Apple Crumb Coffee Cake

So I suppose that if Nicole and I do yoga at least 4 days a week then I can make myself things like this ? Post-workout munchies. Needed something sweet... Cookies? No. Brownies? Nah. Coffee cake and ice cream? Now you are talking.

Recipe to follow tomorrow. Too tired to type. Must eat.

Whaling Museum Gig (wowza!)

Is this our first "real" gig? Heck no! But this is certainly the best one so far... (John's Art Opening was pretty awesome, too bad I don't have photo's from that one!)

Our menu is short, sweet, simple, but good...

Cheese plates, Spreads, Compotes, Pastries, Soup?, all individual servings and perfectly flavorful... Who knows what will happen but I promise it will be good... and this is where it will be...

Delicious&Quick (Fall) Menu for Two

Totally delicious lay-on-the-couch meal for a cold fall day...



First day of "cold" weather. I had to wear a sweater today. Something about it made me want a delicious bowl of corn chowder and fried tomatoes? I am (unfortunately) totally broke these days, so something quick, inexpensive and quasi-healthy is all I really want. "What better than a bowl of corn chowder?" you ask... To which I reply "not much..."

Corn Chowder Recipe

4 ears of perfect golden corn
1 c. fresh sweet peas
2 carrots, diced
1 small sweet potato, diced
1 smaller sweet yellow onion, diced
1 large clove of garlic
1 quart 1/2 & 1/2 ( do not skimp on this, you will regret it... there is nothing as thick and creamy as the 1/2 and 1/2... otherwise use a rue and add milk (ick!)
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/2 tsp. jalapeno or crushed red pepper flakes
a couple of cloves (this is optional, i really like it with the sweet potatoes though... just enough for someone to smell, but not to overpower the dish)

Sautee onions, carrots and sweet potatoes for a few minutes until softened (wait for a little color on the onions). Add garlic and let soften for about one minute, do not let the garlic burn... add the corn and peas and sautee for 2-3 minutes.

Add the 1/2&1/2, salt, pepper, crushed pepper and clove and bring to a boil before reducing to low.
Let simmer for about 20 minutes and serve with your favorite piece of toast.

Fried Tomatoes



2 large, ripe tomatoes (buy something you can cut into 3/4 inch slices, make sure it is ripe, otherwise it will have no flavor)
1 c. panko bread crumbs, seasoned with a little salt and pepper
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 c. flour, seasoned with s&p

Dip the slices of tomato into flour and shake any excess off. Dip into the beaten eggs and then into the panko, which are seasoned as to make sure the tomatoes have as much flavor as possible.

Fry on medium high heat in a skillet with olive oil and leave them for about 1.5 minutes on each side. Transfer to baking sheet and and bake on 400 for about 10 minutes. (You can make the tomatoes ahead of time and just do the baking off whenever you want to serve dinner)

Serve them over dressed mixed greens. They are totally delicious !



(the last pic is thrown in for good measure! everyone welcome our newest baby, henry <3 love of my life (tied with Ben, of course!)

Totally (Organic) BEST Chocolate Chip Cookies

Really Easy
Really Delicious


1 stick Sweet cream, unsalted butter, softened (VERY important that it is UNsalted!)

1/4 c. of Organic Unbleached White Sugar (plus some for sprinkling on top!)

3/4 c. packed Dark Brown Sugar.

1 Free Range and Organic egg

1 tsp. of Vanilla Paste (its about $5, TOTALLY worth it because you can see all the delicious Vanilla specks, I think its a really lovely touch to any cake or cookie.)

1 1/4 c. of Unbleached Organic Flour

1 tsp. of Organic Medium Course Sea Salt (this gives it a delicious taste AND texture to the cookie. It is my favorite secret weapon)

1/2 tsp. Organic Baking Soda

3/4 tsp. Red Mill Organic Baking Powder

1 c. Ghiradelli Milk Chocolate Chips

1 c. Ghiradelli 60% Cacao Chips (the mixture of the two chips is essential to having the flavor of the dark chocolate and the sweetness of the milk chocolate... makes for the ULTIMATE cookie!)


directions&tips:

Set oven to 360 convect bake! Cream butter, sugar, and brown sugar in your mixer for 3 minutes exactly! (Makes the batter PERFECTLY fluffy...this is a secret cookie baking weapon!)Scrape bowl. Add egg and vanilla and beat for another 2 minutes. Scrape bowl. Mix in baking soda, powder, salt and flour and combine slowly until it is entirely mixed! Add in the mixture of chocolate chips and mix for just a couple of seconds, until chocolate is evenly distributed in the batter.

On a lined baking sheet scoop 2 tablespoon servings. Bake for 14 minutes and allow 10 minutes to cool before serving. Have a glass of your favorite beverage ready for dipping! (Mine's almond milk!)

P.S. these cookies would be the ultimate ice cream sandwich cookie! :)