Wardrobe Wednesday- Spring Yellow Shirt, Light Wash Jeans, & White Sneakers

 Today’s Wardrobe Wednesday is what I think of as a perfect casual spring outfit. The yellow shirt for a pop of color, a lighter wash jean, and white sneakers.  It’s very comfortable and easy while still feeling put together.

Unfortunately this shirt is currently out of stock, but I’m telling you it is 100% worth putting in your cart or wishlist to keep an eye out for. It comes in tons of colors (I also have it in orange). It is incredibly soft and the length lends itself well to tucking or tying if you want a more fitted look.

https://amzn.to/36wdlfK

If you haven’t heard, apparently skinny jeans are out. I mean…I’m still going to wear them and do all the time…but I am trying to branch out. My issue is the second I wear other cuts of jeans that aren’t as fitted I feel like they quickly make me look extra bulky. I have a hard time finding the sweet spot between skinny and tight and swimming in denim.

These jeans have managed to land in that sweet spot!  Funny part is I bought them on a complete whim without even trying them on.  They are Sofia Vergara jeans from Walmart which I had never bought before, but they were on clearance for $7. I grabbed a pair and took them home not expecting much but have ended up loving them!

These are showing as out of stock online in regular sizes but stocked in plus sizes. Keep an eye out for these in store as well. They are the Leslie Slim Straight

https://www.walmart.com/ip/826430152

I feel like white sneakers are a staple for Spring/Summer and these are a steal! At only $20 these are a fraction of the price of lookalike big brands. Totally worth it.

https://amzn.to/3Or36KU

Lemony Ham & Pea Pasta

When I think of Spring, I think of ham, peas, and lemon. Well…I guess I also think of flowy dresses, florals, and pastels…but let’s just focus on the food stuff for now.

So ham, peas, and lemon. If that’s what comes to mind I figured I might as well combine all 3 into a dish together and what better way to do that than with pasta! Pasta is like that one friend that brings everyone together…ya know what I mean? Like it’s that common person that everyone will show up for and bridges new friendships.  Does this metaphor mean anything to anyone else? Because it makes perfect sense to me. The other friends are the random ingredients you add to the pasta…never mind.

Anywho, a lot of times lemon pasta tend to be on the creamy side. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE me a lemon cream sauce. But for this particular pasta dish, I wanted to keep it on the lighter side. Very bright in flavor and low on the dairy. In fact, this sauce is mostly made up of chicken broth and lemon juice with only 1/4 cup of heavy cream. (Also 1/4 cup of butter if you want to count that but I don’t want to 😜). But the cool thing is you can totally customize this to your tastes if you’d like. Want to add more cream? Do it! Like it a little less lemony? Swap some of the lemon juice for more chicken broth. Don’t be afraid to mess around with it.

Lemony Ham & Pea Pasta

1lb Pasta, cooked (any kind will work, I just prefer a short pasta as opposed to a long noodle for this dish)

2tb Olive oil

12 oz Ham, diced

1/4 cup Butter

1 small Onion, small diced

4 cloves Garlic, minced

1/2 cup Lemon juice

1 cup Chicken broth

2 tsp. Corn starch

1 tsp Kosher salt

1/2 tsp dried Thyme

Pepper to taste

1/4 cup Heavy cream

1 cup Peas (thawed if frozen or blanched for about a minute and shocked Im ice water if fresh)

Parmesan cheese for plating (optional)

Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat in a large sauté pan, Dutch oven, or shallow pot (it’s needs to be big enough to hold all the ingredients listed) Add the diced ham and cook until lightly crispy and any fat has rendered off. Remove from Pan and set aside.

In the same pan, add the 1/4 cup of butter over medium low heat. Add in your diced onion and cook until they are soft and translucent. Add in your minced garlic and cook about 1 minute.

While the onions and garlic are cooking, whisk the 2 teaspoons of corn starch into the 1 cup of chicken broth to create a slurry.

When the garlic and onions are done, add the pepper, salt, thyme, and lemon juice to the pan. Mixing it well  Then, pour in your slurry. Allow it to come to a boil (corn starch does not reach its full thickening potential until the liquid is at a full boil) Whisk often to keep anything from burning or sticking.

Once it has come to a boil, whisk in the 1/4 cup of heavy cream. At this point you can adjust if needed. If you want to thicker you can add more cornstarch, or if it’s too thick add a splash more cream or broth.

Add the ham back into the sauce. Pour in your pasta and gently fold to coat it in the sauce and heat through. Remove from the heat and stir your peas in at the very end.

I like to top mine with grated Parmesan just before serving or over each individual portion.

Hope you enjoy it! Oh, and it's also a great way to use up home when you have leftovers after holidays.  You can even throw leftover ham in the freezer and pull it out to make this down the road. 

Lemon Cream Pie with Shortbread Cookie Crust

With the weather heating up and already nearing 100 here in Phoenix, it’s time to make the switch from heavy desserts to light ones. Never mind the fact that this pie is made with butter laden shortbread cookies, half and half, and heavy cream. The fact that it’s lemon and served cold makes it “light”….right? 😜 At least it does to me! Just go with it…

I made the crust using these Lemon Dipped Shortbread cookies from Walmart, but you could use plain shortbread cookies too.

Of course you can customize this entirely and use a traditional pie crust that you blind baked, graham cracker, or some other type of cookie crust.  If you choose to use a different type of cookie just be sure to follow the note I have at the bottom of the recipe. Shortbread cookies contain a lot more butter than the average cookie so my recipe calls for half the butter I would normally use in a crust like this. If you end up using a cookie that’s not shortbread you will need to make the adjustments I noted.

If you’re thinking it’s weird that I used coconut milk in the lemon custard, don’t worry! It actually doesn’t taste coconutty at all. I just like to use it as a way to cut down on some of the dairy, but you can sub it with half and half if you’d like.

Lemon Cream Pie with Shortbread Cookie Crust

Crust

2 cups lemon shortbread cookie crumbs

1/4 cup melted butter *(see note)

1/4 cup granulated sugar

Lemon Custard

1 can unsweetened coconut milk (you can sub half and half as a substitute if you’d like)

1 cup half and half

1/2 cup lemon juice

3 egg yolks

1 cup granulated sugar

1/3 cup corn starch

Zest of 3 lemons (plus more for garnish if desired)

Whipped Cream

1 1/4 cup heavy cream

2 TB. powdered sugar

2 tsp. vanilla extract

To make the crust, stir together the shortbread cookie crumbs, melted butter, and sugar.  Press tightly into a 9 inch pie plate, going up the sides as well.  Bake in a 350 oven for 8 minutes.  Cool completely before filling with the custard.

In a saucepan, gently bring the coconut milk, lemon juice, and half and half to a simmer over medium low heat.

While you are waiting for the lemon juice milks to simmer, whisk the yolks, sugar, and cornstarch together in a medium to large bowl (big enough to also hold the milk/lemon juice mixture) This mixture will be thick,

When the lemon juice/milk mixture has come to a simmer, temper it into the egg yolk/sugar/cornstarch mixture by adding a small amount of the liquid at a time while whisking constantly to incorporate.  Keep adding the liquid while whisking until is is all incorporated into the egg mix (this method keeps the eggs from curdling)  

One this mixture is tempered and combined, pour it all back into the sauce pan. Bring it up to a boil slowly over medium low heat, whisking often to keep from lumping or burning.  (cornstarch does not thicken fully until it is brought to a full boil)  Once the mixture has boiled and thickened, remove it from the heat and stir in the lemon zest. 

Allow to cool for 10-15 minutes before pouring int your cookie pie crust. Allow the pie to cool completely before adding the whipped cream (so nothing gets melty)

To make the whipped cream, place your bowl and whisk attachment or hand mixer whisks in the freezer for 15-20 minutes.  Remove from the freezer and add the heavy cream and sugar to the bowl.  Whip until it forms a stiff cream. Stir in the vanilla at the end.  

Top the custard pie with the whipped cream and top with extra lemon zest for garnish if desired. Serve chilled.

*NOTE: Shortbread cookies have a high butter content, so this recipe contains half the normal amount of melted butter I usually use for crumb crusts. If you are subbing graham cracker crumbs or other cookies in place of the shortbread cookies, double the amount of melted butter used in the crust to 1/2 cup.

Wardrobe Wednesday- Springy Cheetah Dress & Denim Jacket

Yeaaa…Wardrobe Wednesday posts are definitely going to be mirror pics for the foreseeable future. Way less stress and sweat inducing than a tripod and self timer situation.

This post contains affiliate links BUT per usual, I only link items that I love and have bought myself or genuinely think are awesome!

Today’s outfit is proof that you can find cute things anywhere! I found this dress at Five Below for $5. While it’s definitely not a place I would go LOOKING for a dress, it’s a true testament to always keeping your eyes 👀 peeled for a deal. You never know what you’ll find in the oddest places. Unfortunately, I don't have a link to this exact dress but it would be easy to replicate.

Here in Arizona it’s already in the 90s and too hot for the denim jacket look, but for those of you that don’t live in the armpit of hell, it’s a great way to add interest. You can throw a denim jacket over almost anything and it becomes 10x cuter. This is exactly why I love Fall/Winter style and struggle so much with warm weather style. (Good thing I live in Phoenix, right? 🙄)

My Favorite Denim Jacket

These simple slide flats have been my go to for the past year or so from Old Navy. I have them in both black and cognac so they go with most outifts. They fit TTS for me but some of the reviews suggest sizing up, especially if you have a wider foot. My typical 8 has worked out just fine for me though.

When I went to get the link I realized there are even on sale right now!  So now is a great time to stock up on both for Spring/Summer.

Old Navy Sandal Flats

I hope this post inspires you to look for style everywhere! Where's the oddest place you've ever bought clothes from?