GRATEFUL for New LAZY Holiday Recipes

We needed to celebrate FOUR birthday girls the other night so it was time to pull out all the stops and try some new recipes.   All but one thing I made (the Thanksgiving Mashed Potatoes from Silver Palate) were new -- from Food and Wine November and December issues.  Such beautiful Fall recipes that would look great on a Thanksgiving or Christmas table.

Happy Birthday Dinner Menu

NOTE:  As of this posting, Food and Wine site is having issues so if link below does not work, google the title + Food and Wine and you will find.]

Pumpkin and Chickpea Hummus with Jalapeno Oil 

(I used Trader Joe's Toasted Pumpkin Seed Oil  (Unbelievably Good!) instead of Grapeseed Oil + TJ's pre-made Toasted Pumpkin Seeds)

Whole Roasted Fish with Fresh Herbs

(I used Branzino -- delicious!)

Wheat Berry Salad with Tuscan Kale and Butternut Squash

(made this the night before - easy peasy)

Bulgur Pomegranate Salad

(Made the night before also - and yes the bulgur does dry out to perfect texture)

Silver Palate Thanksgiving Potatoes

(Made 48 hours ahead -- makes them even better when you reheat in oven!  Promise!)

Fennel and Apple Salad with Pecorino and Walnuts

(I did a ton of grated Pecorino, not just an accent -- good balance to light/crispness)

And, the cake recipe -- maybe my favorite birthday cake EVER -- came from my very favorite blog, Smitten Kitchen.

If someone you know loves Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, then this is the cake for them.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake.  I actually was out of Dutch processed cocoa and ran to the store to find this unbelievably magical ingredient.  Highly recommend for this recipe: Hershey's Cocoa Special Dark:

The peanut butter frosting was a little too sweet for me so I added at least another 1/3 to 1/2 cup of peanut butter to the frosting which kicked up the peanut butter flavor a couple more notches.  Highly recommend.

Loved setting the table and found some Giant Confetti at Little Flower in Pasadena.  If you are a Pasadena area local, I can't more highly recommend this delicious little oasis full of yummy treats and fun gifts and party paraphernalia.

I also found these at Little Flower -- Incredibly fun Party Pea Shooters -- that created this slow- mo hilarity!

Click here for Pea Shooter Hilarity!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!  I'm grateful for all you Lazy Women and Men out there!!!!                               

Lazy Tip: Brown Recluse Repellent!

My yoga teacher is a truly Lazy Woman.  She loves tricks, tips and tools that make life easier and more healthy + flowy, in general. 

Tonight she shared the story of one of her yoga students from another studio who hadn't been in class for several weeks.  It turns out she was bitten by a brown recluse spider while she was sleeping.   Apparently they love the cozy spot at the end of the bed, and therefore end up biting a lot of feet.

This woman recounted the tale of her demise, slow recovery, and eventual trip to Whole Foods for brown recluse repellent.  It turns out brown recluses hate peppermint oil.  So, next time you finish brushing your teeth to their minty fresh whiteness, let it remind you to throw a couple drops of peppermint oil on your sheets before you get your feet too cozy.

Warning:  peppermint oil can be energizing so maybe focus on the foot of the bed!

Easy peasy solution to preventing...oh you know, flesh decay!