Avocado Smoothie

As the semester dwindles down, my work load has only become crazier! I have a research proposal, tons of grading, teaching two classes, papers, tests, labs, and way more! It's about to get really insane. But at least I have baking to take my mind off things : )

Today, after my stint at the library, I came home and realized I finally had all the ingredients to make an Avocado Smoothie I'd seen on Pinterest!

It's super simple and totally fit in a large magic bullet cup. Here's the recipe:

• 1 avocado
• 1 banana
• 1/2 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt (with honey)
• 1/2 - 1 cup orange juice
• 1 - 2 cups of ice
• 
  
• Blend it all together and you're good to go!
• 
  
• It's a delightful pistachio color and tastes really creamy and tropical!
• 
  
• I suggest you try this out when there's no time for a big meal, it's pretty filling!
• Vi Ses,
• Holly

Mustache Chronicles II

In case you missed this week's episode of Parks and Recreation (which of course your didn't!), there was yet another amazing Ron Swanson food moment... involving fruit?

Yes, that's right... Ron F***ing Swanson ate a piece of fruit on the latest P&R. Apparently his potassium levels were low, so Anne told him to eat a banana every so often.

But come on! Ron? Fruit? How can this even happen?

Ron is our favorite meat-eating, mustachioed man, and here he is, being utterly defeated at the idea of eating a banana...

Ron Swanson will always be at the top of my lost for 'best fictional characters' and I think we can all see why...

Vi Ses,

Holly

Earl Grey Cookies!

This weekend has been so much fun! We had a great Day at the HSU Natural History Museum for Anthropology Day! I helped out at a booth called 'Culture through Storytelling' which was really fun, and there were tons of kids, all exited to learn about anthropology!

But today was back to the baking grind (Although I did whip up some chocolate mm cookies yesterday, which I forgot to take pictures of) and I was requested to make some earl grey cupcakes, but I wasn't feeling cup cakey, so I made cookies instead! Plus cookies are my favorite baked good, so it all works out.


Cookies:
2 c. flour
2 T of Earl Grey (about 3 sachets)
1 t. lavender
1/2 t. salt
3/4 c. powdered sugar
1 t. vanilla
1 c. butter

Glaze:
3/4 c. powdered sugar
2 T. (or more) lemon juice
1 t. lemon zest
1 t. lavender

Method:
1. Beat the butter until fluffy and add in sugar.
2. Once smooth, add in vanilla and tea.
3. Add in flour, and salt and mix until dough forms.
4. Roll in a log and cover in plastic wrap. Chill for 30 minutes
5. Oven at 375 degrees.
6. Slice cookies about 1/3 in. thick and lay out about 2 in. apart.
7. Bake for 10 minutes.
8. Mix glaze ingredients together.
9. Allow cooling and drizzle glaze. Enjoy!

These are amazing!! And they look super cute! I think I'm going to make these for my roommate's bridal shower, but cut out 'P' and 'G' shaped ones, since that would be too cute!

Well, that's all for now! Have a fantastic week : )

Um, hello delicious!

Vi Ses,
Holly

Lemon Lavender Shortbread

As you're aware, I love lemon. And lavender. Especially together!

An edit from my photo class!

My roommates happen to love this delicious combination as well, so whenever I make some kind of Lem-Lav cookie (like that abbreviation? All me! haha), they get gobbled up right away! 

I've been madly studying for my Primatology test (which is tomorrow!) so I definitely needed a baking break!

These are super easy, and very Spring-y, so give them a go!

Ingredients:
1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1/3 cup powdered sugar
Zest of 2 lemons, divided
1/2 t. lavender buds
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons granulated sugar

Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Add the butter, powdered sugar, zest of 1 lemon, lavender, vanilla, and salt to a large bowl. Beat with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the flour, and beat until a dough is formed. This takes about 5 minutes if you're using a hand mixer, so don't be alarmed that your dough starts out looking like sand.
3. In a small bowl, combine the remaining lemon zest, and 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar. Rub the zest into the sugar until fragrant.
4. Place the dough on a lightly floured surface, and roll out to 1/4 inch thickness. Sprinkle 3/4 of the lemon sugar on top (you will use the remaining 1/4 of the lemon sugar in the same fashion when you re-roll the shortbread dough), and gently press it into the dough with the rolling pin. I then used a knife to cut pieces, because honestly, you're just going to eat these up right out of the oven! But you could cut them with a circle biscuit cutter if it pleases you...
5. Bake for 8-10 minutes, and cool completely on the cookie sheet.  
6. After they're cooled, I made a quick lemon glaze: lemon juice, zest, powdered sugar and a pinch of lavender. I don't have any exact amounts, but when it gets 'glazy' it's probably done!!


Recipe adapted from A Bitchin' Kitchen, which is a fantastic blog name, huh?!

Well anyway, these are very good, and eating these makes me feel like it's spring! (Even though I live in the land of constant rain) Hopefully the Farmer's Market starts up soon, so I can get some frest lavender up in here! 

But for now, I best be gettin' back to memorizing the taxonomic names of New and Old World Monkeys.

 Peace Out, homies.

Vis Ses,
Holly

My Sister is in Hawaii right now.
LUCKY.