It Happened One Cold Night...

There were two girls, there was an epic lineup and a fantastic venue. But, there was rain and freezing cold (for Florida) and soggy grass, wet pants and a wee bit of alcohol induced tomfoolery. Finally, there was a difficult decision that ended in quite possibly the best night of pancakes in the world.



In honor of those memories tonight (this was composed on Wed. night) is breakfast for dinner night.



Pumpkin Pancakes with Cinnamon Orange Glaze

(adapted from heart-healthy living)



Pancakes:

2c flour

2T. baking powder

4T. brown sugar

(I used turbinado sugar)

1/2t. salt

1/2t. pumpkin pie spice

1 1/2c. fat-free milk

(I only had whole)

1/2c. frozen/refrigerated egg product

(I used 2 lg. eggs)

1c. canned pumpkin



Combine dry and whisk to break up.

Add wet and combine *do not over mix.

Butter or spray pan and cook on low until small bubbles form on the surface and flip.



Glaze:

1c. orange juice

2T. honey

2 1/2t. cornstarch

1/4t. ground cinnamon



Place all ingredients in a small skillet and simmer/stir until thickened.



*This recipe is perfect for making freezer pancakes for a quick weekday breakfast! Let the extras cool completely before freezing. To reheat just pop into the toaster.

Pollocking Fun

Dear Art Fans,

Have you ever wanted a Pollock-esque painting in your room? Do you get bored throughout the day? Well, I have just discovered the most amazing/fun/entertaining thing to do - it is also quite meditative.

Jackson Pollock by Miletos Maneta is a fun website where you use your mouse to create Pollock like images of splatter painting.  It is ridiculously fun to do.  For all you techies, it is even available for the iPhone or the new contraption of awesome created by Apple the iPad.  This is art on the move, people.

If you don't feel like making your own art, everyone should go see the Rockwell exhibit at the Fort Lauderdale Art Museum. It closes on February 7!  Also it is one of the rare times that the museum has a huge name and exhibition.  I would defiantly check it out.

Forever Art,
KT

I'm a New Yogi

So, today I was reading an extremely interesting article about a new movement within the yoga community that a lot of "yogis" (people who practice yoga) are not happy with. Welcome to yoga for foodies basically vegetarians have their panties in a twist because some instructors are luring foodies in with carefully thought out food and drink courses post-relaxation sesh when senses are said to be in a heightened state. Being the foodie that I am, this concept intrigues me. Do I want to eat a delightful meal on my gross yoga mat on the yuck floor of my gym? Not particularly, but I'm willing to try almost anything once for the benefit of heightened flavor. The debate being this; is it unethical (in the teachings surrounding the practice of yoga) to eat meat? Rule, or yama, number one is not to harm others. Problem being- is "others" referring exclusively to humans or does it extend to the animal kingdom. The community is split. More progressive instructors even play Bob Marley and Grateful Dead trying to appeal to a wider range of clients. I say, if it gets people in the door and interested/active who cares? Before I started classes, I would have seen that news title on my twitter and completely bypassed it for lack of interest, but I tried yoga and instantly loved it. Do I have anything against vegans/vegetarians? No, I honestly couldn't give a crap what people eat as long as we can share a meal without any condescending glances when I order my steak tartare or enjoy my sashimi. I don't see why food has become such a divider, honestly, I love food because it brings people together. Oh well, this is what I get for spending my time on twitter, right?

Honey Garlic "Grilled" Brie

For my 22nd birthday I went with a few friends to this amazing restaurant, DaDa, in Delray. We unanimously decided on the grilled brie wheel for our appetizer while we eagerly awaited our various mojitos (green tea, yum!) Let me tell you; it was exquisite! Now, a few weeks after this fantastic dinner I find myself inspired to recreate that perfectly simple dish. Who doesn't love a party appetizer with only three ingredients?

Brie wheel

Honey

Minced Garlic

*This dish is "grilled" because I was horrified at the prospect of throwing my delicate brie wheel on the grill and losing all of its ooey goodness. So, to simulate grill marks I used my handy dandy grill pan.

-Get your pan hot and wipe with olive oil (I used garlic olive oil)

-Turn the heat down and place brie in pan
-"Grill" for about 3-5 minutes so you get those great marks on the rind and repeat on the other side
*Be extra careful flipping the brie and if possible use a spatula that is the same size for easy turning
-While your brie is cooking combine desired amount of honey and garlic, enough to lightly coat the cheese
-Finally turn brie out onto a plate, break the rind, douse in honey and enjoy

Double Trouble

So I was thinking that it would be fun to post fun words that could be used in everyday sentences, but are sadly not.  This weeks word in tautoousious, which means being absolutely the same.  Isn't that such a fun word to say! Now I will use it in a sentence I hope that you can do the same.

The tautoousious girls in this picture compliment each other lovely.

Picture from the artist Schmooks at Etsy.com

Tunes by twins:

-The Watson Twins "U-N-ME"
-Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah "Over and Over Again"
-The Whispers "And the Beat Goes On"
-The Proclaimers "500 Miles"
-The Veronicas "Popular"

Tea for Two and Two for Tea

Here at Frills and Fancies we are tea-holics!  So we are bringing you our favorite in teas. 
First lets go over the basics of making tea, I know it seems pretty idiot proof, but lets review the number one rule, ok?  Tea tastes the best, I mean like the greatest if the water is boiled in a tea kettle, its just a fact.  It really does not taste the same if you use the "beverage" button on your microwave, lets just say microwaves are banned from tea-making.  And also not to sound snooty, but go with the loose-leaf and/or unbleached teabags.  Go to your local Whole Foods, Independent Coffee House, or the most fantab online tea site known to us as The Tea Table.  If you order from the Tea Table they will send you THREE FREE SAMPLES, and who does not like that?

Our personal Favorite Teas:

Katie - prefers black teas sweetened with sugar cane, mint green tea, mate vana, and will also drink chamomile if brewed correctly
Suggested Teas for similar types;

• Antony and Cleopatra compressed heart-shaped black tea
• Irish Breakfast Tea 
• Gypsy Mint Green Tea
• Earl Grey Creme
• Rose, Lavender Earl Grey (all rose teas are delicious) 

Kara - loves tea. Iced, hot, lukewarm I follow directions to the letter and am not afraid to drink with no sweetener and if I'm feeling saucy a little bit of cream.
May I suggest;

• Matevana
• Jasmine Golden Flower
• Weight to Go! (detox tea with minty-ness and fruity-ness aka pure goodness)
• ToLife White Tea (its got everything)
• Chamomile (DO NOT OVER-BREW please)

Delish Scones and Cold Brew Coffee

Kara here with my very first F(squared) post. I spent all day racking my brain trying to sift through all the recipes I love and I ended up landing on what I want for breakfast tomorrow; scones and cold brewed coffee. Scones are simple, delish, low sugar breakfast item that is fab with coffee or tea, whatever your morning delight may be!

Creamy Scones

adapted from smittenkitchen

*make sure oven rack is in middle position and set to 425°F

2 cups all purpose flour (I added 2 tablespoons of ground hazelnuts)

1 teaspoon baking powder

3 tablespoons sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

5 tablespoons unsalted butter (cute in cubes)

1/2 cup currants (I used 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips and 2 teaspoons orange zest)

1 cup heavy cream (I didn't have any so I used 1/2 and 1/2 and it came out fine[and slightly lower fat])

-Combine all dry ingredients and whisk together

-Cut in butter with fingers, break apart to sand-like consistency leaving a few larger bits of butter

-Mix in cream with a fork and stir for about 30sec. (mix should be dry but not too much so)

-Turn out onto floured surface and mold into a flat circle, cut into pie slices and place on baking sheet lined with parchment

-Bake for 12-15 min or until lightly golden on edges

-Cool on a wire rack and store in an airtight container

Being from Florida I have a deeply ingrained seasonal hatred for hot drinks. WHY I would need to be drinking a 140degree beverage when it is 98 outside is beyond me, but last summer when I was working at the Haus all the ladies and gents wanted the hot stuff... maybe I'm warped. Anywho, my love for all things ice cold came full circle when I found this recipe for cold brew coffee from smittenkitchen one of my very favorite food blogs. If you are completely fanatical about your java and get uber annoyed when the ice gets your coffee all watered down, you can pour the finished coffee into ice cube trays and freeze for iced cafe au lait later. Cold brew is the only way to enjoy coffee. It totally loses any bitterness, and is worth the tiny bit of extra effort, believe me!

*extra tip for the brave; add a pinch of salt to your coffee grounds, the flavor difference is impressive