This pizza is delicious. Like, really delicious. I think you should make it. And then I think you should take the next logical step and eat it…just don’t go eating it and then go shopping for a bathing suit, ’cause that’s just an awful idea.

I know it’s an awful idea because that’s just what I did. From said horrific shopping experience, I have a few ideas on how to make buying “outside underwear” a little more tolerable.

Rule 1: Don’t go to a place that rhymes with Schmorever 21 and expect bathing suits to fit well. They’re $7 for a reason.

Rule 2: Get “dressed” to go shopping. By “dressed” I mean put on some makeup, brush your hair. Look, you’re gonna be super annoying and overly self-critical, so at least look your very best. It helps.

Rule 3: American Apparel swimsuits are all a lil’ slutty looking. I think that’s the point. Sadface.

Rule 4: Like seriously, don’t go trying on swimsuits after a big meal. It’s just a sucky idea. Even if you don’t look full, you feel full. Just ugh.

Rule 5: Basically, don’t go to stores to try on swimsuits. Period. Buy them on a credit card and try them on at home and returns the ones that don’t work. Lesson learned.

For some reason, though stores have been selling clothes for, like, hundreds of years, most of them still haven’t figured out flattering dressing room lighting. WHY? It really can’t be THAT difficult. I mean, they put people on the moon…and have, like, multiple times.

*Annnnd, end swimsuit rant*

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Hello there! Hi! Hai! This is what I like to call a major post. Three recipes all in one.

Think of it like a dinner party menu, all inspired by my favorite meal of the day: breakfast. There’s doughnuts, fancy popcorn (I eat this for breakfast), and a potato and chick pea hash cooked in duck fat. Holy moly! YES!

I made this for my friends. I honestly don’t have many dinner parties because I live in a teeny-tiny place and going out to restaurants is a serious hobby of mine. BUT last week was different; it was nice outside, I had rosé chilling in the fridge and I decided to make some breakfast for dinner.

We sat outside, we gossiped, we laughed. This all means summer is all up in our faces…and I’m excited about it. Aren’t you?!

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When I’m sleeping and exhausted yet need dinner, I have two realistic go-top options: a bowl of cereal or a cheese plate. There’s nothing fancy or elaborate about the personal cheese plates I put together. I usually include one type of cheese, and pair it with an assortment of near dying fruits or vegetable from the fridge, and nuts from my pantry. If you want a few cheese-for-one options, check out the guest post I wrote for Wisconsin Cheese’s blog, Cheese Talk. Also, check out their super cute videos they’ve created which walk you through different cheese plate ideas on their blog, Cheese Cupid!

(Heads up: I was given a stipend from Wisconsin Cheese to create the guest blog post.)

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OMG! It’s Monday. I feel like before we dive into sugar and eggs and cream, I should make you watch this video of this bear waving, because it’ll really set a tone for the rest of this blog post (and for the rest of your week).

Alright, I’ll wait…

Now that you’ve had a nice little laugh, and thought to yourself, How did that bear wave like that?! it’s time to talk about flan!!

I grew up hating flan. HA-T-ING.

This is because the majority of flan served in latin restaurants, throughout South Florida, is really really eggy, not super smooth and overly sweet. I always skipped flan and just ate more rice.

Even my great aunt’s recipe–which is considered to be a family treasure–is not my favorite. I really wish I was giving you some recipe that was a family heirloom or whatever, but sometimes it’s just not the case. Instead, this recipe is mash-up of a Jose Andrés recipe (who had similar flan memories as myself!) and this old Bon Appetit recipe I’ve made a few dozen times. The ratios in this recipe are pretty flawless, really–it’s only the technique that I’ve tweaked here and there. This flan isn’t too eggy. Not too sweet. And the custard is incredibly smooth. Totally dreamy!

(Remember last week when I told you I was cooking alongside Bravo’s new show, Around the World in 80 Plates? Well, this week they’re in Barcelona, Spain. Check it out on Wednesday at 10pm/9pmc on Bravo!!)

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A few Friday things:

1. I’m officially addicted to Pinterest. I feel like I’ve said this before, but then I forget about it and blah blah. But this week I reorganized my pins, started following more people, etc. I’m into it!

2. Do you ever love a song so much that you google the lyrics so you can sing along? I can’t be the only person that does this. A lil’ embarrassing, but how else are you supposed to memorize the CORRECT lyrics?

3. I sometimes think I was put on this earth to convince skeptical people to watch and love Friday Night Lights. I feel like it’s my duty. WATCH IT!

4. Spotify. Are you on it? I like it. I can listen to all sorts of music whenever I want, though, I hate its sharing aspect. I don’t want people to see what ridiculousness I’m listening to. I don’t ALWAYS listen to cool-people music. And sometimes I wanna listen to the same song over and over and I don’t want to be judged, okay?! If you, too, feel this way, “private profile” is the way to go.

5. Trying is very important. I try hard at all sorts of things. Another thing that’s important: knowing when to quit. I quit something this week, I think, and it feels sad, but relieving all at the same time.

6. When you quit something, you might have the urge to eat your feelings. That’s cool, but also try drinking them. That’s fun too!

7. In other news, I’m eating more vegan food. Because I like to feel healthy every now and then. And I’m in love with this bathing suit. This pasta could be considered “bathing suit pasta.” It’s totally a thing.

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Well a kitchen flop happened. Womp, womp. But it’s okay…it’s okay! These things happen from time to time, just a part of trying weird stuff in the kitchen.

A sweet ombré situation was attempted yesterday, unfortunately the situation didn’t result in utter deliciousness. Not to worry ’cause it will…oh it will! I’m determined. Tweaks will be made, adjustments will happen here and there. Maybe an all around color change? I’m thinking red to pink to white, instead of blue to turquoise. Thoughts…?

Let’s think of this like a group recipe testing situation. Collaboration between you and me! I like this!

In other news, I figured it was time to dig deep down into the archives of A Cozy Kitchen and break out some summertime recipes. Like any normal person, I definitely play favorites. Let’s explore!

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I’m doing this thing–not sure if I told you–where I cook alongside Bravo’s new show, Around the World in 80 Plates (which airs each Wednesday at 10pm/9pmc on Bravo!!). Wherever they go, I go…kinda sorta.

Each week they’re in a different international city cooking away and competing, stressing out and being judged, while I stay home, turn on some music, make a dish (corresponding with each city), all while intermittently checking Instagram and texting away–it’s fun!

This week’s show takes place in the gastronomy capital of the world, Lyon, France. Um…this location had my brain in knots because it’s like the equivalent of someone letting me loose in fifty combined Chanel boutiques and saying, You can have whatever one thing you like. Too many options! Too much pressure!

I had lots of elaborate dishes on my brain, but I kept circling back around to my favorite salad ever: Salade Lyonnaise. This salad is everything. There’s frisée tossed in a bacon mustardy vinagrette topped with a perfectly poached egg. And sprinkles of salt and pepper make it extra pretty. Nothing fancy. Total simpleness at its best.

I now welcome you to the sandwich version…

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We’re flirxting with summer. By the way, “flirxting” is a technical term.

I’m so ready to do a canon ball in a pool; definitely not ready to be in a bathing suit in front of other humans. Ugh.

I’m looking forward to old movies in the cemetery whilst eatin’ cool snacks; not ready to need air-conditioning.

I can’t wait to bake up elaborate pies with fresh berries; not ready for fruit flies. They loooove my kitchen in the summer.

I’m excited for crazy salads (I can’t believe I’m saying that!), but when it’s hot outside all I want to eat are piles upon piles of grilled vegetables. I’m so not ready to sweat. There’s nothing adorable about the act of sweating, am I right?

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Some of the best stuff isn’t planned. And today I present you the most delicious accident that’s happened in a loooong time.

You’re actually supposed to be staring at cute little baked oatmeal cups. I pictured you whipping them up for a Mama’s Day brunch and setting them alongside blood orange mimosa, iced coffee and super pretty flowers. But I failed you. SAD! I failed to bring the cuteness, I think. But that’s okay, because as I sat there pondering why and how the baked oatmeal cups went wrong, I started spooning it straight out of the muffin tins…and found myself repeating this act over and over and over. My accident was delicious!

So, rather than trying to make something cute, I decided to remake the dish–tweaking a few things here and there–and just throwing it all in a casserole dish. Sometimes tasty trumps cute, you know. And that sometimes is riiiiight now…

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Welcome to project: Adrianna & Peas Fresh Peas: A Love Story.

I was a picky eater as a child. I think that’s normal, right?

I wasn’t nearly as picky as my friends, though. I knew kids who couldn’t have their foods touch. Like, their parents would have to make sure the mashed potatoes didn’t touch the carrots and the carrots didn’t touch the roast chicken and the roast chicken didn’t touch the mashed potatoes. You get it…

I like to think–as a parent–I’d put my foot down and tell my child to stop acting like a such a psycho, but I dunno, I think sometimes parents just want peace and quiet.

In my seven-year old brain, peas were totally tantrum worthy. I got super psycho over peas on my plate. Oh and I let my mama know! Whenever the poor woman would put peas in a dish, I’d do one of those passive aggressive flip-outs and just pick every. single. one. out. A small mound of them would end up on the edge of my plate. I was sending a message. A very strong one, you know?

I’ve gone my whole life disliking peas, picking them out of various stews, hating how chicken pot pies ALWAYS include them, and completely dismissing dishes highlighted them. But, I now realize I actually don’t hate peas. I just dislike the starchy, frozen, gross peas. I don’t like them mushy. And I don’t like them overcooked and olive-colored.

I like my peas fresh, brilliantly green. I like ‘em perky, straight from the pod.

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