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Gardening in High Heels

cultivate a beautiful life

February 5, 2016

Get Crafty with Beer and Food Pairings

February 5, 2016

Beer. It’s a magical beverage that makes me funnier and dance better. It also is more than the nasty swill we all drank in college (don’t lie, you drank it, too). I’ve come to be quite fond of bitter, hoppy ales and smooth coffee stouts. Definitely a far cry from my days of beer-flavored water.

Hey, it was cheap and got the job done.

Jaelan at Making Mrs M is a fellow beer snob enthusiast and she has fantastic recommendations for pairing beers and, being the over-achiever we all know and love about her, even whipped up something you can make to go with your beers.

My rule of thumb when pairing beer (or anything really) is to find something that complements the flavor of the beer instead of fighting it.

Think of flavor combinations you like that wouldn’t think would go together (lavender and lemon, chocolate and potato chips, berries and balsamic vinegar). There’s a flavor in one that intensifies the flavor in the other. Citrus brings out the herb. Salt highlights a true chocolate flavor. Sweet tones down the sour (and vice versa).

Contrasting flavors are an opposite of something already present while complementary flavors are close enough to each other so they work together without overshadowing.

So what do I pair with beer when I want to intensify flavors in my brew?

Get crafty with beer and food pairings! Pairing craft beer food is easier than I thought. Great beer recommendations, too!

Black IPA

I like hops. I like roasty beers. It’s only natural that I’d like Black IPA. It’s fun to say. Like a Shirley Temple Black. And it’s interesting to drink, too. I’m not going to write a dissertation on characteristics of black IPA, but to me it’s like a stout and an IPA had a love child. A roasty, hoppy love child.

What goes well with that? Well, I had Midnight Moonlight by Fat Head’s Brewery a few weeks ago and paired it with Irish Nachos (made with potato chips instead of nachos) and it was a great pairing.

That said, I usually like to pair my dark beers that can get a little heavy in flavor with something sweet to light up another part of my tongue and enhance some of the chocolate undertones that can come with malty beers. Chocolate cake or rich, fudge-y brownies balance out the bitter and highlight chocolate roast in Black IPAs.

Side note: Black in the USSR by Grist House Craft Brewery isn’t a black IPA, but it has some nice roasty similarities and it pairs fantastically with ice cream sandwiches, specifically the peach ice cream sandwich from Leona’s Ice Cream Sandwiches in Pittsburgh.

Other favorite Black IPAs: 21st Amendment Brewery Back In Black and Southern Tier Brewing Company 2xIBA

Wheat

I’m talking about American wheat beers. I am not a fan of the super-yeasty (and bubble gum banana clove-y) hefeweizen-style wheat beers. One of my favorites is Grist House Craft Brewery Wheatin’ for the Weekend. This is a perfect porch beer. It is light and refreshing with a touch of stone fruit, just what I want a wheat beer to be. None of that banana crap.

What goes with a wheat beer? Well, I like wheat and grains with my wheat beer. Something yeasty to complement the wheat in the beer. Pizza with a light oil sauce, mild cheese, and green veggies on top? Yes please. Macaroni and cheese with a light cheese sauce and roasted onions and squash (like the mac and cheese from the Mac & Gold Truck?) Yep. Been there, loved that.

Red Ale

Shout out to a favorite red right now goes to Troegs Independent Brewing Nugget Nectar. I worked with someone (in a restaurant that specialized in beer) who named his dog after Nugget Nectar, so you know it’s good. This ale is bitter. If black IPA is like a stout and an IPA had a love child, this is as if a ginger hop and another ginger hop had a love child. It is bit-ter with a capital Hello 93 IBU.

So what would go with this? As luck would have it. Troegs has a great chart to help. I’m all about this with a mango salsa topping chicken tacos; adding something to complement the fruity notes in this beer and add a little heat makes for an interesting pairing.

Other favorite reds: Grist House Craft Brewery Camp Slap Red (also fresh and hoppy) and AleWerks Brewing Company Red Marker Ale (a little darker with heavier fruit flavors).

I’m pretty sure this could have been an ode to Grist House, but I tried my best to spread some hopped love around. Just remember: try to find a complementary flavor and work from there. If you want to go crazy, find a contrasting flavor and go crazy.

Hop on over to Jaelan’s blog to see how she paired her favorites!

What beer and food combos do you like to play with?

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2 Comments · Labels: How To, Pittsburgh, Reviews Tagged: beer and food, craft beer, food, how to, pairing beer and food, pittsburgh, pittsburgh craft beer, recipes

October 23, 2015

Five Favorite Fall Essentials

October 23, 2015

I am a summer girl through and through. I can wear ripped jeans, tank tops, and sandals every day of my life and be happy. Wait…as a “fashion” kinda blogger, should I really admit that? Anyway, when I was younger, fall was everything to me. I loved the start of school, the new opportunities, the pretty piles of leaves to jump in, and just about everything else that came with fall.

Since I was a kid, my list of fall essentials has changed a little bit. I still love the slower pace and the fresh feeling a change of seasons can bring, but I’ve embraced some other fantastic fall things.

Favorite essentials that make it easy to fall in love with fall | Gardening In High Heels

Dark Lipstick + Nails

I mean, really, you should have seen this coming. I’m getting more bold with what I wear to work, which means I can experiment with my lipstick a little more than I have in the past, even last year at this time. For my money, it doesn’t get any better than ColourPop’s Bossy Lippie Stix. It’s a rich red that looks great any time of day. Dazed is also a great color that’s a little richer with a berry hue to it. Revlon has some great options, too, and you can see them in yesterday’s Makeup Mix-Up post.

Of course, I also had to add in dark nails. I love OPI Lincoln Park After Dark, OPI Vampsterdam, Essie Chocolate Kisses, and Essie Velvet Voyeur.

All the Fall Coffee

I’ve been experimenting with homemade pumpkin spice syrup and it wasn’t working until I found a recipe that I love on Gimme Some Lovin’. I realized I was missing the syrup step..kind of essential, but for some reason, I figured my kitchen just magically caramelizes things on its own without heating sugar and water first. Her recipe is amazing. I’ve been adding the syrup to plain coffee and it’s lasted me about two weeks in the fridge.

I also love this list of coffee additions (that aren’t creamer) from Chemistry Cachet.

Scarves + Converse Sneakers

To me, fall is all about dressing for fashion and function..as opposed to winter where I don’t care what I look like as long as I’m warm. It’s function all the way once November hits. I mostly look like Ralphie’s little brother from then until May, so I cling to cute scarves, leather jackets, and Converse sneakers for as long as I can.

I’ve been trying to KonMari my clothes and I can’t cut down my embarrassingly large collection of jeans, sneakers, and scarves. They all bring me joy, damnit, and I’m wearing them for as long as I can.

Scented Candles

If you can’t tell, I’m all about making myself a nest in the fall so I can just stay there throughout the winter. I’ll poke my head out somewhere around February and quickly run back inside. I’m very much like Phil that way. My favorite way to make my space cozy with with candles. I absolutely adore Leaves and Pumpkin Latte and Spice. I can burn through those in a week easily. No pun intended.

I’ve had to place a block on myself this year and force myself to go through my candle collection before I buy any more. I mean, Bath & Body Works does their 2 for $22 sale and then send out a coupon for 20% off and I’m not supposed to use it? Come on.

Good Books

You can’t get comfortable at home and not have a book to curl up with. I’ve been loving Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert, Yes Please by Amy Poehler, People Over Profit by Dale Partridge, If You Find This Letter by Hannah Brencher. Up on my list next is 700 Sundays by Billy Crystal, Appetite for Life by Noel Riley Fitch, and What Would Google Do? by Jeff Jarvis. It’s quite a mix. I can’t read one genre for long without mixing it up a little.

What do you do to prepare yourself for cold weather with your fall essentials?

 

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3 Comments · Labels: Five Things Tagged: bath and body works, books, candles, coffee, colourpop, fall, fall essentials, fall fashion, lipstick, obsessive compulsive cosmetics, recipes

October 11, 2015

Sunday Lately, 41

October 11, 2015

If I’m writing, it must be Sunday Lately.  Like I mentioned last week, it seems like the only time I post anymore is for Sunday Lately.  I swear, I have the best of intentions to stick to the posts that I say I’m going to write.  I’ll get there.

The Plague - Draai Laag collaboration beer

Friday night, Draai Laag released a sour stout in collaboration with Caliente.  It definitely didn’t have the same feel as a stout (and it’s listed as a sour ale on Untappd) but it was definitely different and worth waiting in line to try something new.

Planning

A big revamp/comeback.  I want to have a bunch of content lined up, a new home page, a fun giveaway.  I’m also planning a big blog tour with Katy (you know, the maker behind this awesome shirt/hat combo. And a third of the Sunday Lately group).  It’s a mashup of fashion bloggers and sewing bloggers.  We’ll give you an occasion to dress for and you put together an outfit, either sewing or styling.  Let me know if you want to join in and we’ll hook you up.

Loving

The feeling of a clean house.  Sadly, that feeling is few and far between lately.  I don’t know why, but there’s something so satisfying about a clean kitchen and a freshly vacuumed floor.  My kitchen seems like it always has something in the sink or sitting on the stove.  I’m in the middle of a big baking kick.  I’ve tried Jana’s coconut muffins and I’ve modified these chai pumpkin spice kiss cookies from Pass The Sushi over the years to get them to a juuust right place.

Reading

“Big Magic” by the incomparable Elizabeth Gilbert.  I’m not as far in as I’d like to be, but I know when I finally sit down to read and get into a groove, I won’t stop.  I love her writing style.  Her podcast is just as incredible as her writing.  Speaking of podcasts, have you caught up on Nicole Antoinette’s first season of the Real Talk Podcast?  I read she’s recording her second season and I can’t wait!

Wishing

I’d love a few more hours in my day.  Or someone to help with my to-do list.  I know people have offered to help, but a lot of what I need to accomplish is up to me.  I mean, I can outsource the creation of a menu of services page, but I want to do it.  Because I’m stubborn and it’s important to me that I do it.  Because I’m a control freak like that.

Feeling

We had our first Freedom is Sexy Sister Circle call on Wednesday night and it was wonderful to feel connected to the other people in the program.  Since then, I’ve been feeling all the emotions; it’s been a rainbow of emotions this week.  I’ve been overwhelmed, energized, lethargic, exasperated, anxious, happy all within the span of a few minutes.

So what have you been up to lately?

Sunday Lately is a weekly linkup with Katy, Nicole and Meghan. Use their themes or use your own. Just remember to link up with them so we can see what is happening with you lately!

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8 Comments · Labels: Life, Right Now Tagged: bouvardian, draai laag, Elizabeth Gilbert, freedom is sexy, nicole antoinette, pass the sushi, pittsburgh craft beer, recipes, relaunch, sunday lately, weekly wrap up

August 26, 2015

Budgeting Days

August 26, 2015

I went shopping again.  On a Saturday again.  And it wasn’t that bad!  I seriously never went weeks without grocery shopping like I do now.  I guess mix 2 parts being too scattered to think with 1 part being cognizant of what I’m spending, stir it up, and realize that there are ways to feed yourself without having to shop every week.

Sticking to a food budget is hard, but I love the accountability with Project:Food BudgetBut I really do appreciate the P:FB is keeping me honest and makes me really think about where I’m spending money when it comes to what I’m buying.  I’m sad to see this end.

I’ve been doing a lot of simple cooking with tomatoes, herbs, and pasta.  I’ve become addicted to a tomato pasta recipe from Jamie Oliver.  Tom Totin gifted me a cookbook when I was on his show (all episodes here!) and it stole my heart.

Jamie Oliver's summer tomato and herb pasta

My total bill at Giant Eagle this week was $36.69.  On Wednesday, even though I packed lunch, I went to Panera with my coworkers and spent $10.57 (total rip off!) which makes this week’s total $47.26/$50.

I am most excited to use up more of my zucchini, the only thing my garden is producing, and make a batch of these zucchini brownies.  There’s no oil or eggs (just bananas and apple sauce) and just a small bit of sugar (I cut down to about 1 1/4 cup), but you get deliciously tender, slightly fudgy, just a little spongy brownies.  I’m talking Stand-In-The-Kitchen-Eating-Straight-From-The-Pan good.

I also picked up some ingredients for a beef ramen.  I have the recipe from a Blue Apron box delivery and I thought I’d recreate it a little myself.  I didn’t go crazy buying weird mushrooms and miso paste, but I figure I can use what I have.  I’m also substituting broccoli rabe for bok choy because I couldn’t find a reasonably sized bok choy and I don’t like it that much to use 60 pounds of it.

How are you doing with your food budget?  Check out these budget badasses for more inspiration! Emily Levenson / McGinnis and Bean / Red Pen Mama / Seeking White Space / Gardening in High Heels / Melissa Firman / Copy & Post / Shea Lennon / Warm as Pie / Two Eggs Over Easy

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1 Comment · Labels: Life, Right Now Tagged: blue apron, budgeting, project: food budget, recipes

July 28, 2015

The time I went shopping on Monday

July 28, 2015

If last week’s discovery that shopping on Saturday morning isn’t met with much terror, let me be the 500,000,000th person to tell you do not (I repeat, do not under any circumstances) go to Giant Eagle on Monday after work.

Sticking to a food budget is hard, but I love the accountability with Project:Food Budget

No good can come from it.

Picture me saying that like Carrie Bradshaw in the “The Post-It Always Sticks Twice” episode of SATC when she’s talking about men.

There are still some things left over from last week’s trip and I only needed a few things, mostly just part-skim ricotta cheese for these lemon chia muffins that I adore from Table for Two.  I thought I would be in and out.

Insert frazzled-looking animal meme saying, “Only needs one item, she said. It’ll be a breeze, she said.”

I ended up grabbing a few other things: bananas so I can let them go bad and make Emily’s banana bread, eggs because I use them in waves and I’m currently in a high-egg-volume time, mango, and the best yogurt known to man AKA Liberte.

That was my splurge for the week (and it was on sale).  Seriously, if you haven’t tried Liberte yogurt, you do not know what you’re missing out on.  It’s almost as delicious as ice cream and a serious afternoon pick-me-up.

So this week, I spent a grand total of $14.49 out of $50 for Project:Food Budget 2015.

It’s almost not even worth mentioning because it wasn’t even a “real” shopping trip.

Up on the menu this week will be salmon burgers from the freezer, chicken tacos from today’s left overs, pork stir fry from left overs, and a dinner mooched off of my father that will no doubt result in more left overs.

Thus wraps up the month where I only wrote about grocery shopping.  While you’re anxiously awaiting me to return to a more regular schedule, check out these budgeting beauties: Emily Levenson / McGinnis and Bean / Rainaldi.org / Red Pen Mama / Erra Creations / Seeking White Space / facepalmmama / Gardening in High Heels / Melissa Firman / Copy & Post / Shea Lennon / Warm as Pie / Two Eggs Over Easy

How are you doing with your budget?

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10 Comments · Labels: Life, Right Now Tagged: budgeting, emily levenson, project: food budget, recipes

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Who’s Angelica?

Life Un-styled Blogger, Gardener, Shoe Lover..among other things

I'm here to encourage and empower you to grow where you're planted and embrace the weeds that sometimes pop up. I'll share inspiration, products I like (and you may too), and stories from the garden.

Gardening In High Heels is for badass babes who aren’t afraid to get a little messy. Want to learn more? Start here.
           

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