Ramen Breakfast Toast

August 12, 2016

Every now and again I come across a recipe that completely blows me away. Case in point: C ravings. Christine is a writer/food blogger with a talent in food photography as well. I'm always left inspired after visiting her work, but when I came across her ramen breakfast toast on Beautiful Cuisines on Instagram, I had to re-create it! I've never tried making ramen 'toast' and was extremely curious how this recipe would pan out, let alone how it would taste together with all the different flavors. And oh boy, let me just say - they invented #foodgasm specifically for this toast.

First the latest food trend was all about rice buns, and now ramen toast. And I can understand why. All you need is some salt and eggs to coat the cooked ramen before frying it in a pan (individually) with a little bit of vegetable oil. It was not that difficult to make, though I will say that if you're not that confident at boiling eggs, just be sure to make extra for back-up. To get that nice, soft runny egg, time it at 6.5 minutes. But like I said, it depends on a lot of factors so just put a couple more eggs in for good measure. You'll be good to go!

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Breakfast Ramen Toast

Serves 4
Recipe by: What Do You Crave

Photos by: Suzanne Spiegoski // Recipe by: What Do You Crave

Ingredients:
2 packets instant ramen
4 eggs
Salt
Vegetable oil for frying
1 cup diced tomato
1 small jalapeno, minced
¼ cup diced red onion
1-2 Tbsp. sweet soy sauce*
1 tsp. fresh grated ginger
1 lime
1 avocado
Nori
Chili flakes, optional
Sriracha, optional

Directions:

Make the Ramen “Toast”
Cook ramen noodles according to package instructions. Drain and rinse with cool water for about 15 seconds.
Whisk together two eggs with a little salt and carefully mix in noodles.
Divide noodles evenly into 4 ramekins or bowls. Use plastic wrap to press noodles into bottom of the bowls and help hold shape.
Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

Make the Soft-boiled Eggs
Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil then reduce to a gentle simmer.
Carefully add in 2 eggs, one at a time, with a slotted spoon.
Cook for about 6.5 minutes for a soft, runny yolk and set white. Use a timer!
This takes practice to get right and sometimes you may find you need to adjust your cooking time to get it just right. I would recommend cooking a few extra eggs at different increments just to test it out.
Remove eggs with spoon and place into an ice bath to stop cooping process. Carefully peel and set aside until ready to use.

Prep your Toppings
Combine tomato, onion, jalapeno, ginger, and juice from half a lime in a bowl.
Add in 1 Tbsp. of sweet soy sauce and taste test before adding more. Not all soy sauce is created equal, some are saltier than others.
Mix to combine and set aside.
Slice avocado however you see fit and use the other half of the lime to prevent it from turning brown.

Cook “Toast” and Assemble
In a large non-stick pan heat a thin layer of vegetable oil over medium heat.
Carefully plop noodle “toast” out into pan. I’d do one at a time.
Cook for about 3 minutes on each side or until lightly crisp and golden.
Top each toast with nori, ¼ of the avocado slices, ¼ cup pico de gallo, and ½ of a soft boiled egg.
Serve with chili flakes or Sriracha and enjoy!

In the recipe there's a delightful homemade pico de gallo (I always manage to sting my fingers after chopping up jalapeños ha ha) with a nice heat to it. Adding thin layers of avocado brings a creamy buttery sensation to the mix. And the seaweed combined with the soft boiled egg? It's tastes a lot like regular ramen noodle soup, but without all the slurping and with varied textures. For more spiciness, add Sriracha sauce and red pepper chili flakes. I totally loved making this dish! And it's not just for breakfast, you can have this for lunch and dinner too!

I can't wait to do my own twist on the ramen breakfast toast. There's so many ways to make it! You could use kimchi, sausage, radish, and other breakfast-like toppings. So glad I was able to work with a recipe first that not only was had me try something new, but more especially, discovering new tastes in flavors. Thanks again, Christine for such an awesome recipe! I could have waited and done my own creation on this idea, but this one was too good not to share! To see more of Christine and her overall super star-ness, go check out Cravings now!

LOVE & XX'S,

FOLLOW MAQ + SUZ

Grecian Braids

July 27, 2016

WEARING: LOVE21 CREAM TANK TOP | FOREVER 21 HIGH SLIT MAXI SKIRT | 
ZARA LEATHER & CORK WEDGES | FOREVER 21 IVORY STATEMENT NECKLACE & BANGLE

Good morning, everyone! I'm sorry I haven't posted in nearly a week. Reason being is I'm currently in Michigan working on a personal story. I cannot WAIT to share it with you guys! It's been a long time coming. Last week, I had the immense pleasure of getting my hair and makeup done by the wonderful and talented, Valerie, owner of Caravan Stylist Studio at the Gregory Hotel in New York City. It was one of the cutest glam spaces I've been to and strongly recommend it to us bloggers, as it's the perfect spot to get dolled up before an event or a photo shoot. We went for a boho-chic look, but it's very Grecian to me. I added in some ivory and turquoise jewelry to embody the look. I can't braid my hair to save my life so it was such a treat for me! I can't wait to go back and do something different! Check her out my NYC gals. Trust me, you won't regret it! Caravan offers hair, makeup & nails services! You can go to www.caravanstyliststudio.com for more info and to book your next appointment! Thanks again for such an amazing experience and my goody bag! Valerie hooked me up with all sorts of makeup and hair products we used for that session. My fave? Blue waterproof eyeliner! If you put it on your top inner lid, the blue will brighten up your eyes. How cute of a trick is that?! ;)

LOVE & XX'S,

SHOP THE LOOK

Peach Melba

July 21, 2016

Cheers, it's almost the weekend and I'm about to have me some fun! I finally found my edible flowers, y'all! After patiently waiting until Wednesday, I happily went to the Union Square Farmer's Market and picked up some vibrant babies with Windfall Farms. They have the freshest flowers to work with and ever since they've caught my eye during the start to spring, I've been dying to add them in my practice with plating. Plus, edible flowers can really bring a dish together with its fragrant and earthy qualities. Not to mention how aesthetically sound they are, especially with desserts.

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recipe + photos by © Suzanne Spiegoski — recipe + photos by © Suzanne Spiegoski

Peach Melba

Ingredients:

Peaches:
1 1/2c water
1 3/4c sugar
1 vanilla pod, split lengthwise
1Tbsp lemon juice
2-3 peaches

Raspberry sauce:
1 1/2c raspberries
1/4c confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon lemon juice

1 pint of vanilla bean ice cream
Raspberries & peanut granola to garnish.

Directions:

Put the water, sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla pod into a wide saucepan and gently heat to dissolve the sugar. Bring saucepan to a boil and let it bubble for 5 minutes. Turn heat down to a fast simmer.

Cut the peaches in half, and if the stones come out easily then remove them. If not, you can get them out after poaching them. To poach, put peach halves in the sugar syrup for about 2 to 3 minutes on each side depending on the ripeness of the fruit. Test the cut side with the sharp point of a knife to see if they are soft. Remove with slotted spoon.

Peel skin off peach halves and let them cool. Be sure to remove stone after. To make raspberry sauce, blend fresh raspberries, confectioners' sugar and lemon juice. Sieve to remove the pits and pour the puree into a jar.

To serve, allow 1 -2 peach halves per person alongside with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. Spoon raspberry sauce over each.

One of my all-time favorite desserts (originally from France) is the peach melba. The combination with the sweet peach and tartness from the raspberries is a symphony in your mouth. Add in the vanilla ice cream and its oozy, creamy combo will definitely have you feeling some type of way! Instead of doing it the traditional way, like how I used to get it at the retirement home I worked at as a teenager (yup, true story), was a scoop of ice cream, half of a poached peach, and with some drizzling of raspberry sauce. Nothing fancy. And it doesn't need to be. But I have such a passion when it comes to cooking, I'm always trying to elevate dishes to the next level. I even formed my first ice cream quenelle! So here you have it: My deconstructed version of the peach melba dessert. You can download the recipe by clicking on the button above. Got questions or comments? I love hearing from my readers! Write your thoughts down below. I've got some really exciting content coming up for the rest of the summer! And yes, it will include some traveling! Yay! Plus I'll be celebrating my one year anniversary since creating MaQ + Suz, and of course I'll be doing a post on this! Stay tuned...

LOVE & XX'S,

FOLLOW MAQ + SUZ

Cape Cod Travel Diary

July 14, 2016

Lobster all day, every day - Cape style.

Head of the Meadow Beach - Cape Cod National Seashore

photos + videography by Gilles Decamps & Suzanne Spiegoski

I'm so excited to finally be able to share with you my Cape Cod travel diary! My husband and I just recently celebrated our 10-year dating anniversary and really wanted to go somewhere where MaQ would also have a great time. He is our baby, and after our little scare, we definitely didn't want to leave him behind. Initially planning to go to the Keys for our romantic getaway, we quickly realized that given the weather during this time of year on top of being away from MaQ, was not the best of ideas. Enter Plan B. Since we wanted to explore someplace we both have never been, my husband thought the Cape was a perfect location. Approximately a six-hour drive from New York (that's with very little traffic), it was worth every single second.

With miles and miles of beaches to discover, the views by the ocean are breath-taking and some of the most beautiful, peaceful beaches I have ever seen. It's no wonder the JFK's vacationed there. Ultimately chic yet casual, the magical Cape will help you unwind, leaving all your worries behind. Some of our favorite beaches we visited were the Head of the Meadow Beach, the Beachcomber in Wellfleet, but my most absolute fave? Marconi Beach. I know, I know. You say Macaroni, but I say Marconi! ;) The sand dune cliffs barrel up over 12 feet as you zigzag down a wooden staircase to the most incredible beach. It reminded me very much of Santa Monica. Total Cali vibes, yet we were on the East Coast.

We also checked out PTown, or Provincetown, which is on the very tip of Cape Cod. Provincetown is a unique blend of old-fashioned fishing village and hip arts community. Its narrow streets are lined up with quaint old homes filled with shops and galleries. We took a day trip where we enjoyed lunch at Pepe's Wharf, downing of course, all the fresh delicious lobster we could get our hands on. The best part was our chance encounter with another German shepherd, named Maggie. The owner's son was the sweetest little boy with a passion for photographing dogs. We spent the remainder of the day together, playing in the marina with an afternoon nap soaking up the sun. You can see some of the action in our video down below. All in all, this serendipity was far too coincidental. I mean, come on, what are the odds of running into another German shepherd like that? It was just meant to be.

Other areas we scoped out were the Highland Light, a lighthouse on the Cape Cod National Seashore in North Truro. It is the oldest and tallest lighthouse on the Cape, with exceptional views at their observatory deck. We even did an editorial shoot here, check out the photos. We also got to a chance to see the Wellfleet Harbor where there was a low tide during our visit with oyster shacks and shucking stations galore - a completely different type of scenery near the shore. We enjoy exploring many different parts of a place we visit, that way you get an all-around sense of where you are, all the while really being able to take a look around and absorb it all in.

We managed to do all of this in less than three days! I definitely want to go back to embark on more adventures, as I know there is still so much more to see! Thanks for having us Cape Cod, we we will be coming back for sure! Thanks for stopping by! Don't forget to check out our travel video below on our YouTube channel!

LOVE & XX'S,

FOLLOW MAQ + SUZ

Breakfast at Tiffany's

July 11, 2016

WEARING: ANN TAYLOR LOFT BLACK DRESS | BANDOLINO KITTEN HEELS

Happy Monday! I'm excited to share with you my most recent favorite online store. thredUP is the best new resource for like-new women's clothing. It's a massive consignment shop that is thoughtfully curated and very easy to navigate. What I love about thredUp is that they're all about affordability, convenience, and conscious consumerism. Before going any further, I'm sure some of you ladies think secondhand clothing is not for you, but before you run out and spend a ridiculous amount of money on a brand you adore, why not, at least, give thredUP a try? It's so simple to find what you want without going on a treasure hunt. It's way easier than digging through racks at a resale shop or bargain chain. All you have to do is just search for your brand and toggle by size and color. But, WAIT! There's more...

When it comes to my personal style, I'm not for one specific trend or look. It can be low-end or high-end, or both, I like to mix and match according to my taste and what works for my body type. So I wanted to show you that style doesn't reflect cost. How you carry yourself is the reflection of your own style. Make it work for you! I picked out this gorgeous Ann Taylor LOFT dress with a pair of Bandolino kitten heels, specifically for an Audrey Hepburn inspired-look. To me, she was the epitome of style & grace, so I wanted to do a play-up on her and of course, the famous outfit from the movie, Breakfast at Tiffany's. I really wanted to demonstrate that you can wear secondhand pieces and still look like a movie star! Actual retail price of this look? UNDER $40! I saved 75%, (over $115) on these two items, but I feel like a million bucks in 'em!

What you can also do to snazz up a look is to accessorize it with a nice bag or a couple pieces of jewelry. In this case, I wore a pair of my mother's vintage earrings and an elegant clutch purse from Forever 21. You see?! I bet you didn't think that's where that bag was from when you first took a look at it. Point proven again.

So what am I going to be doing with the money I saved? It's going into a secret project I can't disclose at the moment, but it'll be both for work and personal-related reasons. Can't wait to share with you! Until then... Need a closet sprucer-upper? Or perhaps you're starting to get ready for back-to-school or are you just dying to get the latest trends for Fall fashion? Use WOW40 at checkout for 40% off your ENTIRE order! Their delivery is on point too.

Lastly, do you have clothes you don’t wear anymore? Simply order a thredUP Clean Out Bag, fill it with the items you no longer want (consult on their website to see what they do and do not take, and what the payout is), and place it in front of your front door for pick-up. It literally could not be easier to get rid of the things you no longer want in a responsible way. Talk about being ecologically sound! :)

Photos by: Gilles Decamps \\ Styling + Editing by: Suzanne Spiegoski