BRAINSTORMS FOR RAINSTORMS

Rain, rain, go away - We're in need of rain here in CT, but it bums us out a bit since that means less outfit photos. So today we headed to a local coffee shop to brainstorm for the upcoming weeks on BIB. We haven't gotten to take some time together and hang out in a while. It's hard living on almost opposite sides of the state, but to be honest we couldn't imagine not doing this together! Distance really doesn't matter, and at the end of the day we are so happy to have all you Bloomers feeling motivated and inspired because that's the reason why we are in this! We love spending time together being creative. 

So get ready for some killer posts for the end of summer into fall fest season!

Some sneak peeks you can expect are:

We'd love to know what you Bloomers want to see! You guys are what make this all worth it. Please feel free to leave comments below about what you're interested in. 

Have a great week!

<3 Amy & Annalise

MORNING MUSTS: COFFEE AND PANCAKES

Good morning! Danny and I had some time this morning to sit down and make coffee and breakfast. He's more of an egg and avocado guy, which I do love, but I can always go for some decadent pancakes. These pancakes are cinnamon raisin after my love for cinnamon raisin bread. It has a comfort food taste with a hint of sweetness from the cinnamon and sugar on top. I don't even think they need syrup! I've placed the recipe below for any of you that are craving them :)

Coffee is also always a must in the morning. My mom surprised me with this antique coffee grinder. It's such a beautiful piece and still functions. Danny brewed us some Kauai Blue Mountain Peaberry Coffee his mom brought back from Hawaii. It's got some sweet notes and tastes really smooth. 

I hope you all take some time to enjoy your mornings, even if it's once a week. It's the perfect time to reflect and rejuvenate!

Cinnamon Raisin Pancake mix:

Batter:

-1 cup pancake mix

-1/2 cup of almond milk

-1 egg

-1 tbsp. vegetable oil

-1/3 cup raisins

-Dash of cinnamon

-1 tsp. vanilla extract

Toppings:

-Sprinkle confectioner's sugar and cinnamon on top

-Garnish with a few raisins

-Use real maple syrup if desired!

Have a wonderful day!

<3 Annalise 

VALENTINE'S DAY HEART PANCAKES

In the spirit of Valentine's Day, I had to bring you a cute treat! I'm typically one for cookies, brownies, and cakes (pretty much any dessert)! Instead, I wanted to bring you guys a yummy breakfast treat this fun holiday. Whether it's a serving for one or two, these pancakes are sure to start off your day right! Plus, they give you something to swoon over before taking on the day <3

For this specific recipe, I used my favorite pancake mix by Maple Grove Farms of Vermont as the base mix. I then added ingredients to complete my desired taste. 

Ingredients:

-1 cup Maple Grove Farms of Vermont Buttermilk & Honey Pancake mix

-1/2 tsp. Vanilla Extract

-1/2 tsp. Ground Cinnamon

-11/2 tsp. Red Food Color

-1/2 cup Almond Milk*

-Confectioners Sugar

-Strawberries

-2 tbsp. Canola Oil*

Yields about 12 heart pancakes.

*I substituted the water and egg with a touch more canola oil and almond milk so that I would not have to use eggs in this recipe!

Directions:

1. Preheat greased griddle on a medium-low setting.

2. In a large bowl, mix together vanilla extract, almond milk, and oil. Add more almond milk if too thick for your liking.       Set aside.

3. In a separate bowl, mix Maple Grove pancake mix and ground cinnamon. 

4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to wet in the large bowl until smooth.

5. After everything is smooth, add the red food coloring. Mix until fully blended.

6. When the pan is heated, pour a thin layer of pancake mix and cook until puffy with bubbles. Do this for each side.

7. Once cooked, remove from griddle and set on a cutting board. Use the heart shaped cookie cutter to cut out shapes.           Place shapes on desired platter. Repeat until amount desired.

8. Garnish platter of hearts with cut strawberries and a sprinkle of confectioners sugar. (Or add anything that your                   favorite!)

9. Share and enjoy!

This is a great dish for Valentine's day because everything is already pre-cut and ready to share! Cuddled up with the perfect cup of coffee and you're all set. What's better than a good breakfast and coffee? I already shared these with Danny today because we love that breakfast time together. I hope everyone has a great Valentine's Day! And remember you can treat just yourself to these pancakes Friday morning to remind yourself how awesome and great you truly are :)

<3 Annalise