Sharing a personal story today.
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There is a huge range of chocolate chip cookie recipes out there, and I’ve tried my hand at many of them. I think people have their biases and their preferences, and all of mine happen to align with this particular cookie. There is a place in the world for all the different kinds of cookies, but this particular recipe produces a tried and true version that is soft, chewy, salty, and a little bit pillowy and crinkly, with a serious cookie-dough flavor.
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I know there’s a place in the world for thick and fluffy diner-style pancakes, but in my little corner, I prefer these thinner, almost crepe like cakes. They stand up really well to the hot syrup and butter without becoming soggy or mushy, and they are always perfectly golden brown. Jon’s mom, Robin, makes the best ones, and they are a favorite and a staple to the entire family. We make these all the time and can always finish off a batch between the two of us (well, three, because they’re also a favorite to Kaya the French bulldog who subs peanut butter for syrup on her silver-dollar version).
PS if you’re ever struggling over what to make for dinner (aka most nights), this breakfast-for-dinner option is clear eyes, full hearts, can’t-lose status.
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Quinoa was last seen here in my post-Thanksgiving detox effort that lasted for about one day. I might be back on the wagon now that the holidays have finally wrapped up. Although, I say that, but I'm not actually sure if these are healthy. I think I could have a candy bar with quinoa in it and feel like I'm living right, when in reality we all know the truth. But seriously, these are healthy in comparison to most brunches or lunches or dinners, and this meal would satisfy for any one of those. In fact, the first time I ever made a version of these cakes was for dinner, and it was to prove to Jon that he could, in fact, actually like quinoa (pronounced kwi-noah in that stage of my life), and also be fulfilled by it in meal form. He's since become a convert! I mean topping things with fried eggs never hurts. And it's not bad on the eyes, either—I love a good yolky egg pic.
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Insert: tall evergreen trees, dark shadowy water, fresh air, the smell of burning wood, Christmas lights.
This is Lake Placid during the winter, and it was everything we were hoping for and more. We planned this little Christmas family getaway (in lieu of gifts) with a couple of simple things in mind: winter wonderland-esque and #flannelsandbourbon vibes.
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In what feels like a constant “attempt” to eat healthier (using attempt lightly here because my efforts are limited, at best, most days), the one kind of lighter meal that never makes me feel like I’m skimping is soup. I love soup, and I love nearly every variety. But a spicy Mexican chicken soup with a la carte toppings? I’m in, every time.
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I’ve got a new wickedly fun weeknight activity for you: "Chopped" with friends. (For those who aren't familiar, check out this). We had been tossing this idea around for months with our friends Matt and Julie, and we finally hashed out the details and went for it! What ensued was a super fun night of cooking and experimenting that felt much more exciting than simply cooking dinner for ourselves.
Read MoreI’m a fair-weather resolver—some years I’m feeling inspired to make a list, others not so much, but regardless, I’m never terribly committed to my New Year's aspirations.
However, an idea that I’ve really been able to get behind is this 101 in 1001 List. Have you guys heard of it? It feels especially relevant right now at New Year’s Resolution time.
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As much as I love cooking, I just as much love being cooked for. Why does it always taste better when someone else makes it?! Fact. And even if by ‘cooking’ I just mean being poured a bowl of cereal...it’s still the best! Whether it’s a hearty dinner or something simple and thrown together, it just always feels special. It sounds strange, but I so look forward to a day of having little munchkins running around my house who might one day decide to make me breakfast or something special for Mother’s Day—I think I’ll find it the absolute sweetest thing on earth.
Anyway, Jon makes a great lasagna, and it’s one of my very favorite home-cooked, indulgent comfort foods...
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One of my very favorite things is hearing about other people's traditions, especially those related to Christmas. I love hearing how other people do things for the holidays with the hope that I'll be inspired in different ways to incorporate some ideas into my own family's traditions someday.
I asked all of my friends to share some of their favorite holiday traditions with me, and just as I suspected would happen, there is such a fantastic range of sweet/unique/funny ideas and events and memories.
May your Christmas be merry and bright and full of joy, and may these stories get you in the Christmas spirit and help drum up some of your own warm and cheery Christmas memories!
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I am someone who, with too much time on my hands, can quite easily fall into what is most accurately described as a funk. A day can start off with a lot of promise, and yet it seems if I don’t attack it with enough purpose or direction, I begin “bumbling” aimlessly and my mood can spiral downward pretty quickly. And I find myself so envious of those who love to lounge all day, never leaving the house, etc. I WANT to love it, and I crave it and look forward to it when I’m busy or after a week full of work, but when it actually comes around to it, I go a little bit insane doing it. And with enough sitting or lounging, I get into a kind of funk that can be difficult to pull myself out of. Do you relate at all to this?...
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Done right, this is an appetizer that holds its own among the greats. The green goddess dip is key here with its seriously zesty zip from garlic, green onion, lemon juice, and lots and lots of fresh basil. It is a perfect appetizer to throw together at a moment’s notice during this party-filled time of year. Because it is relatively simple in nature, I really like to focus on a pretty presentation, which is no more work but results in a slightly classier finished product.
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When wandering around the mall or browsing stores online just doesn't seem to be cutting it, this my go-to gift arsenal. Many focus on experiences rather than things, and a large part relies on tailoring your thoughtfulness to the specific person in mind to give a fitting gift, and one the person will surely, surely love.
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I couldn’t possibly talk about raspberry linzer torte without using the circumstances to exploit my mom in regards to what was one of the funniest experiences of our lives to date.
Linzer torte has been a specialty of my mom’s for a long, long time. It’s always been her go-to dish for any sort of festivity. I’ve seen her make it countless times, have eaten the leftover raw batter until I felt sick, and have heard people rave about it.
But all that aside, the best thing that linzer torte has given me is this one story.
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And shades of green...
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Punch is such a communal way to drink a cocktail. I love it! It's the ultimate party drink, and it has been since childhood days.
Looking back at chorus concerts and band concerts in 4th grade, the best part (probably for all involved) was the mini reception afterward that undoubtedly served either lemonade or punch the old school way—with sherbet in it. This remained true for birthday parties throughout childhood, as well as in college for my sorority's events: punch was always a no brainer.
And now in adulthood, the idea of punch has had a bit of a rebirth, especially due to the recent cocktail Renaissance that I've been closely exposed to through Jon. His bar/restaurant, Ox & Stone, serves "Punch with friends" which is quite literally a big punch bowl with customized spirits for the group of friends who orders it. It's my favorite way to imbibe at Ox!
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How cute are bottle brush trees? After seeing so many evergreen colored varieties, I was thrilled to find these retro inspired ones a few months ago. I had to temporarily transport myself into Christmas mode to purchase them out of season for fear I’d never see them again. I also had to remind myself daily that I owned them for fear they’d end up in a random craft drawer or box, never to be seen again.
Alas, it’s Christmas time and my little DIY bottle brush snow globes are constructed and all is right with the world.
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