Edible Obsessions: Pumpkin Pie Bites

If I had to pick one flavour to describe winter it would undoubtedly be pumpkin. Pumpkin pie to be exact. When I came across this recipe for "Pumped Up Pumpkin Pie Bites" I couldn’t resist. Not only is it a great alternative to traditional pumpkin pie, but I’m also a sucker for bite-size treats. These little nibbles are relatively healthy compared to regular pie. Just 94 calories for two bites. Not bad for dessert, right?
Give this recipe a try and let me know what you think!

'Pumpkin Pie Bites'

Makes 32 bites

Note: When making the crust for this recipe, it might, at first, look like the crumbs won’t cover the bottom of the pan, but trust me, they will! The easiest way to distribute them evenly is to use a small piece of parchment paper, and gently press the cereal mixture until you get a nice even layer.

Ingredients

• Butter-flavored cooking spray
• 3/4 cups all-natural, whole-grain, crunchy, high-fiber, low-sugar cereal (I used Kashi 7 Whole Grain Nuggets)
• 2 tablespoons 100% pure maple syrup
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 8 large egg whites
• 15-ounce can (1-¾ cups) solid pumpkin puree
• 3/4 cup agave nectar
• 2 tablespoons whole-wheat pastry flour
• 2-½ teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1-¼ teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 32 teaspoons whipped topping, divided (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 11” x 7” glass or ceramic baking dish with spray.
2. Add the cereal to the bowl of a food processor fitted with a chopping blade. Process it for 15-20 seconds, or until the cereal is crushed. Transfer it to a small mixing bowl and add the maple syrup and cinnamon. Mix them until well combined (the mixture should be slightly sticky). Spoon the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Using a small piece of parchment paper, gently press down on the cereal mixture, spreading it evenly across the bottom of the baking dish. Bake the crust for 7-9 minutes, or until it is slightly browned. Set aside.
3. Meanwhile, add the egg whites to a large mixing bowl. Using a sturdy whisk, lightly beat them until they bubble very slightly. Still using the whisk, stir in the pumpkin, agave, and flour until well combined. Stir in the vanilla, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, and salt and continue mixing until well combined. Pour the filling over the baked crust. Using a rubber spatula, spread it into an even layer.
4. Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out dry (a few crumbs are okay). Transfer the dish to a wire cooking rack, allowing it to cool to room temperature. Carefully cut 32 pumpkin “bites” (3 cuts along the width of the pan, 7 cuts along the length, creating 4x8 bites).
5. Just before serving, top each bite with 1 teaspoon whipped topping, if desired. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

What’s your favorite pumpkin flavored treat?

Saskia XO

Festive Special: Go Gold!

Hey honnies! Here I am blogging yet another holiday special which you are most probably labouring tirlessly over.............until now!
GO GOLD!
As of A/W 2011, gold had serenaded the catwalks in all four of the fashion capitals and now is taking its toll on Christmas! So to stay up with the new and hype flavour, feast your eyes on my go to know how.....

1. Prepare your eye by using an eyeshadow primer or foundation so that your eyeshadow will last longer.

2. Apply a chocolate brown eyeshadow with a flat shadow brush.

3. Next, apply a gold eye shadow towards the inner corner of your eye.

4. Sweep a black eyeshadow on the outer corner of your eye with a blending brush, creating the sideways “V” shape.

5. Blend out any harsh lines created by the black + gold eye shadows.

6. This is the fun part! Pour a very small amount of loose gold glitter onto a smooth surface (an extra plastic lid lying around, a paper plate, etc), and dip a small brush into a clear brow gel, and then pick up some glitter with your brush. begin patting it on top of the gold eyeshadow that you applied earlier, but don’t extend it too much into the original brown eyeshadow. Be very careful not to get it too close to your water line or in your eye.
7. Now you’re going to line your upper lash line with a black gel liner and your lower lash line with a brown pencil. Using both browns + blacks through out this tutorial will keep things looking softer and not too harsh.

8. Dab a smudge brush into the chocolate brown eyeshadow and smudge it using a dabbing motion along your lower lash line, on top of the liner you just applied. This will help set the eyeliner and also help give you the smoky effect.
9. Curl your lashes and apply your favorite mascara (don’t forget to use waterproof if you’ll be dancing up a storm!). If you’d like, you can add false lashes to give your look some extra drama.

So go gold this festive season; its sure to be a huge hit!

What othe ways could you incorporate the 'go gold' trend?

Saskia XO

Tuesday Lunchtime Special: Lip Service- Pucker Up

Baby it’s cold outside… Winter is a wonderful time of year, but the chapped lips that come with it are not so favourable. While lip balms may provide temporarily relief, it’s better to get to the root of the problem: Your lips are thirsty!

First off, you should always be consuming an average of two to three liters of water each day. Dehydration can cause excessive lip dryness. And no one needs a case of granny lips. This may come as a surprise, but it’s particularly important to increase your water intake during the winter. Wintertime conditions are actually tougher on your skin than summer. Who knew?

In addition to consuming enough water, one of the best ways to directly hydrate your pout is by pressing cold, sliced up cucumber onto your lips for a few minutes. According to Whole Living Daily and Home Remedies, cucumber has many healing properties that help heal, relieve dryness and reduce irritation.

Next time your lips are cracked or chapped, look to your veggie drawer!
Do you have an alternative kitchen remedy?

Saskia XO

Style Guide: Holiday Parties

All right ladies, the holiday season is upon us, which means one thing: It’s time to snag a fabulous holiday party dress! Along with trimmings and tinsel, of course. Whether you’re heading to a family reunion, a chic cocktail party or an office fete, having the perfect party look is essential. Below are five festive party-friendly looks from the well trusted and my idol, Lauren Conrad, to get you through whatever seasonal soiree comes your way…

Cool Chick



Dancing Queen


Pretty Lady



Hot Date



Gilded Girl



Which look has your stamp on it?

Saskia XO

Santa's Snack

So with the big day looming quicker than Rudolph can say nose, I thought it was about time to inspire you all with some tasty christmas treats!!!

If you thought he was cute as a reindeer wait until you see him as a cookie. So cute you could just eat him up, and you will!

So without further ado, I present the instructions to my tasty christmas treats I call 'Rudolph a la Nourriture'

Ingredients

• Chocolate or plain cookie dough

• 3-inch-long teardrop cardboard pattern (for Rudolph's head)

• Pretzels

• Frosting

• M&M's

• Red hots

Instructions

1. Roll out the cookie dough to a 1/4-inch thickness. Set the cardboard pattern on the dough. With the point of a sharp knife, cut out the reindeer's head. Bake as directed.
2. Let cool. Break apart the pretzels to form antlers and attach them at the top of the reindeer's head with dabs of frosting. Add M&M eyes and don't forget the red hot nose. Makes 40 Rudolph cookies.

Tips:

Instead of rolling out your dough on a floured surface, roll it out between waxed paper. The cookies will stay moist because extra flour is not incorporated during the rolling process.

What other tasty treats could you make?

All ideas Welcomed!

Saskia XO



Noel note: The Cutest Idea

Ladies and gentleman I welcome..... The Rein-Beer! I thought this was the cutest idea. So if you're struggling to chose a gift for the lucky man in your life, why not buy him his favourite specialty beer (or make it “rein-booze”—I hear Johnnie Walker Blue Label goes over well with the men folk) and dress it up a bit? It's cute, festive and thoughtful (and not bankrupting either!) and is sure to go down a treat! 

What other cute festive ideas could you make?.... be creative!

Saskia xo

Party Planning: Holiday Bash

Eat, drink and be merry. That’s what the holidays are all about, right? This makes December the perfect time to throw a festive bash. I usually throw a holiday party every year, but sadly I won't be able to this year due to a pretty hectic family schedule. Needless to say, I figured I might as well put together a few of my best hostess tips and ideas to share with you. Maybe they will inspire you to throw your own holiday party?

First let’s start with the basics…

Invitations. Figure out how many people you are willing to accommodate and send out invitations with at least two weeks notice. I’m a big fan of paperless invitations such as CocoDot.com and PaperlessPost.com. Going paperless is also the environmentally responsible thing to do.

Preparatory measures. If you host parties regularly, it’s worth investing in some simple glassware. We bought about 40 glasses from IKEA and use them every time we have a gathering at our home. They are far classier than plastic cups and less wasteful. I like to dress up basic glasses with striped straws or ribbons. Otherwise, I suggest stocking up on bamboo flatware and taking a cue from this glittery DIY.

Food. I love taking the best parts of childhood parties and translating them into a grown-up context. I usually like to serve finger foods. In fact, I found a cute idea online: Mini grilled cheeses with tomato soup. I bet these are a real crowd pleaser. Finger food is best because it minimises dirty dishes and the pressure of timing a meal for a large group. Deli platters are usually a hit too. Go to your local deli and put together a nice meat and cheese platter. My parents always have the butcher slice the meat instead of buying the prepackaged kind because it looks and tastes so much better! If you're not sure what to serve up in terms of sweets, I suggest setting up a self-serve s’more bar for dessert. It’s another childhood treat that most peeps rarely indulge in. And what person isn’t happy with a s’more in hand?

Drinks. If you're going to have a big group over, I recommend making a batch of cider punch in a punch bowl. In addition to a seasonal drink, I almost always serve a bowl of spiked lemonade as an alternative to the punch. It’s much easier than making one drink at a time and guests can easily serve themselves.

Now for the details…

Décor. Every party needs some sparkle. Try hanging strands of twinkling lights in each room. If was doing my party this year, I would probably make dozens of tissue garlands to stream throughout the house. I discovered these sweet garlands when I saw a member on LaurenConrad.com post a DIY about it to her profile page.Another easy decoration idea is to fill groupings of glass vases with holiday candies such as candy canes and peppermint pinwheels.

Lighting. Sprinkle the house with candles. It creates a warm, inviting ambience. Place tea lights in mason jars for a lovely glow that’s both safe and beautiful.

Make space. Don’t forget to move extra furniture to the perimeter walls and provide for plenty of seating. 

Music. To keep the mood upbeat and festive kick off the night by playing plenty of classic, fun holiday tunes such as “Santa Baby,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” “I Saw Mummy Kissing Santa Clause” and many more. As the night goes on transition to some fun dance music.

Say cheese! Don’t forget to set up a cute holiday themed photo booth. They can create the warmest and even most sentimental moments to look back on!

Remember. The key to being a good host is to be prepared, but to not get caught up in everything being perfect. You should enjoy your party. Drinks will spill, food will stain, and things will break… No party is perfect. The most important rule: Make sure you have plenty of food and drinks ready ahead of time and just have fun!

What’s on your holiday playlist?


Saskia XO