Duke Farms

Sometimes you just need to break out of your old routine and switch things up.  This Memorial Day Chris and I decided to finally visit Duke Farms.  The fresh air and beautiful scenery were exactly what we needed.  They even had a free bike share so we were able to tour the grounds via some really awesome cruisers.  Before we ended our visit we checked out this little farm stand they had.  We went home with some freshly picked radishes and mizuna (Japanese arugula).  Yep, our little adventure was definitely what the doctor ordered.

 

 
 

My Top 5 Recipes for Memorial Day Weekend

 1.  Red, White, and Blue Pie Pops - these are festive and delicious

We don’t really have anything planned this Memorial Day weekend, but Chris and I hope to enjoy a picnic and some bike riding together.  Here are a few recipes that would be great for a picnic, barbeque, or any get together for that matter.

 2.  Mexican Style Grilled Corn - These are always a hit and they epitomize summer for our family.

 3.  Cranberry-Lime Rosé Spritzer - during the warmer months my Rosé intake increases and this is my favorite way to enjoy it.

4.  Mamey, French Vanilla, and Passion Fruit Popsicles - these are the perfect way to cool off on a hot summer day.

5. Bacon and Blue Cheese Guacamole - every barbeque needs some guacamole.  Try this version for a new spin on a classic.

Bacon and Blue Cheese Guacamole

There's nothing quite like a perfectly ripe avocado.  It is pure creamy, buttery deliciousness.  My go to avocado recipe has got to be guacamole.  I like mine with extra lime and cilantro, please.  When I want to switch things up a bit, salty bacon and rich blue cheese are the perfect combination for a new take on classic guac.  

 

Classic Guacamole

Ingredients (serves 2-4):
-4 ripe avocados (they should be firm, with just a slight give)
-2 plum tomatoes, cored, seeded, and chopped
 -1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
-juice of 2 limes
-2 tablespoons onion, finely diced
-1 jalapeño, minced (remove the seeds if you don’t want it too spicy)
-1-2 teaspoons coarse salt, to taste
-1/4 teaspoon freshly grated black pepper

Bacon and Blue Cheese Guacamole
Follow classic guacamole recipe and add:
6 strips cooked bacon, crumbled or chopped
1/4 - 1/2 crumbled blue cheese

Directions:
1. Cut avocados in half. Remove seed. Scoop out avocado from the peel and place it in a mixing bowl.
2. Roughly mash the avocado with a fork. Add the tomatoes, cilantro, lime juice, onion, jalapeño, salt and pepper and continue to mix well.
3.  For Bacon and Blue Cheese version add bacon and blue cheese.
4. Transfer to a clean bowl and serve immediately. 
5.  Top with extra bacon and blue cheese (optional)

Life Lately

{the secret to amazing salsa is to dry roast your veggies in a pan first.  Check out my vine here} 

Last week was a pretty crazy one, hence the lack of posts.  Here are some snaps of life lately according to my iPhone...

 {there's been some baby muggins going around}

 {Duchess Delights has been pretty busy lately.  Check out our donut cake pops!}

{my wonderful mom and I on Mother's Day}

My Top Ten Met Gala 2013 Best Dressed

#1 Sarah Jessica Parker – She was the queen of the ball.  Props to SJP for rocking that Philip Treacy Mohawk headpiece like a true punk.

The theme for last night’s Met Gala was "Punk: From Chaos to Couture", with a theme like this I would have expected more people to go “balls to the wall”, but not so much, too many people playing it safe.  Here’s to the ladies that actually made an effort to bring it last night…

#2 Madonna – Really?  Do I even have to say anything?  On a side note, can you believe those legs belong to a 50 something year old woman!?

#3 Rooney Mara – Punk meets Corpse Bride.  All sorts of right.

#4 Sienna Miller – I can’t with that Burberry jacket!

#5 Gwen Stefani – She’s a punk by nature.  The girl just can’t help herself.

#6 Cara Delavingne – stunning in Burberry.

#7 Anne Hathaway – Hated the Oscar speech, LOVE the new hair.

#8 Jennifer Lopez – Less punk, more sexy wild beast.

#9 Nicole Richie – in custom TopShop.  Love the dress, not super crazy about the hair, but it was very punk rock of her.

#10 Hailee Steinfeld – love that she is dressed very age appropriate with subtle hints of punk in her hair and makeup.

 

images via

St. Germain Margarita

With all the yummy food to eat on Cinco de Mayo it is important to have something equally as tasty to wash it all down with.  Enter the St. Germain Margarita aka The St. Rita.  St. Germain is an artisanal French liqueur made from freshly picked elderflower blossoms.  The taste is very floral and fruity.  I usually enjoy it with champange, but today we are mixing it up with some tequila blanco for a new take on the traditional margarita.  It's kind of like a trip to Mexico in a glass.

 

St. Germain Margarita

2oz tequila blanco

1oz St. Germain Liqueur

1oz freshly squeezed lime juice

1tsp simple syrup or super fine sugar for added sweetness (optional)

salt for rimming

 

Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into an ice-filled rocks glass (salted rim optional). Garnish with lime wedge.  Enjoy!