S'mores protein fudge yo

 

I know I'm not a blogger photographer extraordinaire, but don't these pics make you want to devour that loaf of sticky goodness?  S'mores protein fudge.  Just stop it.  Its a protein bar recipe that I tweaked to incorporate oh, only the best flavor combo ever, duh.  I mean please, how can you not just die.  And it has protein so you can munch before a run and and just run and run and run.  What's better than that.  Candy that makes you exercise.  Genius.

Sotto

Hubs and I had a date night on Saturday it was sublime.  We tried Sotto which I had heard about solely from Emily's reco on the blog cupcakesandcashmere.  it was our kind of place.  Lots of plates to share, lots of original ideas and uncommon combinations and wines I had never heard of.  We shared the fava bean dip, the clams, the blistered little gems caesar, chicken liver ragu pasta and diavolina pizza which was studded with Calabrian chilies, pecorino, kale and onion.  Its not so often that I absolutely love EVERYTHING I order in one night.  We totally overate and then kept picking.  I loved the dark dank atmosphere too, very wine cellar/basement/hipster cave.  We are definitely already scouring the menu for our next trip back.

Ombre

I know this is not food related but I'm trying to figure out how to update my ombre hair for the Spring/Summer.  Any thoughts??? I love these looks.

Shannon's Baby Shower

Cupcakes from Frosted Bakery

Even the gifts were explosions of color! (apologies for these blurry photos - i'm dizzy)

Hot pink and orange still a match made in heaven

Damn I want a giant glass of sangria right now

Lunch is served

A hearty quinoa salad I just kept adding stuff to

A welcoming platter (for me, anyway)

Labeled cheeses and fruits

Cornichons and other accoutrements

(blurry) mushrooms that hubs enjoyed taste testing all week

Perfectly roasted salmon a la Ina Garten

The spread

I catered another friends event on Saturday.  It was fun!  She chose herb stuffed mushrooms, a cheese platter minus the charcuterie as its not prego-friendly (I subbed fruits and fruit pastes and nuts and pickles!), roasted salmon with basil cream & a star studded quinoa salad packed with goodies and dressed with one of my fave vinaigrette recipes.  This catering thing was intimidating at first, and granted I've only done it for family and friends thusfar, but its really rewarding to do if you're very organized about your time.  Its also nice for the moment to just depend on yourself and not have to delegate orders.  I'll get to that stage but for now, I like doing it myself.  I tend to be a bit bossy in the kitch ;).  I'm blessed to be surrounded by people who appreciate my food and happy to have the opportunity to be creative outside the mom role.  It feels really good right now.

A belated birthday post

Oysters at Ink that I couldn't touch (sniff)

Lollipop kale with lardo & pig ear chips

Branzino with crunchy cauliflower chips

Beef cheeks - amaze

I know my birthday was a month ago, but that's how blogging goes these days.  We celebrated it right, going to MV Ink (my gyno's recommendation, ha ha) and of course having a girly lunch at Strand house in MB on a sunny Saturday.  My friend Kate made me this amazing ombre cake and I ate half of it in 3 days time.  Not a joke. Our experience at Ink was incredible.  The dishes all had an unexpected twist and the taste and service to back it up.  How good is a restaurant when You have excellent service and a waiter who genuinely loves what he's talking about?  The oysters had frozen pearls of mignonette, and the beef cheeks had beet string or something crazy.  It was all hearty and delicious, not just works of art.  I love a good birthday.

Georgetown Cupcake has landed

So when I say Georgetown cupcake has landed, I mean as far as I'm concerned.  I live at the beach and don't know how new and hip and of the moment these city spots are.  I used to, when I spent my corporate day job combing Zagats and Citysearch looking for the latest gem instead of entering data.  Ah, I miss those days of filling up the final hour on the clock with water cooler chatter. 

So anyways, cupcakes.  These are pretty insane.  I really went in for my son, you know, for potty training rewards and stuff, obvi.  I chose vanilla birthday cake for him, gluten free peanut butter fudge for me and a chocolate ganache and salted caramel for the hubs.  I didn't taste his and there were not pinch marks in the frosting nor were there tiny quarters cut out of his.  Not me. I'm gluten free.

PS the gluten free cupcakes was pretty amaze.  I know most of the bakeries who don't specialize in GF products just up the sugar, but for what it was worth, it was damn good.

Eatin & Wearin your green

Green eggs and cakes. And bangers.

Corned beef, potatoes, purple carrots & leeks, bubbling away in the crock pot.  Recipe here.

Gluten free Irish soda bread from Elana's pantry

I know it's been a long and pitiful break since my last post and am I proud of that? No. I am sad. I miss you and our time together. I miss taking out of focus, poorly lit pics of my half eaten food from restaurants and telling you how divine it was.

It's time to get my blog groove back.

I had enough energy and inspiration today to whip a few festive St Patrick Day dishes mainly in honor of my dad who always knocked on my bedroom door before school in the morning to make sure I was wearing my green. He makes the best Irish stew and for some strange reason I enjoyed the traditional "boiled dinner" with him when my mom & sister turned up their noses at it. Who doesn't like salty meat, cabbage, carrots & potatoes, boiled within an inch of their lives and slathered with mustard and horseradish? Duh.

Anyways call it our special little holiday. I'm feelin' it today. Cheers Dad!