monday links

here in good ol’ minnesota, we are entering polar vortex version 3.0. while the picture may look like a creepy ice tundra, it’s actually just my walk to get to the public transit stop that takes me to work. in honor of the current frigid temperatures – here are some recipe links for food that will warm up your bones and keep the cold outside!

*in general, turkey is my least favorite meat/poultry – but this Turkey Pot Pie seems to make the normally boring meat really shine.
*Spinach Artichoke Lasagna Roll Ups – artichoke in lasagna, you guys.
*as someone who loves the burnt edges of food, this recipe for Stuck-Pot Rice with Lentils is haunting my dreams
*anything involving a rice dumpling is something i will not say no to – Korean Pumpkin Porridge with Rice Dumplings
*savory french toast. i repeat: savory. french. toast. Crispy Salt & Pepper French Toast (w. sriracha ketchup)

bundle up and stay cozy, friends!!

happy valentine’s friends!

wishing you all a happy valentine’s day! while the mister and i don’t go out to eat or anything (it’s kind of amateur hour when you’re restaurant nuts like us), we do have a few fun things planned for today and this weekend. and a long weekend to boot! as you can maybe tell from the photo above, i made homemade sprinkles to celebrate this day of hearts and it’s possible i went a little overboard. but it was SO fun.

i got cute little jars and sent them out for “Galentine’s” Day – super cute and fun! i would definitely make my own sprinkles again. it’s a bit tedious but i popped in a movie and was done before i knew it. they are made from royal icing and whenever i need to make royal icing, i look up new royal icing recipes and this time, i ultimately decided to go with a meringue powder version because i didn’t want to have to figure out what to do with the leftover egg yolks.

Royal Icing
2 T meringue powder
2-4 c powdered sugar
1/4 c water (+1-2 T depending on consistency)
1/2 t vanilla (optional, for flavor)
food coloring
*blend everything together and pipe onto parchment. let dry overnight

and a bonus – i would never leave out holiday treats for our four-legged friends. my dog flipped out for these pumpkin peanut butter biscuits. like, really flipped out. they’re simple to make and so much more inexpensive than buying organic dog treats. check out the recipe here from My Baking Addiction.

that’s all, folks! happy heart friday!