In The Kitchen.

After a whirlwind weekend with an apartment full of visitors, I found myself with entire night to myself last night. And my gosh, it was wonderful. Within approximately three and a half minutes of my walking in the door from work, the pajama pants and oversized sweatshirt were on, the oven was preheating as the stove warmed a large drizzle of olive oil in the skillet, and a big ol' hunk of aged Parmesan was being worked over with a grater. And so passed the next 5 hours.

With a cold glass of crisp, white wine in one hand and a good book in the other, the night slowly disappeared as I leisurely drifted between my nook on the couch and the kitchen, transitioning from one dish to the next. As the sweet, sweet melodies of Angus & Julia Stone filled the room, the flame from a soy candle in the corner seemed to dance in its holder.

It was perfection in its most simplistic form. Truly.

Pictured above:
- Kale, Shallot & Goat Cheese Crustless Quiche (adapted from Megan's recipe over at Fig & Fauna)
- Whole Wheat Thyme Pizza Dough (adapted from Heidi's recipe over at 101 Cookbooks)
- Peach Blueberry Muffins with a dusting of Oatmeal Cinnamon Sugar (via Mango Tomato)

The Forest Feast.

A part of my heart has always been in this city-- feeding off of the constant hum of the streets and the electricity in the air. Ever since I was a little girl, I've been drawn to the buzz, to the culture, to the life here. There's just something about the way this city makes both your head and your heart swell with big ideas & lofty dreams that's intoxicating to me. But as much as my heart will always love New York, there's a part of me that also yearns for a life of simplicity. A life away from the lights and the concrete; a life spent more quietly, more connected to the people and the earth that surround me. I know that this chapter of my life is meant to be spent here-- is meant to be shaped by my experience in this city-- but one day, one day, there's a cabin nestled within a large, open landscape that will call my name and I'll know it's time.

With that said, it's no surprise that my heart skipped a beat when I first came across The Forest Feast a few months ago and that connection to author/photographer Erin Gleeson and her story was a natural one. After establishing a life here in New York as a freelance photographer oftentimes working within the world of the culinary arts, Erin found herself on a plane bound for California this past Fall where she and her husband were relocated. Settling into a little cabin in the woods outside of Palo Alto, Erin realized a large lifestyle change was before her and a door leading into a creative world, unlike anything she had in New York, was opening. Drawing upon her experience as a photographer in the food kitchens of New York and the new found inspiration within her new world of CSA boxes, walks in the woods, Adirondack chairs & back porches, The Forest Feast was born.

A food blog filled with beautifully executed "photographic recipe illustrations", The Forest Feast is a fresh breath of simple, organic air that you can't help but love. Thanks to Erin who graciously allowed me to share a few of my favorites below--

 

To read more about Erin and the inspiration behind The Forest Feast, be sure to check out her interview over on Weldon Owen. 


Recipes, Photos and Illustrations by Erin Gleeson from The Forest Feast, www.theforestfeast.com

Kinfolk Dinner: Austin.

Well, if there was ever a way for Texas to truly catch my Northern eye, I should have known it was bound to be through a Kinfolk lens. Take a look at these gorgeous photos from Kinfolk's most recent dinner in Austin this past March--

Oh, I just can't get enough. I swear, if I'm ever in town for longer than 3 days at a time and the weather simultaneously decides to be kind (which has proven to be a taller order than one might think), I'm just going to have to pull out a giant blanket and gather some friends for a picnic. What better way to enjoy a warm weekend evening than with good food, chilled wine, and a host of candlelit mason jars? Oh my, please & thank you.

For more photos from the Austin series, click here. And if you haven't yet seen the photos from the Brooklyn or Portland dinners, you're in for a treat.

Happy Weekend. Happy Brunching.

One of my favorite things about the weekend is that tiny excess of time I finally find myself with to wander into a cozy cafe or favorite local joint for a bite to eat with good friends. After a week of hustle and bustle, there's just something so refreshing about leisurely-paced meals spent fueling your mind & body with wholesome food and long conversation. And as every New Yorker knows, there truly is no better place or way to do so than over brunch.

Needless to say, when I stumbled across this incredible brunch round up by Alice over on her beautiful blog Lingered Upon, I just had to share. Don't these meals almost make you want to skip on ahead to Sunday just so you can start indulging? Oh sweet deliciousness.

So, my fellow New Yorkers, what's the verdict? What's your favorite go-to spot?

Wishing you & yours a wonderful weekend and Happy Brunching ahead.
xo

Fancy Pops.

I stumbled upon these beautiful yogurt pops over on A Subtle Revelry the other day and am totally obsessed. Not only is this a totally genius way to add some sophisticated flair to an already delectable summer treat, but (wait for it) the directions are totally goof-proof! This little DIY project has most certainly found itself at the top of my list for those weekend summer soirees!

 

P.S. For those of you who have yet to jump aboard A Subtle Revelry's bandwagon, do yourself a favor and hop on over to take a peek. Not only is Victoria's blog totally wonderful down to its very core, but her DIY guides for every season are unlike anything you'll have the good fortune of coming across. Enjoy!

Simon Bajada.

I stumbled across the beautiful work of Simon Bajada the other day and couldn't help but fall head over heels in love. Just look at the vibrancy of those colors (!!), can you blame me? Not to mention, I'm pretty sure if you stare at those tacos long enough, you'll even start to taste that spice rub's zesty tang. Oh, it's making me crave summer and an excuse to string some lanterns across the patio, carve up an avocado or four, and squeeze a wedge of lime into a corona. Soon enough, friends. Soon enough.

Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls

If there was ever an indicator for how overdue I am to throw on my apron and get my hands dirty in the kitchen, it's the ever-growing pile of "Must-Try" recipes that has literally taken over my kitchen table as of late. I'm telling you, the itch to grab the nearest wooden spoon and a bag of flour is starting to get unbearable. I think it's time.

In an attempt to try and restore some order to my poor tabletop last night, I took on the task of sorting through my recipe piles and simultaneously came across this little gem: Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls. Uhmm-- hello deliciousness.

What a perfect recipe to dive into to get me back on track :)

The recipe below (from the wonderfully talented Katie Goodman over at Good Life Eats) has gotten some rave reviews and I think I'm going to have to give it a try this weekend. Plus, with friends coming into town, I'll have the perfect group to share these tasty treats with-- hooray!

Happy baking!


Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Icing
(Makes approx. 15-16 rolls)

Ingredients
Dough-
1/4 cup warm water (not hot, about 110 degrees)
1 package (2 1/4 teaspoons) active dry yeast
1/3 cup warm milk
1 large egg, beaten
3/4 cup pumpkin puree, either fresh or canned
1 tablespoon melted butter
2 cups (approx.) All-Purpose Flour
1 1/4 cup Whole Wheat Pastry Flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. salt
3/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground ginger
1/3 tsp. ground cardamom
Filling-
1 stick butter
2/3 cup white sugar
1/4 brown sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp. each of allspice and ginger
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/8 tsp. cloves
Cream Cheese Frosting-
4 oz. cream cheese
1 stick (4 oz.) butter, softened
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3/4 tsp. lemon juice
2-3 cups powdered sugar

Directions:
Stir yeast into water to soften in a large bowl. Allow to rest for 5 minutes before stirring to combine. Stir in the milk, eggs, pumpkin, butter, 1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, ginger and cardamom to yeast mixture. Beat vigorously for 2 minutes. 

Slowly add the rest of the flour (all purpose), a bit at a time, until the dough is stiff enough to knead. Begin with 1 1/2 cups of flour and increase if necessary. Turn dough out onto a floured surface. Knead, adding flour as necessary, until you have a smooth, elastic dough. 

Place the dough into a greased bowl. Turn the dough in the bowl to coat the entire ball of dough with oil. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise until doubled. Approx. 1 hour.

Combine the white sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, allspice, ginger, nutmeg and cloves in another bowl, set aside. Transfer the risen dough to a lightly greased work surface, and pat or roll it into a 16"x12" rectangle. Spread softened butter over dough and then sprinkle with the sugar mixture. 

Roll the dough into a log the long way; it'll stretch to about 20 inches. Using a very sharp knife, slice the log into 15 slices. (Rinse the blade in hot water and wipe off between slices to help reduce drag!) Place slices in a greased 9x13 inch baking pan. Cover with a towel and let rise until almost doubled. About 45 min. 

Bake in a preheated 375 degree F oven. Bake the rolls till they're brown around the edges and beginning to turn golden brown across the center. Approx. 20-30 min. 

While the rolls bake, prepare the cream cheese frosting. Add the cream cheese, vanilla, butter, and lemon juice to a small food processor. Blend until smooth and combined. Add the powdered sugar 1/2 cup at a time, blending in between, until well mixed and desired consistency is reached. (Approx. 2 cups of powdered sugar).

Frost warm rolls and serve immediately!

(For prep  the night before-- Prepare the rolls up to they are placed in the pan. Cover in plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, remove from fridge & note that rising time may be slightly longer do to the dough being cooler than room temperature.)

Breakfast on the Go.

 

 

Umm. Yumm?

Coming from someone who loves her breakfast foods, but doesn't always have the time or energy to fix a wholesome meal in the morning, this is an idea that I'm absolutely going to have to steal and start using.  Easy to prep the night before and then throw together in the morning on your way out the door, this is a great way to pack in a delicious & healthy meal regardless of how pressed for time you are.

(Do I even need to mention how much I love the fact that there's a mason jar involved as well?)

For all of my chefs out there, here's a great granola recipe in case you're feeling adventurous! Happy breakfast-ing  :)

Veggie Quesadillas.

Whipped up one of these delicious quesadillas for dinner tonight and boy was it good. Super simple & super quick, it was a snap to throw together on my way out the door before a meeting in the city. The best thing about these? You can literally grab whatever you've got in your fridge and throw it in as well. (The asparagus & heirloom tomatoes I added at the last minute were de---lish)

YUM!

Photo and recipe, here.

Sottocasa.

Grabbed some pizza tonight from a local joint that just opened up a few blocks from my apartment. Oh my goodness was it good. Cooked in a traditional wood burning oven & with some of the freshest ingredients I've tasted in a while-- this pizza was unreal.

Do I even need to mention that the restaurant itself is just as wonderful? Red brick walls, cozy tea lights, and an outdoor garden patio with picnic benches and lights hung all around. Talk about my kind of place. So excited to add this to my list of regular favorites to hit up when friends are in town! (Word on the street is that they're going to start delivery soon as well-- oh, well just twist my arm.)

Check out their website and menu: here.

Bar Tabac.

If you haven't yet found your way over to the corner of Smith and Dean, run-- don't walk-- and grab the first open table you can find inside the adorable little French Bistro, Bar Tabac. I only discovered this neighborhood gem a few weeks ago, but boy has it quickly made its way to the very top of my list of go-to spots. I'm totally obsessed. Outdoor seating, live music, delicious food, friendly service & a great location? What's not to love, right?

I meandered on over here this morning for brunch with my dear friend Judy and, as always, was totally impressed. This place will not disappoint- guaranteed.

For my New Yorkers out there-- anyone else have any spots they just can't get enough of? Leave a comment below!

Seven Spoons.

I stumbled across the little gem that is Seven Spoons a few weeks ago and my gosh, immediately fell in love. Not only do the incredible photos literally make you want to grab the nearest spoon and crawl through the screen to taste it all, but even better, the recipes to most of the scrumptious treats are provided too. What more could a foodie ask for-- right?

Mmm, it all just looks SO tasty.

Check out Seven Spoons for more fantastic photos, recipes & posts!

Breakfast.

If only my morning breakfasts looked half as good as these. Mmm.

Happy Monday, everyone! Here's to another week.

Urban Farmhouse Market & Cafe

If any of you dear readers happen to be from the immediate or greater Richmond, VA area, you are absolutely going to need to take a stroll downtown to Urban Farmhouse at some point soon. We stumbled into this fantastic local hot-spot for brunch on Sunday and it was so good, I had to go back this morning for more.

Exposed brick walls. Gorgeous French doors that open to the cobblestone city streets (when the weather isn't absolutely unbearable). Live jazz on Saturday nights and Sunday mornings. Long, wooden farmhouse tables. Fresh, local, and organic food. I'm telling you, this place oozes perfection from every which corner.