Wouldn't it be nice...

 to be here...

drinking one of these...

while wearing this.

Just dreaming over here. Just for minute close your eyes, and imagine the smell of the ocean and the feeling of sand blowing across your skin. Wasn't that nice?
I have a panama hat that would be killer with the suit. All I have to do is find a body of water to wear it to... and some warmer weather. Soon enough.

She Bakes

Dark Chocolate Tart with Toasted Almonds & Sea Salt 

Adapted from Bon Appetit 

Crust:

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Pinch of salt

1/4cup plus 1 TBsp. powdered sugar

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature

1 large egg yolk

3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Filling and Garnish:

3 ounces bittersweet chocolate (I used 72%)

3 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, chopped

3/4 heavy cream

2 ounces almonds, chopped and toasted

1 teaspoon sea salt

Preparation:

Crust:

Whisk flour, cocoa powder, and salt in a small bowl. Pulse powdered sugar and butter in a food processor until smooth. Add yolk and vanilla; pulse to mix well. Add dry ingredients and pulse just to blend. Gather dough into a ball, flatten into a disk, and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill for at least 1 hour or up to 3 days.

Spray 4.75 inch tart pans with nonstick spray. Roll out dough between 2 sheets of parchment paper to 1/8" thickness. Peel off top sheet of paper. Cut dough into rounds. Gather scraps; repeat until all dough is used. Transfer rounds to tart pans, pressing gently onto bottom and up sides of cup. Chill for 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 325°. Bake tart shells until slightly puffed and firm to touch, 12–15 minutes. Let cool completely in pan on a wire rack.

Filling and Garnish:

Place both chocolates in a medium bowl. Bring cream to a simmer in a small saucepan. Pour cream over chocolate; stir until melted and smooth. Let ganache cool to room temperature. 

Spoon ganache into tart pans and sprinkle garnish on top. 

This was a huge hit! My mister even said "this might be the best thing you've ever made." Woah! It takes a little patience, but is so worth the wait. Also, you could definitely use this recipe for a normal 9 inch tart pan.

Joyeux cuisson!

PS- it's also pretty simple.

What I See

A Few...

IPhone pics. from inauguration and our week of winter. It was a fun week, with an even more fun weekend! Pictures from our staycation coming soon! I'm enjoying a surprise day off because of the ice storm in the area, woohoo!

Happy Monday! 

SNOW!

On Thursday morning we woke up and Jack Frost had paid us a visit. Although it wasn't enough for a full on snow day, it was (and still is) so fun! It really does make everything so beautiful, and I'm so excited we finally got our snow! 

I ♥ Friday

Who doesn't love Friday, really. It's the best night of the week, the weekend is just beginning and you have two whole days before you with no work or alarm clock (ideally anyway). I have been looking forward to this Friday for quite some time now, it is the beginning of our staycation in Washington D.C. Tonight we have Joe's company's gala/winter social, and he surprised me with a hotel stay at one of the most prestigious (and oldest) hotels in the area the W Hotel Washington. What a guy! It has a beautiful lounge with an unbeatable view of the National Mall and I can't wait to sip a Manhattan while gazing at my city. *Bliss* Did I mention It's also supposed to snow tonight? I have to say I'm loving this week of winter we are having. Does it feel like 5 degrees outside? Yes, but the snow on the ground makes it so worth it. Happy Friday, everyone! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

MLK Weekend Pt. 2: Inauguration Day

For most of my teen/adult life I have loved history, really any kind, but especially Russian history & US history. My love of US history began at the age of 13 when I went to Washington D.C. for the first time. This city captured me with its pomp, majesty, and simply thinking of all of the feet that had walked here before me. On Monday I had the honor and privilege to stand on the National Mall where 50 years prior Martin Luther King Jr. had marched, and watch Barak Obama be inaugurated for the second time. I wish Dr. King could have known the progress our country has made. I wonder what he would say? No matter my politics, I feel it was a good day in America. I will never forget the swell of pride I felt hearing the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir (and that AMAZING soloist) sing The Battle Hymn of the Republic, or the tears that filled my eyes as James Taylor sang America the Beautiful. I am so proud of my country and pray the Lord's blessing on our President. It was a good day. 

Sunday on King Street

On Sunday Joe and I enjoyed Old Town, took a stroll down to the waterfront, and shopped along King Street. Much to Joe's appreciation we were home in time for the football games. It has been a great and incredibly memorable weekend, and I can't wait to share all of our pictures with you in the next few days. I hope you enjoyed your long weekend and thought a little bit about MLK Jr. 

Date Night

Friday we shared a wonderful meal together at Virtue Feed & Grain. It's Restaurant week in Alexandria, and VF&G had a great deal. I really enjoyed going out on Friday, and I had an extra spring in my step leaving work out of anticipation. Anytime with this guy is great, but it was even better on Friday.