Lunchtime Links for December 17th, 2018

• The Kitchn: Creamy tomato pasta.
• Dessert for Two: Small batch cinnamon rolls. 
• My Baking Addiction: Peanut butter blossoms.
• Creme de la Crumb: Cookie butter chocolate chip cookies. 
• Brown Eyed Baker: Peanut butter cup cookies.

Canopy by Hilton - Pike & Rose

Last Friday evening, a group of us were invited to the Canopy by Hilton hotel in Pike & Rose for an event that included a tour of the hotel and a chance to try out some of their food and drink selections that they offer.  I like that the hotel's focused on both the hotel guests and the local residents, and fits in really well with the rest of the neighborhood.  

We started with some mulled cider in the lobby area, which is actually on the third floor.  The street entrance opens up to a large, open staircase as well as elevators to the lobby.  The lobby flows right into the common area, which includes a bar and dining room alongside a lot of open seating.  I love this huge chandelier that is made up of copies of National Geographic magazine! 

 

We then were taken around for a tour of the hotel, including one of the one bedroom suites.  Light wood and grey is the majority of my condo interior, so naturally I really like the hotel rooms in here, haha.  The bathroom in the suite is very spacious with space for everything - I wish my bathroom looked like this!  I also love the socks that come in every room on the nightstands.  Because the rooms are concrete with rugs place around the rooms, it's a nice cozy touch for the guests!  There are also glass bottles and drinking glasses in every room, which can be filled with the filtered water dispensers found by the elevators on every floor.  I really like the little touches like this - I like having water when I stay in hotels but don't want to pay for overpriced water bottles every time. 

 

 

After the tour we were treated to dinner to get a taste of the food and drinks that the hotel offers - I loved the semi-private space we ate in, with plenty of seating and lots of windows to look down at the holiday lights on the streets below.  I'm a sucker for tiny cute foods, and they had a wide variety of little dishes for us to try in addition to the main menu items - which were beef tenderloin, garlic roasted potatoes, and butternut squash.  I especially liked the salmon Rillettes in the tiny dishes and the mini fish tacos.  Plenty of cocktails and macarons rounded out the meal - the macarons served as both dessert and decor along with the sparkly holiday decorations in the room.  

 

 

I'm very happy I got a chance to check out what the hotel offers, especially as someone that lives nearby.  It wouldn't have really crossed my mind to come here that often, since I live close and wouldn't be staying over.  It's a great space for drinks or dinner if you're in the area, and a perfect fit for the Pike & Rose neighborhood!


Canopy by Hilton Washington DC - Bethesda North
940 Rose Avenue
North Bethesda, MD 20852 


Note: I was invited to the Canopy Hilton for the event but was not paid for this post.

Lunchtime Links for December 14th, 2018

• The Kitchn: 10 most popular pasta recipes of 2018.
• Serious Eats: Quick gingerbread cookies. 
• Damn Delicious: Creamy taco shells.
• Handle the Heat: Mocha cookies.
• Kirbie's Cravings: No bake Oreo cheesecake.

Lunchtime Links for December 13th, 2018

• I Heart Naptime: Soft sugar cookies.
• The Kitchn: Red velvet cookies.
• Kirbie's Cravings: Mapo tofu. 
• Two Peas and Their Pod: Oreo balls.
• Crazy for Crust: Tiramisu cake roll.

Lunchtime Links for December 12th, 2018

• Brown Eyed Baker: Peanut butter fudge.
• The Kitchn: Gooey butter cookies.
• Damn Delicious: Stovetop bacon creamed corn.
• I Heart Naptime: Butter cookies.
• The Cozy Apron: Prime rib.

Lunchtime Links for December 11th, 2018

• Two Peas and Their Pod: Peanut butter blossoms.
• Seasons and Suppers: Baked spaghetti and meatballs. 
• My Baking Addiction: Corn casserole.
• Cookies and Cups: Black and white cookies.
• How Sweet Eats: Lasagna Bolognese.

Lunchtime Links for December 10th, 2018

• Creme de la Crumb: Cinnamon swirl monkey bread.
• Oh Sweet Basil: Oven braised short ribs.
• Cookies and Cups: Gingersnap cookies.
• Averie Cooks: Fluffernutter cookies.
• My Baking Addiction: Hot cocoa cheesecake.

The Kitchn - Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies

I normally keep a few boxes of cake mix in my pantry, especially when they go on sale at the store.  They're good to have around for quick baked goods, and are very versatile for lots of recipes!  I saw this recipe for chocolate cake mix cookies from The Kitchn and thought it'd be a perfect base for cookies to bring to a work potluck. 

The recipe is super simple and very easy to make with what you have on hand!  Instead of the powdered sugar coating, I added Reese's peanut butter chips to the chocolate cake mix dough.  I love the combination of chocolate and peanut butter, so I'm hopeful that these will be a hit at the potluck as well. 

Georgetown Cupcake - Coffee Toffee + Chocolate Cubed Cupcakes

I recently tried the Coffee Toffee cupcake from Georgetown Cupcake, just before the menu switched over to the holiday flavors.  I also made it in time to get the free flavor as well - the Chocolate Cubed - which was a nice little bonus!

The Coffee Toffee cupcake consists of a "Coffee cupcake infused with crushed toffee and topped with a mocha frosting and crushed toffee".  In other words, if you like either of the main flavors, you will love this cupcake!  I especially loved the mocha frosting - so creamy and really delicious! The toffee bits were in both the cake and the frosting, so it was a great bit of texture in every bite.  I hope they bring this one back, maybe with other crushed candy combinations too.

Lunchtime Links for December 4th, 2018

• Picky Palate: Malted Oreo chocolate chip cookies.
• Serious Eats: Ramen noodles at home. 
• The Kitchn: Oreo bark recipes.
• My Baking Addiction: Snickerdoodle cookies. 
• Cookies and Cups: Cookies and cream marshmallow bars.

Lunchtime Links for December 3rd, 2018

• Cookies and Cups: Peanut butter balls.
• Kirbie's Cravings: Chocolate chip shortbread cookies.
• Dessert for Two: Christmas sugar cookie cut-outs.
• Averie Cooks: Glazed pound cake.
• The Kitchn: Mini cheesecakes.

ZooLights at the Smithsonian's National Zoo

Last night was a great night to check out the Zoolights event at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in DC - it was pretty warm, and more importantly not raining like it had been all Saturday!  As expected it was very crowded with a lot of families, but it's still easy to get around since the path around the zoo is pretty straightforward for the Zoolights nights.  If you're in the DC area be sure to stop by for this free event between 5pm - 9pm until January 1st! 

Lunchtime Links for November 30th, 2018

• Picky Palate: Brownie covered Oreos.
• Creme de la Crumb: Broccoli cheese soup. 
• Love and Olive Oil: One-pot Gnocchi with vodka sauce. 
• Crazy for Crust: Homemade monkey bread.
• Seasons and Suppers: Italian meatball soup.

Lunchtime Links for November 29th, 2018

• Cookies and Cups: Chewy chocolate chip cookies.
• Picky Palate: Salted caramel pumpkin bars.
• The Cozy Apron: Baked Ziti. 
• Oh Sweet Basil: Prime rib.
• Creme de la Crumb: Roasted Brussels sprouts with Parmesan and balsamic.

Lunchtime Links for November 28th, 2018

• I Heart Naptime: Sugar cookie bars.
• My Baking Addiction: Pumpkin muffins.
• Table for Two: Roasted Delicata squash. 
• The Kitchn: 5 ingredient mini pumpkin pies.
• Bakerella: Mini pumpkin pillow pies.

Lunchtime Links for November 27th, 2018

• I Heart Naptime: Christmas cookies.
• How Sweet Eats: Garlic herb butter Parker house rolls.
• Handle the Heat: Cookie butter stuffed blondies. 
• Averie Cooks: Pumpkin crumb coffee cake.
• A Spicy Perspective: Garlic butter scalloped sweet potatoes.

Lunchtime Links for November 26th, 2018

• Oh Sweet Basil: Mashed potatoes.
• Brown Eyed Baker: Sweet potato pie. 
• I Heart Naptime: Oreo balls. 
• Kirbie's Cravings: Pumpkin brownies.
• The Kitchn: One-pan cheesy chicken broccoli.

The Kitchn - 5-ingredient Mini Pumpkin Pies

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend! I tried out a new recipe for pumpkin pie this year - these 5-ingredient mini pumpkin pies from The Kitchn.  The filling was super easy to prepare, and the only step that took longer was making sure to press the pie crust dough fully in the muffin cups without breaking apart the dough.  

This mini pie option is good to have on hand in case you're planning on having a variety of desserts - that way people don't have to commit to a larger dessert and miss out on the other options, haha.  This was a great little bite-sized dessert that was just as delicious the next day! 

Lunchtime Links for November 13th, 2018

• Gimme Some Oven: Crispy roasted potatoes 3 ways.
• Seasons and Suppers: Classic waffles.
• Creme de la Crumb: Crispy Parmesan green beans. 
• The First Year Blog: Chocolate cheesecake.
• The Kitchn: Balsamic roasted Brussels sprouts.

Lunchtime Links for November 12th, 2018

• The Kitchn: Potato recipes.
• A Spicy Perspective: Cinnamon cream pie with brown sugar whipped cream. 
• Gimme Some Oven: Homemade apple cider. 
• Smitten Kitchen: Roberta's roasted garlic Caesar salad.
• Dessert for Two: Chocolate mousse cake for two.

HomeGoods - Oh Snap! Towel

I will never, ever get tired of seeing the gingerbread "Oh Snap" items when the Christmas stuff starts coming out in stores, haha!  I found these kitchen towels (in red above, and also in white) at HomeGoods recently, and I love this type of cute holiday humor.  Plus, it's an easy and super festive way to decorate for Christmas!

Lunchtime Links for November 9th, 2018

• Dessert for Two: Banana sheet cake.
• The Kitchn: Pasta Parmesan soup.
• Averie Cooks: Roasted Brussels sprouts two ways.
• Gimme Some Oven: Mashed potatoes.
• Picky Palate: Oreo pumpkin no bake cheesecake.

Lunchtime Links for November 8th, 2018

• Picky Palate: Sweet potato cupcake with cinnamon sugar cream cheese frosting.
• The Kitchn: Mongolian glazed meatballs. 
• Creme de la Crumb: Buttermilk biscuits.
• Two Peas and Their Pod: Salted caramel pumpkin pie.
• Handle the Heat: Maple bacon Brussels sprouts.

Lunchtime Links for November 7th, 2018

• I Heart Naptime: Cheesy scalloped potatoes.
• Joy the Baker: Peanut butter cream pie with chocolate dipped potato chips.
• Love and Olive Oil: Pumpkin custard tart.
• Picky Palate: Oreo pie crust.
• A Spicy Perspective: Pumpkin Texas sheet cake with buttermilk frosting.

Lunchtime Links for November 6th, 2018

• The Kitchn: Ina Garten's chocolate cake.
• How Sweet Eats: Pumpkin brownies.
• My Baking Addiction: Pretzel rolls. 
• Cookies and Cups: Brown sugar cinnamon swirl bread.
• Dessert for Two: Chicken dinners for two.

Lunchtime Links for November 5th, 2018

• The Kitchn: Pumpkin bread. 
• I Heart Naptime: 3 ingredient chocolate chip cookie pie.
• Style Sweet CA: Pumpkin chiffon pie.  
• My Baking Addiction: Pumpkin Trifles. 
• Handle the Heat: No bake pumpkin mousse pie.

Georgetown Cupcake - November Flavors

The November flavors at Georgetown Cupcake are primarily pumpkin based which I always love, but also with a few other fun flavors mixed in as well.  As you might have guessed, these would make a perfect snack or dessert for a Thanksgiving gathering!

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

- Pumpkin Cheesecake: Pumpkin cheesecake cupcake with a graham cracker crust, topped with maple cream cheese frosting and a fondant maple leaf.

- German Chocolate Fudge: Valrhona chocolate cupcake with a caramel and pecan core, topped with a caramel buttercream frosting, toasted coconut flakes and a fudge and caramel drizzle.

- Caramel Apple: Fresh apple cupcake with a caramel core topped with a vanilla cream cheese frosting and a caramel star drizzle.

- Maple Chocolate Chip: Maple cupcake studded with Callebaut chocolate chips and topped with a maple cream cheese frosting and a fondant maple leaf.

- Thanksgiving Chocolate: Valrhona chocolate cupcake with vanilla buttercream frosting topped with a brown fondant turkey.

- Thanksgiving Vanilla: Madagascar vanilla cupcake with vanilla buttercream frosting and topped with a brown fondant turkey.

- Caramel Cheesecake: Caramel cheesecake topped with a caramel frosting and caramel star drizzle.

- Chocolate Caramel Swirl: Valrhona chocolate and dulce de leche caramel marbled cupcake topped with a whipped Callebaut chocolate ganache and salted caramel “twist” frosting.

- Coffee Toffee: Coffee cupcake infused with crushed toffee and topped with a mocha frosting and crushed toffee.

Lunchtime Links for November 2nd, 2018

• The Kitchn: Creamy chicken and rice.
• Two Peas and Their Pod: Chocolate peanut butter cookies.
• Damn Delicious: Pork and Kimchi potstickers.
• Cookies and Cups: Chocolate chunk cookies.
• Crazy for Crust: Chili tator tot casserole.

Lunchtime Links for November 1st, 2018

• The Kitchn: Creamy garlic Parmesan chicken.
• Seasons and Suppers: Stromboli with sundried tomatoes and basil.
• Damn Delicious: Butternut squash Carbonara. 
• Picky Palate: Cheddar stuffed meatballs.
• Crazy for Crust: Buttery homemade rolls four ways.

Lunchtime Links for October 31st, 2018

• Two Peas and Their Pod: Brown butter pumpkin chocolate chunk bars.
• The Kitchn: Recipes to use up Halloween candy. 
• Good Life Eats: No churn pumpkin spice ice cream with pumpkin caramel and gingersnaps.
• Oh Sweet Basil: Pumpkin Cinnabon cinnamon roll sheet cake. 
• Dessert for Two: Pumpkin recipes.

Happy Halloween - Sanrio x Tanaka Farms

Happy Halloween everyone! I hope everyone has been enjoying pumpkin patches and candy leading up to today, haha.  

While I haven't had a chance to see Tanaka Farms in CA in person, I've seen lots of photos online about their super cute Sanrio collaborations throughout the year.  When I saw that they had an online sale, I had to pick up some cute fall items! 

The initial order that I received had the wrong tote bag inside, but they were very nice and sent me the correct tote bag really quickly.  The enamel pin is perfect for fall/pumpkin season, and the large canvas tote bag is great for weekend shopping and farmers' markets!

Lunchtime Links for October 30th, 2018

• The Kitchn: Bang Bang shrimp pasta.
• Creme de la Crumb: Mexican chicken tortilla soup. 
• Love and Olive Oil: Triple chocolate espresso brownies. 
• Averie Cooks: 20 minute stovetop white cheddar mac and cheese.
• Cookies and Cups: Sweet dinner rolls.

Lunchtime Links for October 29th, 2018

• My Baking Addiction: Pumpkin desserts.
• Two Peas and Their Pod: Pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. 
• Smitten Kitchen: Candy pork.
• The Kitchn: Pumpkin roll.
• Crazy for Crust: Christmas sugar cookies 3 ways.

Anthropologie + Terrain - Bethesda, MD

The new Anthropologie and Terrain/Terrain Cafe opened recently in downtown Bethesda, MD - I was very excited to check it out since it was such a big space that it was taking over.  The whole store spans three spacious floors, including a BHLDN (bridal shop), Terrain (garden shop), and Terrain Cafe.  There's a lot to take in, and the way the store is designed is pretty amazing!  

There's a lot of "stuff", maybe even more so than actual clothes, haha.  That's not a problem for me, since I love looking at gift and home items.  It's a great chance to see a lot of their furniture pieces in person (third floor), which I've previously only seen in their catalogs and online.  As we get closer to the holidays I can't wait to see how they change up the store displays!  The Terrain Cafe has been crowded whenever I've passed by - I look forward to trying out brunch or dinner there soon as well!

Anthropologie & Co. Bethesda Row
4801 Bethesda Avenue
Bethesda, MD 20814

Lunchtime Links for October 25th, 2018

• Kirbie's Cravings: Chocolate yogurt loaf cake.
• Damn Delicious: Pumpkin cake doughnuts. 
• Picky Palate: Cheesy chicken broccoli rice casserole. 
• How Sweet Eats: Sweet and spicy Brussels sprouts.
• The Kitchn: Ina Garten's triple chocolate loaf cake.

Lunchtime Links for October 25th, 2018

• A Spicy Perspective: French Silk chocolate brownies.
• How Sweet Eats: Korean beef bowls.
• Averie Cooks: 10 minute skillet pizza.
• Love and Olive Oil: Parmesan and Brussels sprouts Tortelloni.
• I Heart Naptime: Cheesy baked beef Ravioli.

Lunchtime Links for October 24th, 2018

• Seasons and Suppers: Spicy pork rice bowl.
• Handle the Heat: Double chocolate muffins.
• Table for Two: Quick spicy sesame ramen.
• Cookies and Cups: Pumpkin earthquake cake.
• Picky Palate: Creamy 3 cheese Rigatoni.

Lunchtime Links for October 23rd, 2018

• My Baking Addiction: Sour cream rolls.
• I Heart Naptime: Corn casserole.
• How Sweet Eats: Chicken Tortellini soup.
• The First Year Blog: Mini pumpkin cheesecakes with Oreo crust.
• Two Peas and Their Pod: Snickerdoodle cookies.

Lunchtime Links for October 22nd, 2018

• Love and Olive Oil: Pumpkin cake roll with Mascarpone whipped cream.
• My Baking Addiction: Brown butter Rice Krispie treats.
• The Cozy Apron: Pumpkin pancakes. 
• Seasons and Suppers: Cinnamon swirl pound cake loaf.
• Picky Palate: Crispy Parmesan Sriracha chicken tenders.

Georgetown Cupcake - Midnight Cookies and Creme + Halloween Surprise

I love how Georgetown Cupcake gets into the Halloween spirit with so many special flavors! These are just two of the flavors that are available for the rest of the month.  On the left we have the Midnight Cookies and Creme flavor, which consists of a "Valrhona chocolate cupcake topped with a milk chocolate cookies & crème buttercream frosting and cookie crumbles". On the right is the Halloween Surprise, which is a "Madagascar vanilla cupcake infused with orange and black non-pareils, topped with a whipped Callebaut chocolate frosting and decorated with a white fondant ghost". 

The Midnight Cookies and Creme is an extra chocolatey cookies and creme cupcake, and is perfect for anyone that really loves chocolate!  The surprise in the Halloween Surprise is lots of orange and black sprinkles throughout the cake - so, maybe not actually surprising, but still cute and seasonal :o)  Both of these are delicious and would be great for any fall or Halloween parties!

Lunchtime Links for October 19th, 2018

• Picky Palate: Cinnamon roll sugar cookies.
• A Spicy Perspective: Crispy Hasselback potatoes with rosemary and garlic. 
• How Sweet Eats: Yogurt and lemon marinated chicken.
• Averie Cooks: Pizza pasta casserole.
• Joy the Baker: Cacio e Pepe Beignets.

Lunchtime Links for October 18th, 2018

• Table for Two: Three ingredient chicken nuggets.
• Damn Delicious: Korean beef tacos.
• Bakerella: Chocolate chip Cubcakes.
• The Kitchn: Chicken Lazone pasta.
• Crazy for Crust: Pumpkin pie.

Lunchtime Links for October 17th, 2018

• I Heart Naptime: Pumpkin chocolate chip cookies.
• The Kitchn: Crash hot potatoes. 
• Handle the Heat: Chocolate blackout cupcakes.
• Serious Eats: Pumpkin skillet coffee cake.
• Kirbie's Cravings: Din Tai Fung in San Diego.

Lunchtime Links for October 12th, 2018

• The Comfort of Cooking: Cheesy pull-apart garlic bread.
• Dessert for Two: Pumpkin cake roll. 
• The Kitchn: Parmesan roasted broccoli with Balsamic drizzle. 
• Sora News 24: Starbucks Japan - Halloween Frappuccinos.
• Picky Palate: Cinnamon chip pumpkin cookies.

Lunchtime Links for October 10th, 2018

• Creme de la Crumb: Soft peanut butter cookies.
• Bake at 350: Potato bread.
• Two Peas and Their Pod: Brown butter chocolate chip cookies.
• Damn Delicious: Mexican street corn bowls.
• A Kitchen Addiction: Cinnamon maple pumpkin coffee cake.

A Star is Born Soundtrack

Clearly as a big fan of Lady Gaga, I knew that I would go see the remake of A Star is Born, which came out here on October 5th.  But even if you're not a fan of Lady Gaga and think she'll ruin the movie (which, how dare you, haha), it was really such a great movie that everyone should go see it!

The concert performances throughout the movie were especially done really well, and the sound quality adds to the feeling of being at a live show.  There's so many different layers to the story between Jackson (Bradley Cooper) and Ally (Lady Gaga) that I think everyone will be able to relate to some aspect of it.  While technically it is a remake that has been done a few times before, the original music and the way the story has been adapted by Bradley Cooper and his fellow writers was done really well, in my opinion. 

The soundtrack mixes together songs from the movie, songs that didn't make it into the movie, and key dialogue that sets you up for certain points in the story.  I love that it's almost like seeing the movie again in a different way.  Lady Gaga is obviously an amazing singer, but Bradley Cooper's extensive voice training is really impressive here as well.  Everyone go see the movie (multiple times if you're like me) and get the soundtrack ASAP!  

Lunchtime Links for October 9th, 2018

• Kirbie's Cravings: Flourless pumpkin pie muffins.
• The Pioneer Woman: Artisan sourdough bread. 
• Bake at 350: Chocolate pumpkin swirl cookies.
• Brown Eyed Baker: Sweet and sour chicken.
• The Kitchn: Sweet potato recipes.

Lunchtime Links for October 8th, 2018

• Creme de la Crumb: Pumpkin cinnamon rolls.
• How Sweet Eats: Red apple cider Sangria. 
• The Cozy Apron: Pumpkin muffins.
• Kirbie's Cravings: Korean fried cauliflower.
• Cookies and Cups: Pumpkin blondies.

Brittany Viklund - Fall Bucket List

It's no secret that I love fall, and basically all the fun stuff in stores that come out for the season, haha.  I also love finding other ways to celebrate everything good about the fall, so I was very happy to see Brittany Viklund brought back her cute bucket list a few weeks ago!

Downloading the bucket list is free, and it's a fun way to make sure you're celebrating the season in big and little ways, which I love.  It's a nice reminder to do all the fun things before we get into the cold winter season!

Lunchtime Links for October 4th, 2018

• A Kitchen Addiction: Baked pumpkin fritters.
• The Kitchn: Crispy Brussels sprouts with balsamic and honey. 
• Dessert for Two: Pumpkin sheet cake.
• Two Peas and Their Pod: Pumpkin pancakes.
• I Heart Naptime: Pumpkin roll.

Lunchtime Links for October 3rd, 2018

• How Sweet Eats: Banh Mi tacos.
• The First Year Blog: Doctored up pumpkin cake.
• Oh Sweet Basil: No bake peanut butter cheesecake dip. 
• Kirbie's Cravings: 30 minute buttermilk rolls.
• Seasons and Suppers: Sour cream pumpkin coffee cake.

Mean Girls Day

Happy Mean Girls Day everyone!

Lunchtime Links for October 2nd, 2018

• The Kitchn: Chrissy Teigen's Parmesan waffle breakfast.
• Averie Cooks: Pumpkin chocolate chip brownies. 
• Cookies and Cups: Brownie batter Krispie treats.
• The Pioneer Woman: Sourdough 101. 
• Handle the Heat: Brown butter pumpkin chocolate chip cookies.

Lunchtime Links for October 1st, 2018

• Style Sweet CA: Toasted pumpkin s'mores cupcakes.
• The Kitchn: Baked garlic Parmesan fries. 
• Two Peas and Their Pod: Chocolate chip cookie bars. 
• Kirbie's Cravings: Caprese stuffed avocado.
• How Sweet Eats: One pan sesame chicken.

Georgetown Cupcake - October Flavors

I especially love the Fall flavors at Georgetown Cupcake, there are so many fun options for the month!  The Halloween themed flavors are especially fun for parties, and there's a lot to choose from.  This month, there's also a special TLC one that includes a charity donation, which is a delicious way to give to others. 

- Chocolate Ghost: Valrhona Chocolate cupcake topped with whipped Callebaut chocolate ganache frosting and decorated with a white fondant ghost.

- Vanilla Bat: Classic Madagascar vanilla cupcake topped with orange buttercream frosting and a black fondant bat.

- Vanilla Candy Spider: Classic Madagascar vanilla cupcake baked with chocolate candy pieces, topped with orange buttercream frosting and a black fondant spider.

-  Chocolate Toffee Spider Web: Valrhona chocolate cupcake baked with crushed toffee pieces, topped with purple buttercream frosting and a fudge spider web drizzle.

- Halloween Surprise: Madagascar vanilla cupcake infused with orange and black non-pareils, topped with a whipped Callebaut chocolate frosting and decorated with a white fondant ghost.

- Vampire Red Velvet: Red Velvet cupcake decorated with a black fondant bat.

- Midnight Cookies and Creme: Valrhona chocolate cupcake topped with a milk chocolate cookies & crème buttercream frosting and cookie crumbles.

- Haunted Chocolate Cheesecake: Valrhona chocolate cheesecake with a cookie crust, topped with a whipped Callebaut chocolate frosting and decorated with a white fondant ghost.

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

- Pumpkin Cheesecake: Pumpkin cheesecake cupcake with a graham cracker crust, topped with maple cream cheese frosting and a fondant maple leaf.

- TLC "Give a Little" Chocolate and Buttercream: Make the world a sweeter place by supporting National Bullying Prevention Month. For every “Give A Little” Chocolate & Buttercream cupcake purchased during the month of October, TLC will donate $1 to Love is Louder. This flavor is a Valrhona chocolate cupcake topped with a Madagascar vanilla buttercream, red and white sprinkles, and a “Give A Little” fondant decoration.

Lunchtime Links for September 28th, 2018

• Dessert for Two: Chocolate pudding.
• Creme de la Crumb: Salted caramel stuffed double chocolate cookies.
• The Pioneer Woman: Potato bread.
• Bake at 350: Spiced chocolate sandwich cookies with pumpkin cream filling.
• The Kitchn: Garlic chicken with tomato butter sauce.

Bath and Body Works - Fall Finds

Happy Friday everyone!  I purchased these from Bath and Body Works a few weeks ago, but now that we're officially into Fall I wanted to share them.  Of course I love the pumpkin and apple themed items every year when they come out, but I was pleasantly surprised to see such a nice variety of items that they had out this year. 

I normally buy the foaming soap (like the Autumn Pumpkin on the upper right), but I'm glad I tried out the Nourishing hand soaps as well - they're both great! Especially the Marshmallow Pumpkin Latte that I'm currently using - it's a soft pumpkin scent with a strong vanilla/cream accent, which I love.  The pumpkin shaped candle for me is definitely less about the candle inside and more about the soft blush shade- even after I finish the candle I will definitely be keeping the container as decoration.  Finally, I used a free item coupon to try the foaming mousse hand sanitizer.  I like that the mousse doesn't dry your hands out, and it's the perfect size to keep in your purse or car.  I will definitely be back for more of the hand soaps soon!   

Lunchtime Links for September 27th, 2018

• Joy the Baker: Toasted marshmallow milkshake.
• Seasons and Suppers: Pumpkin sheet cake with cream cheese frosting.
• Oh Sweet Basil: Sun dried tomato bacon pesto grilled cheese. 
• The Cozy Apron: Apple fritters.
• Handle the Heat: Pumpkin cake with whipped ganache.

Lunchtime Links for September 26th, 2018

• Table for Two: Pan-fried sesame garlic tofu.
• Bakerella: The Museum of Ice Cream.
• Two Peas and Their Pod: Chicken and dumplings. 
• The Kitchn: Fall foods at Trader Joe's.
• Gimme Some Oven: Magic garlicky tofu.

Trader Joe's - Honey Roasted Pumpkin Ravioli

I love this time of year when Trader Joe's brings out the Fall items by the truckload, haha.  I love trying just about all the Fall foods, and this pumpkin ravioli is definitely a must-have for me! The filling is a great balance of sweet and savory flavors, and I love that the pasta is orange and yellow for the perfect Fall themed pasta.  The seasonal items are usually only around for a few weeks, so be sure to pick this up if you want to try it out! 

Lunchtime Links for September 25th, 2018

• The Cozy Apron: Orecchiette with pork Ragu.
• Crazy for Crust: Chocolate fudge pie.
• Gimme Some Oven: Baked tofu. 
• Averie Cooks: Chocolate cake mix M&M cookies.
• Dessert for Two: Cookie dough cake.

Lunchtime Links for September 24th, 2018

• The First Year Blog: Applesauce spice crumb muffins.
• Two Peas and Their Pod: Pumpkin bread.
• The Kitchn: Creamy garlic pasta.
• SoraNews 24: Starbucks Japan's sweet potato drinks.
• Table for Two: Oven-baked honey butter ribs.

Target - $1 Mini Pumpkins

Happy first full week of Fall!  I saw these pumpkins a few days ago in the Target dollar section and they are so tiny and cute!  I love that they come in colors other than the regular orange pumpkins too, they'll go with just about any existing home decor. 

 

I bought one and later received a few more as a gift from friends, which turned out to be really good timing - the Target where I took the photos above didn't have any left just a day later!  Since it's still September I would think they will be restocked, but if anyone is interested definitely check back often.

I love switching over to Fall decorations around my home, and these mini pumpkins are a great addition to my existing pumpkin items!

Lunchtime Links for September 21st, 2018

• The Kitchn: Crispy Parmesan garlic chicken.
• I Heart Naptime: Corn chowder. 
• Love Swah: Peanut butter chocolate cupcakes.
• Damn Delicious: Creamy beef and shells.
• Cookies and Cups: Sour cream apple cake.

Marshalls - Treat Yo Self Mug

Happy Friday everyone! While it's a grey and rainy day over here, just a friendly reminder to enjoy your weekend - maybe even with a doughnut or two, haha.  I came across this cute pink mug at my local Marshalls - there are always so many cute mugs at these stores!

Lunchtime Links for September 20th, 2018

• Oh Sweet Basil: Healthy Thai peanut steak salad.
• Serious Eats: Cake recipes.
• Cookies and Cups: Krispie treat chocolate chip cookies. 
• Handle the Heat: Caramel stuffed chocolate cupcakes.
• Crazy for Crust: No bake pumpkin pie.

Lunchtime Links for September 19th, 2018

• The Kitchn: Skillet Gnocchi mac and cheese skillet.
• The Live-In Kitchen: Crispy tofu. 
• Seasons and Suppers: Pumpkin bread.
• My Baking Addiction: Creamy Pesto pasta with shrimp. 
• Crazy for Crust: Pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting.

Din Tai Fung - Bellevue, WA

I always try to go to Din Tai Fung at least once when I'm in Seattle - it's just too good to pass up since there isn't one by me!  In addition to the soup dumplings, I also love the side dishes like the rice cakes and fried rice - it's all delicious.  

During my recent visit, I noticed two new fun things at the restaurant - the first being a Lego model of the restaurant, haha! I love the window that shows the workers making the little soup dumplings inside.  

On our way out I stopped to look at the little stand of merchandise that is sold there - and had to get this little shrimp Shumai keychain, haha.  I have a soup dumpling one from a past visit that I currently use, but this one is too cute to pass up!  

Lunchtime Links for September 18th, 2018

• A Spicy Perspective: Easy chicken Pad Thai.
• The Kitchn: One-bowl apple Bundt cake.
• Style Sweet CA: Chocolate peanut butter caramel cupcakes.
• Averie Cooks: Mini chocolate chip pumpkin bread.
• Dessert for Two: Small batch biscuits.

Lunchtime Links for September 17th, 2018

• Handle the Heat: Chocolate cake.
• Seasons and Suppers: Mexican street corn soup. 
• How Sweet Eats: Honeycrisp crush.
• The Kitchn: Breakfast grain bowl.
• Serious Eats: Garlic Confit.

Starbucks - Seattle Been There Series Mug

 

I couldn't resist picking up this Been There Series Seattle mini mug on my recent trip to Starbucks - it helps that it's a good size to squeeze into a carry on bag, haha.  I love the city-specific drawings all packed on to the small mug.  If your tree is big enough, it also comes with a string on it so they make sure cute Christmas tree ornaments!  I've seen these in person in only a few cities so far, so I'm happy to have one from the birthplace of Starbucks :o) 

Lunchtime Links for September 7th, 2018

• A Spicy Perspective: Creamy tomato Tortellini soup.
• Cookies and Cups: Outrageous cookies and cream cookies.
• The Comfort of Cooking: Homemade Naan. 
• Kirbie's Cravings: Caprese chicken.
• Crazy for Crust: Pumpkin muffins.

Shake Shack - Cabin John/Potomac, MD

I am super excited to have a Shake Shack that is close to my house, woohoo!  The Cabin John/Potomac MD location had its grand opening yesterday, so I hustled over as soon as I could after work to check it out.  I love what they did with the entrance/patio area with all the different seating configurations.  You see one person in the photo here, but when I was leaving the patio was packed with a huge line going outside the door - I got there at just the right time!

I was mostly looking forward to seeing what concrete flavors are available at this location, because this varies at pretty much every Shake Shack.  I've seen the Shack Attack before but the Cookie Butter Blender is new to me, and sounded delicious! I love that the Pie Oh My concrete usually pairs with a local baker (Sweetly Anchored Patisserie here), and donates a portion of the proceeds to charity!

 

My main focus was the Custards, but I figured I should also get some dinner as well, haha.  I got the regular single hamburger and a single Cookie Butter Blender concrete.

Can I just say - I really appreciate when the concretes are made well.  You can see all the components that make up the concrete, but it's still blended together properly.  I've had some before that were clearly rushed or sitting out for too long where it looks messy, and this one was perfect!  Anyone that likes cookie butter/Biscoff cookies will love this one!

Shake Shack Cabin John/Potomac
7997 Tuckerman Lane
Potomac, Maryland 20854

Lunchtime Links for September 6th, 2018

• The Kitchn: Creamy garlic shrimp.
• Oh Sweet Basil: Apple cake with caramel frosting.
• Handle the Heat: Three easy cinnamon rolls.
• Kirbie's Cravings: Soft chocolate chip cookies. 
• Smitten Kitchen: Cacio e Pepe.

Lunchtime Links for September 5th, 2018

• The Kitchn: Peanut chicken power bowls.
• Love and Olive Oil: Old fashioned fudge sauce. 
• Seasons and Suppers: Birthday cake Gelato.
• Oh Sweet Basil: Mexican cheesy ground beef and rice casserole. 
• The First Year Blog: Doctored up caramel cake.

UNIQLO Pike & Rose

I am a big fan of UNIQLO's clothes and accessories, so I was very excited to find out a store was opening in the Pike & Rose neighborhood!  I went during both the soft opening on August 31st and the grand opening on September 1st to check it out.  

The grand opening started off with some Taiko drumming performances and free Kung Fu Tea bubble teas, which were much appreciated while waiting in line to head inside.  While it's a relatively small store, it's organized well and there's a good mix of comfy basics and seasonal (currently fall/early Winter) items all available.   

For me, the best items at UNIQLO are the basics and lounge pieces - so comfy!  I have a lot of the HEATTECH and AIRism shirts, and their lounge pants are great too.  They regularly have seasonal items on sale, so it'll be really nice to have one nearby where I can pop in to see what's new and on sale!

Kung Fu Tea bubble teas

Roger Federer's uniform samples on display

 

Current promotional price items

Lounge pants

 

Super cute Gudetama and other Sanrio shirts (unfortunately only in kid sizes, haha)

UNIQLO Pike and Rose

11853 Grand Park Ave, Space 708

North Bethesda, MD 20852