Lets Go Sunning

Indian Pizza

Feb 26

I have been dying to make Indian pizza for a while now, but have been far too lazy. But this past weekend, I finally broke down and tried it. I actually mean to take better photos, but it was too delicious to let sit. It might be my new go-to meal. Tom and I love Indian food, but it’s too expensive to eat on a regular basis. So this was a perfect compromise, it was something quick and east we could do at home without breaking the bank.

We made two pizzas. One Chicken Tikka Masala and one Roasted Cauliflower Korma.

You will need:

Pizza dough

1/2 head of cauliflower

Olive Oil

Salt and pepper

2/3 cup Korma simmer sauce

2/3 cup Tikka Masala simmer sauce

1 Thin cut chicken breast fillet, cubed

Cilantro

Green Onion

Mozzarella cheese

Preheat the oven to 450F.

Break cauliflower into small florets (the smaller the better). Place in a pan, drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast for 30-40 minutes.

While your cauliflower is roasting check on your pizza dough. Sometimes you need to let it sit at room temp for 30 minutes. Now would be the perfect time to do that.

Remove cauliflower and adjust settings for your crust. Cook according to package directions. While the crust was baking, brown chicken in a small pot for about 5 minutes. Add 1/2 the tikka masala sauce and let simmer,

Remove the crusts and spread each with simmer sauce. For the Korma pizza, top with cauliflower, green onion and cilantro. For the Masala crust, spread the chicken mixture on top, with green onion and cilantro. Finally add cheese over the top. I used less cheese so that it didn’t over power the rest of the pizza, but enough to give it a gooey texture.

Place back in the oven and cook as directed. I think it’s usually 15 minutes or something like that.

I cooked my two pizzas together. And then promptly ate them and regretted not making more.

DIY: Rope Basket

Feb 25

For the past few weeks I’ve been trying to figure out better storage solutions for my house. One of the things on my list was something to store toilet paper in. I came across this rope basket from Terrain, but there was no way in hell I was going to pay $100 (there is no toilet paper fancy enough for that). After researching different basket tutorials and different types of rope, I decided on a super simple project.

I love the added texture it gives, I actually used a crappy 11′ dollar store basket as a template, so it was super easy. It took a little under 2 hours to make, I put a movie on and went to town, but the best part was that I made it for under $5.

You’ll need: 100 ft of cotton clothesline/ Hot glue gun/ Plastic basket (optional)

Step One: Coil your rope into a flat base, hot gluing as you go.

Step Two: When your base is as wide as you like start stacking your rope on the outer edge. This is easier if your are working with plastic basket or bucket as a template.

Keep wrapping until you run out of rope. To make handles leave two sections of the basket loose. I made my handles three layers thick, and then then continued to wrap regularly for the last two layers. Then, pull out the handles and cut. Re-glue and secure as needed.

Hiking Sweeney Ridge

Feb 22

Last Sunday we took a hike up to Sweeney Ridge. If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, I highly suggest you hike this trail! It runs about 5.7 miles and is pet friendly, it’s mostly uphill, which is great for your booty, but it’s totally doable. The best part is the Nike Missile Site once you reach the top. The site was built in 1956 during the cold war and decommissioned in 1974. The building have decayed over time, giving it a super weird apocalyptic vibe.

My favorite part, is the graffiti! Tom and I first hiked to the site in 2010 and it was covered, I really didn’t think it could get any crazier. When we hiked last weekend, it was beyond covered.I loved it. There was so many odd conversations told through graffiti. A lot of it was a very funny exchange between Obama critics and supporters. I could do a whole post on the different exchanges, but this one was my fave. I don’t know why it’s so funny to me, but I laugh when I look at it.

This is such a fun trail and I really recommend it! Getting to the missile site is beautiful, at one point you can see both the beach at Pacifica and the San Francisco Bay. It’s amazing!

Twice Baked Gouda Sweet Potatoes

Feb 19

Sunday night we went out to a fabulous dinner at a new restaurant called Fable in the Castro. It was so good that I can not stop thinking about their amazing twice baked sweet potato with gouda. So I figured I’d try to make my own version. Was it exactly the same? No, but it was still so yummy and easy to make, that I couldn’t not post it.

2 sweet potatoes

1/2 cup gouda, shredded

1/4 cup almonds, chopped

Salt and pepper to taste.

Preheat oven to 400F.

Place potatoes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for about 45-60 minutes. Leave oven on as it cools for 5 minutes.

Cut in half and scoop out the inside of the sweet potato into a medium mixing bowl. It should just slide out, but if not, just scoop as much out as you can. Mash up the potato in the bowl, add gouda and keep mashing until the cheese is mixed in well. Don’t worry about it being melted. Salt and pepper to taste. Scoop back into skins or into a small ceramic dish. Top with almonds. If you want to get fancy you can mix in some panko with your almonds, I kept it simple and just did the almonds.

Put back in oven and let bake for 15 minutes. Remove, let cool for 5 and enjoy!

Serves one very greedy person.

Bronzer Debunked with Kimm DiCato

Feb 14

I am super confused when it comes to bronzer, so I turned to my friend and professional makeup artist, Kimm DiCato to answer some questions that have been running through my head. Kimm specializes in print, runway, bridal and theatrical makeup and has such a beautiful portfolio! Check her blog at KDCat Makeup Artistry or her super informative facebook page for updates!

1. What is the proper shade you should be looking for when picking out a bronzer? Are there certain undertones you should be concerned about?

Bronzer can be warm but avoid anything too orange

2. When applying bronzer, every magazine has a different way they say is best, but does it really depend on face shape? Some say to swipe it over you cheeks and forehead to look tan, other say to contour. Is there a rule of thumb when wearing it?

Bronzer is not for contouring!!!!! The point of it is to add a hint of sun kissed color to your face. I like to do a big 3 down the side of the face then a backwards one down the other. Starting at the temple then across the cheek (not under the cheekbone) then sweep down across the jaw to the chin (again not under the bone). The key is to do light pressure (no heavy handed bronzer please!!!).

3. Are certain brushes important when applying?

Fluffy natural hair brushes are best. I like an angled one, but it doesn’t have to be angled

4. What are some common mistakes you’ve seen that can be easily avoided.

The most common mistake is that people use bronzer that has shimmer in it!!!! Eek! I don’t know about you but my tan never seems to shimmer like glitter. Shimmer is the killer to making bronzer look natural.

5. What is your favorite brand to work with?

My all time favorite bronzer is by a brand called prestige. You can get it at drugstores like Walgreens and it is enormous and lasts forever!!!