My Life in a Pie
As soon as Where Women Cook posted their contest for a pieography – your life explained in a pie, I couldn’t get the idea out of my head. After walking around with this analogy in my head for a couple weeks here are a few things I know for certain: My life is not a pie as much as a rustic tart, a little bit messy and definitely not put together around the edges. I’ve been self-employed for a decade as a creative professional. It has not been an easy path, but... Read More
The Breakfast/Dinner Love Child – Fresh Corn Pancakes
Santana: Breakfast confuses you. Brittany: Sometimes it’s sweet, sometime it’s salty. What if I have eggs for dinner? What is that? What if you have pancakes for dinner?!?! It’s not just my favorite Glee quote, it’s true – it is confusing. Binner? Breakner? Brinner? …whatever it is – it’s clearly not as catchy as brunch and it doesn’t get nearly enough creative attention. I may be of the school of thought that says the best... Read More
The 3 Bean Posts – #1 Garbanzos: Falafel and other funny words
Chickpeas or Garbanzo Beans? What side of the debate are you on? Either way they're tasty. I have been craving chickpeas. Literally. I’m going mad wanting chickpeas in everything right now. I think it’s because they are a relatively new ingredient discovery for me. You know when you learn a new word or phrase and then suddenly you hear it everywhere? That’s what happening right now with me and chickpeas. Sitting down to watch the movie Cold Souls, which has... Read More
Savory meet Sweet. You guys could really get along – Olive Oil Cake
I have a new favorite cake in this world. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t make it for my choice of birthday cakes. Birthdays are for special occasion foods and I’m making this cake WAY too often for it to be a special occasion cake. It’s more of an everyday cake (if there really were such a thing). It’s an eat-another-piece-for-breakfast kind of cake. It’s an I-like-savory-way-more-than-sweets kind of cake. That’s what drew me to it in... Read More
Chunky is Good. Chunky is Very Good. – some of my theories on pasta
There is something I have to tell you. It is so crazy that I’m not really sure how to say it, so I’m just gonna put it out there – there are people in this world who actually think that pasta salad is all about (wait for it…) the pasta. I know! It boggles my mind too! …or maybe it’s just me. When I see a pasta salad that is just a pile of cold spiral noodles with a few light sprinkles of bell pepper and dressing I honestly think – “Really?... Read More
Why Did It Take Me So Long – Discovering Cocktails.
I should probably point out to start that I am not a big drinker. I can hold my liquor, to be sure, but I don’t feel the need to consume it often or in any great quantities. Nearly two weeks after I turned 21 my roommate finally insisted on buying me a drink when I still hadn’t bothered with the rites of passage of legally leaving prohibition. She bought me what I consider to this day a great dessert in a glass – Bailey’s Irish Cream, Frangelico, and Amaretto... Read More
Brunch Problem Solved – Egg Cups
The age old problem is the same for every dinner party whether at home or in a restaurant kitchen. How do you get all the food done at the same time so people can sit and eat together? I would say the #1 problem with my first draft dinner party menus is over-scheduling either the oven or stove top. The first thing I’m inspired to make generally leads me to more inspirations that use the same cooking method. If I want to make a roasted veggie platter (and I generally always... Read More
Look Ma! I Baked! – savory apple tart
Sometimes I just get antsy. Sometimes I just need to cook something special occasion without having the occasion (because I might not actually have anyone to feed it to). This week has been like that a lot. I have been spending the better part of this week looking for a job – and the rest of it cooking elaborately to ease the stir-craziness of looking for a job. When I came across Elise Bauers’ recipe on Simply Recipes for an Apple Walnut Gorgonzola Tart I practically... Read More
Stormy Comforts – squash & mushroom risotto
We’re in for another snow storm. It seems like we’re getting snowed in once a week so far this year. I don’t really mind – I’ve needed some good time by myself at home these days. I’ve been going through too long a season of transitions. I needed some space to get myself grounded again. For me that space is always standing in front of the stove. When I’m cooking I’m finally somewhere where I can think clearly, get rebalanced,... Read More
My Current Obsession: Butter (can you blame me?)
I have become recently obsessed with making herb infused butters. I adore cooking with fresh herbs. It was probably one of my favorite things about cooking professionally (well that and my heart has been changed forever after experiencing a well-stocked walk-in fridge). If I ever find myself feeling uninspired to cook – I just pick up a couple of fresh herbs and settle happily into a tirade of ideas for what to make out of the remainders in my kitchen. It started... Read More
