Inspired by one of my favorite communities on LiveJournal, Love & Lattes, I’ve decided to start a new series of posts called Weekly Obsessions. Love & Lattes does a monthly favorites post from each writer, and I always enjoyed the posts. They are full of random and interesting items and are also a great way to get to know the author a little better. However, seeing as I’m one of those people who’s addicted to StumbleUpon, reads 3 books at a time, and browses foreign fashion photography on a daily basis my obsessions tend to change quite often. So here are my weekly obsessions for this week.

The Minnetonka Fringe Boot : All fall I’ve been craving boots and, always a sucker for comfort and cuteness, am completely drawn to these. Ever since I saw Ashley Tisdale wearing boots with fringe I’ve been lusting for a pair. Unfortunately, I can’t afford them. But, I certainly can dream, right? They just seem perfect to wear with jeans and cardigans. They are comfy like Uggs are, but the fringe detail just adds a great something extra to these. These boots are available online through Urban Outfitters.

The American Eagle Stripe Tuxedo Shirt : As I stated in my Fall Fashion Wish List, I’m really into blouses with ruffles this year. Or basically any year. I featured this blouse in my post on Boyfriend Cut Jeans and have been wanting to add it to my closet ever since. I’ve always thought that the retro 1970’s ruffled tuxedo died an early fashion death, and love it’s revival in the style of blouses like this one. This top is a play off the basic striped blouse that everyone has in their closet, and you can wear it in just as many ways. It keeps business casual chic. You can score this shirt online through AE.com.

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Salads are one of the best ways to get a wide variety of vegetables and fruits in your diet. However, it’s easy to fall into a rut of eating the same types of salad over and over again. To give yourself a little variety, try new things. This Spinach & Orange Salad is quick, easy, healthy and isn’t boring. If you make a salad ahead of time you can easily skip conventional salad dressings. A mixture of olive oil and vinegar will absorb the natural flavors in the salad. This creates a dressing that enhances the flavors and doesn’t cover them up.

Ingredients :
+ 3/4 lb fresh spinach, torn into bite-size pieces
+ 3 medium orange, peeled, sectioned, and seeded
+ 1 medium red onion, sliced and separated into rings
+ Cold Pressed Olive Oil
+ Red Wine Vinegar
+ Salt and Pepper, to taste

Directions :
1. Combine spinach, orange, and onion in a bowl.
2. Drizzle with olive oil and vinegar and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
3. Refrigerate and let the flavors meld.

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After my post that highlighted the healthiest foods for you that also happen to be green, Go Green On Your Plate, I decided that it would be a good idea to start featuring recipes that include those foods as a main ingredient. For this post, I decided to feature an avocado recipe. This recipe for Avocado & Mango Salsa is as fresh and delicious as it sounds.

Ingredients :
+ 1 mango - peeled, seeded and diced
+ 1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced
+ 3/4 cup chopped red onion
+ 1 tablespoon white sugar
+ 1 tablespoon olive oil
+ 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
+ 1 avocado - peeled, pitted, and diced
+ 1 teaspoon salt

Directions
1. Combine mango, bell pepper, onion, sugar, olive oil, and vinegar in a bowl. Gently fold in diced avocado, and season.

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My favorite alcoholic drink for the warm months (or when I am just wishing for summer) are Mojitos. They are a light and refreshing drink, which makes them perfect for summer. Plus, they are surprisingly easy to make.

Ingredients :
+ 1/2 teaspoon confectioners’ sugar
+ 1/2 lime, juiced
+ 1 sprig fresh mint, crushed
+ 1/2 cup crushed ice
+ 2 fluid ounces white rum
+ 4 fluid ounces carbonated water
+ 1 sprig fresh mint, garnish

Directions :
In a highball glass, stir together the confectioners’ sugar and lime juice. Bruise the mint leaves and drop into glass. Fill glass with crushed ice and pour in rum. Pour in carbonated water to fill the glass. Garnish with a sprig of mint.

There are two food items that I am a total sucker for. Any breakfast food, and anything with pumpkin. This recipe for Spiced Pumpkin Pancakes combines those two perfectly. Substitute the milk with soy creamer if you want to make these non-dairy.

Ingredients :
+ 2 cups all-purpose flour
+ 2 tablespoons sugar
+ 2 teaspoons baking powder
+ 1 teaspoons baking soda
+ 1 teaspoons ground cinnamon
+ 1/2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
+ 1/4 teaspoons salt
+ 1 3/4 cups nonfat milk
+ 1 cup canned pumpkin
+ 2 large eggs
+ 2 tablespoons salad oil
+ butter or margarine
+ warm maple syrup

Directions :
1. In a bowl, mix the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. In another bowl, beat the milk, pumpkin, eggs, and oil.
2. Add the flour mixture to the liquid mixture and stir until just moistened. Don’t worry if there are clumps.
3. On a lightly oiled or nonstick griddle over medium heat, pour batter in 1/4-cup portions at least 1 inch apart. Cook until bubbles form on the tops of the pancakes and the bottoms are browned, about 1 minute. Turn with a spatula and cook until brown on bottoms, about 1 min longer. To serve, accompany with butter and syrup.

I love fresh spring rolls. Especially in the spring and summer when it’s warm outside. The combination of the rice vermicelli and fresh herbs is great. The shrimp are, of course, optional. You could use some marinated tofu strips that have been grilled and then cooled, or some grilled chicken instead.

Ingredients :
+ 2 ounces rice vermicelli
+ 8 rice wrappers (8.5 inch diameter)
+ 8 large cooked shrimp - peeled, deveined and cut in half
+ 1 1/3 tablespoons chopped fresh Thai basil
+ 3 tablespoons chopped fresh mint leaves
+ 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
+ 2 leaves lettuce, chopped
+ 4 teaspoons fish sauce
+ 1/4 cup water
+ 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
+ 1 clove garlic, minced
+ 2 tablespoons white sugar
+ 1/2 teaspoon garlic chili sauce
+ 3 tablespoons hoisin sauce
+ 1 teaspoon finely chopped peanuts

Directions :
1. Bring a medium saucepan of water to boil. Boil rice vermicelli 3 to 5 minutes, or until al dente, and drain.

2. Fill a large bowl with warm water. Dip one wrapper into the hot water for 1 second to soften. Lay wrapper flat. In a row across the center, place 2 shrimp halves, a handful of vermicelli, basil, mint, cilantro and lettuce, leaving about 2 inches uncovered on each side. Fold uncovered sides inward, then tightly roll the wrapper, beginning at the end with the lettuce. Repeat with remaining ingredients.

3. In a small bowl, mix the fish sauce, water, lime juice, garlic, sugar and chili sauce.

4. In another small bowl, mix the hoisin sauce and peanuts.

5. Serve rolled spring rolls with the fish sauce and hoisin sauce mixtures.

I was going to look up a recipe for salad dressing, but ended up stumbling across a recipe for Cinnamon Rolls that just looked amazing. I haven’t had a cinnamon roll since before we moved. There was a bakery back home that had a ton of vegan and dairy-free options. Their vegan cinnamon rolls were just beyond amazing. I’m going to have to pull out my bread machine and make these sometime soon! To make these dairy-free or vegan, substitute the milk with soy creamer, the butter with soy margarine, and the cream cheese with Tofutti’s Better Than Cream Cheese. There are several things that can be used to substitute for the eggs. Ener-G brand egg replacer is one of the most popular.

Ingredients :
+ 1 cup warm milk (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
+ 2 eggs, room temperature
+ 1/3 cup margarine, melted
+ 4 1/2 cups bread flour
+ 1 teaspoon salt
+ 1/2 cup white sugar
+ 2 1/2 teaspoons bread machine yeast
+ 1 cup brown sugar, packed
+ 2 1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
+ 1/3 cup butter, softened
+ 1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
+ 1/4 cup butter, softened
+ 1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
+ 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
+ 1/8 teaspoon salt

Directions :
1. Place ingredients in the pan of the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select dough cycle; press Start.

2. After the dough has doubled in size turn it out onto a lightly floured surface, cover and let rest for 10 minutes. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar and cinnamon.

3. Roll dough into a 16×21 inch rectangle. Spread dough with 1/3 cup butter and sprinkle evenly with sugar/cinnamon mixture. Roll up dough and cut into 12 rolls. Place rolls in a lightly greased 9×13 inch baking pan. Cover and let rise until nearly doubled, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

4. Bake rolls in preheated oven until golden brown, about 15 minutes. While rolls are baking, beat together cream cheese, 1/4 cup butter, confectioners’ sugar, vanilla extract and salt. Spread frosting on warm rolls before serving.