Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Bacon + Brussels Sprouts Mac and Cheese


Ask and you shall receive.  This was one of my most popular and most requested instagram recipes to date, but whats not to love about a jazzed up Mac and Cheese??   This mac and cheese is pretty much amazing.  Best eaten hot and gooey.  It made me come to the conclusion that bacon and brussels sprouts should always be paired together.   I could have eaten all the cooked bacon and brussels sprouts before I even added in the mac and cheese.  The cheese sauce is so creamy and delicious,  this whole dish is really a killer combo.  The original recipe called for it to be baked in the oven with bread crumbs, which I did.  However I felt like that dried it out, I honestly thought it was best right off the skillet.  But you decide how you want yours:)  Either way its damn good.
Enjoy!



|| B A C O N  + B R U S S E L S   S  P R O U T S   M A C   A N D   C H E E S E ||
adapted via How Sweet It Is

Ingredients:

1 pound of cooked pasta, smaller noodles desired
6 slices of bacon, chopped
1 shallot, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 pound of brussels sprouts, stems removed and sliced/chopped
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons flour
2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup half and half
8 ounces fontina cheese, freshly grated
4 ounces white cheddar cheese, freshly grated
2 ounces parmesan cheese, freshly grated
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 cup panko bread crumbs
2 tablespoons fine breadcrumbs

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Heat a large, 12-inch oven-safe skillet oven medium-low heat and add bacon. Cook until the fat is just rendered, then removed about 1/4 of the bacon and set it aside in a bowl. Cook the remaining bacon until completely crispy. Add in the shallot, garlic and brussels spouts, stirring well to coat. Cook until the brussels soften, about 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and toss the pasta in with the brussels.
To make the cheese sauce. heat a small saucepan over medium heat and add the butter. Once it's sizzling, whisk in the flour to create a roux and cook until it is golden brown, about 2 to 3 minutes. Pour in the milk and the half and half, stirring the entire time and cook until it is slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the fontina, cheddar and parm, stirring until the cheese is melted. Stir in the nutmeg. Once the cheese is melted, pour it over the pasta in the skillet and toss well to coat. Add the panko and fine breadcrumbs over top of the pasta and sprinkle on the bacon that your set aside earlier.
Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the top is golden and bubbly.




Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Obsessions

Rag and Bone tees are my absolute favorite.  I love the hemline on this one and it is the perfect shade of gray to go with everything!

I own this in the Summer leopard print and love it.  Wear it all the time.

I totally forgot to check out the home section of the Nordstrom sale.  I stumbled upon these beauties.  They would be so cute in a kids room!  They would look awesome with a big monogram in the middle in a neon color like pink or orange.


Love this statement necklace!  I like the two tone with gold and silver.


I adore the back of this tank!!  Looks like lululemon but for a fraction of the price!!


I bought a BB Dakota faux leather jacket last year and was blown away by the quality.  It looks and feels similar to real leather. I get compliments every time I wear.  This would be a great jacket for Fall at a great price!


One Kings Lane has had some awesome artwork lately.  I am a huge Kate Mullin fan, she is a local artist here in Charleston.  This printed canvas is 50% off!

Speaking of local artwork, don't forget to head over to Furbish at 11 to check out my friend WayWay Allen's pop up art sale.  She is so talented, grab a piece while you can!  Shop Furbish HERE.



I have been wanting a pair of mirrored Raybans and when I saw these gold ones I knew I needed them!!  Added bonus they are polarized!


This is my favorite beach cover-up.  I love the new pattern it came out in! 
It is also available in this off the shoulder version as well.



This is another gem from the Nordstrom sale.  Prices go back up this weekend so shop while you can!  I love ombre and cashmere.  This is a scarf you could toss on with any outfit and it would look good!


Lastly til noon today at Piperlime you can take 25% off all purses and shoes!  Use code SHOPFAST.  I am thinking about finally biting the bullet on this Claire V Clutch.  Scroll thru to see my favorites.







Monday, July 28, 2014

Scenes From Our Weekend

Happy Monday.  I hope everyone had a great weekend.  Sterling left yesterday to go stay with my parents for a few days.  I know it is good for him to have time away from me but man I miss him!  Hoping I can work on some home projects and tackle some stuff while he is gone!

Our new patio furniture arrived from World Market and I assembled it all by myself.  I was pretty proud of myself.  All their outdoor furniture is 50% off right now.  A great time to buy if you need anything.  I love ours.  Ours was a 4 piece set with two chairs, a bench and table.  Shop all the Outdoor furniture here.



Friday for lunch I tried out a new restuarant called Angel Oak down Hwy 17.  It was so good.  I had the veggie sandwich and brussels sprouts.  Delicious!


Friday night we headed to the Yacht Club with Matt while he registered for a fishing tournament.
I have been wearing this Equipment Blouse nonstop, I love it!



Saturday Matt fished all day for the James Island Yacht Club Fishing Tournament so I took the kids to do our standard Farmers Market / doughnut run.  It is Sterling's favorite thing to do!  He decided to dress as Superman for the day:)


Doughnuts are always a hit.  He demolished two!


I stopped back in Callies Hot Little Biscuit to pick up some of her Dillicious Dip.  It is amazing!  So are the homemade crackers.

My Teil Duncan Print arrived from One Kings Lane and it is even better in person.  I am working on a little master bathroom re-do this week and then I am going to hang it in there!  Her pieces are 50% off right now and best part they are already framed and ready to hang!


I also love this one.

Saturday night we headed back to the Yacht Club to hear the winners.  Matt placed third in his division for flounder.  He caught this massive red fish that they let go because of its size- holy wow right?


Here are the winning flounders.

Frances Moon turned 8 months over the weekend. I swear time goes by faster with each child you have. She is such true a delight.


Sunday night we celebrated Matt's Birthday. We have been celebrating birthdays together since we were 21. Hard to believe he's 35, we are inching closer to 40!  He still looks pretty young to me and you are only as old as you feel right?


Have a great week friends!





Saturday, July 26, 2014

Saturdays Steals and Splurges

This is the last weekend for the Gigi New York Sale. It ends tomorrow.  Everything is 50-60% off.  New styles were added too.  Plus free shipping!!

I love this Jessica Zippered Tote in Sand.  The sand color is such a great neutral.

I also love this Scout Saddle bag.  It comes in Saddle and Black.  Great everyday purse.


and this Zippered Crossbody is now down to only $90.  It comes in alot of different colors.Side note I just saw a girl carrying this at the Farmers Market and it was so cute in person and a great size!


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Shopbop did new markdowns.  These gray Rag and Bone Newbury Boots just got reduced.  I have a gray pair and love mine.

This Equipment Leopard Shirtdress was also reduced to 50% off!

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My favorite Equipment Blouse is on major sale!!  I have lived in mine all Summer.  Such a great silk tank that looks good with shorts and jeans!


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I picked up these two things for Sterling from the Nordstrom sale, they have some great back to school stuff!
We love these velcro pumas and buy them every season!

 Sterling has been all about camo lately so we got this jacket for fall.

and for Frances I got this Stem Organic hooded jacket.  Love the gray color and the fabric.

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Madewell is offering 40% off all sale, some super cheap prices.   Shop the whole sale HERE and use code ENDLESS at checkout

 I have these flats and love them!

also love these flats 
.This ikat bikini is so cute!  and a major steal!

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Bloomingdales is running a big sale thru Sunday.
I love the silhouette of this Equipment Dress.  Would be great as a maternity dress too.


This Joie blouse is such a pretty print!


Been wanting this tie dye blouse forever and it is finally on sale!


 Happy Saturday and Happy Shopping!