Fathers Day French Toast

So, with Father's Day coming up on Sunday, I though I would post a breakfast recipe since breakfast in bed is a Father's Day must.

Just because the kids are in the kitchen doesn't mean Dad should have to choke down scrambled eggs with shells mashed into them. This French Toast recipe is easy enough for the kids, and fancy enough for a special occasion.

Recipe:

2 eggs
2 oranges (zest and juice)
1 Tbs orange marmalade (optional)
1/2 cup whole milk
1 Tbs cinnamon
1 Tbs butter
5 Slices of bread (or less if you've got thick bread)

Mix the eggs, orange juice, orange zest, marmalade, milk and cinnamon together in a shallow bowl. Heat a frying pan to medium high heat and melt the butter. Soak the bread in the egg mixture on both sides until completely saturated. Then fry on 1 side for 2 minutes or until it begins to brown. Repeat on the other side until the bread is spongy. Transfer to a plate and serve with maple syrup or powdered sugar.

Mushroom Ravioli

Today I thought I would get fancy and make some mushroom ravioli.... drum roll please... from scratch!

That's right, I made the whole thing start to finish and surprisingly, it wasn't THAT hard. Although I have to admit that the process was certainly time consuming, it was well worth the delicious flavor and even more satisfying 5 euro grocery bill.

The way to the heart is through the stomach.

I've got the recipe for the pasta, filling, and a simple red sauce below, but it would work with a cream sauce as well as just being fried in butter and served with some cheese as an appetizer.

Bon Appetite!

Pasta:

Ingredients:
2 cups flour
3 eggs
1 tsp salt
1 tsp oil

Mix all ingredients together until it forms a grainy dough. Then kneed for 5-15 min until the dough is soft and elastic. Set aside while you make the filling.


Filling:

1 1/2 cups button mushrooms (chopped)
2 cups spinach
1/2 tbs butter
1/4 cup mascarpone cheese
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1 egg
Salt & Pepper to taste

Melt butter in a frying pan. Add mushrooms and cook on medium heat until just softened. Add spinach and cook until wilted. Wait until the mixture cools and pour into a food processor or blender. Add both cheeses, egg, salt and pepper. Blend until smooth.


Process:

Divide pasta dough into four parts. Roll one part out on floured work surface. Place small, evenly spaced spoonfuls of filling on one side of the dough. Fold the dough over and using a ravioli stamp, cookie cutter or knife, cut out small raviolis. Repeat with remaining dough

Drop the ravioli into boiling water for 2-5 minutes or until it floats to the top. Serve with red, white or wine sauce.

Red Sauce (optional):

2 cans (32 oz) crushed tomatoes
2 tbs fresh basil
2 cloves garlic
1 small onion, diced
salt & pepper to taste

Fry garlic and onions in oil in a medium saucepan on medium heat until tender. Add the crushed tomatoes, salt, pepper and basil. Simmer 5-15 minutes.

RHONJ Ladies Updated and Toned Down

The ladies of the Real Housewives of New Jersey are back for another season of big hair and bigger fights, or so we thought.

After last season's explosive throw down between Teresa Giudice and Melissa Gorga, many were expecting to see the claws come out as the two reunited on the Season 5 premiere last night. However the ladies played nice and the episode finished without so much as a finger point.

The Jersey housewives seem to have a new toned down style to go along with their lady like behavior; the episode was lacking the usual sequin, leopard and rhinestone luster the Garden State has come to be known for. After being knocked for years about their outrageous style, is it possible that the Jersey girls are finally throwing in the neon towel?

Teresa Giudice was rocking noticeably  tamer tresses, (maybe the result of her upcoming hair care line, Milania Hair Care?) and although she was by far the sparkliest of the housewives, the only pink sequins I saw were in the clothes she was donating to hurricane victims. 

True Jersey Big Hair

A bit more polished

Melissa Gorga was looking very demure, wearing mostly solid colors and showing very little cleavage... quite a far cry from the bedazzled pink halter she wore in Season 3.

Now this was Jerseyliscious

I would never cheat on my husband

Will we get to see some true Jersey flair this season? Hopefully the ladies that some argue brought gold jewelry back to mainstream style are saving the feathers for later in the season because if the women are wearing plain white T's 'down the shore' then fashion is getting seriously boring.

Here's hoping the RHONJ ladies dust off their animal prints and start blurring the lines between classy and fabulous, because god knows if Teresa decides sequins are tacky, we are all in big trouble.

Last Day of School!!

Maxi Skirt: Nordstroms (willow and clay)

Similar: Target

I love my side split blue maxi skirt. I usually pair it with white but I decided to go with a bright pink for the last day of school. I added a brown belt and brown gladiator sandals. A larger chunky necklace with bits of blue and pink ties it all together. Maxi skirts are totally in and I love them! I think they are more versatile then maxi dresses so I plan on picking up a couple more to wear throughout the summer. Check out some super cute cheap ones from Target! 

Gone for a HOT MINUTE

First deepest apologizes on my prolonged absence! Many updates but who has time to read the great american novel anymore so here are the cliff notes: I was CrAZy busy and had no time to share, in fact I barley had time to live my own life. So crazy that I ended up saying goodbye to my full time teaching job and I am branching out on my own and growing my small business! With my hiatus from teaching I will now have more time for myself as well, which lucky for you includes posting on this blog! So welcome back Coast to Closet, now if I can only get my sister back on board...

Puffy Vest

Puffy Vest

Here is how I styled my new puffy vest for a weekend Christmas Party. It was an outside party with "lawn games" which is why I went so casual.  I wasn't sure what to wear to the party, and was super stressed because the invitation said Holiday Casual....what is that?? I have never heard of that, and since it mentioned lawn games, I knew it couldn't be too fancy. So after a couple outfit rejections I went with my motto: "When in doubt, prep it out" and as usual, it worked out perfectly :)

 Puffy Vest: J. Crew $110.00

Button Up: Banana Republic (similar)

Red Pants: Anthropologie $168.00

Shoes: Sperry Topsiders-SALE $53.00

Black and red polka dots

Black and red polka dots

I wore this to work the other day, and although it's warmer here in Arizona, this combo could work with boots and tights as well. I love black and red together, and this polka dot top with a black sweater vest is just warm enough for this weather. Again, I am in love with polka dots this year! I am looking for some polka dot sweaters for when the weather gets cooler!

Polka dot top and sweater vest: Black/White 

Pencil Skirt: Old Navy $21.97

Flats: Black/White

 

Similar Top: White/Black $68.00