Lemon Avocado Pasta

After a long day of work I was searching for an easy fast meal. This pasta uses pantry items and takes about 15-20 minutes. Enjoy!

Lemon Avocado Pasta:

Adapted from: Oh She Glows

1 Medium ripe Avocado, pitted and sliced

1/2 to 3/4 Lemon, juiced and zested

2 Garlic Cloves

1/4 cup Fresh Basil

1/2tsp kosher salt

2 T Olive Oil

3 servings pasta (I found this recipe worked worked best with a whole wheat thin linguine)

Fresh Ground Pepper, to taste

1. Cook pasta

2. While the pasta is cooking, process garlic cloves, lemon juice, and olive oil in a food processor. Process until smooth.

3. Add pitted avocado, pulse to blend. Add basil and salt, Pro

cess until smooth and creamy.

4. Drain and rinse pasta. Pour sauce and toss until combined. Garnish with lemon zest and black pepper.

Serves 3

I could eat this every summer day. It is very light but is almost like a mock Alfredo. Let me know what you think!

Magazine pot

Dad and I returned from a relaxing ten days at the lake full of swimming, boating, hiking, and 4th of July activities to jump back into our busy work schedules... Well, we tried... Monday morning came and a few minutes before 8 a giant storm hit followed by, of course, a day long power outage--the largest in Chicagoland's history.

So instead of working I decided to turn Monday into a craft day!

Here are my results:

This was so much easier than I could have ever imagined.. I'll try and post a tutorial sometime soon.

Carrot Cake Cupcakes

I love carrot cake. Like major love it. And after my Art History AP exam I needed a stress relief and trust me I found it with these cupcakes. There are lots of actual carrot shreds, my favorite part.

Carrot Cake Cupcakes--Adapted from a sweet chef

(This recipe can definitely be adapted for a regular cake, as well. )

For the Cupcakes

makes 14-18 regular cupcakes

3 eggs
1 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup vegetable/canola oil
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
3 1/2 cups (about 3-4 large) carrots, grated
1/3 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
1 tsp. orange zest
Cream Cheese Frosting (see recipe below)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Lightly grease muffin tin or fill with cupcake liners.

In a large mixing bowl, beat eggs and sugar until foamy and thickened, about 2 minutes. Gradually pour in the oil and beat for an additional minute after it is completely added. Sift together the dry ingredients and spices, then add to the egg mixture. Mix dry ingredients with wet ingredients until fully mixed. Try not to over-mix once all incorporated. Fold in the carrots, walnuts,and orange zest. Spoon into cupcake liners.

Bake until cake springs back in the center and a knife/toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 15-20 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely on a wire rack. Frost with cream cheese frosting.

For the Cream Cheese Frosting

makes about 2 cups (enough for the cupcake recipe above)

1 cup cream cheese, softened and cut into small cubes
1 tbsp. milk
1 1/3 cups confectioners/powdered sugar

Directions

Using a stand mixer gently beat in the sugar, about 1/4 cup at a time, until the desired thickness is reached. If you are planning to pipe the frosting, you will want the frosting to be harder and more sugar will be needed. Spread over cupcake with knife or pipe onto cupcakes as desired.

I brought these to my APAH classmates and they LOVED them! Enjoy!

Never Be Afraid To Ask

I have been frantically trying to finish my final project for my Humanities class but this whole wisdom teeth/Vicodin situation has made me quite sleepy/ unable to focus on anything. (If only you knew how long it took me to write this post..) I very nicely emailed my teacher and told her about my situation. I explained to her that I could have the project in by Monday but that it would be quite sub par. She emailed back and said that I could turn it in on Friday and that she would push back my presentation date until the following Friday.

So think about this, Ladies and Gentlemen of the internet-- if done respectfully, it never hurts to ask. What's the worst that can happen? They say no...its alright, don't be afraid of rejection.

Royal Chipmunk

What an interesting week... Wednesday I got my wisdom teeth out...I have never, ever had surgery, been put under, or gotten stitches so this was quite the new experience for me. My friends have been supportive and hilarious about the whole ordeal.. A few actually came over last night to cook my soft foods and bring my favorite ice cream (mint chocolate chip, in case you were wondering).

BUT What has been fabulous is that today was the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate!

Yes, yes I did sleep on the couch last night so I could wake up and 4 am to watch it live--it would be quite different if I watched the rerun. My wonderful father gave me a little wedding care package...Tiara, "jewels", tea, and cake. I planned on posting a picture of my wedding cake but my stomach overtook that so, just imagine a hazelnut Vali Produce cake...

Ok, let me get this out of my system: I love her dress. I am completely obsessed. Slightly out of character, I love wedding shows, magazines, blogs, exc. I know way too much, I briefly considered buying a ring pop version of Kate's engagement ring...

I am getting SO close to the end of my senior year....Exactly one month left! And best of all, I am basically done after this next week.

Schedule of my week:

Saturday and Sunday: Recover from the wisdom teeth, study, and do humanities project.

Monday: Humanities final project due. (45 minute presentation on the New Testament thru art), work

Tuesday: AP Art History Test (AH!), Variety show meeting.

Wednesday: Work.

Thursday: Happy 18th Birthday Self! Go Work, and do final preps for Humanities project.

Friday: Present the New Testament Thru Art to my Humanities Honors class...hopefully the won't stone me or something of the like...I plan on making the class color so that should keep them happy.

Saturday: Frank Lloyd Wright House and Elle's favorite restaurant for my birthday! (Two things to check off of our list)

Sunday: Mother's day! While not a mother, obviously, I love this holiday. I have all of my presents planned but I'm quite worried about completing one of them..

Hello!

I've wanted to start a blog for quite some time. Somewhere were I could write down my thoughts, post interesting things I've found, recipes I've made, cute animals, exc, exc. So here it is! Hurrah, to blogging!