...but a little busy. Plus some technical difficulties. Here's a whirlwind update of some fun food things that happened in the past few months:
My friend Gabrielle left Austin for a new job at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego. Everyone in the office got together for a farewell bash at the house. My "contributation" was dessert: a three layered confection of chocolate cake and two different mousses.
Kristina and Gabrielle the night of the fond farewell.
I call it, "Chocolate au Gabrielle." It was inspired by a recipe I saw in a magazine and involved baking a double recipe of the Everyday Chocolate Cake in a 9x13 pan. From that, I cut circles with a biscuit cutter and wrapped them in strips of parchment paper. Then, I piped layers of dark and light chocolate mousse and topped with whipped cream. Sounds mighty rich? It was.
Over Labor Day weekend (yes, I'm that far behind!), I was in Holland, MI at the Monahan Compound. I had to work on Friday night and didn't get in until late on Saturday, but John, David and I still made dinner on Sunday night. John made a red sauce and I used to build a lasagna. We collaborated on a white chocolate raspberry tiramisu that was a perfect ending.
John adds the secret ingredient to his special sauce: a silly glance. I have the recipe somewhere and will post as soon as I find it. Of course, I'll probably be dead after John sees this picture, but oh well! It's not like its a photo of a giant bruise on someone's butt. You'll have to scroll down to see that!
The white chocolate raspberry tiramisu. Actually, I usually refer to it as Terrible Sue. The recipe started with one from Giada De Laurentiis, to which we added melted white chocolate to the whipped cream. It was out of site. John has prepared it again and I am going to in the very near future. Promise.
I also spent some time in Chicago with my friends Michael, Ryan and Emily. Ryan and I had breakfast at Victory's Banner, which is vegetarian restaurant run by sari-wearing cult members. I LOVE a restaurant run by a cult, because you always get great service! Anyway, their leader lifts people. That's just what he does.
Breakfast at Victory's Banner with some of the best eggs you will every taste and, of course, fake bacon.
Leslie's mom Lorna who I met over the summer sent me a wonderful stack of cookbooks from her collection. How did she part with them? I certainly don't know, but I really appreciated the package. (Did I send a note? If not, THANK YOU Lorna! Hope to see you in Austin soon.)
I found the charm book and etiquette book at the thrift store, the rest were gifts from Lorna and Mitchell.
For our first holiday party in Austin, we planned a giant bash with lots of appetizer and a punch bowl full of pomegranate champagne punch. Dessert was an array of dippers and chocolate fondue. Everyone made ornaments for the tree and I had a great time. I thought the food turned out perfect, but the thing I was most proud of was the giant serving piece I concocted from the table: a metal pot holder that Mitchell retrofitted to hold plates!
The tree, in all of its glory.
The table, laden with all kinds of savory treats and a very festive punch.
These pictures just don't do my giant server justice. You had to be there. You SHOULD have been there.
Dessert. An array of dippers for a delicious chocolate fondue.
Plates at the ready.
Everyone making ornaments and enjoying the food.
More ornament making.
David and Danette converse in the kitchen.
Some more peeps partying.
For my birthday, we had a potluck. Everyone brought something delicious and we put two tables together to form a giant one and ran every candlestick in the house down the middle: not enough to equal my age, but still quite a statement.
The candles down the center of the table. I think there were twenty-three.
Birthday fun.
Remember the diva chickens? They are a laying! Joel and Kay brought us some of their bounty: beautiful blue eggs with a rich, yellow yolk. I poached them for breakfast. Superb!
These eggs are a beautiful blue that doesn't quite photograph.
But the yolks. You get the picture? Super fresh eggs from friends. What could be better?
Poached on an English muffin with a little cheese and sausage on the side? A great breakfast. The cinnamon rolls are the orange bliss rolls from Whole Foods and they will certainly make your morning.
Are your eyes full? Is your mind brimming with ideas? I'm glad to be caught up...a little.
Mangez!
My friend Gabrielle left Austin for a new job at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego. Everyone in the office got together for a farewell bash at the house. My "contributation" was dessert: a three layered confection of chocolate cake and two different mousses.
Kristina and Gabrielle the night of the fond farewell.
I call it, "Chocolate au Gabrielle." It was inspired by a recipe I saw in a magazine and involved baking a double recipe of the Everyday Chocolate Cake in a 9x13 pan. From that, I cut circles with a biscuit cutter and wrapped them in strips of parchment paper. Then, I piped layers of dark and light chocolate mousse and topped with whipped cream. Sounds mighty rich? It was.
Over Labor Day weekend (yes, I'm that far behind!), I was in Holland, MI at the Monahan Compound. I had to work on Friday night and didn't get in until late on Saturday, but John, David and I still made dinner on Sunday night. John made a red sauce and I used to build a lasagna. We collaborated on a white chocolate raspberry tiramisu that was a perfect ending.
John adds the secret ingredient to his special sauce: a silly glance. I have the recipe somewhere and will post as soon as I find it. Of course, I'll probably be dead after John sees this picture, but oh well! It's not like its a photo of a giant bruise on someone's butt. You'll have to scroll down to see that!
The white chocolate raspberry tiramisu. Actually, I usually refer to it as Terrible Sue. The recipe started with one from Giada De Laurentiis, to which we added melted white chocolate to the whipped cream. It was out of site. John has prepared it again and I am going to in the very near future. Promise.
I also spent some time in Chicago with my friends Michael, Ryan and Emily. Ryan and I had breakfast at Victory's Banner, which is vegetarian restaurant run by sari-wearing cult members. I LOVE a restaurant run by a cult, because you always get great service! Anyway, their leader lifts people. That's just what he does.
Breakfast at Victory's Banner with some of the best eggs you will every taste and, of course, fake bacon.
Leslie's mom Lorna who I met over the summer sent me a wonderful stack of cookbooks from her collection. How did she part with them? I certainly don't know, but I really appreciated the package. (Did I send a note? If not, THANK YOU Lorna! Hope to see you in Austin soon.)
I found the charm book and etiquette book at the thrift store, the rest were gifts from Lorna and Mitchell.
For our first holiday party in Austin, we planned a giant bash with lots of appetizer and a punch bowl full of pomegranate champagne punch. Dessert was an array of dippers and chocolate fondue. Everyone made ornaments for the tree and I had a great time. I thought the food turned out perfect, but the thing I was most proud of was the giant serving piece I concocted from the table: a metal pot holder that Mitchell retrofitted to hold plates!
The tree, in all of its glory.
The table, laden with all kinds of savory treats and a very festive punch.
These pictures just don't do my giant server justice. You had to be there. You SHOULD have been there.
Dessert. An array of dippers for a delicious chocolate fondue.
Plates at the ready.
Everyone making ornaments and enjoying the food.
More ornament making.
David and Danette converse in the kitchen.
Some more peeps partying.
For my birthday, we had a potluck. Everyone brought something delicious and we put two tables together to form a giant one and ran every candlestick in the house down the middle: not enough to equal my age, but still quite a statement.
The candles down the center of the table. I think there were twenty-three.
Birthday fun.
Remember the diva chickens? They are a laying! Joel and Kay brought us some of their bounty: beautiful blue eggs with a rich, yellow yolk. I poached them for breakfast. Superb!
These eggs are a beautiful blue that doesn't quite photograph.
But the yolks. You get the picture? Super fresh eggs from friends. What could be better?
Poached on an English muffin with a little cheese and sausage on the side? A great breakfast. The cinnamon rolls are the orange bliss rolls from Whole Foods and they will certainly make your morning.
Are your eyes full? Is your mind brimming with ideas? I'm glad to be caught up...a little.
Mangez!