The Farmer’s Market

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Some of my favorite Sunday activities in LA include going on a hike, going out to brunch and going to one of the amazing Farmer’s Markets this city has to offer.  Doesn’t that sound like a perfect Sunday?

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I got up yesterday, got dressed and then headed off to the Brentwood Farmer’s Market.  I thought, “Oh this will be perfect… I will get inspiration from what’s in season and I will get all the ingredients to whip up something fresh and delicious for dinner and I can even make a blog post out of it.  It will be easy.”  Like I am Giada or Ina Garten or something.

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Well, it all sounded wonderful in my head… that’s not actually how it went down.

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I was so overwhelmed by all the amazing fruits, vegetables, flowers, food, breads and pastries that the Farmer’s Market had to offer.  I wanted everything.  But there is just one of me so I couldn’t buy everything… it would go to waste!

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Anyways, this is what I ended up with…

Carrots

A huge thing of Celery

1/2 pound of Dates

Strawberries

and a yummy Soft Pretzel

UMMMMMMMMMMmmmmmmmm……………….  What the heck was I planning to make for dinner with that??  I mean, I knew I didn’t have anything when I left.  I was like just get me out of here.  And next time I will come back with a plan.

Other bloggers make this all look so perfect and easy!  Well I’d like to announce that we are not perfect here at the Milly & Grace Girls.  We are real and don’t have it all together all of the time!

I sat at home for about an hour trying to figure out what I was going to do.  Anyways, I did come up with something.

A side dish that will be perfect for Easter!

Maple Roasted Carrots with Goats Cheese, Pecans and a Sweet and Hot Mustard Dressing

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I don’t have measurements.  Because I literally just went with it and didn’t know what it was going to taste like until after I took this picture.

Think very rustic, Jamie Oliver, simple, very few ingredients.  These were all ingredients I had in my house (except the carrots).

Ingredients

Carrots (A lot of carrots if you are serving them for a big group.  They shrink down a little when you roast them.)

A little Olive Oil, Salt, Pepper and Maple Syrup

Crumbled Goats Cheese

Toasted Pecans (chopped)

Trader Joe’s Sweet and Hot Mustard

Steps

1. Cut carrots.  However you want.  They could be more rectangular or circles.  Whatevs.

2.  Put the carrots in a bowl. Drizzle a little olive oil, salt and pepper.  Then drizzle the Maple Syrup.

3.  Pour onto a roasting pan.  Roast at 400 until they look roasted. Like this or a little bit more roasted…

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4.  Let them cool just a little.

5.  In the meantime, scoop some mustard into a bowl, whisk in olive oil until it looks like the consistency of a dressing.  Then pour a little Maple Syrup in… maybe salt and pepper?  Just taste it and see if you need to adjust.

6.  Now transfer carrots to your serving dish. Top with crumbled Goats Cheese (don’t be skimpy), add pecans and drizzle on the dressing.

7.  And then eat!!

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Note 1:  The drizzle of the dressing wasn’t enough, I kept adding a little more.  So you can put it on the carrots before you finish it with the goats cheese and pecans.

Note 2:  I thought the dish needed a little green… I didn’t have any fresh herbs though.  So I just sprinkled on a little crushed up oregano.  If you have any fresh herbs like thyme or dill or maybe mint… I am sure any of those would be yummy!

Note 3:  I think this side dish would be perfect with an Easter Spiraled Ham!  OR even steak!

My advice for Farmer’s Markets

Go with a plan/recipes already in mind

Walk through the Farmer’s Market once to check out the best stalls…

Then go back through to make your picks!

And you can always freeze your fruits and vegetables!

Let me know if you try out the recipe or if you have any questions about it!

Grown Up Check List

I have been 27 for 3 days.  I have been thinking a lot about 27.  I think 27 means that I am a grown up now.  I guess I better start doing grown up things.  Inspired by Emily’s 30 before 30… Here are my Things To Do Now That I Am A Grown Up.

1. Find my signature scent.  I have been wearing my Mom’s signature scent (which I absolutely love) but maybe I should be a grown up and get my own.

signaturescents 2. Be able to watch scary movies and not get freaked out.

3. Send out holiday cards.

4. Drink espresso and read the newspaper with reading glasses.

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5. Keep up with correspondences.

6. Do a proper Spring Cleaning a la Martha Stewart.

6. Cook more and have dinner parties.

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7. Have hand lotion on my bedside table and put it on before bed. (I see women doing that in the movies all the time! Do grown ups really do that?  Well, I’m going to… I don’t want old lady hands by the time I’m 30.)

8.  Eat more croissants.  (What?  It’s on the list.  I have to do it.)

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8. Have fresh flowers in my apartment.

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9.  Organize my closet and keep it organized.

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10.  And I guess… fall in love and ride off into the sunset and live happily ever after.

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That is my check list so far!  If you have any suggestions… let me know.  I am sure I will be adding to it!

Thank you all for the birthday love!  I am looking froward to a wonderful year :)

Cheers to 27!

Photo Credit: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Spring Playlist

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I have a TO DO list longer than ever… I guess that’s what happens when you go on vacation. But I am not complaining one bit! And I am sure I’m not the only one. Just taking one thing at a time and not overwhelming yourself is the best thing you can do! And then crossing them off my list makes me feel good! Sometimes you just need a little inspiration… and I feel like music always does the trick. I decided to put together a little pick me up playlist!  Here it is…


And sometimes I take a little dance break… it helps ;) How can you not want to dance to Happy by Pharrell or Whitney Houston!?

Have fun checking things off your list! XO

Photo Credit: Quote