Except for a few sporadic drizzles, it’s been absolutely gorgeous here the past few weeks. The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and our puppy and toddler are both filled with more energy than usual. Hooray for spring around the corner! I’m a winter girl through and through, but being a mom makes me…
Forget the French fries: Salt and vinegar potatoes
I love recipes that take a bit of work to put together, the kind that use a ridiculous amount of kitchenware, loads of ingredients and a fair amount of time before they even reach the oven. There’s something so satisfying about all that work, both in the finished dishes you’ve created and the chaos they…
Life without a microwave: Brown butter Rice Krispies treats
We have no microwave in our home, and we haven’t since we moved here a year and a half ago. As apartment dwellers, we’ve spent the past five-plus years relying on the appliances our rentals provide, and when we moved here, there was no microwave. Gallant folks that we are, we decided to trudge on…
Poetry and cookies: Sweet citrus shortbread
As I’m sure I’ve mentioned on more than one occasion, all of my best ideas, particularly the writing-related ones, seem to come while I’m taking a shower. Basically, a lovely line emerges from the steam, then bounces around for a while, rephrased and repeated until it’s written to memory. It’s a Darwinian twist on the…
Rise of the Monday: Asparagus and egg bake
Oh, Monday, you poor little thing. You’re always so punctual, always predictable. Never once have you forgotten an appointment or stood us up simply because you were too tired, cranky or preoccupied. And how do we repay you? Too often, it’s with grumbling and complaining I’m afraid. The truth is, you deserve better. And better…
Worth a second chance: The meatball sandwich
While surfing Pinterest on Saturday afternoon, I came across a DIY tutorial for turning a men’s collared shirt into a super cute women’s top, complete with an adorable bow around the neck. Like many pins, it came with the overly enthusiastic sell, something like: “SO TOTES EASY! Turn your man’s shirt into a cute weekend…
The house where Gretel lives: Peanut butter marshmallow sandwich cookies
The home that I grew up in, though happy and loving and magical beyond measure, was not one to be overrun by sweets. That’s not to say that we didn’t have our fair share of sugar on occasion — there were holidays, the intermittent Oreos and my mom’s famous mile-high snickerdoodles — but the typical…
Fit for Santa’s team: Rudolph loves cookies
With Christmas only days away, we’re squeezing in every last ounce of holiday fun, food and crafty goodness that we can before Santa hits the slopes and heads to town (presuming that his sled does a bit of skiing action before taking to the air). And what better way to welcome him to our humble…
We will be morning people: Cinnamon pumpkin oatmeal
Years from now, when we’re 30-something grownups with real(er) jobs, our own house and a hopping household, I envision our mornings going something like this: 6 a.m.: The alarm clock rings. Jared and I awaken, alert and well rested after eight (yes, eight!) consecutive hours of sleep. 6-7 a.m.: I go for a run, Jared…
The easiest snack you’ll ever make: Salted honey butter popcorn
Sometimes I daydream about the grand parties I’ll throw someday when I’m a real grownup. You know, the kind of grownup with a real house, a giant kitchen and a dining room that fits more than two adults, a small baby and a 5-pound pup. I’ll wear a fancy cocktail dress and pearls — because…