Places to Eat in Austin, Texas ↠ East Side King.

I've already been to East Side King on South Lamar twice since we've been back in Austin, Texas. Once, with my sweet friend Bailey and again this past weekend on my birthday. It's just that good.

The first time we went for lunch and I tried the Beet Home Fries (SO GOOD) and the Ebi Ebi taco...both were delicious. When Dave and I stopped by for appetizers on my birthday food crawl (just made that up, but that's what it felt like), we tried the Fried Kimchi and Beet Home Fries...both are a must try in my mind. The Beet Home Fries are my favorite thing on the menu so far (obviously) and next time I want to try the Brussels Sprout Salad and the Tako Taco. You can see the full menu here.

One of the owners is a Top Chef winner, so you know pretty much anything you try will be unique and delicious. If you like trying fun new dishes, this place is for you. I'm excited to try the other locations, since the menus each have a few different items on them...

Now I just need some visitors, so I can take them to my new favorite spot in town! ;)

♡ MALLORIE

Valentine's Day Sugar Cookies Recipe.

Valentine's Day has always been one of my favorite holidays, thanks to the abundance of chocolate and balloons. So of course we like to make it a special day at our house, usually with a dinner we cook together. And copious amounts of the good stuff...aka dark chocolate bars with fruits and nuts.

It's no mistake that the dessert tab on my site has more recipes than the others, it's always been my favorite thing to make. I try to make something fun and heart-shaped for Valentine's day, unless we're still munching on Dave's birthday cheesecake. This year I wanted to make a healthier sugar cookie with a delicious frosting I've used again and again.

I know they aren't stark white (I always use whole wheat flour) and the frosting isn't pink, but I know these cookies won't disappoint. I know that because Dave isn't a dessert fiend like me (loser) and so when he oooohs and ahhhs over a new dessert recipe, it's obviously a keeper.

I hope you all enjoy these as much as we did! You can find the cute cookie cutters here. I wasn't sponsored by Target to share them with you, but since they tweeted my instagram picture (whaaaat?!) I thought I'd spread the love. It is a Valentine's Day post after all. ;)

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Cookie Ingredients ≫≫
2 3/4 cups whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 egg (or 1 1/2 tsp egg replacer)
1 1/2 cups plus 1 tablespoon raw sugar
1 cup unsalted (or vegan) butter, softened
1 1/2 teaspoons real vanilla extract

Frosting Ingredients ≫≫
1 cup raw sugar
4 tablespoons melted coconut oil
4 tablespoons almond milk
5 tablespoons creamy natural almond butter (store bought or homemade)
4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder (this time I used my chocolate protein powder, this stuff is THE best!)
4 teaspoons real vanilla extract

Directions ≫≫

Preheat oven to 325. Coat your baking sheet with a bit of oil.

Combine flour and baking powder in a mixing bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk your egg and set it aside.

Cream the sugar and butter in a bowl with a hand mixer (I used my Kitchenaid) until fluffy. Add vanilla and beat until mixed. Add the egg and beat until smooth. Add your flour mixture and beat until a soft dough forms. You might have to add a bit more flour if it stays sticky, I did.

Divide dough into two or more balls (whatever will fit on the surface you'll be rolling), I did a few smaller dough balls. Roll on a lightly floured surface until you have about 1/4 inch thickness. Cut out hearts and place on your cooking sheet.

Bake and repeat until all your dough is cooked. I only have one baking sheet right now, so I rolled/cut while a batch was cooking and switched the cooked cookies onto a cooling rack, etc.

For the icing, just add all the ingredients together and then spread it on the cookies. If you want a thicker icing, which is what I did for mine, place the icing in your fridge for a few hours or overnight.

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What are your plans for Valentine's Day? Let me know in the comments if you try these cookies, I'd love to know how they turn out for you! And make sure to hashtag #mallorieowensrecipe if you share yours on Instagram, that way I can see it. I hope you all have a fabulous week filled with heart shaped chocolates and balloons!

♡ MALLORIE