Is it really August?

Oops! I forgot to do a post on my July favorites!

Instead I wanted to catch you up on my life; what I’m doing, working on, and loving! Most of this involves food.

Obviously.

We haven’t had a sweet recipe for FAR too long. How rude of me.

Butter + sugar + lots of love in forms of cakes and cookies coming soon.

AND PIE…. that’s another obvious.

I’ve discovered that cookie dough is really crazy good and addicting. BUT I think the smell of homemade cookies out of the oven is even better; I would never get sick of coming home to the aroma of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies.

That’s why someone should bottle it up and sell it as a men’s cologne. Instant millionaire!

There are an abundance of zucchinis the size of my arm in my garden. They are not even genetically modified so I don’t know what’s happening there. Good things will come of this though, I promise.

I love creating feel-good recipes with fresh summer produce.

You know, when I’m not eating pie.

This just seems to be the summer of cooking! Every second I get I’m in the kitchen doing way too many things at once.

Just look at that weird brown-greenish sauce! It’s actually an amazing homemade green chile sauce. I put it on everything for a week straight.

Things are getting really good in my kitchen. Like really, really freaking good. I can’t stop having fun. No, no…. maybe life is getting good? Like really, really freaking good? I am 23 after all!

And because I am 23, my veins operate on caffeine.

WAIT…that’s not right, is it? I’m supposed to only need coffee once I have kids. This might be an issue someday.

Until then, I still love a good cup of coffee. To me, it’s the perfect way to start my morning. My roommate introduced me to the French Press annnndddd it could be the best thing ever. I also really love Peet’s Coffee.

Since being in LA, I’ve been trying to check out new restaurants. On Saturday, I had these incredible baby scallops and a fresh summer salad with figs and pea shoots at Hot’s Kitchen. Then delicious watermelon and mint cocktails at Silvio’s BBQ.

But do you want to know my favorite discovery was?

A little social house with a super creative chef: Manhattan Beach Post. We went there for brunch this past weekend. I ordered a Burrata and Roasted Red Pepper sandwich and my friend had and incredible eggs benedict on top of a bacon cheddar buttermilk biscuit. HOLY… what?! So soooooo good. 

I’ve been listening to Lana Del Rey’s album non-stop; Summertime Sadness is one of my favorite songs. Her voice makes me feel like I’ve been thrown back into the 60’s. Just listen!

My mom made me plantains which are a traditional staple in Puerto Rico. There are countless ways to prepare and use them. Don’t they look like bananas?

Anyway that’s just a little bit of my summer for you. Right now I’m working on a huge project and have been enjoying summer as much as possible. Don’t worry, I’ve got lots of recipes coming soon!