Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Pumpkin Snickerdoodles


It's Fall time and you know what that means! Putting pumpkin in as many things as you can for the next couple months, until Christmas then it's time for Peppermint...Mmmm.... I'm just getting into pumpkin. The only thing I did enjoy with pumpkins was carving them and that was it. But pumpkin has been growing on me. These cookies are super light and fluffy, sugary, have a top lay that is slightly crispy and they have just the right amount of pumpkin. This recipe makes about 3 dozen cookies, or about 20 if you are like me and drop a tray on the floor. I was so devastated when I dropped them because of how delicious these cookies are. Sean opened a pack, only wanting to eat one cookie and ate the entire thing! After he remembered that I dropped a tray, he was just as sad as I was. So do NOT be like me and keep them off the floor. 


Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Strawberry Mint Water


Where have I been? Well it definitely hasn't been any place exciting or interesting. The truth?!? I got a library card! I haven't had one since I was like 10 years old. Yes, I did have one when I was UCSB, but with all the studying and homework, I think I used it once to check out a couple books about the Los Angeles Lakers because I somehow convinced my History TA to let me write about different eras of the Lakers. Which I got an A on :) But that was about it because everything I needed was found online through scholarly articles. Since I got my card, I've been checking out books and getting lost in them. I'm in the middle of The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern and I have 2 other books following it.

With all the reading, I want something nice to drink. Having a coffee, tea or something nice and light just completes that picture-perfect idea of reading a book. Since it isn't really fall here (it's still in the mid 70's-80's), during the day I like drinking Strawberry Mint Water, it's kind of like a faux-jito :). I've been trying to kick the soda habit for a while (Especially Dr. Pepper, I swear there used to be a time where I couldn't function without having one) and although not completely successful, I'm hoping this drink can replace soda.

This water is light, crisp and refreshing. Not to mention it does have flavor, which is always better than just iced water. What's best about this is it doesn't have any additives like those other flavored waters and you can play with the combination using different types of fruits and adjust it to your liking. Try raspberries, melons, lemon and basil with strawberries, cucumbers, oranges, even ginger!