Posts Tagged friday favorites

Friday Favorites: May 23, 2014

It’s been awhile, my pretties. I’ve got a few great recipes that I plan on sharing with you in the coming weeks, but for now I’ll just leave you with a list of favorites. Happy Friday, y’all. Have a great holiday weekend!

FRIDAY FAVORITES, MAY 23, 2014

*My dad. Yesterday, my dad turned 60. As I think about becoming a parent, I feel so grateful for my dad and the example he’s set for me. He is gentle and kind, smart and supportive. He cracks me up. He taught me to be honest and genuine, strong and independent.

*I’M MAKING A COOKBOOK! So, I’m collaborating on a mini-cookbook with my friend Jenni. She’s an incredible photographer and graphic designer, and approached me with the idea of making a mini cookbook together. So, if I’ve been a little quiet on the blog lately, it’s because all of my spare time has gone to writing and photographing recipes for this project. I’m really excited about this collaboration, and will let you know more details on the book soon! (The featured photo at the top of this post is a snapshot from our cookbook photo shoot last week.)

*New Music. The new Wye Oak album rules. As does the new Lykke Li album. And let’s not forget about The War on Drugs.

*Pok Pok Som Drinking Vinegars. I’m obsessed. We generally keep a bottle of the Pineapple and Tamarind drinking vinegars in our fridge at all times. I’ve been mixing the pineapple drinking vinegar with coconut La Croix sparkling water, and it tastes like the tropics.

*Angel Face. I’ve put off visiting Angel Face, because, frankly, I didn’t see the point. I’m pregnant and Angel Face is a bar, known for it’s inventive and artfully crafted cocktails. I thought it would be pure torture. But you know what? The food was absolutely delicious, as was my mocktail. The atmosphere is charming, and the service was stellar. And the hand-painted pink ‘wallpaper’? It’s just so good.

*S’mores. The nights are warm and bright, and as a result, I just want to build fires and roast marshmallows all the time. While I love a classic s’more (graham, marshmallow, Hershey’s chocolate bar), I’ve been researching ways to elevate the humble s’more. I want to make these homemade graham crackers, for starters. And skillet s’mores? Yes, please. And don’t ever get me started on S’mores ice cream sandwiches. It’s everything I’ve been craving, all in one. I NEED THEM.

*Pinning allllllll the baby things. So, I’m officially ‘nesting’. I can’t help it. Baby stuff is just too cute, and I’m having a grand time planning out our gender neutral nursery. If you’d like to take a look at some cute baby things, I invite you to take a peek at my Pinterest board.

*Peony season. It’s the most wonderful time of the year.

*Stumptown’s Cold Coffee Brew with Milk. This stuff is dangerous, in the best way. I’ve been limiting my caffeine intake, but this stuff is making that very difficult. I just want to drink cold brew with milk all day, every day.

*Game of Thrones, re-imagined as Disney characters. Genius.

*Orphan Black. This is my new favorite TV show. Tatiana Maslany is fantastic and y’all should watch this show. Nuff said.

*Bread and Butter Pickles. This is probably the most stereotypical pregnant lady craving of all time. But, I got a jar of homemade bread & butter pickles at the last PDX Food Swap, and I cannot stop eating them. They’re like candy. I’ve almost eaten the entire jar in less than a week, and so I plan on making more this weekend. I think I’ll try this recipe.

Friday Favorites: April 11, 2014

Spring has arrived, and I couldn’t be happier. This season is, without question, my absolute favorite. Everything is new again. Everything is green, alive, and so darn beautiful. I find myself spending all of my free time outdoors, soaking in the sunshine and breathing in the spring air.

With that said, I thought it only appropriate that I write a spring favorites list. It’s been awhile since I’ve posted one of these list, and I have a lot to share.

So, without further adieu, here are some of my current favorite things.

FRIDAY FAVORITES: APRIL 11, 2014

*So, I should probably start out my favorites list by saying that WE’RE HAVING A BABY(!). I’d say this news tops the favorites list by a long shot. ;) Nich and I are completely thrilled, and we are looking forward to the crazy journey ahead of us.

*Now that you know I’m knocked up, the rest of my favorites list will probably make more sense. For example, I’m currently obsessed with and/or craving chocolate chip cookies. I want to eat all the chocolate chip cookies, all the time. I’ve been on a mission to find the best chocolate chip cookie in Portland, and the current winners are: Two Tarts, Roman Candle, Tabor Bread, and Bunk Sandwiches. (If you happen to have any local chocolate chip cookie recommendations, I’m all ears.)

*La Croix Sparkling Water: Coconut Flavor. I’m not gonna lie, I really miss margaritas. But, when I’m sipping a cold glass of sparkling coconut water, I don’t miss margaritas nearly as much. La Croix doesn’t contain any sugar or sodium, and has just a hint of natural flavor. It’s the perfect pregnancy treat.

*RHUBARB. I’m so excited that it’s rhubarb season! I bought a ton of rhubarb at the Beaverton Farmer’s Market last week, and thus far I’ve made Rhubarb Sour Cream Coffee Cake (recipe coming to the blog shortly!) and Lavender Rhubarb Simple Syrup. I also want to make this recipe. And this recipe. Oh, and let’s not forget about this delicious rhubarb recipe.

*Awesome Blogs. Since I’ve essentially been hibernating for a couple of months, I’ve had a bit more time to catch up and read blogs. Recently, I’ve been particularly enjoying: Local Haven, Bird is The Word, The Everywhereist, The Little Things We Do, and Autumn Makes & Does.

*”Days Are Gone” by Haim. I love this record. So much. It’s perfect springtime roll-down-your-windows-and-sing-along music.

*Cheese and Crack. This is a darling new restaurant that serves my two favorite food groups: cheese and bread. The presentation is stunning (see above) and the cheese selections are spot on. Oh, and they make ‘nachos’ with potato chips and mornay sauce. Need I say more?

*The Chocolate Cake at Xico. I liked this cake so much I wrote an article on Serious Eats about it. (Also, I can never think about chocolate cake without thinking about Bill Cosby, so while I’m at it I’ll just include a link to Cosby’s infamous “Dad is great, give us the chocolate cake!” bit.)

*Playoffs! The Blazers officially made the NBA playoffs! It’s all happening! And, the husb and I splurged and bought tickets to a playoff game. You guys, I’ve never been to a playoff game in my whole life. I AM SO EXCITED.

And, that’s all for now, folks! Happy Friday.

xoxo
Lindsay

Friday Favorites: January 2014

It’s been a long time since I’ve posted a Friday Favorites list.

Frankly, I’ve missed it.

There’s something strangely therapeutic about compiling a list of inspiring and lovely things. It reminds me how much I have to learn, and how much there is to explore and enjoy. Even in the midst of winter, there’s so much to see and do.

Here, in no particular order, is a list of a few of my favorite things. Happy Friday!

1. Turmeric Tea. I first saw this tea on 101 Cookbooks, and thought the tea looked incredible. My friend Kirsten recently posted her own Turmeric tea recipe on her blog, and I finally decided to give it a try. Let me tell you, it’s amazing. It’s unlike any tea I’ve ever had. It’s full of all sorts of wonderful things (for the mind and the belly!) and it also happens to taste great.

2. The introduction of Sriracha Kettle Chips and Juanita’s Chilepeno Tortilla Chips. Game changers in the form of chips.

3. My new freelance website! I quit my job in August, to pursue the freelance life. So far, I’m absolutely loving it. I recently launched a new website, which explains a bit more about what I do. I’m really proud of the site, and if you’re so inclined, take a look!

4. Happy Yolks. I can’t say enough good things about this blog. Not only are the photos and recipes stunning, but Kelsey is a really wonderful and thoughtful person. I’m constantly inspired by her writing, her outlook, and her food. My goal is to cook more of her recipes this year.

5. Rabbit Cafes. YOU GUYS THERE ARE REAL CAFES IN JAPAN THAT LET YOU HANG OUT AND DRINK COFFEE AND SNUGGLE REAL LIVE BUNNIES. That’s it. I’m moving to Japan.

6. MACARONI SALAD. I’ve had the strangest craving for macaroni salad lately. You know, the store-bought stuff that is strangely sweet and drowning in mayo and comes in a giant plastic tub. I love it. But, I generally don’t allow myself to buy the giant tubs of macaroni salad, because I know it’s unhealthy/processed/fattening/gross food. So, I’ve been searching for a homemade version that might suffice and I think this recipe looks mighty tasty. It might not be anything like the macaroni salad from church potlucks in my youth, but I think it’s time I let that macaroni salad go.

7. Kimchi. I can’t get enough of it. I love making it. I love eating it. I’ve been putting kimchi on tacos, burritos, stir fry, breakfast bowls, rice, soba noodles, salads, and more. I’ve been known to eat it straight out of the jar. (My favorite brand of kimchi is Choi’s, which is made in Portland. Usually, though, I just make my own or pick up a jar at the PDX Food Swap.)

8. Kefir. This week, I made my very first batch of kefir. I just poured some milk into a jar with kefir grains and let it sit on the counter for 36 hours. I then strained out the grains and was left with a wonderful and fermented milk drink, which is full of healthy bacteria (which makes for a happy gut).

9. The new Volcano Choir record. I can’t stop listening to it.

10. This recipe for Shaved Brussels Sprout and Carrot Salad with Cara Cara, Avocado, and Orange Tahini Dressing. (Recipe by the lovely folks at Brooklyn Supper.) I could eat this salad all winter long. It’s dreamy.

11. Bollywood Theater. This is the best Indian food in Portland. Period. (Granted, we don’t have a lot of good Indian food in Portland but that is beside the point.) The beets braised in coconut milk are to die for. Currently, they have one location in Portland on Alberta Street but they are opening up a second location on Division. I can’t wait.

12. Punk Domestics. This site is a fantastic resource for anyone interested in canning, preserving, curing, fermenting, and more. There’s just so much good stuff on this site. (After a quick browse today, I now want to make hard cider mustard, blue cheese paté, homemade yogurt, duck ham, and gravlax.)

FRIDAY FAVORITES: SALAD EDITION

I’m in a bit of a salad phase. Blame it on the hot weather or blame it on the abundance of greens in my garden — whatever the reason may be, I’ve been craving and consuming a lot of salad.

Tis the season, I suppose.

For this reason, I decided to post a round up of my favorite spring and summer salads. Here, in no particular order, are a few of my favorites.

FRIDAY FAVORITES: SALAD EDITION

1. ASPARAGUS & ARUGULA SALAD WITH FETA AND MINT

2. SHAVED APPLE, FENNEL, AND CELERY SALAD

3.SPICY PEANUT NOODLE SALAD

4. RED CABBAGE SLAW WITH CREAMY AVOCADO DRESSING

5. RADISH LEAF PESTO PASTA SALAD

6. THE PRETTIEST WATERMELON SALAD WITH BASIL, BALSAMIC AND MOZZARELLA

7. GREEN BEAN AND BLACKBERRY SALAD WITH GOAT CHEESE AND CARAMELIZED ONIONS

8. GRILLED CORN SALAD WITH CHERRY TOMATOES AND AVOCADO

Friday Favorites | 2.15

The best thing about today is that it is the day after Valentine’s day! The fuss is over and the teddy bears and heart-shaped boxes of waxy chocolates are gone. We can all go back to our normal lives and celebrate our loved ones with non-Hallmark sponsored goods.

Now that I’ve gotten that out of my system, I’d like to share a few of my favorite things. Here are some of my current faves, in no particular order:

1. Downton Abbey. I finally caught Downton fever, and there’s no going back. I just finished the second season (The Christmas special destroyed me!), and I’m eager to jump into the 3rd season and catch up with the rest of humanity. (No spoilers please!)

2. Cauliflower. I can’t get enough of this cruciferous vegetable these days. I’ve pickled it. I’ve roasted it with curry and garlic (Hint: roasted curry cauliflower is really good alongside my Lentil and Sweet Potato Soup.). I’m dying to try this mashed cauliflower with goat cheese and rosemary.

3. Lord Huron. I’ve been listening to the ‘Lonesome Dreams’ album nonstop. It’s lovely. (At the risk of sounding too cool, I’ve also been listening to Taylor Swift nonstop. I’m sorry, but the girl keeps churning out pop gold.)

4. Pok Pok Som Drinking Vinegars. Who knew that drinking vinegar could be so delightful? I’m obsessed. In my humble opinion, the Pineapple, Tamarind, and Honey vinegars are the best.

5. Girl Scout Cookies. Tis this season, and I’m a sucker for a Samoa.

6. My cat is now famous, thanks to my friends at Juliet Zulu and a gorgeous video they made for Puma. Check her out, she’s the fat orange and white cat that looks annoyed sleepy.

7. Sunshine. My favorite thing about today is the sunshine, and I’m going to go outside and enjoy it. Happy Friday, everyone!