pretzel crisps + the fourth of july

As the Fourth of July quickly approaches, I find myself brainstorming red, white and blue treats to share with my friends on the festive holiday. Besides raspberries, blueberries and the classic hotdogs and burgers, pretzels come to mind when I picture a Fourth of July BBQ or picnic.

Pretzel Crisps, quite the tasty and low-cal snack, was kind enough to provide the pretzels for this recipe and obviously, it was inspired by incredible Emily from Cupcakes and Cashmere.

With just three ingredients and a prep time of only a few minutes, these chocolate covered Pretzel Crisps are a delicious and easy treat and can be tailored for any holiday.

What you'll need: 

Pretzel Crisps (original flavor), one cup of chocolate chips and sprinkles of your choice.

Simply heat the chocolate chips in the microwave until they melt, dip Pretzel Crisps in the chocolate and while warm, add the sprinkles. I recommend putting these on wax paper and popping them in the fridge for 15 minutes or so to set.

Thanks Pretzel Crisps for the fun challenge!

in honor of father's day...

...what I've learned from my dad.

Lotus Temple | New Delhi

Live in Spain. Live in India. Travel the world.

Making friends every where you go is never a bad thing.

Do what you love. Live with passion.

Italian food on Sundays will always be comforting (and delicious).

Nothing quite beats a day soaking up the sun with a good drink. 

Be it on a cruise, on a remote beach or in your backyard.

Spicy foods are the best foods.

There's no such thing as too much wine. 

Hard work will always pay off.

First and foremost, always take care of yourself.

That being said, don't be afraid to follow your heart.

{Dad, I think it's safe to say that I've inherited your gypsy soul. 

Thanks for the endless support... I love you!}

the best thing i ate this week: sushi zone

albacore stuffed jalapeños, baked

I'm the kind of person that could eat sushi everyday. For every meal. I really never get sick of it. So when I heard about Sushi Zone, off the beaten path in the Mission, I knew I had to try it. With only 10 seats and a notoriously long wait, Sushi Zone was worth it.

We started with the albacore stuffed jalapeños and they were pretty much amazing, as you can tell by the photo above. A generous serving of albacore stuffed into a hallowed out jalapeño and topped with an insanely flavorful sauce and scallions. We were beyond pleased. 

Then, of course, we ordered a million sushi rolls, all standard but perfectly fresh and some of the best sushi I've ever had.

Despite the wait and tiny space, I'll be back sooner rather than later.

Sushi Zone: 1815 Market Street; San Francisco

sometimes all you need is to reset

sometimes that reset is in the form of a beer at your favorite bar

I spent this past weekend in San Diego, having just the best time with many of my favorite people. In typical Allie fashion, a Google doc was created to ensure that Lori and I got to all of our favorite spots. 70% food and 30% bars, we definitely conquered a lot.

But besides being a good time with great people, the weekend truly served as a reset for myself. Since starting a new job, making new friends and being in an new city, so much lately hasn't felt entirely comfortable, mostly due to my nerves and self consciousness. San Diego, however, is such a familiar and comfortable place to me. San Diego's the city I became my best self in. The place I realized what I want to do with my life, what my priorities are and what I stand for. Being there reminded me of all of these things and let me tell you, it was a much needed reminder.

a lovely quote

North Park mural | San Diego

"Life will break you. Nobody can protect you from that and living alone won't either, for solitude will also break you with its yearning. You have to love. You have to feel. It is the reason you are here on earth. You are here to risk your heart. You are here to be swallowed up. And when it happens that you are broken or betrayed or left or hurt or death brushes near, let yourself sit by an apple tree and listen to the apples falling all around you in heaps, wasting their sweetness. Tell yourself you tasted as many as you could."

-Louise Erdrich