Life Lately

Two non-recipe posts in a row - yikes! That's kind of how it's been recently though. We were out of town visiting family in Carmel Valley, then the following weekend we moved, and last weekend we needed some time to recover and do nothing.

Luckily I do have some photos to tide you over until the next recipe post! I'm making desserts for all three (yes, three) Thanksgiving celebrations we're attending this year, including a classic apple pie, a pear-cranberry crisp with a gingersnap topping, and an attempt at a gluten-free dessert for my mother-in-law. Stay tuned...

We took a drive down to Big Sur during our time in Carmel...how have I not spent more time there?! It was a gorgeous fall day that made me fall in love with California even more.

Not long after that relaxing weekend, we moved. I can't remember the last time I was that exhausted! We are finally settling into the new place and are amazed by how spacious it is.

Poppy likes it too, since she has much more room to run around and chase imaginary things. Also more closet space to hide in.

In Transit

Gabe and I are moving this weekend, just a few miles away, to a much bigger place with a yard and multiple closets and all kinds of other awesome stuff. It's a little bittersweet since we've created such great memories at our soon-to-be old place, so I felt a little tribute was in order.

This apartment was our first place together, fresh out of college, and meant the world to us as our first home together. After more than four years of long distance during college, being able to finally move in together was a huge, exciting step for us. When we moved in, Gabe didn't have a job yet, so he stayed home and put together Ikea furniture all day. After a few weeks we finally bought a couch but the space was so small that all we could fit was one half of a sectional.

Around Valentine's Day last year, we went to a local animal shelter "just to see what was there" and ended up becoming the parents of a sassy orange cat who has clawed her way into our hearts.

We brewed beer together, cooked meals together, and I started a blog. We learned each other's habits and quirks and settled into a routine.

Last May, I helped Gabe slowly climb the stairs as he returned home after an eight day stay in the hospital. A few short months later, I bounded up the stairs alone, my heart racing, as an epic treasure hunt ended in Gabe's proposal in our living room. Poppy participated, of course.

Amy came to visit and we watched the Giants win the World Series!

We had our first Christmas together and picked out a tree that barely fit in the living room...but it was perfect nonetheless.

We spent countless hours planning our wedding: stamping envelopes, writing our vows, creating seating charts, trying to account for every little detail.

And then we returned from our honeymoon, back to real life, and ready to seek out a new place to turn into our home.

Thanks for the memories, Stuart Street. I can't wait to see what the next place brings!

White Bean, Kale, and Potato Soup

As I type this post at the table next to my kitchen window, it's grey and windy outside, the 49ers game is on TV, and I'm sipping hot tea...yep, fall is here! And you know what that means: soup weather! In my opinion, there is nothing better than a steaming bowl of soup on a chilly evening. This white bean, kale, and potato soup is hearty, comforting, and easy to make.

White Bean, Kale, and Potato Soup (serves 6-8):

1 cup each chopped celery, white onion, and carrot

3 cloves garlic, minced

3 tablespoons olive oil

2 teaspoons each salt and pepper

3 spicy Italian sausages with casing removed (optional)

8 cups chicken or vegetable stock

1 pound red potatoes, cubed

2 16-ounce cans of cannellini beans, rinsed and drained

1 bunch kale, chopped (about 4-5 large handfuls)

In a large heavy bottomed-pot over medium-high heat, saute the carrots, onion, and celery in three tablespoons of olive oil until soft and translucent, about 7 minutes. Add the salt, pepper, garlic, and sausage (if using) and saute until the sausage is cooked through, breaking it up into small pieces as you go.

Pour in the chicken or vegetable stock and turn up the heat to high, bringing the soup to a boil. Then add the potatoes and keep boiling for about ten minutes or until the potatoes are cooked through but not mushy. Turn the heat back down to medium and stir in the white beans and kale, letting the soup simmer for another ten minutes or so.

Serve with a little grated cheese on top (Parmesan or something similar) and some warm, crusty bread for dipping. Oh, and red wine pairs very nicely too!

Grandma Betty's Chocolate Peanut Butter Buckeyes

I hope you'll indulge me with just one more wedding-related post. As I mentioned a few times, we decided to DIY our wedding desserts for a few reasons. First, neither of us really likes cake that much, and wedding cakes are expensive! It didn't seem worth it to go the traditional route if neither of us would enjoy it. Second, it was challenging to find a local bakery who could provide what we wanted - it seemed like there were several places that did scones and muffins rather than actual desserts. 

When we first started wedding planning, I briefly entertained the idea of doing our own desserts, but quickly shot myself down because I figured it would be too stressful. Well, I'm happy to report that it was a huge success! We were very grateful for the help of several family members who contributed to the dessert buffet, and it was fun for our guests to see who made what. I was walking around during dessert and was SO happy to see people who piled their plates with all kinds of treats. 

Here's a small sampling of the desserts (all photos by Christina Richards).

One of the biggest hits of the dessert table was Gabe's grandma Betty's buckeyes. Before I met Gabe, I had never heard of buckeyes before...16 whole years of my life had been devoid of these incredible treats. They're little bite-size bombs of peanut butter and chocolate, made to look like the nuts from the Buckeye tree (the Ohio state tree, I gather they're more of an East Coas thing). In other words, they're like a homemade Reese's Peanut Butter cup but bigger and maybe even more delicious (how is that even possible!?).

(The beautiful buckeyes)

Grandma Betty was kind enough to share the recipe, and I figured it was only fair to pass it along. Here it is, in her words.

1 stick margarine or butter at room temperature     

1 pound powdered sugar                                                    

2 cups extra chunky Jif peanut butter (note: don't try and substitute natural peanut butter, you need the shelf-stable kind to make the mixture bind properly)

3 cups rice krispies

12 ounces chocolate chips

2/3 bar grated paraffin wax

Blend together with a spoon the butter, peanut butter, and powdered sugar. Add rice krispies, and with your hands, squeeze into walnut sized balls making about 50 (this mixture is dry but just keep squeezing and it will work!).

Place balls on a wax paper lined cookie sheet as you form them.Then melt the chocolate chips with the wax* in the top of a double boiler over hot (not boiling) water. Dunk balls in the chocolate using two forks, let drain on the forks over the chocolate for a few seconds, and then place on wax paper lined cookie sheets. Do not have balls touching on the cookie sheets until the chocolate sets.  

If they don’t disappear immediately, they can be kept in the fridge for a while in a tightly closed container or in the freezer.

*A note from Betty on the paraffin wax: The wax helps thin the chocolate a bit also adds a lovely shine to the buckeyes. In over 35 years making these, no one has gotten the least bit sick over eating the wax—they don’t even taste it!  Trust me!

I'm baaack!

Ok, for real this time. I thought I could keep up with posting even during the final two months of wedding planning but clearly I was wrong! I'm happy to report that all the hard work was worth it.

Both photos by Christina Richards Photography

Anyway, now that I have some more free time on my hands, I have serious intentions of posting new recipes and other tidbits more often. Last weekend, I jazzed up my old favorite avocado mango salsa recipe and will share that soon. And I can't wait to show you all some photos of how the potluck dessert buffet at the wedding turned out; it was better than I ever could have imagined! The photo above is of one of the many delicious pies we had.