Treats, Not Tricks

Happy Halloween! Every Halloween I have the same tradition: plan on doing something epic with some awesome costume but always end up on the couch watching movies. Halloween (along with New Years) are generally letdowns. They never turn out like you plan or imagine so this year I'm just gonna go with the flow. Maybe you'll find me at an epic party or maybe I'll be having a movie night on my couch with Chinese takeout and a bottle (or maybe bottles? I’ll never tell) of wine? Either way, without expectations, I'm sure to not be disappointed. And either sound like a good night to me. 

BUT one thing is for certain. I couldn’t let Halloween go by without trying some terror-ific recipes. First up Buffalo Chicken Dip with Homemade Tortilla Chips (in your favorite themed shapes). The dip is orange-ish so…that’s festive. And the chips, well, get as creative as you want with the shapes. I opted for ghosts and pumpkins. See below for the recipe! And for dessert: Candy Corn Cookies with White Chocolate Chips. Now I know people either love candy corn or they hate it. Those feeling will probably remain the same for these cookies. Just take your basic sugar cookie recipe and throw in some white chocolate chips and candy corn. That was easy.

And even though Halloween is today, you can absolutley adapt these two treats for any upcoming fall festivity by making different shapes with the tortilla chips (leaves, pumpkins, turkeys, etc.). And candy corn is a fall staple so these cookies still have another month to be enjoyed. 

What are your favorite Halloween traditions, tricks, & treats?

XO – Courtney

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Homemade Tortilla Chips

INGREDIENTS

· White Corn Tortillas

· Canola Oil

· Salt

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 375*F

2. Cut tortillas in desired shape.

3. Lay tortillas on a cookie sheet and spray or brush with Canola oil. Flip and spray the other side.

4. Back for 5 minutes, flip, and bake another 4-5 minutes until golden and crispy.

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Buffalo Chicken Dip

INGREDIENTS

· 2 C Shredded Cooked Chicken

· ½ C Buffalo Sauce

· 8 oz Cream Cheese

· ½ C Ranch Dressing

· ½ C of your favorite shredded cheese

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350*F.

2. Combine all ingredients in a baking dish.

3. Bake for 20 minutes, stir, and serve hot or cold.

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Faking Fall

Cooler days have found us here on the west coast. And by cooler I mean todays high was only in the upper 70s. But I mean who really cares that the average temp is in the 80s? I swear it gets chilly at night (and even most mornings)...and I'm at work when it's warmer so it's basically like those high temperatures don't exist. Ok I'll admit it, I'm missing the fall weather of good old North Carolina. But then I remember how brief NC falls can be before they turn into a cold winter...so there's that silver lining.

So I'll just go on pretending that it's not 80 degrees in October. I may or may not have already broken out my ugg boots a few times (judge me, but they're comfortable). Until that cold day comes (or doesn't), you'll find me faking fall in SoCal.

XO — Courtney

sweater [the limited] // top [urban outfitters] // leggings [banana republic] // 

scarf [shawlsmith london] 

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Fast Fix: Baby Shells with Red Sauce & Ricotta

Another easy dish to add to your recipe books: Baby Shells with Red Sauce & Ricotta. I feel like most of my lasts posts relate to this, but I’ve been so busy lately that meals like this are almost all I can handle. I’m enjoying the busyness though. Busy discovering & exploring my new city, busy with my job, busy with new & old friends. But back to the food. Stuffed shells is one of my favorite meals, & it’s simple enough but this recipe takes it one step simpler: no stuffing. Cook the pasta and make your sauce (or buy it at the store, no judgement since that’s what I did this time!) and top it off with ricotta & fresh basil.

XO – Courtney

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Wardrobe 101

In my last post, I touched on the craziness we are faced with in day to day life and how our diets can be affected by all the go-go-go. Same goes for our wardrobe decisions, which is why lately I'm finding it necessary to just go back to the basics. Wardrobe 101: Basic, Not Boring. 

Problem: When 7:00AM rolls around, all I want to do is throw on my comfiest pieces, no thinking involved, without throwing my style out the window. 

Solution: My boyfriend jeans win almost everyone time. Pair with a tucked chambray top or an oversized tee and, of course, a pair of ankle boots from my every growing collection. I'm also obsessed with this black purse-turned-backpack. It's the perfect size and 100% versatile. If you manage to remember the accessories in your groggy, morning state-of-mind, a simple necklace or stackable bracelets will do the trick.

XO – Courtney

first look: top [madewell] // denim [similar here] // shoes [urban outfitters] // 

bag [the limited] // sunnies [rayban]

second look: top [urban outfitters] // shoes [justfab]

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[photo credit: zack hardy]

Salsa Con Casserole

We live in a busy, never-ending, to-do list world, and usually our diets are affected by it. If we're not eating from a drive thru it better be a fast fix. That's why I love it when a meal can come together without a lot of supplies and demands. Enter the chicken & rice casserole with a Mexican twist. It does take about an hour in the oven BUT the prep is easy and I'm sure we can all find something to cross off our to-do lists during the hour of cook time.

Take all the ingredients and mix them together in a casserole dish, bake for an hour, then top it off with cheese and sour cream. Eat as is, with tortilla chips, or wrapped up in a tortilla. And to save even more time, make enough to enjoy them as leftovers!

XO – Courtney

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