Sunday . Morning

Spicy Bloody Mary

+


Strawberry Stuffed French Toast w/Cream and Potato Gratin

= the perfect Sunday Brunch!

Evening... Yours, Not His

I recently up and bought an issue of Real Simple magazine - which I never do, because their pages and their motto, "Life Made Easier," seem to assume that: (1) Most people already have really nice houses, a lot which are on the beach or in an English garden, and (2) lots and lots and lots of closet space that just needs a few simple solutions.



And yet, their most recent issue had a cover with lots of scrumptious looking food, and promised me "3 Ingredient Recipes." This is perfect, because a chef I am not. We've also been stuck in a food rut as of late, and some quick, delicious things to churn up in the kitchen are just what we need.



Sadly, the food portion took up a small space in the back of the mag, and the most promising part was a bit on yummy looking dips, none of which have only three ingredients. I forged ahead with the dip that promised it was the least labor intensive, and made this actually ridiculously good "Spinach and White Bean Dip," with a few added touches... and a drink to match, of course!

-- Spinach and White Bean Dip --

1 can of Cannellini Beans
2.5 cups of fresh spinach
1/4 cup fresh dill
1 Tablespoon lemon juice (I used about 1/2 of a freshly squeezed lemon)
1 clove chopped and quickly sauteed garlic (*I used about 3 instead)
Salt and Pepper, to taste

Throw everything together in a food processor until pureed, and then serve!

-- Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri --

1.5 cups ice
3.5 oz. strawberry daiquiri mix
1 oz (or whatever) light rum
3-4 fresh strawberries

Throw everything in a blender until, well, blended, and then serve!

Both the dip and drink are pretty girly, so queue up the latest episode of _______ (fill in the blank with whatever is waiting for you on Netflix; it's Dirty Sexy Money for me), feel free to toss out the significant other, and enjoy!

From . the . Oven

Over the last week or so, B. has decided to embark on a bread-making binge. He and his mother used to bake bread when he was little, and I guess the winter brings out the urge to want to be in the kitchen.



So far he's managed a few loves of basic but hearty white bread, and two days ago we moved on to some yummy wheat bread. He promises that something with walnuts, raisins, and cranberries is coming soon, and I must say that I can't wait!!

What kinds of winter goodies are starting to pop up in your kitchen?

Pic: Canelle et Vanille

P.S. -- And speaking of food, don't forget to click on The Hunger Site button on the left side of the blog! Just one click each day helps to provide food for those who don't have any!!

In . the . Kitchen

For some reason, Sunday always strikes me as a day to spend doing things about the house: laundry, yard work, reading, cooking. It seems the most productive of the weekend days, because you know that the work week is right around the corner. Making a lovely soup is a wonderful way to have the house filled with yummy aromas, but aside from some chopping/prep work, you aren't tethered to the kitchen.



This recipe for Butternut Squash and Cauliflower Soup comes from Cannelle et Vanille. It has all of those rich fall flavors, but is on the lighter side so you won't feel heavy afterward!

Tricky . Food

I think (mainly because it makes me feel better) that everyone has a food that's nearly irresistible, that they could eat constantly, and is really.really bad for them. Mine is unfortunately super easy to get, and almost every store has it: doughnuts. I can't walk by the doughnut case without drooling a little; chocolate, with sprinkles, cider, frosted or unfrosted, I love them all. (Well, except for jelly doughnuts.)

Sadly, a fried piece of sweet.yummy.goodness is not something one can eat every day, unless I want to eat them while running on the treadmill. So, I feel like when I have a doughnut, it should be like an extra special treat. That's why this recipe from Tartlette is perfection!



I could pop in a couple of these little Meyer Lemon and Sour Cream Doughnuts and be happy all week!

What's your tricky food?

How . Does . Your . Summer . Taste?

Just like what I feel like wearing changes from season to season, what I have a taste for changes also. It's not that I stop liking soup in summer, or fruit in winter, but some foods are just better depending on what season you eat them in. This is completely separate of ripeness and growing cycles. In the summertime, I just crave things that are juicy, bright and colorful:



My absolute favorite summer foods? Peach pie, tart cherry pie, and raspberries. Okay, raspberry pie too!

What does your summer taste like?

Source: Cannelle et Vanille

Passion . Fruit

Normally my day starts with coffee and cereal, but wouldn't this be an absolutely fabulous breakfast?



Just add the newspaper and a sun-drenched morning...perfection.

Pic from Taste Spotting

I . Thought . It . Would . Never . Arrive

...the warm weather, that is. But today it is solidly spring-like outside, a full 70 degrees and sunny! I was really starting to feel as though, in a cruel trick of fate, we would simply go from winter back to winter, skipping over the loveliest seasons. Michigan had a full five months of winter this year and I can't be happier that it's now gone!!

I finally can start to think of things like summer fruits and sundresses in a non-wish-you-were-here way!





Pics from Canelle-Vanille, DaisyJellyBean on Flickr, and Elle.

Really . Martha?

Over the weekend my mother passed on a huge pile of Real Simple and Martha Stewart magazines. Both magazines have the cutest pictures and always really helpful tips for organization, decorating, and cooking. But Martha Stewart brings me equal parts joy and displeasure for these things. Her cooking "tips" cause me particular difficulty.

The February issue was filled with all sorts of cupcakes that you can just "whip up" for your valentine or for party guests. And the cupcakes are sooooo lovely:




But lets be clear: my cupcakes would not look like those in the pictures. There are about 20 different steps just to making that little marzipan bumble bee (and don't get me started on making/shaping/baking meringue flowers!).

I can make a tasty cupcake, but it's going to have a big pile of chocolate frosting on top (and maybe some that kind of drips down the side).

What can I say? Just another reason why I don't have my own cooking show and Martha does!

Happy . Sunday . (Spring!) . Morning

It's a bit on the cloudy side here this morning, though just a quick peek at this picture makes everything feel a lot more like spring!

P.S. I went to see The Last House on the Left and I highly recommend it! It was perfectly suspenseful and had really well-crafted characters filled out by some excellent acting -- both of which are rare for horror films. It was violent (don't take the kiddies) but not nearly as violent as everyone was going on about.

Overall rating: ★★★★★ (out of 5)

Pic from Canelle Vanille

Spring . Resolution

I'm aware that people usually make resolutions at the start of the new year, but I don't think there's any reason that I can't make one now too!

I have always really liked to cook, but I seem to end up living in houses that truly are "anti-cooking spaces." I.e., a foot of counter space, small refrigerator, old oven, etc. I also tend to be a smidge on the lazy side -- take out or stand-by dishes just seem easier.

But recently I've been reading more food blogs. As I look at all of the yummy dishes, I think that there's no reason why I can't make some of those -- and they all look so tasty!!



And while I'm trying to be a better (more frequent) cook, I might as while give into a little bit of baking also:




I'll try to keep everyone updated on how my resolution goes!

Pics from Taste Spotting

Easy . Sunday . Brunch

Sunday morning is perhaps my favorite time of the week. It doesn't really matter what the rest of the week looks like, Sunday morning always feels relaxing. We usually sleep in a little, and then when we get up, make coffee, something yummy for breakfast, and then turn on the Sunday morning news programs. Perfect.

For an easy but delicious breakfast, try the following:


*We're vegetarians, so we'd substitute another veggie or something soy for the ham - but that's an easy switch!



Sandwich from Foodalogue and Bloody Mary from Bess's Bistro

Pretty . Little . Sweet . Treats

I have a love.hate relationship with macaroons. I love them because they are perhaps the prettiest little cookie ever made:



It doesn't seem like an understatement to say that (were they not perishable) a collection of macaroons would be a perfect little piece of art!



Unfortunately, I don't actually like the way they taste. I was bitterly disappointed to discover this, but they turned out to be too sweet for my liking. And maybe too crunchy. I guess at heart I'm a soft.chewy cookie girl. Macaroons -- as pretty as they are -- just couldn't compete with the cookie that I could eat morning.noon.night:


The Black & White Cookie!! With its cakey goodness + vanilla and chocolate frosting...perfection.

What's your favorite cookie??

Pics from Tastespotting and Flickr

Cheesy . Goodness

I go through little phases where I want to eat one thing for awhile, and then I get bored and move on to something else. I've recently had the "grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup phase," the "portabella burger with lots of avocado and red onions phase," and once I had the "Cornpops for breakfast, lunch, and dinner phase."

As of late I'm on "penne baked with brie, mozarella, and butternut squash soup phase." (If you've never had pasta with butternut squash soup baked into it, you must!)

So as I was pouring through some other cheesy recipes, I thought I'd share one, late night:



Roll fresh goat cheese (any shape—log, crottin or pyramid) in one of the following mixtures to create a simple, yet impressive appetizer. Serve with crackers or crostini.
Sesame Thyme

½ cup sesame seeds
1 tsp very coarse ground black pepper
1 TB fresh thyme, minced (plus a few sprigs for garnish)
Fresh Herb

1 TB minced fresh thyme
1 TB minced fresh marjoram
1 TB dried grated lemon peel
2 fresh sage leaves, finely minced
2 fresh basil leaves, finely minced
(from Whole Foods)

Happy . Strawberry . Tuesday

Pics from: Cannelle-Vanille; Anthropologie Lip Balm; Juicy Couture Strawberry Dress; FavSpotting on Flickr