dying to make this!

lemon blackberry cheesecake via pinterest

happy thanksgiving

It's a busy week working and getting ready for Thanksgiving. I'm making a couple of things including a yummy sausage apple stuffing, and doing flowers/decor for our family party. I'm loving this simple, mixed arrangement for inspiration. Happy Thanksgiving all! :)

pinterest

blog love {toasty biscuit}

I love food and entertaining, but lately I've been feeling uninspired. I dream of having a beautiful kitchen where I'll bake bread and make jam, yet I can't remember the last time I tried a new recipe. I was checking in on some of my favorite food blogs this morning and butter sugar flour is now toasty biscuit. I love the simplicity of Linda's blog, and her recipes and photography are oh so pretty and inspiring!

image via toasty biscuit

blog love {canelle et vanille}

I came across (via mary ruffle) a beautiful food, life and photography blog this week called canelle et vanille. It's a wonderful spot to pick up yummy recipes and inspiration.

image :: aran goyoaga

maine recap {portland}

Our mini vaca in Maine was quick, and mostly rainy, but fun nonetheless. Highlights from the trip (besides seeing my fam of course!) were the amazing restaurants we tried in Portland. First, we had a drink and a small mushroom pizza at the bar at Vignola, then an awesome dinner at Street & Co. (they have the simplest, yet perfect paper menu, not to mention the best lemon sponge pudding EVER) followed up by breakfast at Becky's Diner the next morning. I would definitely go back to all three, but especially loved Vignola for it's great interior and ambiance, and the stellar menu filled with organic cheeses, olives, pizza, micro brews and wine.

raspberry s'mores

We had a fire pit going at my house last night and I've been thinking about making s'mores ever since. This recipe for one with fresh raspberries will be a must for next weekend.

image + recipe from Real Simple

blue cheese + honey bruschetta

Simple, chic and delicious - my favorite kind of recipe.

blue cheese and honey bruschetta

- 1/2 baguette

- 3 ounces good blue cheese

- 2 tbsp honey

Thinly slice the baguette and broil on a baking sheet until golden brown (1-2 minutes per side). Divide the blue cheese among the toasted bread slices and drizzle lightly with honey.

image and recipe from Real Simple

butternut squash pizza

I was introduced to the idea of butternut squash lasagna yesterday and with fall not far around the corner decided to google recipes with butternut squash when I got home. I love the combo of sweet and savory and think this pizza would make a delicious early fall appetizer.

butternut squash pizza

- 1 butternut squash (2 lbs,) peeled

- 1 small yellow onion, cut into 1/4" thick rings

- 3 tbsp olive oil

- 1 lb package pizza dough

- 1 tbsp cornmeal

- 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves

- 1/2 cup fresh ricotta

- 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt

- 1/4 tsp black pepper

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Cut the squash into 1/2" thick slices, then cut each slice into 1" chunks. Place the squash and onion onto a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and pepper and toss. Roast until tender (about 20 minutes) and transfer to a plate.

Increase oven temp to 450. Roll out dough to 1/4" thick. Clean the baking sheet and sprinkle it with cornmeal. Place the dough on top* and distribute the squash, onions, thyme and dollops of the ricotta evenly. Bake until golden (about 25 minutes) and slice into small wedges.

*This is where I would bake the crust off a little bit first (5-7 minutes) so that it gets really crispy.

image and recipe from Real Simple

spring in boston

once again, spring is upon us and for me, spring means dining outside, drinks during the day, the beach, and fun times with friends. in boston, spring also means opening weekend of the sowa market. located in the south end of the city, the market gives an opportunity for local designers, artists, bakers, and more to showcase their products and sell to the public. opening weeks is may 15 and 16 from 10am - 5pm, with free admission and parking.

coming to boston...

thomas keller, of the french laundry and per se, will be signing copies of his new book, ad hoc at home, at the williams sonoma located in copley square. the signing will be on saturday, may 8 at 12 pm for all you foodies out there in the boston area. the french laundry and per se were both recently listed in s. pellegrino's annual world's 50 best restaurants.

weekend recap {maine}

C and I had a fun weekend in Maine... we stopped in Kittery for some outlet shopping then drove up Rt 1 to do a little antiquing. I bought a small 1880's Victorian table at the Blacksmith's Mall in Ogunquit that I'm thinking of painting in fun, bright color (pics later). I didn't take as many pictures as I wanted to - but I did manage to snap a quick one of the amazing lobster rolls we had for lunch! Thanks to Gigi for having us :)

quote of the week

"when baking, follow directions. when cooking, go by your own taste." - laiko bahrs

tuesday

Pretty things I'm loving today...

1. Mario Testino for Vogue via Habitually Chic 2. going to the chapel via this is glamorous 3. mocking bird 4. Vogue Australia via coco + kelly 5. Ink on my fingers

YUMMY

bruschetta with gorgonzola cheese and honey

36 slices (1/2 in thick) baguette bread, about 1 loaf

1/4 c extra-virgin olive oil

8 oz gorgonzola, sliced

3 tbl honey

-preheat oven to 400 degrees F

-arrage the sliced baguette on a baking sheet. brush with olive oil. bake until the bread is pale golden and crisp, about 10 minutes

-arrange the cheese on the toasts and bake until the cheese is melted, about 3 minutes

-drizzle the toasts with honey. place on a serving platter and serve immediately

capellini with tomatoes and basil

I made this two nights ago and it was delish! Gotta love Ina Garten...

click to view larger

(also via HB)

cocktail hour {a skinny cherry bomb}

I don't know why but on New Year's Eve this year I decided cherry vodka would be the perfect choice to ring in 2010. I used to hate cherry flavored anything, but it's grown on me over the years. Instead of making it insanely sweet, I kept it simple with flavored seltzer... and it was delicious.

Fill a tall glass with ice. Add 2 oz cherry vodka (Skyy is pretty good for this) and top with black cherry seltzer water. Garnish with a little fresh lime juice and lime slices.

fresh cherries from Morning Glory Farm, Edgartown MV

on my wishlist

canal house cooking vol 1 and 2 which features not only amazing recipes but also beautiful photography throughout the book.

i heart pizza

wheat dough, olive oil + tomato sauce, diced yellow pepper, sliced sweet onion, pepperoni, fresh mozzarella + grated parmesan and red pepper flakes. YUM.

christmas salad

Christmas was so much fun and I'm sad that it's over. Here's the recipe for a salad that I made and can't stop thinking about (sorry, no pics!).

apple walnut salad with cranberry vinaigrette

dressing: simmer 1/4 cup dried cranberries with 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar, 1 tablespoon dijon mustard and 1 tablespoon white sugar for 10 minutes. remove from heat and strain. {note this is the part where I strained half the dressing down the drain so make sure you strain the dressing into a bowl, not the sink!!! I subbed in a little apple cider vinegar to fix this}. when cool, hand whisk in 3/4 cup vegetable oil, 1/3 cup finely chopped red onion and a pinch of salt and pepper.

salad: toast 1/2 cup walnuts and set aside to cool. in a large bowl add 5 cups mixed greens and 5 cups baby spinach. add 2 large red delicious apples (cored, thinly sliced and drizzled with lemon to prevent browning), toasted walnuts, 1/3 cup dried cranberries and 1/4 cup crumbled feta to greens. drizzle with dressing and toss. serve immediately.

if you're a foodie...

click here to read a really interesting article about local chef and restaurateur barbara lynch