October 31, 2012

Pumpkin Hazelnut Grilled Cheese

I’m gonna get this out of the way immediately—my husband didn’t like this grilled cheese sandwich.

I, on the other hand loved it so much I almost finished two of the four sandwiches I made. Uh huh.

Let me tell you why.

This grilled cheese sandwich is buttery & crispy and just when you think you’re crunching into a bite of the grilled bread, you realize it’s a hazelnut. The hazelnut brown butter makes it extra crunchy. I love extra crunchy. Who doesn’t? That dude who ordered his hash browns to be NOT crispy at that restaurant we went to. That’s who!

You’ll find creamy sweetness from the pumpkin, a hit of sage and a subtle note of anise in this sandwich. There’s something kinda sausage-like about it, yet it’s 100% vegetarian.

Maybe that’s why I loved it. Maybe that’s why the husband didn’t…

You can’t always please others, riiiight?

I was just about to get into how you should please yourself…but things got dirty.

AHHHH.

recipes, Uncategorized

October 29, 2012

Pepita Pesto Pasta w/ Roasted Squash

SQUASH! Are you binging on squash like I am? In the span of one week I made this here pasta and this fab salad. SQUASH!

I almost cut my hand off while cubing up a butternut squash but that’s a different post all together.

That post will be titled MY NAME IS TRACY AND I AM A KLUTZ IN THE KITCHEN.

I digress…

Let’s talk about this pasta. If you’re a pesto fan and want to shake things up, GET ON THIS PESTO immediately.

Take your traditional pesto and SHAKE IT UP with cilantro, jalapenos, pepitas & parsley. It kinda reminds me of guacamole.

Throw in the sweetness of roasted butternut squash in a large bowl of cooked penne pasta then finish with a squeeze of lime for tang & a huge dose of grated Parmesan for creaminess and you’re in business.

The flavor business…which is the best business to be in.

my everyday life, Photography, Uncategorized

October 28, 2012

My Everyday Life: Week 43

Here’s what this past week looked like:

Clouds!

Uncategorized

October 26, 2012

I love lists, Friday!

Is Pinterest Killing Blogs? Food for thought.
I actually had something similar to this for dinner this week!
Polka Dot Tights DIY. I’m sooo gonna do this.
Seriously drooling over this salad. WOW!
This outfit is HAUTE! I adore the necklace too.
32 Mistakes We’re All Going to Make. AMEN TO THIS.
Killer Bloody Mary. Nice mushroom skull!!!!
Bear meet bear! This photo warms my heart.
I want my whole house to look like this.
I can’t wait to make some pillows for my bed.
Another reason why I have Top Knot Envy.
FACT. I spent an hour watching Rebel Wilson Clips the other night. I love her.
Things You Can Be on Halloween Besides Naked.
Remember my Homeroom post? The ladies give tips on how to make their mac n cheese!
When I write my cookbook, I’m going to buy myself all of this stuff.
Umm Ryan Gosling is singing this. ZOMG. (thanks Megan!)

Thank you Apartment Therapy for Including the Joy the Baker Podcast to your Best Podcasts for a Slow Day at Work List!

Next week we’ll have an all new Joy the Baker Podcast & a new High Straightance post. Thanks for your patience.

Oh! It’s time to announce the winner of Aida Mollenkamp’s Keys to the Kitchen Cookbook.

I’ll be emailing you shortly, Jayne. Congratulations and THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOU GREAT TIPS. Sooooo many good ones there.

My Bites Around the Net:

Molly from Dunk & Crumble adapted my Baked Pumpkin Pecan Doughnuts.

Jessica from Butter Poached made my Nut Stuffed Delicata Squash.

Jessica from The Desert Abode made my my Chocolate Earl Grey Cake.

Audrey from Plays with Food 27 adapted my Salted Pistachio Brittle.

out & about, Uncategorized

October 24, 2012

OUT TO EAT: homeroom

Going to homeroom has been on my TO DO list for AGES. Last week I finally went with my friends Dana & Denise and all I could think was “WHY DID IT TAKE ME THIS LONG?!” We had such an amazing meal and our friend Allison (who owns the restaurant with her friend Erin) was able to hang out with us a little bit. Girl talk, mac +cheese and homemade oreos….what more could you ask for?

I’m pretty excited that I live much closer to the Oakland now. There’s really no excuse not to go. I just hope that Cooper likes mac & cheese one day…because they’re so dang kid friendly too!

recipes, Uncategorized

October 22, 2012

Coconut Chai Coffee Cake

Coconut Chai Coffee Cake. This recipe had me at Coconut…really. Anything with coconut and I’m ALL IN. Especially when it comes to cakes, rice & bars.

Major bonus points for CHAI, COFFEE & CAKE. Three glorious things that start with the letter C.

Crunchy coconut topping gets a kick the the pants with chai spices. It’s like drinking tea and eating cake at the same time.

Coconut is already kinda buttery but when it’s mixed with butter…OMG. Fist pumps. Angels sing. Hallelujah. I just can’t STOP EATING THE TOPPING, get it away from me. Yeah..that.

This recipe comes from Aida Mollenkamp’s Keys to the Kitchen Cookbook. I am utterly OBSESSED with it. It’s one of those cookbooks where you find yourself marking almost EVERY. SINGLE. RECIPE to try. Not only does it have a ton of recipes, there are SOOO many great tips & tricks packed into this beautifully designed cookbook. It’s a graphic designer’s DREAM. Oh, and guess what?! I have an extra copy, so if you would like to win one for yourself, leave a comment below telling me one of your most useful tips in the kitchen! I’ll pick a winner at random on Wednesday October 24th. Good luck and let’s eat the heck out of this cake together, mmkay?