Key Lime Parfaits

Key Lime pie is one of those desserts that screams SUMMER, but it is so refreshing and delicious, it would be a shame to only indulge in this for one season.  These parfaits have the scrumptious taste of Key Lime Pie, but have the beautiful presentation of a parfait.  

And the dessert is so simple, you will have a great dessert with very little fuss.  I love to eat this in my backyard with my feet up while I relax and watch butterflies having fun:-)  In the winter, enjoy this and smile when you think of what a great summer you had. For a great touch for entertaining, try serving these in shot glasses with mini spoons.

A gratuitous whipped cream shot. There is nothing quite like homemade whipped cream. Key lime pie is usually more of a yellowish color, but I wanted it to have a bit more of a green hue, so I used natural color from spinach leaves. You just simply boil in water and use a few green drops, but with green color or without, this tastes amazing.

Are you convinced?

Ingredients

     For the graham cracker crumble

• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs  

 For the Key Lime Cream

• 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
• 1/2 cup fresh lime juice
• 1 tablespoon grated lime peel
• (fold one cup of the sweetened whipped cream from the recipe right below 
 

 For the sweetened whipped cream

• 2 cups chilled whipping cream 
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar
• Pure Vanilla Extract

Directions

Melt butter in heavy small skillet over medium heat. Mix in brown sugar and stir until bubbling, about 1 minute or less. Mix in crumbs; stir until color deepens, about 3 minutes. Turn out onto plate and cool. 

To make the Key lime cream, stir condensed milk, lime juice and lime peel in large bowl to blend (mixture will thicken). Set aside while you make sweetened whipped cream.

For whipped cream topping, beat 2 cups whipping cream in bowl until stiff peaks start to form. Add 1/4 cup powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Make sure the bowl and the beaters are cold. It helps if you put the bowl in the freezer and the beaters 10 minutes before you make the whipped cream.

Using electric mixer, beat cream in medium bowl until firm peaks form; fold 1 cup of whipped cream into key lime cream mixture.  Save the remaining whipped cream for topping the parfaits.

Place 1/4 cup lime mousse in each of six 8- to 10-ounce wine goblets. Top each with 1 tablespoon crumb mixture, then 1/4 cup mousse. Top parfaits with remaining crumb mixture. Refrigerate at least 1 hour and up to 4 hours. Just before serving, add a generous dollop of whipped cream.

Bon Appetit!

Mint and Taupe

Hi Loves, How was your weekend? I apologize for my lack of  posts. To say I have been busy is an. understatement.  Do you ever feel like there are not enough hours in the day to accomplish all you need  to do? I have learned that worrying does not make things better and stress is even worse. Sometimes you have to find peace in knowing that things work out in the end no matter how crazy it may look. Have you ever thought someone was one way and then they showed you who they really were and you didn't want to believe it? How do you deal with unexpected circumstances?

I still have some great posts coming up, but I have a few mountains to climb. Today I am wearing a color combo that I love. Although mint green is often associated with spring and summer, it is a color I love to wear throughout the year. Taupe and mint is a beautiful color pairing that I never tire of. Do you like this color combo? What colors do you like to wear with mint green?

Vest: F-21, T-Shirt: H&M, Jeans: Old Navy, Handbag, Fashion District Bootiies: Urban OG

Mint Green always makes me think of ice cream:-)

So often we trade comfort for shoes that hurt our feet. These booties are so comfy that they actually have the same feeling as wearing flats. Cute and comfortable

I am so in love with this bag that I can't see myself packing it away until spring or summer.  I plan to wear this through fall too.

 

I can't believe summer is gone. I am actually happy to be moving into cooler weather and saying goodbye to those heat waves

Have a wonderful day!

Ortega 120

Chef Thomas Ortega does a great job of  taking the Mexican dining experience beyond the old standbys we all love, but are accustomed too. His name sake restaurant does a great job of marrying the farm fresh ingredients of California with the traditional flavors of Mexico. The restaurant has received critical acclaim and numerous awards including: Favorite Mexican Restaurant by the Daily Breeze and  "Top Ten Mexican Restaurants in America"

 Mexican food is always fun and festive. There are so many options and sometimes I think a lot of us forget that there is more to Mexican food than tacos and burritos.  Ortega 120 is located in the heart of Redondo Beach and offers all of those traditional favorites, but lots of other unique dishes that are a part of the chefs signature creations. Some of those mouthwatering creations are: pan seared Tilapia, Mole Ribs and a Latin Version of surf & turf with skirt steak and jumbo shrimp. My eating adventure started with chips, which were warm and fresh and salsa with just the right amount of heat. 

My mango Cadillac margarita was tasty and smooth and I usually prefer ice blended margaritas. It is not surprising that the margarita was so delicious considering that Ortega 120 has won numerous awards for their signature drinks and has created "Tequila University" which teaches patrons everything they ever wanted to know about Tequila including what the best appetizer pairings are. Everything I tried made my tastebuds happy, but what really stood out was a scrumptious appetizer called: Mexican style street corn. Baby corn fire roasted with a perfect blend of of dried pico de gallo, mayo and cotija cheese and so amazing I could have eaten a plate of these and gone home happy.  I indulged in a flavorful chicken torta with a side salad and had two sweet endings: Hot fresh churns with chocolate dipping sauce and homemade vanilla ice cream and warm Malasadas (portuguese donuts). Too good to even describe...

Fresh Salsa

Aren't fresh chips addictive? So hard to stop at one

Mango Cadillac Margarita

Mexican Style Street Corn

Look at the cheese, herbs and spices. So yummy

So you can tell I hated it by the empty corn cob, LOL

 If you have never tried a Torta, you are missing out on one of life's great pleasures:-)

The most delicious and flavorful salad with cilantro vinaigrette

Chicken Torta

 Chicken Enchiladas garnished with pickled onions

Mexican rice with fresh cilantro on top

Great atmosphere. Perfect for hanging out with friends or date night:-)

 Hot Churros with chocolate sauce and homemade ice cream

The homemade vanilla bean ice cream was de-licious!

Warm Chocolate sauce for dipping

 why stop at one dessert, when you can have two? These Malasadas (Portuguese donuts) with chocolate dipping sauce were the perfect after dinner treat.

can you imagine these with fresh coffee?

This ice cream was so good that I wanted to turn up this little serving dish and drink the remains, but that would have been unlady like huh? LOL

Try it for yourself and you will know what I mean:-)

Ortega 120

1814 Pacific Coast Highway

Redondo Beacch, CA

310-792-4120

Bon Bon Vie!

Happy Monday loves! How was your weekend? I went to a beautiful and moving wedding over the weekend. And I thought a lot about life and what it means to live it  in a way that makes each day purposeful and abundant.  There is an old adage by Abraham Lincoln that says: "Its not the years in your life that count, but the life in your years."  I expect a lot of beauty, color and intrigue in my life. And I chase after it until I catch it.

Bon Vie is the French term for good life.   I don't just want the good life, I want the good good life. So give me the Bon Bon Vie! What about you? The key to living this way is believing you deserve it and purposing in your heart to live this way no matter where you are in your journey. 

 

I wasted a lot of time in my younger years listening to people tell me who they thought I was or how I should live and then one day I woke up and realized that my life is mine to live any way I choose.  I can't get back the years I spent listening to other folks, but I sure can have fun making up for lost time:-)

Hat: Thrifted, White Shirt: Marshalls, Black Dress: Windsor

"I came so that you might have life, and have it more abundantly"

John 10:10

Here is to the Bon Bon Vie!