8 LOVELY LITTLE THINGS: SUMMER EDITION

I haven't done an "8 Lovely Little Things" post in a long long time, and seeing so many fun summer things in the stores made me realize it's time for a summer edition!

Here are some summer necessities I have on my list:

1. I'm a farmer's market regular, and always make sure to have a reuseable shopping bag on hand to carry home all the goodies. This Weirdo tote from ASOS is perfect to have with me when I'm walking next to Michael...

2. Along with paper straws- patterned wooden spoons are the newest fun food accessory. I LOVE these cheerful colored ones from C.Wonder to add a little color to an ice cream bowl.

3. What's more fitting for a summer accessory than a nautical bracelet? This charm one from C.Wonder spells out "I love you" in sailling flags. Ummm, need. Now.

4. When I found these pineapple drink stirrers I was pretty sure there weren't another set of stirrers more perfect for a summer soiree. And they're gold? Yes.

5. This pouch has a scene on it that looks like what's usually on my screensaver at work. Beach heaven.

6. I've been collecting different glasses in the anticipation of having fun summer cocktail parties once we move into our new (bigger) apartment. These yellow cane pattern guys are only $8! Sold.

7. St. Tropez is hands down the only self tanner I'll use. You end up perfectly tan (not orange) quickly and easily without gross stickiness or smells. My favorite is the mousse, but I hear the gel is kick butt too!

8. Later in the summer we spend every Wednesday night having picnics on the capitol square, and I love this striped oversized towel throw from Serena & Lily.

What are some of your summer essentials?

If you haven't tried St. Tropez- you must!

xo, lp

BEST BASIC GUACAMOLE

If you're coming back based on yesterday's post on how to deconstruct an avocado: welcome!

This is my basic guacamole recipe. Is it fancy? No. Do I really measure perfectly when I make it? No.

That's because it's not from a recipe. You do know people did cook/bake on their own before Pinterest, right? It's true! Sometimes people just threw things together until they tasted good... and that's how this guac recipe came about:

What you'll need (makes a ridic amount of guac):

4 small avocados

2 cloves garlic

1 jalapeno pepper

1 small onion

1/2 small tomato

2 small or 1 large limes

a ton of cilantro (at least 1/2 cup)

salt, pepper, and cayenne 

How to make it happen:

Step 1: Take apart your avocados (using this awesome how-to), and save the pits!

Step 2: Throw your onion, jalapeno, and garlic into a food processor and process until finely minced/shredded. 

Step 3: Cut off the thick, outer 3/4 inch of your tomato and add it to the food processor (throw away the gross squishy inside of the tomato).

Step 4: Add your guacamole and mash it in with your mixture from the food processor. Add the juice of 1 lime, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and 1/4 teaspoon cayenne. Mix it all up and TASTE.

Step 6: Rip your cilantro and mix in as well. 

Step 5: Add more lime, salt, pepper, and cayenne as necessary to your taste! Keep your avocado pits in the mixture...I swear it helps the avocado from oxidizing as fast.

That's it folks. Eat with some tortilla chips and enjoy! 

If you like things a little bit more spicy, sprinkle your chips with some cayenne!

For best results, make the guacamole close to when you're going to serve it, or else after a few hours it can oxidize (turn brown). Don't worry- it still tastes JUST as good, it just might now look as pretty :)

Lots of cilantro & lime makes this recipe great-

What do you put in your guacamole to make it amazing?

xo, lp

HOW TO GET INTO AN AVOCADO (without cutting your fingers off)

I realize "get into" an avocado is a super odd way to phrase that..but I mean..how else do you say it?

How to open and avocado? How to filet and avocado? 

Caaaaaan you tell I never went to culinary school? Oops.

Spoiler alert: this is a precursor to tomorrow's post- which is my delicious guacamole recipe!

I worked in a fine dining japanese restaurant for a little under 4 years, and if you've gone to eat sushi, you know they use a LOT of avocados. When we'd be setting up the restaurant I'd watch the sushi chefs deconstruct a billion of those things, with REALLY sharp knives, really quickly.

I've taken their method, used a slightly less sharp knife, and put it in this post. This is meant to be a basic how-to for avocado newbies, if you're already an avocado pro- ignore me and walk away. Come back tomorrow.

Here's how to make it happen:

Step 1:

Cut vertically all the way around your avocado. Just cut deep enough to get to the seed/pit in the middle:

Step 2: Grab each half, one in each half, and twist opposite ways for it to pop open:

If your avo is ripe, it'll be beautiful like this:

Step 3: Take whatever your sharpest knife is, preferably a larger chopping knife (my sharpest was a paring knife...#facepalm) and lightly whack it into the center of the pit. PLEASE do not cut your hand or fingers doing this.

 Step 4: Holding onto the avocado in one hand, take the knife and twist until it pops the pit out:

 Step 5: Cut your halves in half, so you have 4 quarters:

 Step 6: Pull off your tough avocado skin and you're good to go!

When you do this all quickly it can be done in less than a minute...or if you're a fancy sushi chef... like 10 seconds. I advise going slow to start so you don't cut yourself :)

So that's it! What's your best avocado recipe?

I only know about two..so help me out!

xo, lp

*please note: if you don't feel confident holding a sharp knife and stabbing it into the pit, DON'T. I'm not holding any responsibility for your injuries in posting this tutorial. so please, be careful!