Kitchen Travels

Travels :: Camping in the Eldorado National Forest

Monday was my birthday. It was a quiet day, as I knew it would be: my girls were at summer camp all morning, my husband and son have been visiting family in Florida, and I spent most of the day at home with my dog, so... no grand celebrations. Instead, I marked the occasion a few days earlier by taking my twins camping.

Wordless Wednesday :: Austin, TX

Kitchen :: Cherry Plum Jam

Turns out, it really is a small world, after all. About three years ago (wow, has it really been that long?), I was thinking of starting a food blog. Knowing nothing about blogging, I was intrigued when I read on line that BlogHer would be hosting a food blog event in San Francisco. Maybe I could learn a few things to get me started on the right track.

Travels :: A Wedding in Austin, Texas

My niece was married in Austin recently, and I was lucky enough to be able to spend a few days there, taking part in the celebration and visiting with family and friends. I'll share more photos of my trip in another post, but here's a peek at the lovely, intimate wedding, which was held at the historic Allan House.

Travels :: Sacramento's Got It GOOD {GOOD: street food + design market}

Sometimes, people just get it right. Such is the case with the GOOD: street food + design market, a new art and food event that premiered last Sunday afternoon in Sacramento.

When I first received the invitation to the GOOD event from Roshaun at Unseen Heroes, I thought it would be a great opportunity for my husband Randy and I to spend some time by ourselves. Like, on a date. But it was not to be. Our playdate plans for the twins fell through at the last minute, so we ended up taking them with us. On the upside, it was so nice to have some quality twin time, and any time girls can get a "tatoo" (aka: handstamp), it's a good thing.

Travels :: 24 Hours in San Francisco

(Actually, it was more like 18 hours.) Last Thursday, I met up with a dear friend of mine who was spending a couple days in San Francisco. Given that we hadn't seen one another in months, and that she had flown more than 20 hours from her current home in Brazil to arrive in California, I wasn't about to miss her visit. My friend, ever the social architect, had planned a "girls' night out." I, ever the social misfit, was happy to take part. Here's a peek into our soiree, along with a few random thoughts from yours truly.

Wordless Wednesday: Signs of Spring

Breakfast in Italy: Gluten-Free Artisan Bread

I know you're supposed to wait until it cools to slice it. I have no willpower when it comes to freshly-baked bread.

Before you get all jealous about my breakfast in Italy, let's be clear: I am most definitely not in Italy at the moment. Nor do I plan to be in Italy, sadly, any time soon.

That is, unless Nike rings me up and asks me to make a movie about what it means to #makeitcount, in which case... I'm there. Hear that, Nike? I'm available. Any time. Just say the word. Nike? Hello?

Buckwheat Pancakes with Caramelized Apples and Orange Syrup {Gluten-Free}

Sometimes I think I was born in the wrong century. Does anyone else remember PBS's Frontier House? The series documented the experiences of three (modern) families who agreed to move to the Montana Territory for six months, and to live as the 1880s frontier settlers did. I was completely hooked after just one episode. Despite all the hardships, that kind of life holds a strangely powerful appeal to me.

Lately, especially, I've been pining for a simpler life. Not necessarily an easier life (pretty sure I would miss electricity and indoor plumbing), but a simpler one. 

Chewy Granola Bars

If you've been following along for a while, you may have noticed a slight shift in my recipes over the last year. For example, I strive to use organic ingredients as much as possible. I have also made the switch to natural, plant-based food coloring, choosing to avoid artificial food coloring ever since an unsettling blue frosting incident (you don't want to know). Because one of my kids seems to have a strong sensitivity to granulated sugar, I've been experimenting with alternative sweeteners such as honey, brown rice syrup, and maple sugar. 

There are many upsides to adopting a more natural diet. But, as you can imagine, organic foods can sometimes be more expensive than their non-organic counterparts. In my experience, this is especially true when it comes to kid-friendly items like crackers and snacks.