Bite Sized Goodness

Have you ever tried writing a blog with "The Big Bang Theory" on in the background? It is very distracting. I have been sitting here for about 15 minutes with my fingers on the keyboard but my eyes on the T.V. I feel like I am back in school! Anyway... I just made the most delicious appetizers for my Community Group, I found the recipe on Pinterest (here is the original blog) don't they look yummy? They are so easy, too.

Roasted Grapes with Thyme and Ricotta on Bread

Toss some red grapes with olive oil, salt and thyme. Spread them out on a baking sheet and bake for 7-9 minutes at 450 F. Set aside and let cool. Remove thyme sprigs.

Slice a loaf of rustic bread into 1/2 inch pieces and brush with olive oil. Broil until lightly browned (flipping over half way to cook both sides). Set aside and let cool.

Spread a layer of ricotta cheese on each slice of bread and top, sprinkle with salt and top with a spoonful of grapes.

Another thing I made this week were red velvet cake pops. (I have made them before here) Last time I made them, my friend, Jaimee, took a leftover one to work and her coworker loved it and hired me to make some for her baby shower. 

They turned out so cute, like little baby rattles.

Lovin' the South

I haven't blogged in about a month. Work has been super stressful and I have no motivation to write when I am stressed out. Without going into details (this blog is not about my work life) March, was the most difficult month ever. Every day, I wanted to hide away in a blanket fort and color rather than be a responsible adult and go to work. Fortunately the hardest part is over, and now it is time to pick myself up and keep marching on! The one highlight in March, however, was my business trip to Charlotte, North Carolina. I have never been on a business trip before, it was really fun! I felt so important! Right before I flew out there, my boss said, "Don't let them recruit you, now, we have lost a few employees to that." A comment made mostly in jest and I didn't take it too seriously but that did have me thinking while I was out there if I would ever actually consider relocating to North Carolina.

Let me tell you, there are a lot of plusses to living in the south! For one thing everything is so cheap compared to San Diego! For the same amount I pay for my apartment, I could live in a house twice the size. That is pretty much true for anywhere else in the U.S. which is depressing to think about so I just don't. Also, and I know this sounds mean, but the majority of people in the south are really fat. The obesity epidemic is country-wide for sure, but those southern states with their greasy food definitely have big people. I have never been a petite girl, but over there I felt so tiny! I am a virtual size two by comparison, talk about good for the ego. And finally, I'll just say it, I have a bit of a weakness for men of the African-American persuasion. I don't meet many of them where I live, but in Charlotte, they are everywhere! So... in one move, I could be rich, thin, and surrounded by beautiful men!  Talk about a win-win! I am on the wrong side of the country!

But then, I came home, stepped out of the airport, smelled that salty, breezy, air; saw my beloved palm trees lining the streets, drove home along the coast looking out at the gorgeous ocean, and thought... "nah, I live in paradise! It would take a lot more than that to get me to leave!" So, long story short, North Carolina was pretty awesome but how can you not love San Diego?!?

One thing that the south does well is biscuits! I have hosted Easter brunch at my house for four years and have tried several different biscuit recipes and just haven't been completely happy with any of them. I just can't get them to rise very tall and get all flaky and buttery. When I was in Charlotte, I happened into Bojangles which is like a KFC type of place in the south. I had the most amazing biscuits ever! I googled copycat recipes and they all called for shortening. To me, using shortening would mean I would lose that delicious buttery taste but I was willing to give it a try. I ended up brushing melted butter over the top a few minutes before they were done baking and sure enough they tasted very buttery. The shortening helped them puff up and I have to say... best biscuits ever! These are so good!

Here is the recipe:

Bojangles Copy Cat Biscuit Recipe

Ingredients:

2 cups self-rising flour

2 tsp. baking powder

2 tsp. powdered sugar

1/2 cup vegetable shortening

1 1/2 cups buttermilk

Melted butter (about 1/4 cup)

Directions:

Stir together the flour, baking powder and powdered sugar.

Cut in the shortening until pieces are about the size of grains of rice. Stir in the buttermilk.

Knead a few times; roll out on a floured board or counter top to 1- inch thickness.

Be careful not to work dough too much or add too much flour, or you’ll have dry biscuits. Cut with a round biscuit cutter. Makes 8 biscuits.

Place on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake about 12 minutes in a preheated 450°F oven. Brush the tops of the biscuits with melted butter and bake about 3 more minutes.