Happy Thanksgiving Week!

For most of us, this week is a short work week due to Thanksgiving being on Thursday. So the blog will be putting on stretchy yoga pants and taking a short break as well!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with lots of delicious food and fun with friends/family!

Lunchtime Links for November 22nd, 2013

• How Sweet It Is: Chocolate chip cookies and cream pumpkin marshmallow ice cream. 
• Warm Vanilla Sugar: Garlic bread pepperoni pizza. 
• Kirbie's Cravings: 5 minute microwave peanut butter fudge. 
• Table for Two: Roasted garlic Brussels sprouts. 
• Two Peas and Their Pod: Mini pumpkin cinnamon rolls. 

Dunkin' Donuts - Pumpkin Pie Doughnut

As soon as I heard about the new Pumpkin Pie doughnuts at Dunkin' Donuts, I knew that I had to try it out immediately, haha.  This doughnut is "a pumpkin pie-flavored, buttercreme-filled yeast shell, frosted with white dipping icing and sprinkled with graham cracker topping".

Luckily for me, it didn't take long to find this doughnut at a nearby DD, compared to other times that I've searched for limited edition items that I couldn't seem to find anywhere near me.  So, first things first - yes, this doughnut is sweet. VERY sweet. But really, what do you expect from a pumpkin pie themed doughnut from Dunkin' Donuts? Restraint isn't exactly in their vocabulary, haha. The filling was a touch harder than I would've liked - but remember that I'm a fan of their Boston Kreme doughnuts, which is a much softer consistency.  The graham cracker crumbs on top were a nice little touch, although they didn't do much for the flavor for me.  Overall I wouldn't eat this every day - I don't think anyone should be, haha - but I am always happy to try out pumpkin foods and I'm glad I got to try this one! 

Lunchtime Links for November 21st, 2013

• I Heart Naptime: Marbled brownies. 
• Kirbie's Cravings: Orange chicken.
• Raspberri Cupcakes: Chocolate mousse layer cake. 
• Weelicious: Buttermilk bacon whipped potatoes. 
• How Sweet It Is: Gravy recipe. 

DSW - Fall Booties

These are just two of the few (ok fine, many) shoes I've bought this fall from DSW - I can't help it, there are so many cute styles this season!!  I've especially liked the booties that can be dressed up or down depending on my outfit - these are totally versatile and I've already gotten a lot of wear out of them.  

If you're in the market for fall/winter booties, I would definitely recommend checking out DSW frequently, as they always have new styles coming in! 

Lunchtime Links for November 20th, 2013

• I Heart Naptime: Salted peanut butter blossoms. 
• Averie Cooks: Peanut butter chocolate chip Nutter Butter bars. 
• Cookies & Cups: Whole wheat chocolate chip cookies. 
• A Kitchen Addiction: Sweet potato dinner rolls with honey butter glaze. 
• Sweets with Sara: Peanut blossoms. 

Shake Shack - Marshmallow Peanut Butter Swirl Custard

I never grew up eating Fluffernutter sandwiches, but I feel like this Shake Shack custard definitely took all of the best parts of that sandwich into an insanely delicious custard flavor.  This marshmallow peanut butter swirl custard was awesome, and really managed to highlight both the marshmallow and peanut butter, instead of it tasting too much like one and not the other.  I wonder how this custard would be in an actual sandwich, haha!

Lunchtime Links for November 19th, 2013

• Kirbie's Cravings: Pumpkin bread pudding mug cake. 
• Seasons & Suppers: Beef ragu pasta sauce. 
• Handle the Heat: Chocolate chip cookie pie. 
• A Kitchen Addiction: Hot chocolate pods. 
• Serious Eats: No-bake chocolate pumpkin mousse pie. 

District Flea Visit

Back in October, my friend M and I checked out the District Flea "pop-up" in DC. The District Flea is an extension of the famous Brooklyn Flea in NY, and I was looking forward to checking it out while it was in town. 

There was a good mix of vintage, crafty items, and lots of local food vendors set up in the parking lot. Considering the relatively small size of the market, there was a lot to look at as we walked around.  I especially loved the vintage Pyrex pieces, as well as the cute paper goods!  For lunch I decided to try out the Number 1 Sons' grilled kimcheese, which was definitely a unique and tasty combination. I hope they decide to bring the District Flea back to DC again soon!

Lunchtime Links for November 18th, 2013

• Kirbie's Cravings: Flourless Nutella muffins. 
• Two Peas and Their Pod: Greek yogurt biscuits. 
• Serious Eats: Parker House rolls. 
• Sweets with Sara: Mini M&M cookies. 
• Brown Eyed Baker: Pumpkin gingerbread trifle. 

Georgetown Cupcake - Halloween Surprise Cupcake

This year for Halloween, Georgetown Cupcake offered this Halloween Surprise cupcake as their free flavor for the day.  It was like a Hostess cupcake, but with a cute Halloween-themed twist.  The frosting core was a bright orange color but still tasted like vanilla, which I was thankful for, haha.  

I love how Georgetown Cupcake often gives out special holiday-specific free cupcakes, it's always fun to see what they come out with each time!  

Lunchtime Links for November 15th, 2013

• Table for Two: Maple pumpkin cheesecake bars. 
• Averie Cooks: One-hour soft buttery breadsticks. 
• Picky Palate: Brown butter soft batch style gingersnaps. 
• Cookies & Cups: Banana bread crumb cake. 
• Serious Eats: Reese's Pieces blondies. 

Shake Shack - Strawberry Cheesecake Custard

I don't know how Shake Shack manages to create all of these spot-on flavors, seriously.  This Strawberry Cheesecake custard managed to taste just like cheesecake, and not just vanilla custard that could easily take the place of the "cheesecake" in the name. You are amazing, Shake Shack! 

I wasn't really expecting to love this flavor due to my long-standing "fruit + cream" aversion, but it was quite delicious, probably since it really did taste like cheesecake, which I love in all forms. As you can see the custard is blended really well, but you can sort of tell that there's a slight pink hue swirled throughout thanks to the strawberries, haha.  Thanks for another delicious custard flavor, Shake Shack! 

Lunchtime Links for November 14th, 2013

• I Heart Naptime: Pumpkin snickerdoodle muffins. 
• Kirbie's Cravings: Flourless chocolate peanut butter muffins. 
• Couponing & Cooking: Gingerbread M&M dessert cheeseball. 
• Averie Cooks: Vanilla Melting Moments sandwich cookies with Nutella-cream cheese filling.
• Cookies & Cups: Boston cream pie cheesecake. 

Anchorman: The Exhibit in DC

One of my all-time favorite movies has a special exhibit in the Newseum starting today!

Anchoman: The Exhibit sounds like a super fun exhibit for anyone that is a fan of the movie.  Of course, my favorite part of the description has to be - "I'm literally trapped in a glass case of emotion," said Burgundy about his inclusion in the museum's exhibit.

This exhibit is scheduled to be at the Newseum until August 2014, so be sure to jog (with a soft J) on over to check it out before it closes! 

Lunchtime Links for November 13th, 2013

• Two Peas and Their Pod: Dulce de Leche brownies. 
• Brown Eyed Baker: Pumpkin pancakes. 
• The Pioneer Woman: Chipotle chicken chili. 
• How Sweet It Is: Toasted bacon Fluffernutters. 
• A Kitchen Addiction: Pumpkin cinnamon twist knots. 

Starbucks BOGO

Starting today, Starbucks is offering Buy One Get One holiday drinks from 2-5pm, through Sunday the 17th.

This would be a great opportunity to try any holiday-only drinks that you've been curious about, and also to catch up with friends/family during an afternoon break.  I look forward to enjoying the Gingerbread Lattes again this year!

Lunchtime Links for November 12th, 2013

• Table for Two: Chorizo cornbread stuffing. 
• Handle the Heat: Chocolate chip cookie guide. 
• Damn Delicious: Broccoli chicken mac n' cheese. 
• Food Fanatic: Oreo ice cream cake. 
• Seasons and Suppers: Cinnamon crunch skillet bread. 

Georgetown Cupcake - Cinnamon Coffee Crumb Cupcake

As soon as I saw this Cinnamon Coffee Crumb cupcake on the Georgetown Cupcake online menu, I was sooooooo excited - who doesn't love coffee cake?

This cupcake is a "Cinnamon cupcake topped with a brown sugar and cinnamon crumble", and as you can see they definitely didn't skimp on the crumble portion.  Obviously cinnamon was the dominant flavor in this cupcake, and the crumbles added lots of texture to the soft cinnamon cupcake bottom.  This cupcake was delicious with a latte, and a great excuse to eat a cupcake first thing in the morning, haha. 

Lunchtime Links for November 11th, 2013

• I Heart Naptime: Loaded candy bar brownies. 
• A Kitchen Addiction: Pumpkin pie cheesecake ice cream. 
• The Pioneer Woman: Peanut butter cake with chocolate icing. 
• Oh, Sweet Basil: Pumpkin spice marshmallow cookies. 
• Two Peas and Their Pod: Pumpkin toffee chocolate chip muffins. 

Trader Joe's - Pumpkin Items

Right at the beginning of the pumpkin lineup coming out at Trader Joe's, I made sure to stop in to check out all of the fun goodies.  This visit, I picked up a box of frozen pumpkin waffles, pumpkin Greek yogurt, and pumpkin body butter.  Yes, you read that right, pumpkin body butter, haha.  

As strange as it might sound initially, it's a rich whipped consistency with a lightly spiced scent. The pumpkin waffles and yogurt are delicious, and you can eat them together for that extra pumpkin taste, haha.  I don't always have frozen waffles on hand, but they are convenient for breakfast at work when I'm in a hurry too, since we have a toaster oven available in the office. There are always new pumpkin items at Trader Joe's every year, so it's always fun to see what's out! 

Lunchtime Links for November 8th, 2013

• Kirbie's Cravings: Pumpkin cinnamon mug cake. 
• Brown Eyed Baker: Compost cookies. 
• Table for Two: Pumpkin blondies. 
• I Heart Naptime: Pumpkin pudding cookies. 
• The Pioneer Woman: Pumpkin cinnamon rolls. 

Volt - Brunch

I finally got to check off a restaurant that I have wanted to visit for some time now: Chef Bryan Voltaggio's Volt in Frederick, MD! My friend S and met up for brunch there recently, and we were super pumped to be there - literally, I think we were "woo"-ing at the table once we sat down, haha. We opted for the 3-course brunch and it took a while for us to make our decisions as we sipped on mimosas- everything looked great!

The bread service was. Awesome. There were a selection of about 5 housemade breads to choose from, including these bacon-thyme brioche and chive biscuits. The biscuits especially were so fluffy and rich, I probably could've eaten a dozen on my own. 

Calamari Bolognese: Miso, squid ink Cavatelli, Parmigiano Reggiano

This was a no-brainer for me, as Chef Voltaggio had made this dish during his time on Top Chef Masters, and I really wanted to try it out. To say this dish was full of flavor would be an understatement- the components all came together in this decadent plate of savoriness, if that makes any sense.  Delicious!

Scallops, congee, country ham

There are actually more components to this dish but it is no longer on the online menu so I'm just going off my Instagram notes, haha. The scallops were huge, and cooked perfectly.  I loved the congee on the bottom, it reminded me of Japanese okayu (rice porridge).

For dessert, we both ordered the chocolate option- obviously, haha.  This was a really delicious dessert with lots of textures and components.  Chocolate, hazelnut, and marshmallow were the main components here, and clearly you can't go wrong with those! I loved the presentation, so pretty!

Along with our check, we also received these mini cinnamon coffee cakes to take home, which was a lovely touch for the end of the brunch! I tried this the following morning and it was super flavorful and crumbly, just what you would want from a good coffee cake. I am so happy that I got to try out Volt, and I would highly recommend it for brunch! 

Volt

228 North Market Street

Frederick, MD 21701

301.696.8658

Lunchtime Links for November 7th, 2013

• Two Peas and Their Pod: Chocolate pumpkin ice cream sandwiches. 
• Picky Palate: Chocolate pumpkin cupcakes. 
• Kirbie's Cravings: Four ingredient pumpkin muffins. 
• Averie Cooks: Caramel-stuffed chocolate chip cookie cups. 
• Bakerella: Pumpkin pecan cinnamon rolls. 

Apple Cinnamon Muffins

I'll admit that I am not the first to jump at fruit-based baked goods; I can't quite put my finger on it but I like them separately, and not mixed together.  And yes, that means that I don't like about 99% of pies, haha.  Even so, when I saw Table for Two's blog post about Weelicious' apple cinnamon muffins, I thought they sounded like a great way to use up some of my apple haul from a recent apple picking trip.  

For my version, I didn't have any whole-wheat flour at home so I used all white flour, and used a mix of apples (I can't remember which varieties I picked, haha). These muffins turned out great, and were a delicious fall snack.  Everyone at work really liked them, and they had just the right amount of sweetness in them.  Weelicious' recipes are predominantly for children, but I think anyone that loves apple baked goods will enjoy this recipe! 

Lunchtime Links for November 6th, 2013

• Cookies & Cups: Caramel apple cinnamon rolls. 
• Dine & Dish: Pumpkin magic brownie bars. 
• I Heart Naptime: Chocolate chip pumpkin bread. 
• Two Peas and Their Pod: Peanut butter honey yogurt dip.
• Dessert for Two: Pumpkin gooey butter cake. 

Shake Shack - Pumpkin Pie Oh My Concrete

It's that time of year again...

From Shake Shack's Facebook page on Monday: Starting today and running through the end of the month, our fan fav "Pumpkin Pie Oh My" concrete is available at all US Shacks (except JFK Airport). Rich & creamy vanilla frozen custard blended w/ a slice of our Shack-made pumpkin pie. Get some!

Seriously, GET SOME. This concrete is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO good. 

Lunchtime Links for November 5th, 2013

• Cookies & Cups: Peanut butter cup Blizzard whoopie pies. 
• Half Baked Harvest: Burrata cheese-stuffed spicy meatball subs. 
• A Kitchen Addiction: Peanut butter overload cookie bars. 
• Oh, Sweet Basil: Roasted red pepper macaroni and cheese.
• Serious Eats: Custard tart. 

Georgetown Cupcake - November Flavors

As we roll into a new month, here's a friendly reminder of the November cupcakes at Georgetown Cupcakes:

- Pumpkin Spice: Pumpkin spice cupcake with a maple-infused cream cheese frosting topped with a fondant maple leaf

- Caramel Apple: Fresh apple cupcake with a dulce de leche core topped with a vanilla cream cheese frosting and a dulce de leche star drizzle

There are also special Election and Thanksgiving-themed cupcakes this month as well - enjoy! 

Lunchtime Links for November 4th, 2013

• Cookies & Cups: Circus cookie Krispie treats. 
• The Kitchn: Fluffy vanilla marshmallows. 
• Table for Two: Pumpkin cheesecake swirl brownies. 
• Warm Vanilla Sugar: Nutella-stuffed chocolate chip cookies with sea salt. 
• How Sweet It Is: Sweet potato pecan pie doughnuts. 

Shake Shack - November Custard Calendar

November's custard calendar at Shake Shack seems to be variations/flavors that could be pie, which is fitting for one of the most pie-centric months of the year, haha.

Monday: Grandma's Apple Pie
Tuesday: Cranberry Almond
Wednesday: Pumpkin Pie
Thursday: Toffee Pear
Friday: Salted Caramel
Saturday: Maple Gingersnap Cheesecake
Sunday: Chocolate Hazelnut

Lunchtime Links for November 1st, 2013

• Bakers Royale: Pumpkin s'mores doughnut muffin.
• Two Peas and Their Pod: Taco salad with homemade tortilla bowls.
• Brown Eyed Baker: Pumpkin spice latte cupcakes. 
• Hummingbird High: Dark chocolate and Earl Grey tea cookies. 
• Serious Eats: Marble pumpkin chocolate bread. 

Japanese Kit Kat - Pumpkin Purin

A big "Thank You!" to my friend L for sending me a fun package from her trip to Bali/Tokyo, including these Japanese Pumpkin Purin Kit Kats! Purin is the Japanese word for creme caramel, or flan as some people might know it.  

I think we all know where this review is headed, considering my love of pumpkin sweets and love of the regular Japanese Purin Kit Kat. This had a great pumpkin cream smell right when I opened the wrapper, and tasted very sweet and delicious.  Speaking of the wrapper, I loved the festive illustration, including the kabocha (Japanese pumpkin) with purin inside (on the bottom left), and a somewhat sad expression on its face, haha. Thanks again to L for sending me the lovely package!