paint it light

Seven Layer Bars

2012-02-12T17:37:00.000-08:00

I woke up this weekend to the sound ofthunder and rain splattering against my bedroom window. It felt cold and empty,so I decided to make my all time favorite dessert, Seven Layer Bars (also knownas Magic Bars). I first learned of this delicious dessert when my collegeroommate would bring a large batch back to school upon returning from break.They’re a mix between a cookie and a candy bar. Served warm with a scoop ofvanilla ice cream (I like Dryer's "Slow Churned" Vanilla Bean)makes the perfect combination.

I am a huge fan of coconut, especially ondesserts. I guess that's what makes these bars so appealing.

Seven-Layer Bars

1 cup sweetened flaked coconut

1 stick unsalted butter

9 graham crackers (5 ounces), crushed

1 cup finely chopped walnuts

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

½ cup white chocolate chips

½ cup Reese's peanut butter chips

1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

1. Adjust an oven rack to the lower-middleposition and preheat to 350°F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking pan with non-stickspray. Line the pan with two overlapping pieces of foil or parchment paper(parchment paper works best), leaving overhang to act as handles for liftingthe bars out of the pan. Spray with non-stick spray.

2. Spread the coconut on a baking sheet andbake until the outer flakes just begin to brown, about 4 minutes. (Keep a closeeye on it – coconut can go from slightly browned to burnt in a matter ofseconds. You don't want it burned.) Set aside.

3. Melt the butter and combine with grahamcracker crumbs in a small bowl. Toss with your fingers until the butter isevenly distributed. Press the crumbs evenly onto the bottom of the preparedpan.

4. In order, sprinkle the walnuts,chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, Reese's peanut butter chips, andcoconut over the graham crumbs. Pour the condensed milk evenly over the entiredish.

5. Bake until the top is golden brown,about 25 minutes. Cool in the pan on a wire rack to room temperature, about 2hours.

6. Using a sharp knife, cut into 2 by3-inch bars. Remove the bars from the pan using a spatula.

love, julie

Hearts of Union Square

2012-02-11T22:39:00.000-08:00

I love San Francisco not only for its beauty and charm butalso for its culture. “The city” - as I like to call it - fuses music, food,and art to create one of the most eccentric places in the world. More personalthan the crowded parking lots surrounded by densely populated streets in LosAngeles, and more compact than the widespread San Diego, San Francisco has apersonality all its own. The people here build friendships with theircustomers, support local businesses, and collectively organize social events.One of my favorite events is held right in Union Square where local artistsgather together to show their artwork. These hearts are so magnificent andfestive. It is fun walking through Union Square after a quick bite to eat andexperiencing the talent of the city. I now know why Tony Bennett’s signaturesong was: “I left my heart in San Francisco.”

love, julie

Be Mine

2012-02-10T21:57:00.000-08:00

It’s almost Valentine’s Day! Have you been struck by Cupid’s bow?

"If you look for it, I've got a sneaky suspicion...love actually is all around."

Celebrate the Day of Love with these fabulous Valentine inspirations!

Nothing says “I love you” like a heart-shaped pizza! Find the recipe here.

Share a cup of love with your special someone. Don’t forget the heart-shaped marshmallows!

Prepare a cute lunch for someone special on Valentine’s Day.

The best way to turn ordinary treats into tokens of love. Learn how to make these!

Popcornopolis’ featured flavor for February: Strawberries & Cream!

Turn an ordinary dinner extraordinary with these simple ideas.

What’s Valentine’s Day without the right attire? These are some of my favorite products that achieve the perfect Valentine’s Day look!

Make an everyday outfit fabulous by adding a pink trench coat.

I absolutely adore this belt from White and Black. It will add a punch of pizazz to any outfit, especially on Valentine’s Day!

It's in the shoes...

Go PINK or go home.

These Litas are perfect for Valentine’s Day (or any day...!) Find them here.

I'll leave you with my favorite famous couple: Lucy and Desi

“Life with Desi is crazy and exciting, but our love is deep and changeless.”

love, jenny

Winter Pick-me-up

2012-02-08T08:54:00.000-08:00

February is here and the mid-winter blues have set in. Notthat I don’t love skiing, hot chocolate, and nights by the fire, butsometimes the freezing weather is just depressing. And with the groundhog’sprediction of six more weeks of winter, I knew I had to do something to get meout of this wintery funk. There’s nothing like a warm bath, a long sleep, and somecolor that cures my love/hate relationship with the coldest season of the year.

Soak up with lavender vanilla bath salts

The warmth and coziness of home

A single vase of flowers can brighten up even the gloomiest of days

Threads of color

Pink walls add a punch to this simple kitchen

Mint is It!

2012-02-06T15:52:00.000-08:00

I was first attracted to these delicious mint chocolate chipcookies not from all their claims of yummy and deliciousness. No. I wasattracted to them because of their color. Sad, isn’t it?

Not that I’m not a huge mint fan. In the old days, my bigsister used to take me to Cold Stone Creamery once a week after school for asweet treat, and Like It Mint was my soleorder. “Are you sure you don’t want to try another flavor?” my sister wouldoften question as she experimented with peanut butter, cookie dough, and exoticfruit flavors with mix-ins galore. No, mint was it for me.

Anyway, aside from already loving mint-flavored goodies, thelooks of these cookies really caught my eye. I’m a sucker for the kind of foodthat looks so good that you feel guilty eating it away. Not that these cookiesare like the delicacies you see on Cake Boss, but they aren’t just your averageoatmeal raisin either.

Green is the Theme

These are a few of my favorites that inspired my love.

Jeffery has always been number one on my list, but these have risen even higher above my expectations! Find them here

This jewelry set is absolutely gorgeous. Available at Urban Outfitters

Not exactly mint green but more of a Tiffany blue! Regardless, green is the theme and this color is AH-MAZING! Find it here

Another handmade favorite, couldn’t resist! Look for it here

Cookies, Anyone?

And now for the recipe! It’s faster than you can say, “BettyCrocker is my hero.”

1 pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) BettyCrocker® sugar cookie mix

1/2 cup butter or margarine,softened

1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon mintextract

6 to 8 drops green food color

1 egg

1 cup creme de menthe baking chips

1 cup semisweet chocolate chunks

Heatoven to 350°F. In large bowl, stir cookie mix, butter, extract, food color andegg until soft dough forms. Stir in creme de menthe baking chips and chocolatechunks.

2 Using small cookie scoop or teaspoon, drop dough 2 inchesapart on ungreased cookie sheet.

3 Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until set. Cool 3 minutes; removefrom cookie sheet to wire rack. Serve warm or cool completely. Store tightlycovered at room temperature.

Funfetti is Everywhere

2012-02-05T09:00:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Paint it Light! This is our way of sharing the things we love.

Batter Up!

My first love began with Funfetti. I used to thinkmy mother invented Funfetti because it always magically appeared out of ourtiny, sixties style kitchen right around my birthday each year. Then Idiscovered her secret and realized Pillsbury was genius. It was my favorite.And as I’ve grown up, not much has changed. So when I saw this recipe on The Pursuit of Hippieness I knew that I was going to fall in love allover again. What better way to endure the winter gloom than with some Funfetticake batter fudge.

Funfetti Inspiration

Etsy Abstract Art Print & TheChange

8 x 10 by AeropagitaPrints

Limited Edition – "Pink,Heart, Love”

Kate Spade New York"Aubrey" wrap dress

Available here

A shock of creamy hot pink tomake Funfetti nails

Essie “Fiesta” nail polish...

...If only it were possible on the lips too!

These Funfetti bobby pin are too cute! View here

Now for the recipe:

Funfetti Cake Batter Fudge

1 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk

3.5 cups white chocolate chips

3 tsp Vanilla Extract

1/2 tsp Almond Extract

Rainbow Sprinkles

Pour milk and white chocolate into a microwave-safebowl. Heat for 2-3 minutes, or until white chocolate is almost completelymelted. Do not overheat. Stir until completely blended, melted, and smooth.

Immediately add vanilla and almond and combinethoroughly. Add a handful of rainbow sprinkles and fold in quickly, becausethey will melt. Do not allow the sprinkles to melt by stirring them for toolong or all the colors will run together.

Transfer to an aluminum-foil lined 8×8 inch bakingpan or a 11x7 inch pan. I used a 11x7 inch pan for very thick fudge. Let set atroom temperature or in the refrigerator (for about 3 hours).

Once set, peel off the foil and cut into cubes. Store leftovers in anairtight glass container in a cool place.