Berry Tart

On July 4th, my family and I hosted a backyard barbecue. All of the food was taken care of, except dessert. I took it upon myself to create a fresh, casual dessert that tasted sweet and pure. I always love fruit tarts from french bakeries and have had past success creating my own right at home. I used a pre-made tart shell from a local bakery called Downtown Bakery and Creamery in Healdsburg, CA. I have no interest in knowing the amount of butter used in the shell, but it definitely makes for the most exquisit tart. Here are some photographs:

The Outdoors

The weather has been absolutely ideal for mid-March. In between classes, a few friends and I were able to set up a time to hang out on the green grass in the UC Davis Quod for some time to enjoy the fresh air, lay under the rays of the sun, and enjoy a smoothie. We got a chance to catch up on every topic imaginable, since we could not meet during the busy past few weeks. After spending some time with my great friends, I now have the energy I need to push through these last few weeks of the quarter, with the final reward being Spring Break! Here are some photographs of our time together and some close-ups of my new favorite things. Have a wonderful weekend!

Refreshing strawberry-banana smoothie, courtesy of the CoHo

Keeping up with a few emails

Rima, wearing an ever-so-versatile Panama hat

Another way to wear a Panama hat

Larissa, wearing the Panama hat, as a part of her effortless, breezy look

Row of bicycles on campus

The bicycle is laying out in the sun also

Favorite bag for everyday use

Longchamp pair

Lovely boots

Hat: Baksheesh in Sonoma

Opticals: Oliver Peoples

Earrings: Target

 Ring: Fred Segal

Shirt: Tory Burch

The cuff of a 70s-inspired Tory Burch shirt

 Classic Sperry Top-siders

Farmer's Market - Davis, CA

Nothing makes me happier than spending a Saturday morning at a local farmer's market with beautiful weather, delicious foods, and quality ingredients offered for the creation of homemade dishes. Last weekend, I was delighted to attend the farmer's market in Davis, CA where I currently reside as I attend university. I was impressed by the large selection of produce and the fresh foods that were brought from bakeries and eateries from various towns and cities in Northern California. Here are a few photos of what I had the pleasure of seeing and tasting during my visit:

Classic and infused lemonades

Fresh apple juice

Artisanal breads

Local dried fruit

One, beautifully solo flower

An idyllic couple walking with flowers from the market

Panettone Bread Pudding

The holiday season is undoubtedly my favorite time of the year. There are so many recipes that have been part of family traditions, year after year, and they never seise to impress. A classic dessert, during any time of the year, is a well-crafted bread pudding. Now, add in the spirit of the holidays, and this bread pudding quickly becomes a panettone bread pudding. Panettone is a very flavorful, aromatic, Italian sweet bread that is sold more frequently during the Christmas season because of its festive nature. I have chosen to use this bread in my bread pudding because including this special ingredient is enough to flavor the entire portion of the dessert, and it is not masked by any other ingredients. The flavor shows through. The recipe I used, by Ina Garten, was very simple to follow and showed great results.

Toasted Panettone Cubes:

Bread Pudding Assembled, Before Baking:

Final Product:

Bon Appétit!

Parisian Strawberry Cupcakes

 

 

Carolina & Co.

Carolina & Co. is my favorite boutique in Santa Rosa, CA. The items that Carolina & Co. offers are unique  and visually beautiful. Some items, such as aprons, notebooks, and napkins, can be personalized with monogrammed letters using the shop's own embroidering machine. Here are some photographs of the boutique: the sophistication is evident.

The wall of beautiful ribbons:

Adorable little knick-knacks:

An edgy tray, for small object like these:

Colorful, unscented candlesticks: