Pumpkin Muffins

Recipe card status!!! That's right, the recipe for these yummy muffins is now written by hand on a recipe card that fits in my permanent recipe notebook. The difficult decision was whether it should be filed under desserts or breads. It ended up in the bread section, next to the apple loaf and zucchini bread recipes, which both make equally as good desserts.  

We had 4 cups of frozen pumpkin left in the freezer from last year's annual heirloom pumpkin, which is enough to make these once more! I ended up using half the batter for a loaf and the rest for around 24 muffins! I added some ground clove when I ran out of cinnamon. Clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin, and some semi-sweet chocolate chips- the sweet taste of fall is here!

Recipe from literally, a spoonful. 

June and Lemon Cake with Ina

I've been a little bit blogged out this summer. So I'm back-posting some photos and fun until I catch up with the calendar. I'm sure you all don't mind:) Not sure I'll be able to post everything in sequence, but let's start with food! Remember one of my resolutions to cook with the Barefoot Contessa whenever possible? I've had some good excuses to bake lately- I'm always looking for a reason (more than two of us) to get out the beaters.

First- Lemon Cake, lots of lemon cake from Ina's Parties cookbook for our summer garden party. It was so delicious, lemony, and sweet, with blueberries and Ready Whip for the perfect accompaniment. (It's much easier to take before and during photos of food... people arrive, too much to finish up to get the camera back out, food is gone- that's just the reality) Thankfully we had a few leftover slices to fancy up for a photograph before indulging again. 

I baked six of these the day before the party. After the first batch, which seemed to be overdone on the edges and not so much in the middle, my mom gave me the tip to turn the temp down and let them bake longer. Perfect! While baking these Friday night, Elizabeth told us that growing up her mom wouldn't let them play around the oven when she was baking a pound cake because they would fall. Sounds like an old-wives tale, right? Well, the last two I put in the oven Saturday morning while we were setting up and cleaning up for the party- i.e. running in and out and up and down all around the oven. You guessed it- they fell right down in the middle! They still tasted ok, but weren't as nice and airy as the other ones that rose properly. I'd say there's a lot to be learned when baking eight cakes!

Next up, and from quite a while ago, Ina's Chicken Piccata, just as indulgent as her lemon cake, with white wine, lemon, and butter!! I love cooking with lemon lately, and Laurence loves chicken.

And, a summer staple since living in Atlanta with Colleen and Amy, Summer Orzo! Every ingredient in this is so yummy... and all roasted together! I've learned so much about roasting veggies from Ina. I love any veggie roasted... just add some salt, pepper, olive oil, and garlic. Our favorites to roast together from the garden last summer were eggplant and green beans- unfortunately we'll have to buy these at the Farmer's Market this summer.

And lastly, Maple Oatmeal Scones. Perfect for a baby shower brunch... or for an afternoon snack, but really they should be enjoyed with a hot cup of coffee, while sitting:) These are the most time intensive of the recipes, but it makes a lot, and is so worth it. I'm eager for my next excuse to bake so I can try out her strawberry and cranberry orange scones too. Such a rare treat!

Until next time I would recommend getting out some kosher salt, lemon, and butter, Ina won't disappoint!

a sweet shop

Some pics from one of our happy finds in Phoenix, Smeeks Sweet Shop. Love the bright colors, love the candy, obviously, love the robin's egg blue with red and orange, love the big glass jars filled with treats, love the orange crush poster, love the gnome home. Love a holiday embracing highly saturated reds and pinks, candy (chocolate candy), and flowers! and some cupcakes...

Staying Peppered in the New Year

I'm sure the term "peppered" brings to mind varying images for everyone. I've talked about the history of my paper-peppering technique here. I think of something "peppered" as sprinkled with cheer: colorful, sweet, vibrant, textured, intricate, lively, bubbly, and with a little kick! I was thrilled to get some gifts this year to help keep us "peppering" in the new year. Whether it's through cooking and eating, writing and photographing, crafting and creating, or by watching and being inspired- I know it's the little things that are "the spice of life." And, I'm eager to spice things up a little bit this year!

Pa-pri-ka (pepper) - used to add color and flavor to dishes, yum

My mom found this ribbon with some of her old fabric scraps. Pretty and peppery- a perfect stocking stuffer!

We'll be "peppering up" lots of meat this year. And, when I say we, I mean Laurence. I'll certainly be enjoying it though. And, I love the logo on this!

Isn't this a lovely serving basket from Budapest, with chile peppers and all! I love getting gifts from other countries.

Some notebooks from Laurence to help me consolidate all the to-do lists and post-its I leave around the house. Hmm, I think they'll be perfect for sketching and journaling!

The Joby Gorillapod Tripod! For taking lots of photos of all our "peppering" in the new year.

The Original Whirley Pop!

Yum.

Happy New Year!

The only type of scrap paper I don't find pretty. Where does it all come from!? On that note, here are a few goals for the New Year:

1. Always put things in their place (and since I now have these nice file boxes, and, a linen closet, I'm off to a good start)

2. Hang some artwork! (I'd rather have nice original art made by other people, which we're working on, but in the mean time- I'm framing up some of my work today)

3. Decorate for Christmas the Sunday after Thanksgiving (tree and all, no exceptions!)

4. Cook with the Barefoot Contessa whenever possible (Ina's never once disappointed me)

And, I'm already off to a good start here too!

Honey Vanilla Pound Cake: from my new cookbook, Back to Basics. It's heavenly, and I'm usually a chocolate girl.

Butternut Squash and Apple Soup: one of their best sellers, from her Parties cookbook. It's so delicious with curry and sweet apples! This recipe makes a lot, and it's very filling.

5. Reformat this Blog (this might take me some time to figure out, but you'll see when it happens!)

6. Practice my downward dog and other yoga poses more (Lu's a natural)

7. Eat lots of sweet-potato pancakes leisurely sipping on coffee in our kitchen nook every free Saturday morning we have

8. Oh, and finish our kitchen nook!

9. Spend as much time as I can with these girls while I have them here in Knoxville:) & :(

10. Write and illustrate the book idea that keeps popping up in my head, paint some colorful paper whenever I get discouraged, and always proclaim I am an artist, boldly and proudly.

I could keep listing for a while, so I'll leave it at ten. I wish you all a year filled with good food, sweet time spent with friends and family, and many steps taken toward achieving goals that are important to you!

Feliz Navidad!

If authentic Mexican food doesn't get you in the Christmas spirit... well, at least you can enjoy the pretty rojo and verde! A couples of weeks ago Laurence and I got to visit Phoenix, sunny and perfect every day. After arriving I made a list of things we wanted to do while in Arizona- I know, shocking. Of course there were several "must visit" restaurant recommendations, but at the top of our list was finding the local "hole in the wall" type of restaurant were we could get some authentic tacos and Mexican Coca-Colas. I knew we were getting close when I saw the laundry mat and dollar store. And, I knew we were very close when all of the Hispanic construction type workers stared us down as we made our way to a table, pretending our best to be familiar with the restaurant's protocol.

Mmm, tacos. I tried a few different types on our first visit, but when we returned I knew I just wanted the chicken tacos. Perfection piled with cilantro and seasoned with lime, served with a side of rice and some cucumber slices- simple, fresh, and non-greasy authentic Mexican food! That's right, we stopped back by on our way to the airport our last day in Phoenix. This time we entered as veterans, however I think we got some laughs when I pulled out the camera:) Our waitress was happy to see us again and even gave us some lamb soup on the house, also served with lime and cilantro, two staple worthy ingredients I think.

I have lots more to post about from our wonderful sunny vacation in December, but until then... Feliz Navidad!