List of Loving

In case you hadn't noticed, the Internet is a wonderful platform for vicarious living. I'm always finding a million things I wish I could be doing....and, of course, a million recipes I'd like to be trying out. Yes, I yearn to taste each and every one of them, but, alas, lurking takes less time. And is calorie free!

Here are a few sweets and treats from around the web that are currently making my mouth water:
 

First of all, Helloooooooo ice cream: Cherry Crisp Ice Cream at Annie's Eats and Blueberry Cheesecake Ice Cream at Tutti Dolci

And then there's:
Rhubarb and White Chocolate Blondies at Hummingbird High
Rhubarb Curd at Hummingbird High
Rhubarb Panna Cotta Tart at Hummingbird High
Blueberry Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting at Cooking Classy
Blueberry Swirl Cheesecake at sally's baking addiction

And in case chocolate is at risk of being neglected:
Salty and Malty Brown Butter Treats at Joy the Baker
Black Forest Cookie Bars at Tutti Dolci


I just made myself hungry. Happy loving!

List of Loving: Simple Stand-bys

My most recent work week was a whirlwind of wonder and delight consisting of six days of institutional food gymnastics complete with a sprained wrist (not mine), a broken hand (not mine) and a fired employee (again, not me…and he totally deserved it) that led to what might be classified as staffing challenges, during – surprise! – a state health department inspection with a brand new cook floundering around at the helm (that was me). Of course it all ended in Mother’s Day, which, as anyone in food service knows, requires a crew to step things up a bit.

We pulled through, of course, actually shining quite brightly, but everything went into the work day and suppers at home had to be simple. I relied on one or two (I can’t really remember) of my simple favorites from the archives that I’ve listed as loveable below. The rest I intend to rely upon in the days and weeks to come. (Looks like I better stock up on pasta!). Those days and weeks promise to be better…but I’ve learned to never trust such promises.

Happy Loving!

Simple favorites (especially for spring):

**Italian Chickpeas (from my very first post just over 5 years ago!)

**Noodles with Cilantro, Green Onions, and Peanuts

**Pasta Carbonara with Garlic Scapes and Garlic Chives

**Pasta with Caramelized Onions and Arugula

**Warm Noodles with Cilantro and Coconut Lime Dressing

**Soup Beans and…

**Refried Bean Tacos made from the leftovers

**Brown and Wild Rice Salad with Asparagus and Peas

**Wheat Berry Salad with Sugar Snap Peas and Lemon Vinaigrette

**Noodle Salad with Sweet Asian Dressing

**Sesame Noodle Salad

**…and Peanut Butter and Oatmeal Energy Bars to keep me going!

One year ago: Vegan Tofu “Mayonnaise”

Lists of Loving

I love lists. I really do. Lists represent ambition, potential, a positive future. They help me remember things. They help me celebrate things. But really, I just like to create them and read them. Over and over. I have a Microsoft Excel workbook that is just lists (and the labeled tabs of the individual worksheets arranged along the bottom of the page is, therefore, a list of lists!) I love to make shopping lists. I just made a list of the types of books I like to read. I keep “to-do” lists that achieve malignant self-awareness and attempt to destroy me.

To mark the beginning of the sixth year of mucking about on these humble pages (Yes, that’s right. Yesterday was this blog’s 5^th birthday!) I thought I’d share a bit of what else goes on in my head. I’ve hesitated to do this all these years because I really thought that my day-to-day life was much less interesting than what I had for dinner. I’m hoping, however, that the things I’m loving at any given time might by something you love to. And since I love a list, here is the first Messy Apron List of Loving:

** Books I’m loving right now:

Old: Plato’s The Republic; The Guns of August byBarbara Tuchman

New: Bellman & Black by Diane Setterfield (I also loved The Thirteenth Tale by the same author); Buddha’s Brain by Rick Hanson with Richard Mendius; The Mayo Clinic Guide to Stress-Free Living by Amit Sood

Delicious: Vegetarian Cooking at Home with The Culinary Institute of America; Good to the Grain by Kim Boyce

**Dishes I’m loving now:

Mocha Granola

Wheat Sandwich Bread

A macaroni and cheese like this one with sautéed jalapeno peppers

The fried egg sandwich I just ate with Swiss cheese, lettuce, mayonnaise, and red onion on toast

Recipe fantasies: chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter frosting, this Carrot Cake Cheesecake, and these Strawberry Rhubarb Ginger Crumb Bars

**For Easter

Visiting family (you did know I’m coming, right?)

Dressing up (although open-toed shoes are out when there’s still snow on the ground)

Easter candy: pastel-colored peanut butter M&Ms, Cadbury eggs (cream and/or caramel), mini peanut butter cups...

….but under no circumstances: marshmallow Peeps! This food-like substance is an abomination! (I know you love them. Sorry.)

Happy Easter!

Happy Loving!

And thanks for reading for five delicious years!

One year ago: Peanut Butter Granola (another recipe I love!)