red velvet cookies

Over the winter, I've fell hopelessly in love with the red velvet crinkle cookie from Panera's Bread.  Looking for a pick-me-up, I went into Panera's recently and was shocked to find that apparently they don't offer it year round!

Since i have some buttermilk to play around with, i decided the one thing i must try to make is the red velvet crinkle.  Most of the recipes asked for a red velvet cake mix, which was so frustrating, because I secretly despise boxed cake mixes - it feels like cheating when it's not made from scratch.

So after some searching I had decided to follow a recipe from scratch featuring a photo of the finished product that resembled the red velvet crinkle the most.  Too bad mine didn't turn out like that.

small ones I made into sandwich cookies with cream cheese filling:

 

bigger ones I simply dusted with icing sugar:

moose's pick

If you can't tell, I have a weak spot for ritter sport chocolate squares in all their scrumptious assortment of flavors - the newest one we spotted being this creme caramel in milk chocolate - such a decadent treat!

Midweek indulgence

We really wanted to see Star trek 2 and to see it on Tuesday when admissions are half-priced - so there we were, at the theater right after work despite the rain and the teenage crowd... and we had a great time!

 

It was an awesome movie that we thoroughly enjoyed, even though I had never seen an episode before and didn't get the many references and homage to the previous shows and movies that had to be explained to me after.  It was so quick-paced and packed with action that had me sitting on edge of my seat the whole time.   I want to see it again once it comes out on DVD.

Well, since we skipped dinner to catch the movie and since I was craving junk food (plus I thought, hey, it's ok to indulge a little once a month, especially when I'm having to put up with the cramps), I finally got to try out the famous Five Guys burger and fries!!  

 

The burger was full of tasty toppings like grilled onions and grilled mushrooms but the Cajun fries were way overrated.  I have had comparable (if not better) burgers for how much we paid though.  The roasted peanuts provided free of charge were amazing and we almost couldn't stop munching on them.  Maybe next time I will go for just burger and nuts.

And of course we had room for ice cream - this Korean ice cream bar had a creamy cookies and cream filling inside a crunchy dark chocolate shell that's wrapped by a milky popsicle layer... yum!

antidote to stress and lack of sunshine

 

never thought fixing up a mojito would be so easy: cut up a lime, crush in glass with some mint leaves, add a splash of rum then top up with sprite (since the store we went to didn't carry tonic water... but all was well, i just skipped the sugar) 

definitely brightened my day despite the gloomy weather

To buy or not to buy

Thanks Mish for this lovely pastel lilac creme color by essie that reminds me of Easter candy eggs :)

lemon poppyseed cupcakes!!

 

  

 product of a night's hard work - fun times with the girls :)

first attempt at florentines

the lacy cookie smothered in chocolate on one side has always fascinated me - and as it turns out, it wasn't that hard to make as long as you have patience to wait until it cools - otherwise it's just a chewy glop of corn syrup, chopped almonds and candied orange peel...

 

 

moose's pick

 

yes, the crunchy shell is black

and yes, it's edible - and it's actually quite tasty

fashion hounds

Guess who??

elmo was the special guest at Ritu's Bbq :) pure brilliance!

S'more without a camp fire