Inspirational Tuesdays #105

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Personal Message from Jane by Design's India Beaufort

Remember when I was participating in ABC Family's Jane by Design Style Challenge? (Winning blog gets mentioned in a future episode and winning blogger gets to pick another blog to be featured as ABC Family's Trendsetter of the Week!) Well, we're all still waiting for results --- so until then, here is a personalized video that cast member, India Beaufort, made for me!

Instead of a Tasty Thursday post this week, I have asked India what are her favorite guilty indulgences. Here is her response!


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Inspirational Tuesdays #89

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Tasty Thursdays: Cinnamon-Spiced Hot Chocolate Cookies

In one of my morning classes, my professor actually brought in some cookies. He claims the sugar rush might help us wake up a bit more at 8AM lol. Well, he brought some lemon wafers along with some spiced chocolate cookies & they were definitely an interesting taste. So, I browsed the web & found this recipe from The Food Network on how to make these Cinnamon-Spiced Hot Chocolate Cookies. The following recipes makes 36 cookies.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon unsweetened Mexican cocoa powder (or substitute by adding 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon to unsweetened cocoa powder)
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 3 tablespoons sweet butter, at room temperature
• 3 tablespoons margarine
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• Generous pinch ground black pepper
• Generous pinch cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 egg white
• 1/2 cup dulce de leche, optional
• 1/4 cup almonds, finely chopped, optional

Directions:
Combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Mix thoroughly with a whisk and set aside. Combine the sugars in a small bowl and mix well with your fingers pressing out any lumps. (Combine in a food processor if lumps are stubborn.)

In a medium mixing bowl, using a hand mixer, beat the butter and margarine until creamy. Add sugar mixture, cinnamon, peppers, and vanilla. Beat on high speed for about 1 minute. Beat in the egg white and until the mixture is smooth. Stop the mixer. Add the flour mixture, beating on the lowest speed, just until incorporated. Gather the dough together with your hands and form it into a neat log, 9 to 10 inches long by 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Wrap in waxed paper or plastic wrap. Fold or twist ends of the paper without pinching or flatting the log. Refrigerate at least 45 minutes, or until needed.

Put the oven racks in the upper and lower third of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or aluminum foil.

Use a sharp knife to slice rounds of chilled dough, a scant 1/4-inch thick. Arrange the cookies, 1-inch apart, on the prepared baking sheets. Bake 12 to 14 minutes. Rotate the baking sheets from top to bottom and front to back about halfway through. Cookies will puff and crackle on top, and then begin to settle down slightly when done.

Remove the baking sheets from the oven and use a metal spatula to transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool. Allow the cookies to cool completely before storing or stacking. Store in an airtight container up to 2 weeks, or freeze up to 2 months.

To spice things up, after the cookies are baked, let them cool on a wire rack, drizzle with dulce de leche and sprinkle chopped almonds on top.

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It's my 21st Birthday!

Guess what...
Haha! I thought that picture was adorable. I'm going to celebrate with some girls next Saturday. However, I'm celebrating with my family tonight, but my amazing boyfriend took me out last night. :) Well technically, just a bunch of hours ago, haha.

He took me into Hoboken, New Jersey right by the Hudson River - what an incredible view! We ate at The Melting Pot. It was my first time having fondue! We had the Big Night Out 4 Course Dinner. We started with the Fiesta Cheese Fondue which includes cheddar cheese with lager beer, jalapeño peppers and salsa. I thought it had a sweet aftertaste; it was really good. We ate it with tortilla chips, bread, vegetables, and apples.For our entrees, we had the Mojo style brew & ate bits of sirloin steak, chicken, shrimp, beef, ravioli, potatoes, and vegetables. It came with a variety of dipping sauces; I personally liked the one that tasted like Sweet n Sour sauce - but I'm not sure exactly what was in it. For our dessert, we had the Chocolate Dulce de Leche fondue and it came with strawberries, bananas, marshmellows, rice krispies, brownies, and a cute little slice of cheesecake. They added a candle since we were there celebrating my birthday :)Oh yeah, how could I forget the drinks?? I started on the non-alcoholic version of one drink, I totally don't remember what it was called but it had mango and another fruit in it. Then, since after all I was turning 21, I also ordered the Birthday Cake martini! It included Stoli vanilla vodka with pina colada and strawberry something. It really did taste like a birthday cake, and I'm usually not a fan of things too sweet, but it was really good!