October 12, 2011

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.

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??!

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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around the home, Uncategorized

October 11, 2011

HALLOWEEN DECOR 2011

I didn’t have to buy much for Halloween this year. Just some creepy black faux flowers & a big spider.
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recipes, Uncategorized

October 10, 2011

Butternut Squash Ricotta & Sage Crostini

I went to Michael’s yesterday to get a few things for my Halloween decorating project and almost EVERYTHING Halloween related was reduced in price. The aisles were quickly being cleared of Halloween decor to make room for the bright colored greens and reds of Christmas. I wanted to scream WAAAAAAIT. Wait just a minute! Am I seriously behind on this Halloween decoration thing??! (don’t answer that). I just don’t think I’m ready to get in the head space of Christmas yet. I haven’t even thought about what I am going to make for Thanksgiving this year!

When you wake up to a cold crisp morning don’t you just want to put on a scarf and roast something? Here’s your chance! Butternut squash gets roasted with a bit of brown sugar in this recipe. Your house will smell terrific & autumn like. Garlic rubbed toasted bread gets accessorized with a nice dab of lemon scented ricotta. Cubes of roasted butternut squash are topped on the ricotta and finished off with fresh lemon juice & fried sage leaves. I think I just figured out what we’re making as a Thanksgiving appetizer. It’s definitely fall, not winter. Someone tell Michael’s.

Photography, Uncategorized

October 8, 2011

365-Week 40

A food related photo everyday until 2012. Here’s week 39:

283/365 My favorite deli sandwich eaten under a giant redwood tree.

Uncategorized

October 7, 2011

I Love Lists FRIDAY!

Friends! I’m starting a new feature here. I LOVE LISTS, FRIDAY! Because I LOVE lists AND I want to share them with you! I’m gathering 10 awesome things I’ve seen around the internet every week. Spreading the love & spreading the fun! Hope you enjoy!

How amazing is this WILLY WONKA themed Birthday Party?! via Modern Kiddo
Microwaves do more than just cook popcorn! via The Kitchn
Must get on board with this fried apple ring trend! via 5 Second Rule
Did you know that 3 year olds can have crushes? This is so flippin’ cute! via Frecklewonder
I love curry. I love chickpeas. Curry Fried Chickpeas! via Spoon Fork Bacon
Trying on a wedding dress never looked so good! via Bleubird Vintage
Making salt & pretty pictures! via Not Without Salt
I’m such a sucker for a sexy, glamorous room! via Desire to Inspire.
Thinkin’ of making Vanilla Extract as Xmas gifts this year (what? too early!?) via Joy the Baker
Is it happy hour yet? This Fantastic Fuji cocktail looks mighty fine! via Eat Make Read

around the home, Uncategorized

October 6, 2011

Dear mantle,

It’s almost Halloween. PREPARE TO GET DECORATED!

xox,

Tracy

(this is what our mantle looked liked last year, the year before and the year before that!)

recipes, Uncategorized

October 5, 2011

Arugula Fig & Fennel Salad

Whenever I see a fennel bulb, memories flood into my head of my dad picking wild fennel on the side our driveway. I remember him taking a bite and offering me some. I also remember being puzzled as to why my dad loved the taste of fennel; my uneducated palette just didn’t get it. When I set a plate of this Arugula Fig & Fennel salad in front of my dad on Cooper’s birthday, with beaming eyes he told me how much his father loved figs and how they’d pick them off the trees during this time of year when he was a boy. I could tell the salad triggered a fond memory for his father in the same way fennel triggers my memories of him.

This is what I love the most about feeding others. It’s always a pleasure hearing other people’s stories and connections with food. It’s particularly exciting when food helps brings back memories from my parent’s childhood because I am always so eager to learn more about them.

Peppery arugula and crunchy fennel slices are spiked with a simply lemon dressing and finished off with beautiful quarters of sweet juicy figs and shavings of fresh Parmesan. It’s a perfectly pretty and well balanced salad. Hurry up! Fig season is almost over!
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