Dabbling in Delicious

Easy Peanut Sauce

2014-11-17T17:56:00.002-06:00

Happy Monday Dabblers. If you are in Minnesota, I hope you are bundled up with a cup of tea and a dog sleeping on your feet like me (or at least 1 out of 3). Cold weather always brings on cravings for spicy, comforting food- which for me usually means a trip to Naviya's in Linden Hills. T's favorite dish there is chicken with peanut sauce, so for the last several weeks I've been working on developing a recipe for something similar at home. This sauce is easy-peasy and super versatile. Use it as a dipping sauce for chicken satays, pour it over rice or noodles, or my favorite (and dinner tonight), use it as a sauce for chicken and veggies.

Easy Peanut Sauce

-1 13.5oz can of coconut milk

-1 c natural peanut butter

-3 tbsp tamari

-2 tbsp rice wine vineger

-1 tsp toasted sesame oil

-3 green onions, chopped

-1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (adjust amount to your desired heat)

Instructions:

1. In a medium saucepan, over medium-low heat, combine the coconut milk and peanut butter. The heat will loosen up the pb and help you to incorporate it (ie. make it less blob-like).

Stir gently until the pb is totally incorporated.

Next, measure and add in 3 tbsp tamari, 2 tbsp rice wine vinegar, and 1 tsp toasted sesame seed oil. If these are new ingredients for you, give them a little taste before adding them in so you can adjust this recipe to your liking! I always hesitate to purchase ingredients for a recipe if I am unsure about using them more than once, so allow me to encourage you...if peanut butter is your jam...buy all three bottles. I have been making this recipe once a week and it makes great leftovers for lunches/dinners throughout the week.

Chop 3 green onions and add them to the mix! I like to add 1/2 tsp of red pepper flakes to this sauce to give it a subtle spicy backbone. Adjust the amount for your own spicy-levels, starting with less and building spice as you taste it.

I love the color these two ingredients add to the sauce.

Continue to heat on the stove for another 5 minutes, stirring gently. This allows the flavors to marry and percolate to the point of wonderful. Final step: Enjoy! I like to spoon the peanut sauce over veggies and chicken, and top the whole mixture with toasted sesame seeds.

Happy cooking,

-The Delicious Dabbler

Pepperoni Pizza with Baby Kale

2014-04-03T13:29:00.004-05:00

Last night, the ever-powerful craving for pizza struck on my drive home from work. Usually, this means a trip to Pizzeria Lola (dangerous proximity to our house). However, I knew that I had most of the ingredients already in our fridge, I was just lacking crust. One of my favorite things to do is make sourdough crust, but I just couldn't wait for the dough to rise so I stopped into Whole Foods and picked up a package of their whole wheat, organic crusts (2 per package).

Pepperoni will be my forever-favorite pizza topping. We also had some fresh mozzarella in the fridge, but shredded mozzarella (or your favorite cheese) would work as well. The best part about this pizza? It's really easy.

To get started, preheat your oven to 475. Now, let's talk assembly:

Spread your marinara (or tomato sauce of choice) in a thin layer over the crust. This may be the point where your partner exclaims that your spreading skills are sub par and says, "let's call in the pizza master." To this, you should respond by hiding the spoon behind your back and doing a taunting victory dance. You could also ask them to do the dishes, gather other ingredients, and dj songs for the rest of the pizza-escapades. Oh, that's just our kitchen? Right...back to pizza:

Top the crust with fresh mozzarella.

And then with pepperoni.

Okay, this is where your pizza flair comes in. I like to sprinkle parmesan cheese, dried oregano, dried basil, garlic powder, and red chili flakes over the top.

Why not take a closer look at all that deliciousness?

When your oven has come to temperature, bake your pizza until it has reached your desired level of done-ness. This will depend on the type of crust you are using and the amount of toppings on your pizza. I look for crispy crust edges and bubbling cheese that has just started to brown. Ours took about 12 minutes.

You could certainly call it good at this stage and just dig in, but we were looking for a little more greenery in our lives last night. Grab a generous handful of baby kale and spread it in a thin layer over the fresh-out-of-the-oven pizza. The heat from the pizza will begin to cook the kale. Drizzle the kale with extra virgin olive oil and top with black pepper.

And, just like that...you're done! Slice, serve and enjoy.

Last night in our house, that looked like....carry the pizza board to the table and devour the pizza in minutes. It also included me capturing T mid-slice. Retribution for his sass throughout the pizza-making process!

Happy pizza making,

-The Delicious Dabbler

Boneyard and a Melting Backyard!

2014-03-31T12:58:00.003-05:00

Minnehaha Creek Meltage

Could it be true that spring weather has finally arrived in Minny? I know that rumors of snow are circulating today...but I'm blocking that out and instead focusing on the beautiful day we had yesterday. I hope you all were able to get out and enjoy a piece of it. T and I walked around Harriet and I'm pretty sure all of the inhabitants of Minneapolis had the same idea. Dogs, strollers, walkers, runners, and the occasional over-zealous biker trying to weave through the traffic, all came together to enjoy the sunshine and cheer on the melting.

T and I uncovered our patio furniture early in the day. Given the sun exposure of our backyard, this did involve a bit of ice chipping (T obliged even though he thinks I'm a bit nuts)... I was determined to take advantage of every sunny moment! Someone else was pretty excited to have her favorite sunning-spot back in action as well.

Outside of the sunny weather, the highlight of the weekend was trying out the new uptown eatery, Boneyard Kitchen & Bar with my good friends on Saturday night. This restaurant opened about a month ago and is located where Old Chicago used to be on Hennepin Ave. It has a summer comfort vibe with a nice mix of modern/industrial decor touches. My fave component was the back wall display of cast irons skillets. They have a fun variety of "libations" to choose from, including craft cocktails and a large variety of beers on tap. I tried the Point Brewing "Burly Brown" out of Stevens Point, WI, and really enjoyed it.

Our server recommended the Crab Hush Puppies and the Deviled Eggs, so we opted for both.

It's hard to go wrong with hush puppies...fried dough? I'll take it. We all really enjoyed the curry-mustard dipping sauce they were served with.

An inside view for you. Light, puffy, and crunchy. Again, fried dough...it's tough not to like.

I was most excited to try the deviled eggs. Are deviled eggs making a come back? How do you feel about it? As someone who frequently has hard boiled eggs for lunch...I'm in full support. Seriously though, is this a thing? Martha Stewart has been pinning recipes for several gourmet recipes lately. I digress...back to these deviled eggs: they were delicious. I loved the jalapeno and bacon toppings-a bit of salty crunch, and a bit of zippy spice.

The menu has a lot of great choices, and it was hard to turn down fried chicken and waffles, but we all ended up ordering the "3 Meat Combo," mostly because we couldn't decide which meat we most wanted to try! The platter (enough for at least two other meals), came with brisket, pulled pork, st. louis ribs, coleslaw, and a buttermilk biscuit. You also got to choose two sides. I opted for sweet potato french fries and mac and cheese (made with pimento cheese).

I really enjoyed the ribs, especially because they are served with 3 bbq sauces for you to choose from. Truth be told, I didn't even get to the brisket or pulled pork at the restaurant because I was stuffed. I took those parts home and T and I made wraps with them for lunch on Sunday. I enjoyed the sweet potato fries dipped in the mustard-based bbq sauce, but I wasn't super thrilled with the coleslaw or mac and cheese. This discussion on Eater Minneapolis suggests that if I visit again, I should go for the cottage fries.
*Update: a friend gave a strong recommendation for the cornbread, mashed potatoes, and baked beans as alternate side choices!

Overall: the vibe was fun and the bbq/beer were tasty. Most importantly, I got to spend time with my favorite people sampling food. It doesn't get better than that. So far, Boneyard has gotten positive reviews on Yelp, and I saw a tweet from MSP Magazine yesterday that the outdoor patio was packed. So, here's hoping it stays around!

Have you tried Boneyard? What other new restaurants are on your radar?

Wishing you a great week,

-The Delicious Dabbler

Post Blizzard Plans? Head to Brasa

2014-02-21T15:49:00.000-06:00

Happy Friday dabblers! Did you survive the snowpocalypse? A lot of hibernating was done at our house last night, and a lot of shoveling was done this morning. I saw some quality "stuckness" on my drive in today. Many a car was stranded in a plow pile.

In honor of the return of our winter-tundra weather, I thought I'd share a great dinner spot that will be sure to warm you up. A few weeks ago, T and I ventured over to Brasa on East Hennepin in Minneapolis. The vibe is casual, and the food is delicious. Think lots of wholesome, well-sourced ingredients cooked low and slow with great depth of flavor.

T and I wanted to be able to sample a bunch of the different meat options, so we got small sizes of the Smoked Beef, Slow Roasted Pork, and Pulled Chicken. We also tried the Roasted Yams and Andouille, and the Creamed Spinach with Jalapeno. The spinach side was absolutely amazing...I think we easily could have devoured a large of that and called it good.

T and I had been to the St. Paul location awhile ago, and we both remembered ordering the Slow Roasted Pork and loving it. It was an easy decision to get it again and the garlic/lime flavor is just killer good.

I was most excited to try to the Pulled Chicken this time around. Its pretty hard to say no to something that is listed on the menu as "simmered in light cream and pepper gravy." Sold. It was delicious and would be the perfect comfort food to pair with our current weather.

We rounded out our sampler trio with the Smoked Beef. We both wanted to try the Sweet-Spicy BBQ Sauce and it was great. Definitely the most "zesty" plate on our table.

If you are looking for a post-blizzard pick me up, head on over to Brasa. Next time we go, I am hoping to try one of their sandwiches. The Slow Roasted Pork Sandwich with ginger mayo, cilantro, and pickled vegetables is calling my name.

Have you dined at Brasa? What menu items did you love?

-The Delicious Dabbler

1950 Called...But, They Can't Have Their Waffle Iron Back

2014-02-20T09:26:00.001-06:00

As I eluded to in yesterday's post, I recently acquired a 1950s Sunbeam Waffle Iron via an ebay purchase. At this point, you may naturally be wondering...'why would anyone do that?'

Well, T loves waffles, but I have resisted making them at home because most (all) waffle irons sold in the stores these days are coated with some sort of non-stick layer. I was discussing my quest for a "traditional" waffle iron with my family awhile back and the next day my wonderful sleuth of an uncle sent me this link. Vintage waffle irons restored to their former glory! So fantastic, but the prices...ouch. I made note of the brands and have been casually browsing ebay for the last several months for a Sunbeam.

I'm fond of this brand because our electric griddle (aka pancake-maker extraordinaire) is made by them. This griddle has been passed down in our family and is so well-loved and used (and not easily replaced because of the same non-stick issue), that it lost one of its legs. My grandpa mended it with a wooden replacement, so now it has a peg-leg :)

Anywhooo, back to the waffle iron at hand. I snarfed this gem off ebay for a mere $10 +shipping. It arrived just in time to be T's b-day present.

I wasn't really sure what to expect when it arrived. The seller had labeled it in "OK condition."

There she blows in all of her glory (why am I prone to nautical phrasery today? I'll blame it on the peg leg reference above).

Well, needless to say...it needed a good cleaning. Like, a real good cleaning.

My guess is that this waffle iron was found in the basement of the seller's parent's home and had not been used for a few decades. It also hadn't been cleaned since its last use...there were still waffle crumbs pasted to the inside.

4 Brillo Pads and a significant amount of labor later...she was shiny (and sanitary) again :) The cord on the back needs some wrapping with electrical tape in a few spots just to be safe, but other than that- she should be good to go.

This is my favorite shot. I didn't want to risk turning it on right after the washing (water...electricity...), so I am hoping to plug 'er in tonight and see how it goes. We are having my grandparents over for the inaugural waffle run this weekend.

As luck would have it, when I logged onto bloglovin' today, I saw that the Pioneer Woman just posted a waffle recipe. Eureka! Fingers crossed that we will be enjoying waffles with some delicious Caribou Cream Syrup this weekend. If this machine is a total flop...it'll be pancakes instead :)

-The Delicious Dabbler

Get Thyself to Birchwood

2014-02-19T16:26:00.002-06:00

Howdy everyone. Happy Wednesday. I'm feeling particularly jubilant because of our 40 degree weather today. Just the hint of spring weather makes my tropical-wanting soul fly. (Yes, I know there is a winter storm warning going into effect tomorrow...deny deny deny).

Have you tried Birchwood Cafe yet? Birchwood is one of my favorite Minneapolis brunch (and all meals) places. If you haven't checked it out...go this Saturday! This Saturday at 9pm, Birchwood will close in order to undergo an expansion/remodel. Birchwood raised over $112,000 through a Kickstarter crowd-funding campaign in order to pursue this project. How cool is that? You can read more about it on their blog.

T and I went there for brunch a few weekends ago to get our last waffles in before they close the doors.

I love places that give you your own mini tea pot. (T...put me in the picture! put me in the picture!)

T loves a good buttermilk waffle. It's his go-to breakfast/brunch order when we eat out. As a future-post-teaser, I may or may not have just purchased a 1950s wafflemaker off ebay as T's birthday present.

I got my favorite- The Savory Waffle. The flavors rotate seasonally. This one was a sweet potato, quinoa, and parmesan waffle topped with cranberry-apple chutney, ginger-honey butter, spiced walnuts, bacon lardoons (...just beyond good), and a sunny-side-up egg. Yum. Yum. Yum.

Birchwood is the best and I can't wait to visit them for a post-renovation waffle.

-The Delicious Dabbler

Our Super Bowl Game Plan

2014-02-02T14:58:00.000-06:00

Happy Super Bowl Sunday dabblers! I love this day...football, appetizers galore, and...the Puppy Bowl. Our game day plans are pretty low key this year, which I'm all about. Many people have asked me what I am making this year (Ultimate Game Day Nachos or Easy Taco Layer Dip would be likely candidates), but guess what...T is cooking!

Here's our game day snack line-up:

Puppy Tails from Isles Bun and Coffee (a sweet treat delivered by my friend in honor of the Puppy Bowl).

Pre-game snack: guacamole.

And, the main dish: T's wings! He is making two flavors: buffalo and "asian zing." He researched the recipes, made his grocery list, and we picked up the ingredients this morning. Wing start-time is slotted for 4:00pm. Wish him luck!

Also, to keep things interesting, T and I have some side wagers going. Here's our list:

1. Broncos or Seahawks?
2. Will Peyton be named MVP?
3. National anthem over/under 2:25?
4. Total number of points: odd or even?
5. Will there be a missed field goal during the game?
6. Will there be a score in the first 6 1/2 minutes?
7. Will the game ever be tied after 0-0?
8. Will the first person to score a TD have a jersey number in the 80s?
9. Will there be a shirtless member of the Red Hot Chili Peppers?
10. Pick the first Bruno Mars song.
11. Will Eli Manning be shown over/under 1.5 times?

And finally, 12. Will Tim's chicken wings taste good or bad?

Happy footballing to you all,

-The Delicious Dabbler

Pork Chops with a Hard Cider Reduction Over Cheesy Quinoa/Polenta with Power Greens

2014-01-28T13:08:00.004-06:00

The time has come dabblers, for the ever illusive "pork chop post." This is a weeknight meal that I made on a whim a few weeks ago. I forced myself to take photos for the blog and put one photo out via social media so I would be accountable to post it :) A tad late, but here it is for your cooking pleasure.

Pork chops are not #1 on my fave-protein-items list, but they are a nice weeknight-switch up and we happen to have a bunch in the freezer right now after a sale. I think people get scared away from pork chops because it's easy to overcook them and dry pork chop is pretty nasty. But, have no fear: you have braising in your cooking arsenal!

Many of my friends have reported that they feel intimated by cooking-especially by something that looks on the "fancier" side. My response is that truly, you can do this! Plus, food failures are hilarious...so grab someone you like and have a cooking adventure together. You can't build skills or confidence unless you push yourself a bit.

Be brave. Be bold. Go buy some pork chops and prepare for a hopefully-helpful photo montage:

To get started, heat some extra virgin olive oil over medium hit in a skillet. This will be the pan you use for the whole process, so make sure your skillet is deep enough to accommodate a lid fitting over your pork chops.

Enter, our chop friends. While your olive oil is heating, season one side of your chops. I like to use sea salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and garlic powder. No need to measure...just sprinkle so that you get even coverage, adjusting the cayenne pepper for the amount of spice you like.

When your olive oil is hot, add your pork chops- seasoned side down. How can you tell when your olive oil is hot enough to add your pork chops? A few suggestions:

You will be able to smell it. The olive oil fragrance will build in poignancy as it warms up.
If you move the pan, the olive oil ripples as it moves across the surface.
Take a kernel of sea salt and drop it in the pan. Little bubbles should immediately form around it.

If you don't hear that classic sizzle noise when your pork chop makes contact with the pan, the pan isn't hot enough and you won't get the great searing that you are looking for.

While the first side is searing, take the opportunity to season the other side.

How will you know when the first side is done and ready to be flipped? Awesome question. The pork chop should easily come away from the pan when you try to pick it up. If you experience any resistance, it isn't ready.

Here is a picture of the pork chops after they have been flipped. You can see that searing creates a caramelized crust of sorts on the top of the pork chop. The crust helps to seal in the moisture, develop depth of flavor, and improve the visual appeal and texture of the chops.

I like to sear all edges, so use your tongs to sit the chops up on their sides. The edges won't take as long, but appreciate a little color as well.

Here's a visual of a seared edge.

When you have seared your way around the chops, grab a plate and take them out of the pan for a brief rest. You should be left with a surface that looks something like this...a bit of olive oil and a whole bunch of brown bits. Those bits=massive flavor. We want to leverage all of that flavor in our sauce for these chops, so the next step is "deglazing" (ie. using liquid to get all the brown bits off the bottom of the pan). The liquid you deglaze with is up to you. I really like apple flavors with pork chops and we had some hard apple cider in the fridge the night I made these, so I went with that. Other ideas: apple juice/cider, white wine, or chicken stock.

Add your chosen liquid to the pan. This will likely create a large steam moment (your pan is hot!), so don't be alarmed. I couldn't capture it on camera. If you are using something alcoholic and are cooking over a gas stove...fire safety first: pick your pan up off the stove, add your liquid, and then return the pan to the stove. As soon as you have added your liquid, use your tongs to scrape all those brown bits off your pan. (Important note: this is one of the many reasons I prefer to cook in traditional pans (versus non-stick). If you are using a non-stick pan, you are likely also scraping the coating and chemicals into your sauce).

After you have gotten all those bits off the bottom of the pan, add your chop friends back into the mix. They are going to cook in this environment and take on that delicious apple cider flavor. I love this method because braising keeps everything moist. It's hard to dry something out when it is surrounded by liquid, right?

At this point, I like to cover the chops to seal the heat and moisture in and wish them wonderful cooking thoughts.

Okay, now that your main dish is happily bubbling away: let's start the side! Cheesy polenta/quinoa with power greens. This particular component got a lot of love online and I was excited to show you how simple it is. Have you seen these Ancient Harvest products in your store? Our co-op carries this brand and it is the best thing to speed up a healthy side dish. It is organic and pre-cooked. All you need to do is heat it up and add in your extras. The other characters in this mix: chicken broth and power greens (baby kale and spinach).

Weird-looking start, right? Just unwrap the quinoa/polenta blend and cut it into large chunks in a medium-sauce pan over medium-low heat.

Add in your liquid and use a fork to begin to break up the pieces of quinoa/polenta. I pour in enough chicken stock to cover the quinoa/polenta. You can add more as you go. If you want this to be on the richer side, you could also add in milk or cream.

The consistency will get creamier as you go and you will start to see air bubbles popping up (the mixture is boiling). At this point, you can reduce the heat and add in your greens.

Add as many greens as your pan can hold. I am always amazed by how much spinach and kale cook down- so be aggressive with your adding. If this picture stresses you out, use a bigger pan to begin with :)

I use my tongs to begin folding the quinoa/polenta up and over the greens pile. The heat from the quinoa/polenta will cook the greens and in a few quick moments, the pan appears much more manageable.

Next step: add your cheese! (the best part). We had some soft herb/chive cheese in the fridge this night, but use your favorite. I used about a cup of cheese, but I encourage you to break out of the measurement mold! The amount you add depends on your taste and the type of cheese you are using, so grab a spoon, taste your creation, and adjust from there :) When your cheese is melted in, remove the pan from heat and cover it to keep it warm.

Meanwhile, across the stove in pork chop land...your chops are likely near done. If you are a meat thermometer person, you are looking for 145 degrees. Random side-note, who knew that the internal temperature of pork was a controversy in 2011?

I'm not a meat-thermometer person unless it is the turkey on Thanksgiving, so I usually make a small cut into the pork chop to make sure the juices that emerge from the cut run clear and that the meat is predominantly "white". If you clicked on the controversy link, you will note that the article makes specific mention that some pink is okay.

At this point, remove your chops from the pan to let them rest. This allows the juices in the meat to redistribute so that they don't all run out when you make your first cut into your chop.

Left in your pan is that wonderful cider and all that delicious pork flavor. I let this sauce cook uncovered for about 3 minutes so that it reduces and the flavor intensifies.

While that is happening, you can begin plating. Take a spoon and make a little nest of your cheesy quinoa/polenta-power-greens mixture.

Place a chop on top and locate your plate near your cider sauce for easy transport.

Spoon a bite of your cider reduction over the chop and voila: you just made a fantastic meal.

Serve it up to your lucky dinner companion and be proud of yourself!

Happy cooking,

-The Delicious Dabbler

What Peanut Butter Can Tell Us About Real Life

2014-01-24T14:13:00.002-06:00

Happy Friday Dabblers! Did you know that today is National Peanut Butter Day?

In honor of that delicious fact, I thought I'd share my "real life" photo of how I am celebrating this glorious occasion. In the ideal food blogging world, I might be making this, this, or this, but instead I am writing to you over lunch whilst eating this delicious, yet sad? display.

When I thought about taking this photo and posting it, I had to laugh because it's a pretty good visual of what the last two weeks have been like. Today is a, "my hair looks how I feel...and so does my lunch" type of day. So for those of you who saw my latest porkchop meal post on Instagram and went "How do people cook like that??"...have no fear: 1. It's not complicated and I have lofty goals to post the ease with which you can make that meal this weekend, and 2. This is what real life looks like.

The wonderful thing about food is that despite it's simplicity or not-so-glamorous appearance, it still has the power to nourish and ground you. In this case, it also gave me the excuse to close my office door for a brief moment...this got messy pretty fast.

Warning: non-appetizing photo coming at you...

This past weekend, we ripped up the carpet in our basement in preparation for new floors being installed on Wednesday (gross to the extreme). Well, we are still floorless...so send your best home improvement project vibes our way. I anticipate the job being completed by tomorrow and to celebrate the end of "the floor saga," I'm thinking of making a second round of The Pioneer Woman's Cinnamon Rolls. I really enjoy cooking, but baking will always be my true love. I find measuring flour to be incredibly soothing (whatever works for you, right?). Plus, there is a lot of butter (comfort) in this recipe and it makes enough to feed several armies of cinnamon roll eaters so I can give the pans away as thank yous to all those who have helped us survive the flooring install (mom, you're the best).

I found this quote on Pinterest recently: "Talking about our problems is our greatest addiction. Break the habit. Talk about your joys." -Rita Schiano.

How powerful is that? I have found myself slipping into this trap recently and so, I want to share with all of you one of the greatest sources of joy in my life right now: T and I are going to be uncle and aunt to the most wonderful little girl pretty soon.

Many weeks ago, we had a small family gathering to celebrate and my brother and sister-in-law announced the sex of the baby. I made my fan-favorite Carrot Cake and had so much fun constructing this cake topper.

It was so simple. Step 1. Attach a piece of string to two wooden skewers with Elmer's glue. Step 2. Knot various colors and lengths of ribbon around the string. Step 3. Attach two triangles of construction paper to a shorter wooden skewer using glue. Step 4. Write your festive message on the flag and voila! Cake topper.

My favorite part of the pre-dinner prep was that T also was so excited. He got into his mind that there needed to be a "reveal scheme." He came home from work with these printed signs and attached them with duck tape to two of his baseball hats. Let's take a moment for a confession...I love that man. To his delight, these were employed at the party and my brother put the "GIRL" hat onto his wife as we all screamed with joy.

The thing is...my brother is the best. My sister-in-law is the best. The fact that we are going to have a little one joining us all soon is the best.

What are your joys this week?

-The Delicious Dabbler

Thanksgiving Table Inspiration

2013-11-26T14:04:00.000-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving week dabblers! We had the "What's your favorite Thanksgiving food?" chat at work today and it made me so excited for Thursday...I will be a devoted stuffing fan for life. T and I are hosting Thanksgiving again this year and my excitement and hyper-organization for the holiday is growing :) Seeing things like "bake pies" on my task list is so much more pleasant than some other possible items.

We have 6 humans and 3 dogs attending this year, so a bit of a smaller crew than last year. Football, festivity, and food consumption (you know I love alliteration) are on the docket starting at 11am. Just like last year, I thought I would give you a sneak peak at the beginnings of our Thanksgiving table:

Last year, we staged appetizers on our actual dining table and set up a longer table in the living room to accommodate everyone. With our smaller crew this year, we are returning to the dining room. I remixed a few items from last year: the orange paper, burlap runner, and our tall glass candlestick holders. I love the combination of natural/earthy elements, with a huge punch of glamor.

I have these Kate Spade dessert plates on the table as bread plates. They were a wedding gift from my grandma and their polka-dotted splendor makes me smile.

They come in a set of 4, with two large polka-dot plates, and two of the smaller polka-dot plates pictured above. They are super festive and I love the way they reflect light and play off of the crystal stemware. I am still trying to decide on what napkin/flatware arrangement I am going to go with this year. Kevin Sharkey posted some great ideas on the Martha Stewart Home Design blog, so I am looking there for inspiration.

I have two different vases on the table on either side of the glass candlesticks. My plan is to pick up flowers on Thursday morning. I am thinking something with a large, soft bloom...maybe in white or cream. There are also plenty of wonderful fall-colored options at the store right now...we'll see!

This birch centerpiece is repurposed from T and I' wedding decor. I swapped out the original emerald green ribbon for navy to contrast with the orange and play off the metallic. I would be fine with all birch everything...it's my favorite.

So dabblers, save a few flowers and candles, this Thanksgiving table is ready to go! Last night, I went to the co-op to pick up all of my other ingredients...and I got a hot apple cider :)

My meal contributions this year:

Pies! 3 pies, 6 people. I think that's a pretty good ratio. I am making apple, pecan, and pumpkin. I'm planning to make some maple whipped cream to top those off and I picked up some vanilla ice cream last night as well. I nearly walked out of the store without it, which would have been a crime, as T's dad really only thinks of pie as a vesicle for eating vanilla ice cream.
Stuffing...I'm a pretty traditional stuffing gal, but I might make a separate small pan with mushrooms and cranberries thrown in this year.
Sweet potatoes...I'll be roasting these tonight and then finishing them off the day of. Think orange zest, brown sugar, nutmeg, and marshmallows...T has been trying to sneak the mallows for the last week.
Mashed potatoes and gravy....lots of butter.
Cranberries...my mom's recipe and one of my favorite things to make too much of so I can eat them for the next week.

My dad is making the turkey...he's already claiming it will be blog-post worthy, so watch out! T's mom is bringing rolls, sides, and appetizers, and T's sister is in charge of coffee with dessert.

I can't wait for this day and am grateful for the privilege to share a wonderful meal with family. I know my dogs are looking forward to this day too....last year, I caught my dad red-handed feeding Rosy turkey straight from the bird in the kitchen. I guess when you bring the turkey, all bets are off?

Wishing you and yours a beautiful Thanksgiving holiday,

-The Delicious Dabbler

Saturday Simple Happinesses: Earl Grey Tea Latte

2013-09-21T09:11:00.003-05:00

I am having one of those mornings where it seems like everything on your to-do list is blissfully accomplishable, but that you just really shouldn't start accomplishing anything yet. After a hectic work week, I am basking in a slow start to Saturday with my girls. T was up and out early for a Saturday golfing session, but yours truly managed to sleep in a full hour and a half later that weekday awake-time.

One of things that helped my thurvival (thrive+survive #cspp) this week was the discovery that Starbucks makes Early Grey Tea Lattes. True confessions...I really dislike the taste of coffee. I adore the smell and truly appreciate the way adding just a bit intensifies the taste of chocolate in baked goods (how can you not appreciate that?), but I've just never been a coffee drinker.

As my Saturday Simple Happinesses gift to myself this morning, I decided to try and recreate my latest favorite at home.

To begin, I brewed half a cups worth of earl grey tea and let it steep while I heated the milk, in order to have an intense flavor base.

Then, I warmed up about a 1/2 cup of 2% milk in a saucepan over medium heat on the stove. When it was hot, I poured into my Bodum milk frother...I love this little guy.

After about 30 seconds of aeration, the milk nearly tripled in volume and was ready to become a part of my luscious latte.

Add the milk to to the tea and there she blows (yes, funny nautical phrasery just randomly popped into my mind). Frothy, yummy, a touch of caffeine, and a motivational mug.

So, now I am enjoying this lovely drink, in the company of this even better view:

Happy slow Saturday to you all,

-The Delicious Dabbler

Donuts and Design

2013-09-14T11:51:00.002-05:00

Two days ago, my sister-in-law, Katie, asked if I might want to make donuts this weekend. She is a donut connoisseur and we had been throwing the idea for awhile. Well...today was our day! After a quick run to the store this morning, we got baking and glazing.

Accompanied by the tunes of my Boyce Avenue Pandora station, we started whipping up these beauties using Ina Garten's Cinnamon Baked Donuts recipe. Ina never lets me down.

Ina's original recipe is for traditional-sized donuts, but Katie and I opted for minis this morning. Not over mixing the batter is key to a light, fluffy donut...you can see the air pockets in these little-uns.

While our second batch was in the oven, Katie made some coffee and poured it into by favorite mug (HP nerds unite). It is pretty hard to beat the smell of donuts and fresh-brewed coffee in your kitchen.

We rolled half the donuts in butter and cinnamon/sugar...and then thought to ourselves, 'Is this heaven?'

The other half got a Chocolate Ganache Glaze dunking.

We piled them high on cake stand and then delighted in a late morning breakfast.

Rosy joined us as a VIP guest.

It was so fun to bake with my sister-in-law this morning. She is a bundle of passion, energy, and love...and seeing her face after she bit into the first cinnamon sugar donut was the best :)

While Katie adores donuts, her true love is art and she is absolutely amazing. She is the proud owner of QueeniKathleeni Designs and recently opened her own Etsy Shop. Katie creates stunning fashion illustrations and also creates custom pieces. The picture above is a custom bridal illustration that she gave to T and I for our wedding. It hangs in our bedroom and brings a smile to my face every time I look at it. We also hired Katie to do a custom illustration of my brother, his wife, and their dog earlier this summer as a wedding present. If you are looking for wonderful art for your space, or a unique and meaningful gift idea, check out her site!

Happy Saturday dabblers. Hope yours is filled with love and a little butter :)

-The Delicious Dabbler

Ultimate Game Day Nachos

2013-09-08T18:08:00.000-05:00

Happy Sunday dabblers! Sundays in the fall around our house usually look like a walk around the lake in the morning and then settling in for a day of football watching, appetizer eating, and occasional napping (usually me and Bales dip out for a few quarters of the 3:30pm game). Well today, we are in fine fall form. I have officially walked, footballed, appetizered, and napped. Post-nap...I am ready to bring this recipe happiness to you.

As the first football Sunday of the season, I wanted to kick things off with my favorite appetizer: Ultimate Game Day Nachos.

I love love love this recipe and it is one of the more requested things that I make. Nothing quite like layers of loveliness combined with football to bring a crowd around.

Step 1. To get things started, brown up 1lb of your favorite nacho meat. Today, I sauteed ground chicken with onions, garlic, cumin, red pepper, salt, and pepper. Cumin is my go to spice for nachos (you'll see it again later), so I tend to go heavy on the cumin.

Step 2. Whilst your chicken/ground beef/protein-of-choice is browning, preheat your oven to 350F. Grab your favorite baking sheet and line it with aluminum foil (for easy, roll-it-up cleaning later). Spread your favorite tortilla chips in a single layer over the foil. I like a combo of blue and yellow corn chips, but T prefers the yellow corn so I added a bit more of those today. Chip placement is essential here...aim for a single layer of chips, with slight overlap. You want each chip to be exposed to the delicious toppings that are coming their way. *Ps. Don't forget about your chicken; when it is cooked all the way through, remove it from heat and set it aside for use shortly.

Step 3. Dollop your favorite kind of refried beans onto the chips. T's fave is refried pinto beans, so that's what I went with today, but I love refried black beans on these as well.

Step 4. Cover the chips and beans with shredded cheese. We had some cheddar to use up in the fridge today, but use your favorite. I frequently use Colby or Monterey Jack. Try to get a little bit of cheese on every chip so you don't end up with that one chip that everyone is avoiding because it has no toppings...you know the one I'm talking about. You've probably been that person that eats around it!

Step 5. Add the spice! Jalapeños are a must for any sort of ultimate nacho. If you aren't a huge spice person, try using one and removing the seeds and ribs from the inside (that's where the heat is...the jalapeños will also lose a bit of their punch when they bake in the oven). T and I went a little on the spicier side today: one jalapeño with the seeds and ribs left in, and one with them removed. Whatever your heat-level choice may be, chop up the jalapeño into small pieces and sprinkle it atopst (every word gets better when you add "st" to the end?) the chips.

One of my favorite thing about theses nachos is how gorgeous they are. Layer upon layer of different colors, textures, and flavors...with a crunchy corn chip base- how can you go wrong?

Step 6. Add your favorite fresh salsa to the mix. I like Salsa Lisa, mild. Again, loving those vibrant contrasting colors.

Step 7. Add sliced black olives. I only added them to half the sheet of nachos because T isn't the biggest fan. Although, upon reviewing this picture, it looks like they accidentally (?) creeped onto T's side....ye who makes the nachos, gets to stake a claim to at least 3/4 of the pan.

Step 8. Top the deliciousness with the ground chicken/onions/garlic.

Step 9. Add a bit more grated cheese to the top to help bind everything together.

Step 10. As the final step before placing your pan of glory into the oven, give the whole thing a sprinkling of cumin. Judging by the low levels in my jar, this spice is used often in our house....after today's bout of nachos, I need to head to the co-op to stock up.

Bake your nachos at 350F for approximately 15 minutes; until the cheese is melted and the beans are heated through.

Step 11. While your nachos are baking, prep the remaining toppings. I love thinly-sliced romaine lettuce on my nachos. To chiffonade lettuce (or anything...this method is commonly used with herbs), stack your lettuce leaves on top of one another.

Roll the leaves up tight, sort of resembling a cigar.

Thinly slice the lettuce using a sharp knife. (Ps. Behind the scenes, trying to capture a picture of yourself slicing something is surprisingly hard when you only have two hands at your disposal. I wish someone could have documented the balancing act for you all to enjoy).

In the end, you are left with this lovely pile of romaine, just begging to be placed on top of your nachos. Around this time, your kitchen should also be smelling like nacho heaven.

I also love tomatoes on my nachos (in addition to the fresh salsa), so I sliced one up. They add great finishing color along with the romaine lettuce.

Step 12. Remove the nachos from the oven and breathe in the smell of happiness.

Step 13. Top said happiness with a few dollops of sour cream.

Step 14. Add your tomatoes. Again, I went (slightly-more-than) halfsies on the tomatoes because T isn't a big fan.

Step 15. As the crowning jewel, festively toss your julienned lettuce on the top of the nachos and then take a few moments to just look at your creation happily.

Step 16. Enjoy! If you are food blogger, that mine mean daintily scooping some nachos onto a plate for a stylized photo.

But, in real life it looks like grabbing the pan and heading downstairs with some plates and napkins to enjoy this creation while watching the game with your partner-in-crime.

Happy fall dabblers. Here's to football watching and appetizer eating,

-The Delicious Dabbler

Cantaloupe, Feta, and Prosciutto Skewers

2013-09-03T12:59:00.000-05:00

Happy back to school day dabblers! The U of M campus is bustling with students today and I always love the energy of classes beginning again. Fall weather seems to have found us again in Minnesota and I am enjoying the cooler air today.

Over the holiday weekend, we headed north to the cabin so Rosy could meet her quota of summer dock time.

Bailey far exceeded hers and spent quite a bit of time napping on the boat or on the dock. Here she is snuggled up in a towel looking cute as can be.

As always, the weekend was full of delicious food and indulgence. We all got to enjoy a slice of grams' blueberry pie on the boat as part of a late lunch. This pie was heaven. Grams has shared her crust recipe with all of us in the past, and it was as flaky and light as ever. She even sent the baked trimmings topped with cinnamon and sugar down to the dock as a pre-snack (we are spoiled).

We also cooked out over the fire one night: burgers, corn on the cob, banana boats, and my new favorite kind of s'more...double mallow with a Reese's. Yum :)

While we were at the cabin, my fam gently "reminded" me that I haven't posted an actual recipe on here for awhile, and I realized they were indeed correct! So, thanks to them..we are flashing back to a few weekends ago, when I was invited to a summer harvest celebration in Wisconsin. Everyone was bringing a dish to share and I made one of my favorite go-to appetizers. These Cantaloupe, Feta, and Prosciutto Skewers pack a big flavor punch, have great visual appeal, and are super easy to make.

Step 1. Assemble your cast of characters: cantaloupe, prosciutto (I love La Quercia), and feta (I used sheep's milk).

Step 2. Remove the skin and seeds from your cantaloupe and cut it into workable-sized chunks. Slice those chunks further down into bite-sized pieces.

Step 3. Slice your feta into bite-sized pieces. I broke the piece pictured above down into 4 pieces. Keeping your cheese cold throughout this process makes the slicing easier and will prevent the feta from crumbling during assembly. I worked in small chunks and kept the cheese that I wasn't working with at the moment in the fridge. After you have slice the feta, slice or rip off a small piece of prosciutto and roll into into a small bundle.

Step 4. Assemble. On a small skewer or toothpick, layer one piece of cantaloupe, a piece of feta, the prosciutto bundle, and another piece of cantaloupe. I love the bright color of these and the way the layering adds visual interest. You get this great flavor combo of the sweet cantaloupe, balanced by the saltiness of the prosciutto and the rich tang of the feta.

Step 5. Repeat Steps 2-4 until you have created a small army of appetizers.

Step 7. Take said appetizers to a party and enjoying amazing food in great company while gazing out at a beautiful scene (eating the entire plate in the comfort of your own kitchen is also acceptable).

As a fun party bonus, we got to walk amongst the grape rows of Villa Bellezza. What an incredibly beautiful winery owned by the Dahlen family. Their wine is incredible and their spirit and joy even better. Check out their lovely website for more information on this magical spot.

What appetizers have you been cooking up lately? Football season snacks will soon be upon us :)

-The Delicious Dabbler

The Dinner/Commute Dilemma

2013-08-14T14:04:00.001-05:00

You know those awkwardly-timed, post-work events on your calendar...the ones where it would be pointless to drive home in traffic because you would just have to hop right back in your car to get where you're going? Well, it's time for true confessions.

I love those little ditties on my calendar because it is the perfect excuse to head over to the Seward Coop deli for dinner and pleasantly spend an hour or so in the presence of happy people and yummy food. (Seward is a short, no-highway jaunt from my office.)

My usual order? The pesto turkey melt on whole wheat. Turkey, pesto, tomatoes, spinach, and cheese...all grilled to gooey perfection.

Look at those wonderful melted cheese strings connecting the bread! Glorious. The sandwich comes with kettle chips and a dill pickle. Occasionally when I order this, a chip attaches itself to the sliced edge of the sandwich via the melted cheese. A turkey-pesto-melt novice may be inclined to remove said chip, but don't be fooled...it adds a wonderful bonus crunch. I tend to love potato chip additions to most sandwiches.

As an avoiding-my-commute bonus, Seward has very affirming napkins. It's the little things, right?

What delicious places are you stopping at to solve the dinner/commute dilemma?

-The Delicious Dabbler

Anatomy of a Wrap

2013-08-12T18:03:00.001-05:00

Tonight I'm making (assembling is probably more appropriate) a go-to lunch or dinner option when I want something that is quick, healthy, and scrumptious.

T somehow managed to get us "volunteered" to work at the neighbor festival happening in the park across from our house. Our job is to supervise the kiddie bounce booth, ensuring a timely 2:00 minutes of jumping is had by all. Wish us luck?

Because of said kiddie bounce booth duties, this recipe was perfect for tonight.

To assemble this delectable ham and cheese wrap, I start with a whole wheat tortilla and add stone ground mustard and mayonnaise. That "base" is then topped with sliced colby jack cheese, ham, spinach, cucumbers (from our family garden!), and green onions. I especially love the green onion for the visual interest and the way their shape is a perfect match for this wrap when it is rolled up and assembled.

This post is short and sweet, but alas, the kiddie bounce booth awaits! Who knows....I might even jump in for a round of the cake walk after our shift.

What are you making for dinner tonight?

-The Delicious Dabbler

Dabbling in Dana Point, CA

2013-08-09T16:06:00.000-05:00

Last weekend, T and I flew out to CA to visit my aunt and uncle who recently moved there. They are some of my favorite people in the world to just be with, so I was so looking forward to the visit...and being in beautiful CA was a total bonus. My aunt is also one of my greatest food and entertaining inspirations. She is passionate about food and can transform the most simple ingredients into a delicious and special experience.

After we arrived, my aunt picked us up at the airport and we headed to nearby Laguna, CA, to eat at Carmelita's. Chips, salsa, and black bean dip (a personal favorite), are served to every table and we supplemented that deliciousness with guacamole. The presentation was whimsical with plantain chips and cotija cheese.

At the recommendation of our server, T and split a tacos platter complete with steak, chicken, shrimp, and queso fundido (cheese, pico, bacon, chorizo, and guacamole). It was easily enough for three and that queso fundido was lusciously indulgent.

After lunch, we walked along the boardwalk (cue The Drifters "Under the Boardwalk") in Laguna. I loved all the bright colors and graphic patterns of the umbrellas.

After a post-lunch nap on the deck, my aunt and I went for a walk in a nearby preserve. Prepare for a gorgeous scenery photo montage.

What is it about being next to the ocean that is so calming and serene?

And, because you already know that I find wildlife warning signs oddly entertaining, here's another gem for you. No goring this time, but a gem nonetheless.

That night, we made BLT pizza on the grill. My aunt picked out the recipe because she knows that T has a particular love for bacon. The cheese and bacon "sauce" were rich and creamy and the fresh tomatoes and arugula were the perfect balance.

The next day we tried paddleboarding for the first time, and ate another delicious meal at Maro. It was so fun to get to try some of my aunt's favorite restaurants and get a sense for her eating experience now that we are in different cities. It was also so lovely to be able to relax outside after the last several crazy weekends. I got to read cook books and food magazines out on the deck while occasionally dosing off. It made me reflect and realize that I haven't been able to slow down and enjoy cooking as much as I love to in the last month. The beautiful recipes inspired me to refocus on making complete meals during the week and to start baking for fun again. Remember, "When in doubt, bake it out."

Our trip concluded with breakfast in the company of my favorite flowers. So happy.

In the midst of a great chat about book recommendations with my uncle and T, I got to enjoy this amazing omelet. Bacon, spinach, cheese, and tomatoes enveloped in the fluffiest eggs. Add toasted olive bread with butter...perfect. In addition to being one of the most wonderful women I know, my aunt also happens to make the best omelets. How lucky am I?

Cheers to wonderful food enjoyed with the people you love,

-The Delicious Dabbler

Lighter and Brighter

2013-08-08T12:58:00.000-05:00

Two weekends ago, T was out of town for a bachelor-party-fishing extravangza, so I seized the free time to tackle my kitchen nemesis: dark red walls. T and I just celebrated the one year anniversary of buying our home, and now that grad school isn't standing in my way, I have slowly been making my way around the house and making the decor reflect our style. The previous owners were pretty into dark and enclosing colors, and my taste tends toward light, calm colors with as much natural light as I can get.

Here's the red in all it's dark glory. In the great rush to begin freeing myself from the holds of the red, I nearly forgot to take a "before" photo (I was also apparently too excited to hold the camera steady). I have had a year-long struggle with this room because our longer-term goal is to turn the walls you see above into a large cabinet/island space that opens to our living room. I had a mental block about investing any money/effort into something that I knew eventually I wanted to take a sledgehammer to (you can sense the anger I have harbored for these walls). But, then I thought, 'Paint is cheap! Why don't you enjoy this space more even if you are in it for a little while?' So, to the paint store I went...and yes, I fully encourage self-talk about decor.

Two wonderful coats of paint later, and I arrived here. Talk about a transformation. Even after the first coat, when the red was still fighting its way through and the walls looked a little splotchy, I still liked it better than the red, and the hope for lightness and brightness motivated me through the second coat.

I added an extra dose of love by hanging some family photos, centered around this vintage print from Sun Harvest Citrus. Remember this place? T's ice cream heaven.

I was so inspired by the transformation, that I finally got around to hanging our birch "me and you" art. These pieces were part of the head table decorations at our wedding and were made from birch trees cut at our family's cabin. This is a favorite saying of ours and T has it engraved in my handwriting on his wedding band (isn't technology cool?). I'm so happy to get to see it every day now, hanging above a picture from a cabin hike.

At this point, you may be wondering...where is the food?? Well needless to say, on Sunday after the painting and picture-hanging was complete, I was in the mood for someone else to cook delicious things on my behalf. So, T and I headed to Wise Acres (I know, you already guessed that) and enjoyed another delicious meal.

Per usual, I ordered the scone of the day: caramel cinnamon with peanuts. It was lovely. And super per usual, T stole many bites.

T ordered the "Back to Bed French Toast," with a side of bacon. The perfect order for someone who really did need to go back to bed after surviving a bachelor party weekend.

I ordered the Bacon and Brie Burger (again), and it was as delicious as ever. T "shared" (or stole) several of the fries.

What kind of transformations have been happening in your favorite cooking places lately?

-The Delicious Dabbler

Summer Dabblings

2013-07-22T22:18:00.002-05:00

Last I left you, I was making yet another pilgrimage to Wise Acres Eatery and gushing about bacon in early June. So much wonderful life has happened since that post, and now that the whirlwind has died down a bit...I'm ready to catch you all up on my delicious dabblings of the summer thus far.

One of my favorite things about summer is fresh flowers at the farmers market. This picture was snapped on a Saturday morning trip to the Minneapolis Farmers Market with T (hubs). He loves the Bar 5 Meat and Poultry stand, particularly the bacon & cheese hamburger patties. We stocked up on those and some brats.

On weeknights after work and on the weekends, I've been partaking in one of my greatest summer loves...runs around Lake Harriet. Here is a picture by the rose garden fountain.

Isn't this the best? A lovely reflection on optimism and positivity. I'm thinking this might be a great print to add to the photo wall in our house.

By far the biggest and most joyous event in June was my brother's wedding to his best friend. Here is a picture from the rehearsal of my parents walking him down the aisle at the beautiful Basillica. It gets me every time.

A foodie shot on the morning of the wedding. A mimosa toast with the bridesmaids while getting ready. Delicious, refreshing, and festive. The wedding was the most amazing celebration of love and a wonderful time was had by all. In between the ceremony and reception, the bridal party stopped by The Marvel Bar for drinks. I had the best drink of my life there...a wonderful concoction of ginger, lime, kombucha, honey, and rum. The menu is constantly changing and the atmosphere is great. I highly recommend checking it out.

Post-wedding fun, my mom and I headed out to Jackson Hole, WY, for a long weekend. We were warmly enveloped by the Teton Mountains and I never grew tired of looking at them with awe throughout our trip.

One of the days we spent on a 6-hour trail ride, complete with moose and fox sightings, a picnic lunch by a stream, and a good dose of local folklore as narrated by our two wranglers.

The following day we set out early and drove into Yellowstone State Park. On the drive up, we saw a herd of elk feeding by the road and it was amazing. Upon arrival, we were given this fantastic flyer along with a map. The combination of that graphic and "gored" are just the best.

Taking in the wonder of Old Faithful. What an amazing sight. We enjoyed walking around and checking out the many geysers in the area.

Pizza and a view at a restaurant just outside of Jackson Hole.

One morning we ate breakfast at the hotel restaurant, The Wild Sage. I ordered whole wheat pancakes that were served with a bountiful side of berries and yogurt.

This whimsical contraption held the maple syrup and I loved it.

One of my favorite things about the hotel was that each night turn-down service included chocolate candies and a poem. It was a simple, sweet touch. Little things like that always inspire me to think about ways I can make guests in our home feel more special.

After Jackson Hole, the food-fun continued at Target Field (Twins vs. Yankees). T was excited to get to see Mariano Rivera pitch in person one last time. I was excited to eat a root beer float for not-even-close to the last time.

The fun continued with a family cabin trip in Northern Minnesota over 4th of July weekend (I have regaled previously about my favorite cabin eating here and here). The girls had a wonderful time on dock patrol and we cooked a glorious meal of reuben sandwich pies and dessert pies over the fire. A new dessert pie recipe was also born: tortillas for the outsides, filled with a Reeses, two marshmallows, a few banana slices, and graham cracker crumbles. It was one of the best things I have ever eaten.

A bonus shot of my gorgeous girl. The dogs love the cabin so much and watching them fetch and swim in the lake is the best simple happiness.

When we got home from the cabin, there was much to celebrate. My best friend returned home after spending a year studying abroad in Paris. I hosted a dinner in her honor with and we busted out the crystal and wine. Having her home again makes my world more complete and I am so proud of the amazing experience she had there.

Next up? A weekend trip to Wisconsin to celebrate T's aunt's wedding. There is something so peaceful about being surrounded by farmland. It was a beautiful setting and ceremony.

I could easily characterize July as a flourish of fun weekends. This past one, we hosted a BBQ and wiffle ball game at our house to celebrate the completion of our backyard patio project. Everything is officially leveled, planted, and mulched, and we are so happy with the space. My house growing up had the most amazing outdoor deck space and I lived out there in the summer. It has been a dream of mine to create a similar space at our home where people want to gather, eat delicious food, and bask in some sun and good company.

The morning after the BBQ/wiffle ball fest, we woke up early and met some friends to drive down to Milwaukee and take in a Brewers game. A Wisconsin/baseball weekend has become an annual tradition and it was another fun trip filled with quite a few samplings of Wisconsin's various brews.

And now, after recapping those back-to-back weekends of fun and traveling, we are caught up to today. This morning I had a lovely moment of small bliss as I filled my tea cup at work. My friend brought me home a collection of Kusmi Tea from Paris. They come in happy, bright colored packages and add a very classy and festive touch to my desk decor. When I started my new job, I bought myself a celebratory electric tea kettle and brought in this cute tea cup and my honey bear, along with a selection of my favorite teas. It has been one of my most thoughtful gifts to myself and allows me to carve out little moments each morning to be grateful.

Here's hoping tomorrow is filled with those moments for you,

-The Delicious Dabbler

Are You Surprised?

2013-06-06T15:36:00.001-05:00

In a recent post, I raved (perhaps too much) about the bacon at my favorite restaurant, Wise Acre Eatery ("Wise Acres"). After reading about my love for this establishment once before, I imagine that you are not all that shocked that I have since been back. While it is first on my list for brunch, it is also very close to first on my list for lunch, or any other time I wish to be consuming and enjoying delicious food. This particular instance was an impromptu lunch date with my mom.

We shared a bowl of the chowder of the day, which was pork and garlic. Can we just talk about the chowder selections for a minute? Order the chowder! The flavor rotates, but consistently contains delicious pork and showcases simple and delicious flavors.

We also both ordered the brie and bacon burger...what a perfect combination. Melty brie, the freshness of basil, a juicy beef patty, and of course- a thick and crispy piece of bacon. Yummmm. The burger was served with crunchy fries, and housemade ketchup and pickles.

For the love of all things bacon, go order this burger.

Happy local dining,

-The Delicious Dabbler

Saturday Simple Happinesses

2013-06-01T09:00:00.004-05:00

What a beautiful Saturday morning this is turning out to be. Amazing what a little sunshine and starting the day off with pancakes can do :) On the docket today around our house is a trip to the farmer's market, meandering around Lake Harriet, playing a few rounds of fetch with Bales, and hopefully grilling up some farmer's market deliciousness later tonight.

1. Fresh made iced tea for Arnie Palmer's all week.

2. Sourdough bread rising.

3. Trying the new fish and chips at the Twins game last night.

4. Finishing the game with my favorite, a root beer float.

Happy weekend!

-The Delicious Dabbler

Ice Cream with Cocoa and Cinnamon

2013-05-30T12:12:00.005-05:00

After writing yesterday's post, and thinking about Wise Acres custard served in a mason jar topped with hot fudge...I had an overwhelming craving for dessert of the chocolate kind. I began to peruse hot fudge recipes online, only to realize that I lacked all the necessary ingredients and I was looking for less of a time gap between "no chocolate in my life" and "chocolate in my life."

Enter into the chocolate-less equation, this simple little recipe inspiration from my mom. Vanilla ice cream, sprinkled with cocoa powder and cinnamon.

It is an incredibly easy and delicious way to satisfy a desserty/chocolate craving (yes, desserty is a word). Is it a glamorous and rich hot fudge sundae that I would serve at a dinner party? Definitely not. Is it a wonderful concoction that I would serve to a dinner party of 1? Definitely yes.

What are your weekday go-to dessert recipes? And...do you know of a good hot fudge sauce recipe? If so, please pass that chocolate knowledge this way :)

-The Delicious Dabbler

ps. A bonus shot of the view on my couch today.

Brunch at Wise Acres

2013-05-29T15:28:00.001-05:00

Yesterday was my grams and I's annual pot-planting party. It is one of my favorite spring traditions and the first time we have gotten to do it at our new house. During the move, my mom gifted 6 gorgeous, cobalt blue pots to us and they are the happiest part of our front step. This years mission was to fill them with color and joy.

Grams and I headed over to Tangletown Gardens to scope out the flower selection, only to realize that the store wasn't open for another half hour. What are two gardening gals to do? Fear not for our time-occupying abilities...right across the street from Tangletown is the oasis known-as Wise Acre Eatery ("Wise Acres").

Wise Acres is a farm-to-table eatery (the food is sourced from the Tangletown Garden 100-acre farm located in Plato, MN), and is my favorite restaurant in our neighborhood...given the number of fabulous restaurants in Minneapolis- that is truly saying something. What is it about this place besides the wonderful ingredients and the blend of agricultural/industrial/modern decor (the restaurant is located in a renovated auto-body shop)? It's the BACON. Berkshire and Large Black hogs are raised on the farm and provide the delicious pork that permeates the Wise Acres menu. From the daily-chowder, to the breakfast dishes, to the brie and bacon burger, to the butter that is served with a side of bread...I highly encourage you to consume something with pork.

Before I end my pork-ramble, I will also throw out to you dabblers that in the warm seasons, the walk-up counter at Wise Acres is the perfect stop for house-made custard in a waffle cone, particularly if the flavor of the day is mint-chocolate chip. Just saying. Okay, now to the point :) My impromptu stop at my favorite spot reminded me that I had brunch photos that I had yet to share with you all. Given the number of times that I find myself eating here, not having a post about Wise Acres seemed like a food-blogging crime. These photos are from earlier this month, a Sunday-brunching adventure with my dad.

My favorite way to start all mornings: delicious tea.

Wise Acres has wonderful baked goods, and you can scope-out the choices as you walk by the counter to your table. My choice was a lavender-strawberry scone and it was marvelous.

My dad went with the espresso donut-muffin. Think about the taste and consistency of a light cake donut, in the form of a muffin, that has been rolled in cinnamon, sugar, and espresso. Yum.

My dad ordered the CSA Hash: scrambled eggs with herbs over an assortment of delicious veggies, served with herb aioli, toast, and most importantly...a generous portion of cottage bacon.

I ordered the special that morning. Pulled pork served over toasted tortilla strips with green pepper sauce, and topped with two poached eggs. It was Cinco de Mayo weekend and this creation was the perfect choice.

So if you find yourself hungry and remotely near Nicollet Ave S, hurry over to this wonderful spot and feast :)

-The Delicious Dabbler

Broders' Pasta Bar

2013-05-21T09:44:00.003-05:00

Last night, my mom and I headed to Broders' Pasta Bar for an impromptu dinner date. What a lovely way to end a Monday :) Broders' is incredibly popular and it is usually very difficult to get a table or a spot at the bar. Luckily for us, Monday at 5pm is the perfect time to score a seat and we cozied up to the bar with a great view of the wine selection and the chefs preparing the pasta dishes in the open kitchen.

Insalata di Stagione: Mache, arugula, sliced strawberries, pine nuts, and pecorino cheese crisps, dressed in a simple vinaigrette. You can see that I love a healthy dose of black pepper. Each table has its own grinder, which I also love because then you avoid the awkwardness of making your server crack pepper for what seems to be an incredibly long time.

Ravioli con Taleggio: cheese ravioli, artfully plated with asparagus, delightful prosciutto pieces, basil, and parmesan.

Vanilla bean panna cotta with prosecco braised rhubarb sauce. The flavor of the sauce was a little off for me, but the cloud-like texture and creaminess of the panna cotta was wonderful. A fun way to end the meal.

Wishing you moments of unplanned food-wonder this week,

-The Delicious Dabbler

Here's What's Been Happening

2013-05-20T13:02:00.000-05:00

Hi dabblers, what a two-week whirlwind it has been! Now that the whirling dervish is over...I owe you all an update, in pictures of course :)

1. The end of my graduate program. I survived what may be my final round of last-minute paper submissions and large presentations. In our last practicum class, we all got to share one piece that we have taken away from our work with others this year. My amazing friend shared this; her mantra before entering her building to work with youth in crisis. An amazing testament to the power of listening more, judging less, and honoring the experiences of others.

2. I said goodbye to my amazing internship site and coworkers on the St. Paul Campus. I will miss seeing this guy on my walk in.

3. Naturally, a proper goodbye includes baked goods. I made an adapted version of this recipe from Ina Garten (reduced the sugar by 1/2c and substituted dried lemon peel powder from Penzey Spices because we were out of lemons that morning). They turned out wonderfully and hubs scored a few bonus muffins for breakfasts that week.

4. I took several lovely walks around Lake Harriet. With my internship completed, I have a bit more flexibility in my schedule until my new position starts in a few weeks. The first picture is my morning walk; slightly overcast with a beautiful view of the city. The second photo is the same day in the late afternoon. The sun had come out and so did the sail boats :)

5. I officially graduated from my program. What a happy day of celebration with my amazing classmates and friends. (group photo credit to SX).

6. The celebration continued with my family at Annie's on campus. Burgers, fries, malts, and floats. Perfection. It was also a great full-circle moment for me. Annie's was hubs' and I's go-to date spot during college, my family celebrated there after my undergraduate gradation, and hubs and I shot some of our engagement photos there. It couldn't have been more fitting to celebrate the end of my graduate program there as well.

Post-graduation, hubs and I undertook a patio project in the backyard with the help of my amazing family. We are about half-way through with that are hoping to wrap it up this coming weekend. During the work, I consumed copious amounts of Arnie Palmers. My favorite mix: 3 parts iced-tea (mint-green tea this weekend), 1 part lemonade, muddled mint leaves, and ice. Delicious :)

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend,

-The Delicious Dabbler