recipes | Girl Meets Life | a lifestyle blog by Gracie Gordon

eats: Cinnamon Brown Sugar Apple Crisp.

26 November, 2014 by Gracie 2 Comments

We’ve all got them – those family favorite recipes that you just have to make every holiday season.

Growing up, I can’t remember a year where we didn’t make Apple Crisp some time around Thanksgiving. It’s the perfect delicious and comforting dessert, which also happens to be quite easy to make. So when asked to partner with Grain Foods Foundation to bring you a holiday favorite recipe, I knew exactly what to share!

ingredients:

4 medium (or 3 large) apples, peeled and thinly sliced
1 cup brown sugar, packed
3/4 cup flour (I used almond flour)*
1 cup regular oats
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 tablespoon + 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 teaspoons granular sugar

directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place apples in a greased 8×8 baking dish, and sprinkle with granular sugar and 1/2 tsp cinnamon.
In a separate bowl, mix together the melted butter and brown sugar, then add the oats and flour.
Spread topping on the apples and bake for 28-30 minutes.

* I was really excited that using almond flour in this recipe turned out well! White flour and oat flour work great too. You can use the flour of your choice.

One of the best things about this recipe is that you don’t have to (and shouldn’t) wait for it to cool before digging in Don’t forget the vanilla ice cream!

Please note that this post is sponsored by Grain Foods Foundation. All opinions herein are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible.

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What’s one of your family’s favorite recipes during the holidays?

here’s what | 11.23.14.

23 November, 2014 by Gracie 12 Comments

Sheesh, I haven’t done a life lately post in forever! So here’s what are some little things going on in this life I’ve met…

1. Might as well start with these goodies – Magic Cookie Bars that I made for our girls’ night last week. I followed this recipe but made them gluten free by using gluten free graham crackers.

2. Speaking of gluten free, the other day when I was running around the city for errands/meetings, I treated myself to a nice sit down lunch at Le Pain Quotidien. I got the ricotta & prosciutto tartine on gluten free crisps, along with a macaroon for dessert. Since going off Whole30 I’ve been trying to at least stay gluten free (as well as sugar free), just because like every other person in the world it’s been engrained in my mind that gluten is the devil. Or whatever.

3. SPEAKING of Whole30 (like my segues so far?), as expected I’ve slowly but surely let my diet go back to (mostly) crap. I’m going easy on myself because HI I’m human and it’s basically the holiday season now, but I still want to clean things back up a bit again. I’ve failed miserably at keeping track of my meals on Tumblr, but I’m really going to do it this time. Hold me accountable, y’all!

4. Since Whole30 I HAVE been getting my booty back to the gym, though, and it’s felt great. I’m planning on getting a new routine from a trainer soon, which I’m really looking forward to. A girl can only climb 45 minutes worth of stairs leading nowhere for so long…

5. Lately I’ve been feeling a bit of a quarter-life crisis brewing. Is that normal? Please tell me it’s normal. Some days I wake up and I LOVE what I do. Love love love. But other days I feel discontent – like there’s something else/more that I should be doing. I don’t feel it strong enough to change anything (like I said – most of the time I’m very happy with what I do), but it’s still something I want pray about in keep in the back of my mind.

6. The only thing worse than falling down the stairs is falling up the stairs. And the only thing more embarrassing than falling up the stairs is doing so in front of your neighbor. Not that I’d know, or anything.

7. My love/hate relationship with Snapchat has been leaning toward lovin’ lately. It’s such a fun way to keep in touch with people without the pressure of responding to texts all day (no offense). Plus I like to use it to whine about really important things like being cold and not brushing my hair.

(Be my friend @alagracie! But keep it PG, por favor ;))

8. I’m that person who plays songs over and over and over again when I really love them. And thanks to Hype Machine (and Martina for introducing me to it), that has been happening a lot lately. I’m especially going loco over this Weekend remix. (p.s. I have a new playlist coming your way this week!)

9. I think I might be officially outgrowing my “party” days. Of course I’ll always love fun nights out with my friends, but the idea of spending a Friday/Saturday night doing dinner and a movie is 1000% more appealing these days.

10. IT’S ALMOST THANKSGIVING!! AND CHRISTMAS!!! Anyone else excited to eat too much food and spend too much money? I’m kicking it off my buying myself a new MacBook in a few days. I’m on my 5th PC in less than 5 years, and it’s time…

But seriously. I am that girl that is a wee bit holiday obsessed, and I couldn’t be more excited for this next month.

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Will you be buying yourself any (early) Christmas gifts? What about the holidays are you most excited for?

eats: whole30 approved mayo + bang bang shrimp.

30 October, 2014 by Gracie 9 Comments

You guys. I have to make a PSA.

If doing the Whole30 challenge, you must make the homemade mayo from the Whole30 website.

It’s not the mayo you’re used to – it’s much creamier, milder, and can very easily be made into different sauces and dressings!

Before I even started Whole30, my friend Emily insisted that I made sure to make this mayo. My first time around was a complete failure because I used extra virgin olive oil (later seeing that that’s a no-no). It was disgusting.

BUT – when made correctly – it’s a game changer.

I used it in this bang bang shrimp, which you can find the recipe for here.

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Do you ever make usually-store bought food(s) from scratch?

eats: whole30 approved chili.

16 October, 2014 by Gracie 11 Comments

I’m now on day 5 of the Whole30 challenge, and so far it’s being going great! I’m already feeling some changes in my body/energy, and I just keep getting more and more motivated to stick to it as the days go on.

…That’s not to say it’s been easy, though Turning down pumpkin whoopie pies last night was not my defining moment.

The first couple of days were particularly tough because I was eating boring food (i.e. plain grilled chicken and veggies). So on day 3 I decided to get creative and experiment with making chili, and I was VERY happy with how it turned out.

(Recipe can easily be doubled to serve more. I used all organic ingredients, but obviously not necessary!)

ingredients:

1 lb ground beef
2 bell peppers, diced
1 large onion, diced
14 oz can diced tomatoes
3 tbsp tomato paste
1 tbsp chili powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp paprika
1 tsp minced garlic
salt and pepper to taste
coconut oil

directions:

First cook the ground beef in a stovetop pan with coconut oil and seasonings of your choice (I used salt, pepper, and a bit of extra chili powder). Set aside.

In a large pot, sauté the peppers and onions in coconut oil. Once they’re softened (about 10 minutes) add the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, cooked beef, and seasonings. Mix all together and let simmer for another 6-10 minutes uncovered.

It’s that simple! It might not be the real deal slow cooking chili, but it tastes pretty darn close. The tiny bit of cinnamon makes a HUGE (delicious) difference. Not to mention it’s QUICK, and Whole30 approved!

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Anyone else doing (or have done) Whole30? Would love any tips/suggestions you might have!

eats: kale & quinoa minestrone soup.

6 October, 2014 by Gracie 10 Comments

Now that it’s October, I think it’s pretty safe to say it’s officially comfort food season. And what’s more comforting than a massive bowl of soup?

Okay…maybe mac & cheese. Or grilled cheese. Or anything with cheese.

But soup is definitely up there on the list. And since I’m trying to eat on the healthier side this month, this Kale & Quinoa Minestrone Soup is veggies meet comfort food perfection.

To make the soup I followed this recipe to a T. It took just about an hour from start to finish.

I actually made this same soup once before and my whole family loved it. It’s a recipe I definitely wait until I’m at my parents’ house for because – let’s be real – a homemade soup with lots of prep isn’t exactly conducive to an NYC apartment kitchen.

If you’re looking for a hearty and delicious (and even healthy) soup for fall – this is definitely one worth trying! And for the sake of comfort food, don’t hesitate to top it with a bit of parmesan cheese

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What’s your favorite comfort food? Favorite soup?

salted caramel “trick or treat” candy bark.

26 September, 2014 by Gracie 7 Comments

Halloween is still more than a month away, but since it’s officially fall I’m thinking I can share this recipe now, right?

Salted Caramel “Trick or Treat” Candy Bark

Adapted from this recipe

Ingredients:

1 bag waffle-style pretzels
1 (16 ounce) package vanilla CandiQuik coating OR 20 ounces white chocolate chips
1 (11 ounce) package caramel bits
1/2 cup Reese’s Pieces
Candy corn (desired amount)
1/4 cup orange candy melts
1/4 cup chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Line a baking sheet with wax paper and then place the pretzels in the pan side by side.

2. Get your fixings ready!

3. Melt the caramel in a microwavable bowl according to package directions. Stir the caramel until it is smooth and then spoon caramel over each individual pretzel. Allow to cool for five minutes.

4. Melt the vanilla coating or white chocolate chips in the microwave according to package directions. Pour the coating over the caramel and spread evenly.

5. Melt the orange candy and chocolate chips in two separate microwavable bowls. Stir and then drizzle each one separately over the bark.

6. Right away, place the Reese’s Pieces and candy corn on the coating and press down lightly.

7. Allow the candy to harden. If you used white chocolate chips, let it harden in the refrigerator.

8.Break the bark into pieces. Peel the wax paper from the caramel and then — dig in!

Click here for the original post I did for SheKnows

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What’s your favorite Halloween candy? Ever try making your own?

peanut butter s’mores cake batter blondies.

22 September, 2014 by Gracie 8 Comments

If you’re reading GML right now, there’s a 90% chance you found me through my Cake Batter Blondies recipe What started out as a random baking experiment turned out to be my most popular post ever!

A few years ago I took the famous CBB’s to the next level with a bunch of different variations, but I haven’t tried a new one in quite a while.

…until yesterday. And I thought HEY – why not go all out?

These blondies are loaded to the brim with just about everything delicious. I was going to make a pumpkin variation because it’s OMG FALL, but s’mores seemed just as appropriate (and more fitting for blondies) for this best season of the year.

Peanut Butter S’mores Cake Batter Blondies

ingredients:

1 box yellow cake mix (I always use Betty Crocker)
1 egg
1/4 cup canola oil
1/4 – 1/2 cup milk *
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter chips
1 cup mini marshmallows
1 cup crushed graham crackers (5-6 crackers)

directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Place cake mix in a large bowl, set aside.

In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and oil.

Add wet mixture to the cake mix and combine as much as possible, then add the milk.

* Add as little milk as possible to just get the batter to come together. You want it to be THICK – almost like a cookie dough.

Peanut Butter S'mores Cake Batter Blondies

Mix in the chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, marshmallows & graham cracker pieces.

Place batter in a well-greased 8×8 pan or 8 inch cake pan.

Bake for 26-29 minutes or just until the edges turn golden. **

Let cool for 60 minutes before cutting because the batter-like center needs to set.

** Don’t be tempted to over-bake!!! That will result in a drier cakelike texture, not the ooey-gooeyness we’re going for!

I’m REALLY happy with how these turned out. They have the great classic cake batter flavor of the original blondies, but the extra crunch from the graham crackers and the melty marshmallows is out of control (in a good way).

You could omit the peanut butter chips if that’s too many flavors, but I found it to be a great addition. Then again, I fall in the you can never go wrong with peanut butter camp.

Bottom line – these are basically all the goodness of s’mores without having to sit by the campfire.

But you could still eat them around a campfire. Or your couch. Or your bed. I don’t judge.

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Are you a fan of s’mores recipes? What new variation of Cake Batter Blondies would you like to see?

SBC: top 5 of summer, top 6 for fall.

6 September, 2014 by Gracie 9 Comments

Hey hey, happy Saturday!

Let’s jump right into #5 and #6 of the September Blogging Challenge, shall we?

top 5 highlights from summer.

In no particular order…

Spending nearly 2 weeks away with my family.
I haven’t spent this much time with my family in almost 4 years! I got to see both my mom and dad’s sides of the family, and my sister Katie who moved to Florida last year. The fact that I was able to escape the city and be at our shore house didn’t hurt either

Fourth of July in Montauk.
If I had one regret from this past summer it would be that I didn’t spend more time out east. BUT I’m so glad I at least got to spend 4th of July in Montauk with my friends. It was a great few days – brought back so many memories of the past few summers out there, and made some new ones.

My first trip to Vegas.
Even though it was more of a work trip, I had so much fun!

Taking a month off from blogging.
This was one of the best decisions I’ve made recently - I learned so much from it.

Adventures in the city.
This is always a highlight (of life), but it’s especially fun in the summer when everything can be outdoors.

top 6 things I’m excited about for fall.

New (unexpected) things.
I know that’s ridiculously broad, but there’s no other way to put it! I’m a highly expectant person (sometimes I think maybe too much so), so I always get excited entering into a new season. I can’t help but think that new seasons in weather/time also represent a new season in life.

The clothes.
I love me some cutoffs and crop tops, but I can’t wait to reintroduce jeans, boots, and jackets into my life.

The food.
Yep, I’m one of those pumpkin-obsessed weirdos. I would really love to try some new recipes – any pumpkin baked goods you recommend?

Halloween.
It’s on a FRIDAY, people. I want to dress up as something really fun. But cute. Cute and fun. Last year I was ketchup soooo I’m thinking I can only go up from there.

New goals.
I have a few things on the agenda (especially for Speakable and GML) that I’m really excited to start rolling out in fall.

THIS CITY.
Seriously – New York is magical in fall – more so than any other season. Summer is too hot, winter is too cold, we tend to skip spring, but fall is juuuuuuust right.

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Your turn! Give me a highlight of your summer and/or what’s making you excited for fall!

cake batter blondies, things christian girls say, and awkward selfies.

28 August, 2014 by Gracie 19 Comments

Something I’ve always found humorous is what people search to find GML. You guys…I get some WEIRD ones. And raunchy ones. And ones where I can totally tell who searched it

Anyway, I recently saw Brittany’s post addressing some of her most searched terms, and I thought it was such a fun post idea!

So here are some of the most searched terms that lead to GML + my commentary.

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life in nyc blog – nailed it.

how to get a job in new york – It’s not easy, but not impossible either. People get jobs here every day! Here are some of my tips.

cake batter blondies – my most popular post ever! For good reason. Also – my most ripped off recipe :/ But we won’t go there.

make brownies with cake mix – what initially led to the Cake Batter Blondies idea. Just follow same steps but with chocolate cake mix.

red velvet brownies from cake mix – are you noticing a trend here? Sorry for all the link ups, but here’s that recipe!

how to wear clothes that do not flatter me – but why…? I can’t bring myself to give suggestions for this.

things christian girls say – hahaha - “I’ll pray about it,” “I just had revelation,” “#blessed,” “my body is temple,” “I need to journal about this” … (this guy nails it)

living in new york pros and cons – they’re always changing depending on the season of life you’re in, but here are some of mine. Right now I’d say the biggest pro is the endless possibilities, and just how magical it is (yes – it still feels that way 3.5 years later!). The biggest con is that I miss having a car.

why is there so much pressure for girls to settle down – is there? I think it depends on where you live and your upbringing/social circles, but either way I wouldn’t give in to it. Do what makes you happy, and do what’s best for your future life/family – not what you think you’re “supposed” to do.

i’ve never asked my self about why life is like this – like what? I’d say keep asking those questions and see where it leads you.

how to make girl friends in ny – been there, I can relate! My #1 tip would be to just keep putting yourself out there and embrace any opportunity to meet new people. Here’s a post I did with tips on making friends in New York, and one on making girl friends in general.

wise words to say to a girlfriend – that she’s beautiful, duh! And tell her the truth about whether you really like her outfit or not. She may not like it at first, but she’ll appreciate it later.

i never wear heels so difficult – the struggle is real. Practice makes perfect! Investing a higher quality shoe helps too. Or just embrace that sassy little height of yours.

tapas restaurants in west village – there are SO many, but I love me some Alta.

best girl blogger – oh shucks, stop it.

awkward selfie – (s) are the best selfies.

i just cant help myself not to love them cupcakes – I feel you.

buffalo stuffed avocados – it’s not actual buffalo buuut here ya go.

so hard not to text him – so maybe you should just text him? Unless he did something horrible…then don’t. Or if he’s dating someone else. Or if he’s in prison. Ugh there needs to be a texting manual.

how to chat with a new girl you met last night – just be yourself! Girls dig that. Maybe even make a phone call out of it.

girl who lives a full life – what I aspire to every day.

why is finding work in new york so hard for Australians – is it? I know/meet a ton of Aussies here! We like you

something amazing is about to happen – I couldn’t agree more.

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Just out of curiosity, how did you stumble upon GML?

snacking smart with sunchips.

28 August, 2014 by Gracie 2 Comments

Labor Day is one of those bittersweet holidays. In a way it’s sort of sad that it’s the unofficial end of summer, but it’s also exciting to look forward to the upcoming fall season.

Not to mention – who doesn’t love a Monday off from work?

After a summer full of traveling – including a recent trip to Las Vegas that included lots of indulgences – I’m looking forward to getting back into the swing of things with the new season around the corner.

So this Labor Day, I chose SUNCHIPS® Multigrain Snacks as the perfect way to wrap up summer in a delicious way.

SUNCHIPS Multigrain Snacks have been a go-to snack of mine to have on hand all summer. It’s a quick and delicious option that requires no preparation. I just open the bag and enjoy the flavorful multigrain flavors. I also love that SUNCHIPS Multigrain Snacks are made with whole grains and contain 21g whole grains per 1-oz serving.

SUNCHIPS Multigrain Snacks are versatile and can be paired with dips or even used as a base for bruschetta. They’re a great crunchy snack that packs in flavor but still fits into a balanced lifestyle.

For my upcoming Labor Day get together, I’m going to pair SUNCHIPS Multigrain Snacks with a bunch of raw vegetables, along with a delicious Garlic Feta Cheese Dip.

For the dip I followed this recipe, but added some spinach for extra color. The flavors of this dip go perfectly with the SUNCHIPS Multigrain Snacks.

I know my friends are going to love this dip with the veggies and SUNCHIPS Multigrain Snacks! But until then, guess I’ll have to enjoy this batch on my own…