She flies with her own wings...

This sounds amazing! I’d substitute this gluten-free...

Wed, 15 May 2013 12:34:29 -0400

This sounds amazing!

I’d substitute this gluten-free “Paleo-friendly” pasta for the regular gnocchi. It’s another story for another time (when I have real time to explain) but I’m attempting the Paleo lifestyle. More on that later.

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This Creamy Avocado Pesto Gnocchi is the second recipe in my “Farmers Market Feasts” series for The Kitchn. It includes basil and green garlic I got at the farmers market near my house last week. Click on over to see the recipe, it’s a tasty one!!

By Erin Gleeson | The Forest Feast. Photo of me at the market is by my lovely studio assistant, Anna Rosales.

"Holiday blues" summed up every single thing I have been feeling since September. I hurt every single second of every day knowing that I can't talk to my Papa anymore. I'm not even sure that I know how to handle it. .. Even now, 3 months later. He was my rock. My shield. My favorite Cowboy. I fear for a world without him.. Reading that made me feel a little better. I know that we have the best angels watching over us. Helping us with all the mischief :) I do hope you have a wonderful holiday. XO

Thu, 09 May 2013 16:31:22 -0400

I have no idea how long this little note has been sitting in my private note box, but it looks like it dates back to December. I must not have seen the notification but regardless, I’m sorry for appearing to be (and actually being) slack!!

I’m so glad that reading that post helped make you feel a bit better, at least temporarily. It’s a tough thing, losing a loved one. It still is and I’m pretty sure I’m going to have the same holiday blues this year, too. I think you have the right idea, though, to focus on the fact that we have some amazing angels watching over us because we certainly do. Who knows, maybe our angels are friends. :)

8. Your inspirational quotes about love are cliche’ and...

Thu, 09 May 2013 14:52:00 -0400

8. Your inspirational quotes about love are cliche’ and overused.

15 Things You Should Give Up To Be Happy

Tue, 07 May 2013 13:39:29 -0400

15 Things You Should Give Up To Be Happy:

Here is a list of 15 things which, if you give up on them, will make your life a lot easier and much, much happier. We hold on to so many th

Photo

Tue, 07 May 2013 13:39:07 -0400

chocolate chip lava cookies WOA.

Fri, 03 May 2013 16:09:22 -0400

chocolate chip lava cookies

WOA.

I can’t think of a better way to spend $10, can you?(Edit:...

Fri, 03 May 2013 15:50:00 -0400

I can’t think of a better way to spend $10, can you?

(Edit: for those that asked I found it at the Target near Triangle Town Center…couldn’t find it online, although when searching “giraffe” came across this awesome bracelet, also for around $10.) :)

This weekend: Baby shower for Mike n’ Jess, Boston...

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 15:18:50 -0400

This weekend: Baby shower for Mike n’ Jess, Boston Memorial Run, Lazy Pups

Last weekend: Charleston for Lincoln & Lindsey’s...

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 15:15:01 -0400

Last weekend: Charleston for Lincoln & Lindsey’s wedding celebrations

Friday I made cupcakes and used THIS Fresh Strawberry frosting...

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 14:47:15 -0400

Friday I made cupcakes and used THIS Fresh Strawberry frosting recipe. It may be the best thing since sliced bread, literally. I was in a hurry so I didn’t make the cakes from scratch - just used a french vanilla boxed version and added pureed strawberries.

Asparagus with Salsa Verde and Scarlet Onions Yield 2 to 4...

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 10:46:00 -0400

Asparagus with Salsa Verde and Scarlet Onions

Yield 2 to 4 servings

Ingredients

1 small red onion, sliced into thin rounds
A few tablespoons white wine vinegar or champagne vinegar, more to taste
Sea salt
1 1/2 pounds asparagus
1/4 cup chopped parsley
2 tablespoons chopped tarragon
1 tablespoon capers, rinsed
1 wide band orange zest, finely slivered and blanched in boiling water for 10 seconds
4 to 5 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon orange juice
Black pepper

Method

1. Separate sliced onion rings and toss with vinegar and a pinch of salt. Set aside in refrigerator.
2. If asparagus spears are thick, peel stalks and cut off tough stem ends. If they are thin, snap off bottom of each stalk where it breaks easily and trim ends. Simmer asparagus with water to cover until bright green but still a little firm, about 3 minutes for thin asparagus, 5 minutes or longer for fat. It can be a little underdone. Remove to a towel to dry while you make the sauce. It will finish cooking as it sits.
3. Put parsley, tarragon and capers in a bowl. Finely dice half the orange zest, then dice half the pickled onion. Add diced zest and onion to bowl. Stir in oil, mustard, orange juice and vinegar to taste. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Lay asparagus on a platter. Ladle sauce over stems and tips and finish with remaining slivered orange zest and pickled onion rings. Serve at room temperature or slightly chilled.

Source: Adapted from “Vegetable Literacy,” by Deborah Madison

Photo

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 12:14:45 -0400

Why, yes. My champagne DID make it to the top of Red Rock. :) I...

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 18:07:00 -0400

Why, yes. My champagne DID make it to the top of Red Rock. :)

I love this because you can see the Vegas strip off in the background. 6 hours. Amazing views. Exceptionally sore everything. This time it was tougher getting down than up…

I have to say it.

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 12:58:00 -0400

The whole Marriage Equality vs. Protect Marriage argument just frustrates me. I am a straight woman, married to a straight man, with a Christian family, values, beliefs, all that.

I believe in love. It comes in many forms. And it is beautiful and painful and frustrating and amazing and deadly and rare and true. It is all of that and so much more, and it exists between a man and a woman, two men, two women, and probably in many other scenarios, too. Love is love is love, and who are we to tell anyone else who they can or cannot love? Who are we to tell anyone else how they must/should live their lives? Who are we to tell someone they cannot marry their lifelong partner? Who are we to try to force the religious values and beliefs of some, on the legal rights of all others?

If two men get married, it does not de-value my marriage. If two women get married, it does not affect your belief in your God and your reasons for marrying your significant other. Same sex marriage does not change my relationship with my husband, with God, with anyone really.

I think what bothers me the most is that so many people are “taking a stand” (whether it’s for themselves, for Jesus, for straight people or straight marriage, whatever) and yet so few people stand up in the same way against divorce. Against abuse. Against adultery. Against xyz sin. You do not have to believe in God in order to get married, and whether you are a Christian or not, you can get divorced, no problem. People do it all the time. You can even have a 3 day or 5 month marriage if that’s how seriously you take the idea of marriage. Why are people trying to “protect marriage” from homosexuals when 50%+ of the people that get married end up getting divorced? Marriage is a religious institution for some and a legal institution for all (oh, I mean all straight people) so why shouldn’t marriage to anyone you want also be a legal institution?

I guess the story is really bigger than that, right? It goes back to the opinion that some people have that each and every person can choose who they love, who they are attracted to, whether they want to be gay/straight/bisexual/transexual/etc. Sure, some may choose, I have no idea. But I do not think, generally speaking, that it is a choice. As a straight woman, I cannot fully understand or speak intelligently about the plight of a gay man or lesbian woman. But I can try to understand, I can try to empathize, I can do my best to support equality, and I can support love in all forms. It doesn’t make me anti-Christian or anti-Muslim, or anti- any religion. For me it has nothing to with religion and everything to do with being a human being.

April showers bring... pure exhaustion

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 10:24:19 -0400

4 days ‘til End of Quarter (I can breathe. and sleep)
4 days ‘til Vegas! (forget the sleep part…)
13 days ‘til NYC for SugarCon
18 days ‘til Charleston for Linc/Linds wedding
21 days ‘til Tax Day (and I haven’t even started my taxes) :(
26 days ‘til Mike & Jess’s Raleigh baby shower
32 days ‘til girls weekend with my Mom, sis-in-law, & niece

Welcome springtime :) April is happy and horrifying.

11 Horrifying Facts About Your Fresh Groceries

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 23:30:00 -0400

11 Horrifying Facts About Your Fresh Groceries:

I never want to eat again. (until tomorrow when I’m hungry…)

iRobot’s RoombaBest.Gift.Ever.Every day at 10am it turns...

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 10:26:17 -0400

iRobot’s Roomba

Best.Gift.Ever.

Every day at 10am it turns on and gets to work - it vacuums while I work. For someone with 3 dogs (lots of pet hair) and lots of people in and out of the house a couple days a week, the Roomba is an amazing problem solver. Technology continues to blow my mind…

Thank you X a million Luke and Patti :)

Blue Buffalo Grilled Cheese

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 10:12:22 -0400

Blue Buffalo Grilled Cheese

Make this: it’s heaven in a casserole dish. Perfect...

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 16:03:50 -0400

Make this: it’s heaven in a casserole dish.

Perfect Macaroni & Cheese

How-To:

You can easily divide this recipe in half; use a 1 1/2-quart casserole dish if you do.

Serves 12
6 slices good-quality white bread, crusts removed, torn into 1/4- to 1/2-inch pieces
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, plus more for dish
5 1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
4 1/2 cups (about 18 ounces) grated sharp white cheddar
2 cups (about 8 ounces) grated Gruyere or 1 1/4 cups (about 5 ounces) grated pecorino Romano
1 pound elbow macaroni

1. Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Butter a 3-quart casserole dish; set aside. Place bread pieces in a medium bowl. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons butter. Pour butter into the bowl with bread, and toss. Set the breadcrumbs aside. In a medium saucepan set over medium heat, heat milk. Melt remaining 6 tablespoons butter in a high-sided skillet over medium heat. When butter bubbles, add flour. Cook, stirring, 1 minute.

2. Slowly pour hot milk into flour-butter mixture while whisking. Continue cooking, whisking constantly, until the mixture bubbles and becomes thick.

3. Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in salt, nutmeg, black pepper, cayenne pepper, 3 cups cheddar, and 1 1/2 cups Gruyere or 1 cup pecorino Romano. Set cheese sauce aside.

4. Fill a large saucepan with water. Bring to a boil. Add macaroni; cook 2 to 3 fewer minutes than manufacturer’s directions, until outside of pasta is cooked and inside is underdone. (Different brands of macaroni cook at different rates; be sure to read the instructions.) Transfer the macaroni to a colander, rinse under cold running water, and drain well. Stir macaroni into the reserved cheese sauce.

5. Pour the mixture into the prepared casserole dish. Sprinkle remaining 1 1/2 cups cheddar and 1/2 cup Gruyere or 1/4 cup pecorino Romano; scatter breadcrumbs over the top. Bake until browned on top, about 30 minutes. Transfer dish to a wire rack to cool for 5 minutes; serve.

Trying to make it feel like home :)

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 10:53:49 -0400

Trying to make it feel like home :)