C&C in the Kitchen

I love granola. I could eat bowls and bowls of granola. Let's be honest...I have eaten bowls and bowls of granola. I'm pretty sure that's what I ate for breakfast nearly every day during college. I digress...

I rarely buy granola. I usually make it. The Mini Fashionista loves this brand. 

I've tried to get her on board with my homemade versions, but so far I've had no luck. But I think my luck could be changing. 

Thanks to my good friend, Katie K over at Dietitian on a Mission I have found THE BEST homemade granola recipe I have ever tasted. It tastes incredibly similar to the Nature's Harvest Granola that the Mini loves and it has the same light, airy texture. 

Katie promises granola with clusters and she delivers. I love granola with lots of clusters and usually my homemade granola falls short. Her directions to bake at a low temperature and NOT to stir are the key to success. Mission granola with crunchy clusters achieved! 

Try it, you won't be sorry! 

Ingredients:

1 cup chopped nuts of choice (I like a mix of almonds and cashews or pecans)

1 cup oats (gluten free, optional)

1/2 cup quinoa flakes

3/4 cup almond meal (or oat flour)

Pinch of salt 

1 cup seeds (I like a mix of pumpkin and sunflower)

2 Tbsp ground flax

1 Tbsp sesame seeds

1 tsp cinnamon 

1/3 cup coconut oil, melted

1/3 cup maple syrup 

1 Tbsp vanilla 

3/4 cup dried fruit (I use a mix of mulberries, cherries and cranberries)

Method:

- Preheat oven to 275. 

- Melt coconut oil. Set aside.

- In a large bowl, combine chopped nuts, oats, quinoa flakes, almond meal, salt, flax, seeds, and cinnamon. Stir.

- Add the oil, maple syrup, and vanilla. Stir well. 

- Pour granola into a rimmed baking pan . Bake for about 40- 45 minutes, until toasted and crunchy. Do not stir while baking. Remove from oven, and do not stir until fully cooked (to encourage clumps to stick around).

- Once cooled, add dried fruit and place granola is Tupperware. 

Dietician on a Makeup Mission

Sit back, grab your cup of coffee (or tea) and get ready to have your mind blown. I know mine was when I read this.

Let me re-introduce you to our lifelong friend Katie Kahn of Mission Delicious.

This woman is a dietician on a mission to keep you eating delicious and healthy food. We have shared some of her amazing recipes...date cookies, blueberry almond oat scones, and sweet potato pizza to name a few, but today she's not talking food.

Today is all about makeup, a subject Katie McBreen and I feel we could learn a thing or two about. So take it away Katie K.

I’m prone to blogging about food and nutrition, but when I’m not guzzling a Kombucha, or inhaling a Brussels sprout salad or brown butter chocolate chip cookie, I’m probably feeding my secret makeup addiction (it’s a ‘secret’ because I don’t want my husband to know about this, ok?). I can spend hours doing switchbacks in my makeup Triangle – Neimans, Nordstrom’s and Sephora all for the love of the hunt.  I’m shameless about it, too – I’ll even go with all four kids if the mood strikes (I do bring along food bribery, but to avoid too much judgment, I’m going to skip over this topic quickly☺). So, recently, I asked Regan and Katie if they would ever do a makeup product post and they said I could be a guest blogger and share my favs- love these girls for allowing me to share some of my makeup bag must-haves with their awesome, loyal followers! So thanks for having me, ladies!! XO

OK, so I think how I will do this is just make a list of my favorite products and fill you in along the way. Sound good? Apologies for the lengthy post but this is serious business, and I cut out half already.

1. Foundation:  Foundation junkie right here- always have been always will be. I don’t leave the house without it.  Seriously. I know this sounds lame, but when my skin looks good, I feel good, so it just works for me. When it’s done right, you should not look like you are wearing makeup- you should just look like you have awesome, glow-y, more even skin.  I have the hardest time with foundation because my skin is starting to show its age (i.e. pores, hyperpigmentation, fine lines) and I’m a stickler for a perfect color match. Over the years I’ve tested dozens of foundations, and have spent a small fortune for my your our benefit. Here’s my short list of products to try:
- Givenchy Éclat Matissime: pretty much my all-time favorite. It’s a perfect color match (I’m a shade 4, neutral tone), which is a great start. But I love the coverage and finish!!! It’s true to the promise by giving you a “mat radiance” look; not shiny, or overly dewy and the coverage is medium I’d say, but you can layer up as needed. It just looks like very healthy, beautiful skin. Added perks: SPF 20, blends into skin like a dream, especially with my Beauty Blender sponge (another must-have for applying foundation and concealer!!), layers perfectly for occasions that call for more coverage, and smells pretty, and lasts me all day.
- Dior HydraLife BB Cream: I’m surprised I love this product as much as I do mainly because I’ve never experimented with Dior face makeup before. But this BB cream ROCKS. I use color 02 (Golden Peach) and its perfect for summer and fall. But it’s too dark for right now ☹ The shade lighter in this lineup is way too light for me so it sits on shelf for a while. But I love this product because it gives you a natural look with a touch of dewiness, and added perk: SPF 30! People always comment on my skin when I wear this product. SOLD!
- YSL Le Teint Touche Éclat Illuminating Foundation: Right away, I should tell you this definitely has the dewiest finish of the foundations but I still adore it. Might not be for you if you have really oily skin. It totally brightens your skin, evens redness, and makes you feel oh so purdy. Perks: SPF 20, layers beautifully, good color range. I always set this with powder but staying power is pretty darn good either way.  Oh, and B30 and B40 are my winter/summer shades.
- Laura Mercier Silk Crème Foundation: I’ll be brief about this. This is your special occasion makeup.  Its full coverage without being heavy looking. This is a makeup artist secret product. I can’t tell you how many MA have told me that this is their favorite, so I know it’s not just me. Perks: photographs great, stays on like a champ, covers most flaws. I use my damp Beauty Blender sponge to apply but fingers work too! TIP: This has a thick formula but you can thin it with a little moisturizer.
- Amore Pacific Cushion Compact: Could NOT leave this product out. SPF 50; super fun application, light, dewy coverage. I layer mine to get a little extra coverage and it layers nicely. I usually use a finishing powder to help with shine. The color selection isn’t great, so just pray that you’re a match. This is a must-have for summer!!! Works perfectly as a primer, too. Smells amazing!

2. Under-eye Concealer: Holy smokes, I’ve got some crazy dark under eye circles so I have an arsenal of products but these are my top 3.
- Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage: This has changed my life! The compact comes with 2 shades-one to correct darkness and one to conceal/brighten. You really need to use a good under eye cream first, though, because it can be a bit drying. But once I figured that out, it’s been a dream product for me.  The two colors can also be blended to get a perfect match for blemishes.
- Cle de Peau concealer: they have 6 shades now; I’m beige. This product is $70 so with that price tag better come some miracles, right? Well, I wouldn’t say it’s a miracle worker but I solidly recommend it. What I discovered is that when I use a color corrector first, then apply Cle de Peau, the results are beautiful and really hide my dark circles. On its own, it just doesn’t cut it. However, if you have mild dark circles or any type of blemish (this works GREAT on zits and redness), this product will probably work perfectly on its own. It’s smooth, creamy, and doesn’t crease, really! It’s brilliant for aging/dry skin.
- Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer: I will be honest, I’m not a huge Nars makeup person, but I love this concealer. I usually layer it on top of my Laura Mercier concealer using my Beauty Blender to gently buff it out, and it does a great job brightening my under eye area and making me look well rested.  This is a must for when I go out at night or a special occasion (but I wear it all the time to the gym, too, not gonna lie).

3. Blush: I have at least 6 blushes and bronzers in rotation so its really hard to narrow it down for you but I wanted to share with you a new find that my mom turned me on to.
-Mac Mineralize Skinfinish in Cheeky Bronze: I can’t believe I like a Mac product, but I do. And even stranger, it has a “frosted, metallic finish” according to Mac- ick! -  And I still like it. I’m not a sparkly bronzer kind of gal – I like more of a matte look (love my Guerlain Terracota Four Seasons Bronzer for daily use), BUT when my mom bought this for me I decided to test it out. Hugely surprised to find out that it’s GORGEOUS on. You don’t need very much and it just perfectly bronzes and highlights your cheekbones with little fuss. I usually add a tiny bit of matte pink to my apples but this can definitely stand alone, too. Makes me feel like taking selfies all day to check out those dewy, defined cheeks!!

4. Mascara: Obsessed. Chanel Le Volume mascara in black. Major glamorous lashes. Not for people that like a super natural look. This is for those of us that like impact. Worth every penny.

5. Eyeliner: A few years ago I discovered liquid eyeliner pens and I can’t stop using them. They really give great definition to the eye, and allow for a natural to va-va-voom look depending on how you apply it. But there are some out there that are awful (bad applicator tip, bad packaging, difficult to work with, etc). The one I love is a bargain- you can find it at Target or CVS! Physicians Formula Eye Booster 2-1 Eyeliner +Serum in black.  It’s super easy to use, comes as a cute silver pen, and lasts me all day. Love that I can easily get that dramatic winged-look or a simple thin line in about 5 seconds.  Easy peasy and almost idiot proof.

6. Eye Shadow: I love Laura Mercier and Chanel eye shadows, but I wanted to share with you something a little more fun than your basic powder formulas. Last year I found Josie Maran’s Coconut watercolor eyeshadow in Playa Del Pink. It’s a liquid eyeshadow that is made with coconut water and some other stuff that’s supposedly good for your skin, like argan oil. But anyway, it’s a very hydrating formula, lasts all day (even through a sweaty workout), and doesn’t crease. I will be honest- it takes a little playing around with to get it just right, but once you figure out the application part, its just beautiful on. I love how this pink shade brightens your eyes and can be layered with other eyeshadows, even powder formulas.

7. Lip Gloss: The list wouldn’t be complete without this! I have probably 10 lip glosses in my purse. I love them all for different reasons. But if I had to share my favorites, I’d say Laura Mercier in Bare Blush. It’s the perfect color and I adore the texture.  Very natural and I love layering it, too.  I also love La Praire lip gloss in berry glace.  This one’s shimmery berry-pink and goes great with a tan.

Whew, I’m exhausted! And I have so many other products I want to talk about!! Maybe, just maybe C&C will let me come back for more product-talk. Did I mention I’m obsessed with skin care products, too? ☺

Happy makeup hunting and always remember the golden rule – it’s not very nice to keep beauty secrets to yourself!

~Katie

C&C in the Kitchen

Every now and again we come up with our own recipes, but usually we use our blog as a way to share recipes you might not have come across otherwise.

Today, I am sharing a recipe from our dear friend and Dietitian on a Mission, Katie Kahn. We have known Katie for pretty much our whole lives, and while we see each other rarely, we continue our lifelong friendship through social media, barre3 online, texts and the much too infrequent in person visits.

Here we are many, many years ago in the Wagon Days Parade in Ketchum. Katie K is on the far right and Katie and I are front and center in the matching hats and shirts...in case there was any confusion.

And then here we are just a few years later (6 years ago) at a family friend's wedding.

Katie is not only a Dietitian, but she is also a very busy mother of four. Let's be honest, she's pretty much Super Woman! Her little peach is the same age as the Mini Fashionista, and if those two lived in the same place, they would surely be up to all sorts of fun and trouble together, just like their mamas! I'll keep dreaming (Portland is lovely Katie...hint, hint!).

In the coming weeks you may be hearing more about Katie K, as Katie of C&C is currently participating in her 6 week health reboot.

On to the recipe... for Blueberry-Almond-Oat Scones. I made these little morsels earlier this week and knew immediately I had to share. They are SO delicous and nutritious (as far as scones go), my favorite combination.

I already have plans to try different nut butters and ingredients to make other versions of these tasty treats. Today I am sharing the original recipe. For her Original post and tons of other fabulous recipes, visit Katie's Blog here! 

Ingredients:

3/4 heaping cup oat flour (blend heaping 3/4 cup oats in your food processor until fine and powdery)
1/4 cup raw honey
1/4 cup organic peanut butter (or nut/seed butter of choice)
1 small banana, peeled
1 egg (you can also use a flax 'egg', 1 Tbsp flax meal + 3 Tbsp water, let rest for 5 minutes)
2 Tbsp coconut oil
1 tsp vanilla
2 Tbsp unsweetened shredded coconut, optional
3/4 cup oats
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 Tbsp each chia seeds and hemp seeds
1/4 cup sesame seeds
1/3 cup slivered almonds
2 Tbsp sunflower seeds
1/2 cup frozen organic blueberries

Method:
1. Preheat oven to 350. In your food processor, pulse 3/4 cup of oats until flour-like in consistency (about 1-2 minutes).  Set aside in small bowl.

2. In the empty food processor, add banana, honey, peanut butter. Puree until very smooth. Add the egg and pulse until incorporated. Add the coconut oil and the vanilla and blend well.

3. In a large mixing bowl, combine the oat flour, oats, salt, baking soda, baking powder, chia, hemp, and sesame seeds, and almonds and sunflower seeds. Mix until combined. Fold in the frozen blueberries gently. Let batter rest for 10 minutes.

4. Divide batter into 8 cookie-like portions on a lined baking sheet (I use a Silpat). Bake for about 12 minutes or unit lightly browned. Remove from oven to cool. Scones will keep fresh for 3 days in a sealed container, so freeze what you won't use right away.