Potato Cakes with Scrambled Eggs & Smoked Salmon

The boyfriend first made this for me two birthdays ago and I am surprised it took us this long to consume again. It’s the perfect savory brunch with three different components that go so deliciously well together. Not only is it simple to make but also creates a beautiful and elegant presentation. Jamie Oliver raves about this being one of his favorite brunch dishes to whip up (it is his recipe after all) and I couldn’t agree more.

Oxblood Lips

I’ve been obsessed with everything in oxblood for quite some time now, and this fixation has bleed over to my lips (pun intended). Oxblood lips are extremely bold, sexy, and an updated twist to the classic red. You definitely need confidence to pull off this look. Keep the rest of your makeup natural and to a minimum -- your lips are the statement here. For something this bold, I prefer to use a lip brush so that you can layer on the colour as much or as little as you want. You can also use your fingers to dab it on for a more subtle look, or apply directly from the tube for something more dramatic. I used Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick Creme in Black Cherry 447, which you can find here.

Lip prep: moisturize before applying any lipstick

Using a lip brush provides precise coverage

Layer on colour to your liking

Macadamia Crusted Mahi Mahi

 

This post is long overdue. I had originally planned this as part of my Hawaiian themed week a while back, but life got a little crazy so I am posting this now. The first time we tried mahi mahi (a Hawaiian fish) was on our last night at the Grand Hyatt in Kauai. Flaky and tender, this beautiful fish was so juicy and had a macadamia crust that was to die for. It was quite simply the best meal to end our wonderful trip. The boyfriend then made this dish for me on my last birthday and we decided to recreate it for our Kauai themed weekend. It was just as perfect (if not better) than I remembered. Beautifully golden on top, the crust had amazing crunch, texture, and was packed full of flavour. We had this along with the mango, pineapple and papaya salsa we made here and the entire meal was truly a Hawaiian delight and brought us right back to our favourite place on earth. This is such a simple, yet beautiful and sophisticated dish that’s perfect for any special occasion. 

We adjusted the cooking time for the mahi mahi. Use this as a guideline: for every inch of mahi mahi, bake for 10 minutes. Ours were slightly thicker than 1 inch so we cooked it for approxmiately 13 minutes, then broiled it for an additional 2-3 minutes, keeping a close eye to ensure the crust didn't burn.

Fall Trend: Floral

Who says florals are only reserved for spring? This fall, the floral trend is surprisingly in full bloom with a darker, edgier and moodier tone. Mixed with different patterns, fabrics and a darker colour palette, fall florals are more intricate and textured, creating a luxurious and splendor feel. It has a deeper, broodier romantic element seeping through and I love that it can still be feminine and fun.

1. Topshop Shadow Floral Jacket 2. Marc by Marc Jacobs Clarice Printed Twill Top 3. Mango Floral Print Chiffon Shirt 4. H&M Floral Dress 5. Mango Floral Lace Dress 6. Golden Goose Embroidered Slim Trousers

 

Pumpkin Donut Holes

For Halloween, I knew I wanted to bake something with pumpkin. Since we didn't have any plans to dress up and go out, a celebratory night (or two) of stuffing our faces with sweet delights seemed more than appropriate. I made these pumpkin donut holes or timbits as I like to call them (for all my fellow Canadians) here, and it was blissful. Pillowy little bites of pure pumpkin pie flavour made complete with a light sugary coating -- it was like fall in a morsel. And there's something extremely comforting about the intoxicating aroma wafting from the oven. The recipe uses a mini muffin pan, but since we don’t have one, I rolled them into little balls with my hands and baked them on a baking sheet.

  

 Happy Halloween!