goodbye 2012!

 HAPPY NEW YEAR!

wishing you a happy 2013!

{new year's cupcake from magnolia}

happy Christmas!

{yule log - buche de noel}

wishing you a happy christmas!

bang bang

So happy to finally try Bang Bang Pie Shop {Logan Square, Chicago}! First of all, their biscuits are amazing...crunchy on the outside, and soft & buttery in the inside. Plus they have a lovely selection of homemade butter and jam.

Each day, Bang Bang has a selection of only four flavors of pie...four creative and delicious pie flavors: today's flavors were gingerbread, eggnog cream, chocolate pecan, and pear brandy mince.  We did tried them all.  How can you resist pie made with love and lard? Also pie with their house-roast coffee is a perfect pair.

chocolate pecan

gingerbread

eggnog cream

 pear brandy mince

peppermint red velvet cake balls

a yummy gift idea  :)
all you need is your favorite red velvet recipe + peppermint + almond bark
voilà!

christmas glazed & infused

 we couldn't resist trying to the holiday specials

 gingerbread old-fashioned

 mint chocolate

DIY: Christmas

 make your own Christmas cards, gift tags, & pom pom ribbon!

BAKED @ floriole

We got the opportunity to meet Matt Lewis + Renato Poliafito {founders of BAKED--Brooklyn, NY}. This was part 2 of allison's birthday gift to me. Blogger of lottie and doof hosted the BAKED event at Floriole Bakery. We got to talk to Matt + Renato and have them sign our books.

While we waited for the event to start, we sat down and ate Floriole's pastries, soup, + mac&cheese

lemon meringue pie

 pear tart

 mac&cheese {inspired by lottie and doof} + lentil soup

the event begins!

 malted madeleines

 lemon  percorino pepper icebox cookies

cheesy focaccia with caramelized onions and sauteed spinach

 pumpkin cheesecake bars

Renato Poliafito recommended us to make these :)

happy thanksgiving!!

{chocolate pumpkin pie}

happy thanksgiving!

hope your day is filled with lots of delicious food!  <3 allison + ashley

pumpkin pumpkin mousse cake

 make this for thanksgiving!

one bite and you will be hooked!

{recipe found here}

DIY: thanksgiving

 make your own thanksgiving decorations!

 pumpkin place cards

 pom pom flower centerpieces

 also, decorate your mason jars!

munching on...

 we are featuring Glazed and Infused again because we love it so much!

 long johns

chocolate chip cookie

rpm birthday dinner

 lobster caprese 

{buffalo mozzarella, basil}

I knew months ago that I wanted to take ashley to an Italian restaurant for her birthday.  When I heard that RPM had a giant Ferrero Rocher-like dessert {Tartufo}, I immediately made reservations. {Ferrero Rocher is ashley's favortie.} The cuisine is small plate style.  We asked for our waiter's favorites on the menu and literately ordered everything Anthony suggested.  Look through our pictures to believe it! There were so many different flavors going in our mouth; it was quite an experience.  We would definitely go back! I'm just glad ashley enjoyed her birthday dinner.

 imported burrata

{golden beets, pistachio, honey}

 mediterranean octupus with chickpeas + celery

 prime beef meatballs

 polenta, poached egg with fresh black truffle + parmesan

 spicy king crab

{squid ink spaghetti}

 prosciutto pansotti with mascarpone + rosemary

 short rib pappardelle with bolognese + pecorino + rosemary

 roasted michigan apples with pistachio cake + vanilla

 tartufo

{hazelnut gelato + chocolate shell}

 it's a GIANT ferrero rocher!!!

I hinted to our waiter, Anthony,  it was ashley's birthday.  {pistachio + limoncello + chocolate gelato}

p.s. thank you allison {+ mom} for the amazing dinner! <3 ashley