tuesday things, vol. 4
my favorite instagrams this week
A few things I’m thinking about, reading, or loving right now:
- I started working out with a trainer last week. I hurt, hurt, hurt. But at least I have scientific proof that I can reward myself with a beer after those 9 am workouts.
- There’s a few people I know that I would like to buy this shirt for. Seriously, y’all. Just wear a watch.
- Have any of you ever tried Miracle Berries? Eating one turns everything you eat after it sweet, no matter how sour the food. I have always wanted to but haven’t known where to find them. Now it looks like I can have my own tree full of them.
- These maps are so interesting!
- I’m all about #1 and #14 on this list.
- Looks like I need to plan a few trips based on this list. Mmmm.
- And finally, have you all seen Meg Jay’s TED talk Why 30 is not the new 20? I’m pretty Type A (I know that everyone who knows me is nodding their heads right now) and I’m not advocating that my generation blow off planning and investing in our futures. But here I am, 29 years old, about to start my second graduate degree and hoping to completely change careers. And I don’t regret at all that I spent 7 years of my 20s in a field I may never revisit. I met amazing people, got to experience the unexpected and unplanned, and learned a hell of a lot.
xoxo
housewarming gifts
You know when your friends live across town and then they move within 5 minutes of you?? That’s so fun. And it happened this past weekend when our friends Liz and Lloyd moved just south of us.
Our friends Ashley and Brad are about to move into our neighborhood, and I couldn’t be more excited. I love my coffee dates with Ash, and now we’ll be able to walk to Tiny’s No. 5 for afternoon drinks too!
Whitney’s brother and his wife also just bought a new house – their first one! They’ll be moving into it later this fall, and in the meantime, I’ve been reminiscing about buying our first house and how it’s so fun to finally be able to make something all yours. I didn’t love all of the windows we had to replace due to rot, but I did love picking out paint colors and planning our landscaping.
And another fun thing? One of Whit’s friends from high school and business school is moving in next door to us with his wife and son (and a baby on the way!) in a few weeks.
So, with all of these moves, it’s no wonder that I’ve been doing some thinking about housewarming gifts. Here are a few of my favorites:
Hands down, one of the most important things you need to know about your neighborhood is where you can get the best takeout.
I know, I know. This blog is (mostly) about cooking. And yet, here I am encouraging you to identify good takeout. But don’t we all know how it feels after a long day when you can’t even face your fridge, much less your oven? Sometimes, all you need is good Chinese food or New York-style pizza delivered to your doorstep.
So, if you’re familiar with the neighborhood your friends are moving into, set them up with a collection of takeout menus from your favorite spots in a neat organizer.
Fruit Tree
A great way to make a permanent mark on your new home is to plant a tree that will be there long after you’re gone. It’s a fun activity that you can involve your kids in too, if you have any.
So you can go by the nearest garden center and pick up a Persian lime or Meyer lemon tree and bring it to your friends. They’ll be grateful.
Or… You could buy the tree and throw in a bottle of vodka. Now your friends will be really grateful.
In Mexican and Latin American cultures, iron crosses are given as a traditional blessing and sign of continued protection. You could enclose a written prayer with the cross like this one:
Bless, O Lord God almighty, this home, that in it there may be health, purity, the strength of victory, humility, goodness and mercy, the fulfillment of Thy law, the thanksgiving to God the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. And may this blessing remain upon this home and upon all who dwell herein. Through Christ our Lord.
Hardware Store Gift Card
Buying a new house is expensive, yo. Enough said.
A Home-cooked Meal
This is maybe the most useful gift of all. Take a load off of your friends’ shoulders by offering to bring dinner to their new house while they’re unpacking. Don’t forget the wine and dessert. In fact, you could probably skip the main course if you double up on the wine.
A donation to Habitat for Humanity
And for the friends that have everything? Make a donation in their name to Habitat for Humanity, which helps families escape from unsafe, unhealthy living conditions by building decent and affordable houses with no-interest mortgages.
It’s nice to celebrate your friends’ new home, but its also really nice to remember those who are not as lucky as you may be. Your gift would provide a hand-up to someone in need.
killer brownies
Rice Epicurean was a beloved local chain of family-owned grocery stores in Houston until recently. While I think there is still one location open, the rest were sold to Fresh Market last fall and are in the midst of being gutted and renovated.
I don’t know the whole story of why it was sold, but its a shame to see a small business have to close.
Let me wax poetic for a minute on the topic of local grocery stores. I just saw this video the other day about Calvin’s Bocage Market — our neighborhood grocery store in Baton Rouge. Tom Brokaw did a story on NBC News in 1996 when Calvin bought the Piggly Wiggly where he had worked his way up from a bag boy 19 years before. What a serious American success story!
Also, I have never had chicken salad that’s as good as Calvin’s.
Calvin’s Market is still going strong and is a real treasure in Baton Rouge. I’m so glad.
Anyway, Rice Epicurean sold about six variations of ‘Killer Brownies‘, which were enormous decadent brownies. Most were filled with a layer of gooey caramel. I’m worried (and pretty sure) that Fresh Market won’t sell them when they open later this year. But due to the saving grace that is the internet, the killer brownie recipe is available for all of the world.
First, I like to use this trick when making brownies so they are easier to remove from the pan after baking. Cut two strips of 9″ x 15″ parchment paper. Use them to line the inside of a 9″ x 9″ metal baking pan, then grease the paper.
Also, note how I said ‘metal’ baking pan? Don’t use glass. The glass retains too much heat and cooks the outsides and bottom of the brownies faster than the middle, so the insides end up sinking after cooling.
In a microwave-safe bowl, melt caramels with additional 1/2 cup evaporated milk by heating for 20 second intervals and stirring well between each one.
Combine cake mix, chopped pecans, 1/3 cup evaporated milk, and melted butter in the bowl of a stand mixer and beat on medium until combined. The mixture will be very thick – not pourable like most brownie batters.
Divide the brownie mixture in half. Press one half the mixture into the lined baking pan. Bake for 8 to 9 minutes at 350 degrees F. Remove pan from oven and set aside. Form the other half into a 9″ x 9″ square on a sheet of parchment paper. Set it aside.
Pour the melted caramel over the brownie base. Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the caramel. Use a big spatula to pick up the second half of the brownie dough and set it on top of the caramel and chocolate chips. You may need to cut it in half and gently lay each half next to the other on top of the caramel.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes at 350 degrees F. Once the brownies have cooled slightly, lift them from the pan using the extra parchment paper and let them fully cool to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate for several hours before serving. These brownies will keep in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Killer Brownies
1 box (18.5 Ounce) German Chocolate Cake Mix
1 c chopped pecans
1/3 c evaporated milk
1 stick butter, melted
1/2 cup evaporated milk
50 – 70 whole caramels, unwrapped (the more caramels you use, the gooey-er the brownie)
1/3 c semi-sweet chocolate chips
Cut two strips of 9″ x 15″ parchment paper. Use them to line the inside of a 9″ x 9″ metal baking pan, then grease the paper.
Combine cake mix, chopped pecans, 1/3 cup evaporated milk, and melted butter in the bowl of a stand mixer and beat on medium until combined. The mixture will be very thick – not pourable like most brownie batters.
Divide the brownie mixture in half. Press one half the mixture into the lined baking pan. Bake for 8 to 9 minutes at 350 degrees F. Remove pan from oven and set aside. Form the other half into a 9″ x 9″ square on a sheet of parchment paper. Set it aside.
In a microwave-safe bowl, melt caramels with additional 1/2 cup evaporated milk by heating for 20 second intervals and stirring well between each one. When melted and combined, pour over brownie base. Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the caramel. Use a big spatula to pick up the second half of the brownie dough and set it on top of the caramel and chocolate chips. You may need to cut it in half and gently lay each half next to the other on top of the caramel.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes at 350 degrees F. Once the brownies have cooled slightly, lift them from the pan using the extra parchment paper and let them fully cool to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate for several hours before serving. These brownies will keep in the fridge for 3-4 days.
tuesday things, vol. 3
my favorite instagrams this week
A few things I’m thinking about, reading, or loving right now:
- I’m really into The Neighbourhood right now. Like, on repeat all. the. time. Also love First Aid Kit, especially Emmylou.
- This observational list is good for a laugh.
- Gah. This is the most appetizing sandwich I have ever seen. My mouth is watering and my stomach is grumbling right now just thinking about it. It will get made this week.
- Its Whitney’s favorite week of the year. Me? I’m just trying not to glance at the TV in order to avoid nightmares.
- I’m convicted by David Henson’s column this week: “What it would be like to live in a world where it was an honor, not an inconvenience, for a neighbor to ask you for bread?”
- My sister and her roommates are coming over for dinner tonight and I’m planning to make this strawberry ice cream for dessert. Supposedly it can be made, start to finish, in my Blendtec. I’ll believe it when I see it…
- This is easily my favorite news item of the week.
- I’m an avid e-reader. My Kindle is pretty much always in my purse or car, and we may have to live under an overpass one of these days due to my book purchasing habits. So I’m really, really, really happy with the DOJ’s settlement offer to Apple that would let me start buying books from my iPhone Kindle app.
- Speaking of reading, I totally devoured She Walks in Beauty, a collection of poetry for women edited by Caroline Kennedy.
- And speaking of poetry, “Bending Toward a Rightness” by John Blase is my new mantra… I expected by now to learn the language of God but I have only learned to love him.
xoxo
hostess gifts: homemade
If you have the time, talent or inclination to make a hostess gift rather than buy one, that’s the way to go. It shows you put some thought into the gift and, let’s face it, it is usually much cheaper. Win-win.
Homemade Ice Cream
Want to really stand out? Bring homemade ice cream. I can pretty much guarantee you that no one else at your dinner party will come bearing a gift in a portable cooler.
My sweet friend Carmen gave me homemade salted caramel ice cream when she came over recently. Not being one to really make ice cream on my own, I was touched by her thoughtfulness and was in awe of the effort.
And, best of all, it was totally unique. I’d never had anyone bring homemade ice cream to me before. Though as a note to future guests in my home: I would be open to receiving it again.
Bloody Mary Mix
After suggesting Drinks by the Dram and the Moscow Mule drink kit, I’m sure it comes as no surprise that I’m suggesting yet another alcoholic beverage for your lovely hosts.
Everyone loves a Bloody Mary. And if they don’t, they just haven’t been introduced to the right one yet.
This recipe, with a few modifications, is really great. I personally like more Worcestershire and hot sauce, but not as much horseradish. And even though the recipe says the vodka is optional, it’s not.
Oh, and no sense containing the libations to liquid form. Whip up a batch of these Maker’s Mark marshmallows (which are surprisingly easy) and bring half of the pan to your hosts.
The recipe makes a ton, so keep the other half at home for yourself. You’ll thank me later.
Basil Infused Olive Oil
You know how basil plants try to compete for height with oak trees in the summer? Yeah, that’s happening in my yard for sure. Its out of control and I have many, many batches of pesto to prove it.
That extra basil can also be used for infused olive oil, and boy is it good. Perfect for light summer salads or rubbed on fish or for dipping bread.
To make it, chop 2 cups of fresh basil and place it into a saucepan with 2 cups of extra virgin olive oil. Cook over medium heat for 7-8 minutes then remove from the heat. Let the basil steep in the oil for another 30-40 minutes. Strain the basil leaves out and pour the infused oil into a jar. You can, of course, use other herbs depending on your preference.
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I guess I sound like a broken record now, having mentioned this in the other two posts about hostess gifts, but I can’t overstate the importance of a thank you note! Its the surest way to get invited back!
Are there any hostess gifts that you like to make from scratch? What are they?
roasted broccoli
I used to agree with George H.W. Bush about broccoli being the grossest vegetable.
For 28 years, I did not let a floret of broccoli pass through my lips. In fact, I can still barely manage to be in a kitchen when broccoli is steaming because I cannot think of a more offensive smell.
And yet, I easily ate 8 lbs. of broccoli in the last month. Why the sudden change?
Roasted broccoli.
Its like a whole different vegetable. In fact, it doesn’t taste like broccoli at all. Which is the main selling point for me. Basically, it just kind of loses its offensive flavor. It tastes like a crunchy bite of garlic and salt and pepper with a mild vegetable undertone.
Roasted broccoli is great as a side dish, but the little florets are the perfect size for popping in your mouth which makes them a smart snack.
So, lucky me, I now have a healthy snack that I can put in the rotation with the cheese and cookies. Because they basically cancel each other out, amirite?
Roasted Broccoli
3 heads of broccoli
salt and pepper
4-5 cloves garlic, minced
2-3 sprigs fresh rosemary, minced
olive oil
Cut the florets off of the heads of broccoli. In a bowl, toss them with salt, pepper, garlic, rosemary, and just enough olive oil to coat. Arrange the broccoli in a single layer on a foil-lined cookie sheet. Roast at 425 degrees F for 20-25 minutes until slightly browned.
tuesday things, vol. 2
my favorite instagrams this week
A few things I’m thinking about, reading, or loving right now:
- “Wine is perception on it’s deepest level…if you love wine you tend to love it because it’s a taste adventure.” This is an interesting read about how our expectations and perceptions play into our enjoyment of wine. (h/t Freda)
- Speaking of wine, I love rosé when it’s hot out and I am really loving the 2012 Calcu Rosé these days.
- Rachel Held Evans wrote an interesting article last week on CNN’s Belief Blog and it’s been shared on Facebook more than 100,000 times. It obviously struck a chord with both the millennials that are leaving church as well as church leaders and others who are concerned about it. Her follow up piece features expert resources on this topic and continues the conversation. And here’s a good post from another author in 2009 that touches on the issues many young people want to see in churches.
- Its the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. And I’m trying super hard not to buy these. Like, I need to put my credit card in a block of ice. But you do see where my name is written all over them, right?
- I cannot think of a more perfect summer salad than this or this. And they’re definitely my kind of salads since they’re not even really healthy. Gees. Yum.
- Do you all use BB or CC creams? I’m totally obsessed with this Supergoop CC cream. Most days I just put a layer of this on with lipstick and I am out the door. It has sunscreen, moisturizer, and the perfect tint to even out my skintone.
- I can definitely get behind the sentiment on this mug, but I don’t see why you’d want to advertise it. I’m okay with no one knowing my day drinking schedule.
- Next time we pull out cheese to snack on, I’m going to try some of these pairings instead of crackers.
- I keep saying we are going to get rid of cable because Whit and I already watch everything on our computers, but between our AppleTV and this announcement from Google, we may finally take the plunge.
- You know how sometimes its the end of the day and you just don’t feel like cooking dinner? i.e. “Monday thru Thursday”….. Here’s the answer: 5 dinners with Marcella Hazan’s tomato sauce.
- And I want to leave you all on this note… “The only time to eat diet food is while you’re waiting for the steak to cook.” – Julia Child
xoxo
hostess gifts: dinner guest
Last week I shared a couple of gift ideas for friends and family members who are kind enough to invite you for an out-of-town visit. That’s a fun occasion, but its likely that you’re a dinner guest way more often than an overnight guest.
Unless, of course, you’re over-served at dinner. Then you’re probably a dinner guest and an overnight guest.
Anyway, here are some of my favorite hostess gifts for dinner parties:
We need to talk about my obsession with go cups. Its big.
I think it started with the whole growing-up-in-Louisiana thing.
When I know someone else is driving, I jump into the car with a half of a glass of wine in a disposable cup. This is almost always after 5 pm.
If your guests have a sense of humor, you can personalize the cups with a funny saying. One of my favorites around these parts (TX) is “We like our horns long and our drinks strong.” If you want to keep it simple, you can always go with a monogram or the host’s last name on the cup.
Also, be green and go with the (recyclable and so much cooler) frost flex cups instead of styrofoam.
Breakfast
Your friends are making dinner for you so return the favor by taking care of their breakfast the next morning. They’ll appreciate how easy it is to get up and not have to put too much thought or effort into making their next meal.
If you’re into baking, whip up a pan of the Pioneer Woman’s cinnamon rolls in a disposable tin and wrap a ribbon around a bag of coffee and you’re set. Your friends will have to do no more than turn on the oven and coffeemaker. The cinnamon rolls have an espresso-maple glaze and they are to-die-for. And the good news is that the recipe makes a few batches, so you’ll have some to wake up to the next morning too!
You could also bring the Blackberry Farms breakfast collection, which includes one pound of Blackberry Farm coffee, griddle cake mix, biscuit mix, apple butter, blackberry jam, honey, Tennessee sorghum syrup, plus country ham and bacon. It is a feast in a basket and it’s pretty hard not to be loved when bearing gifts from Blackberry Farm. Yum.
A (Small) Collection of Scotch
Like the drink kit in the overnight guest roundup, this is a fun play on the all-too-common bottle of wine gift. Master of Malt lets you give a curated selection of ‘Drinks by the Dram’, so you can select a few small tastings of unique and hard-to-find scotches and whiskies.
My newest obsession. These things are too cool. The papers are all attached like a notepad, and you can just peel one off to use when serving cheese or pastries. It makes a pretty presentation and is one less thing to wash at the end of the night.
My college roommate Elizabeth came to visit Whitney and I in Houston soon after we moved there and she brought us a set of custom coasters and I have loved her ever since.
Just kidding. I loved her even before. I lived with her, so that was a good thing.
But I really loved the idea of the coasters since they’re disposable. They come in sets of 50, which makes them perfect for pulling out when you have large groups of people over. And it is such a nice, personal touch to have our names on them.
You don’t have to put your host’s name on them though. You could be creative and personalize them with something they’re passionate about, like “Geaux Tigers!” or something cute, like “Wine Time”.
Funny story. Remember Oprah’s favorite things? Yeah, one time these ingenious little disposable napkins and placemats were on her fav list and I decided I had to have them.
One problem…
MYdrap was based in Europe. Spain, I think. And according to the interwebs they weren’t shipping to the US.
But I was not to be deterred. I found a little store in London that carried them, and a couple of international phone calls later, I had them in my hands. I was feeling so elated and proud of myself for managing to track the damn things down and get them and then a few months later I walked into Kuhl-Linscomb in Houston and saw them sitting right there for sale. They were probably there all along.
So the good news is that they’re widely available now. Even on Amazon. And in many colors and sizes. I think the rolls of placemats are the most fun because it lets you accent different colors in your china or create different themes really inexpensively rather than having to purchase many different sets of placemats.
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If all else fails or you run out of time, you can never go wrong with a bottle of champagne and a bouquet of flowers.
And a heartfelt thank you note. Always!
What are your favorite gifts to bring when you’re invited for dinner?
fig newtons
Jen and I died, just absolutely died, over the plump figs at the farmer’s market this week.
They were huge and soft and slightly chilled from having just been unloaded from the grower’s big cooler (farmer’s market rule #1: get there early before the good stuff is gone). But after sitting out for a few hours on the counter, they warmed up and just about exploded. A few actually did burst open, so we had to sacrifice those to our stomachs while making the fig newtons.
This fig newton recipe comes from my mom. My grandmother had a fig tree in her backyard that rivaled the size of an oak tree. And when the summer rolled around and the tree was hanging low with fruit, we couldn’t eat them fast enough to keep up. Mom’s fig preserves are delicious, and a good way to use up the abundance, but the real treat is when they’re used for homemade fig newtons.
So here’s the step-by-step:
Beat 1 c sugar with the butter, egg, milk & vanilla until well blended. Add the dry ingredients. Mix well and refrigerate for 1 hour. Be sure to do this step before dealing with the figs or you’ll be twiddling your thumbs for an hour while the dough cools and stiffens.
Next, wash and stem the figs. Leave the skin on (it becomes really soft but provides good texture, so don’t just scrape out the insides to use) and give them a rough chop. In a medium bowl, toss the fig pieces with the other cup of sugar and let stand for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is mostly dissolved and the figs are juicy.
In a saucepan, combine the figs with 1/2 c water and bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar is completely dissolved. Simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally until of the fruit is soft and the liquid runs off of a spoon in thick heavy drops, about 30 minutes. If you don’t let the mixture cook long enough, your filling will be really runny and make the dough soggy. Remove it from the heat and let it cool before assembling the fig newtons.
Also, at this point…? Try not to just grab a spoon and devour the filling. Patience.
Press half of the dough mixture in the bottom of a greased 9″x9″ baking dish. Spread the figs over the bottom layer of dough. Press the remaining dough into small discs and cover the figs. It’s okay if it looks like patchwork– the dough will flow together when baking.
Bake at 350° for 40-45 minutes. Let cool and cut into squares. Enjoy!
Fig Newtons
2 lbs fresh figs
1 cup sugar
½ cup water
1/2 cup butter, room temp
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 tablespoon cream or milk
½ teaspoon vanilla
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 ¾ cups flour
Beat 1 c sugar with the butter, egg, milk & vanilla until well blended. Add the dry ingredients. Mix well and refrigerate for 1 hour.
Wash and stem the figs. Leave the skin on and give them a rough chop. In a medium bowl, toss the fig pieces with the other cup of sugar and let stand for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is mostly dissolved and the figs are juicy.
In a saucepan, combine the figs with 1/2 c water and bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar is completely dissolved. Simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally until of the fruit is soft and the liquid runs off of a spoon in thick heavy drops, about 25-30 minutes. Let cool.
Press half of the dough mixture in the bottom of a greased 9″x9″ baking dish. Spread the figs over the bottom layer of dough. Press the remaining dough into small discs and cover the figs. It’s okay if it looks like patchwork– the dough will flow together when baking.
Bake at 350° for 40-45 minutes. Let cool and cut into squares.
tuesday things, vol. 1
my favorite instagrams this week
A few things I’m thinking about, reading, or loving right now:
- I’ve been practicing mindfulness lately. I can’t overstate how its affected my outlook and how I process emotions. Andy Puddicome shares how important it is to be fully in the present moment in this TED talk.
- One look at these popovers and I’m toast. They’re all I can think about.
- I am thinking about ordering these genius little tiles. I kind of want to stick them on my dogs’ collars since they’re always trying to escape when the front door is open.
- Matty and Suzy, good people who we are lucky to call our friends, are featured in this inspiring NY Times article. Kudos!
- I love Iznik ceramics. Some of my favorite patterns are here, here, here, and here. They have me daydreaming about starting a new plate collection.
- “Sooner or later, we all discover that kindness is the only strength there is.” – Fr. Greg Boyle, Tattoos on the Heart
- The Last Bison, Hey Marseilles, and Saints of Valory and are all on repeat this week. Take a listen.
- This is my favorite news of the week.
- Feeling like this a lot lately. (“No.”)
- “Sometimes the most faithful prayers are the questions we bring to God.” – Enuma Okoro, Reluctant Pilgrim
- And we end on this note…. THIRTY-NINE DAYS!!!
xoxo
Is there any wine left? 