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October 19, 2011

Peppery Chicken Wings

peppery chicken wings

For as long as I can remember I’ve always been into books. My childhood allowance usually went towards books from the Scholastic book sale at school or food (go figure!).  One of the best purchases I made from one of those Scholastic catalogs was a simple cookbook for kids. It was the first cookbook that made me excited about cooking. I’d wake up on the weekend, turn on the toons and make a batch of french toast that  my brothers would bribe me for. I worked my way through that little cookbook with recipes for eggs, pasta, and English muffin pizzas but the one thing that impressed me and my whole family most was the roasted chicken thighs.

peppery chicken wings

Every time I roast chicken, I get a vivid flashback. I remember mixing chicken thighs with chopped onion in a metal brownie pan. I drizzled the thighs with olive oil, coated them with rosemary, thyme, salt & pepper and placed them into the oven to roast. What came out of the oven was more than decent; it was exceptional! The sheer alchemy of it all fascinated me and I felt a great sense of accomplishment making a grownup dish on my own. Fast forward twenty something years later and I’m still blown away at how spice coated chicken can be easily transformed by a little oven time. These wings & drumsticks were a hit in my household. Casey’s always begging me to make more meat and with the ease of this recipe there’s really no excuse not to!
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Pumpkins!

Sometimes you don’t need a real pumpkin patch for a Fall photo shoot…

Pumpkins outside the grocery store can be the perfect backdrop.

Don’t ya think?

We’re actually going to a real pumpkin patch this week. It will be Cooper’s FIRST field trip!

blurry but good!

To say I’m excited is an UNDERSTATEMENT. I’ve always LOVED field trips!

STAY TUNED.

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October 17, 2011

Coconut Maple Granola


coconut maple granola

If you’ve been listening to me on the Joy the Baker Podcast, you already know that I have an inner hippy and I like to make my own granola. You also know that I’m absolutely smitten with coconut oil and find any excuse to use it. What you may not know is that this granola is the first time I’ve used coconut oil as a replacement for my favorite granola lubricant, olive oil.

coconut maple granola

This Coconut Maple Granola is the perfect snacking granola. Sure you could add some to a bowl of Greek  yogurt or replace your regular breakfast cereal with it, but when you pour a little in your hand and take your first bite, you might bypass a bowl completely. This is the kind of granola that begs to be eaten directly out of the jar. Perhaps it’s the crunchy roasted almonds mixed with golden oats and coconut or maybe it’s the salty/savory vibe that fuels the addiction. All I know is that this granola is dangerous and I think it’s the coconut oil’s fault! Go ahead, embrace your inner hippy and make some.
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October 15, 2011

365- Week 41

A food related photo everyday until 2012. Here’s week 40:

290/365 Lunch with my mom! I got the farmer’s market plate (my favorite) at Hillstone.

10.14.11
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October 14, 2011

I Love Lists FRIDAY!

  1. Whoa! Fall S’mores! I love the addition of Trader Joe’s pumpkin butter. via Oh Joy!
  2. 25 ways to wear a scarf! Finally I have guidance! via Creature Comforts
  3. Anthropologie + Parody= Anthroparodie. Absolutely HILARIOUS. via a few readers
  4. I must attempt these Chocolate Peanut Butter Sandwiches! via Picky Palate
  5. Adventures in getting my nails done. Megan got shellac! I want shellac! via Not Martha
  6. Cider Cupcake Donut Army– the best kind of army! via Take a Megabite
  7. DIY Elastic Empire Waist Dress. If only I had more time to sew! I’d soo do this. via Tripping Over Joy
  8. It’s Coffee O’Clock! My favorite time of day! via Etsy
  9. Farmer’s Market Love Brace yourself for some pretty pictures! via Kiss My Spatula
  10. DIY Caramel Apple Kit. How cool is this??? via Oh Happy Day
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October 13, 2011

Dark & Stormy

dark & stormy

There was a scene in the recent episode of Parenthood that left me deep in thought. When John Corbett pretends to be the: I’m an ex-rocker who’s fallen off the wagon again. I’m back in Berkeley with my vintage leather jacket showing everyone who’s boss character… where does he go to get to that place? Does he pull from the time he was spending Northern Exposure money, getting absolutely toasted with girls from the Meyer’s Rum demo at that roach infested hotel in the Caribbean? I imagine the words DARK & STORMY pop into his head and he’s there.

dark & stormy

Dark Rum. Ginger Beer. Lime. Like a Moscow Mule got introduced to Weekend at Bernies & The Perfect Storm.

Trust me on this one.

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October 12, 2011

Pumpkin Gingersnap Ice Cream

pumpkin gingersnap ice cream

New recipe alert! Pumpkin Gingersnap Ice Cream

I have a history of not letting things set. This means I’m the worst at letting my nail polish dry, but that’s because the second I finish painting my last nail something urgent comes up and I’m frantically trying to navigate through my life with wet polish! An important phone call, a scratch that needs scratching, a knock at the door, my son jamming bread up his nose, or picking up a bowl’s worth of Cheerios off the floor are all things that would happen the second I’m done painting my nails.

pumpkin gingersnap ice cream

The reason why I don’t often make ice cream is that I’m totally impatient when it comes to letting ice cream set. About 2 hours after I put this ice cream into the freezer for its big deep chill, I dipped a clean spoon in to taste. To my dismay, it wasn’t finished but it DID taste totally awesome. Why didn’t I just let it set??!

pumpkin gingersnap ice cream

OK so I let it set. Then I scooped out some ice cream, plunked in a lone gingersnap and got right down to business. Creamy pumpkin ice cream studded with gingersnaps and perfumed with hint bourbon? You know you want it! This is the ice cream recipe that made me realize that ice cream really is worth the wait. Perhaps after 32 years of living I will finally figure out patience?
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