Author: Paris

A Dose of Pretty

~ Paris ~ Leave a comment

{Another stop at Belvedere Island for a stunning view of the city lights under starlight.}

When I began writing this post on Monday morning, I was going to say that this week was really lovely. After all, last Friday I played hooky {thanks to it being spring break} and went to San Francisco for the day. It’s one of those traditions I love: go for a day trip to a nearby city. When I lived in Southern California, I alternated between San Diego, Los Angeles {preferably Beverly Hills or Malibu/ Pacific Palisades}, Ventura, or Santa Barbara + Montecito. And last week, was exactly what I needed, especially with ending the day by not just walking across the Golden Gate bridge, but also under it {my first time walking under any bridge} + experiencing the incredible view of the city from Belvedere Island. And after a day of fun, I spent the weekend being productive {which always makes me happy}. I cooked, organized the house, and stayed ahead of my work schedule to make my week easier for me. And then Monday happened.

Monday was spent in the emergency room for a loved one, and while everything is okay now, it was a stressful and scary in the moment. It reminded me of exactly why spaces like this are so important. Instead of focusing on one of the hardest weeks ever, I was able to remember the good that happened this week as well: stunning views of the city, new experiences I never even knew I wanted in my life, signs of spring, and so much more.

While I have no plans to leave the house this Friday {or weekend ahead}, I am excited to continue to work ahead so that if something pops up {be it spending a day in the emergency room or spending the day getting to play hooky}, I can do it and focus just on that, and of course, to always find my dose of something pretty. I hope you have a great one as well. x

{I’ve walked across the Golden Gate before, but now I’ve also walked under the bridge.}

{Almost ripened strawberries at the nursery.}

{Signs of Spring: Petal pink peonies in full bloom.}

{One of my favorite traditions {especially on days when you can witness wildlife living their best lives and swimming alone}: Visit the sea lions whenever possible, such as on trips to San Francisco or La Jolla.}

{Apple blossoms.}

x Paris

Avocado Eggs Benedict with Jalapeno Hollandaise

~ Paris ~ Leave a comment

When I was younger, whenever we went out to brunch {aka my favorite meal}, it was basically a given that I would be ordering Eggs Benedict {with a Bloody Mary on the side simply because mimosas are too easy to make at home, obviously}. These days, I still order the same treat, though I prefer virgin mimosas to the champagne variety and vegan eggs to the classic kind. The other morning I knew I wanted to have a classic California style Eggs Benedict with plenty of fresh avocado, and covered in a slightly spicy, buttery jalapeño hollandaise. Using actual eggs for everyone else, I swapped mine for a vegan egg substitute. I surprised myself by making it before work on a Tuesday morning {minus the morning drink. of course}, not realizing just how quick it is to make the dish is. The end result was something rich and decadent, which was the perfect way to make my morning eggs {mung bean style or classic} feel slightly more indulgent, especially when smothered in avocado + a drizzle of jalapeño hollandaise. Enjoy!

 

Ingredients:
Canola Oil Cooking Spray
One English Muffins
Two Eggs
1/2 Avocado
Three Egg Yolks
One Tablespoon Lemon Juice
One Tablespoon Water
6-8 Ounces Butter
1/2 Jalapeno

Recipe:
1. Using a cooking spray, spray one side of the English muffin, toast it over a skillet, spray the other side, and flip it over to cook.
2. Scoop out avocado with a spoon and place on top of the two halves of the English muffin.
3. Using this recipe, I made a hollandaise sauce. I added in a few pieces of sliced jalapeño after the egg was whipped, but before I added in the butter. It added in just a slightly spicier flavor.
4. Since I destroyed two eggs that I tried to poach, I settled on making a fried egg, and wrapped the egg white over the yolk. This left it feeling like a poached egg and still allowing my eggs to get runny as I ate the dish.

x Paris