CURRENTLY I AM {+ 2 NEW RECIPES!}

Wow wow wow. Can we talk about the disaster that was reality TV last night?

From the what.is.going.on.right.now also known as the Bachelorette finale to the crazy cat fights on Real Housewives of Orange County? This girl was having mild heart palpitations (not an exaggeration at all..) 

I was team Chris all the way. However, not in the way that it all went down. Chris just seemed like her default choice after Brooks went home....maybe this was how they edited the show to portray it in that way, but I was all kinds of #CONFUSED. Anyone, anyone? Share your thoughts. I'm semi still wondering when Brooks is going to show up... just kidding.

As for Real Housewives of OC-I was cracking up during this whole episode. Ryan-really? Completely out of line...I was shocked. Slade being ganged up on? 100% deserved. It made for an entertaining night to say the least (hey-it's my one night I really sit in front of the tv for hours because it's after my spin class..or at least that's my excuse.)

Moving on-here's what else has been going on lately.

Currently I'm.... 
 
Listening to: my top 4 favorite songs right now are as follows...Best I Ever Had - Gavin DeGraw, Safe and Sound - Capital Cities, Holy Grail - Jay Z and JT, and I Want It All - Birdman ft. Lil Wayne (duh). 

Cooking/Baking: Funny you should ask. Last week, I went to a cooking class with two girlfriends held by the editor of Edible Columbus magazine at the cutest house (turned kitchen) called The Seasoned Farmhouse. There is just something extra fun about having a professional chef explain her cooking methods, share tips, and of course cook your food right in front of you and all you had to do was watch, listen, and chow down.

She has different classes you can choose from, but we decided to do this class because it was called "Taste of Ohio" and centered around summer favorites that were all local foods/ingredients.

This wasn't a hands on cooking class where you had to cook your own food, but rather there were about 5 recipes that she showed us how to cook and that we got to eat. Right up my alley! With the purchase of the class, you got a summer cocktail (or 2), a dinner, and dessert. They also provide you with printouts of everything that was made so that you can make them at home!

The cocktail we had was absolutely delicious and worth sharing to you all. Seriously, just go make this for your friends. Too good for summer. Just too good.

 

Watershed Distillery Cocktail

2 oz Watershed Four peel Gin

1 oz fresh lime juice

3/4 oz cucumber simple syrup (50/50 of cucumber water, and sugar, boil)

fresh mint

Muddle mint and simple syrup in the bottom of a pint glass. Add lime juice, gin, and ice to the shaker. Shake for 10 to 15 seconds. Strain into a chilled coupe glass or martini glass.

The sandwich we had was also an A+ in my book. If you like goat cheese, you will love this sandwich. I'm craving it right now...

 

Olive Oil Poached Vegetables On Open Face Tartine

recipe by Tricia Wheeler

-selection of fresh veggies, sliced: little eggplants, garlic, cherry tomatoes, zucchini, squash, onions, and peppers

-juice of whole lemon

-olive oil

-your favorite sliced bread

-goat cheese, whipped with a little heavy cream (optional)

-sprinkle of salt

Directions:

1. Cover sliced vegetables with olive oil, add in lemon juice. Poach on medium low heat (simmer until vegetables are soft.)

2. Grill or broil bread until toasted on top and still slightly soft on bottom. Spread bread with goat cheese, top with poached vegetables, and spinkle with sea salt.

Loving: that I've finally convinced my husband to upgrade our kitchen table chairs, even though he worked his tush off staining our current ones last year. We've decided on the tufted style and we love these from World Market, but the legs are black and we need brown/dark brown legs! 

Anyone know where I can find chairs like this, but with brown legs? (in either light grey or beige!) Would love any recommendations on where to look!

Wearing: loving my new gold T + J Designs gold watch. You can't beat the price...

 

Looking Forward To: I'll admit it....FALL. Yeah, I said it. The fall bug has officially bitten me, even though I tried really hard to not fall for it for at least a couple more weeks. That all went out the door when I stepped foot in H&M yesterday and bought some new fall tops. Oops....

Besides-other than the amazing weather, the leaves changing colors, the cute boots you can wear, fall means one very important thing: OHIO STATE FOOTBALL Eeeeek.

Have you ever been to a cooking class in your area? You should try it!

....and that's all she wrote.