Halloween Queen

This year I decided I had to start thinking about my costume early so I could some up with something that would be really fun and creative and actually have the time to put it together.

I settled on a whimsical jellyfish.  It involved quite a bit of bubble wrap and hot gluing.  But it came together perfectly.  I was even entered into the costume contest at the clarendon ballroom.  All in all the costume was quite a hit.  I would give a DIY step by step but it was far too complicated.

Before going out

Marisa, Allison and myself (Arabian princess, fembot, and jellyfish)

So excited for Halloween!

 These ladies were dressed as kangaroos, adorable.

Friends dressed as teletubbies, one of whom lost their head the night prior

Very creative.  All these guys were flowers and they had one bee to pollenate them.

The perfect baked potato

The perfect baked potato requires very little effort.

1. Wash the skin thoroughly.
2. Pat the potato dry with a cloth.
3. Pierce with a fork or knife on all sides.
4. Coat the outside with a light coating of olive oil.
5. Sprinkle with corse sea salt.
6. Bake at 400 degrees for 45 minutes turning once half way through.

The result, a crispy crunchy skin with a soft baked center.
I love the traditional topping of bacon, cheese, scallions and sour cream but sometimes I like to get creative.

This evenings potato.  Topped with sautéed leeks and mushrooms with a sprinkle of cheddar.

Try these on for size....

Chilli and cheddar cheese

Sauteed spinach and onions

Top a sweet potato with goat cheese, dried cranberries and spinach

Pancake Fried Apple Rings

When faced with a mass of apples one wonders what you can make besides apple pie, apple sauce and apples with peanut butter.  Have a box of pancake mix in your pantry? It will become the perfect complement to tart green apples.  I got this recipe from the one and only episode of The Chew, a new food talk show, that I ever watched.  I'm a huge Carla Hall fan and she conjured up this treat as a variation of an old favorite of her mothers.  It was easy and delicious and the perfect dish for kids and adults alike.

Apple and Pumpkin Picking

I love fall festivities as you all know.  And I don't think a fall would be truly complete without an apple picking trip where of course we had to scout out some great pumpkins as well.  We went to Larriland in Woodbine, MD.  Its the orchard my parents used to take us to when we were kids.  It was very nostalgic for my sister and I.  We grabbed a few pounds of apples, picked up some decorative pumpkins, and enjoyed fried pickles, hot cider and apple fritters.  Why does it seem like all events i've attended lately wind up ending with fried pickles?

A cappucino for the ride out to the orchard

Best friends share everything

Dancing away the day in the orchard

A prize winning beet

Searching for the biggest beet

My stock

Hiding in the broccoli

Nashville

A couple weeks back Allison, Marisa and I spent the weekend in Nashville for Allison's birthday.  Between the free live music and the tasty southern food it was definitely a great weekend.  Nashville is a completely different world than DC.  Drinking and dancing at all hours of all day. An experience was had by all.

Eggplant Parmesan

Crispy eggplant covered in marinara sauce and cheese.  Who wouldn't love that?  I've lightened up the recipe by using egg white to coat my eggplant, baking the eggplant rounds and using reduced fat mozzarella cheese. And believe me, you can't tell the difference at all. It tastes full fat and fully delicious