Tag: Food

Garlic and Fresh Thyme Scalloped Potatoes

Every year for the Holiday Season, I bake my famous Garlic and Fresh Thyme Scalloped Potatoes! These potatoes are always a huge hit at Holiday potlucks from Thanksgiving through New Years. I usually bake around 5 to 7 batches of these potatoes every Holiday season. So since so much effort, time, & love go into perfecting every single batch, I proactively retire the recipe for the rest of the year.

As a home chef, I always use my taste buds as a guide for every meal I make. I’ve actually never taken the time to break down any of my recipes until my ULTIMATE BANANA BREAD recipe a few months ago. And after the huge success of that blog post, I think it’s time to finally share my Garlic and Fresh Thyme Scalloped Potatoes recipe with the world!

Garlic & Fresh Thyme Scalloped Potatoes Recipe

  • Prep Time: 25 min
  • Bake Time: 55 min
  • Total Time: 1 hr 20 min

Ingredients

  • 1/2 Stick Unsalted Butter
  • 3 Bay Leaves
  • 5 Fresh Sprigs of Thyme
  • 4 Cloves of Garlic (Minced)
  • Nutmeg
  • Garlic Salt
  • Black Pepper
  • Red Pepper Flakes (Optional)
  • Cayenne Pepper (Optional)
  • Paprika
  • 1 1/2 cups Heavy Cream
  • 2 lbs of Russet Potatoes
  • 1 Cup of Shredded Parmesan

Baking Tools

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400° F
  2. Bring a pot of water to boil with a pinch of salt
  3. Peel & rinse potatoes
  4. Add potatoes into water & boil for ~10 minutes (Or until you can stick a fork into a potato with minimal effort)
  5. Strain the potatoes from the water using a colander & let sit for 5 minutes to cool before handling
  6. Cut potatoes into thin, circular slices & set aside
  7. Melt Butter at Low to Medium heat then add garlic, bay leaves, & 3 sprigs of fresh thyme
  8. Slowly add heavy cream followed by garlic salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, & nutmeg to taste, keep warm on low & stir occasionally
  9. Ladle 2 scoops of your white sauce to the bottom of the pan
  10. Place potatoes on top of the sauce in an overlapping, circular formation
  11. Season layer with garlic salt & pepper
  12. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup of shredded parmesan cheese over the potatoes
  13. Add another layer of potatoes, ladle 2 scoops of sauce, season with garlic salt & black pepper, sprinkle with 1/4 cup of shredded parmesan (repeat)
  14. Use all remaining parmesan on the top layer & sprinkle with paprika for color
  15. Bake covered with foil for 45 min at 400° F
  16. Remove foil & bake for an additional 10 min to brown
  17. (Optional) Garnish with remaining sprigs of fresh thyme before serving

So that’s it! It’s a lot of prep work, & it’s definitely time consuming. But if you take the time to make a batch of your own, be sure to let me know in a comment below. I promise they’ll be worth all the time & effort! As I mentioned, this is my staple Holiday recipe that has never failed me over the years, so I hope you enjoy my Garlic & Fresh Thyme Scalloped Potatoes with your loved ones this Holiday Season!

XO Denise

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cloud gate chicago

3 Day Chicago Itinerary

I spent 5 days in Chicago, Illinois last week, & I’m already looking forward to going back! Since it’s a 4+ hour flight from San Francisco, California to Chicago, Illinois, I did my best to pack as much as possible into 3 days, & I definitely succeeded! I managed to do everything that I wanted to do & more. That said, here’s my 3 Day Chicago itinerary!

Day 1: Millenium Park, Brunch at Cindy’s Rooftop, & Lincoln Park

Despite the 2-hour time difference, I was up bright & early for my first day of exploring. I stayed at Claridge House, which was only a 2-minute walk from the Clark & Division Red Line stop. Before arriving in Chicago, I met a very kind lady at the San Francisco airport, who recommended using the “L” train, and reassured me that it was very efficient and so much cheaper than San Francisco’s BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) train. I ended up buying a 7-Day CTA pass for unlimited rides, & I’m so glad I did!

Cloud Gate “The Bean”

Like any Chicago tourist, our first stop was Millenium Park to see Cloud Gate “The Bean”. We got there early in the morning to ensure there were fewer people around to get the best pictures. We then spent the next hour wandering around the park to see the Millenium Monument, Lurie Garden, Crown Fountain, & Jay Pritzker Pavillion.

After exploring Millenium Park, we went to Cindy’s Rooftop for brunch! Cindy’s has not only a delicious menu but also amazing rooftop views overlooking the park. As I’ve mentioned, brunch is my favorite meal of the day. I also love having brunch as a way to save money while I’m traveling, so that I only have to pay for 2 meals for the day rather than 3.

After brunch, we headed back to the hotel for a quick rest. Then, we walked over to Lincoln Park. Claridge House is only a 14-minute walk from Lincoln Park, & it’s such a cute neighborhood. Most of the houses I walked past were fully decorated for Halloween. At Lincoln Park, I saw animals at the FREE Lincoln Park Zoo, flowers at the Lincoln Park Conservatory, the Lincoln Monument, the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool, & so much more.

That evening, we had dinner with my sister’s co-worker at GEMINI. I had water & the San Pancho cocktail to drink. Then, my sister & I shared a Baby Wedge Salad, Steak Frites, & a Pineapple Upside Down Cake for dessert. We were so hungry after exploring all day that this was the only meal I didn’t manage to photograph. lol

Day 2: Shopping, Brunch at Little Goat Diner, Skydeck Chicago, Three Dots & a Dash, & Blackhawks Hockey Game

On day 2, I took the train to do some shopping. I’m a huge Kristin Cavallari fan, so I had to stop by her Chicago Uncommon James location. I bought a Cross Ring & Strawberry Fields Earrings.

After shopping, we had brunch at Little Goat Diner. I had coffee & a Kimchi Spiced Boody Mary. Then, my sister & I shared the Smoked Corned Beef Hash with Eggs, a single Apple Cinnamon Pancake, & a fruit cup. The food was delicious, & our waitress was an awesome Chicago native who gave us the inside scoop on what else to do/see/eat during our trip.

After brunch, we hopped back onto the L to Skydeck Chicago. The interactive experience brought you through several rooms with information about famous Chicago landmarks & history. Then, we headed up to the 103rd floor to take pictures in the beautiful glass Skydeck above the city. Afterward, we hopped back onto the L back to our hotel to rest a bit.

Painkiller

Next, we went to the cutest speakeasy tiki bar, Three Dots & a Dash. First off, let me say that my two favorite types of bars are tiki & speakeasy. (The only other bar I’ve been to that was also both was False Idol in San Diego, which I highly recommend too.) I had delicious crab rangoons & two cocktails, Painkiller & Aloha Felicia #4.

Isle of Mango & Aloha Felicia #4

After the quick Happy Hour, I headed to the United Center for a Blackhawks hockey game! I’m not a big hockey fan, but I’m a HUGE live sports fan. I honestly wanted to catch a Cubs game at Wrigley Field & possibly get a tour of the stadium. Regardless, it was still so much fun to cheer on the Blackhawks. Plus, tickets were also only $27! After the game, we took the L back to our hotel & called it a night.

Day 3: Chicago Architecture River Tour, Chicago Riverwalk, the Magnificent Mile, Portillo’s, Jojo’s Shake Bar, & Bulls Basketball Game

On day 3, we did a Chicago Architecture River Tour, & this was actually my favorite activity. When I travel I love learning about the local architecture in addition to the history, so this tour was the perfect combination of both. (My Dad is a Civil Engineer, so I’ve always had an innate love of architecture, which is also why I love Europe. So much architecture & history!)

After the tour, I walked along the Chicago Riverwalk & the Magnificent Mile. We then headed to Portillo’s for lunch. I had a classic Chicago Style Hot Dog. (No ketchup!) Then, my sister & I shared fries & onion rings.

After lunch, I went back to the hotel to rest. Then, for Happy Hour, I went to Jojo’s Shake Bar! I had a Witch’s Brew cocktail, a loaded grilled cheese, & shared a Pumpkin Patch Shake for dessert!

Pumpkin Patch Shake

After Happy Hour, I went to opening night for the Chicago Bulls at the United Center! I even got a free T-Shirt! I’m a huge basketball fan by the way. My team is and will always be the Golden State Warriors, but who doesn’t love the Bulls right?! I love Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, & I was obsessed with watching The Last Dance docuseries.

After the game, we hopped back onto the L to our hotel to start packing up for our last half day in Chicago. It was a lot packed into 3 days, & even though I still wasn’t able to check out Navy Pier or see the Cubs, I look forward to coming back to Chicago again! I hope my itinerary helps you plan out your own. Safe travels!

XO Denise

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a romantic setting in the bathroom

My Secret To Having a Productive Week

“A Sunday well spent brings a week of content.”

Since my life has gotten so busy, I always make sure to block out time for Sunday self-care. If you lead a busy life, I hope that sharing my self-care Sunday routine will help remind you to take time out for yourself when you need it. It’s my secret to having a productive week!

Prayer

After walking & feeding my pug, Pogi, I start every morning by praying. But on Sundays especially, I make sure to thank God for everything I’ve been blessed with & for guiding me through another week. I then say my Catholic prayers: Our Father, Hail Mary, & Glory Be, because prayer keeps me grounded & humble.

Breakfast

Next, I enjoy a delicious breakfast. I’ve mentioned before that breakfast is my favorite meal of the day. Whether it’s actual breakfast or brunch, I usually cook myself something delicious, such as a veggie egg scramble or a spinach, mushroom, & feta wrap with a side of fruit. Last Sunday, I had blueberry waffles with bacon, along with a cup of coffee & a small glass of Simply orange with pineapple juice.

Spiritual Cleansing

The proverb “cleanliness is close to godliness” resonates with me 100%. On Sundays, I like to run my iRobot Roomba, do my laundry, & deep clean my apartment. I hate clutter & mess, so I like to start my week with a clean home. Once my apartment is dirt & germ-free, I spiritually cleanse & raise the loving vibrations within my home with my Camaya Healing sprays.

Next, I will clean & pamper myself. First, I take a shower. I shampoo & condition my hair with OGX coconut curls then apply a deep conditioning hair mask. I wash my body with my cleansing gloves & body wash. I’ll also do a body scrub, if needed. Then, before getting out of the shower, I give my bathtub a good scrub too.

Upon getting out, I pull my tub stop up, then I start drawing a bath. Depending on my mood, I’ll do a lavender bubble bath, a LUSH bath bomb, or a LUSH bubble bar. While my bathtub is filling up, I whiten my teeth with activated charcoal. Then, I’ll wipe down my sink & mirror, because it gets everywhere. I also wash my face with Biore pore unclogging scrub & apply Simple micellar water.

Then, I keep my hair up in a Kitsch towel scrunchie or an after spa hair towel wrap, light a few candles, & find a sound bath from YouTube to listen to while I relax in the bathtub. Before getting in the tub, I also put on either an under-eye mask, a sheet mask, or a mud mask on my face. Once I’m done with my bath after about 20 – 30 minutes later, I drain the tub & rinse out my deep conditioning hair mask.

Curly Hair Care Routine

Next is my curly hair care routine. While my curls are still damp, I use an OGX leave-in conditioner & It’s a 10 Haircare Lite Leave-In. Then, I scrunch curl cream into my hair. I’ll either use a diffuser, or I air dry my hair & slowly let my curls come to life!

My Skincare

Once my curls are all set, I move onto my skin next. I already washed my face in the shower, applied micellar water, & did a mask. To keep my skin glowing & well-moisturized, I always put lotion on my body after showering. Next, I apply eye cream, retinol serum, & moisturizer. I love letting my skin soak in all the products. It’s what gives me my youthful glow!

Planning

Up next is prepping & planning my week using my Happy Planner, colorful felt-tip pens, & stickers. To me, there’s something magical & special about physically writing down your goals & plans for the week. It makes each goal feel like a firm commitment, rather than just a thought at the back of my mind that I might get done. In my planner, I record everything that I’m doing that week & set goals for myself in 3 main categories: Health/Wellness, Career, & Personal

Health/Wellness
  • Workout (4x)
  • Meditate
  • Pray
  • Drink lots of water!
  • Nourish your body
  • Floss, flouride rinse, & charcoal!
Career
  • Project ABC
  • Project XYZ
  • Meeting Prep
  • 1:1 Prep
  • Etc.
Personal
  • Groceries
  • Laundry
  • XO Denise Joyce
    • Film
    • Edit
    • Write
    • Schedule content

Watching Feel-good Movies & Baking

I wrap up my Sunday evening by streaming one of my favorite feel-good movies (Shrek, UP, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, Mean Girls, etc.) on Disney+, Hulu, or Netflix & baking. I love enjoying dessert on Sundays. And I feel like I deserve my dessert even more if I take the time to bake the tasty treats myself. lol

I bake banana bread, cupcakes, muffins, peanut butter chocolate chip cookies, or I can even prepare a no-bake cheesecake. Since all of my recipes are made with love, it’s a fun & very relaxing way to wrap up my day.

Again, I love the quote “A Sunday well spent brings a week of content.” Sundays are one of my favorite days of the week because I spend the day pampering myself & enjoying everything that I love. That’s my secret to having a productive week. Do you have a Self-Care Sunday routine? What are some of your favorite ways to enjoy your Sunday? Please feel free to share in a comment below.

XO Denise

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bed with cushions reflecting in mirror in bedroom

How I Deal With My Body Dysmorphia

Last March, I mentioned my Body Dysmorphia in the blog post: Learning to Love Myself. Anyone who also struggles with a Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) has a unique experience. We will all learn to deal with it in our own way. By sharing how I deal with my body dysmorphia today, I hope to inspire & help others who are still struggling on their personal journey with BDD.

IDENTIFY OBSESSIONS & STOP THEM IMMEDIATELY

Years ago, I would weigh myself & measure my arms, hips, thighs, & waist every Sunday. Unlike my current self-care rituals, this eventually became a self-hate ritual. I would hate myself & became frustrated & irritated if I gained weight or didn’t lose enough weight. I’d obsess over my flabby arms & thighs & constantly suck in my stomach with all my core strength. Because despite any change in the numbers on the scale or loss of inches, I never saw a leaner, sexier, or stronger body in the mirror.

All my obsessions did was justify depriving myself of things that I loved to eat. I was obsessed with hitting 10,000 steps every day, even on days that I took a barre3, RUMBLE, or SoulCycle class. With my FitBit & Noom, I obsessively record every single calorie that I eat, every calorie that I burn off, & shame myself for being weak & having a chocolate peanut butter cookie.

I was thrilled when I was sick & lost my appetite altogether. Or better yet… when I got the stomach flu because it would guarantee around 7 pounds of weight loss with minimal effort. It took a long time for me to finally self-reflect that my actions, despite not refusing to eat outright or making myself throw up, were unhealthy. Why would a sane person wish illness on themself?

Now, I do not allow myself to stare & judge my body. If I must look at myself in the mirror or look at a full body photo, I only compliment myself. I also do not take my measurements unless absolutely necessary. I no longer constantly wear a FitBit or check my Health app on my iPhone. It’s how I track my daily step count & the calories that I consume & burn throughout the day. But I know that obsessing over those numbers isn’t healthy.

BE MINDFUL OF ALL THE WAYS TO LOVE & NOURISH YOUR BODY

Instead of counting calories, I eat colorfully. I always make sure my meals are a mix of protein, veggies, & whole grains. I love fresh fruit & veggies! If I can count at least 5 natural colors that I’ve eaten for the day, I know that I’ve done my job of nourishing my body with healthy foods. For example, banana (yellow), spinach (green), baby carrots (orange), bell pepper (red), & blueberries (blue).

Instead of obsessing over calories or steps, I keep track of how many times I move in a week. Right now, I dance every day for 25 minutes by playing the Nintendo Switch video game Just Dance. Three times a week I lift weights. And once or twice a week, I stretch my body & do yoga. As long as I’m moving & strengthening my body in a way that I enjoy & love, I’m doing my best to be healthy.

ACCEPT THAT THE JOURNEY HAS JUST BEGUN

I am fully aware that acceptance of my BDD is just the beginning. There will be good & bad days when it comes to my relationship with my body & food, but that’s ok. I know that I can potentially struggle with my BDD for the rest of my life. There will be days that I slip up & eat a McDonald’s two sausage burrito breakfast meal with hash browns & an iced caramel mocha followed by Taco Bell as a late-night snack, but I am now more aware that I am human. We all make mistakes. Instead of punishing myself by walking around my apartment late at night until I hit 10,000 steps or skipping meals the next day, I accept what I did, forgive myself, & move forward.

I hope that sharing how I deal with my body dysmorphia helps you or someone that you love. Do you or someone you love have BDD? How do you or they deal with it? Let me know in a comment below.

XO Denise

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How To Stay Healthy This Summer

If I’ve learned anything over the past few years, it’s that the real “hot girls” are actually “healthy” girls. Getting lots of attention from guys, having a ton of options, & partying all Summer long is not on my personal Summer bucket list. But being happy & healthy is always my top priority. Here’s how I plan to stay healthy this Summer!

How To Stay Healthy This Summer

Watch the Sunrise

It’s a well-known fact that it’s a good idea to start your day early. While I don’t necessarily mean that you need to wake up every day before the sun, taking the time to get up earlier than usual to watch the sky change colors as the sun peeks over the horizon is good for your mental health.

Drink Water

With the warmer temperatures, you’re going to be sweating a lot more. Drinking water will help replenish your body as well as give you glowing skin. It’ll also curb your appetite so that you can stay on the go without getting hungry before your usual mealtimes.

Eat Fresh Fruit & Veggies

When you do get hungry, I highly encourage you to eat more fresh fruit & veggies. They’re packed with healthy nutrients as well as water to help you refuel throughout the day, without being calorie-dense or high in salt or processed sugar.

Cook

Summer is a great time to try new recipes! With lots of popular cooking methods, such as baking, grilling on a BBQ, using an air fryer, or the classic stove, there are so many delicious, healthy recipes on Pinterest! I try to cook at least one new recipe a week, so I can continue to flex my cooking skills.

Go to the Beach

Nothing says Summertime like the beach. I love feeling the sand between my toes, & saltwater does wonders for my hair & skin. I always feel like a beautiful, ethereal mermaid at the beach.

Swim

If you can’t make it to the beach to swim or spend some time splashing around in the water, I recommend going to a public pool or finding a friend with access to a pool. I’m lucky enough to have a rooftop pool at my apartment building in Oakland, CA. On the warmest days, I find myself always taking the time to go swimming whenever I can. Not only is it a great way to cool down, but it’s also a fun way to work out. I love swimming laps for cardio as well as other pool-friendly exercises for strength!

Hike

Hiking is one of my favorite ways to work out as well as spend time out in nature. I have a few hiking vlogs on my YouTube channel with a couple of local, East Bay hikes. One of the best things about the Bay Area is the mild climate & different terrains. There are so many different hikes available on All Trails, & you can filter them by difficulty & length.

Volunteer

I love giving back to my local community. In the past, I’ve volunteered with the San Francisco Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity East Bay, as well as local homeless shelters & senior care homes. During COVID-19, I also signed up for Letters to Seniors to help combat social isolation by writing letters to senior citizens.

Watch the Sunset

Just as important as waking up early to watch the sunrise, it’s equally important to slow down at the end of your day to watch the sunset. I’m always in awe at how the colors of any sunset are never the same. That’s why with these long Summer days, I always take a quiet moment to myself to watch the sunset & the sky change colors over downtown Oakland, or wherever I happen to be that day.

Stargaze

It’s hard to see the stars when you live in Downtown Oakland. But when I’m visiting family or camping, I always have to look up at the stars & think about how we are also just a tiny sparkling speck in the universe.

It’s time for us to forget about “Hot Girl Summer”. Summer isn’t about dieting so you can take pictures in a bikini to get likes on Instagram. Summer is about enjoying the sunlight & longer days while they’re here. Summer should be a celebration of who you are & what you love.

What are you doing to stay healthy this Summer?

XO Denise

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My Favorite Healthy Snacks

COVID-19 lockdown was very impactful on my diet. First off, to be clear, when I talk about my diet, I mean it as a noun, not a verb. I think about my diet as simply the kinds of food that I habitually eat. While in the past, I ate Paleo, intermittently fast, ate low-carb, etc., dieting doesn’t work for my mental health. Instead, I constantly keep my favorite healthy snacks in my fridge & my pantry to ensure I always have healthy options on hand to snack on, instead of eating chips or candy.

Mixed Nuts & Dried Cranberries

The first time I had this snack was in the waiting room at a spa. It’s the perfect combo of salty & sweet in my opinion. I even make my own trail mix sometimes for long hikes by mixing Craisins with my two favorite nuts: Almonds & Cashews.

JIF Extra Crunchy Peanut Butter & Fuji Apples

Because of my mom, I’ve always loved Fuji apples. They are the only type of apple that my mom would buy growing up, & I still do not love any other type of apple just as much. When I still worked at IPSY, I LOVED that our office manager always kept single packs of JIF Extra Crunchy Peanut Butter & apple slices in stock. Nowadays, I put a huge scoop of peanut butter on a spoon & bite in a whole apple.

Baby Carrots & Hummus or Ranch

I owe this favorite snack to my sister. She buys two giant bags of baby carrots from the grocery store every week, & every week, we finish every last carrot. While I’m fine eating baby carrots on their own, I do love dips & sauces. Hummus & ranch are my favorites ones to pair with my baby carrots when I’m feeling saucy.

Edamame

I love Japanese cuisine, & I love going to restaurants that offer edamame as an appetizer. Costco has huge packs of edamame that you can quickly heat up in the microwave. Edamame is high in protein, can help lower cholesterol, & reduce the risk of breast & prostate cancer.

Cuties

I don’t recall when Cuties came onto the scene, but I’ve loved them since the first time I picked up a bag from the grocery store. I must eat at least two at a time, if not more. They are my favorite snack when I’m craving something juicy & sweet.

Bananas

Whenever I need a piece of fruit that’s going to keep me full for a significant amount of time, I reach for a banana. Unlike cuties, bananas keep me feeling full if I have a long meeting before lunch, or I get hungry in the afternoon with several hours to go before dinner. Another plus to bananas is that if I ever forget about them, I have an excuse to bake my ultimate banana bread.

Do you share any of my favorite healthy snacks? Do you have anything that you always keep on hand in your fridge or pantry that you want to recommend? Let me know in a comment below!

XO Denise

SOURCES

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/edamame-benefits

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