To top it off, I was surprised last weekend when Eric and I got to our favorite restaurant only to discover my friends Annie, Josie and Tara there waiting for us. They came into town for the weekend and even had a shower for me. They had been planning this trip with Eric since before the new year (stay tuned for a post about their visit!). If that isn’t a perfect example of blogging friends turning into real friends, I don’t know what is.

Before I get too sappy, I just want to thank you all for letting Eric and I share this wonderful time in our lives with all of you. And a million thanks to the amazing ladies that made dishes to celebrate our upcoming arrival, especially Josie, who was kind enough to organize the entire thing. As is always the case with posts like this, seeing all the pictures makes me wish even more that we could do this in person. Thank you, thank you, thank you. It means the world to me.

Josie of Pink Parsley and I shared a room together at BlogHer Food last year. We got to see each other again for a quick lunch when Eric and I were traveling through Atlanta on our way home from Christmas in Alabama. Little did I know that they were secretly planning Josie’s visit when I wasn’t at the table. Sneaky! Josie made Crab and Brie Stuffed Mushrooms. Stuffed mushrooms were my gateway into liking mushrooms, and you really can’t go wrong when they’re stuffed with crab and Brie.

Annie of Annie’s Eats and I met for the first time over Labor Day weekend last year, but I feel like we’ve been friends forever. She was the third person (after myself and Eric) to find out about Baby C. I emailed her probably less than 5 minutes after I found out, and she emailed me back one of the most excited emails I’ve ever gotten. She made Okra Cornmeal Cakes with Chévre and Roasted Tomatoes. Being from the south, I love okra. This looks much healthier than the fried kind, and I love the combination of it with the Chévre and roasted tomatoes.

I have yet to meet Elly of Elly Says Opa, but I know it won’t be long until I do. Before she and I were really friends, Eric and I used to joke at how he had a blog crush on her because every single recipe we made from her blog was such a huge hit. I know Eric is happy that she opened my eyes to the fabulousness of chicken thighs, too. She made Goat Cheese-Stuffed Chicken Meatball Crostini. Goat cheese is my favorite cheese, and I know I would’ve eaten several of these had this shower happened in person. Seriously, how awesome does this combination sound?

I got to meet Shanon of The Curvy Carrot when I was in Indianapolis visiting Annie. She doesn’t live there anymore, but I lucked out because she was in town the same weekend I was. Shanon has a vegetarian blog, and, even though I’m not a vegetarian, I always find myself saving recipes from it. She made Mushroom and Mascarpone Tarts. I love tarts, and these look elegant and sound fabulous.

Amy of Gastronome Tart and I met last year when she moved to Richmond. We had a great time hanging out and chatting about food, blogging and all sorts of other things. Cool fact about her: she’s a beekeeper. She lives in another part of Virginia now, but I can’t wait to see her again and introduce her to Baby C (and get some honey ). She made Savory Apple Galettes , and I wish she still lived nearby so that I could’ve had one.

Amy of Sing for Your Supper just had a baby girl a couple weeks ago. I was so excited when I found out our due dates weren’t far apart, and I imagine we’ll be talking a lot about our baby girls. She made Virgin Peach Blood Orange Sangria. It’s no secret that I love wine, and I won’t lie and say I haven’t missed it. I wish I had seen this recipe months ago because it looks fabulous! I’m definitely making this one soon.

Apple a Day is one of the sweetest people I know. I just adore her, and I’m crossing my fingers that I’ll get to meet her one of these days. She made Raspberry White Chocolate Tartlets, which look perfect for a baby shower. Eric and I both love raspberries, especially when they’re paired with white chocolate.

Shawnda of Confections of a Foodie Bride lives in Texas and makes me wish I still did. Eric and I love Tex-Mex food and margaritas, and I’m pretty sure Shawnda is the margarita queen. She also does other cool things like garden and brew beer and make wine. I know we’d be great friends if we lived closer together. She made these adorable Pink Grapefruit Cookies. I love citrus in any form, and these delicate cookies look like the perfect way to showcase it.

I feel like I’ve known Nikki of Pennies on a Platter for such a long time. She’s so thoughtful and was especially helpful when I was making the switch to my new blog design. She made Cream Puffs Filled with Strawberries and Mascarpone. I love cream puffs, and the combination of them with strawberries and mascarpone sounds absolutely delightful.

I got to meet Karin of This Wife Bakes at BlogHer Food last year. She is hip and so much fun, and she’s also an insanely talented cake decorator. If I lived in Atlanta, I would pay her to give me some one-on-one lessons. She made this Blood Orange Marmalade Cake, and I so wish I could have a slice. Like I said, I love citrus. I’m not sure why I’ve never put it in a cake before, but that will be changing very soon.

I got to meet Tara of Smells Like Home last year at BlogHer Food. We had such a fantastic time hanging out, and I was so happy I got to see her again last weekend! She drove all the way here from Connecticut, and didn’t flinch when we stayed up until 4am the night before (technically, the day) she had to drive back. She made Sweet and Salty Cupcakes, which are the ideal dessert for me because my cravings right now quickly change from sweet to salty and back again. Eating one of these would certainly satisfy both.

Branny of Branny Boils Over and I got to meet at BlogHer Food last year. She’s hilarious, and I had such a fabulous time hanging out with her. While we were there, she tried Nutella for the first time when we were out to breakfast one day. The rest of us were shocked that she’d never eaten it, and we practically told her she had to try it right that second. That’s why I was so happy when I saw she made Nutella Swirl Blondies. Really, there’s no way to go wrong when Nutella is involved.

Ryan of Ryan Bakes and I met last year. She’s another Richmond food blogger, and it’s been awesome to have someone nearby who understands the craziness that is food blogging. We’ve had many laughs over blog-related topics, and I’m excited that she’ll get to meet Baby C soon. She made Strawberry Shortcake Sliders, which are so cute and perfect for a shower. I love strawberries and know I would devour these.

Cate of Cate’s World Kitchen is always inspiring me. Her blog is one of the first vegetarian blogs I started reading, and she’s constantly introducing me to new foods and recipes. She lives near San Francisco, which holds a special place in my heart since Eric and I spent part of our honeymoon there. She made Pink Lemonade Cupcakes. I spent the last year working at a cupcake shop, so cupcakes are high on my list of favorite treats. I love citrusy sweets and would have a hard time eating just one of these.

Thank you all again for making this so special for me, Eric and our baby girl. I’m lucky to have such a wonderful (and talented!) group of friends.

Happy Valentine’s Day! I’m sure most of you have figured out your Valentine’s dessert plans, but I wanted to share this last-minute idea for those that haven’t. Dessert on Valentine’s doesn’t have to be complicated or time consuming. This dessert, which I purposefully saved for today, has only four ingredients and can be made in just a few minutes. This recipe is so simple that anyone (seriously, anyone) can throw it together. If it’s so easy and has so few ingredients, you must be questioning how it tastes. The answer? It’s awesome! You don’t need many ingredients when the ingredients are cream, Nutella, espresso and hazelnuts.

This recipe is what I like to refer to as cheater’s mousse. I’ve made cooked chocolate mousse before. In fact, it was my very first post way back in August 2008. At the time, this cheater’s mousse would’ve been a more appropriate dessert, skill-wise, for me to tackle. There’s obviously some irony that I’m posting this easy version now, when my skill level is so much higher. The reason I wanted to share it is because it tastes so darn good. It’s light and airy just like its more involved counterpart. The flavor is rich and chocolaty without being heavy, and the espresso adds just the right amount of coffee flavor. This is a dessert that won’t leave you feeling like you had too much to eat, which makes it perfect for ending a heavier dinner. Even if you don’t make this tonight, it’s a great recipe to have on hand when a chocolate craving strikes.

Nutella Mousse
Serves 2 generously

Ingredients:
1 teaspoon instant espresso
1 tablespoon hot water
1/4 cup Nutella spread
Dash of Kahlua (optional)
3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
Chopped toasted hazelnuts for topping

Directions:
In a small bowl, dissolve the espresso in the hot water. Whisk in Nutella and Kahlua if using. Using a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat heavy cream until it just forms stiff peaks. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold in the Nutella mixture. Transfer to serving dishes, top with hazelnuts and serve immediately.

Adapted from Sweet Tooth

Eric and I don’t make seafood at home very frequently, and that’s something I really want to change. Way back when I thought I didn’t like seafood, crab was always my exception. I’ve always enjoyed crab cakes, but the few recipes I’ve tried were never quite right. Crab cakes are simple, but there are several things that can go wrong when making them. Too little binder will result in cakes that fall apart when cooked, while too much binder masks the flavor of the crab. The texture can quickly go from chunky to pasty if you overwork them, and they can fall apart during cooking if you’re not careful. Obviously the right recipe would suffer from none of these problems, and I’m happy to report that this is that recipe.

These crab cakes are exactly what crab cakes should be. They’ve got a wonderfully crisp exterior and a chunky, creamy and flavorful interior. What’s the secret to making these so perfect? First, only adding enough bread crumbs to hold the cakes together. The seasoning is minimal but is all meant to enhance the flavor of the crab. A quick stint in the refrigerator helps hold the cakes together during cooking, and a light dredging in flour ensures a well-browned crust. These come together quickly and cook even faster. Served with a side of steamed asparagus, this was an elegant and easy meal. If you’re still looking for something to make for a Valentine’s Day dinner at home, I highly recommend giving this recipe a try. You definitely won’t regret it.

For best results, use fresh or refrigerated/pasteurized crabmeat in this recipe.

Pan-Fried Crab Cakes with Homemade Tartar Sauce
Serves 4, Sauce makes about 1 cup

Ingredients:
For the crab cakes:
1 pound jumbo lump crab meat, picked over to remove cartilage and shell fragments
4 scallions, green parts only, minced
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1/4 cup mayonnaise
2-4 tablespoons plain dry bread crumbs
1 1/2 teaspoons Old Bay seasoning
Salt and white pepper
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup vegetable oil
Lemon wedges, for serving

For the tartar sauce:
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1/2 shallot, minced
2 tablespoons capers, rinsed and minced
2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
1 1/2 teaspoons white vinegar
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon pepper

Directions:
Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, gently fold together crabmeat, scallions, parsley, mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons bread crumbs and Old Bay, taking care not to break up any crab lumps. Season with salt and white pepper to taste. Carefully fold in egg using a rubber spatula. If cakes don’t bind, add additional bread crumbs, 1 tablespoon at a time, until they do.

Divide mixture into four portions. Shape each into a fat, round cake, about 3 inches across and 1 1/2 inches thick. Place on prepared baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 30 minutes or up to 24 hours.

Meanwhile, prepare tartar sauce by combining all ingredients in a small bowl. Cover and allow to sit for at least 15 minutes to allow flavors to blend. Stir again before serving. Sauce can be refrigerated up to 1 week.

When ready to cook the crab cakes, place flour in a shallow baking dish or pie plate. Lightly dredge each cake in flour and return to baking sheet. Heat oil in a large (12-inch), nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Very carefully lay cakes in oil and cook until exteriors are crisp and browned, 3 to 5 minutes per side. Serve immediately with lemon wedges and tartar sauce.

Source: The Cook’s Illustrated Cookbook

I wanted to make something extra special for Valentine’s Day, not really because of the holiday itself but more because I’ll take any excuse I can to make something I wouldn’t normally make. Such was the case with this cake. Chocolate mousse is one of my favorite desserts, so this cake was a no-brainer for me. Plus, Valentine’s seemed like an appropriate time to make something consisting of three layers of chocolate. Since I’m pregnant, I figure it’s okay to tell you that I licked the whisks and spatulas several times while preparing this (for those I’m sharing it with – don’t worry, I washed them each time).

This cake, upon first glance, seems incredibly involved. When you break down each step, though, it’s really not that difficult. The most annoying part for me was having to wash my stand mixer’s bowl between steps. This dessert starts out with a flourless chocolate cake base. Next comes a layer of chocolate mousse, followed by a layer of white chocolate mousse. The texture of this cake is unbeatable. You’ve got an incredible combination of rich, dense cake, light and airy mousse layers and a crisp bite from the chocolate curls. This cake is the epitome of decadence. It was a struggle not to eat the entire piece when I was done photographing it. If you’re looking to make something special for your valentine, look no further.

One thing I didn’t do that I wish I had done was to dip the knife in hot water before slicing this. I was so excited and didn’t think about it until it was too late. I definitely recommend using that method if you don’t have any cheese wire to use. Your slices will come out looking much neater and smoother if you cut with a hot knife.

Triple Chocolate Mousse Cake
Serves 12 to 16

Ingredients:
For the bottom layer:
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into six pieces
7 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped fine
3/4 teaspoon instant espresso powder
4 large eggs, separated
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Pinch cream of tartar
Pinch salt
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar

For the middle layer:
5 tablespoons hot water
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
7 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped fine
1 1/2 cups heavy cream, chilled
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt

For the top layer:
3/4 teaspoon powdered gelatin
1 tablespoon water
6 ounces white chocolate chips
1 1/2 cups heavy cream, chilled
Shaved chocolate or cocoa powder for decorating, optional

To prepare the bottom layer, preheat oven to 325º. Grease a 9- or 9 1/2-inch springform pan. Combine butter, chocolate and espresso in a large heatproof bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water. Stir occasionally until melted and smooth. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly, about 5 minutes. Whisk in egg yolks and vanilla and set aside.

Using a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip egg whites, cream of tartar and salt on medium-low speed until foamy, about 1 minute. Add half of sugar and continue whipping until combined, about 15 seconds. Add remaining sugar, increase speed to high, and whip until soft peaks form, 1 additional minute, scraping down bowl halfway through. Using a whisk, fold one-third of the egg whites into the chocolate mixture to lighten it. Fold in remaining egg whites using a rubber spatula. When no white streaks remain, carefully transfer batter to prepared pan. Smooth top with spatula. Bake cake until it has risen, is firm around the edges and just set in the center (cake center should spring back when gently pressed with finger), 13 to 18 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely, about 1 hour. Do not remove cake from pan.

While cake is cooling, prepare middle layer. Combine the hot water and cocoa in a small bowl and set aside. Place chocolate in a large heatproof bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water. Stir occasionally until melted and smooth. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly, 2 to 5 minutes.

Using a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip cream, sugar and salt on medium-low speed until foamy, about 1 minute. Increase speed to high and whip until soft peaks form, 1-3 minutes. (It helps to chill the mixing bowl before whipping the cream.) Whisk cocoa mixture into chocolate. Using a whisk, fold one-third of the cream into the chocolate mixture to lighten it. Fold in remaining cream using a rubber spatula. When no white streaks remain, spoon mousse onto cooled cake. Smooth top with spatula and gently tap on counter to release any air bubbles. Wipe inside edge of pan with a damp cloth or paper towel to remove any drips. Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes while preparing top layer.

To prepare the top layer, sprinkle gelatin over water and let sit for at least 5 minutes. Place white chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl. Bring 1/2 cup of cream to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Remove from heat and stir in gelatin mixture until completely dissolved. Pour cream mixture over white chocolate, cover and allow to sit for 5 minutes. Whisk gently until smooth. Let cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally (mixture will thicken slightly during this time).

Using a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip remaining cup of cream on medium-low speed until foamy, about 1 minute. Increase speed to high and whip until soft peaks form, 1 to 3 minutes. Using a whisk, fold one-third of cream into white chocolate to lighten it. Fold in remaining cream using a rubber spatula. When no white streaks remain, spoon white chocolate mousse into the pan over the middle layer. Smooth top with a rubber spatula. Return to refrigerator and chill until set, at least 2 1/2 hours. Cake can be refrigerated up to 1 day. Allow to sit at room temperature for about 45 minutes before slicing.

To serve, garnish cake with chocolate curls or dust with cocoa if desired. Run a thin knife between the cake and sides of pan. Remove sides and run the cleaned knife along the outside to smooth. Cut using cheese wire or a hot knife, cleaning and drying between each cut.

Source: The Cook’s Illustrated Cookbook

I had grand ideas to make fancy, decorated sugar cookies for Valentine’s Day. However, with an only partially completed nursery and plenty of things to sew before Baby C arrives, it just wasn’t feasible. Not wanting to miss out on the fun that is holiday sugar cookies, I decided to make these simple ones instead. I saved this recipe last year, and I have seen it on countless blogs since then. It was about time that I tried this recipe for myself, and let me tell you that the wonderful reviews it’s received are all well deserved.

These cookies are a better version of the ones you see at grocery stores. You know the ones I’m talking about – they’re always decorated for each season/holiday. Now you can make them at home and customize them with whatever colors and sprinkles you want. As you can imagine, these are oodles better than the store-bought version. They lack that off, artificial taste and instead are rich and buttery. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, these will definitely satisfy it. The cookies are delicious enough on their own, and with a thick layer of frosting they’re hard to beat. Because of their simplicity, I think these would be incredibly fun to make with children. What kid doesn’t like to roll cookie dough and shake on sprinkles? The most difficult part of making these is having the willpower not to eat too many.

Soft Frosted Sugar Cookies
Makes about 2 dozen large cookies

Ingredients:
For the cookies:
For the cookies:
4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
4 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 large eggs
5 teaspoons vanilla extract

For the frosting:
5 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
1/3 cup (5 1/3 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
7-8 tablespoons milk (plus more, as needed)
Food coloring (optional)
Sprinkles (optional)

Directions:
Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats and set aside. Whisk together flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar together on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 2-3 minutes. Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Blend in the vanilla and reduce mixer speed to low. Gradually add in the flour mixture until just incorporated. Cover and chill the dough for one hour.

Once the dough has been chilled, preheat oven to 350º. Scoop a scant quarter cup and roll into a ball. Flatten into a thick disk and place on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining dough, spacing the cookies at least 2 inches apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes until just set, taking care not to overbake. The edges will be barely browned, if at all. Allow to cool on the baking sheet for several minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

To make the frosting, place the confectioner’s sugar in a medium bowl. Whisk in the melted butter, vanilla and milk. Continue whisking until smooth, adding more milk as needed, a tablespoon at a time, to reach your desired consistency. Tint with food coloring, if desired. Use an offset spatula to frost the cookies, and top with sprinkles if desired. If the frosting becomes too thick to be workable, whisk in additional milk. Store in an airtight container.

As seen on Annie’s Eats, originally adapted from Hostess with the Mostess

Now that the Super Bowl is over, I’m ready to share a few Valentine’s Day goodies with all of you. I know that not everyone celebrates it, many saying it’s just a consumer driven holiday, etc. I thought the same thing until I realized that Valentine’s Day can be more than just a romantic holiday when you make it about all the people you love. If I were closer to my family, I can promise you I’d make them something special. Since I’m not, and since Eric and I are expecting a little one in less than a month (eek!), I decided to make the best of this holiday by making some seriously delicious treats that I’ll be sharing throughout the week.

This French toast is obviously meant to be a breakfast item, but it could easily double as a dessert. It’s blissfully decadent with soft challah bread, rich Nutella and sweet strawberries. Also, chocolate for breakfast is always a major win in my book. This recipe was inspired by one I saved last year for strawberry stuffed French toast. I knew I wanted to somehow incorporate chocolate since the combination of it and strawberry is one of my favorites. Using Nutella was a natural progression, and that’s how this French toast came to be. Instead of stuffing the challah with strawberries, I decided to macerate them to use as a topping. It was perfect. This French toast isn’t plagued by problems of other recipes I’ve tried. It doesn’t get soggy or overly eggy. Instead, the exterior gets golden and crisp while the interior remains soft. Whether I’m stuffing it or not, this method of making French toast will be my go-to from now on. I want to tell you to plan ahead so that you can make this for someone special on Valentine’s Day, but it’s so amazing that it would feel wrong to tell you to wait that long. If you can, I promise this breakfast will be worth it.

Nutella Stuffed French Toast with Strawberries
Serves 4

Ingredients:
1 cup sliced strawberries
2 teaspoons sugar
Juice of half a lemon
4 thick slices (1 1/2 to 2-inches) bread, such as challah or soft Italian bread
About 1/2 cup Nutella
1 large egg
3/4 cup milk
2 tablespoons melted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
Unsalted butter
Powdered sugar for serving

Directions:
Combine the strawberries, sugar and lemon juice in a bowl. Toss to coat and set aside to macerate at room temperature.

Cut a pocket into each slice of bread, taking care not to cut all the way through. Fill each slice of bread with about two tablespoons of Nutella (I totally eyeballed this part, so this is just an estimate). Heat a large skillet over medium heat. In a shallow dish or pie plate, whisk together the egg and milk. Whisk in the melted butter and vanilla. Add the flour, cinnamon and salt and whisk until smooth. Working with one or two pieces at a time, place the filled slices into the egg mixture. Soak for 30 to 40 seconds per side, allow excess to drip off and transfer to a plate. Repeat with remaining slices.

Add 1 tablespoon of butter to the heated skillet and swirl to coat. Add the slices in a single layer, taking care not to crowd the skillet. Cook for 1-2 minutes, until light golden brown. Flip and continue cooking an additional 1-2 minutes. Add more butter as needed and repeat with remaining slices. Transfer to a plate, dust with powdered sugar, then top with macerated strawberries. Serve immediately.

Source: Adapted from Annie’s Eats

Ranch dressing is something I loved as a kid but could mostly live without now. When it comes to salads, I much prefer lighter dressings like vinaigrettes. However, I’ll occasionally get a craving for vegetables and ranch dressing. As much as I love other dressings, they don’t really work well for dipping vegetables. The thing is, bottled ranch dressing kind of makes me gag. It’s just so thick and gloopy, not at all what I want to dip my carrot and celery sticks in. Homemade ranch dressing, on the other hand, is everything the bottled kind isn’t – fresh, light in texture and absolutely delicious.

If you’re anything like me, you probably have all the ingredients you need for this dressing in your refrigerator. This dressing beats anything you can buy from the store because it’s made fresh when you want it. Plus, making it is as simple as tossing all the ingredients in your food processor and hitting the pulse button a few times. I loved this dressing as is, especially the bit of tang from the Dijon, but I may try adding a handful of parsley next time just to up the herby flavor. I bet the basil could be replaced with dill for a different spin, too (which I’m guessing would be fabulous with fried pickles). I’ve enjoyed having this and carrot sticks as a snack every afternoon, and it would be a wonderful addition to any crudités platter you may be serving this weekend for the Super Bowl. Even if you’re not serving vegetables, imagine how good wings would taste dipped in homemade ranch. I definitely plan on having a jar of this around (with plenty of fresh vegetables) when the baby comes so that I can snack to my heart’s content.

Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
Makes 3 cups

Ingredients:
3 scallions, white and green parts, chopped
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil leaves, lightly packed
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 1/2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 garlic cloves, chopped
2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup Greek yogurt
1/2 cup buttermilk, well shaken

Directions:
Place the scallions, basil, lemon juice, Dijon, olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until the mixture is smooth, about 15 to 20 seconds. Add the remaining ingredients and puree until smooth. Transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for at least an hour before serving to let the flavors develop.

Source: Barefoot Contessa How Easy Is That? by Ina Garten

I love all kinds of salsa, but tomatillo salsa has stolen my heart. It’s so fresh tasting, and I just love the tangy flavor of the tomatillos. I’ve already posted another tomatillo salsa, but this one is a little different. The other one uses chipotles, making it smokier and spicier than this one. This salsa is light with subtle heat, but it still has some of that smoky flavor thanks to roasting the tomatillos, garlic and jalapeno. It’s incredibly quick to make, even with the extra step of roasting. Once everything is roasted, you simply toss it in the food processor and you’re set. This would be a great addition to your Super Bowl menu, but I’ll warn you – it’s so good that you may want to make a double batch!

Eric and I like to serve this with homemade tortilla chips, which are a breeze to make. Simply brush each side of six or so corn tortillas with olive oil, cut into eighths, lay in a single layer on a baking sheet and sprinkle with seasoning salt. Bake at 350º for about 15 or so minutes.

Roasted Tomatillo Salsa
Makes about 2 cups

Ingredients:
4-5 medium tomatillos, husked, rinsed, and halved (about 8 ounces)
2 large garlic cloves, peeled
1 jalapeno
1/3 cup loosely packed, roughly chopped cilantro
1/4 cup water
1/2 small white onion, chopped
Juice of 1/2 lime
Salt

Directions:
Heat a large, nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Place the tomatillos cut side down into the pan, and lay the garlic cloves and jalapeno around them. Cook until the tomatillos are well browned, about 4 minutes. Flip everything over and continue cooking until the tomatillos are very soft. Place the garlic and tomatillos in the bowl of a food processor, and place the jalapeno in a zip top bag to steam. When the jalapeno is cool enough to handle, peel off the blackened skin. Remove ribs and seeds, roughly chop and add to the food processor.

Add the water, onion and cilantro to the food processor, then pulse until combined. Add more water as needed to reach the desired consistency. Add lime juice and salt to taste.

Source: As seen on Pink Parsley, originally from Mexican Everyday by Rick Bayless

Since moving into our house in December, Eric and I have had a few visits from neighbors. Seeing as how this is our first house, this is not something we’re used to. One neighbor brought us a plate of amazing snickerdoodles and another invited us to dinner. To say we lucked out with our neighborhood would be an understatement. Sadly, we’ve been so busy that we haven’t had much time to introduce ourselves, and we had to turn down that dinner invitation because we were painting Baby C’s nursery that day. I thought it would be nice to bake something as a way to say thanks to the people we’ve met and as a way to introduce ourselves to the people we haven’t. I wasn’t sure what to bake, but decided on this recipe immediately upon seeing it.

Here I am visiting Baked in Brooklyn almost exactly two years ago.

Brownies are one of those desserts that people have pretty strong opinions about. Cakey or fudgy? With nuts or without? Before trying these, I was firmly in the cakey with nuts crowd. However, you can now consider me a convert. Hands down, these are the best brownies I’ve ever had in my life. I finally understand why people like those fudgy brownies. I guess I just had to find the right brownie to convince me. These brownies are intensely chocolatey, so it’s important that you use the best quality chocolate you can. I used two different chocolates that I had been holding onto since November because no recipe seemed worthy of them, but this recipe certainly was. The brownies are rich, dense and so insanely delicious. The espresso helps intensify the flavor of the chocolate, but you can actually get a slight hint of it while eating the brownie. I could continue talking about how amazing these are, but I’ll try to show some self-restraint and simply tell you to make these brownies soon.

The Baked Brownie
Makes 24 brownies

Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons dark unsweetened cocoa powder
11 ounces dark chocolate (60 to 72%), coarsely chopped
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 teaspoon instant espresso powder
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
5 eggs, at room temperature
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350º and butter the sides and bottom of a 9-by-13-inch glass baking pan. Whisk together the flour, salt and cocoa powder in a medium bowl and set aside.

Place the chocolate, butter and espresso powder in a large bowl and set over a pot of simmering water. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is completely melted and smooth. Turn off heat, but keep the bowl over the water. Whisk in the sugars until completely combined, then remove bowl from the pot. If the mixture isn’t room temperature at this point, allow it to cool slightly until it reaches room temperature.

Whisk 3 eggs into the chocolate mixture, taking care not to overbeat them. Whisk in the remaining 2 eggs, then stir in the vanilla. Using a rubber spatula, gradually fold in the flour until just incorporated. Pour batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake in the center of the oven for 30 minutes, rotating halfway through, until a toothpick comes out with just a few moist crumbs attached. Allow to cool, then cut into squares and serve. Brownies can be kept, tightly wrapped, at room temperature for up to 3 days (like they’ll last that long).

Source: Baked: New Frontiers in Baking

Let me start off by saying that, while this soup is supposed to have tortellini, we could only find ravioli when we made this. So you’ll notice that the pasta in my picture looks pretty big, and that’s because it is. However, this didn’t bother either of us because we were just happy to have a home cooked meal. This soup is incredibly easy – we made it without a fully functioning kitchen, if that tells you anything. The only change I made was to increase the liquid by half a cup, and this is just a personal preference because I like my soups to be a little brothier. The combination of vegetables, cannellini beans and pasta in this soup make it filling without making it heavy. It also makes excellent leftovers. All that, and it can be made in under half an hour.

Tortellini Minestrone
Serves 4-6

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 carrots, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
2 stalks of celery, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 medium onion, minced
5 ounces mushrooms, sliced
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon minced fresh oregano, or 1 teaspoon dried
3 1/4 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
2 3/4 cups V8 vegetable juice
1 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
1 (9-ounce) package fresh cheese tortellini (preferably whole wheat)
1 medium zucchini, halved lengthwise, seeded, and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup pesto (homemade, or if store-bought, use the refrigerated variety)
Freshly grated Parmesan, for serving

Directions:
Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the carrots, celery, onion, 1/4 teaspoon of salt and pepper to taste. Cook for 3-5 minutes, until just softened. Add the mushrooms and continue cooking until all the vegetables have softened, 5-6 additional minutes. Add the garlic and oregano and cook about 30 seconds, until fragrant.

Pour in the broth, making sure to scrape up any browned bits. Stir in the vegetable juice and beans and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for about 10 minutes. Add the tortellini and zucchini and continue simmering until tender, another 5-7 minutes. Taste and add salt and pepper as needed. Divide among serving bowls and top each portion with a spoonful of pesto and a sprinkling of Parmesan before serving.

Source: As seen on Pink Parsley, originally from Cook’s Illustrated Soups, Stews & Chilis