December 15, 2013

The 2013 cookie-stravaganza. Clockwise from the left: Gluten Free Buttered Popcorn, Bacon Bleu Cheese Pecan, Rosemary Lemon Shortbread & Pepper and Spice Chocolate.

All tasty – and this year in quantities too large for the boxes they go in.

This year’s cookie box also gets a jar of Salted Cranberry Grapefruit Jam.

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December 14, 2013

Birthday celebrations kicking off early with Sirs Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart in Waiting for Godot. Fantastic performances, though that bastard never showed.

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Asian Pear & Celery Salad

This is a nice little bright salad that is quick to whip up and uses the best that Fall has to offer. It’s fresh, goes with pretty much anything, and makes a great accompaniment to something light – like the pictured Spicy Tuna Cakes from the soon-to-make-it-to-my-hot-little-hands cookbook Nom Nom Paleo: Food For Humans. If this recipe (and everything on author Michelle Tam’s site, really – she’s never steered me wrong) is any indication, I’ll be cooking each and every dish from the book – and loving them.

And yes, that’s a snowman tuna cake, thankyouverymuch. Because I’m an adult, and have adulty things, like non winter-related cupcake tins.

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Asian Pear & Celery Salad

4 stalks celery, cut on a bias
1/2 an Asian pear, cut into bite-sized pieces
2 Tbsp. cilantro, chopped

Dressing

2 tsp. rice vinegar
Zest of 1 lime
2 Tbsp. grapeseed (or other neutral) oil
Big pinch Kosher salt

As you cut the things that need cutting, add to a medium bowl. In a separate small bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients. Add dressing to salad and toss.

Serves 2 for dinner as a light side or 1 for lunch as a nice sized salad.

This would most likely also be tasty with a tangle of pecorino romano or other aged hard cheese added before serving, with a few cracks of black pepper.

December 13, 2013

Pie dealers

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December 12, 2013

After ripping apart 2 closets, 2 bookcases & a bunch of random places in the house, I finally found mom’s recipe box. Whoo hoo!

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December 11, 2013

Twinkle toes. Such grace he has (while lying down).

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December 10, 2013

Well, shit. Lest anyone, anywhere out there think I lead a Pinterest board life … this happens. Luckily, the mailman buzzed my door before things caught on fire. The living room/kitchen smells atrocious. And there goes 2 full meals’ worth of roast. Boo.

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December 9, 2013

I’m glad to see this house is crazybananas with the holiday spirit – they’ve had candy canes out since the weather was hot.

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December 8, 2013

14th St.

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December 7, 2013

Abacus extravaganza.

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