn to love. What is a shootie you might ask? It is a hybrid of a boot and a pump because it covers up most of your foot and stops right below the ankle. Think of it as a sweater for your feet. I really like these because they can be worn with anything and everything just like a boot, but still have the fierceness of a high heel. Don't think that these only come in basic, boring colors. There are tons of colored, patterned, bedazzled and everything else you can think of versions out there. I found this more neutral pair at Target and liked that there was a little piazzaz to them, but mainly I thought that I could wear them with a ton. You can throw them on with a dress and tights or skinny jeans and a great coat. This shoe is becoming a shoe staple for the fall, so no matter what you are looking for, I know that there are a ton of options out there. DSW is teeming with options right now (I am beyond tempted when I visit), so make sure you grab yourself a pair before they are all gone. This is a great transition shoe to wear in the fall before the cold of winter comes. Knowing that I can at least enjoy some of the fall shoe fashions more often with the shootie makes it a little easier to handle the warmer weather.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Brownie Bars

It's obviously the onset of fall with all these pumpkin recipes that I have been posting about recently, but I can't seem to get enough of them. I would suggest keeping a can of pumpkin on hand at all times during this season...you never know when you will need it. Besides then you will avoid the rush of everyone wanting pumpkin closer to Thanksgiving and then finding out it is all gone when you get to the store. This recipe came from Pennies on a Platter via another one of my Pinterest sessions. I love the good old chocolate chip cookie, but throw in some pumpkin and what's not to love about that. I also have to say that this recipe literally takes no more than an hour from start to finish, including washing dishes. I know you are skeptical because there are lots of recipes that say that they only take 30 minutes, but what they really mean is 30 minutes of preparation time. I promise you these are beyond super simple and you probably have most of the ingredients on hand. The unique thing about these is that they have a subtle spice flavor because of the nutmeg and allspice. It works really well with the pumpkin and the chocolate adds the chocolate flavor that few can resist.

There are five steps to this process. Preheat oven and prepare pan. Mix wet ingredients. Mix dry ingredients. Mix the two together and add chocolate chips. Pour into the pan to bake. The wet ingredients are 1/2 cup of pumpkin, 1 egg, 2 egg whites, and 1 tbsp canola oil. The dry ingredients are 1 cup flour, 1 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp cocoa, 2/3 cups packed brown sugar, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp nutmeg, and 1/2 tsp allspice. Once all the ingredients are mixed together, add in the chocolate chips. The recipe calls for 1/2 cup, however, I don't think you can go wrong with too many, so I added more along the lines of 1 cup. The batter will be pretty easy to get into the parchment lined pan. The only issue I ran into was that I didn't have an 11 x 7 pan, so I used a 13 x 9 pan. This made them a little thinner then normal. I also made them in a 9 x 9 pan and found the 9 x 9 pan make thicker, cakier brownies. I guess it really just depends on what you want. Bake for 10-15 minutes and let them cool. Then slice and enjoy. Once you bite into them, you get the notes of spice and pumpkin and then the chocolate flavor. These are a great twist on a traditional chocolate chip cookie. Though mine didn't end up looking like the picture in the original recipe, they were very yummy. Since Halloween is just around the corner and these are pretty festive, I decided that I will be using these in my goodies bags this year. It will be something different from the usual store bought candy. So whip yourself up a batch of these and cozy up with your favorite book!

Pasta Turned Up a Notch

I kid you not this is the most heavenly and easy pasta recipe that you will ever encounter. It is tasty enough to serve to company and you will probably never go back to eating plain pasta again. I have to admit that the simple pasta dishes, those that use only a few ingredients, are usually my favorites. Not that there is anything wrong with the fancier ones, but they are usually less healthy and make me feel pretty guilty after eating them. I found this recipe on Pinterest (of course) via Yumsugar. This is a traditional Italian dish and I am pretty sure it will become a staple recipe for me. I can almost guarantee that you will have all the ingredients on hand... there are only 6. You will need pasta, olive oil, garlic, red chili pepper flakes, salt, and pepper.  From my experiences in Italy, I found they have a very unique perspective on food. It isn't about taking the ingredients and smothering the flavors, it is about celebrating each one and using it in a way that combines well with other ingredients, but still keeping each individual flavor in tact. This dish does exactly that.

All you have to do is cook the pasta until it is al dente (which is a lot shorter than I usually cook mine) and then top with the rest of the ingredients. I guess that means I overcook mine, but to be honest I put it on the stove and don't use a timer (maybe something I should consider using). I used a spinach and chive linguine from Trader Joes, which had a great aroma when you pulled it out of the package. After the pasta is done, drain it and mix in with one clove of minced garlic, red chili pepper flakes, salt, pepper, and olive oil to taste. I made the whole package so I could have leftover pasta, but I was only making one serving so the spices were all to taste. First of all the aroma was intoxicating and just made you feel good inside. But the flavor was even better! There was heat from the red chili pepper flakes and a spiciness from the garlic, but it wasn't so much that it killed your taste buds. The pasta was yummy as well and the subtle chive flavor added an onion flavor to the dish. It was so yummy and I urge everyone to try it because this is one of the simple things in life that you need to take a moment to enjoy. Besides it take all of 10 minutes to make, so there's really no reason not to try it.

El Guapo

I do love Tex-Mex food (and yes it's different from Mexican food), but sometimes the restaurants seem to serve the same things. When I dined at El Guapo in downtown Tulsa, I was surprised at what I found. It's apparently a hotspot at lunch during the week, but on the weekends it was pretty quiet. Since we were celebrating the end of a great weekend, I ordered a margarita. It was quite a bang for your buck, as it was much bigger than some of the ones I am used to getting. It was really tasty. It wasn't too sweet or sour and had a nice almost slushy like consistency, so that it didn't get watered down. They are known for their tacos which sounded pretty good, but I was pleasantly surprised at how different their menu was. El Guapo serves regional Mexican food, so it was definitely not your average Tex-Mex place. They had the basics, but then they had things like a burrito bowl, different types of burritos, and tortas! A torta is a sandwich that usually comes on a bun that is similar to a hamburger bun, has some type of meat, and sauce. They are simple, but absolutely delicious.

So I'm sure you can guess that in the end I opted for the torta (which they surprisingly don't serve at a lot of places down here.) I chose to get the chicken tinga, which is shredded chicken in a mild red chile sauce. It was topped with a red chili aioli, lettuce, tomato, red onion, avocado, and cheddar cheese and served with french fries. It was absolutely amazing. The flavors blended together so well! The smokey flavors in the red chile sauces and the aioli weren't spicy like you would expect. The bun was light, but didn't get soggy or tear and the creaminess of the avocado added a freshness to the sandwich. I ordered it with french fries (I know. Who does that at a Mexican restaurant?), which were actually really good. They were crunchy and salty, though not overly tender in the middle. This has definitely made it on to my list of top Mexican restaurants, it's just a shame I am not closer or I might become a regular. If you can make it there, make sure you take a moment to sip a margarita, enjoy their rooftop patio, and sample their yummy cuisine!

Lolli and Pops

Photo Courtesy of Lolli and Pops

There is something so fun and whimsical about candy that I can't help but squeal when I see one. I found the most precious place in a most unusual location... the Woodland Hills Mall in Tulsa. The store front is dark wood and gold and you walk inside and are greeted to a case of homemade cupcakes and handmade truffles. I was sad that I didn't see the truffles until we were leaving or I totally would have snagged a few. The inside is bright and colorful, but it's still sophisticated with the dark wood accents. There's a whole wall for every flavor of jelly bean imaginable, a chocolate room, and a gummy room. I had a tough time deciding whether I liked the gummy room or the chocolate room more. I went in and told myself that I would only get a few pieces and I was very proud of myself for sticking to that. However, my partner in crime did a little more damage than I did.

I was a little more adventurous in my selections. I tried a chocolate covered sponge cake, gummy cherries, coke bottles, and chocolate covered crispies. I also got to enjoy some chocolate covered gummy bears (which apparently people haven't had before!) and giant chocolate covered raisins...seriously they were the biggest things I have ever seen. I mean putting chocolate with something gummy just makes it ten times better! All I can say is thank goodness I don't live closer to that cute little store or I might get into some real trouble! There is just something so magical about being in a candy store and it's definitely a place where it's okay to not act your age and enjoy the little things in life.

Pumpkin Spice Donuts

Let's just be honest here. I am a little scared to fry things at home because hot oil is a little intimidating. However, when I found this recipe for glazed pumpkin donuts on Pinterest I started to reconsider my feelings about frying at home. I mean this is the perfect time for pumpkin recipes (which I can't get enough of!) and it's hard to turn down a donut, especially when they are homemade. So I decided to go for it and face my frying fears. I found this recipe on Barefoot and Baking (you can find the recipe here or on my Pinterest board). You start off by mixing the dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, and pumpkin pie spice. In a separate bowl, mix together butter, eggs, vanilla, buttermilk, and pumpkin puree.

Combining the ingredients will prove to be an arm workout. Form a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add in the wet ingredients. Then mix until a dough ball forms. It will take a little bit and the dough will be sticky but you will see it start to come together. Next comes the part where I had to get a little creative. You need to roll out the dough to 1/2" thick. They will get puffy and normal looking, I promise. However, I was in a kitchen with no rolling pin or cookie cutter. So we improvised... we covered a bottle of vodka with saran wrap and used a plastic cup and the lid as the cookie cutters. Once you get finished cutting everything out, you will end up with the donuts and donut holes.

Next came the scary part for me. (Fortunately, I had a helper who volunteered to be in charge of the actually frying part). Make sure you are using a big, deep pot to do the actual frying and open the windows and doors because it will smell like oil. Heat the oil on medium-low heat (it has to be this temperature. Trust me it won't be good if it's too hot!) and you'll know when it's ready when you drop a piece of dough in and it immediately starts bubbling like crazy. I put two to three donuts in the pan and then let them drain on some paper towels. While they are still hot, dip them in the glaze and then let them cool on a cooling rack. The glaze is a basic recipe of powdered sugar, buttermilk, and vanilla. Whisk together and you have your glaze.

These were so yummy and I was surprised that they were relatively easy. They just took a little bit of time because you had to roll and cut out the dough. If I had proper kitchen equipment, it might have sped up the process. However, I did have a really fun time making them. The pumpkin flavor was prominent but not overwhelming and the glaze added sweetness without being overkill. We took these super yummy treats on a breakfast picnic, along with some fresh fruit, and the pumpkin spice hot chocolate (See the post here). It was a beautiful fall morning and these donuts were the perfect way to celebrate fall. I admit that I am no longer afraid of frying (though I do want a small fryer) and am excited for my next fried adventure. Be sure you give these a try because they are beyond delicious!

Tucci

It's kind of hard to find small, somewhat casual, romantic spots these days with all the chain restaurants out there. You either get fast casual or super high end places... not very good when you are looking for something in the middle. However, we happened to stumble upon Tucci while driving down Cherry Street. This main street-esque block has tons of little shops, restaurants, and bars. During my last visit, we stopped at a really great pizza place (see my post on Andolini's Pizza), so we figured we could just try anything and it would probably be pretty good. We stopped at this little place with a patio strung with little red lights and then found it to be an Italian place. (Apparently we like to find Italian places) It smelled amazing when we walked in, so that was a good sign. It was a small place with black and white checkerboard floors and red walls. Each table had a little lamp with a red beaded shade and the walls were decorated with fun food art...definitely a fun little date night place.

I started off with a glass of Starborough Sauvignon Blanc that had aromas of melon and apple, making it easy to drink. The pizzas seemed to be the most popular item coming out of the kitchen, so we decided to try a pizza pie. It was served with a salad that had garlic crostini, kalamata olives, and parmesan cheese on it with a lemon vinaigrette. The dressing gave it some brightness and the subtle sweetness that went well with the salty olives. The pizza we opted for was a white pizza with chicken, artichokes, roasted garlic, and cheese. (The picture was more of an artsy shot.) The crust was surprisingly flavorful and actually made me want to eat it. I am not usually a crust person because it's usually just bland bread, but it was really yummy. Though the server seemed a little off during the meal, the food was pretty yummy. If you are in the area and looking for some where to go, be sure to stop by and try out Tucci.

Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate

Fall is finally here! Though the weather in Houston only hints at fall, the weather in Tulsa was the perfect indication that it was very appropriate to break out the pumpkin recipes. While on one of my pinning sprees, I found this wonderful pumpkin spice hot chocolate recipe on Pinterest via Baking with Blondie. It's super simple to make and doesn't have any extra added sugar to it. What I have found is that the best way to make hot chocolate is on the stove because the ingredients seem to come together much better than in the microwave. Don't get me wrong. I am not knocking the microwave versions because sometimes that's all I have time for, but if you have the time this is the way to do it. 

This is made with skim milk (you can use your favorite kind), hot chocolate mix, pumpkin pie spice, a pinch of salt, pumpkin (not the pumpkin pie filling), and vanilla. I guess they recommend not using the pie filling because of the added ingredients or sugar, but I may just try it one time to see what happens. You start by whisking together the milk, hot cocoa, vanilla, and salt in a sauce pan over medium-low heat. 

 Next, you add in the pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice. Let it heat up and when the temperature is to your liking, start whisking away to incorporate. I started whisking as it was heating, and I think that the ingredients didn't incorporate as much as they should have. Now, I will be forced to try this recipe again to see if I can't get it down pat... oh shoot! Pour into cups and top with whipped cream and a few dashes of pumpkin pie spice and some marshmallows if you want. You can also make your own whipped cream (super simple to make), however, the kitchen I was in was definitely not equipped for that, so the store bought low-fat version had to suffice. To get the whipped cream recipe, click here.

The surprising thing I found was that it wasn't at all sweet except from the whipped cream. Much different from the usual sweetness of hot cocoa. It was definitely a perfect way to celebrate the start of fall and the colors and aroma were intoxicating. This is a great twist on a favorite holiday drink. Plus it gives you a reason to start drinking hot chocolate already, which is a perfect excuse for me!