Roasted Tomato Basil Sauce

I'd pinned this tomato sauce recipe awhile back and it finally made it on our menu this week. I love this recipe not only for its taste, but also for its ability to be made ahead of time and for its versatility. I served this over sautéed shrimp, but it would be just as good over grilled chicken or as a pizza sauce too.

Enjoy!

Roasted Tomato Sauce via With Style & Grace

Roasted Tomato Basil Sauce from With Style & Grace

Ingredients

- 3 pints cherry tomatoes (Rinse before using.)
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced (I keep a big jar of pre-minced garlic in my fridge at all times!)
- 1 tablespoon salt (I used truffle salt.)
- 3/4 cup fresh basil, chopped (When in doubt go "steal" some basil from your Mama's herb garden!)

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Place rinsed tomatoes on a baking sheet and add garlic, salt, and olive oil. Use your hands to make sure all the tomatoes are evenly coated.

Bake/roast for 15-30 minutes or until tomatoes have browned and softened.

Remove and let tomato mixture cool then place mixture into a blender with chopped basil. Puree to your liking.

Top over shrimp, grilled chicken, use as a pizza...the options are endless!

Latest Favorites...

Just a few of my latest favorites for you all today...enjoy!

By now I'm sure all of you have heard of the new Aerin line at Estee Lauder, if you haven't you must be living under a rock. Aerin seems like one of the chicest woman ever and her makeup line follows suit. The Perfect Nude lip gloss is my new obsession.

Aerin Perfect Nude Lip Gloss via Neiman Marcus

I was in the market for a new perfume and thought I would get the new Gucci fragrance, but after smelling the new Balenciaga fragrance I was sold. It doesn't hurt that the bottle is basically a work of art  either.

Balenciaga Florabotanica Eau de Parfum Spray via Neiman Marcus

I'm also seriously OBSESSED with these Dannijo earrings. You all know me and my love for statement earrings and OMG I keep dreaming about this pair. Aren't they stunning?

Dannijo Siobhan Earrings via Dannijo

Pumpkin Muffin Goodness

Fall is here and that means pumpkin everything! I was so glad that these pumpkin muffins turned out as well as they did, beware though, they are addicting. These are moist, delicious, and healthy. Thank you Gina for the amazing recipe!

Pumpkin Nut Muffins from Skinnytaste (Slightly adapted)

Pumpkin Nut Muffins via Skinnytaste

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 cups canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 2 large egg whites
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• baking spray
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°. Spray a muffin tin with non stick spray for easy removal.

In a medium bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking soda, pumpkin spice, nutmeg, cinnamon, and salt with a wire whisk. Set aside.

In a large bowl mix pumpkin puree, oil, egg whites and vanilla; beat at medium speed until thick. Scrape down sides of the bowl.

Add flour mixture to the wet mixture, then blend at low speed until combined; do not over mix. Fold in chopped nuts.

Pour batter into prepared muffin tin and bake on the center rack for 24 - 26 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Let them cool at least 15 minutes before serving.

Makes 12 muffins.

Dresses, Dresses, Dresses

My SIL has an upcoming wedding and needs a fab dress that won't break the bank. I paroozed around  and found some great options. All have sleeves since that is oh so on trend right now and is a trend that she particularly loves. What's your favorite? I think mine is the Dot Illusion dress from Vince Camuto. Hope some of you can scoop one (or more!) of these up too!

Straight Lace Dress via Zara

Dot Illusion Dress via Vince Camuto

Puff Sleeve Dress via Zara

Jeweler Spotlight...Katherine Gainey Designs

Sooo the arm party trend carries on and I'm excited to add these babies to my stack. My SIL (YES, the LovelyB one) made me aware of these African horn bracelets as the company was started by her BFF's sister. Katherine Gainey Designs not only has a great selection of jewelry (the horn bracelets being my fav though), but a portion of her proceeds go a organization that supports children called Empower African Children which is a win-win in my book!

via Katherine Gainey Designs

via Katherine Gainey Designs

Aren't these awesome? And what a great gift...never too early to start shopping for the holidays!

What I'm Cooking this Week...

I want to start doing a post each week about what I'm cooking each week, would you all like this? I hope so!

For lunches I'll be munching on this chickpea salad (It's my standby, I make this almost every week and I've gotten one of my SIL's hooked too.) and this wild rice salad which I've made only once before, but LOVED.

Wild Rice and Edamame Salad via Pixelated Crumb

For dinner lots of roasted veggies, roasted parm chicken, and chicken tetrazzini are in the mix.

Lightened Up Chicken Tetrazzini via Ingredients, Inc.

And I'm hoping to have a pumpkin muffin recipe by the end of the week for you all!

Lions, Tigers, and Bears Oh My!

Well not really bears, but you get the idea...

via Plush Embassy

via Solestruck

via Style Frizz

Hopefully these pictures give away where I've been for the past few weeks, but I'm back now and can't wait to get back to blogging.  Until tomorrow friends!