Winds of Change

I feel awful for my absence... it's not because I don't love you! It ha been busy, but hopefully things will be smoothing out for me soon. Thursday was the last day of my old job; a place I had been for 6 years. It was hard to say goodbye to people who had become like family. Nonetheless, they are friends that I will have forever, and for that I am thankful. Yesterday marked the beginning of a new adventure as I began my other job at Fra'Mani as their Office Services Coordinator. I was seeking out a good-food job and I found one! I am already in love with this artisan salumi company and adore all the people there. I spent my first day trying to keep my head above water, really. So many things to learn, but I am beyond excited for the challenges that lie ahead.

Last night was my first company outing: we took part in the OcTCHOBeerFest event at the TCHO factory complete with chocolate, salumi, cheese, bread, and beer, oh my! We took a tour of the factory and learned the process of turning acidic cacao beans into beautiful, velvety chocolate. The tour concluded with, of course, eating chocolate the was literally just made that day... heaven! After that the Fra'Mani team went out for Chinese food and enjoyed (more) beer, dumplings, calamari, a whole steamed fish (YUM!) and many more dishes that went circulating around the table. I was so happy that my sweetheart was able to make it out to meet my new friends. I think I have found my happy place :)

image via {pinterest}

At the Market: Chard

Known by a number of prefixes, Swiss being the most common, chard has a known history that stems as far back as the hanging gardens of ancient Babylon, a once fertile ground where agriculture is said to have been born. This, of course, I did not learn until afterward. I was thumbing through an old October copy of Bon Appétit and came across a dish that looked irrisistible: Swiss Chard Ricotta Gnudi with Fall Mushrooms. I was sold.

Gnudi are a type of large, ricotta gnocchi. The gnudi mixture had to sit in the fridge overnight, so start the prep for this cozy meal the day before you wish to partake. The resulting dish was different than I had anticipated, slightly Asian in its essence, with a strong mushroom presence. All in all, I enjoyed it and found the thin, shallow soup a welcoming accompaniment to the unexpected rain.

Looking at Pears

"To neglect a pear on the table and then return to find it ripe days later is merely a lucky coincidence. But to keep a pear in mind as it ripens is to practice cooking in its simplest form."

I am currently reading the amazing Cooking by Hand by Paul Bertolli and came across this quote. It so captured the art of simplicity that I had to share.

image from {educate your sofa} found via pinterest.

Go Ask Alice

Alice Waters flipping through her new book, reminiscing old times... dang boom-stand in my way!

A few weekends ago I listened to Alice Waters give a little talk at the Ferry Building on her new book 40 Years of Chez Panisse: The Power of Gathering. As the owner and founder of the famed Chez Panisse, Alice has been on the forefront of the eating-local-and-sustainable movement and currently serves as the "Vice President of Slow Food International, a nonprofit organization that promotes and celebrates local artisanal food traditions and has 100,000 members in over 130 countries". She has expanded her passion for healthy eating into education, pioneering the Edible Schoolyard at Berkeley’s Martin Luther King, Jr., Middle School, an "education program that instills the knowledge and values we need to build a humane and sustainable future".

This latest Chez Panisse cookbook highlights the last 40 years of the restaurant, Alice, and all the people who have contributed to this successful endeavor over the years. Alongside Alice at the booksigning was Patricia Curtan, the gifted artist responsible for all of the restaurant's beautiful menus.

Patricia holding the book as Alice talking and laughing about this picture: as a Montessori teacher and all the kids running away from her!

To find out more about Alice, the new book, and the restaurant visit here. I have yet to enjoy a meal at Chez Panisse... it is on my to-do list... maybe for my 30th...!

Serendipitous Sweet Potato Muffins

We have had brisk weather here in SF for a week now. Sometimes the sun breaks through, but sometimes the clouds are too fluffy to be moved aside. Either way, it feels as if fall is fast approaching and I must admit - I am a bit excited...! I love summer, I love fall, I love winter, I love spring; every season has something wonderful to offer and it is exciting when a new one arrives. Or maybe I just needed an excuse to make these muffins.

I used to be a fan of the boxed Krusteaz Pumpkin Muffin mix. Around this time of year, Starbucks would also begin selling their Pumpkin Cream Cheese muffin. While both were super tasty, neither were terribly nutritious and left me feeling "meh" afterwards. I was so excited to discover this recipe for a healthier, from-scratch Pumpkin Muffin from Gourmade at Home. I made a stop at Trader Joe's on my way home yesterday to gather a few needed ingredients. Call it serendipity, but they have yet to stock their shelves with pumpkin puree, so I grabbed a bag of fresh sweet potatoes and set off on my own adventure. I roasted the potatoes last night (350° for 90 minutes or until soft) and left them to cool on the counter. We enjoyed these healthy, not-too-sweet fall treats with our french press coffee this morning.

Serendipitous Sweet Potato Muffins

1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. ground clove
1/2 tsp. freshly ground nutmeg
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup fresh, mashed sweet potato (not pureed)
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup canola oil
1 tbls. vanilla
2 eggs
3/4 cup buttermilk
4 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 tbls. confectioners sugar

1. Preheat oven to 350 and prepare muffin tins with a light coating of oil.
2. Mix cream cheese and confectioners sugar; set aside.
3. In a medium bowl, combine flours, baking soda, baking powder, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, and salt.
4. In a large bowl, mix together sweet potato mash, sugar, oil, vanilla, and eggs.
5. Add 1/2 of the flour mixture to the wet ingredients; mix until barely combined. Add 1/2 of the buttermilk and mix. Repeat with remaining flour and buttermilk.
6. Divide the mixture into the muffin tin. Top with a small dollop of cream cheese mixture.
7. Bake 20-25 minutes or until knife comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes. Enjoy!

makes 12 regular muffins

Around the House

I worked from home today... a great day for the city, a bummer day to be inside. Oh well, at least my sweetheart was here with me. We had leftover Turkey Bolognese for lunch... and a little vino rosso!

This is a collection of glass that I gathered off the beach on the Island of Capri, Italy. It was everywhere and made the beach seem as if it were covered in beautiful jewels.

I have been "planting" herbs in cups of water as I bring them home from the store. My basil has lasted weeks! It sprouted roots and even began to flower, which makes for cute little finishing touches to dishes. To be honest, I didn't even think this green onion sprouting would work, but it has! We'll see how big they grow :)

Happy Hump Day!

MIA

And I don't mean the snake. It has been busy lately (!) and while I have been absent from my blog, I have had her near my heart, thinking of all the things I want to share :) Gosh, here are a few things that we have done/seen lately:

*spent Friday with my lovely Unominame (an endearing nickname from our college days); we talked about food/cooking over coffee, over lunch, while thrift store shopping, on the muni, over dinner and anywhere in-between. She rocks my world and is an amazing, creative cook!
*enjoyed an UH-mazing late-night burger with Bill and Camille at Marlowe.
*we say The Tree of Life on Sunday. Wow. Complex, complicated, simple, beautiful... all those and more wrapped into an engaging film.
*finished reading The Alchemist (referred by miss Kim); it was wonderful.

*we have my cousin Mac coming tonight to visit for the weekend... so excited!

Fun times and I am having fun taking advantage of these summer months! xoxo

Oh, and "posture, posture, posture"!

Pizza Party

Last weekend I attempted to make homemade pizza after craving a good, real Pizza Margherita and decided to use this recipe.

The dough was great, easy and came together well. I was gaining confidence...

I busted out my super cool (super new) pizza peel... a pro in the making.

My sauce turned out beautifully... this is a cinch.

Ready for the last layer of delicious mozzarella. I was beginning to feel like Mama Roma and about to take the pizza world by storm...

Everything went beautifully up until the last step... I knew I should have used cornmeal to keep the dough from sticking! Too late... totally stuck pizza, and now the fire alarm has started to sound, my cat is freaking out, but my sweetheart is faithful and continues taking pictures!

Ok, not the prettiest thing you've ever seen...

Add a few basil leaves to hide the malformations...

And voilà! This pizza actually did taste pretty good, despite its appearance ;) After watching a few videos recommended by a friend, I made another pizza, this time using cornmeal to aide in the oven transfer and tossed the basil leaves with olive oil before adding them to the cooking process in the oven (as opposed to afterwards). Turned out great!

Babette's Feast

This movie was recently recommended to us by a friend. It was fantastic! I messaged said friend saying, "Just finished Babette's Feast... I think it changed my life". A beautiful depiction of a remote, pious community awoken to the glorious pleasures of exquisite French cuisine. I cried. It was a good thing I had a full meal beforehand, otherwise you would have seen me rummaging around my kitchen trying to whip up a grand gastro-creation. If you love food and it pleases you to feed others, watch this film! We borrowed this movie from our local library (for free!).

I also found this beautiful painting while searching for an image from the movie:

Saint Martha in her kitchen (Vincenzo Campi, d. 1591)

My Father's Daughter

A gem. Truly a wonderful treasure of memories, family and food. And I don’t say this JUST because I am gaga for Gwyneth (see my history of adoration here) and think she's the cat's pajamas; the bee's knees as it were. Nope, I make this claim because it really is a beautiful cookbook, perfect for anyone who loves cooking and sharing with family, friends, loved ones; for those who find great joy in sitting around the table and breaking bread in the company of lovely people. I actually teared-up reading the tender recollections of Gwyneth's father and the meals and conversations they shared throughout her life. Being a woman who absolutely adores her father, I fully related to the intimate relationship GP had with Bruce. I can't recommend this book enough. Simple. Elegant. Fun. Loving. Classic.

I cannot wait to make this Duck Ragu… it’s first on my list!

GOOP is one of my favorite blogs. Classic, timeless style and taste. Such an elegant woman of many hats.

Hostess with the Mostess.

Review of the cookbook.

10 culinary questions for GP.

Summer Fruit Desserts

I have been seeking out some delicious summer dessert recipes for the Memorial Day weekend. We have a few gatherings to attend and I am REALLY looking forward to getting in the kitchen to bake... it's been too long! My friend Claire made these scrumptious looking Strawberry Cupcakes for her husband's birthday party that I have been swooning over. Here are some other lovely desserts from the queen herself, Martha Stewart:


Blackberry-Swirl Pound Cake

Blackberry Crumb Bars

Summer Fruit Tart

Strawberry Tartlets

Raspberry Plum Crumb Tart

Blackberry Basil Tart


Now, which one to choose... What are you making on this long holiday weekend?

image and recipe via {Martha Stewart}

A Study on Italian Food

I just picked up this behemoth book at the library, The Oxford Companion to Italian Food. It was as if I was being pulled into its atmosphere of overwhelming food study on Italian gastronomy... I'm in love. This thorough masterpiece of knowledge includes everything from Art and Culture to Regional Cuisine to History and Society with all the necessary stops in-between such as Culinary Terms, Baked Goods and Pasta/Rice.

I plan on devouring this gem before our trip next month to... ITALY!!!!

A Favorite Snack

While Brian has been addicted to the Chili Mangos from Trade Joe's, I have a small obsession (ok, fine- a BIG one!) with this TJ's Mediterranean Hummus and sugar snap peas. Every time I go, I replenish my fridge with this super-yummy snack. I will have to say "au revoir" once the Great Cleanse of 2011 begins. No worries, this little buddy-pack will be there when I return.

*NOTE: My book came in yesterday (only 2 days to arrive = awesome)!! I will start the 21-Day Adventure Cleanse on Monday 5/9 for those wanting to participate. If you need to start later, feel free to jump in anytime!

**Update: Oh snap! Hummus is on the Cleanse menu... mama like!

Cinco de Mayo!

Happy Mexican victory over France day! Here is my ideal Cinco de Mayo menu: I would begin the day with a bowl of warm chilaquiles (although this recipe, seen above, looks UH-mazing too!); melty cheese, once-crispy tortilla chips that have since gone limp from soaked up juices, melt in your mouth chicken. I would be so stuffed from breakfast that I could forgo lunch, no problem. The evening would be welcomed in with this yummy Puelba Chicken and Potato Stew and Mango Margarita. The warm night would be cooled down with these Paletas de Mango con Chile (mango ice pops- a nod to my hubby who is OBSESSED with the chili mangos from Trader Joes…I’d soak the mango in tequila first, though!). Feliz Fiesta!

image and recipe via {Gourmet}

Secret Supper Clubs

This concept is so exciting to me, it makes my knees weak. A secret dinner, attended by only a few, eaten at a communal table, at either a rotating or stationary location, sometimes in the chefs very home... speechless. I first came across this idea of a supper club in an article on The FourCoursemen and fell in love. Since then, they have been popping up every where, all cities; these intimate meals for the ultimate foodie. I have had my eye on this (quickly surfacing) SF secret, Wild Kitchen, who I previously posted about here. I look forward to partaking in this foraged feast, especially after the amazing recap of their Valentine's Day dinner.

Which brings me to my most recent discovery, HiP Paris Blog, and their post on 3 hidden Paris kitchens. OMGosh... cannot handle the excitement! Such an incredible venture, I think this is my next dream job (if you could even call it a j-o-b?!)... the wheels in my head are already spinning! It's truly the perfect fusion of love for entertaining & cooking. Oh, and their lovely post on how to purchase an apartment in Paris is so worth a peek... even if it's just a silly little dream ;)

p.s....here's another little nugget-o-love to nibble on; a rooftop dinner in Buenos Aires by this Edible Tales creator.

image found via {HiP Paris Blog}

Dinner In, Dessert Out

Wanting to have a nice evening together, but being on a small budget, we decided to do dinner in, dessert out. We had leftover spaghetti (exciting, I know), but I fancied it up with some arugula topped with warm goat cheese rounds. So simple.

After dinner, we walked down to a little cafe in North Beach and shared a delicious ginger cake drizzled in warm caramel sauce and a side of vanilla bean ice cream. I had a café au lait and bry enjoyed this yummy cappuccino con panna while a 3-piece group (stand-up base, accordion, classical guitar) played Italian/folk style music in the corner. A fun, inexpensive date night.

Morning Buns

You may be aware of my infatuation with this bakery. Well... here's a recent discovery of their to-die-for Morning Bun recipe via 7x7SF...so...happy...

Mowielicious

Two words for you: Food Porn. This recently discovered site, Mowielicious, has the most beautiful, graphic, in your face images of want-to-eat-it-now food ever! Mowie is currently working on his first book dedicated to Whoopie Pies which I am looking forward to viewing. Check out his blog and be prepared to drool all over your keyboard... you've been warned.

Waffles with melted butter and honey via {Mowielicious}

Chocolate Chip Cookies

I have a weakness for homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies... right out of the oven, warm chocolate melting into every bite... few things can beat it. Here is my go-to recipe for this lovely treat. I try and up the "good-for-ya" factor by using whole wheat flour. Organic, when available, is encouraged and I LOVE rich, dark chocolate chips (more antioxidants, of course).

1 c. whole wheat flour
1 1/4 c. unbleached all purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 c. (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temp
3/4 c. organic sugar
3/4 c. packed light brown sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 organic eggs
2 cups chocolate chips, 60% cacao

Preheat the oven to 375ºF. In a small bowl combine the flours, salt and baking soda. In a medium bowl mix together the butter and sugars.* Add the vanilla and 2 eggs and mix until creamy. Slowly stir the flour mixture into the wet ingredients and stir until barely combined. Add the chocolate chips and mix until just incorporated. Place heaping teaspoonfuls on the your sheet** and bake 10-12 min. until golden. You know what to do from here...!

*I prefer to mix all the ingredients by hand with a wooden spoon and find that the final product comes out nicely, but a hand or standup mixer would be just fine.

**A baking stone is my method of choice. We were given a very nice one as a wedding gift that I love using.

Tartine Bakery

We woke early on Saturday and finally made our way down to the Mission District for a long awaited breakfast at the well-known Tartine Bakery. However, when we arrived and say a line snaking out the door and down the block I immediately said "Forget it". Then I had second thoughts when I saw a women walk by me to an outdoor table with an espresso coffee in one hand and a plate with a croissant and something in a bowl that smelled divine. My stomach yelled at me, and I thought there was no way I could wait that long for breakfast. Luckily Brian knocked some sense into me, reminding me that we came all this way JUST for the bakery, so we were going to wait. 45 minutes later we ordered, scored a table outside, and sat down. O...M...G... literally the BEST pastries I have EVER had. It was amazing and completely worth the wait. Having stood in line for so long I told Bry I was ordering all sorts of stuff, just to make sure I got a taste of a few things. We ordered the bread pudding (topped with warm sautéed apples and the same thing I spied on everyone's table... I told the young lady I wanted what was in all the bowls I saw), double pain au chocolat, pain au jambon, and the morning bun (which they are famous for), and 2 drip coffees. Every item was off the hook. The first thing we dug into was the morning bun, still warm from the oven. The soft, beautiful dough pulled apart with little effort, a slight crisp from the sugar coat, then a delicate hint of orange essence. Heavenly. Bry bit into his savory croissant filled with ham and gruyere, the flavors were so soothing and satisfying at the same time; the flakey pastry dough perfect and varying in texture from the surface to the center- crispy and buttery to light and soft. The chocolate melted out of the pain au chocolat, a delicious morning treat. And the brioche bread pudding (while not bry's favorite) was moist, flavorful, warm, and the apples topping made a perfect accompaniment. Needless to say, we consumed our daily caloric intake in one sitting, and could not even finish all wonderfulness on our plates (good thing we ordered everything to-go, not sure if we would be taking our breakfast to Dolores Park). It was a great culinary trek and I 100% recommend this spot to anyone living/visiting San Francisco, within driving distance in the Bay Area, a resident of California, currently in the USofA, or a member of this planet... if you fit this criteria, you should visit Tartine. If it will be awhile until you make a voyage, or if you can't live without the wonderful after you've tasted it, check out their 2 cookbooks: Tartine and Tartine Bread. Fall in love, be amazed.

image via {Tartine Bakery}