creme brulee cheesecake bars

August 28, 2013

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I love surprises.  Okay, thats sort of a lie.  When I am the person being surprised my patience quickly runs out and I’m usually snooping around trying to spoil it for myself.  But when the surprise is for someone else.. eeeeekkk!   Especially Josh, he is so fun to surprise.  He doesn’t guess, or snoop, or try to figure it out, he just lets me have my fun.  His birthday is tomorrow and I have a big surprise planned.  (I would tell you guys, but I’m one day from pulling this off and can’t take any chances!)

In the past few years, we have gotten so slack at birthdays (really, at all holidays).  We skip out on gifts to save for other things, and settle for simple date nights instead- but no more.  It is too easy to let these special days roll in and out, claiming that the next will be better than the one happening.  We have far too much to celebrate to let it slip through our fingers.  His only requests are that he is able to watch his beloved Clemson game on Saturday, and a red velvet cake.  Only one of those will be happening (fingers crossed that he is having too much fun to notice he is missing the game!)

Okay- on to these bars.  These lovely little cheesecake bars.  I don’t make cheesecake often, and when I do it can’t be plain old cheesecake because I don’t really like plain cheesecake.  The brulee topping on this recipe really gives it something extra- a completely added flavor that sets it right over the edge.

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creme brulee cheesecake bars
 
Print
Ingredients
  • Crust:
  • 9 whole graham crackers
  • ½ stick unsalted butter, melted
  • Filling:
  • 2 (8 oz) packages cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ tsp fine sea salt
  • Brulee:
  • ¼ cup sugar
Instructions
  1. Crust:
  2. Preheat oven to 350F, and line an 8x8 baking dish with foil, leaving an overhang.
  3. In a food processor, pulse the crackers until finely ground. Add the melted butter and pulse until cracker crumbs are moistened. Press into bottom of baking dish, and bake about 10 minutes until crust is set. Let cool and reduce oven temperature to 300F.
  4. Filling:
  5. Place the cream cheese in your mixer, or a large bowl. Beat until smooth. Add sugar, eggs, yolk, vanilla and salt, and beat until well combined and no lumps remain. Pour the mixture on top of the crust, spreading evenly. Bake until cheesecake is set but still slightly jiggly in the center, about 45 minutes. Be careful to not overbake.
  6. Once completely cool, cover and chill for at least two hours.
  7. To make brulee topping- uncover dish and sprinkle evenly with sugar. Set your oven to "broil", and move oven rack to appropriate broiling place. Place cheesecake back in the oven- and watch closely until top is golden brown, this will only take about 3 minutes so be careful! Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Recipe courtesy of Handle The Heat.

creme_brulee_squares_3Bubbling over,

shansig

 

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5 minute face

August 27, 2013

As hard as I try, I am nearly always late.  For everything.  Even before I had Adelynn, I was notorious for not being able to make it anywhere on time (having a baby is your ticket to being acceptably late- before hand you’re just rude) .  If I absolutely need to be on time, please lie to me and tell me I need to be there a half hour before I really do.  Seriously, its my only chance.

I have done my make-up in five minutes far more often than the times I have a half hour to an hour to tinker with it, so it has gotten to be a routine that I feel comfortable with. Having a five-minute routine that you feel good about makes those rushed days a bit smoother- or at least you don’t feel like such a hot mess.

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All faces are not created equal- for some people concealer, foundation, or eyeliner are a must.  For me, I know exactly the minimum I need to feel good and stick to it.  If you know what your priorities are in your make-up bag, the five-minutes you have to throw yourself together can be more efficient.

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After moisturizing (I use coconut oil,  straight from the tub!), here is my five minutes, step-by-step.

1. Bronzer.  When applied correctly, bronzer in itself can make you feel a million times better.  Don’t go overboard and bronze your whole face, and look for a bronzer that keeps shimmer to a minimum.

2. Blush. Using an angled brush, give your cheeks a little pop of color to aid your bronzer in contouring your face.  My all time favorite- Orgasm by Nars.

3. Brows. I’ve talked before about shading my brows but I can’t stress enough what a difference it makes.  If I could only choose one thing to apply, for me this is it.

4. Shadow detail.  I skip the liner because to me it is too harsh without shadow- so instead I use a small flat brush to outline my eyes with a flat, dark brown shadow.

5. Mascara. With no shadow, I apply a heavier coat of mascara than usual, to give my eyes a bit more definition.

6. Gloss.  A great nude gloss with shimmer goes perfectly with subtle, natural makeup.

Five minutes can be plenty of time to put your best face on- all you need is a plan!

shansig

Posted in beauty | Tagged | 2 Comments

crop and graphic

August 26, 2013

stripes_floral_6When crop tops hit the news as a fashion trend for Spring/Summer 2013 I immediately put them in the “I’m too old for that” category.  Skinny jeans and a midriff bearing top – yeah, I’ll pass.  But like most things I think I will never wear they began to grow on me.  Knowing only a sliver of skin shows with a high-waisted skirt or pant makes them way less scary.  The variety of fits is impressive as well – from skin tight to loose and flowy.  If you would have told me I would mix stripe with floral which included a crop top I probably would have laughed.  But that’s what is so fabulous about fashion.  It never fails to make us feel good in the unexpected.

stripes_floral_5 stripes_floral_3 stripes_floral_4 stripes_floral_1 stripes_floral_2|WEARING| striped crop top similar/floral skirt similar/chevron bracelet similar/black hobo similar/peep toe wedges similar

brandyjsig

 

 

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coconut margarita

August 23, 2013

coconut_margaritas_2You know that scene in the movie Practical Magic where Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman dance around the kitchen drinking margaritas with their aunts?  “She put de lime in de coconut, she drank dem bot up”.  It’s impossible to make this drink and not have that song going through your head (especially now that I have mentioned it).  If only I had hair to my hips, looked great in braided pigtails and had magical powers.  Scratch that – if only I looked like as good dancing in my jammies as Nicole and Sandra do.  Drink enough of these and magically I’m sure I will (at least in my coconut margarita mind).

coconut_margaritas_3Yes I put the very fancy Grand Marnier with the ever not so fancy Sauza tequila.  And I am not going to lie and tell you that Sauza is just as good as Patron (I do have taste buds after all).  But when you’re feeling thrifty like I was Sauza will do.

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Coconut Margarita
 
Print
Ingredients
  • 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup freshly squeezed lime juice, plus 2 tablespoons for glasses (about 5 limes)
  • ½ cup sweetened condensed milk plus ½ teaspoon of coconut extract (or ½ cup Coco Lopez or cream of coconut)
  • ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons tequila
  • ¼ cup Cointreau or other orange liqueur
  • 2 cups of ice
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss coconut with the salt. Spread on sheet; toast in oven, stirring frequently, until golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool, then crush with your hands until crumbly.
  2. Pour 2 tablespoons lime juice into a shallow dish. Place coconut mixture in another dish. Dip rims of two cocktail glasses in lime juice, then in coconut mixture, coating well.
  3. Combine remaining ingredients with 2 cups ice in a blender; puree until smooth. Divide evenly between prepared glasses, and serve immediately.

recipe adapted from Martha Stewart

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Oh how I wish I was on a boat, beach or deck overlooking the water somewhere enjoying this incredible cocktail.  Jammie dancing in my kitchen will have to do for now.

Cheers!

brandyjsig

Posted in cheers!, Cinco de Mayo, recipes | Tagged | 11 Comments

a weekend away

August 22, 2013

If you live in the midwest (or maybe even if you don’t), chances are you have heard or seen one of Tim Allen’s Pure Michigan commercials.  His smooth voice tells you a story of how magnificent each little town is, and three minutes later you are left with one more name on your list of places you would like to visit.  (Or is that just me?  Oh Tim,  you get me every time.)

Josh and I won’t be taking a “honeymoon” per say, due to the itty bitty vacation we took to Hawaii earlier this year- but we would love to take a “mini honeymoon” and get away for the weekend sometime this fall.  I’ve got Michigan in mind, but am not sure where exactly.  (According to Tim, we really can’t go wrong.)

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1. Traverse City, MI How beautiful is this place?  Chateau Chantal is a gorgeous winery on Old Mission Peninsula in Northern Michigan.

2. Grand Rapids, MI  Located a bit more south, this would be a shorter drive and the city boasts that it is filled with breweries, exhibits and festivals.

3. Cincinnati, OH  Another option is to head back to Cincinnati, where we got married.  There are a few things down there we would love to do, like visit the Newport Aquarium!

4. Manistee, MI  Manistee supposedly has some of the best waterways, and the foilage in the fall is suppose to be incredible.

Clearly, we need your help friends!  Do you know of a great weekend-destination located close to northwest Ohio?

shansig

Posted in personal | Tagged | 8 Comments