recent foods

Simply, what I have eaten in the recent past.

farmers market explorations

a day in the life, photos, stories

A group of friends and I trekked downtown on our city’s public transportation, and we explored the farmers market! The last time I had been was years ago -and I remember it as wonderful and magical, so I was hoping it would live up to my expectations. It did! But I will begin at the start of our journey. We met at the DART rail station around 8am, bought the passes, and hopped on the train. My sister and I had made scones to share as we rode. Oops, we forgot about the no food and drinks rule. Riding the Green Line through the trees and neighborhoods, the view out our window transitioned to the downtown city. We passed a few corner coffee shops and cafes and rode through a few stations before departing at the St. Paul Station. We then walked down about a mile to the farmers market.

The color, the fragrance, the noise of all the shoppers…

I came home with a bag full of fresh local produce, yum.

this year’s garden

a day in the life, food, photos

We have lots of things growing. Herbs, beans, swiss chard, radishes, red cabbage, cantaloupes, and TOMATOES. My word, do we have tomatoes. We probably pick almost a pint each day!

These homegrown tomatoes… they are the ones that I ate and enjoyed. That moment when I ate a tomato and enjoyed it… radical and life changing. (To properly understand this, you must realize that for all of my life I’ve despised eating raw tomatoes. No longer!)

I always grow morning glories in my herb garden.

Just a few days ago we cut up and ate this cantaloupe.

The taste of homegrown food… there’s nothing better.

Thanksgiving Prep

a day in the life, food, photos, stories, words

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day! And you know me, I love to bake. So there has been lots of baking going on :)

Clara made a berry pie yesterday, this morning I made an apple pie, Mom made Mema’s cranberry jello, I also made rolls, and I made a pumpkin cheesecake pie. (Graham cracker crust pies, by the way, are the very easiest to make.)

Oh, and this apron. I made it in Mom’s sewing class!

*Photo credit to my sister Clara

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lunch on the square

a day in the life, photographic journeys, photos, photoshoots, stories, thoughts, words

Summur and I went to the Historic Downtown square in McKinney this afternoon. And had a lovely time! On the drive, trying to figure out where we are (121 really does just turn into 399 which really does just turn into McDonald) and blasting the 80s music and rocking the vintage shades. Walking around the square, eating delicious food, spending long amounts of time wandering around antique stores, taking photos.

We had lunch at Spoons Cafe. It was fabulous. Pink lemonade, black pepper fries, and a bacon-lettuce-avocado sandwich. Summur had Pumpkin Soup and a Mandarin Orange Salad.

We enjoyed perusing the shops, even though some of them were closed…

Just off the square and down a little side street was this staircase.

I got this skirt at the Denton Square antique store last week. Wool + plaid + pleats + 70s!

I definitely enjoyed my afternoon! Thank you dear : )

And when I got home, Mom reminded me that it’s my half birthday. So, I can convince myself that the Fiestaware teapot I got at the Antique Mall was a birthday present. And that Mantovani record. And… that’s all.

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peach pie

a day in the life, photos, recipes, words

This is now my favorite kind of pie. Ever. If you haven’t had it, you’ve missed out. But really, you’ve got to make it yourself. A store-bought pie could never compete with the flavor, the texture, the just-right-sweetness of homemade.

I got my 10 peaches at Rosemeade Market, where I work. Local Texas peaches are above all others. And I used this recipe from Bon Appetit, with some adaptions.

First step: blanching them in boiling water (directions here – except I did longer than 40 seconds – more like a minute), and peeling them, which is easy; they’re just slippery.

Second step: cutting them up. (I’m not sure why I didn’t think to eat any at this point.) You combine these with sugar, I also added some lemon juice.

Third and fourth and fifth steps?: pie crust, which you put in your pan, and spoon in the fruit, and put on the top crust, and crimp the edges, and cut slits in the top, and bake. To make this:

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best sandwich EVER

a day in the life, photos, recipes, words

BLT. No tomato for me, I use cheese instead. A BLC? Maybe.

What really makes this more than just good is… the pesto sauce. Spread on the bread next to the bacon, and… there are no words to describe how good this is.

I guess there might be some. Like best sandwich EVER.

[homemade whole wheat bread, bacon, sharp cheddar, spinach, and homemade (from homegrown basil!) pesto sauce.]

This lovely plate is Clara’s, thrifted recently.

I’ll go make myself another one.

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my birthday

a day in the life, photos, stories, words

^The morning began with a cup of tea (and trying out the heart-shaped bokeh filter.)

I did have to do school, even though it was my birthday.

^ complete with sparkling cider

^ jen being a torero [bullfighter] and em doing the death drop.

^some lovely roses from em + jen

^ the christmas lights in the back yard [with heart bokeh filter]

^ i made some delicious brownies, recipe from bon appetit magazine.

it was a really lovely day. and no, i don’t feel older. i’m still a kid.

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Christmas

a day in the life, photos, words

^ My sisters and I bring Mom and Dad breakfast in the morning. Tea, coffee, muffins.

^ the Christmas tree.

^ This is the candy cane lady. She’s been in the family for as long as I can remember, but she’s been around for a more than that too – her base says 1954.

^ I made this apple pie. And for your information, Betty Crocker makes a better pie crust than Nourishing traditions or those girls from the pie shop in Brooklyn. (whose recipes I’ve used previously.)

^ My super cool camera lens mug from Photojojo.

^ Melissa in all her new winter wear, looking like she stepped out of an Anthropologie ad. [handmade boots + gloves, and scarf and forever 21 headband.]

^ Dad held Riette alot. She’s adorable.

^ A big delicious dinner. It made for delicious leftovers too.

^ At the very end of the evening we went to see Christmas lights. I fell asleep on the drive home.

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new mexico

photos, stories, thoughts, words

we are driving a rental van this trip, which is rather strange. but there’s this sweet storage space in the floor that Melissa calls the Jew hiding place. On the day we drove to Albuquerque, we ate lunch at Rosa’s Cafe in Amarillo which has been tradition for the last couple years.