pinterest.

Half way there people! Wahoo! Is that too much? Too much excitement for a Wednesday? Nah. No such thing. I'm going to triva tonight, we came in second place last week and we are determined to win this week!! So until then, I'm oogling some awesome pinterest goodies.

Source: 25.media.tumblr.com via Morgan on Pinterest

We joke about this all the time! I hate pants. I would be pantsless all the time if it were up to me.

Source: 30.media.tumblr.com via Myra on Pinterest

Oh, I need a run. So badly. I need to run the craziness out of my head. I've had some stuff going on lately and running has been my favorite outlet for it. Definitely a run on my calendar for today!!

Source: dressinterest.com via Alex on Pinterest

That. Bag. Oh. My. Gosh.

Source: ruffledblog.com via Taylor on Pinterest

These card holders are amazing. So simple and fun.

Source: stylemepretty.com via Christina on Pinterest

This table is so seriously gorgeous. I'm in love with how it's so soft and simple. Rustic and gorgeous. I'm a huge fan.

Source: bakersroyale.com via Deborah on Pinterest

I'm really trying hard to avoid the Christmas pins so early, but this cake needed to be addressed. I'm in love and I cannot wait to eat it!

lemony angel food cake

We are overflowing with strawberries around here. I’m loving strawberry season. I still plan on making some jam but I wanted to make a delicious dessert for after dinner. I wasn’t feeling straight up strawberry shortcake. So after perusing Pinterest for a bit, I came across a lemony angel food cake that sounded delicious. I happened to have a bunch of lemons left over from a different recipe so this was perfect to use up some ingredients before they went bad.


This was the pin-spiration for the dessert:

Source: marthastewart.com via Julie on Pinterest

Really it was completely delicious. The cake by itself was totally addicting. Every time I walked by the leftovers I cut myself a tiny slice and munched on it. I was really happy with the results. I could have whipped the egg whites a little bit longer and it would have been a little fluffier, but it was delicious. The recipe I used said to add the lemon juice, zest, vanilla and cream of tartar before the egg whites were at stiff peaks and I don’t think that was the best plan. I couldn’t get them to whip all the way up to firm peaks, even beating them for 15 or so minutes.





Lemony Angel Food Cake
(adapted from Martha Stewart)


1 cup sifted cake flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
12 large egg whites
2 tablespoons lemon zest
4 teaspoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
Directions:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Prepare a 12” cake pan by spraying with non-stick cooking spray.
• Sift together cake flour and 1/2 cup of the sugar.
• Beat egg whites until soft peaks form, then add in lemon zest, lemon juice, cream of tartar and vanilla extract. Beat for an additional 1-2 minutes until soft peaks return.
• Add the rest sugar gradually while beating to firm peaks but not stiff peaks.
• Fold in the flour/sugar mixture.
• Pour into prepared pan and bake 40-50 minutes until golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean.

coconut raspberry macaroons

**before we get going here - please ignore some bad formatting! I've been trying out Windows Live Writer and when I upload some of the formatting seems to be a bit off...ugh. Tips or advice are appreciated!!"


Let’s talk Pinterest for a minute. I’m addicted. You are too right? I’m not sure I know anyone online or in “real” life that doesn’t have an account. My cousin’s husband even has an account where he pins all of his favorite vacation ideas and home renovation ideas. The first time I got an email that said G has repinned your pin, I actually laughed out loud. Then after a full day helping my sister and brother-in-law help redo part of their roof, I saw a big article on Pinterest in a wedding planning magazine. It really is everywhere. The problem with it though is that we pin all of these gorgeous, delicious ideas and never execute them! I’ve decided to put an end to that! At least once a week (hopefully on Tuesdays to share my results on Wednesday for the OHP linkup) I’m going to attempt something I’ve pinned. It could be anything, an outfit, a dinner, a workout, just do it already! I have 753 pins, so it may take a while…But I really want to put these to good use!
So, to start off my Pinterest to real life series, I made this pin:

Source: smittenkitchen.com via Julie on Pinterest

First thing first, I adore Smitten Kitchen. It is one of the first food blogs I started reading and every single recipe that I’ve made from her blog has been absolutely amazing. When I saw that these macaroons were from her blog, I had to try them. Plus, I have an insane amount of fruit (strawberries, raspberries, watermelon, peaches) in my house right now that were perfect for these!

My cookie batter was a little more wet that it should have been which lead them to bake with little puddles around them. I was being impatient and didn’t let the raspberries dry as much as I should have before adding them to the coconut mixture. Also, I only own a tiny food processor, a mini chopper really, and had to blend in batches. I stirred the raspberries in instead of chopping them in with the food processor which I’m sure made a bit of a difference.


You can see the puddles I was talking about here. I don’t think that it made a difference with the flavor or texture, but they took a bit longer to bake and that puddle part was a bit chewy, but the rest of the cookie had a great texture!
Yum.
Ok, so on with the recipe. I cut mine in half from what the original from Smitten Kitchen had, but I didn’t make any changes aside from that.
Raspberry Coconut Macaroons
(Originally from Smitten Kitchen)
Printable Recipe
200 grams sweetened, flaked coconut
65 grams granulated sugar
45 grams egg whites
pinch of kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
85 grams fresh raspberries – remember to dry them very well.. That was my downfall in this recipe.

• In a food processor finely mill the flaked coconut. In my mini processor it took 2-3 minutes to get it in tiny enough pieces
• Add in sugar and process for about a minute
• Add in egg whites, salt and almond extract, process again for about a minute.
• Transfer mixture to a bowl and gently stir in the raspberries.
• Scoop into 1 inch balls onto a lined cookie sheet, I used a silicone mat.
• Bake at 325 until the tops are nicely toasted, it took about 45 minutes for my wet batter to get there – but the original recipe says 20-30 minutes.

Let cool and enjoy…

summer kick off weekend

Summer weekends in my family mean huge pool-side gatherings at my Aunt's house. We get together, barbecue and lounge in the sunshine. This weekend is looking to be gorgeous and I'm super excited to ring in the start of summer with a weekend of barbecues!

I'm dedicating this week's oh how pinteresting to barbecues and summer nights!

Source: ivillage.com via Nora on Pinterest

I adore this fire pit setup. The back yard with the Adirondack chairs, it kind of begs for s'mores!

Source: housebeautiful.com via Cecilia on Pinterest

Oh my goodness, I adore this setup! The outdoor kitchen, the seafoam green accents, rustic and perfect!

Source: greenweddingshoes.com via K on Pinterest

I'm loving the speckled serving dishes. The food here looks delicious too!!

Source: bystephanielynn.com via Tina on Pinterest

A bbq in a jar! I know some people who would love it just like this!!

Source: talesofadesignlife.com via Siobhan on Pinterest

Grilled Mexican corn is one of my favorite summer time treats!

Source: thebestpictureontheinternet.blogspot.com via Michelle on Pinterest

Love this, too perfect for what our bbqs are like, but being that close to the ocean would be awesome.

Source: theyummylife.com via Blake on Pinterest

I'll be making these and bringing them this weekend. The display is too cute!!

Source: kinfolkmag.com via Nataly on Pinterest

Every one of these things look awesome. Loving the lemonade mason jars the most though!!

Source: lilblueboo.com via Nicole on Pinterest

I love me some vinegar based barbecue!

Source: pages.mapsofworld.com via Patricia on Pinterest

Last but certainly not least, the United States of 'Mmmerica!


Have a fabulous rest of your week, hopefully you have great long weekends with family and friends!

pinteresting

Happy hump day! Jess is off to the doctor again this morning to get checked out. She'll be getting a verdict on whether or not she should be on full time bed rest until the baby gets here. So we're thinking good thoughts for her today! We want him to stay in for at least 2 more weeks.

Onto happier thoughts, it's the middle of the week which means it's time to share some beautiful pinterest finds!

Source: westelm.com via Rouge on Pinterest

Loving this chair. I'm currently lusting over beautiful outdoor spaces. This chair would make a gorgeous addition to one!

Source: bhg.com via Tracy on Pinterest

Beautiful living space. It has a gorgeous color scheme too!

Source: thesocialhome.blogspot.com via Elena on Pinterest

Beautiful way of organizing a kitchen. Love the labels. It say's it's a dollar store makeover too!

Source: 4.bp.blogspot.com via Kelly on Pinterest

I LOVE this apron. I love everything about it. Too gorgeous!

Source: nestdallasdesign.com via Ellen on Pinterest

Love the bed and the carpet

Source: weddingwire.com via Gina on Pinterest

These are amazing.

Source: ruffledblog.com via Heather on Pinterest

This would be the most amazing wedding I could imagine.


Have a fabulous rest of your week.

morning!

Good morning and happy Wednesday! Since it's Wednesday, it's time to share some of my favorite pinterest finds of the week!
Enjoy!

Source: elenaslife.com via Sonya on Pinterest

Early morning yoga pose. I wish that I did this already today.

Source: apartmenttherapy.com via Abby on Pinterest

One of the most gorgeous kitchens I've ever seen

Source: bhg.com via Debbie on Pinterest

Beautiful bathroom color. I don't love the wainscoting though.

Source: sousstyle.com via Anna on Pinterest

And this is how I wish I ate breakfast this morning....

Source: plataformaarquitectura.cl via Camila on Pinterest

Can I live here please? It's a bit intense, but I'm in love with it.

Source: stylemepretty.com via Keren on Pinterest

Beautiful bouquet of flowers. Love it a little...

Source: toppics.mooo.com via Flan on Pinterest

There are few things cuter than a baby in a skull hat.

Source: apartmenttherapy.com via Erin on Pinterest

I can't wait to have my own house so I can paint the front door bright green just like this.

Source: tasteofhome.com via Diane on Pinterest

Yum! I want these please.

cupcakes are pinteresting

I got some awesomely fabulous news that turned into quite the bummer yesterday. I was invited to the local radio station on Friday morning to participate in their version of cupcake wars. Only to figure out that I can't get out of work and I can't go. I'm so bummed about it, but I think I'm sending my friend Kristyn who owns the bakery in Connecticut in my place. We'll see if it works out!
In the event I can figure it out, I was looking for some cupcake inspiration (I already know exactly what recipe I'll be using, but decorating inspiration and filling options are still open!) on pinterest. I'm sharing the million cupcakes that made my mouth water a little bit with you today!

Source: mybakingaddiction.com via Mashell on Pinterest

Tagalong cupcakes!

Source: mybakingaddiction.com via Mashell on Pinterest

Rolo cupcakes

Source: sweetopia.net via Mashell on Pinterest

I really think I'll be going with the chocolate/caramel combo

Source: alwayswithbutter.blogspot.com via Mashell on Pinterest

Cloud frosting does sound delicious though!

Source: singforyoursupperblog.com via Louise on Pinterest

It's peanut butter jelly time!

Source: kokken69.blogspot.com via Louise on Pinterest

Lemon meringue, as a cupcake? I'd love this

Source: makeandtakes.com via Tammy on Pinterest

Apple cupcakes are pretty darn cute.

Source: bakedperfection.com via Tammy on Pinterest

The apple caramel combo sounds amazing

Source: google.ca via Tammy on Pinterest

Oh my these are adorable!

Source: etsy.com via Tammy on Pinterest

More adorable decorations

Source: bakersroyale.com via Mashell on Pinterest

Ganache, toffee? oh my. Love this. I think I'll use some of this idea...