What Farah Wore: Black & Hot Pink Edition (10.6.14)

Necklace Jcrew Factory and Bloomingdales (sold out - but other options)

Purse Tory Burch: City Messenger (similar)  

Shirt KS Saturday: Black and White Tee (similar)

Earrings Tory Burch: Small Logo Studs   

Shoes DVF: Fuchsia Pump (similar)

Skirt Jcrew Factory: Double Serge Pencil Skirt (black)

Lipstick YSL: Le Fuchsia 

I love mixing hot pinks and black. I posted a small picture of my outfit. I will try my best to do that more often to verify the authenticity of what I post, but single-handedly trying to take a photo by myself, with my Iphone, is challenging. Also, I would like to give a shoutout to my friend Courtney who led me to this fuchsia and hot pink trend by introducing me to the YSL Lipstick. ADORE! LIFE CHANGED!

What Farah Wore: It's My Birthday --- Edition (10.7.14)

Shirt Banana Republic Cami  

Cardigan Tory Burch: Simone Cardigan

Earrings Tory Burch: Circle Earrings  

Shoes Nine West: Danee Pumps (similar)

Watch Michael Kors: 5055 Gold Watch  

Skirt Jcrew Factory: Pine Skirt

Copycat Mondays: Taco Bell's Mexican Pizza

So I am obsessed with Taco Bell's Mexican Pizza. I used to eat it about three times a week in grad school. With age though, came my lack of handling processed food.... and I just couldn't take all the other "ingredients" in the Taco Bell version. I decided to create my own. It's a little healthier.... but I did have to swipe some Taco Bell Fire Sauce today because you just can't eat this without it. Gotta keep it somewhat authentic!

Recipe (for 2)

1 pack of ground beef
1/2 red pepper, finely diced
1 small onion, finely diced
2 jalapeños, finely diced
1 garlic clove, smashed
1/4 packet of Taco Seasoning Mix
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp cumin
1 tbs tomato paste

Add all the ingredients except the seasoning to a ceramic frying pan. After 2 minutes add all the seasonings and cook. Should take 20 minutes. If it becomes soggy, amp up the heat and let the water soak up. Add more seasoning if you would like. As I usually preface on my blog, you can always add more but you cant take any away.

6 whole wheat tortillas (3 for each pizza layer)
1 pack mozzarella cheese, shredded
1 can of Trader Joe's refried black beans
1/4 a lime, juiced (optional)
1 tbs of taco seasoning (optional)
Taco Bell Hot Sauce
1 small tomato, diced
2 green onions, diced

Put the canned bean in a sauce pan with the lime and taco seasoning. Toss till warm (about 2-3 minutes) and set aside. All optional ingredients but it adds another dimension of flavor.

Meanwhile, cook the tortilla on another frying pan until both sides are crispy.

Preheat the oven to 350. Add one layer of beans with beef and continue on. On the final layer, add the cheese. Cook for 10-15 minutes and top off with tomatoes, green onions and guacamole.



Guacamole

Recipe can be found here

Weekend Soup: Roasted Red Pepper & Smoked Mozzarella Soup

My current obsession is making soup with my hand blender. I love it. It's such a quick process and I have a gourmet meal within minutes. I found this roasted red pepper soup recipe on Taste of Home and modified to make it healthier and my own.

Roasted Red Pepper and Smoked Mozzarella Soup

4 red peppers, charred on the grill
1 32 oz of chicken broth
1 medium onion, diced
1 shallot, diced
1 tbs coconut oil
1 cup of fresh basil
1 can of diced tomatoes
1 jalapeño, de-seeded and diced
1 tbs herb de provence
1 tsp pepper
2 tbs of heavy cream (optional)
1/2 cup smoked mozzarella, shredded fine with a grater (add more if you want)

Directions

With a tbs of coconut oil, cook the shallots and onions till browned.

Add the the herb the provence, pepper and jalapeño.

Mix in the broth and simmer for about 1-2 minute then add the can of tomatoes and basil. Let cook for 5 minutes.

Once you have the red pepper charred on the grilled, chop in half and add to the soup. Use a hand blender (or transfer soup to any blender) till smooth. Then mix in the cream and mozzarella. Let the soup sit for 1-2 minutes so the the mozzarella will melt and garnish with sliced basil leaves.

Sunday Dinner: Giada's Potato Crusted Tilapia, Japanese Ginger Dressing Salad & Green Beans

It's Sunday Dinner! I decided to try something I saw on Giada's show (Everyday Italian) on Food Network. It's her purple potato crusted tilapia. Healthy eating is incredibly costly sometimes, which is why I love tilapia filets. Super inexpensive, healthy and delicious! Now I didn't have purple potatoes, so I just used regular Russet Potatoes and it tasted great! For a side I had a Japanese Ginger dressing salad and oven baked green beans.

Green Beans

Toss green beans in olive oil, garlic, sea salt and pepper. Baked on 350 for about 10-15 minutes.


Japanese Ginger Dressing Salad

2 cups shredded iceberg lettuce
2 roma tomatoes sliced length-wise
1/2 english cucumber sliced length-wise
1/2 carrot grated
3 tbs of TonTon Japanese Dressing - Can be bought at Costco (amazing) - add more if you like!

Potato Crusted Tilapia

Recipe link: Giada's Potato Crusted Tilapia

What Farah Wore: Mixing Patterns & Prices Edition 10.3.14

Vest  Zara: Quilted Vest (sold out - similar) 

Jeans  Hudson: Nico White Skinny Jeans  

Shirt Forever21: Plaid Flannel Shirt (sold out - similar) 

Purse Kate Spade: Hamilton Handbag (sold out - similar) 

Heels Nine West: Leopard Flax

Earrings  Tory Burch: Studs

I love mixing patterns and prices! For a lot of trendier items and just certain clothing in general, I sometimes can't find what I am really looking for at department stores or Zara. Forever 21 is a great inexpensive brand that carries all top trends before other places you may usually search. The shirt itself was $20 and the vest was on sale for $39.95. This just goes to show that you can be trendy and not be a designer snob. True fashionistas purchase clothing from everywhere and anywhere. Mixing high and low end pieces is trendy and affordable.

On another note, mixing patterns (plaid and leopard) may seem odd but actually works really well and in line with current fashion week trends for Spring 2014. Lets start early!

Grilling: Tandoori Chicken Platter

Recipe

1 pack of naan

1 white onion

1 banana pepper

Chicken

3 chicken breasts, diced evenly

1 entire Fage greek yogurt

3 tbs Shaan Tandoori Chicken Spice

1 tbs garam masala

1/2 tbs cumin

1.5 tbs of tomato paste

1/2 cup cilantro

Juice of 1/2 a lemon

Mix all ingredients and marinade for 1-2 hrs in the fridge. Once marinated, put chicken on the grill for 4-5 minutes (each side).

Meanwhile, slice the white onion thick and grill in a basket until translucent and charred

Add the naan on the grill till warm and until you can see the char lines.

Slice the banana peppers on top of the chicken and serve with salad and sauce.

Salad

1/2 english cucumber, diced

1 tbs of red onions, chopped

1 tsp salt

1 tsp pepper

Toss all ingredients and refrigerate

Sauce

1 tbs Coleman's Mint Sauce 

2 tbs Fage greek yogurt

Mix ingredients and refrigerate