Sweet Lokshen Kuguel

Shabbat Shalom Pretties!!

We had friends over for Shabbat dinner a few weeks ago, and it was SO wonderful. I love the delicious smells that fill our house when we have company over, and the joy that comes along with good friends and good wine. Plus our little doggies Choco and Chloe get sooo much love and attention :)

I was able to try out some new wedding gifts, including our kiddush cup fountain and some pretty table settings given to me at a bridal shower by Ben's aunts and grandmother. They were so colorful and perfect for a summer shabbat dinner. We were also very excited to reveal our new dining room, furnished with a new bar, wine fridge, and these chic geometric chair covers.

I guess we are real adults now! We were also happy we got to use the Kippot from our wedding :)

Aren't these napkin rings gorgeous? I love the rustic burlap fabric against the pop of the yellow napkin. And I am currently loving all things rosette! We got these from Crate and Barrel.

I had been craving a noodle kugel so this seemed like the perfect time to indulge. Kugel is a huge staple in Eastern European Jewish cuisine. Some people eat it during certain holidays like Hanukkah or Shavuot, where dairy is traditionally consumed. Others can't have a shabbat dinner or break-fast meal without "so and so's" famous kugel.

I don't discriminate.

I will eat kugel anytime, anywhere.

But it has to be sweet. It has to have a lot of cinnamon and raisins, a little brown sugar, and I'm your girl. This recipe makes a traditional sweet Lokshen (noodle in Yiddish) kugel that uses wide egg noodles. It is super simple, oh so comforting, and weighs the same as a small toddler. You will have plenty for everyone! We paired our kugel with broiled halibut, a summer strawberry salad, and challah, of course.

Sweet Lokshen Kugel

Ingredients:
1 Cup Raisins
16 ounces (400 gm) broad egg noodles
4 Tbsp. (50 gm) butter, melted
1 pound (500 gm) cottage cheese
1 pound (500 gm) sour cream or Israeli white cheese
4 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup sugar
2 Tbsp. vanilla extract
1 1/2 cup crushed cornflakes
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4-1/2 cup sugar

Preparation:
1. Put raisins in a bowl of hot water and let soak for 15 minutes

2. Cook noodles in boiling water according to package direction. Drain and rinse with cold water.

3. In a large bowl, mix the noodles with the melted butter, cheeses, eggs, sugar and vanilla.

4. Pour into a greased 9x13 inch pan.

5. In a separate bowl, mix the cornflakes, cinnamon and sugar. Sprinkle the cornflake mixture on top of the noodle mixture.

6. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 45-50 minutes, or until the top is brown.

7. Devour.

Shabbat Shalom :)

<3 Pretty Penny

Euromoon Part Tre: Florence, Italy

Bonjourno Pretties!

I know this post is a teeny bit late. My apologies. I have been busy with weddings, bachelorette parties, and starting up the new school year. But there is something to be said for anticipation right?

Well you have waited long enough. Here is my last Euromoon installment on the gorgeous city of Florence, Italy.

Oh Florence, how can I sum you up into one simple blog post? The Villas, the wine, the endless fresh pasta and pizza, the cool and creamy scoop of gelato on a balmy summer afternoon? Or what about the wine, the endless glasses of crisp Pinot and full bodied Merlot made from the finicky sangiovese grapes that can only grow in Tuscany?

Oh, take me back.

This is us after we arrived at our Villa just outside of Florence. Villa Cora is the most beautiful and peaceful hotel I have ever been to. I was also super excited about our Fiat Panda :)

This is the view from our balcony.

We ventured into Florence the next day, and I loved how the streets were lined with cafes.

We also went to visit the great synagogue. We weren't allowed to take pictures inside, but it was so beautiful.

The pool was magical! It was nice to take a dip in the afternoon when it got too hot to walk around the city.

We ate gelato everyday, of course!!

The Duomo, in all its splendor.

We took a day trip to Cinque Terre, which is made up of five villages residing on the Italian Riviera. The villages are famous for their fresh pesto and beautiful views. We stopped for lunch and had THE best gnocchi, pesto, and bruschetta.

Of course, I did a little shopping.

I found a cute pink car. I was very excited.

On our last day we went wine tasting in tuscany. We went to a winery called Casa Emma, where we were able to taste wine paired with pasta, grilled vegetables, and creamy pecorino cheese.

Italy was the perfect way to end our honeymoon, and we are so blessed to have been able to travel to such beautiful and romantic cities. I am so excited to embark on the next chapter of my life: Marriage!!

Ciao!

-Pretty Penny Rosen

Summer Favorites

Hey Pretties :)

I feel like summer has gone by wayyy too fast, and I am trying to hold on to the last few weeks of sunshine, evening walks with our dogs, and eating dinner on the patio. Here are some of my summer must-haves.

Alba Botanica Sunscreen. This stuff is amazing, and free of all the yucky chemicals (parabens and phthalates) you find in regular sunscreen that often give me allergic reactions whenever I go out into the sun. This one is made with green tea and sunflower seed oil. Alba Botanica also offers a  very emollient sunblock that is great for dry climates like Colorado. I get mine at Whole Foods :)

 Essential rib tank. This tank top is a wardrobe staple, and comes in both solids and stripes in pretty much ever color imaginable. The cotton is super soft and breathable, and they are the perfect length (nice and long). I basically live in them all summer. This tank also washes well, which is a huge plus for a pre-school teacher like me who is usually covered in paint or yogurt by the end of the day. Tuck it into pants, or wear it over a maxi skirt.

The Boroken-in Straight Khaki. Omg. How did I live without these pants last summer? They are so perfect for a rainy summer day, and so comfortable for travelling. They are like that perfect pair of pants that you have taken years to break in, but guess what? They're brand new. These khakis comes in tons of different colors (I have them in army green and navy). Pair them with a tank, light scarf, and ballet flats for a cute and casual look.

Suja's Organic Juices. I have never done a juice cleanse, but I find that switching our a mid-morning or mid-afternoon snack with one of these gives me so much energy and keeps me full. It is also a great way to get in your greens if you don't have time to make that salad for lunch. My favorite combination is Glow, which has everything from kale to apples and cucumbers in it. The down side? Each bottle is around eight dollars, but if you have a juicer you can make these same juices at home for a fraction the price!

100% Pure Organic Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream. Between the wedding, honeymoon, and getting ready for the new schoolyear, I have had MANY late/sleepless nights. This eye cream is a total godsend. It reduces puffiness and dark circles, and most importantly, doesn't make my eyes burn and sting like other popular eye creams. This is because it has no nasty chemicals, and relies on the natural anti-inflammatory properties of green tea. I bring it with me whenever I travel now!

The Bungalow by Sarah Jio. Ohhh this book. I read it on my honeymoon while we were in Spain and I could.not.put.it.down. The story revolves around an old woman who recounts her life as a nurse in the Pacific Islands, revealing lost love, murder, and a mysterious missing painting. I love the way Sarah Jio writes, because she strikes the perfect balance between mystery and a love story in all of her books.

Euro-moon Part Dos: Marbella, Spain

Pretties!

This week has been heeeeccccctic. Summer is ending and I will be setting up my new classroom next week, PLUS I was super busy changing my name at the social security office and the DMV. Fun fun.

But lets not talk about that.

Lets focus on the gorgeous city that is Marbella, Spain, the second stop on our Euromoon. Sparkling blue ocean, gorgeous weather, endless pool options, and massages. Oh please take me back....

Marbella is a city located in Southern Spain in the principality of Malaga. Most people are not super familiar with it, but it is a hotspot for Europeans going on "holiday".

We stayed at the Hotel Puente Romano, and guys, I have honestly never been anywhere so beautiful or felt so pampered. It sat right on the beach and had the most spectacular landscaping with exotic trees and flowers, and peaceful coy ponds running through it. We even had some swans visit us at the nearby pond during breakfast one morning.

Hello, gorgeous.

We spent our days laying on the beach and hopping from pool to pool, eating lunch overlooking the ocean, and ended most afternoons with a coffee and something sweet.

 Swoon! My husband is so handsome.

"But what about the food?", you ask. AMAZING. For lunch, we dove into fresh salads and grilled fish. Most meals lasted for about three hours, and the waiters looked at us so strangely when we declined coffee and dessert. I mean really, who can eat that much in one sitting?? (Read: anyone who lives in Spain).

Can you believe this chicken paella? I mean seriously, they had to basically roll me out of the restaurant after this meal...

We ventured into town one day for some gelato, window shopping, and yacht-watching. People were walking around, picking up a purse at Fendi or some Ferragamo shoes, then hopping into their Bentleys and heading back to their huge beachfront mansions. No big deal.

I also found a little stand on the beach that boasted five types of magnum ice cream bars. Sun beating down on you, sandy beach, sticky sunscreen, and a chocolate magnum with almonds? Done.

We spent our nights eating dinner at one of the six gourmet restaurants the hotel had to offer. We loved the asian and moroccan restaurants. Yes, I had dessert every night!

By the time we left for Italy, we were tan and relaxed.

Ahhhh, wedded bliss....

Next up: Firenze!!

xo,

Mrs. Pretty Penny Rosen