for the love of love.

{cranberry walnut coconut pancakes}

{valentines brunch: cranberry walnut pancakes, baked french toast, strawberry muffins}

"As long as the self is consumed in the struggle to make itself lovely, it cannot love. First it must come to the end of its own resources, for the power to love derives purely and solely from the knowledge that one is already loved in return. The energy for love flows not out of any effort but simply from being loved."
Mike Mason

{overnight baked french toast with strawberries and hazelnut glaze}

This morning I had a bunch of girls over for Valentines Day brunch. I often joke that food is my love language... It is true. I love cooking for people, and it seems like such a simple way to brighten someones day or make them feel valuable. Valentines is such a loaded holiday, but can be so innocently beautiful and fun. The girls came over and we sat and lingered over some very festive and indulgent breakfast dishes. The overnight french toast is great, and so easy! The recipe is below.


Overnight Baked French Toast

6-8 old bagels, or thick bread cut into cubes
1 Tablespoon Vanilla
3 cups Milk
1/2 cup flavored creamer (I used hazelnut)
6 eggs
1/2 cup brown sugar
Sliced Strawberries (optional)
Hazelnut Glaze (1 Tablespoon cream cheese, 1 Tablespoon of hazelnut creamer, 1 teaspoon Vanilla, 2 cups powdered sugar- mix well then add milk by teaspoons until mixture is glaze consistency.)

Cube the bread and place in a 9x13 pan.
Mix the remaining ingredients and pour over the bread. Cover with plastic wrap and stick in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. In the morning, stir the mixture well, add sliced strawberries, and bake at 350degrees for 40-50 minutes, or until set.

When you take it out of the oven, serve with hazelnut glaze.

warm comforts.

There is very little that tastes better than warm comfort food when the air is numbing.


{white chicken chili}

Wednesday evening I had a group of friends over for dinner. When I went to grab some last minute items for the meal, my thermometer read -8degrees. It was pain. That is the kind of cold that shocks you, and feels like little needles in your skin. Needless to say, I felt good about my decision to make a warm crock pot of white chicken chili.
It was a lovely dinner party, accompanied by stories of funny dates and awkward valentines days.


{banana almond cake with hazelnut glaze}

While cooking, I fell in love with a new song, and it has quickly climbed to the top of my favorites list. It is titled "The Storm" and is by Elenowen. Her voice is literally intoxicating.


{pear, gorgonzola, walnut spinach salad with black raspberry vinaigrette}

Below is our dinner party menu. Yum and yum.
White Chicken Chili
Pear, Gorgonzola, Walnut Spinach salad with a black raspberry vinaigrette
Chips and corn salsa
Garlic Roasted Asparagus
Sliced multi-grain baguette
Banana almond cake with a hazelnut glaze

creative play.

{avocado, mushroom, tomato, pepper, spinach, and turkey bacon omelet}

Last night I did dinner on my own.
I really love food.
I mean, I really love it.
I love the colors, the flavors, the feeling of a satisfied stomach. I love creating and inventing and imagining flavors together. I like being inventive. I like imagining what pairs well, what someone I love would enjoy, and what kind of food fits the mood or demeanor of the people I am with.
Sometimes, when I am solo, I still have the need to cook and to create. Last night, my evening was serenaded by The National, and I cooked a delicious omelet while staying warm and cozy inside my apartment.
The past two years of my life have been marked by learning what it means to slow down. To slow, and to savor the moment, to be present, and to fully appreciate the exact time in which I find myself. I am a dreamer; I love that part of my personality. However, in the past, it has done me damage by always encouraging me to think of what could be. While I will never relent to the dreamer in me, I am learning to value the here and now, and to savor what actually is.
Food has become a way of practicing being present, and really savoring the beauty before me.



omelets are easy.
and hard to do wrong... you can add almost any ingredient, and it will probably be great.
This is 3 eggs,
chopped tomatoes, mushrooms, spinach, turkey bacon, and green pepper,
topped with avocado,
and feta!

baking in blizzards.

It is pure insanity here. I am staring out my window at the 3-plus feet of snow that we accumulated overnight, and what seems like mountains of snow compiled by the intense winds. Last night the storm began, and I holed myself away in my apartment to keep warm. I decided that on any cold night, the perfect treat was hot-chocolate. I decided to invent a hot chocolate bar to accompany my steaming hot cocoa.

In the midst of the bars baking, the crazy winds set off the fire alarm in my building. Along with 25 or 30 others, I was ushered into the chaos of a storm, and forced to bear the cold for a bit. These bars were the perfect treat to provide a little respite as we scurried back inside.


{hot-chocolate gooey bars}

hot chocolate gooey bars
1 1/2 sticks of butter, softened
2 cups sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla
2 eggs
1 3/4 cups flour
1/2 cup hot cocoa mix
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup mini marshmallows, or chopped large marshmallows
Chocolate Sauce

Mix all wet ingredients. Slowly mix in dry. Add marshmallows.
Spread into a 13x9inch baking pan. Drizzle with chocolate sauce.
Bake at 350 degrees for about 25-30 minutes, or until top is golden brown.

nourished.

{puffy and delicious}

when i was a little girl, my mom would wake us up on weekend mornings with the smell of a baking german pancake. it is a delightful smell, that seems to linger in the house for the whole day. it also is fun to look at... it puffs up in the oven like a giant marshmallow.

This weekend, I was able to take a little hiatus to Ft. Lauderdale to hang out with my sibs. I literally have the most amazing family. My siblings are all so incredibly unique, beautiful, and gifted. I feel completely myself with them. I feel safe, and free to be me. Its a wonderful thing to feel so known and accepted.

On Saturday morning, I woke up a bit earlier than everyone. With the extra time in the morning, I sat over a cup of coffee, and then decided to create in the kitchen. For the sake of memory, I recreated the infamous german pancake, along with a homemade banana caramel sauce. I love how much my family loves food.... It brings us together.


{banana caramel german pancake}

busy bee.

{apple crisp}

This week has been a busy one.
The past month has brought an extra dose of hardship for some of those most dear to me. In the midst of chaos, baking has become a beneficial, and welcomed therapy.
Tactile activity in the kitchen is lovely. And hopefully creates delectable results.

Apple Crisp is tactile, easy, and always a favorite. The recipe is below.



apple crisp.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees

8 peeled, cored, and sliced apples
1/4 cup sugar
1 Tablespoon Cinnamon
1 teaspoon Nutmeg
2 Tablespoons Orange Juice
1 teaspoon salt

Peel, core, slice apples and toss with remaining ingredients. Place in a 13x9inch pan.

1/2 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup flour
1 cup oats
1 Tablespoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla

Using your hands, blend all ingredients until crumbly. Pour over apples in 13x9 pan. Bake at 375 degrees for about 30-40 minutes, or until apples are soft and crust is golden. (I baked mine in 2 round cake pans so I could eat one and share the other!)

milk, muffins, MONDAY.

{strawberry crumble muffins}




Last night some students came over to watch old episodes of the Office.
We snacked on Muffins, milk, and some last minute, throw-everything-together cookies.
I am a really big fan of opening my refrigerator, looking at what I have, and coming up with a recipe using ingredients that I already have.
Last night, I made Strawberry Crumble Muffins. They are really sweet, gooey, and delicious. The recipe is below.
Also, I had a bunch of leftover Christmas candy. So I chopped up a bunch of Mr. Goodbar, Hershey, and Reeses candies and used them as a substitute for chocolate chips in my favorite cookie recipe. Yum.
All served with a glass of milk.
Plus, the best part is having leftover muffins for Monday morning.


{leftover candy cookies}



strawberry crumble muffins:
Preheat oven to 375.
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking poweder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup white sugar
3/4 cup milk
1 egg, beaten
1/4 oil
1 cup strawberry jam or preserves

Mix all dry ingredients. Stir in egg, milk, and oil. Batter will be a bit lumpy. Don't overbeat. Stir in jam/preserves. Fill 18 greased muffin tins with batter.

Crumble topping
1/2 butter, room temperature
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup flour
1 cup oats
Mix all together until crumbly. Evenly distribute over muffins. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until muffins are set.