Guilt-free On-the-Go Snacking During NYFW

September 11, 2018

This post is sponsored by Pearls® but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

Healthy, fun and mess-free, Pearls Olives!® is great for fashion week! With barely any time to eat in between shows, meetings, shoots, editing and everything else in between - you can definitely bet on me not eating properly. But when hunger strikes, I just whip out Pearls Olives to Go!® They have an assortment of new flavors to their Olives to Go! products but I truly love the original, black pitted olives. They are a great addition to your snacking go-to's and/or plant-based diet! And if you're anything like me who prefers salty cravings over sweets, this is the snack for you!

Delicious California-grown large pitted black ripe olives are perfect for lunchboxes, gym bags, desk drawers, as well as great for after-school or an after-sports group snack. Always ready-to-go in single-serve, liquid-free, easy-to-open cups, they are a great choice for a tasty wholesome snack. Each cup holds ten large olives--one for each finger. ;-) Pearls Olives to Go!® Black Pitted Olives are proud to be a winner of the 2014 Parents® Magazine 25 Best Packaged Foods for Families Award! With only 35 calories per 1.2 ounce cup, they come four cups to a package. Other infused flavors include Taco, Sriracha or Italian Herb. Gluten-free, dairy-free, sugar-free, cholesterol-free, GMO-free, vegan, and Kosher.

I'd totally pack some feta cheese and tomato with the olives but alas, I didn't have time to organize a lunch box of sorts for fashion week. But next time will be different and still nonetheless, a party in my mouth. How would you guys mix it up with these on-the-go olives? Available on Amazon or you can use the brand's store locator for other retailers here.

LOVE & XX’S,

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Springtime Snacking with My/Mo Mochi Ice Cream

April 27, 2018

This post is sponsored by My/Mo Mochi Ice Cream but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

WEARING: VIP.COM BLUE GINGHAM WRAP TOP | JOE'S JEANS | PATRICIA GREEN JASMINE PUMP | ZAFUL EARRINGS | MEDUSA MINI BLUE CLUTCH/CROSSBODY

I'm more of a dessert person when the temps are warmer and now that spring has finally arrived what is better than finding two loves in one? I'm talking mochi and ice cream combined, how yummy does that sound? It's the perfect pairing for anyone with a sweet tooth, especially to anyone who is always on the go or to those that just like to kick it back at home and unwind. So basically it's great for everyone! Continue reading on to learn more about mochi, if you don't already know what it is, and also why you need to get your hands on a box of My/Mo Mochi Ice Cream asap! There are also shop sections for both my outfit and my two most favorite flavors that I'd recommend trying.

Back to the mochi at hand! If you're wondering what My/Mo Mochi Ice Cream is, it's soft mochi dough with very delectable ice cream in the middle. These snacks are not only the cutest little things, they're also the yummiest of the mochi ice creams in the market. My/Mo Mochi Ice Cream comes in 8 appetizing flavors, and my husband and I's most recent favorites have got to be Strawberry and Chocolate! Let's just say we're already out of it, and I cannot wait to grab another box (or two). These two boxes from this post may or may not have been completely consumed while on set!

S are you ready to blow your mouth’s mind? My/Mo Mochi Ice Cream is taking over snack time ALL the time! Why wait 'til after dinner? It's pre-breakfast, post lunch and/or a midnight delight. It's great on Monday morning to shake off the last of those Sunday scaries. A mundane meeting made wayyyy better by sneaking a little bite of your favorite boisterous balls. It's perfect for picnics, car rides, carousels, beach walks, boardwalks.......and pretty much just about any other situation you can think of. Like here where we literally stopped in the park after lunch to sit down and devour these cute little bites. So stop with the boring snacking and make your chosen bites more bold, beautiful and all around better with these balls!

LOVE & XX'S,

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Sour Punch Bites Movie Night

November 30, 2017

This post is sponsored by Sour Punch® Bites®, but all opinions are my own.

As much as I love the hustle and bustle of the craziness around my schedule in the next month, where attending events are more frequent, many deadlines are needed to be done and being social around the holidays is a given, there's nothing homier and as cozy than staying in with my pup and doing one of my favorite things: A movie night. Especially when it's super cold outside and my itty bitty toes are snuggled under my fur baby's warm body and I've got some tasty movie night snacks and great films surrounding me, it's not that hard to give in and stay at home. In today's post, I'm sharing a few of my favorite treats along with some of my all-time favorite films (both holiday and non-holiday) that I love to watch around this time of the year. And it's not your typical Home Alone/It's a Wonderful Life kind of movie list, let's say it's definitely more action-packed. Continue reading to see how we enjoying staying in for a movie night at home!

Ever since I was a kid, I've always been a fan of sweet and sour candy. Most particular when it comes to watching films, both at the theater or at home, it's definitely something I've got to have in my snack arsenal. And with Sour Punch® Bites® Assorted Flavors from Walmart it doesn't get any better than this. It comes in three flavors: Strawberry, green apple, and blue raspberry. I know it may seem kind of strange, but I love having something sweet to go with something salty, like popcorn for a satisfying movie night. With a resealable bag, you can also take these candies with you on the go! What's your go-to box of candy you like to get with your popcorn? Like the sweet and sour like me? Or more of a chocolatey kind?

Now, onto some of my favorite films. First, I'm kind of a movie buff, and there's too many to list, but I've done my best and slimmed it down to a top 5 favorites to watch around this time of year. Number 1: Any James Bond film will do, but if you really want to make a girl happy just toss in one with Pierce Brosnan. Ever since I was 12, I found him to be a total fox! A very dreamy Mr. Bond. :) Number 2: The Thomas Crown Affair - both films, 1968 and 1999. A definite cat-and-mouse kind of film, and smart, sexy scenes from both that'll keep your heart pounding.

Number 3: This one is for all the love saps (like myself) in the world. It's all about love and its complications. And how no, you can't always get what you want. But sometimes you might find, you get what you need. (Ha Ha, no not a RS fan at all.) This film is Love Actually. I just love it. And it is Christmas-ey for those who love holiday-themed movies. Number 4: Any film by Wong Kar-Wai. My favorite is 2046. It's probably one of my all-time favorite films, EVER, so if you haven't seen it and you are a fan of love and beautiful writing, don't miss out on this one. And lastly for Number 5: Bad Santa. It's not exactly a cheerful family film, but it's a dark comedy and downright hilarious. What are some of your favorite films around this time of the year on top of your favorite movie-time snacks? We'd love to hear from our readers so please don't forget to comment down below!

LOVE & XX'S,

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Korean Fusion: Fried Sesame Broccoli Bites

March 20, 2016

Korean Fried Sesame Broccoli Bites

Serves 4

Ingredients:
1 pound broccoli, chopped into small pieces and steamed
1 teaspoon salt

Korean Fusion: Fried Sesame Broccoli Bites with Ponzu Sauce

1 tablespoon sesame seeds

2 green onion

1 tablespoon sesame oil
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
generous pinch of salt to taste

3 eggs

1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup panko
vegetable oil

Green onion or parsley and sesame seeds to garnish

Directions:

Cut the broccoli head very short from the stem. Cut the head into small florets. Peel the stems and cut into small pieces. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the salt and broccoli, and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, or until it reaches the desired tenderness. Drain, immediately blanching the broccoli. Dry well before step 2.
Combine the broccoli with sesame seeds, 1 green onion, sesame oil, garlic, salt and 1 whisked egg (to use as a binding agent). Toss well to evenly distribute seasoning.
Create breading station - flour, whisk 2 eggs, panko
Wash hands then spoon broccoli mixture into hands to create 2-3 inch diameter balls. Squeeze together to firmly compact into round ball.
Coat in flour, then egg wash, then panko crumbs. Repeat.
Heat vegetable oil to 375 degrees.
Carefully place several broccoli balls into oil for 3 minutes until golden brown. Remove with slotted spoon and place on cooling rack or paper towels.
Serve with ponzu sauce!

Happy Sunday Funday! Without further delay, let me introduce to you (finally) the recipe for my Korean fusion-inspired FRIED sesame broccoli bites! And once you pop one of these addicting bite-size snack attacks, trust me when I say this, you won't be able to stop! To add a touch of heat I made a chili ponzu dipping sauce consisting of soy sauce, orange + lemon juice, mirin and red chili pepper powder. This healthy appetizer will surely be a hit at any get-together/party/event! And even though fried foods are not the healthiest choice when it comes to eating right, there is broccoli in this fried dish so it's not all completely bad like a fried oreo for example! Ha ha! It's definitely a great way to get anyone into this green veggie, especially if you're not a fan of it!

There is one thing I highly DO NOT recommend when working with anything fried. I was so exhausted when making these broccoli bites, I had mistaken the vegetable oil for water and covered the pot with a lid! 😳 Let's just say that I definitely experienced my first grease fire in the kitchen but I handled it like a champ! Lesson learned? Don't try to fry anything when you're that sleep-deprived! You're only asking for trouble, honey! Hope y'all enjoy the rest of your Sunday. Coming up this week on the blog, a new look, and a giveaway in honor of a birthday girl (aka; me)! Stay tuned...

Love & xx's,

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Source: http://www.suzannespiegoski.com/maq-and-su...

Korean-Style Pork Belly Nachos

February 5, 2016

Well, that title was a mouthful. And deservingly so! I came across this recipe while looking for a smacking good-ass recipe for the Super Bowl on Sunday. Initially I was going to cook kalbi (galbi) but I wanted to infuse a classic American football munchie snack into something partly Korean. That's where I ran into this article on Buzzfeed and DUDE. It. Is. Splendidly. Delish! The flavors are insane! I can assure you, anyone to scarf down on these bad boys will be your new best friends as you've made their life complete. An instant touchdown! Did I mention it's in a cast-iron skillet? The Lodge cast iron is one of my favorite pans to cook in.

download recipe

Korean-Style Pork Belly Nachos

Serves 4-6

Ingredients:

1 lb of pork belly, sliced
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 Tbsp. soy sauce
2 Tbsp. red pepper powder
1 Tbsp. honey
⅓ cup + ¼ cup kimchi juice
Tortilla chips
Cheddar
Monterey Jack
Chopped kimchee
Red onions
Tomatoes
Scallions
⅓ cup sour cream

Directions:

Combine pork belly slices with garlic, soy sauce, red pepper powder, honey, and ⅓ cup kimchi juice. Mix until the pork belly is coated in red. Pan-fry pork belly until fat has rendered and crispy.

Assemble your nachos. In a skillet, lay down a layer of tortilla chips, sprinkle on the cheeses, add chopped kimchi, toss on the cooked pork belly, top with some chopped red onions. Repeat.

Melt the cheeses under the broiler until crispy and bubbly. Mix together the sour cream and remaining ¼ cup kimchi juice and drizzle on top of the nachos.

K-Style pork belly nachos: Get. In. My. Belly. STAT!

These are the prettiest nachos I've ever made!

If you're a fan of pork belly like myself, make sure to get the meat nice and crispy. There's nothing sadder than soggy pork belly! The trick is not to cook the entire pound of meat all at once. Divide the meat into smaller portions when cooking it, that way giving the marinade and pork belly enough room to be cooked properly. I cooked mine just a knob above medium heat, because I like it really crispy. :)

And that sour cream kimchi sauce is OUT. OF. THIS. WORLD. I swear I could put this sauce on anything and it'd taste superb! That's like a fried foodie junkie saying, "I love anything fried. You could fry carpet and I'd eat it." Ha ha ha! But seriously, the combination of the dairy with the tangy juice from the kimchi is excellent and just the perfect complement to this dish. Are you ready for some football?!

What's everyone making this Sunday? Are you a football lover? I'm not really into the game itself, but I adore the ads/commercials and the live performances during halftime. I'm actually really excited to see Coldplay play as this will be their first appearance at a Super Bowl. Plus, Beyonce and Bruno Mars will also be performing, so I've got a pretty good feeling that this halftime show will be awesome! Who are you excited to see perform?

I'm such a girl that I didn't even know who was playing in the Super Bowl until just now when I looked it up! :X In which case, whichever team you are rooting for, whether it's the Panthers or Broncos, have fun, be safe and let the good times roll! Hope y'all have a very nice and cozy weekend. 🏈❤️🏈❤️🏈