Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Homemade Spicy Jalapeño Guacamole


Homemade Jalapeno Guacamole Recipe // Bubby and Bean
This post was written by my little sister Morgan, who happened to get all of the chef/cooking genes from our father, leaving me with none.  You can read her other recipe contributions here.  Thanks little sis for sharing this glorious avocado goodness while I'm off on my road trip!  xo, melissa

Hey you guys!  I'm back to share another of my favorite recipes - one that uses one of my all-time favorite ingredients.  What is green, mushy, and unbelievably tasty?  The incredible avocado!  I put avocados on everything.  I eat slices plain.  I just LOVE avocados.  And with this gorgeous weather we've been having lately (Indianapolis hasn't seen a summer like this in years), I've been making my favorite summer snack on the regular: guacamole.  I'll admit that on lazy days I grab the pre-made seasoning packet, but I prefer to spend some extra time and make it with all fresh ingredients. 

I especially love this guac recipe because it includes jalapeño for an extra kick. The great thing about guacamole is that you can add anything you want, and it's easily adjustable. Like it hot? Add more jalapeño. Think cilantro tastes like dish-soap (I'm talking to you Melissa)?  Leave it out! Half the fun is playing around with different ingredients and seeing what yummy guacs you can come up with. 


Serves 2-4 as an appetizer/dip
Time: 20 minutes


Homemade
  • 3 small or 2 large Hass Avocados (these are the ones you usually see in supermarkets)
  • 1/3 cup chopped tomato or cherry tomatoes
  • 1/4 cup diced red onion
  • 1 tablespoon diced jalapeno (be careful to remove all white veins and seeds!)
  • 1 medium sized garlic clove, minced
  • a few sprigs of cilantro, finely chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin powder
  • juice of 1 lime
  • salt and pepper to taste


1. Chop/dice ingredients (other than avocado) as stated above in ingredient list.
2. Cut the avocados in half and remove all the green goodness. Place in a mixing bowl. Discard seed and skin.
3. Using a fork, break up the avocado into large chunks.


4. Add remaining ingredient and mush mush mush! (feel free to leave some chunks if that's what you like)
5. Grab your favorite tortilla chips and a refreshing margarita and dig in!

Homemade Jalapeno Guacamole Recipe // Bubby and Bean
Homemade Jalapeno Guacamole Recipe // Bubby and Bean

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Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Guess Who WON the Big July Giveaway?


The Bubby and Bean Big July Giveaway Winner

Greetings from the road!  I'm just stopping in to extend a thank you to everyone who entered the Big July Giveaway, and to announce the lucky winner.  As always, the winner was randomly selected via random.org, and that Bubby and Bean reader is...




CONGRATULATIONS MELEAKUA! You are now the official recipient of a $240 prize package from SoulMakes, Gaia Conceptions, Starletta Designs, Little Tree, and Bubby & Bean Art(Please contact me at bubbyandbean {at} gmail.com so we can discuss getting you your prizes.)


Thanks again to Bubby and Bean's July sponsors for contributing such great prizes.  And if you didn't win this giveaway, be sure to stop back by this Friday for another amazing giveaway from our pals at Blowfish Shoes!

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Let's Talk Food Storage Temps (+ A Strawberry Basil Margarita Recipe!)



Thank you Electrolux for sponsoring this post. Visit www.livelovelux.com to enter the perfect temp sweepstakes through 8/22 for a chance to win an Electrolux French Door Refrigerator and a trip to the Bahamas!.


If you read the title and are wondering what's up with me devoting a post to talking about food storage temperatures, here's the thing.  When it comes to the kitchen, I'm one of those people who tends to make little mistakes that end up costing me down the road.  This often pertains to failed attempts at cooking, but it's also happened more than once with storing food.  I can't tell you how many times I've gone on a produce spree, spending more than I should on organic fruits and veggies in bulk, only to have them go bad because my fridge wasn't the right temperature.  It may sound silly, but I have learned a valuable lesson: finding the right temperature to store your food is actually pretty important. 

Back in the spring, I teamed up with my pals over at Electrolux to share my dream kitchen spaces with you guys.  And today, I'm partnering with them again - to talk to you a little about food storage, yes, but also to share a pretty incredible recipe for strawberry basil margaritas.  (Which sadly, as a pregnant lady, I cannot currently enjoy.  But my sister and friend said it's their new favorite.)


So first, let's talk for a minute about the whole fridge food storing thing.  See, I'm a fan of Electrolux refrigerators for many reasons.  They have great style, they're eco-conscious, and they're affordable for all the features they have to offer.  But I have to admit that this whole 'perfect temp' thing might be the biggest reason for me.  The Electrolux French Door Refrigerator features something pretty innovative called the 'Perfect Temp Drawer with Luxury-Close.'  It provides ultimate control with a customizable, versatile temperature zone designed to store a variety of foods and beverages at the ideal temperature.  Pretty cool, huh?  The refrigerator's adjustable, humidity controlled Crisper Drawers also keep fruits and vegetables fresher longer, with self-closing drawers that provide a tighter seal to lock in freshness.  I really need to get my hands on one of these.  Mass produce fails, you might just be a part of my past.



And now for the margarita recipe!  Please let me know if you make this, and don't leave out any details.  I'll be living vicariously through you and all of my fellow margarita lovers until this little one is born.  This recipe was actually contributed by Kelly Ripa (yes, that Kelly Ripa) via Electrolux.  So awesome.  Kelly says, "My go-to cocktail for outdoors summer soirees is the Strawberry Basil Margarita.  No one can resist this amazing drink with its delicious blend of ingredients; the black pepper and basil really bring out the sweet flavor of the strawberries."  I'm sold.

Serves 1
  • Place one strawberry and two basil leaves in a rocks glass.  Then, using a muddler, press down lightly on the leaves and give a few gentle twists.
  • Add remaining ingredients and stir together (one oz. silver tequila, 1/2 oz. strawberry liqueur, 1/2 oz. triple sec, one oz. fresh lemon juice, dash of black pepper)
  • Top with ice and garnish with a strawberry and a basil leaf. 
  • Keep ingredients and garnishes fresh at the ideal temperature (I use my adjustable, humidity-controlled Crisper Drawers, which keep fruits and vegetables their best, with self-closing drawers that lock in freshness.)

One more thing:  Now through August 22, visit www.livelovelux.com and enter the Electrolux Perfect Temp Sweepstakes daily for a chance to win your own Electrolux French Door Bottom Mount Refrigerator and a trip to a climate with a perfect temp - the sunny Abaco Islands in The Islands Of The Bahamas!  And if that wasn't rad enough, for every entry and share, Electrolux will donate $1 to Ovarian Cancer Research Fund (OCRF) with the goal of reaching $125,000. 

Any other food temperature control freaks out there?  Got any other weird kitchen quirks you'd like to share?


Thank you for supporting Bubby and Bean by allowing me to post occasional sponsored content. All sponsored posts feature products or services that I genuinely feel would be of interest to you. 
I
was selected for this opportunity as a member of
Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.


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Monday, July 29, 2013

The Last Big Road Trip (We're Outta Here!)


The Last Big Road Trip // Bubby and Bean

Tomorrow morning, Robbie and I are leaving town for a week to take what will officially be our last big road trip before baby comes.  Admittedly, we fly (like, a lot) more than we travel by car these days, but we've both been itching for a road trip to somewhere more than a few hours away for quite some time now.  We've had this idea in our heads for a couple of months, hoping to squeeze it in during his time off.  There always seemed to be something getting in the way though (ahhh, reality).  Even with running my own companies and having a kick ass employee, it's really difficult for me to take time away from the office for more than a few days.  And then of course, there's money.  And bills. And car issues.  And all of the other boring grown-up things that always make us talk ourselves out of just taking off on adventures - something that came so freely to us in our younger days, when I literally spent entire summers on the road.


After my grandmother Maggo passed away last Tuesday, we decided that we need to make this trip happen.  Robbie's Nana has been ill as well, and Robbie hasn't been able to visit her since February - so that was a major motivator.  (Our first order of business will be to drive to Kansas City and spend a couple of days with her.)  We are also well aware of the fact that once our little one is born, it's going to be infinitely more difficult to just pick up and leave - something that we've taken for granted for the last seven years of our relationship.  And Robbie having this much time off the road in the summer is a very rare occurrence, so we figured that we'd better take advantage. 


After spending a few days with Nana, we're going to visit Robbie's childhood home town, then take our time driving west through Kansas (which I always think of as being the longest state ever to drive across; thankfully it's usually gorgeously full of sunflowers this time of year), and into Colorado.  From there, we'll head up to Summit County for just a couple of quick days to see my dear friends John and Rhonda and their babies who live in the area, as well as Robbie's parents, who spend a couple of months each summer there.  Although I only lived in Colorado for a couple of years and moved away over ten years ago, I still consider it home in my heart.  (And to all of our wonderful friends who live in Denver, Boulder, and Fort Collins: we wish we had more time and could visit all of you, but we're doing the best with the time we have. We love you!)  After that, we'll head back home.  The drive from Colorado to Chicago, once you get out of the mountains (so basically 95% of it), is pretty grueling.  I love you midwest, but sixteen straight hours in a car with you = brutal. We'll find a way to make it fun though.  We're pretty good at that.


So that's the plan ya'll.  The blog will still be in full action while I'm away.  I've written and scheduled a few posts, have some seriously awesome guest posts, and I'll also be checking in from the road.  If you'd like to follow along with the adventures from our 'last big road trip,' follow me over on Instagram (@bubbyandbean).  See you in a week!

Photographs in this post are from various road trips that we've take over the past few years. xo


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Friday, July 26, 2013

Come Be a Part of Bubby & Bean in August!


Come Be a Part of Bubby & Bean in August!

With only a few days left in July, it's time for the official August sponsor call here at Bubby and Bean.  There is already a whole lot of goodness planned for the blog for August, and if you have a shop, blog, Etsy store, or small business, I'd love for you to be a part of it!  A Bubby and Bean Sponsorship is an affordable, effective way to promote your brand to several thousands of interested people every single day.

In addition to promoting sponsors through their ads on all pages and posts here at Bubby and Bean, I work one on one with each advertiser to ensure that they are given optimum exposure through the blog and our social media channels.  For more information on our various advertising packages, current stats, press, and pricing, visit our sponsor page right here. You can also book your ad space there directly in one click.  We currently have a handful of spaces open in each size for August (except for XL, which is booked through November).  All ad spaces are first come, first serve. 

Have questions?  Feel free to contact me

I Have A Newsstand On My iPad (I Love You Next Issue!)


Thank you Next Issue for sponsoring this post. Click here to try Next Issue free for 30 days!

From the time I was a little girl, I have been in love with magazines.  I remember looking through my mom's monthly issues of Vogue, daydreaming for hours about the fancy fashions and pretty pictures.  When I was first starting out my career as a clothing designer, I had boxes upon boxes of magazines for inspiration, and magazine clippings covered the walls of my studio.  These days, I never get on an airplane without at least two magazines in hand - it's my special traveling treat.

Despite my affinity for good old fashioned magazines, like most of us, I've become a primarily digital person.  These days, I tend to read blogs and websites of magazines more than the actual magazines themselves.  My iPad is just infinitely more convenient to carry than lugging around a stack of mags.  I do often feel like I'm missing out though by not reading my favorite magazines on a regular basis - which is why I was so thrilled to discover Next Issue.



Next Issue is an app that allows you to browse, manage, and read all of your favorite magazines - including current and back issues - in one place.  Pretty rad, right?  I downloaded it a week ago and have been absolutely hooked.  There are so many great features, but so far, I think I'm the most impressed with the custom setting options.  I love that I'm able to set it up to download my favorite mags for offline reading anywhere, and even set up automatic download for titles on my 'always-read' list.  I'm also pretty fond of the fact that I can use Next Issue on up to five different devices with a single account.  My husband and I have each been able to relax before bed and read our individual favorites on our iPads, at the same time.  I also really like the fact that the concept is so much more eco-conscious than buying a bunch of paper magazines.


If you're anything like me (you love your magazines but would prefer not to have to haul them around), I highly recommend giving Next Issue a try. They're even offering up a free 30-day trial right now (woot!), which you can check right here.  If you choose to continue after that, it's $9.99 a month for the unlimited basic, or $14.99 a month for unlimited premium.  Not bad considering you'd pay that for just 2 or 3 copies of printed magazines - and with Next Issue you get access to 90 of them. 


Are you a serious magazine lover like me?  Do you prefer the printed versions, or have you converted mainly to digital?


Thank you for supporting Bubby and Bean by allowing me to post occasional sponsored content. All sponsored posts feature products or services that I genuinely feel would be of interest to you. 
I
was selected for this opportunity as a member of
Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.


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Bubby and Bean on Bloglovin

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Guess Who WON the Hearts Fair Trade Tote Giveaway?


Guess Who WON the Hearts Fair Trade Tote Giveaway?

Big thanks to all of you who entered the Hearts Fair Trade Tote Giveaway for a chance to win the oh-so-stunning (and sustainable!) Mint & Grey Rope Tote.  The winner was chosen via random.org, and that lucky Bubby & Bean reader is...




Congratulations Courtney!   Please contact me at bubbyandbean {at} gmail.com with your shipping address.

Thanks again to the fine folks over at Hearts for giving Bubby and Bean readers the chance to win a pair of their amazing shoes!  And if you haven't yet, be sure to check out this month's big group giveaway (today is the last day to enter!).

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