Recipe to Try: Spicy Sweet Potato Wedges

Sweet potatoes are yummy to eat in any season but they seem perfectly at home during the Fall. Here is a wonderful recipe that I happened upon via one of my favorite food blogs, Smitten Kitchen.

Roasted Spiced Sweet Potatoes

Adapted from Gourmet, January 2002
Makes 4 to 6 servings.

1 teaspoon coriander seeds

1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon dried hot red pepper flakes (the latter will make them quite spicy, so using according to your preferences)

1 teaspoon kosher salt

2 pounds medium sweet potatoes

3 tablespoons vegetable oil
Preheat oven to 425°F. Coarsely grind coriander, fennel, oregano, and red pepper flakes in an electric coffee/spice grinder or with a mortar and pestle. Stir together spices and salt.
Cut potatoes lengthwise into 1-inch wedges. Toss wedges with oil and spices in a large roasting pan and roast in middle of oven 20 minutes. Turn wedges over with a spatula and roast until tender and slightly golden, 15 to 20 minutes more.

{recipe and photo via Smitten Kitchen}

Beautiful Headband..Twigs & Honey...

I would like this glorious ribboned headband in my possession right now so that I can wear it everyday..well as close to every day as I possibly can.

{photo courtesy of Twigs and Honey}

Miniature Notepads...

Now don't these miniature notepads just make you want to throw a couple in your purse or give them away as favors?!

Iomoi has a number of beautiful items that would make perfect gifts and/or compliment your home! I'd def. drool a little bit if someone decided to give these away as gifts!

Smores Galore...

I'm having serious thoughts about giving these sweet treat smore kits as Christmas gifts to my co-workers! This is such a terrfic and wonderful treat & simple display that I really wish that I would have thought of it first. I don't know what I truly adore more, is it the clear packaging that let's you see the yummy goodness inside or the treat itself? Either way I'm going to enjoy putting them together and giving them away!

I've tried this recipe and it turned out divine!

{photo courtesy of Twig and Thistle}

Delightful Calendars...

I gladly happened upon one of the most creative calendars I've seen by Cats Let Nothing Darken Their Roar. How fantastically awesome are they?!
{photo courtesy of Cats Let Nothing Darken Their Roar}

Curbside Cupcakes...

OMG I'm so happy that this is real! A real live brightly colored pink cupcake van that drives around and sells yummy cupcakes. I love this town!

{photo courtesy of The Washington Post}

Same Day Update:

So I got a call shortly after I posted this and my co-worker called to tell me that Curbside Cupcakes was outside our job!!! {I mean honestly how totally radically blissful is that} I gathered up two of my other co-workers and dashed out the door and met Kristi and Sam! They are WONDERFUL people and so FRIENDLY. I had the Red Velvet Cupcake and be still my little ticker..IT WAS O-MAZING!!!!!!!!!!! The cupcake was so moist and flavorful and the cream cheese frosting...oh the cream cheese frosting was divine! I'm so glad that I was able to appease my palette and have a delicious cupcake to end off the work day!

Happy Birthday Office Style...

I'm thinking about doing this Happy Birthday Banner for a friend of mine at work. I love the fact that it's mini sized and can fit right onto her computer. It should be a lovely surprise for her. I'll post a picture of how it turns out! What will the creatives at Paper Source think of next!?

{photo courtesy of Paper Source Blog}

Penelope Toop Project...

is finally heading out the door as of tomorrow morning. A friend of mine wants me to make some party hats for her bridal party next year. So I mailed her some color samples in a little packet and away they go! Excuse the slight blurriness of the photo..PT needs a new camera pronto!

The small packet included:

a. PT Party Hat Color Request Form

b. PT Color Swatches

c. Self Addressed envelope

d. PT Business Card

I'm very excited about this project and the opportunity to showcase my little darling venture, *Penelope Toop!

*Penelope Toop is not only a blog, but it's me {though not limited to}...a darling little Party Planner and Favor Maker...♥

Flower Brooch My Darling...

Today I made a flowered brooch out of paper and I liked it so much that I put it on.

{finger snap snap}

Have a Lovely Weekend...

As the work day approaches its close and with the weekend right around the corner..I couldn’t be happier.

Things to do this weekend should include but are def. not limited to:
a. enjoying some “me” time
b. begin and finish a project
c. eat something sweet and tasty
d. spend some time with loved one {pets included}

As always, have a beautiful weekend, be safe and be lovely!

{photo courtesy of Miette}

Surprise!...

Yesterday my co-workers and I surprised my supervisor and took her to lunch to celebrate her birthday. Her actual birthday is on Saturday but we thought we’d do something early so that way she wouldn’t expect a thing. It worked. We had a series of clues {that I made} delivered to her by a few people and we even had our security guards play a role.
Her 1st clue let her know that the next day she would have to keep a watchful and observant eye as she will begin to receive a series of clues within that day. The 2nd clue was given to her manager to give to her after their Manager’s Meeting. That clue read that at 12:45 she needed to gather her belongings, turn off her office light, head to the elevator, and once in the lobby, stop by the guards booth and give her name {I had given them the envelope to give to Theresa}. The 3rd clue told her to head out of the building and head to the following address {which was the address of the restaurant}. She was given the 4th and final clue by one of our co-workers who met her outside of the building and it said SURPRISE & Happy Birthday! I love happy surprises and making people pleased as punch!

Mark Twain Humorist Award..Bill Cosby

I’m so excited that I have an opportunity to head to the Kennedy Center and be in the audience as Bill Cosby accepts the Mark Twain Humorist Award tonight! It should be a wonderful evening celebrating Bill Cosby and his comedic stylings over the years with special guests, dining, entertainment and just an overall fantastic evening! Some past awardees include, Richard Pryor, Lily Tomlin, Whoopi Goldberg and Carl Reiner.

I’m taking my camera and prayerfully I will have some wonderful photos to share. This is most assuredly going to be a GREAT night!

Go Pirates Go.....

I just want to give Victoria Secret {Pink} a rousing round of applause for finally allowing my alma mater & Home By The Sea, Hampton University to grace it's store, well online store that is, for it's Collegiate Wear!

I'm so super excited. They weren't selling Hampton U. items online and you could only purchase their wares in stores in the Tidewater Area. I'm doubly pleased as punch because I love Pink sweats as they are def. comy and this wonderful surprise just added an extra inch of smile to my day! Go Pirates Go!

Little White Dresser is so so Nice...

I'm so glad that I stumbled upon Little White Dresser and as usual I'm filled with glee. Eveything is so very beautiful and just warm with fuzzy thoughts at how creative people really are. I can't wait to purchase a few items from this shop.
{photos courtesy of Little White Dresser}

Oui Oui Paris....

these cards are so cute from Darling Clementine!

Have a Heart...

Now who wouldn't want to have this beautiful heart near the original ticker?

{photo courtesy of Finn Jewelry}

I {heart} Movies...

I will admit that I have yet to see Paris Je'Taime, but I do have the DVD at home and I think that I will watch it tonight and once I finish, I really do want to see New York I Love You that comes out in theatres today.

{photo of Real Simple}

Portable Sunshine...

I wouldn't mind toting around in this jacket this Fall and Winter season. Please kind ma'am or sir {cough cough, DB} make me extra happy and surprise me..oh yeah and you can put a big, fat bow on the box and/or bag.

Oh and don't worry about how I will keep warm, I'll wear long sleeves and wear a belt to keep my beautiful coat secured.

Thank you bunches!

{photo courtesty of Anthropologie}

Recipe to Try: Mini Lemony Loaves of Yummy Goodness...

I would love to walk into my kitchen, look over to the counter and find on a nice little dainty saucer, these nice Mini Lemon Pound Cakes ready for me to devour..lady like of course. yum yum yum

Tried and Fried

After my last showdown with trying to fry something, the end result was tasty but somewhere in the middle things got a little smokey and widows and the front door had to be opened. But alas, I will/shall not be defeated so I really do want to try my hand at pan frying and prayerfully there will be no smoke, the dog won't go bonkers and DB won't need to shoo smoke out the house!

While viewing the net, I happened upon a delightful and mouth watering recipe via A Cup of Jo courtesy of The Parsley Thief. The Parsley Thief gives a wonderful step by step directional of how to perfectly execute Parmesan Chicken Cutlets, my pan frying recipe of choice.

Parmesan Chicken Cutlets

{Adapted from Barefoot Contessa, Family Style Cookbook}

Serves 6

6 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

1 cup flour

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

3 extra-large eggs

1 tablespoon water

1 1/4 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs

1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Grapeseed oil

Trim the chicken breasts & remove the tenderloins. Reserve them for another use. Place the chicken between plastic wrap, or inside a resealable plastic bag & pound to a 1/4" thickness. Combine the flour, salt & pepper on a plate. Beat the eggs with the water & pour onto another plate. Grate the Parmesan cheese & combine with the bread crumbs on a third plate. Coat the chicken breasts on both sides with the flour, then dip into the egg & finally into the bread crumbs. Press down on the chicken slightly, so that the breadcrumbs adhere. Heat 2-3 tablespoons of the grapeseed oil in a large skillet, over medium low heat. It should be about 1/8" inch deep. When the oil is hot, cook 1-2 chicken breasts at a time for about 4-5 minutes, or until golden brown. Flip & cook an additional 4-5 minutes. Remove from the heat & serve immediately. Or, place on a cooling rack set over a rimmed baking sheet in a 250 degree oven, until ready to serve.

{photo courtesy of The Parsley Thief}