A few weeks ago, I had an amazing lunch at Boot & Shoe Service in Oakland with my friend Alix. We met up on a weekday-just the two of us. This was my first experience at the restaurant and it definitely won’t be my last. The place is charming as heck & has an incredible menu that changes daily. So many good things to choose from! I simply cannot wait to have a delicious breakfast & dinner here.
Here’s what this past week looked like:
Waffles on a weekday. My kid is the luckiest.
There’s an all new Joy the Baker podcast! On Episode #80, We talk about accidents & take your questions. Accidents happen. Accidental soundboard? Yup. That’s real.
Thank you to OH MY DAHLIA for writing about Shutterbean! So sweet/unexpected!
Coffee & Sunshine adapted my Kale Cashew Mint Slaw.
It’s Good to Be the Cook made my Coffee Chocolate Marshmallow Krispies.
Life, Love & Waffles made my Grilled Zucchini Roll-Ups.
Bread N’ Better made my Pumpkin Cake with Browned Butter Icing.
According to Carey made my Orange Ginger Hot Toddy.
Warm Vanilla Sugar adapted my Arugula Salad with Caramelized Onions & Walnuts
Cook with B made my Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins.
Quite Bookish made my Chocolate Chunk Blondies.
In a Condo Far, Far Away made my Addictive Brussels Sprouts Salad.
I’ve spent the past few days at home with a sick child. It’s been a combination of AHHHH & Awwww. In short, it’s been AHwful. As a result, I’m caught up on laundry, my kitchen has been cleaned 2000 times, two high straightenence posts have been executed, two boxes of tissues have been demolished and my pantry supply has dwindled slightly. Since we’ve been housebound and I’ve been in desperate need of a sweet pick-me-up, I found this little recipe for “shortbread” cookies and BANG! I had all of the ingredients at home. Love that.
These little raw cookies turned out better than I imagined. I didn’t really think you could mimic shortbread without butter or baking but somehow the ground walnuts & coconut create a buttery/nutty vibe and the rest is golden. Husband approved and that’s saying A LOT.
These vanilla-walnut cookies are best kept in the freezer. Their texture is nice and chewy and you’ll really love the taste of the oils from the walnuts when they melt in your mouth. I highly recommend eating a few with a warm cup of tea and a good book. Us moms know the true value of quiet time (without the sound of incessant hacking/coughing).
In November I bought myself a panini press. At first I thought it was just an impulse buy (it was) and when I came home and plugged it in, I swear to you I spent like a month straight grilling everything. We don’t even use the toaster now because we grill our bread for toast.
One of the things I like most about the panini press is that has the power to elevate sandwich making. You can get really creative with your ingredients/flavor combinations. I imagine if we were to rent a house on vacation, I’d pack my panini press with me. That’s how attached I am. Just ask my husband.
After Thanksgiving, I grilled turkey with horseradish cheddar, leftover cranberry sauce & turkey. I think I cried over the deliciousness. Cinnamon toast? DREAMY. Quesadillas with sexy grilled marks? No problem. Want a crispy piece of warm coffee cake? OMG it worked!
It’s the grill marks that get me EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.
This here turkey/pepper/pesto panini is one of my favorite combinations right now. I used pepperjack cheese to add spice & homemade pesto for flavor. The peppers & turkey are my protein & vegetable additions. You see that crust? It’s SO CRUNCHY and the insides are so ooey gooey. I just can’t deal. I’m ridiculously obsessed with a panini press… Don’t try and stop me.
Here’s what this past week looked like:
My grandparent’s plant is blooming. Christmas cactus? I think of them every time I look at it.
Ha-Bitch-ual What are our habits? Good? Bad? Who is obsessed with Homeland? An all new Joy the Baker Podcast is ON.
My High Straightenence ORGANIZING GOALS for 2013 is up! I hope to knock out most of them this year!
Bakecetera adapted my Carnival Cookies.
Angeline Hue made my No-Knead Walnut Raisin Bread with Whole Wheat Flour!
Pale Yellow made my Chocolate Chunk Brownies.
