Back from Fiji

I'm back from Fiji and had a wonderful time. Fiji is such an amazingly beautiful country! I didn't want to leave and I already dream of going back. The only downside is that I'm having a terrible time recovering from jet lag. I'm sick, feverish, and can't sleep although I'm exhausted (plus, I had an ear infection after going scuba diving and it hurts quite a little bit), reasons why I've been MIA over the last few days. But it was truly worth it and I'll be back on my feet soon.

Roasted Peaches with Walnut Crumble (Guest Post by Meredith)

While I'm away in Fiji (lucky me!), a pretty awesome group of some of my very favorite bloggers is helping “fill in the gaps” with amazing recipes, DIY projects and much more. 

Today's post is by Meredith from Lakyn + Judah. Among other things, Meredith posts recipes that make you want to reach through your screen and grab a bite. Seriously, I defy you to take a look at these dark chocolate cake donuts with blood orange glaze and not feel instantly hungry ;)

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Hello Oh the Lovely Things readers! I am beyond thrilled and honored to be guest posting here on this beautiful blog today. It’s safe to say that when Clemence contacted me for this opportunity, I jumped on my couch Tom Cruise-style! I hope you enjoy this super simple, but show stoppin recipe as much as I do! Let’s get to it shall we?

It's officially SUMMER, and you know what that means....peaches! Today I want to share my go-to summer dessert - roasted peaches topped with salted caramel ice-cream and a brown sugar walnut crumble. This dessert is so easy and is perfect for summer parties or as an ending to a simple summer dinner.

This recipe is so simple and starts with roasted peaches. If you haven't started roasting your fruit, jump on the bandwagon immediately! It's so simple and brings out all the flavors of your favorite fruit. Once the peaches are roasted to perfection, they get topped with the most delicious crumble made with walnuts, butter, cinnamon, and brown sugar. I'm convinced that brown sugar, cinnamon, and peaches should never be parted. After you try this recipe, I’m sure you'll be convinced of that too!

After the peaches are roasted and topped with the walnut crumble the whole dessert gets finished with salted caramel gelato. You could skip the gelato or sub your favorite ice cream, but the salty caramel really rounds out the flavors of his dessert perfectly!

Roasted Peaches with Walnut Crumble
inspired by Love and Lemons

Ingredients:

4 ripe peaches
1/2 tablespoon coconut oil butter* (or regular butter)
1/2 cup toasted walnuts
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
pinch of salt
2 tablespoons salted butter, cold

Directions: 

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

While oven preheats, wash and dry peaches and cut them in half. Carefully remove the pit and place in a large baking dish.

Rub each peach half with coconut oil butter to ensure the flesh doesn't dry out in the oven.

Roast peaches for 20 - 25 minutes or until soft and juicy.

While the peaches roast, make the crumble.

Combine walnuts, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and cold butter in a food processor and pulse until a crumbly.

Pour mixture into a container with a lid and keep in the fridge until the peaches are done.

Once peaches are out of the oven place one or two peach halves in a bowl, top with salted caramel gelato and a generous helping of the walnut crumble.

* I love the subtle flavor that the coconut oil butter gives this dish, but regular butter would be fine too.

Thanks for having me today! I hope you get to try this wonderful recipe and share it with the people you love the most!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR : LAKYN + JUDAH

Meredith is the author behind the blog Lakyn + Judah. She can be found hovering over her food with a camera, drooling over the latest beauty products, eating lots of avocados, and running her favorite trails. By day she works with college students, but her true passion is leading people into the presence of God with music.

DIY Little Madam Cushion (Guest Post by Teri)

While I'm away in Fiji (lucky me!), a pretty awesome group of some of my very favorite bloggers is helping “fill in the gaps” with amazing recipes, DIY projects and much more.

Today's post is by Teri from The Lovely Drawer. Teri's blog has been a instant favorite. You could call it blog love at first sight. There isn't even one single post from her that I don't adore. If you love pretty and easy DIY projects, scrumptious recipes, beautiful photography and adorable desktop wallpapers, then by all means skedaddle over there. Teri also has a lovely shop where she celebrates her love of paper and color with the loveliest prints and wedding stationery.

If you’ve been hunting for a statement cushion to pack a punch on your bed or sofa then this DIY is for you! I’ve acquired what can only be described as a frenzy of pattered cushions that often need something simple and yet striking to break them up before the headache kicks in. This is DIY is perfect for that. It couldn’t be much simpler to make and yet has buckets of impact. Those kinds of projects are always the best if you ask me!

This project requires a select few materials to make, yay!

Plain white cushion cover and inner to fit
Black fabric paint
Paint brush
Pencil
All purpose glue
Small sheet of card
Red sequin trim
Paper & scissors (optional)

Use a pencil to draw the eyelids on to the cushion cover to get an idea of where to place them. Measure in equally from the sides of the cushion cover with a ruler if you don’t feel confident doing it by eye.

Slide your sheet of card into the cushion cover so it sits underneath the eye lids. This will prevent any fabric paint soaking through onto the other side.

Use your paintbrush to paint on the fabric paint. It’s fine to sweep the brush outwards as this gives a spontaneous look. Do it slowly if this sounds a bit scary and then leave to dry.

Place some paper or another scrap of fabric over the top of the painted eyelids and iron over the top to fix the paint. If there are any creases in the fabric at this stage then iron those out too.

If it helps you can draw a template on some paper for the lips.

Cut it out, position it as you want and draw around the edge onto the fabric.

Glue the drawn area and start filling it in by sticking down the sequins. Trace the edges first.

Then work your way into the middle and press down firmly to fix. Now you just need to stuff the cushion cover with your inner and find a home for this pretty new addition.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR : THE LOVELY DRAWER

Teri is a trained print and pattern designer but loves being creative in all areas of her life. Now a full time freelance designer and blogger at The Lovely Drawer, she spends most of her time designing for clients, thinking up pretty new products for her shop and trying to execute the hundreds of DIY ideas swimming around in her head. She loves the challenge of creating beautiful & stylish pieces that are affordable to buy or make.