Too Many Tarts

My sister-in-law is getting hitched soon, and I'm lucky enough to be her pick 

when it came to making the wedding cake- or rather pie, since she's having a carnival theme.

Following her theme, we decided it was more fitting to have His & Hers tarts to feed each other for pictures, so, this last weekend, she and her fiance came out west 

and we squeezed in a little Tart Tasting.

I was so caught up in the sampling with them, I totally forgot to snap a few shots of the actual tasting 

(just imagine eyes rolling back, clinking forks, and smiling faces and you're there!),

but here's what we dug into...

Salted Hazelnut & Chocolate Truffle Tart

Blackberry Honeyed-Caramel Lattice Pie

Mascarpone Tart w/ Balsamic Strawberries

Kiwi Tart w/ Fresh Strawberries

There was much deliberation, loads of 'yummy' moans, and the final decision took more than a few tortured minutes- all of which bring me to the conclusion that this tasting was a complete success!

So what did they choose?

Keith opted for the Blackberry Lattice,

and Megan was won over by the Balsamic-Strawberry 

(especially satisfying since when I proposed the idea she was unconvinced of the dessert magic an aged balsamic vinegar could work!),

although it should be noted that the Salted Hazelnut Truffle scored major points with everyone in attendance!

Three cheers for flaky pastry, creamy fillings,

and early May weddings!

Pure Childhood

I recently read a blogpost by my talented sister talking about how wonderful childhood is to photograph, how addictive it can be, and just how photogenic our kids are as opposed to us older ones who fix a fake smile on our faces when we see a camera & inevitably regret the forced results.

After a trip to the park the other night, I couldn't help but add my voice to hers-

kids are the BEST!

They run around with their hair blowing every direction, 

(Bad hair day?  Never heard of it!)

pretend to be ferocious animals guarding the train tracks, 

(Lions & tigers, and bears- oh my!)

and really plant one when told to 'give him a kiss!" 

("Honey, remember, he's your brother!")

Maybe that's why we need to become parents, 

to remember what it's like to leave all inhibition behind,

to turn sticks into bows and arrows,

and run like the devil's on our heels!

Meet Miss Kennedy

 I think I've mentioned before how much I love newborns.

They're so sweet and sleepy, their tiny features photography beautifully, and I get my baby fix 

without any of the accompanying pregnancy or labor pains.

Wonderful.

When I have my next baby, I hope I'm as laid-back and put-together as Aubrey, and 

my own sweet little bundle as angelic as Miss Kennedy Jae!

A Warm Spring Salad

Well, the snow has officially melted (fingers are crossed while saying that, of course!), and we spend our afternoons playing stickball and hopscotch in the park behind our house, with the occasional walk to socialize with the local goats (we'll introduce you soon).

Spring is finally here!

And with it, a craving for leafy things and newness.

I'm an advocate for eating the seasons, and have a personal quest to introduce my kids' 

palates to every vegetable and flavor the world has to offer, so naturally when I saw 

a particularly lovely bundle of brussel sprouts at the grocery store the other day

I scooped them up- along with an equally gorgeous bunch of kale- 

a vegetable I've been itching to experiment with.

All that being said, last night I was in the mood for a salad, but temperatures being on the chilly side of the season had me craving something warm.  And that, my friends, is how this little gem was born: me donning a cardigan, sorting through the refrigerator, and grabbing anything that had the makings of a life-long friendship.

The mix of vegetables and bacon roasted in the oven is wonderful and aromatic and will have your house smelling cozy and delicious, but the real stars of the show are the homemade, over-sized croutons and the honey mustard dressing.  Both kale and brussel sprouts tend to have a slight bitter finish, and the sweetness of the honey really brings it all together.  

And with that culinary epistle I'll show you a few pictures, and share a recipe.

Warm Kale & Brussel Sprout Salad w/ Bacon
and Homemade Croutons

1/2 bunch organic kale, roughly chopped
1-1/2 lb brussel sprouts, halved
6-8 slices bacon, thinly sliced (I used turkey bacon)
1 small onion, julienne cut
6 oz mushrooms, sliced
olive oil to drizzle (I used about 1/4 cup)
aged balsamic vinegar to drizzle (I used about 2 Tbs)
kosher salt & freshly ground pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400 F.  Once cut, spread all vegetables out on a jellyroll pan, drizzle with oil, vinegar, and salt and pepper.  Using your hands, toss everything together and spread it evenly over the pan.  Roast until vegetables are soft and slightly caramelized, about 18-20 min, rotating pan halfway through.


For the Croutons
1/4- 1/3 stale artisan bread, sliced and cubed (keep in mind, the bigger the cubes the more exciting it is!)
Olive oil to drizzle (I used about 2-3 Tbs)
2-3 tsp Montreal steak seasoning

In a bowl toss ingredients together, spread out onto a sprayed jellyroll pan & bake at 400 F until crispy and golden brown, about 10-15 minutes.  Remove and allow to cool on pan.  Set aside until ready to top salads.


For the Honey Mustard Dressing
3 Tbs clover honey
3 Tbs dijon mustard
1/4-1/3 c. olive oil (extra virgin or light blend work equally well)

Whisk together the honey and mustard, slowly whisk in the oil, a few drops at a time.  Continue whisking in the same direction to create an emulsion.  Finish with a pinch of kosher salt to taste.

To assemble the salads pile the warm vegetable mix on a plate, drizzle with dressing, top with croutons, and serve.  This is also delicious with grilled, sliced chicken breast if you feel so inclined.  Bon Appetit!

Springtime Potluck

At church I work with the children's organization, and last Saturday we were in charge of the big Easter Potluck & Egg Hunt.  Lucky me, my job was to do the tables and decor- hurray!

A double whammy of a day (I taught a pastry class only hours before), helped me decide to keep things simple, so I went the route of printables, plants, and these awesome tissue paper flowers on the back wall, with crayons for coloring on the butcher-paper-covered tables.

And, of course, a bit o' 'Bunny Bait' strewn along the tables to whet the appetite before it all got started!

Gorgeous (insert voice dripping with sarcasm here) weather forced us inside, 

so we scattered plastic eggs throughout every classroom, tucking them behind chalkboards and podiums and sandwiching others between stacks of folding chairs.

Reese and Sam both had a blast with their cute little friends- all of them bouncing off the walls at the thought of the loot they'd be packing home!

Sweet Prayers

One of the best parts of parenthood has got to be listening to your child pray all on their own.
Also, one of the funniest.
Recently Sam has been doing things all alone, and here was this morning's:

"Please bless my sister,

please bless my mom,

girls are sisters, and boys are...

Dad!  What are boys?! 

...boys are brothers.

I'm a brother.

Please bless Dad,
bless my monkey,
and my bunny,
and my baby.

Bless my milk,

bless my cereals,

...Amen."

Talk about the most adorable thing ever!

What the Leprechauns Left

Well, we finally discovered what those magic beans would become- 

I guess their rainbow colors should have tipped us off!  

Lucky for us, a nice little leprechaun made a trail for the kids to follow out to their bean pots, 

but before we could get them out of their room, Reese and Sam decided to dress their very greenest to stay safe from pinching.

Reese settled for a green striped shirt, but Sam was determined to really become the color-

in the best way he knew how!