Peanut Butter Mousse with Chocolate Covered Coffee Beans

This treat is definitely not kind to your hips, but it's OK to splurge once in awhile right? Sometimes I get cravings for some sweet, creamy peanut butter...this is heaven. And the bitter coffee beans add the perfect complimenting crunch.

Ingredients:

Peanut Butter Mousse

1 cup heavy cream

1/4 cup coconut cream

2 T creamy peanut butter

1/8 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tbsp granulated sugar

Chocolate Covered Coffee Beans

1 cup chocolate chips

1 tbsp canola oil

1/2 cup whole vanilla coffee beans

Directions:

Mousse

Whip all ingredients together in a medium size bowl with electric beaters until smooth and semi-fluffy. Pour mixture into individual cups and place in the freezer for 30 minutes.

Chocolate Covered Coffee Beans

Melt 1 cup of chocolate chips with 1 tbsp. canola oil in microwaveable bowl for 30 seconds. Stir. Add more time if needed. Chocolate should have a drizzling consistency. 

Pour whole coffee beans into the melted chocolate. Stir with a fork to make sure the beans are evenly coated with chocolate. Scoop out the beans with a fork, tapping any excess chocolate off the beans. Place the beans on a lined {silpat mat or wax paper} cookie sheet.

Place chocolate covered beans in the freezer until hard.

Honeymoon Part 2: Monte Carlo, Monaco

--Part 2 of 14--

Honeymoon

For those of you who are just tuning in, Dan and I had an amazing month long European honeymoon and I'm just getting around to sharing the pictures of our epic adventure. We started in Barcelona, Spain where we spent a few days exploring the city before we boarded a ship and sailed to Monte Carlo.

What a beautiful place to wake up to! We spent the day at the beach and visited Prince Rainier's private car collection {Prince Rainier married the fabulous Grace Kelly in 1956, too cool huh? By the way, did you ever see her wedding dress? AMAZING!}. We had a perfect morning lounging on the beach, eating leftover croissants with jam and nutella that we smuggled from the ship. We found nice spot to set out our towels at the far end of the beach.

Beach Babe. And tiny shells instead of sand.^^^

^^^We decided to hike up to the fortress on the hillside for some great views of Monte Carlo.

^^^A nice couple offered to take our picture on the deck of the ship {sorry for the picture quality, we were using Dan's waterproof camera}.

^^^The Famous Monte Carlo Casino

^^^Is it weird that I like taking pictures of peoples windows? Yeah...it's borderline creepy, but I think they are lovely. Look at those shutters and lace! I would love to be a fly on the wall to see how people live here.

^^^It's crazy how these houses are built on the side of a cliff -- almost on top of each other.

^^^We walked through a tunnel to check out the other side of the city and found these pictures for sale posted on the tunnel wall. Grace Kelly you were one classy lady! 

^^^I found our boat. How magical is this? I dig the bohemian hammock. This will be our little putz around boat, we can dock it next to our giant yacht. Right Dan? No? We'll see...

^^^Pretty details everywhere you look!

^^^Prince Rainier's private car collection. So many gorgeous cars, immaculately restored to their original condition. 

^^^Love that red!

^^^Dan's in Heaven.

^^^ Some kind of snow cat used for polar expeditions.

^^^By the harbor with the palace in the background.

^^^Walking up to the palace.

^^^Picturesque old town Monaco.

^^^A view of Musee Oceanographique de Monaco

^^^A closer look of the rooftop garden and skate park from the previous picture.

^^^My favorite part of the day was when we were walking back to the ship {we had 30 minutes until departure}. We found these cool concrete stairs at the edge of the city that dropped off into the Mediterranean Sea; deep dark blue water as far as the eye could see. We both looked at each other and decided to run back to the ship and change into our suits for a quick swim. 

"Do we have enough time? Will the ship leave without us? We'll be soaking wet when we get back on!" 

So worth it. It was one of those moments that you want to freeze in time. We dove in and floated there. I clung onto my amphibious husband, a little terrified at what might be swimming around us but amazed at where we were -- surrounded by a palace on the hillside and Monte Carlo in front of us. How many opportunities do you get to do something like that? It was priceless.

^^^If you ever find yourself in Monte Carlo, check these out.

What a day!

P.S. We made it back to the ship in time!

Pictures: Grace The Art of Film, Fashionstatement, Too Much Grace

We Joined The Circus For The Day {Trapeze Adventure}

I thought it would be fun do something daring for my Mom's birthday this year. We were driving around town one day and we saw a circus trapeze near our local fair grounds. My mom said "Oh that looks like so much fun! Sign me up!" So I did. Was she bluffing? Nope. I got two lessons...one for me and one for Mom. We even invited my 70 year old step-grandmother. How awesome is that!? 3 generations joining the circus for the day. We loved it. Next comes sky diving.

^^^ Me learning how to catch. I got it on my first try {sorry I had to brag}

^^^^^^ Our hubby's came to watch us. Dan, Dad and Grandpa.

^^^They even let Daniel give it a whirl. What a trooper...and he's afraid of heights! He did a back-flip on his first try!

^^^Bette on her 70th Birthday! No that's how you do life! And below, My fearless Mom on her back-flip! All smiles. She amazes me.

What a fun day! Here's a little clip of my first time catching^^^

Chai Latte With A French Press {Using Coffee}

So traditionally chai lattes are made with a spiced black tea...."Chai TEA latte" but we're getting crazy here with this recipe and using coffee instead! I made this yesterday and it was marvelous -- so much flavor! What a special treat to start your day off right!

Serves 2

Ingredients:

1 cup coffee grounds

1 1/2 tsp. ground ginger

4 thin slices of fresh ginger

3 aniseed stars

1 tbsp. cinnamon + extra for sprinkling 

1 tbsp. cardamom

1 tsp. whole allspice

1/8 tsp. ground clove {whole clove optional}

pinch of salt

pinch of pepper

4 cups hot water

1/2 cup evaporated milk {=1/4 cup into each mug}

1/4 cup condensed milk  {=2 tbsp. into each mug}

Whipped cream

Directions:

Combine coffee grounds and spices in a French press. Add hot water and give it a good stir. Let steep for 5 minutes. Then place the lid on the French press and gently push the sifter making sure the spices and coffee grounds stay below the seal. Pour the spiced coffee into drinking cups or mugs. Now add evaporated and condensed milk among the cups.

Top with whipped cream and sprinkle with cinnamon.

* Honestly I like both chai {coffee or tea}...if you're looking for a bold flavor, you'll love this coffee version. If you prefer a smoother taste I suggest substituting 6 black tea bags in replace of the 1 cup of coffee grounds for a tradition chai tea latte.

Picture:French press with spoon

Dragon Fruit, Peach & Lime Smoothie

 Every now and then I like to try something new. I love going to our local Asian market and to pick up fruits like cherimoya, durian, mangosteen or this here dragon fruit. So I bought dragon fruit the other day and didn't know what to do with it. I embarrassingly admit that I had to google "how to eat dragon fruit". I decided to use mine in a smoothie with whatever I had around the house. It turned out amazing... I had to share it with you guys.

Serves 2

Ingredients:

1 dragon fruit

1 cup frozen peaches

1 lime {juice}

1/3 cup condensed milk

3 ice cubes

Directions:

Cut the dragon fruit in half and scoop the insides into a blender. You can pitch the pink skins {or use them as fun serving bowls later in the day}. Throw the rest of your ingredients into the blender and blend until smooth.

Simple as that. So yummy and chock-full of vitamin C!

Life Lately According to Instagram

So much has happened in the past few months! I wish I could keep up with all these posts! Here is what we've been up to lately. Follow along on instagram if your heart desires.

@abitofbeesknees 

on Instagram

~ Early morning Espresso con panna pick-me-ups. Dan and I love our espresso maker

~ I made some white ceramic branch spoons!

~ Diggin' my new wax stamp.

~ Enjoying our CA winter with some mango smoothies in the backyard...sorry North East.

~ Shenanigans at our friends wedding

~ Mom's tea roses and dragon fruit from our favorite Asian Market.

~ Hiking in Idyllwild and surfing in San O

~ A cooking class and the soco farmers market

~ Our new favorite breakfast recipe {eggs over sauteed kale, caramelized onions and sausage}

~ Avocado honey. Yum.

~ Cortaditos and beach camping

~ Rosemary cranberry skewers and painting with Mom