Valentine's Day Treat Ideas

Happy Monday!! Hope everyone is enjoying the start of the new year! As every year, we get to start it with love as we celebrate Valentine's Day! Yup... it's right around the corner!! Love is in the air and inspiring some delicious treats for the special day. I've been checking out Pinterest lately to feed that inspiration (pun intended!) and I wanted to share a few treats that caught my eye!!

Are you planning any special sweets and treats for the holiday?? Let me know, and enjoy!!

           Ombre Cake via Favorite Food Recipes

"I Heart Cookies"- Forgiving Martha

Heart Shaped S'mores - Pinterest

White Chocolate Heart Cups with Strawberry Ice Cream via Go Make Me

Heart-Shaped Chocolate Chip Banana Pancakes - SkinnyTaste.com

Cookies with Rose Water - Pinterest

- post by jen ramos

Contributors Wanted

The time has come again! Contributors are such a joy to have at MadeByGirl & we are now looking for a few good ones! Love to see beautiful posts, don't you?  Time to switch out the current contributors & bring in FRESH FACES & posts! I'm usually busy managing my MBG Shop, painting for my Cocoa & Hearts gallery, marketing, answering e-mail & maintaining my personal life.  Looking for new contributors to start around  February 1st or 15th!!!!
 

I'd love to recruit 5-6 contributors to blog here on Made By Girl!  It's not going to be an easy task - but I'll choose bloggers for each category below.  Categories are:
 

• Decor/Interior Design
• Fashion
• Beauty
• Food

Below I've outlined the details:

HOW OFTEN WILL YOU POST: 
1-2x per month for 6 months.
 
EXPERIENCE:  
Yes - Must have an active/updated blog. I'm looking for bloggers who have some knowledge of programs like Photoshop & have a 'similar aesthetic' as Made By Girl. The posts you write for MBG cannot be posted on your own blog, but you can link to it from your blog.
 

WILL THERE BE COMPENSATION: 
Not at this time. But it's a great chance to gain more exposure & collaborate with MBG blog. I will also gift a LOVE print to all the new contributors who are chosen!
 
BIO PAGES: 
We'll be adding a page with photos & short bios of all the current contributors - here's an example. .

RESOURCES: 
It's very important to credit 'all' images properly.

PRETTY POST PLS: 
I love pretty & interesting posts. So pls put some LOVE into it! 

FASHION BLOGGER SUBMISSIONS: 
 I will need some collage-style posts from you, NOT all outfit posts. 

HOW DO YOU SUBMIT: 
If you you want to submit, email here  & let us know 'which category' you're interested in. Write 'Contributors' in the email subject pls. ALSO, pls email me your blog so I can see your style! If you submitted last yr. don't be afraid to submit again! 
   
WHEN WILL WE SELECT CONTRIBUTORS: 
If you don't hear from someone at Made By Girl in about 2-3 weeks from this post, it means someone else was selected.  Unfortunately, we may not be able to respond to everyone. We will post the selected contributors in an upcoming post!

Thanks & looking forward to hearing from you! 

FOOD: Herbed Rice Bowl with Poached Egg & Radish

Hi everyone! Lauren dropping in today with a recipe that's perfect for cozy weekend mornings at home this fall. This hearty and healthy dish was actually inspired by a photo I saw in my Instagram feed of someone's brunch at a restaurant in L.A. Even though I hadn't tasted the original, the combination of ingredients in that photo looked right up my alley, so I knew I had to try recreating something similar. I also love picking up watermelon radishes this time of year--they can be hard to find but basically have the same peppery taste as regular radishes.

They're BRIGHT PINK inside and just way too pretty to pass up. Just goes to show that whether on Instagram, at a restaurant or at the farmers' market, you never know where inspiration will strike!
 


 
Ingredients:
2 cups of cooked brown rice
1 cup fresh herbs (parsley, mint, cilantro)
Extra virgin olive oil
Crushed red pepper flakes
Kosher sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Lemon juice
1 large watermelon radish or 2 regular radishes, sliced thinly on a mandoline
2 eggs
Fresh chives, chopped
Fresh feta cheese, crumbled





Instructions:

1. Place herbs in a small food processor. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Puree into a thick pesto, adding more oil if necessary to combine. 

2. In a bowl, combine the warm rice and the herb pesto. Mix well with a spoon to evenly coat the rice with the pesto. Season with red pepper flakes, salt, black pepper and a quick squeeze of lemon juice. 

3. In a small pot, bring water to a boil then reduce heat to simmer and add a splash or two of vinegar. Crack each egg, one at a time, into a small bowl then gently slide the egg into the pot. Cook for about 2-3 minutes, then carefully scoop the eggs out with a slotted spoon. 

4. Divide the rice between two bowls. Top each with the radish slices, then a poached egg. Sprinkle with the chives, feta, salt and pepper. 

*Photos and recipe by Lauren Craig

The NEW contributors are:

Congrats LADIES!!

We'll be in touch soon!

BTW-  We haven't decided on the Design category yet - we are looking for someone who has a similar design aesthetic to this contributor. 



-images by jen ramos

Contributors Wanted

Contributors are such a great help and the good ones make my day! Love to see beautiful posts, don't you? I hope the previous writers got some great traffic out of it and were excited to be part of MBG! So, it is now that time again to switch out the current contributors & bring in new FRESH FACES & posts! I'm usually busy managing my MBG Shop, painting for my Cocoa & Hearts gallery, marketing, answering e-mail & maintaining my personal life. It's STILL a lot of work, so I'm back searching for the next contributors to start August 1st!!!!
 

I'd love to recruit 5-6 contributors to blog here on Made By Girl!  It's not going to be an easy task - but I'll choose bloggers for each category below. If you notice, this time we have a new category (Beauty)! Categories are:
 

• Decor/Interior Design
• Fashion
• Beauty
• Food

Below I've outlined the details:
 

HOW OFTEN WILL YOU POST:1-2x per month for 6 months. 

EXPERIENCE: Yes - Must have an active/updated blog. I'm looking for bloggers who have some knowledge of programs like Photoshop & have a 'similar aesthetic' as Made By Girl. The posts you write for MBG cannot be posted on your own blog, but you can link to it from your blog.
 

WILL THERE BE COMPENSATION:  Not at this time. But it's a great chance to gain more exposure & collaborate with MBG blog. I will also gift a LOVE print to all the new contributors who join up!

BIO PAGES:We'll be adding a page with photos & short bios of all the current contributors - here's an example. .

RESOURCES: It's very important to credit 'all' images properly.

PRETTY POST PLS: I love pretty & interesting posts. So pls put some LOVE into it! 

FASHION BLOGGER SUBMISSIONS: I will need some collage-style posts from you, NOT all outfit posts. 

HOW DO YOU SUBMIT: If you you want to give this a try, email me  & let me know 'which category' you're interested in. Write 'Contributors' in the email subject pls. ALSO, pls email me your blog so I can see your style! If you submitted last yr. don't be afraid to submit again!    

WHEN WILL WE SELECT CONTRIBUTORS: If you don't hear from someone at Made By Girl in about 2-3 weeks from this post, it means someone else was selected.  Unfortunately, we may not be able to respond to everyone. We will post the selected contributors in an upcoming post!

Thanks & looking forward to hearing from you! 

FOOD: Coconut Crisps

Hey guys! Its Teann here. Today I am bringing you Coconut Crisps. These little crisps are delicate, crunchy and delicious. The whip cream center is the perfect match making this dessert nice and light. I suggest making these for your next dinner party.

 

Coconut Crisps 

3 tbsp butter

1/3 cup coconut sugar (or brown sugar)

1/4 cup honey

1 tbsp vanilla extract

2 tbsp flour

2 cups unsweetened shredded coconut

1 cup whipping cream

1 vanilla bean, split and seeds extracted (or 2 tsp Vanilla Extract)

4 tbsp honey

1. Preheat oven to 350. Melt butter with the sugar and honey in a small sauce pan over medium heat. Stir until sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat; carefully stir in vanilla.

2. Combine flour and coconut in a large bowl. Stir in butter mixture. Drop 1 tbsp batter onto a parchment lined baking sheet. Leave enough space between the drops as they will spread during baking.

3. Bake until golden, 10 minutes. Let cool 2 minutes. Quickly lift the crisps and drape over a round object. I used a metal baster. Let set.

4. Whip whipping cream until soft peaks form. Add vanilla bean seeds and honey. Whip until peaks are firm. Using a piping bag and tip, pipe the whipped cream into the completely cools crisp.

-post by teann ingramm

Food: Thanksgiving Ravioli Bolognese

Happy Thanksgiving, MBG readers! Lauren here, and today I have an alternative holiday meal idea for you. Maybe you can't make it home to be with your family, or maybe your family just wants to mix things up from the traditional standbys. 

Either way, I think you're going to love this little Thanksgiving-inspired creation, which combines all those traditional flavors we love into one truly yummy dish... 
 

There are a few pots and pans involved, but wonton wrappers make the ravioli a cinch to whip up and altogether it takes far less time than a turkey would. Keep reading for the recipe, and I hope you enjoy!
 

Sweet Potato & Sage Ravioli Ingredients

-1/2 yellow onion, finely chopped

-5 fresh sage leaves, finely chopped

-1 sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1/2 rounds

-1/3 cup goat cheese (about 2-3 ounces)

-Pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg

-Salt and freshly ground pepper

-About 40 wonton wrappers (makes 20 ravioli)

-2 egg whites, beaten

Turkey Cranberry Bolognese Ingredients

-1 pound lean ground turkey (I used 93%--99% gets too dry)

-1 small yellow onion, finely chopped

-2 large cloves garlic, finely chopped

-2 cans diced tomatoes with their juice

-1/4 cup water

-Pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg

-Salt and freshly ground pepper

-2 cups fresh cranberries

-1 cup of sugar

-2 tablespoons water

-Fresh parsley to serve

-Fresh parmesan, grated, to serve

Instructions

1) Puncture each sweet potato round with a fork, then place slices in a large ceramic bowl. Microwave 15-20 minutes until softened, turning once halfway through.

2) Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Saute chopped onion and sage until browned. Set aside. 

3) Remove the potatoes from the microwave (using a towel as the bowl will be very hot). Using a potato hand masher, mash the sweet potatoes. Season generously with salt, pepper, cinnamon and nutmeg to taste. Stir in the goat cheese until fully blended, then add the onion-sage mixture.

4) Lay 10 wonton wrappers on a clean countertop. Dollop a teaspoon of sweet potato filling onto the middle of each square. Using a pastry brush, brush egg white along tops, bottoms and sides of first wonton, working around the filling. Lay a new wonton sheet over the filled one, gently sealing the edges with your fingers and carefully pushing out the air bubbles. Repeat with each wonton until all are covered. Using a cookie cutter placed directly in the center of each wonton, cut into ravioli rounds, gently pulling away the excess dough. Press the edges of each ravioli again to ensure a solid seal. Repeat entire process with another set of 10 wontons (doing all 20 at once will cause the dough to dry out). Cover all raviolis with a very lightly damp kitchen towel until ready to cook.

5) In a pan over medium-high heat, place cranberries, sugar and water. Cook down for 10-15 minutes, so the sugar dissolves and cranberries soften. Allow to bubble during this process, stirring occasionally. Cranberries should become very, very soft but will remain whole and a sticky sauce will develop. Season cranberry sauce with salt and pepper. 

6) In another pan, heat olive oil over medium heat and add ground turkey. Cook until turkey is fully browned, about 10 minutes. Remove from pan. Add a little more oil, the onion and garlic. Cook until softened and browned. Add the turkey back into the pan, along with the two cans of diced tomatoes and their juice, and just a little water. Season with salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce to medium-low heat, add the cranberry sauce and stir thoroughly to distribute. Cook, covered, about 10 minutes more.

7) In a small saucepan, bring salted water to a boil. Working in batches, add 3-4 ravioli at a time, cook for 3 minutes, then transfer with a slotted spoon to a kitchen towel. Gently blot dry and transfer to a bowl. Cover with a pot lid to keep warm. Cook remaining ravioli. 

8) To serve, layer ravioli on the bottom of each pasta bowl and top with bolognese sauce. Sprinkle with fresh parsley and parmesan. 

-post & images by Lauren Craig

Food: Grilled Ratatouille with Rotini

Hi everyone, it’s Lauren from Perpetually Chic, back with another recipe that takes advantage of fresh vegetables from the market.

Your parents always told you to "eat your vegetables," right? Well this healthy recipe is not only loaded with seasonal veggies, but it's also a crowd pleaser with the addition of pasta. The classic French version of ratatouille pairs eggplant and zucchini with onions, tomatoes and peppers, but you can substitute in any favorite vegetables as you please.

So head to your farmers' market or grocery store to stock up, put on a pot of water and light up the grill...that's really all there is to it. Keep reading for the recipe! 

White balsamic vinegar is best for this recipe--it's not as sweet and syrupy as your typical dark balsamic, though the flavor is similar. Once you have it in your pantry, you can substitute it for regular balsamic vinegar in lighter dishes and dressings.

Ingredients

• 1 box of rotini pasta
• 4 large tomatoes
• 8-10 button mushrooms
• 1 small eggplant, cut lengthwise into quarters 
• 1 medium zucchini, cut lengthwise in half
• 1 bell pepper (any color), cut lengthwise in half and seeded 
• 1 small red onion, peeled and cut into large quarters
• 1/4 cup of olive oil
• Salt and pepper
• 4 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
• 2 cloves garlic, very finely chopped
• Red pepper flakes
• 1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped, plus extra sprigs for plating
• Parmesan

Instructions

1. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil, and cook pasta according to package directions. Reserve a cup of the pasta cooking water. Drain and return pasta to pot.
2. Preheat a grill to medium-high heat. Cut all vegetables and place them on a large baking sheet or in a shallow dish. Lightly brush all veggies with about 2 tablespoons of olive oil, and season with salt and pepper.
3. Grill vegetables, turning halfway through, until cooked through and tender. Remove tomatoes and mushrooms first, then once cooked, transfer remaining vegetables to a cutting board and let cool slightly. 
4. Coarsely chop all the veggies and add to the pot of pasta. Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil, the balsamic, garlic, parsley and red pepper flakes to taste. Add a bit of the reserved pasta water if needed. 
5. Plate pasta into bowls, sprinkle with extra parsley, top with grated Parmesan and finish with freshly ground pepper. 

Extra credit: Slice part of a French baguette on the diagonal, brush each piece with olive oil and a sprinkle of garlic powder, and throw on the grill at the very end. Voila--garlic bread!


-post & images by Lauren Craig

Your Weekend

The recipe for the blueberry popsicles will be posted tomorrow on my husband's blog: MadeForJen. 
 

They are delicious. Both my assistant & I had some today... well I had 2!!! Also, new bracelets at MadeByGirl !!! Enjoy your weekend!!

-image by jen ramos