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She Bakes The Heat

Style

My Customizable Italian O-Bag

This summer we took a family trip to Italy and we had such a great time! This should be no surprise but we took a little time to shop in Capri. We came across something new to me called O Bag, they carry customizable goods. They have watches, shoes and other accessories but I ended up purchasing a bag and an insert. It was a little tough to choose with so many options, you can buy different inserts and sets of handles to mix things up with color.

It’s so easy to change things out, you just unscrew the pieces, make the swap and secure them back in.

This bag is lightweight and durable and the outside easily wipes clean. You can use it with or without the insert so you can carry all kinds of things. Including my favorite puppy! Winnie of course!!

Their bags come in all kinds of sizes, shapes and colors and it was a nice surprise to find they have O Bag store locations in the US in some of the bigger cities like Chicago, Nashville and Boston, to name a few. You can even go on their website and take your time to mix and match items. I took probably too much time in the Capri store but I couldn’t help myself. It was little overwhelming but I love my new bag and it is just my style.

My daughter ended up getting one of their watches which are really cute and interchangeable too. My step daughter got the coolest back pack to make things easier when she is taking her three children places. It is really stylish and functional! I am hoping to see in the near future more of the stores popping up in the US, but for now I will shop online which is something I am pretty good at.

September 10, 2018 by She Bakes The Heat

Lifestyle

Refresh Your Home With Turkish Towels

I received some kitchen Turkish Towels for Christmas last year and I have fallen in love! They are made with Turkish Cotton, a premium cotton with long fibers and are so lightweight but absorbent. I think the best thing about them is that they get softer with every wash. They come in so many beautiful colors so you can match every room. I’ve made a point to buy different sizes to I can put them in multiple places in my home. I have purchased more for my kitchen and I’ve added some hand towels in my bathroom.

I’ve got some outside on my grill, I do keep a darker one outside because of the charcoal.

Because they are so lightweight, it’s easy to throw them in a beach bag. When I came across this yellow striped one, I had to have it because it matched so perfectly.

I do love taking them to the beach, because they dry so quickly. And Winnie loves them too!

August 27, 2018 by She Bakes The Heat

Travel

Summer Fun In Vail

They say that people go to Vail to ski and end up staying for the summers. It is true! The first few years of traveling to Vail all I ever experienced was skiing and the mountains, which of course is amazing! And then we went out for the summer. Wow what fun we had. We biked, hiked, white water rafted, fly fished and so much more! I still can’t decide what is my favorite season. Is it winter or is it summer? Well recently I went out to Vail and had a fantastic time with family and friends.

The first day we went up the gondola and experienced all of the activities at Adventure Ridge. We did the zip line and the rock climbing to name a few. I was pretty proud of myself for doing the rock climbing. I am in decent shape but it is still so hard! We later ended up hiking down the mountain. It is so breath taking! That night my hubby and I went to dinner at LaBotega, one of my favorite Italian restaurants in the village.

We did a second hike on our trip. It was a new one for us and it is called Hanging Lake. I have been going to Vail for 20 years and have not been on this hike. I guess it is very popular and just 40 minutes west of Vail. We decided to go. The hike is short but has some pretty tough footing. It is just a little over 3 miles and the scenery at the top is gorgeous! Because of the fragile ecosystem it is forbidden to wade or swim in the lake and dogs are not allowed on the trail. Behind the lake was another trail that led us to Spouting Rock. It has a gorgeous waterfall. It turned out to be such a nice hike and we were able to enjoy the scenery and have a quick picnic!

I love being in Vail because the mountains do call you and you end up going every time! We are an active family and just love the memories we have enjoyed winter or summer!

August 20, 2018 by She Bakes The Heat

Recipes

Grilled Peach Dessert On A Himalayan Salt Block

My dad is such a great cook. He really didn’t get started cooking until after I was out of the house. At that time, his job took him away during the week and I guess he didn’t care for eating out. Either way I am grateful because when he comes to visit we LOVE to eat his food. He is kinda funny, because I try and cook for him but the next thing I know he is cooking for me! Anyway, the reason I tell you this, is I have learned a lot of secrets and amazing recipes from my dad. I have yet to have a bad meal that he has prepared.

Last summer he introduced me to the Himalayan Salt Grilling Slab. I purchased mine from Sur La Table and I thought it was the coolest thing. They have been around for quite a while but sometime us midwesterners are the last to know! Himalayan salt is from Pakistan and some consider it healthier than table salts. I personally feel it tastes less “salty” and has a more mineral taste. The grilling slab adds amazing flavor to food without the need for extra seasoning. To begin you need to make sure to heat up your salt slab properly. Heat up the salt slab gradually to a temperature of around 450-500 degrees. You will know it is hot enough when you sprinkle a little bit of water on it and it sizzles. At that point it is perfect for grilling. I love meat and seafood on the salt slab. It is really easy and so flavorful!

You can also grill fruit and I am sharing this yummy grilled peach dessert, one of my favorites. We have our own peach trees and I love using them for this recipe. Make sure to use ripe or almost ripe peaches. The flavor is that much better when the peaches can meld with the salt slab flavors. This recipe is easy and sure to please!

Grilled Peach Dessert on a Himalayan Salt Block

Instructions

Gradually heat salt slab on grill. Salt slab will be ready when water fizzles.
Cut peaches in half and place on salt slab until warmed through.
Remove peaches with tongs and add a scoop of ice cream.
Add a sprig of mint for garnish. Enjoy immediately!

August 14, 2018 by She Bakes The Heat

Lifestyle

Refreshing Infused Water

I know most people don’t like to drink water, let alone a lot of it. I happen to be that rare person that loves to drink water. Unfortunately, I am in the bathroom all the time! However, I feel so much better and it is best for my health. Some of the benefits of drinking water are the following:

1.) Helps with constipation. I know I don’t really talk about personal things such as this but it can help and this is a common problem for a lot of people.

2.) It can help reduce the risk of kidney stones. It hasn’t been entirely proven to be true and more studies are needed but what they do know is it helps.

3.) Retains hydration. When your body is dehydrated it doesn’t functioning at its best. It can reduce your physical performance and stamina.

4.) Weight loss. I personally notice that I retain weight when I do not drink water. Odd as that is, it is true!

Infusing water with fresh fruit is a great way to enhance your water. I have some fun combinations for you to try! It makes such a difference if you get bored with water, do not care for sparkling water and do not want more sugar in your diet! I love using the herbs out of my garden whenever possible. Here are a few favorites:

Strawberry and fresh mint

Pineapple and fresh mint

Grapefruit and rosemary

Cucumber and Jalapeño (make sure to remove seeds!)

Lastly, I like to use a muddler. The one I got is from Amazon. It’s a little short for this particular pitcher but what I like to do is muddle it when it gets poured into my glass. The best way to drink it is within an hour or two of mixing. Otherwise the flavors are lost and the fruit gets a little funky. I really hope this is something you will try especially if you are trying to up your water intake. Share with me any new mixes you have come up with. I would love to try!

August 10, 2018 by She Bakes The Heat

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