:: bellinis and brie at bacco ::

Bacco Wine & Cheese on St. James Street in the Back Bay is one of my favorite spots to get, well, wine and cheese. The staff is SO knowledgable and the spot is so inviting. They have wine tastings every day from 5-7pm and when I asked them if they carried any Lindemann's Lambics and they didn't, they started stocking them! So now I go there for my prosecco and my lambics and any kind of cheese they tell me is delicious.

Earlier this week, we had a little gathering at the store. We had expected to just tag onto their existing wine tasting, but they did one just for us. We tried a bellini made with cipriani and prosecco, a white and a red, all paired with delicious cheese and Jan's Farmhouse Crisps, which I've eaten every night since. And macaroons from St. Emilion, which sell out every day and are just about the best things ever.

This little spot continues to be my favorite stop on the way from work to home!

:: the best thing that ever happened to my under-wardrobe ::

Is "under-wardrobe" a thing? It should be. And these things are the best. They're amazingly one-size-fits-all and they're long on my torso, which is essential for this 5'10" body. They're perfect tucked in under a blazer or left long with leggings and a long sweater.

And speaking of leggings. I have a pair of Tina's in gray and in black and I wear one of them at least once a week. They're pricey, but they're totally worth it.

tina's tees

:: lazy blond brownies ::

On Sunday night I had a sweets craving and a three-quarters full bag of white chocolate chips. Not wanting to just eat them by the fistfull (it happens) but also too lazy to go to the grocery store for additional ingredients, I made some blond brownies with what I had in my cupboards. Despite a lack of vanilla extract and baking soda (now on this week's grocery list), they came out surprisingly good. Going to have to try the white chocolate/almond extract combo more often. Here's the recipe:

Ingredients 

• 1 cup butter, room temperature 
• 1 cup light brown sugar 
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar 
• 3 eggs 
• 1 1/2 tablespoons almond extract 
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt 
• 1 tsp baking powder 
• 2 1/2 cups flour 
• 2 cups white chocolate chips

Directions

1.  Preheat oven to 375°
2. In bowl of stand mixer cream together butter and both sugars for 2 minutes in medium speed.
3. Turn speed to low and add in eggs and almond extract. Turn mixer back up to medium and beat until smooth, about 20 seconds.
4. Turn mixer back to low and add in salt, baking powder and flour, mixing until just combined.
5. Fold in white chocolate.
6. Butter or spray brownie pan and pour in batter.
7. Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden around edges. 

Linking up with Tell Us Tuesday

and Recipe Swap Hop!

:: fridays fancies: roasted chestnut ::

Just saying the word "chestnut" reminds me of fall. Meaning, I love it and everything about it and everything described as it. But until I went onto Polyvore to put together some loves and lusts, did I realize that exactly what constitutes "chestnut" seems to be in the eye of the beholder. It's a little nutmeg-y here, a little burlap-y there...but everything is still found in that autumn kind of palette and it ALL makes me want to curl up by a fire with a trenta chai tea latte with skim milk. Happy Friday!

color crush: roasted chestnut

Linking up with #FridaysFancies

:: the cutest little coffee shop slash bar... ::

has opened just down the street! I walk by it every day on my way to the subway. But only yesterday did I meet a friend for a drink and a few small plates. It's amazing what Simpli Bar & Bites in Jamaica Plain can do with a really tiny space--a bar for about 10, one big table and two high tops. But they also have an outdoor patio in the front AND in the back. And they have a takeout line for coffee in the morning.

This roma flatbread was delicious:

And the staff was friendly and quick. Sending them good Parkway vibes for success!

Click here to read yesterday's review in the Boston Globe.

:: best hangover cures ::

A list of foolproof hangover cures isn't something I need. This blog post is just because I like to help others. Truly. Ahem.

Sometimes sleep and an ibuprofen aren't enough. And there are many myths about what actually helps and what makes things worse. Here are a few sure things:

1. Eat breakfast. And not the greasy bacon and eggs kind, contrary to urban legend. Toast, cereal...you get the idea. I've heard english muffins work well. 

2. Alka-Seltzer. They have a morning relief formula! It's just for hangovers! So if you have the foresight to stock your medicine cabinet, you'll be patting yourself on the back forever.

3. Coffee...kinda. If you drink coffee, you should have a cup so you don't get a double headache thanks to headache withdrawal. But if you don't drink caffeine regularly, skip it. The narrowing of your blood vessels and the boost to your blood pressure might must make things worse.

4. Juice, water, gatorade. If we had started these three things about 24 hours earlier, we may not be in this situation. But better late than never.

5. Gentle exercise. Just kidding. That's ridiculous.

Linking up with Wino Wednesday (obviously).

:: recipe swap hop: mac and cheese bake ::

NC Grown // Auteur Ariel

Victoria at Lost in Boston

***
The best and easiest mac and cheese bake, EVER
source

Ingredients:

• 8 ounces elbow macaroni
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 4 tablespoons flour
• 1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 pepper, or to taste
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup light cream or half-and-half (or more milk)
• 2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
• 3/4 cup breadcrumbs tossed with 2 tablespoons melted butter

Preparation:

1. Cook macaroni following package directions. Drain in a colander and rinse with hot water; set aside. Butter a 2-quart baking dish. Heat oven to 350°.
2. In a saucepan, melt 4 tablespoons of butter over medium-low heat. Stir flour into the butter until smooth and bubbly. Stir in the dry mustard, salt, and pepper. Gradually add milk and cream, stirring constantly. continue to cook, stirring constantly, until thickened. Add cheese and continue to cook and stir until melted.
3. Combine the macaroni and the sauce and turn into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with the buttered bread crumbs and bake for about 25 minutes, or until hot and bubbly and topping is lightly browned.
4. I put peas in mine, but you can also add bacon, ham, tuna, you name it!

***

Welcome to Recipe Swap Hop on Tasty Tuesdays!

Recipe Swap Hop is a fun link-up for all you chefs and cooks out there! If you have a yummy recipe you've posted in the past or have one you want to post now, link it up below! This is a great way to share your favorite recipes with fellow bloggers and to discover new ones! Also, every week we will spotlight our favorite recipes from the previous week so dust off those cookbooks and pick your best recipes to share!

Best Veggie Dip Ever

submitted by Jackie from Jade and Oak

--With football season in full swing, this veggie dip is perfect for game day. Unopened potato chip bags will be jealous of all the attention the veggie platter is getting thanks to this yummy dip. Thanks for sharing Jackie! 

How to join our link-up:

1) Follow the hosts: NC Grown and Auteur Ariel via GFC 2) Follow the guest host: Victoria via GFC

3) Link up your blog post below using the widget [must be recipe/food-related!]

4) Post our button (grab it below) or a text link within your blog post so others can link-up as well!

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We are also looking for co-hosts for our future Recipe Swap Hops! Email either one of us and we'll set it all up.

Ariel [arielhamilton14@gmail.com] Jessica [jmmcgill45@aol.com] DON'T FORGET TO LINK-UP BELOW! :)
 

Link Up with a recipe of your choice!