KITCHEN STORIES : FAVORITE BEANS & RICE

This shouldn't even fall into the category of "recipe" because it's so simple to make.  These days what I look for in a meal is easy, quick, and healthy / low calorie.  I am by no means a cook but in the past I always enjoyed the process of making / baking, photographing food, and sharing it here so I am challenging myself to doing this more frequently again.  

I try to incorporate beans of some sort into most dinners since I am vegetarian.  For Hunter who wants to eat meat every once in awhile, this is the perfect thing that I can whip up enough for both of us and he adds grilled chicken to his. Here's what you need: 

1 cup of brown rice (simmers for about 45 minutes)

1 cup (dry) or canned black beans

1 cup (dry) or canned pinto beans 

chopped onions

chopped red peppers 

fresh basil 

fresh chopped garlic

black pepper 

If you use dry beans they take a little more preparation and cooking before adding vegetables. Otherwise,  combine the canned beans, onions, peppers, basil, and garlic into one pot and let simmer for about 30 minutes.  I don't measure the vegetables, just put as much or as little to your liking.  We added cherry tomatoes and a hint of cilantro to the top.  Sprinkle with pepper, a squeeze of fresh lime juice, and enjoy. 

XO 

BOTANICAL PRINTS // IN PROGRESS

I have been working on some simple black and white botanical prints.  I love this style so much and plan to do a little collection of these.  Even though I use lots of random colors in my work, greyscale always has my heart.  Painted using gouache / watercolor with a teeny tiny brush. 

XO

WEEKEND SCENES

A few snaps from my weekend... Friday my friend Jess and I set out to do some just for fun styling and pictures using items from their vintage shop. I'm wearing vintage dress, Forever 21 kimono, and Asos sandals // This weather has been awfully rainy but has made for some interesting, dramatic photos at the beach // (below) cold brew from Buddy Brew in Sarasota might be my new favorite // Needing a refresh from traveling & going into the last half of 2015 (sad) so I've been updating and rearranging, starting with my studio // These painted signs were for a wedding I shot on Saturday in Ybor City "real" photos to come // I shot photos for friends blog yesterday. They plan to launch this week and I'm stoked to share more on that soon.

Hoping you have a productive Monday, all this rain is making me tired! 

XO 

HAPPY FRIDAY + SOME LINKS

Happy Friday! Crunch time getting ready for my trip next week and tying up loose ends with work.  I'll be hustling this weekend and not doing too much relaxing.  I'm ok with that though because I'm going to ICELAND! 

Some things I liked this week: 

*This bungalow on Design Sponge 

*A great roundup of blogging tips and resources

*These geometric pieces on the Jealous Curator 

*Another new color board because I'm obsessed (must be my current hair color)

*This suit for the 4th 

*These bunny shoes make me happy

*This story about the #followmeto couples wedding - also get lost on his instagram, so charming & sweet

*This vintage shop

Have a beautiful weekend 

XO 

HAPPY FRIDAY + SOME LINKS

Happy Friday! 

I'm thankful this week is over as it was a little rough, but always sad to see how fast a week just flies by these days.  How do we make time slow down? 

Here are a few things I enjoyed this week from around the web: 

* An important topic on Design Sponge about fears, things that scare me

*An article on Garance Dore, turning dream jobs into reality

*This perfect bathroom makeover  with brass details

*This incredible, eclectic home tour on Apartment Therapy

*These mules are too die for, preferably the pink or the dot pattern

*Holyyy key lime pie on a stick, these look even better than the ones in Key West ;)

Enjoy your weekend.  XO 

HAWAIIAN MULES + A RELAXED GIRLS NIGHT

Saturday night I hosted a little girls night at my house.  Really hoping this will become at least a monthly thing!  It's so fun to entertain and experiment with crafting different cocktails.  Having simple snacks like a cheese plate, a "featured" cocktail, and some fresh flowers really brings everything together with minimal effort.  Relaxed, simple, and fun are always my goals when having anyone over.  We've all been into mules lately so we let the Hawaiian mules be the focus of this gathering.  

To make: 

Approx. 1/2 cup of pineapple vodka 

Half a can of ginger beer (we like goslings brand)

Splash of pineapple juice 

Squeeze of fresh lime 

Garnish with fresh pineapple, serve, and enjoy! 

XO

HAPPY FRIDAY + SOME LINKS

Drying flowers is the best.  A few snaps just for fun. 

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend! 

A few things I loved this week: 

Coffee & Coconut exfoliating scrub via Free People

Crushing real hard on this home, via sfgirlbythebay

A new couch is on our radar, this looks way too cozy

The cutest gingham sun dress for summer 

This guilded rim stemware from Anthropologie 

Unconventional studio portraits of dogs, so fun

This new Fitzgerald calligraphy print in my shop!

Really cute one pieces for summer via Urban Outfitters 

I love making boards organized by color, this one is really inspiring me right now

XO

EDIBLE GIFTS : PEPPERMINT CHOCOLATE COOKIE BARK

If you're up for some mad holiday baking this week, I highly recommend this simple and delicious cookie bark.  It's pretty ridiculous and super easy to make!

PEPPERMINT CHOCOLATE BARK COOKIES: 

2 cups flour

1/4 teaspoon of salt

1 cup (2 sticks) of unsalted butter

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 large egg yolk 

6 ounces bittersweet chocolate chips

1 cup chopped candy canes or herseys candy cane kisses

2 ounces white chocolate

*Preheat oven to 350.  Spray 13 x 9 pan with non stick spray and line with parchment. You'll be using this as a "handle".  Beat butter in a large bowl until creamy.  Gradually beat in sugar.  Continue beating until the mixture is light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla then egg yolk. Gradually add flour and salt, beating on low just to blend.  Drop dough in prepared pan spacing evenly.  Use moistened fingertips to press dough evenly along the bottom of the pan.  Pierce dough all over with a fork.  Bake the cookie base for about 30 minutes, until light golden brown and the sides start coming away from the sides of the pan.  Immediately sprinkle chocolate chips on top and let stand until they soften, just a few minutes. Use a spatula to spread the chocolate evenly.  Immediately sprinkle chopped candy cane on top.   Separately, microwave and stir white chocolate in small bursts until smooth.  If it's too thick add a little vegetable oil.  Use a fork to drizzle the white chocolate on top.  Cool until white chocolate hardens, about 30 minutes. Using the paper as your handle, remove from pan and place on a cutting board.  Using a large knife, cut the bark into irregular shapes or squares if you prefer.

xox 

EDIBLE GIFTS : LEMON SUGAR COOKIES

Sugar cookies are the best mainly for decorating purposes.  These were really fun to make with my family and bff this past weekend.  You can follow this simple sugar cookie recipe here but the frosting is the key to these so they harden and look pretty to decorate! 

2 cups confectioners sugar

1-2 tbsp milk (add more if it is too thick)

1 tbsp light corn syrup 

1/4 tsp of lemon extract (you could also do vanilla or almond!) 

Cream the first to ingredients together so they become light and fluffy.  With a mixer, add the light corn syrup and extract.  It should be really smooth and glossy, this is key to hardening after you frost them.  

Happy Baking!

STUDIO WORK LIFE / LATELY

It's been a whirlwind lately with the holidays in full swing.  Here is a little glimpse inside December so far.  My favorite month! 

(above) Some of my favorite cards from my shop.  Remember, this is the last weekend to shop! I'm closing my shop for holiday at the end of next week. Thursday will be the last date to receive orders in time for Christmas! 

 Client meetings with beautiful and delicious lattes at Oxford Exchange 

Some office snaps: A little corner of my studio (looking forward to get a little more organized up in here for 2015) / Calligraphy in grey tones (favorite!) / More poppies of course / some of my favorite greyscale floral prints available in the shop

The art of preserving flowers and my velvet ribbon obsession continues

My renewed passport aka daydreaming a lot about my upcoming trip to Antarctica.  Only 15 more days until we leave.  I am over the moon excited for this experience. 

Celebrated my birthday (a few times).  As usual my family, friends, and Hunter made the whole week exciting and special.  There were lots of flowers, cocktails, and cake.  Brunching and dinner. And my mom and I went to Orlando for the night.  We stayed at the Grand Bohemian, got massages, and did some shopping.  It was all perfect! 

Finally, my favorite little Christmas scene in the house. I love everything smelling like fresh pine right now.  

___________

As for this weekend I will be catching up on painting and editing, wrapping presents, beginning to bake, and working on some fun projects for this little ole blog.  Hope everyone has a lovely weekend as well.   xox 

AUTUMN HOLIDAY TABLESCAPE | INSPIRED EVENTS FOR OCCASIONS MAG

Priscilla of Inspired Events recently asked me to contribute a couple items to her fall table scape for a styling challenge from Occasions Magazine.  I was more than happy to create this menu in such an inspiring color palette.  These images really make me ready for Thanksgiving next week! Our table scape was chosen as one of six finalist.  You can vote for your favorite on Occasions Facebook page right here, simply be liking the photo (contest ends tomorrow). 

Styling: Inspired Events // Photos: Naomi Chokr // Florals: Victoria Blooms // Rentals: The Reserve Vintage Rentals // Calligraphy: Shannon Kirsten // Linens: Linens by the Sea 

HAPPY 4TH!

I'm back from New York just in time to celebrate the 4th of July! Watching the fireworks over the water is my fave.  I can't wait to share all that I've been working on and alllll of my photos from NYC! 

The above pictures were from an inspiration shoot with The Kissing Tree Vintage a couple weeks ago (see more on my photography blog)

Have a happy weekend! xx

WEEKEND TREAT : OATMEAL COCONUT PB COOKIES

Happy Friday! 

If you're looking for a little treat to splurge on this weekend, I suggest whipping up a batch of these oatmeal coconut peanut butter cookies.  They are pretty delicious! 

I'm giving you the "real" ingredients but I'm also all about substitutes to make sweets a little "healthier".  You could definitely use substitutions to make them vegan and/or gluten free and they would be just as good!  I usually do GF (your local health food store will have all the substitutes you need; flour, oats, etc).

Here is what you need: 

1 cup butter, softened 

i cup packed light brown sugar 

1/2 cup white sugar

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 1/4 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda 

1 teaspoon salt

3 cups of oats 

1 cup coconut flakes 

1 cup peanut butter (I used half a cup of peanut butter and half a cup of peanut butter chips because I was curious and also afraid that peanut butter would take over... but it didn't. So you could definitely add a little extra or use both to your liking!)

Preheat oven to 325. In a large bowl, cream the butter and both sugars until smooth.  Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla.  Combine the flour, baking soda, salt; stir into the creamed mixture until blended.  Mix in the oats, coconut, and peanut butter.  Drop by heaping spoonfuls onto an ungreased baking sheet.  Bake for approximately 12-14 minutes (I did 14 minutes because they were still gooey, just keep an eye on them).  Let them cool for about 5 minutes before transferring from the baking sheet to a wire rack or parchment paper to cool completely.  

Then style them and take some photos for your blog - kidding... that's the part that took the longest. ha.  However, I love experimenting with lighting and food photography so that's how the post came about after all.   I think I will work on more treat posts in the future.  Hope you enjoy! xox 

*adapted basic oatmeal cookie recipe from allrecipes.com

PAINTED PHOTOS // A FLORAL FEAST

If you follow my photography work as well, you'll know that I have been experimenting with studio settings lately.  I've been wanting to try some just-for-fun things that would allow me to combine my paintings with my photography.  I wanted to shoot these white and bright to make a simple palette for drawing over.  I just tried a few to start and also painted a backdrop for this shoot as well (middle photo).  I love doing things like this that allow me to combine my favorite things, hoping to make a full series in the future.  You can see more on my photography blog - shannonkirstenphoto.com/blog

xo