Cauliflower Tacos + My New Favorite Cookbook

Meet my new taco obsession, Cauliflower Tacos.  My sister and brother in law had been raving about these tacos for awhile now.  My sister said they eat them at least once a week, so last week on our beach trip they made them for us and I was blown away.  For a meat free taco these are amazing.   They are a bit spicy which I love.  The cauliflower gets a little caramelized and crispy and trust me you won't be able to stop eating it. The spicy cauliflower paired with sweet fresh corn, and creamy avocado is just the best flavor combo.  The cauliflower is delicious on its on too.  I gobbled up our leftovers over quinoa the next night.   I think this may just become a weekly meal for us too!  

Enjoy!

|| C A U L I F L O W E R   T A C O S ||

recipe via BuzzFeed

1 head cauliflower

1/4 cup hot sauce

2 tablespoons melted butter

2 teaspoons garlic powder

1 teaspoon salt

3 ears corn

flour shells

refried black beans

avocado

queso fresco crumbled

sour cream + hot sauce

jalapenos (optional)

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Cut the cauliflower into bite size pieces.  Mix together the hot sauce, melted butter, garlic powder, and salt and then pour over the cauliflower and mix well- I usually do this in a large bowl and then transfer to a baking sheet.  Place the cauliflower on a baking sheet and bake for 40 minutes, after 20 minutes stir the cauliflower once.  

While the cauliflower is cooking, boil the corn.  I usually boil it for about 10-5 minutes just to slightly cook it and soften the kernels.  Once it is done cut off the kernels and place in a bowl.  

Mix sour cream with hot sauce (we love cholula and valentina) 

Dice the avocado and sprinkle with salt and drizzle with lime or lemon juice

Assemble tacos!  Layer a flour shell with black beans, cauliflower, corn, avocado, sour cream, cheese and jalapenos

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As many of you know I am cookbook obsessed.  I get so excited when I find a new cookbook.  Well I had a few readers recommend the Love and Lemons Cookbook and I have to say it may just be one of my favorite cookbooks ever.  Now keep in mind I have only made one recipe (the Quinoa Salad Radicchio cups, see picture below) and it was beyond delicious.  I can just tell the rest of the recipes will be just as good.  I judge a cookbook by its layout and the recipe content.  This cookbook is beautiful and it has a picture of every recipe.  I love pictures, it helps me visualize the recipe.  The cookbook is divided into categories by vegetable which I love.  I seriously took it to bed with two nights just to read and devour the recipes.  It is a vegetarian cookbook so if you are looking for meat free recipes, I highly recommend this cookbook!

Love and Lemons Cookbook

3 Veggie Sides + All White OOTD

Hello Wednesday.  I have a list a mile long of things to get done before we leave town and of course I have waited til the last minute to do it all and now I am stressed out! Today I wanted to share 3 easy veggie recipes plus an outfit.  I think I shared the cauliflower recipe on here awhile ago but I had a request to share again, so here you go!  These 3 veggie sides are made almost every week in our house.  They are easy to make and added bonus my kids will eat them and they are PICKY about veggies these days.  Monday night we had the cauliflower and okra with navy beans for our "Meatless Monday" meal. Btw I am obsessed with purple cauliflower it is such a gorgeous shade of purple.   I have been mixing it with the white cauliflower the past few times I have made this dish but feel free to just use the regular white cauliflower. 

 I hope you love these sides as much as we do!

S P I C Y  R O A S T E D  O K R A

1-2 pounds okra

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon hot sauce

1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

1/4 tsp garlic salt

1/2 tsp paprika

salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  In a bowl toss the okra with the olive oil and hot sauce and then add in red pepper flakes, garlic salt, and paprika.  Mix all together and season with salt and pepper.  Place on a baking sheet and bake 20-25 minutes.  I like my okra crispy so I cook it a little longer. 

R O A S T E D  C A U L I F L O W E R +  C H I C K P E A S

via My Father's Daughter Cookbook

1 14-ounce can chickpeas, rinsed, drained and dried

1 head of cauliflower, outer leaves removed and discarded, cut into bite-sized florets

3 tablespoons plus 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, divided

Coarse sea salt

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon seeded mustard (i.e., grainy mustard)

1 tablespoon white wine vinegar

Freshly ground black pepper

1/4 cup chopped Italian parsley

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and set the rack in the middle. Toss chickpeas and cauliflower together in a large roasting pan with 3 tablespoons olive oil and a big pinch of salt. Roast, stirring now and then, until everything is dark brown and the cauliflower is quite soft, about 45 minutes. 

2. Meanwhile, whisk together mustards, vinegar, and 1/4 cup of olive oil with a big pinch of salt and a few healthy grinds of black pepper. While the chickpeas and cauliflower are still warm, toss them with the mustard dressing and the parsley. Serve warm or at room temperature.

P A R M E S A N   R O A S T E D   B R O C C O L I 

Via Back to Basics Cookbook

4 to 5 pounds broccoli 
4 garlic cloves, peeled and thinly sliced 
Good olive oil 
1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt 
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest 
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice 
3 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted 
1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese 
2 tablespoons julienned fresh basil leaves

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Cut the broccoli florets from the thick stalks, leaving an inch or two of stalk attached to the florets, discarding the rest of the stalks. Cut the larger pieces through the base of the head with a small knife, pulling the florets apart. You should have about 8 cups of florets. Place the broccoli florets on a sheet pan large enough to hold them in a single layer. Toss the garlic on the broccoli and drizzle with 5 tablespoons olive oil. Sprinkle with the salt and pepper. Roast for 20 to 25 minutes, until crisp-tender and the tips of some of the florets are browned. 

Remove the broccoli from the oven and immediately toss with 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil, the lemon zest, lemon juice, pine nuts, Parmesan, and basil. Serve hot. 

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I also wanted to share my outfit from yesterday.  I have been loving some all white this Summer.

I have this tee shirt in green as well and loved it so much I bought the white.  It is from the junior's section so I sized up and went with a medium because I like a looser tee shirt fit.  It also comes in black and wine.

Tee Shirt |  Shorts | Sandals | Necklaces| Tote | Ring

Another all white look from last month.  These jeans are the best white jeans!  They offer the perfect amount of stretch, and are not see through.

Blouse | Jeans | Sandals | Necklace | Ring

Scenes From Our Weekend

Good Monday Morning!  This is the last full week of school for both kids, so I have lots I hope to accomplish in my few free mornings!

Last Wednesday I ate lunch at Co with my friend Ashley.  Co is always so tasty.  Charlotte friends they just opened one at Park Road Shopping Center!   This time we tired the Mango Summer Rolls and Chicken Salad and both were delish!  the Mango Rolls were served with the most amazing peanut dipping sauce.

Shells + Stripes ( I am wearing a size small for reference) also HERE for Happy Hour.

Friday night Matt worked on his boat and the kids and I watched Full House- our favorite show to watch together.  Matt and I enjoyed a dirty martini with blue cheese stuffed olives.  It is one of our favorite weekend drinks.

Saturday the kids and I hit up the Farmer's Market with some friends.  Of course we stopped at Glazed first.  We tried two new doughnuts they had, Blueberry Ginger and Smores.  They both were pretty incredible.

Someone was clearly excited about her doughnut.

Lots of gorgeous produce from the Farmers Market.  I have never cooked purple cauliflower before but it was too pretty to pass up!   This tote is the perfect size for toting all my Farmer's Market goodies.  It comes in 6 different colors and all the totes are made by women who have overcome adverse situations.

Mamuye Tote

That afternoon we took all the kids to the pool.  My cover-up was recently reduced and this cooler is the best.  It is the perfect size for snacks.  We use it all the time.

Cover-up also here | Sunglasses | Bathing Suit (on sale) | Cooler 

Another day another bathing suit.

Ice Cream Bathing Suit

Matt participated in a fishing contest and won for the flounder division!   This was his winning fish! 

Sterling couldn't wait to get his hands on it too.  

Sterling had a sleepover Saturday night with his best friend Oliver.  They are just the cutest together.

Sunday Frances and I headed to church.

Wearing Equipment Dress + Hyla Dewitt Necklace + Tote

Sunday night we had some friends over for dinner and fried up the flounder Matt caught from his tournament.  I always think cole slaw goes perfectly with fried fish so I set off to Pinterest to find a recipe.  Well the first one that popped up was the Chick Fila recipe.  I loved the Chick Fila slaw and I was so bummed when they stopped serving it (and the brownie).   I made the slaw and I have to say it was awesome and tasted just like the Chick Fila version.  I actually shredded my own cabbage but if you wanted it just like Chick Fila's version I would buy the chopped cabbage bag.

What I wore:

A few people have asked about my dining room chairs and these chairs are actually at my parent's condo.  They have been in town quite a bit recently and have floor to ceiling mirrors so I usually just snap a picture when I stop by there.  

Tee Shirt (wearing size 1) + Necklaces + Jeans (on sale ) + Purse same style different color + Shoes (use code BRTAKE40 to save 40%)

Have a wonderful Monday!

Scenes From Our Weekend

Happy Monday everyone! I can't believe there are only 2 weeks of school left before Summer.  This year has flown by.  I can't believe I will have a first grader next year, sniff sniff.

Thursday night I hosted supper club at my house.  We have a group of about 6 of us and we rotate houses every month and host supper club.  It is always a fun night and I get so excited about busting out my pretty table linens and dishes.  The girls always appreciate the things the men don't!

Table Runner (coral version) | Napkins | Napkin rings | Silverware | Plates

Glasses are vintage

I wore this Anthropolgie dress I picked up last weekend.  It also comes in grey and green.  I am wearing a size small.  It is lightweight and so soft.

Dress | Necklace | Sandals

Always so much fun with my girls.

Friday my mom was in town so we surprised Sterling for lunch at his school and ran a few errands.

That night we enjoyed some the leftovers from Supper Club as an app + Greyhounds. That cauliflower below is the Trader Joe's pickled kind I mentioned on Thursday, it is so good!

Saturday morning we hit up Glazed for Doughnuts and then the Farmers Market.

Sterling's Relax Tee

They had the coolest new booth at the food corner, it was homemade cotton candy.  The kids loved it.  The flavor combinations were really cool.  Sterling choose root beer.

That afternoon we hit up the pool.   You may remember this suit from my obsession post last week, well I ordered it and LOVE it! I am a sucker for a flattering black one piece.  Always a classic look!  I am wearing a size 6, runs slightly on the small side.

Swimsuit (also in coral) | Sunglasses 

Relax Tee | Popsicle Suit

We had happy hour with my parents that night and then gilled fish with the kids.  We had some fresh mahi that was incredible.

Wearing my white off shoulder blouse again.  Several of you asked about sizing from my post Thursday.  I am wearing the size O/S.

Blouse | Necklaces

Sunday was church.

Frances Moon's Dress is Shrimp and Grits Kids

Followed by brunch with a view:)

Sunday afternoon we cleaned house and put a new swing up for the kids, then we went to the yacht club to let them play.   They love watching the boats come in.  and yes, Frances is just wearing underwear (Paw Patrol of course) she is not potty trained but it is her new obsession to wear undies over her diapers.   Thinking potty training is not too far off.

 Sterling found a horseshoe crab and was so excited!  He promptly put him back in the water, but it was cool to see it up close.  A woman at the yacht club told us they use their blood for certain types of cancer treatment which I found fascinating.

Sunday Dinner was Black Bean Cakes with Avocado Crema and Corn Relish + Squash Gratin, two old recipes from my blog but both are fantastic!

Have a great week!

Favorite White Jeans + A Few Beauty and Food Products to Try

I posted this picture on instagarm last night but apparently after some software updates on Instagram and Liketoknow.it the actual links did not show up for some people, so I wanted to share on here.  

These jeans are by my new favorite jeans company McGuire Jeans.  I have two pairs of their blue jeans that I love, so I recently ordered these white ones and they rock!   As far as white jeans go these are awesome they have plenty of stretch, run TTS, are super comfy and not see thru.   The end of the jeans is slightly frayed which I like.  I have washed them and they still fit perfectly.   

Jeans + Blouse + Twine and Twig Necklace + Sandals

The jeans also come in a short version that I am tempted to try out.

Jean shorts

The blouse I am wearing is from a line called Hatch.   I recently went to a trunk show here featuring their line and fell in love with it.  It is created for women to wear before, during and after pregnancy.  Don't get any ideas I am certainly not pregnant but I do like loose fitting tops.  The fit is amazing and the blouse comes in blush and black as well.  Anyone of you pregnant mamas you should check out the line.  I hated spending money on ugly maternity clothes.  This line is awesome because it is not maternity so it still looks super cute post baby as well.  Pure genius if you ask me.  It honestly kind of made me want to be pregnant again the clothes are so cute.  You can shop the whole collection here

 I am wearing the white, but you can see the other two colors below:)

Off Shoulder Blouse

I have been hitting up Trader Joe's quite frequently lately.  I love that place, each time I go I find new things I love.  Currently I am obsessed with the pickled cauliflower.  It is crazy good.  I could eat that entire jar in one sitting.  I just went yesterday and bought 4 jars!

Matt and I also love the truffled mushroom ravioli.  If you like a truffle flavor this is amazing.  We serve it with Rao's marinera and fresh parmesan and it makes a wonderful meal.

Also excellent is the Hatch Green Chili Mac and Cheese.  When we get tired of our beloved Stoffers we eat this:)

I love a sweet nibble after a meal and these are perfect for that.  They are super thin and super tasty.  just beware it is easy to eat the whole container they are so thin!   

When I went to Dallas last month for our blog conference I met with a beauty company called Colleen Rothschild.   I like to try products out for a bit before I mention them on my blog.   I have been using the clarifying detox mask now for a little over a month and really love it.    It is made with activated charcoal and French Clay.  It really helps even out skin tone and your pores.  When you put it on it tingles a bit and then feels really tight.  After I rinse it off my skin feels so amazing.  I use this 1-2 times a week.  It is currently on sale for $36, which compared to many other masks I have used is a great price point and it lasts forever.  I have hardly put a dent in mine.  

Clarifying Detox Mask

I like to use this cream after my mask.  I have super dry skin and this feels so good.  It is super moisturizing and when you wake up in the morning your skin feels so smooth and refreshed.

Extreme Recovery Cream

I recently went to a Trish McEvoy make-up event and purchased a few products.  

I am loving the lipstick and eyeliner I bought.  I bought the lipstick in the color Flirt.  It is a great color for everyday or night.  It is such a flattering shade of pink not too light or dark.  Right now at Nordstrom they are offering a gift with purchase too if you spend $75.

Lipstick in Flirt Shade

I bought the gel eyeliner in the navy color.  The rep showed me how to do a smokey eye with it for a nighttime look and a thiner line for the day.  It is super easy to apply and goes on smoothly.  I really like the navy for something different, it makes your eyes pop.

Eyeliner