tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741741196462425342024-03-13T10:53:23.047-05:00lemon droplindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15437539693361869721noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-874174119646242534.post-88344011075576793692015-06-10T21:29:00.000-05:002015-06-10T21:36:36.393-05:00Happy Birthday: Beer Tasting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JP58PF8V2Jw/UeNZq37FqCI/AAAAAAAAAbE/7UzeJoRHtbU/s1600/Tim%27s+birthday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="486" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JP58PF8V2Jw/UeNZq37FqCI/AAAAAAAAAbE/7UzeJoRHtbU/s1600/Tim's+birthday.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div>
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I randomly started looking at this blog in between periods of Game 4 of
the Stanley Cup Finals (let's go Hawks!), and saw that I had this post
that I never posted. It may be over two years old, but hey, better
late than never, right? Okay, in this case, it
probably doesn't matter. But I'm going to post it anyway. Happy Belated
30th, Tim!<img border="0" height="532" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RTTRxDPkfRM/UeNZqqPPN3I/AAAAAAAAAbA/dRr6TDrTvcw/s1600/Tim's+birthday+collage.jpg" width="640" /></div>
1. We made a board for people to pin up the beer label they brought. The idea was that everyone could vote for their favorite. 2. Pretzels - I think the recipe came from a Sweet Paul Magazine but I can't remember what issue. 3. Chocolate cake! 4. Other small bites to go with the pretzels - cheese, vegetables, olives...<br />
<br />lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15437539693361869721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-874174119646242534.post-48042197859531976022013-05-09T17:56:00.000-05:002013-05-10T21:15:53.589-05:00Raspberry Almond Scones<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-1e4747ca-86fa-7038-a241-14d5042e9978" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oEcuOcyxo1Y/UYwmyHummCI/AAAAAAAAAaU/HeZxEHRYGf8/s1600/scones.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oEcuOcyxo1Y/UYwmyHummCI/AAAAAAAAAaU/HeZxEHRYGf8/s1600/scones.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Ages ago, when I used to post on this blog, I'm pretty sure I shared with you my love of breakfast. So after a long "sleep," what better way to start blogging again than with a breakfast post!<br />
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Have you ever made scones? It's become the thing I make for family or when we have visitors or when I need help getting out of bed in the morning. Not only do they taste scrumptious, they don't need that much time in the oven, which means you can eat them that much sooner. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dA026-o7tfc/UYwm46dfJ2I/AAAAAAAAAac/mDqdb-OhPBc/s1600/scones1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dA026-o7tfc/UYwm46dfJ2I/AAAAAAAAAac/mDqdb-OhPBc/s1600/scones1.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-size: large;">Raspberry Almond Scones</span></span><br />
recipe adapted from <a href="http://www.joyofbaking.com/SconesCoffeehouse.html" target="_blank">Joy of Baking</a><br />
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1 cup all purpose flour<br />
1 cup whole wheat flour<br />
1/4 cup granulated white sugar<br />
1 tsp baking powder<br />
1/4 tsp baking soda<br />
1/4 tsp salt<br />
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter<br />
2/3 cup buttermilk<br />
1/2 tsp almond extract <br />
1 cup frozen raspberries<br />
1 egg and 1 Tbsp buttermilk (for brushing the tops) <br />
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Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. <br />
Cut the butter into small pieces and put in the freezer. <br />
Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl.<br />
Take the butter out of the freezer and, with your hands or a pastry cutter, cut the butter into the flour mixture. You should end up with pieces of butter throughout the flour mixture, no bigger than a pea.<br />
Pour the buttermilk and almond extract into the flour/butter mixture and stir lightly until the liquid is pretty much incorporated (you don't want to over stir - the small pieces of butter should still be visible and there will be some flour not yet 'wet').<br />
Fold in the frozen raspberries.<br />
Empty the dough onto a light floured surface and knead 6-8 times. Again, you don't want to over do this step. Fold one half of the dough onto itself and press down lightly. Rotate 90 degrees and repeat. This should help the flour to become completely incorporated.<br />
Form a circle out of the dough and pat down lightly so the circle is 1 1/2 inches thick.<br />
Cut the dough into 8 triangles.<br />
Place scones on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. <br />
Whisk the egg and extra buttermilk with a fork in a small bowl and spread on top of the scones using a pastry brush.<br />
Bake the scones at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dTg1iZcVwkw/UYwmqjUXfvI/AAAAAAAAAaM/BDWgdw1f9vk/s1600/parchment.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dTg1iZcVwkw/UYwmqjUXfvI/AAAAAAAAAaM/BDWgdw1f9vk/s1600/parchment.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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If you happen to have leftovers, send them my way, or store them in a tupperware or ziploc bag and keep in the fridge. You can always warm them up in the oven again the next day. They also freeze well in a ziploc bag.<br />
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Part of the reason I love this scone recipe is because you can get creative with what you put in. I feel like I say this a lot, but choose what you like and experiment. If you want blueberries and orange zest in there, go for it! You're a chocolate fan? Do it! Chocolate raspberry, ooh, I might have to do that one sometime soon! Depending on what you decide, you may want to replace the almond extract with 1 tsp vanilla extract.lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15437539693361869721noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-874174119646242534.post-3922800917661313982013-01-28T08:00:00.000-06:002013-01-28T08:00:08.826-06:00Winter Blues<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oZTOWoKYirM/UQW-uPiQ5KI/AAAAAAAAAYg/p4vhVl51Y5Y/s1600/wintersalad.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oZTOWoKYirM/UQW-uPiQ5KI/AAAAAAAAAYg/p4vhVl51Y5Y/s1600/wintersalad.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Is anyone else ready to move on to the next season? If only it worked that way....<br />
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Well, while we are still stuck in winter, I propose making this <a href="http://joythebaker.com/2012/01/spinach-feta-blood-orange-salad/" target="_blank">Spinach Feta Avocado Blood Orange Salad</a> by Joy the Baker. It cheered <i>me</i> up!<br />
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And, if you live close to Chicago, stop in the greenhouses at the <a href="http://www.chicagobotanic.org/" target="_blank">Chicago Botanic Gardens</a>. <br />
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Standing there, with my face toward the sun, I can almost trick myself into believing I'm in Florida. <i>Almost</i>.<br />
<br />lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15437539693361869721noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-874174119646242534.post-38302398534498674052013-01-14T08:00:00.000-06:002013-01-14T08:00:06.516-06:00DIY Humidifier<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6J55v3-cxBM/UPNMq6TadPI/AAAAAAAAAYA/tdzRWurOVcU/s1600/three+things.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6J55v3-cxBM/UPNMq6TadPI/AAAAAAAAAYA/tdzRWurOVcU/s1600/three+things.JPG" height="464" width="640" /></a></div>
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When my nose was really dried out, as it easily becomes in winter, my co-worker gave me this great idea to humidify our apartment using the stove top. Not only does it add moisture to the air, it creates a lovely aroma. I chose to use rosemary, lemon and vanilla, but there are really all sorts of options. Sometime I would love to try lavender.<br />
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Side note: my vanilla has little bits in it because I made it by soaking vanilla beans in vodka. <br />
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Stick everything in a pot with at least enough water to fill 1/4 of the pot - you don't want all of the water to evaporate and cause the rosemary and lemon to burn. Turn the stove on low and enjoy the moisture and aroma in the air!<br />
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This probably goes with out being said, but make sure you turn the stove off after a while. lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15437539693361869721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-874174119646242534.post-34387165608604859872012-12-17T08:00:00.000-06:002012-12-17T08:00:12.242-06:00Kitchen TableIt's about time I showcased some of my husband's woodworking. The last few years, he's been turning another person's garbage into beautiful furniture for our home. Let's take our kitchen table for example. He found a white rectangular table on the side of the road one day, brought it into his woodshop in the basement, did some re-configuring (sanding, cutting, replacing the legs with sturdier 4x4's that he probably found on another nearby street) and, <i>v</i><i>oilà</i>!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z49F9QRw6lI/UM6K0SzLR6I/AAAAAAAAAWg/gkEWWHt9TBU/s1600/kitchen+table+before+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z49F9QRw6lI/UM6K0SzLR6I/AAAAAAAAAWg/gkEWWHt9TBU/s1600/kitchen+table+before+2.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Bu<span style="font-size: small;">t that's just <span style="font-size: small;">the beginning. It needed some paint. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">A</span>fter looking at the November issue of the <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/921831/decorating-bright-colors/@center/276988/painting-ideas-and-projects#920289" target="_blank">Martha Stewart</a> magazine that featured some "Bright Ideas," we were inspired to try out a bright blue.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GUU_qIraDew/UM6QAqURDtI/AAAAAAAAAXU/uY-iLQ1FKCw/s1600/bluemartha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GUU_qIraDew/UM6QAqURDtI/AAAAAAAAAXU/uY-iLQ1FKCw/s1600/bluemartha.jpg" height="640" width="512" /></a> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>photo from marthastewart.com</i></span><br />
<i> </i> <br />
I really liked how it turned out! But what do you think about doing something with the top of the table? At first, we were thinking about painting a tile pattern on top of the table, but now we are second guessing that. Or should we paint some sort of design on the tops of the stools? Which, by the way, are old stools from a school's woodshop that Tim cut to a shorter size to fit our table. Resourceful guy, don't you think? :)<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qi1dteDibBU/UM6K60uEENI/AAAAAAAAAWw/WvwlcRiWhnE/s1600/finished.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qi1dteDibBU/UM6K60uEENI/AAAAAAAAAWw/WvwlcRiWhnE/s1600/finished.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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What do you think? Do more? Or leave as is?<br />
lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15437539693361869721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-874174119646242534.post-77203640166181282082012-12-10T08:00:00.000-06:002012-12-10T08:00:07.171-06:00Cheers!A few weeks back, we had the opportunity to host a wedding shower for some good friends of ours. This couple have each spent time in a number of different countries, so we thought it would be fun to highlight that aspect of their relationship by incorporating maps and flags and foods from around the world into the night. <br />
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(1) We started the cultural theme with the invites. By using a circle and map paper in the background, I created an inverted globe of sorts. :)<br />
(2) My friend Katie made this <i>amazing</i> cake for the event! She used map paper as the background for the cake topper and incorporated the 'g' and 'e' style from the invitations as well. Katie never ceases to impress me with her cakes! And they always taste as good as they look!<br />
(3) We had people bring foods that represented other countries and made little flags to stand beside each dish. <i>Side note: I'm bummed that the coloring of the photo is not that great - still working on how to get decent pictures in the evening.</i> <i>Suggestions welcome.</i><br />
(4) We rented champagne flutes from a nearby rental company so that everyone would have a proper glass to toast the wonderful couple (for some reason I really get a kick out of drinking something from the proper glass). I made little glass markers so there would be no confusion about where guests set their flute. <br />
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This cultural celebration was a group effort, and I think it turned out perfectly. Thanks to all who helped!<br />
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Cheers!lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15437539693361869721noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-874174119646242534.post-10542500881830414202012-11-19T20:39:00.000-06:002012-11-19T20:39:57.408-06:00Curried Sweet Potato Salad<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IDgDiTClS5U/UKrrasI0cWI/AAAAAAAAAUY/1AaJjhIL1jg/s1600/sweet+potato+salad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IDgDiTClS5U/UKrrasI0cWI/AAAAAAAAAUY/1AaJjhIL1jg/s1600/sweet+potato+salad.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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Can you believe Thanksgiving is this Thursday?! I'm really looking forward to all of the traditional Thanksgiving foods - mashed potatoes, stuffing, sweet potato casserole... I'm getting excited just thinking about it!<br />
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A few months ago, my sisters and I made dinner for some friends. I've been meaning to share the menu from that dinner, however, it kind of turned into a smorgus board - not exactly worthy of a blog post. So instead, I'm going to share with you all one of the dishes my sister Natalie made that night, <a href="http://thecozyapron.com/cozy-cameo-the-curious-curry-meets-the-sweet-potato-friends/" target="_blank">Curried Sweet Potato Salad</a>. This salad was beautiful and tasted fabulous! The sweetness from the potato and raisins, the spicy flavor from the curry, the crunch from the celery and cashews... yum! Not the best dish to eat with pasta, which is what we tried to do, but would be amazing with chicken and a green salad.<br />
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Maybe something different to add to your Thanksgiving table? I'm not usually a fan of deviating away from tradition, and I do <i>love</i> sweet potato casserole, but I thought I'd throw the idea out there. <br />
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<i>Happy Thanksgiving</i> everyone! lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15437539693361869721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-874174119646242534.post-55194555210748046172012-11-12T12:11:00.001-06:002012-11-12T12:11:35.951-06:00Little Gifts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Dg6_ZRTQsS0/UKE4NbMl33I/AAAAAAAAAGU/SbYBA04TAHc/s1600/IMG_0606.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Dg6_ZRTQsS0/UKE4NbMl33I/AAAAAAAAAGU/SbYBA04TAHc/s640/IMG_0606.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Lately, I've had the joy of having friends that are having babies. This is wonderful for a couple of reasons. Firstly, babies are great. Secondly, it gives me an excuse to make cute, little projects that are also really quick since they're so tiny. I want to share with you two projects I've done recently that make great gifts for babies.</div>
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These are a pair of moccasin booties that I made for a friend who is expecting a little boy this month. I followed <a href="http://www.purlbee.com/baby-bootie-moccasins/" target="_blank">this pattern</a> and it really only took me an afternoon to complete. It was lucky I had all of these colors on hand (thanks to a couple of very sweet birthday gifts and leftover yarn from previous projects).</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5C-NLPIJt_M/UKE53Vo1PnI/AAAAAAAAAGo/Gnjm1xC9oF4/s1600/IMG_0604.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5C-NLPIJt_M/UKE53Vo1PnI/AAAAAAAAAGo/Gnjm1xC9oF4/s640/IMG_0604.JPG" width="476" /></a></div>
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These mittens I made for a friend's little boy who turned one this month. The pattern I used came from <a href="http://www.freevintageknitting.com/mittens/615-mittens-pattern.html" target="_blank">here</a>. It's sized for a 2-4 year old so I'm thinking he might need a couple of years to grow into them. I decided to add a little bit of color to the already marled yarn so that's where the orange I's come in. I did this using a duplicate stitch. If you haven't tried this stitch before, you should. It's a really easy way to add any kind of embellishment you want to anything you knit.<br />
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Christmas season feels like it will be here before you know it and, of course, Christmas season usually means gift-giving. I hope these projects inspire you to try out some handmade gifts for the little people in your life.kelseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09211063238756635308noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-874174119646242534.post-8260319368654884682012-11-05T20:22:00.000-06:002012-11-05T20:22:57.917-06:00The Menu: Butternut Squash Lasagna & Arugula Salad<br />
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About a month ago, Kelsey made this amazing birthday dinner for her husband, Ryan. Unfortunately, I don't have the recipes for most of the things listed here - you'll have to ask Kelsey for those. Rather than the individual recipes, I was hoping to share the flavor of the overall meal - and provide you with some ideas for your next dinner party.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">__________________t</span></span>he <span style="font-size: large;">m</span>enu________________</span></span> </div>
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Baked Brie</div>
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Grapes</div>
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Crackers</div>
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Pumpkin Ale </div>
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Butternut Squash Lasagna</div>
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Arugula Salad <i> </i></div>
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<i>with apples, walnuts, goat cheese, and lemon vinaigrette</i></div>
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The lasagna had sort of a muted but sweet flavor that worked well with the bright and tart, yet nutty, salad. The salad was <i>so</i> good that I ended up making a variation of it everyday for lunch that wee<span style="font-family: inherit;">k<span style="font-size: small;">! To ma<span style="font-size: small;">ke the vinaigrette - whisk together some <span style="font-size: small;">freshly <span style="font-size: small;">squee<span style="font-size: small;">zed lemon j<span style="font-size: small;">uice<span style="font-size: small;">,</span> o<span style="font-size: small;">live oil<span style="font-size: small;">,</span> and salt and pe<span style="font-size: small;">pper - use a ratio that is to your lik<span style="font-size: small;">ing.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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And the cake was amazing! It is no surprise that this amazing recipe was found on <a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2008/08/chocolate-peanut-butter-cake/" target="_blank">Smitten Kitchen</a> - there always seems to be something worth trying there. I wish I had another piece of this cake right now - chocolate and peanut butter goodness! </div>
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Have you ever seen a candle do that? Maybe it was used one too many times...</div>
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Whether you have a birthday to celebrate or just need an idea for dinner - this menu is the perfect thing to sit down to on an Autumn evening! </div>
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Thank you, Kelsey, for such a wonderful meal! </div>
lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15437539693361869721noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-874174119646242534.post-19271995377060388852012-10-29T19:42:00.003-05:002012-10-29T19:44:29.924-05:00Pesto Pasta - A Taste of Italy<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: small;">I distinctly remember the first time I tried pesto. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">It's amazing how some dishes can bring to mind entire experiences.</span> </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: small;">I grew up in more of a meat and potatoes family, so pesto never found itself on our dinner menu. Instead, spaghetti and lasagna were my main experiences with Italian food. The opportunity to expand my palette came when I first traveled to mainland Europe. It was when we stopped at the Cinque Terre, a region known to be the <a href="http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/destinations/italy/cinqueterrecuisine.htm" target="_blank">birthplace of pesto</a>, that I had my first taste of the sauce at a little family owned cafe in Vernazza, Italy. </span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S4AV8E_c6vE/UIXzW30EAHI/AAAAAAAAAEY/AxNFbQzyCXE/s1600/Cinque+Terre+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S4AV8E_c6vE/UIXzW30EAHI/AAAAAAAAAEY/AxNFbQzyCXE/s640/Cinque+Terre+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I am now so excited to be making my own pesto with basil from our garden! Our plants grew so well, we were able to freeze multiple batches. I can't wait to enjoy homemade pesto through the winter!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">You can't go wrong with most of the pesto recipes you'll find online. I used one from <a href="http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/fresh_basil_pesto/" target="_blank">Simply Recipes</a>. For the pasta dish, combine your favorite cooked pasta noodle, pesto sauce, parmesan cheese, and Italian sausage (Trader Joe's has a delicious sweet Italian style chicken sausage). Pour yourself a glass of white wine and your meal is complete! Enjoy!</span><br />
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Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03767113737089915492noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-874174119646242534.post-50117176870523204912012-10-22T17:55:00.000-05:002012-10-22T17:55:29.021-05:00Butternut Squash Ravioli<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Restaurants are great places to experience a "night off." For as much as I like to cook, I don't enjoy cooking <i>every</i> night. But restaurants are also excellent places to become inspired. I love trying new flavors or combinations at a restaurant that I can then try at home, like this <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/roasted-butternut-squash-ravioli-with-a-sage-brown-butter-sauce-recipe/index.html" target="_blank">Butternut Squash Ravioli</a>. It's a seasonal dish that I've seen at a few restaurants, but don't let it's presence on the menu intimidate you. It's easy enough to make at home.<br />
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I had won ton wrappers leftover from the very delicious <a href="http://www.lmn-drop.blogspot.com/2012/09/swiss-chard-potstickers.html" target="_blank">Swiss Chard Potstickers</a> I made a couple of weeks ago, so I used the rest to wrap up the equally delicious butternut squash filling. Next time I make these, though, I would like to make the pasta from scratch.<br />
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Although this dish was not hard to make, there are a lot of steps involved, so it might be a better weekend meal if you don't have a lot of time after work. Of course, you could always split up the steps - roast and puree the squash and make the filling the day before. Whenever you decide to make it, pour a glass of Chardonnay. Like Chef <a href="http://www.kqed.org/w/morefastfoodmyway/" target="_blank">Jacques Pépin</a>, I think you should always cook with a glass of wine! (Note: not a rule I always follow, but it is nice when I do).<br />
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What menu items have you been inspired to make at home?lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15437539693361869721noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-874174119646242534.post-45161134718145994202012-10-08T08:00:00.000-05:002012-10-08T08:00:01.298-05:00Places to Visit: St. Louis<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Top row: succulents at Missouri Botanical Garden, Saturday morning pancakes, Betsy and me in front of a sequoia tree.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Middle row: the vespa, herb garden, chicken coop.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Bottom row: pancake breakfast, greenhouse at Missouri Botanical Garden, butterfly.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">A few weeks ago I went to St. Louis to visit my good friend Betsy. Above are some pictures of the great time we had - a pancake breakfast outside in Betsy's garden and a trip to the <a href="http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/" target="_blank">Missouri Botanical Gardens</a> on the vespa. The greenhouse above is now on my wish list - wouldn't it be great for starting seedlings in the spring and throwing dinner parties in the fall?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Betsy also took me to some pretty awesome eateries <i>and</i> shared plates so that we could try more dishes than just our own - my preferred way to dine. We went to <a href="http://www.thevinestl.com/thevinecafe/Home.html" target="_blank">The Vine</a> for a delicious Mediterranean lunch - must try the lentil soup, fresh squeezed juices, falafel sandwich, really I'm sure anything there is good! For dinner, she brought me to <a href="http://www.localharvestcafe.com/" target="_blank">Local Harvest</a>, another meal filled with great dishes - lasagna, salad, cabbage rolls, carrot cake and Boston cream pie. Oh, and I definitely should not forget the Thai spring rolls and rice we got from <a href="http://www.soulardmarket.com/soulard_market_015.htm" target="_blank">Lona's Lil Eats</a> in the Soulard Farmer's Market. The spring rolls came with peanut dipping sauce which was <i>amazing</i>! I want to try and re-create these rolls and sauce at home - wish me luck!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Good food, beautiful gardens, great friendship - and I haven't even mentioned the terrific finds at a neighborhood rummage sale - it was a great weekend! Thanks, Betsy!</span></span>lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15437539693361869721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-874174119646242534.post-26593228108220223652012-10-01T20:49:00.000-05:002012-10-01T20:52:27.034-05:00The Best Time of the Week<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px;">Do you have a favorite time of the week? Or, perhaps you have a weekly activity you look forward to?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px;">I've come to really enjoy Saturday mornings. Whether it's sleeping in, perusing blogs and magazines, or having a delicious breakfast; I always try to "reserve" that time for something that will truly refresh me after the week. With that in mind, I thought I would share with you some of my recent Saturday mornings...</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px;">For a visit with Lindsay and Tim, we had <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/almond-pancakes-recipe/index.html" target="_blank">almond pancakes</a> a la Giada; a frittata made with onion, a variety of peppers, and fontina cheese; and bacon from <a href="http://www.goosethemarket.com/" target="_blank">Goose the Market</a>, a specialty food market local to Indy. Of course Karl made some delicious lattes as well! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px;">Another lovely Saturday morning, I made buttermilk scones for the first time! I previously had only made scones with cream or sour cream. I was glad to find the recipe in a random collection that I've saved throughout the years. These raspberry scones (below left) were delicious accompanied by a spot of </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.harney.com/paris-loose-4-oz-tin.html" target="_blank">Harney and Sons Paris tea</a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px;">!</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px;">Not wanting to waste a ripe banana, this week I made the ever classic <a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/banana-muffins-ii/" target="_blank">banana muffin</a> (above right). You can never go wrong with those - especially when you have a great magazine to read!</span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Whatever it is that truly refreshes and inspires you, I hope that you are able to intentionally set aside time to do it!</span></span>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03767113737089915492noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-874174119646242534.post-53784954941115387412012-09-24T21:50:00.001-05:002012-09-24T21:50:05.915-05:00Swiss Chard Potstickers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've been really into Swiss chard lately. It's so pretty, it's easy to maintain, and it keeps on growing - just pick the larger outer leaves by ripping of the stem from about 1/2" from the ground and the smaller leaves in the center will continue to grow for you to pick later. We've been enjoying it in salad, stir-fry, and in these amazing <a href="http://www.wholeliving.com/130723/chard-potstickers" target="_blank">Swiss Chard Potstickers</a> from Whole Living Magazine.<br />
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They take a little time to put together, but they are <i>so</i> good, it's worth a little extra work! Follow the link above to find the recipe.<br />
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Note: I didn't have enough chard to pick at the time, so I added some basil as well which I think worked out really well. I also cut down on some of the time by not making the dipping sauce - I had a bottle of already opened Gyoza dipping sauce from Trader Joe's in the fridge that we needed to use.<br />
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Look at that bite - Swiss chard, mushroom, green onion - what could be better?!</div>
lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15437539693361869721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-874174119646242534.post-34386991989018016212012-09-17T20:57:00.000-05:002012-09-17T21:07:01.691-05:00Birthday MonthI know a lot of people with birthdays in September. That includes myself and my husband. And also my nephew who is celebrating his third birthday today! I want to share with you what I made to give to my sweet nephew, Isaac. It's a pencil case. This choice was inspired by the fact that I knew my mother-in-law was giving him colored pencils. So something to store them in seemed like a good idea. Here it is:<br />
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The 'I' stands for Isaac. And the fabric choice was influenced by the fact that Isaac is obsessed with Toy Story. So obsessed that I can almost guarantee that "Toy Story" will be the first words out of his mouth when he opens it since it looks kind of like Woody's bandana. Luckily, the zipper I already had on hand (along with both fabrics actually) since my Grandma passed down her stash to me. That stash includes about 40 zippers of all lengths and colors. I am a very lucky girl.<br />
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I found the tutorial for this very simple pencil case <a href="http://comfortstitching.typepad.co.uk/comfortstitching/2009/11/zip-pouch-tutorial.html" target="_blank">here</a>. And before I wrapped it, I stuck inside some stickers and an index card that said "fill me with PENCILS!" just to be sure he knew what to do with it.<br />
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What are some of your ideas for handmade gifts for the little kiddos in your life?kelseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09211063238756635308noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-874174119646242534.post-57978265321130049392012-09-10T21:49:00.001-05:002012-09-10T21:50:31.145-05:00Places to Visit: Chicago<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Saturday, Tim and I ventured downtown Chicago to <a href="http://www.explorechicago.org/city/en/things_see_do/event_landing/special_events/dca_tourism/Chicago_SummerDance.html" target="_blank">dance in the park</a>. All summer in Grant Park, they have free dance lessons. A few nights a week, a different type of dance is taught - Saturday was supposed to be Samba dancing. I was really looking forward to it! And I wish I could tell you all about it, but, I can't believe I'm admitting this, we couldn't find it. There was a wine festival going on in Grant Park, but no dancing to be seen or Samba music to be heard. We did see two people in Brazil jerseys who also looked confused - maybe they were hoping to dance too?<br />
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Instead, we went over to Millennium Park to listen to the Lyric Opera perform - another great option. We listened for a little, but, unlike everyone else, we did not bring a picnic, and we were hungry. So, naturally, we went to <a href="http://www.magnoliabakery.com/home.php" target="_blank">Magnolia Bakery</a> for a piece of cake. Although it had been on my list of places to visit for a while, it was our first time there. We decided to try a piece of pistachio cake. The cake itself was <i>really</i> good! The frosting was a bit oily tasting, not horrible, but not my favorite. The shop was also a little too big to be cute, in my mind. But the cupcakes and cakes all looked amazing! Next on my list to try: caramel, red velvet, hummingbird... maybe everything!<br />
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Once dessert was finished, we walked over to <a href="http://www.rickbayless.com/restaurants/xoco.html" target="_blank">XOCO</a> to grab some dinner. It's one of a few restaurants in Chicago by Rick Bayless. Have you ever seen his show? - quirky but great, I'm a fan. I like that he cares about where the food he uses in his restaurants comes from and how it was grown. If you go, I highly recommend trying the Coctel Rojo- shrimp and avocado goodness! <br />
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So, even though we found no one dancing in the park, which I'm still a little sad about, we had a great night in Chicago! What a great place!<br />
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What do you like to do in Chicago? Any suggestions for our next trip downtown?lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15437539693361869721noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-874174119646242534.post-3793353685159122282012-09-04T22:55:00.001-05:002012-09-04T22:55:21.442-05:00Savoring the Summer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Did you all have a nice Labor Day weekend? We spent our last unofficial weekend of summer in Michigan - a great place to spend the last moments of summer, in my opinion. The picture above was taken in South Haven. We stopped on our way home from visiting family to swim one last time in Lake Michigan. I used to love to stop at <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/captain-nemos-south-haven" target="_blank">Captain Nemo's</a> for a pineapple shake, but, this time, we decided to grab dinner at<a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/joes-bar-and-grill-south-haven" target="_blank"> Joe's Bar and Grill</a>. We enjoyed our burgers and they had Oberon on draft, which was nice. Great outdoor seating, but not the best service. <br />
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We also went to the <a href="http://www.hollandfarmersmarket.com/" target="_blank">farmer's market</a> in Holland on Saturday. If you're ever in the area, I would highly recommend it. It was fun to wander around, looking at all of the fresh produce and flowers. We picked up some corn, coffee, and goat cheese - would have loved to get more but everything would have had to sit in our warm car.<br />
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Now that the weekend is over, it feels like summer is over. Even though I love fall, I'm never quite ready to say goodbye to summer. I want to swim a little bit more and have picnics at the beach and pick more berries and eat more peaches and wander around summer festivals and farmer's markets. So not all of those things end with the summer - and there's plenty that I'm looking forward to doing in the fall - I guess I'm just mourning the fact that before I get to enjoy another summer, I have to endure another long winter...<br />
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How are you savoring the last moments of summer? <br />
<br />lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15437539693361869721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-874174119646242534.post-62556022589876932882012-08-27T07:00:00.000-05:002012-08-27T07:00:00.698-05:00Oh So Delicious: Waffles!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Aunt Jan and Uncle Len's house is full of fun, laughter, rest, and, if you're lucky, waffles! Really, any food you have at their house is wonderful, but, for some reason, waffles have made a pretty strong impression on me. Aunt Jan would sometimes make them for breakfast when we would stay, and they were oh so delicious!<br />
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Saturday, I decided to make waffles for breakfast, and it reminded me of those mornings at Aunt Jan and Uncle Len's. You really should have been there! Since I can't invite you all over for waffles at our place, I thought I would at least share the recipe...<br />
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<span style="color: #f1c232; font-size: x-large;">Waffles</span> from Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook<br />
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1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour<br />
2 Tbsp sugar<br />
1 Tbsp baking powder<br />
1/4 tsp salt <br />
2 eggs<br />
1 3/4 cups milk<br />
1/2 cup cooking oil or butter, melted<br />
1 tsp vanilla<br />
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In a medium bowl, stir together first four ingredients. Make a well in the center and set aside.<br />
In another medium bowl, beat eggs slightly, stir in milk, oil and vanilla. Add egg mixture all at once to the flour mixture. Stir just until moistened (batter will be slightly lumpy)<br />
Pour batter onto lightly greased waffle iron and cook according to the waffle iron instructions. When done, use a fork to remove the waffle and repeat. <br />
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I let some frozen raspberries thaw in a bowl, muddled them, and spooned them onto top of my stack of waffles, along with syrup. Delicious!<br />
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When is the last time you had waffles? lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15437539693361869721noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-874174119646242534.post-40493751710507035432012-08-20T21:29:00.000-05:002012-08-20T21:29:58.449-05:00Just Another Manic Monday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Sometimes Mondays are rough. Sometimes I wish it were still Sunday. To be honest, I didn't know what to post today, so I went looking through old pictures and this one made me smile. It's a picture from Tim's birthday a couple of years ago. We went to Goose Island for dinner with friends and then came back to our apartment for cake. It makes me smile because the flowers are fun and because I made Tim come to Party City with me to get those balloons for his "party" and because that cake was amazing!<br />
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If you have never tried <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/coconut-cake-recipe/index.html" target="_blank">Barefoot Contessa's coconut cake</a>, do it soon! It is so good that it became the go-to cake for family birthdays and almost made an appearance at my sister's wedding. This cake will brighten any Monday!<br />
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<br />lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15437539693361869721noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-874174119646242534.post-31522612036904045902012-08-13T08:00:00.000-05:002012-08-13T16:24:39.771-05:00City Gardening<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px;">Growing up in the country, I didn't really think about or truly appreciate the availability of space, size of a yard...or even the existence of a yard for that matter. Ironically it wasn't until I lived in town that I actually started to garden. This summer Karl and I decided to tackle the challenge of gardening in a space with no yard and limited accessibility to a watering system. (Yes, we really wanted a garden!!!) I am so excited to share with you some pictures of our flourishing little garden on our balcony! </span><br />
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Can you pick out the different herbs and plants? There's rosemary, mint, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and loads of different types of basil. I absolutely love having fresh produce! Here's a few recipes that I've made using our home grown goods: lots of <a href="http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/fresh_basil_pesto/" target="_blank">pesto</a>; <a href="http://www.abeachcottage.com/2012/02/beach-cottage-all-in-one-chicken-white-wine-herb-dump-go-packets.html#more-7370" target="_blank">chicken, white wine, and herb packets</a> (delicious and easy!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-indent: 0px !important;">); </span><a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/the-real-mojito/" target="_blank">mojitos</a>; and of course a classic with basil...<a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/caprese-salad-recipe/index.html" target="_blank">caprese salad</a>.</div>
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Whether you grow it yourself or get it from a local farmers market, the accessibility of fresh produce in the summer is always a treat! What's your favorite summer dish? </div>
Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03767113737089915492noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-874174119646242534.post-87386447879820224572012-08-06T09:47:00.000-05:002012-08-08T11:33:27.762-05:00Firecrackers and Sparklers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We celebrated my friend's birthday recently with cocktails and cupcakes. It was a great night! One friend took care of the food, another the cupcakes, and I did decor and cocktails. I decided to have one cocktail already made, a couple that people could easily mix at the table, and a non-alcoholic option.<br />
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I made, yet another, Martha Stewart cocktail called <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/904253/firecracker" target="_blank">The Firecracker</a>. It turned out to be a really great option since I could make it ahead and everyone seemed to love it. It reminded me of sangria, only it's made with rosé and gin. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to find the sour cherries it called for (does anyone know where I can find these?). Instead, I used sweet black cherries, which caused the drink to look a little darker, but it still tasted great!<br />
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We also had stuff out for people to make their own Amaretto Sours and Gin and Tonics. It worked really well since both of these drinks only require two ingredients and a garnish. I made signs for each drink that provided instructions on what was in it, if it was pre-made, or how to make it. The design of these signs were meant to mimic <a href="http://www.paperlesspost.com/design/new/tool/empty_paper_front_0?package_id=3049&category=birthday_invitations" target="_blank">the invitations</a> I used from <a href="http://www.paperlesspost.com/" target="_blank">Paperless Post</a>. <br />
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For the non-alcoholic option, I made what I called The Sparkler. It was a combination of frozen limeade and club soda. My mom had made this for us over Memorial Day weekend - I'm a fan (of my mom and the drink). Not sure of the exact proportions I used... somewhere around 1/2 of the frozen limeade container to 1 1/2 bottles of club soda. The candles on the cupcakes were also sparkler candles - not planned, but perfect!<br />
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In way of decor, I added bits of color (the <a href="http://www.target.com/s/paper+napkins" target="_blank">napkins</a>, drink signs,
flowers) but kept the rest gold. I used gold cardstock from Michael for
the drink signs, made gold triangles out of tissue paper to hang above
the party along with the lights. And then I had fun with gold spray paint -
converting beer bottles into gold vases and adding gold to glass votive
candle holders.<br />
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I really liked how the gold vases turned out. I just let the bottles
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We had these glass votive candle holders already, I just wrapped the top of them
with painters tape and then sprayed the bottom. After the paint dried, I removed the tape, and there you have it - party worthy candle holders! To keep away bugs, I used citronella candles that I found at <a href="http://www.lowes.com/pd_66371-42973-140919940_4294857787__?productId=3607038&Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar%7C1&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNs%3Dp_product_qty_sales_dollar%7C1&facetInfo=" target="_blank">Lowe's</a>. We actually didn't have much trouble
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perfect for the party!<br />
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We had such a fun time celebrating my friend's birthday! But I'm curious, what are your go-to drinks when hosting a cocktail party?lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15437539693361869721noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-874174119646242534.post-37038260373475862172012-07-30T08:00:00.000-05:002012-07-30T08:00:16.523-05:00A Hard Day's Work<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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While we're on the topic of London, I got the fabric for the tank top above there at <a href="http://www.liberty.co.uk/?gclid=CJGFjIaPwLECFSQDQAodhGwAUA" target="_blank">Liberty</a>. Probably the best souvenir I've ever thought to get. I think I'll make a habit of fabric-buying from now on when I travel. Liberty was so much different than I was expecting. It was huge! Four floors of home furnishings and decor, clothing, stationary, and, of course, fabric and other craft supplies. I loved looking around there with my mom and sisters when we were there earlier this summer.<br />
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Anyway, about the tank top. It was fun to make! The pattern is <a href="http://www.shopwiksten.com/" target="_blank">Wiksten</a> (I got the <a href="http://www.shopwiksten.com/product/tank-top-sewing-pattern-downloadable-pdf" target="_blank">downloadable pdf</a>) and I was so impressed with how readable and straightforward it was. It took me awhile to make (six hours!) though I'd say the hours paid off since the seams look really professional (if I do say so myself) and it's something I can wear in lots of different ways. It feels good to make something that will be comfortable to wear in all this crazy heat Chicago's been getting. And it also feels good to have a pretty productive Sunday afternoon!kelseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09211063238756635308noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-874174119646242534.post-29562954719890412372012-07-23T15:48:00.000-05:002012-07-23T15:48:03.190-05:00London CoffeeThe Olympic games are a few days away! I'm looking forward to watching some track events, gymnastics, swimming, and beach volleyball. Are any of you heading to London to watch the games? One place you should definitely check out while you are there is <a href="http://www.prufrockcoffee.com/" target="_blank">Prufrock Café</a>!<br />
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The coffee was great! The service was great! The food was great (we had a bacon, avocado, and cheese toasted sandwich)! And aren't those blue cups and saucers great?! </div>
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So whether you are in London for the games, touring the sites, or some other reason, <a href="http://www.prufrockcoffee.com/contact-us/" target="_blank">go to Prufrock</a>! It's awesome! And in case any of you were wondering, we did enjoy a lot of tea while we were there as well!</div>
<br />lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15437539693361869721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-874174119646242534.post-80639247168015488322012-07-16T12:02:00.000-05:002012-07-16T12:18:55.071-05:00CocktailsToday, I'm going to share with you a few different cocktails we've tried recently. We have a liquor store around the corner from us which is helpful when I feel like trying out a new cocktail. We've been getting to know the guy working there a little as we ask if he carries things like <a href="http://www.thenader.com/2012/03/12/lillet-rose/" target="_blank">Lillet Rose</a> or <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Luxardo-Maraschino-Cherry-Liqueur-750ml/dp/B007M2M8K4" target="_blank">Maraschino Liqueur</a>. Our latest question was were he kept the bitters.<br />
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As we check out, sometimes he guesses what we are going to make with our purchases. I had to laugh this time as I told him we were trying a recipe from Martha Stewart. It seemed like such a prissy thing to say in the liquor store, but the <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/907135/grilled-peach-old-fashioned" target="_blank">Grilled Peach Old Fashioned</a> we made was awesome! <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uCvdu8tpYRY/UAQ7zrj3hLI/AAAAAAAAAGY/axAs_afCiNA/s1600/grilled+peaches.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uCvdu8tpYRY/UAQ7zrj3hLI/AAAAAAAAAGY/axAs_afCiNA/s400/grilled+peaches.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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We've been growing thyme in our garden, which turned out to be really
handy for this recipe. And I love grilled peaches! This really was a
great drink!<br />
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Another drink we've tried recently was the <a href="http://thebestremedy.co/2011/06/03/happy-hour-strawberry-rickshaw/" target="_blank">Strawberry Rickshaw</a>. I found the recipe on <a href="http://thebestremedy.co/2011/06/03/happy-hour-strawberry-rickshaw/" target="_blank">Eat, Make, Read</a> (now The Best Remedy). It was good and fruity and sweet. If that's not your thing, this may not be your drink. Despite my love of sweets, I have to be in a certain mood to like fruity, sweet drinks. And I found that you really need to muddle the strawberries well - they tend to clog the strainer as you pour.<br />
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The napkin is from Ikea (leftover from a <a href="http://lmn-drop.blogspot.com/2012/06/paper-bags.html" target="_blank">shower I hosted</a>). Awesome place for finding pretty, inexpensive napkins. <br />
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The last recipe I'll share is a Pina Colada made with coconut water instead of coconut cream. I'm not sure where the recipe I found came from, I wrote it down last summer. So I'll just say that it contained pineapple, coconut water (I found it at Trader Joe's), a little sugar, a little lemon juice, and rum. Play with ratios to find one you like. Or you can follow a recipe <a href="http://www.eatingbirdfood.com/2011/07/unwind-with-a-guilt-free-pina-colada/" target="_blank">here</a>. <br />
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I will say, I liked the <a href="http://www.imbibemagazine.com/Recipe-Pina-Colada" target="_blank">real version</a> we made last summer with coconut cream better. But if you can't enjoy it because you're thinking about all of the calories you are consuming, coconut water is a good alternative. </div>
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The napkins were a gift from my sister and brother-in-law. I think they may have got them from <a href="http://www.crateandbarrel.com/dining-and-entertaining/napkin/1" target="_blank">Crate&Barrel</a>? I love serving things (drinks, dessert, etc.) with fun napkins! </div>
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Have you tried any fun cocktails lately? Maybe with a somewhat obscure ingredient we can ask our local liquor store guy about?</div>
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Cheers! </div>
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lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15437539693361869721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-874174119646242534.post-52169948903539074612012-07-09T15:17:00.003-05:002012-07-09T15:17:31.590-05:00Almond CakeHave you ever had almond cake? I highly recommend it. Easy to make and really good! If you are looking for an alternative to the traditional birthday cake, may I suggest almond cake?<br />
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I found the recipe on <a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/2008/04/almond-cake-with-strawberry-rhubarb-compote/" target="_blank">smitten kitchen</a>. It suggests serving this with strawberry-rhubarb compote. I didn't do that this time, but definitely want to try it that way in the future.<br />
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To make it feel more like a birthday cake, I covered it in whipped creme fraiche and decorated it with cherries and slivered toasted almonds. <br />
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I like the look of a tall birthday cake, so I was tempted to make another layer and stack it with a layer of creme fraiche in between. The cake is pretty dense, though, so I am glad I stuck with a single layer in the end. A cake can still say "Happy Birthday" even if it's short, right?lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15437539693361869721noreply@blogger.com3