I landed at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport late on Thursday night. There was snow on the ground but it was dark and I didn't get a very good first look at these incredible cities.

On Friday morning we woke up together and I took Rob to work in case I needed his car for something, which I really didn't, because after driving through a McDonald's for some breakfast and coffee, I ended up spending the day writing and unpacking boxes; decorating little corners of his apartment and maybe sort of pretending that I was moving in, myself. I had lunch delivered and took a shower and did something fun to my hair and at 3:30, left to pick Rob up at his office because he's done at 4:00 and that's awesome.

We planned our evening and the next day mostly around the food we would eat. After hearing that Minneapolis and St. Paul are something of a foodie haven, Rob compiled a list and we got right to it. Dinner on Friday night was at Yumi's Sushi Bar, and Saturday consisted of an amazing breakfast at Modern Times, a delicious (and almost completely Paleo) lunch at Brasa, and a romantic tapas dinner at Solera (get two orders of the dates--we did).

Spending time with Rob is always wonderful, but there was something really different and special about coming somewhere new, unpacking a few boxes and helping to make an apartment feel like home, and exploring a new city together. It was difficult to leave.

As my flight back to the East Coast took off (after some tears) on Sunday afternoon, I finally got a good look at the surrounding area, and it took my breath away. Covered in snow, the whole thing looked unfamiliar to me, but clean and new and beautiful, and it seemed to go on and on forever.

I can't wait to go back.

Good morning from the Land of 10,000 Lakes! My flight got in late last night and we're just getting going. Rob has to work today, but was told to take his time getting in, so I'm dropping him off at his office so that I can have his car for the day!

Jet Plane Necklace c/o Barberry & Lace

Anyone in the Twin Cities area have any suggestions of what we should do, where we should go, or what we should eat?

Have a great weekend!

Once, when I had a lot less to do, I sat in the kitchen of my college apartment and literally painted melted chocolate onto the insides of a pack of muffin liners in an attempt to make homemade Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. It kind of worked, but come on. Most of them did fall apart when you unwrapped them. Also, that was an embarrassing use of my time. I can't believe I even told you about it.

I decided to make some more reasonable ones this year, so I used candy molds (duh) and made them Paleo with dark chocolate and homemade hazelnut butter. I don't know if you've ever made your own nut butter, but it was so easy that I feel like I practically made up for the four hours I spent with a paintbrush that one afternoon, five years ago.

These ones are not nearly as pretty as packaged chocolates, but they taste like Nutella and they're made with love.

And they'll be gone before you know it. 

Ingredients:

Makes about 16-18 cups.

Two 10 ounce bags of chopped hazelnuts (or almonds, or any nut)

One 10 ounce bag of dark chocolate chips

Two tablespoons of coconut oil--one for the chocolate and one for the nuts

Peanut Butter Cup Candy Mold--I used this one.

1. Melt the chocolate over low heat, stirring in a tablespoon of coconut oil once the chips are melted.

2. While your chocolate is melting, add the hazelnuts to a food processor and blend. That's seriously it. It takes a few minutes, but you'll have hazelnut butter before you know it. Throw in a tablespoon of coconut oil for good measure.

3. Spoon some melted chocolate into the bottoms of your candy molds. Add a bit of hazelnut butter. Top it with another spoonful of chocolate.

4. Stick them in the freezer until they've hardened and pop them out. 

5. Store them in the refrigerator. Share them with someone you really like.

 

It's almost Valentine's Day. What are you making?