simple weekend recap: edition 2

It's been much too warm to do anything too crazy this past weekend. Went out for drinks and apps with a friend last week at Scollay Square...had some delicious drinks (The Absolut Lemonade made of Absolute Citron, St. Germaine, fresh Lemon and Champagne...also known as delicious) with some tasty apps of guac and pulled pork sliders with cole slaw.

 Made some granola (recipe later this week!)...

 

Went to a nearby vineyard for another friend's bachelorette party...

 

  

Now I'm off to make chocolate chip cookies with banana insides and vanilla sugar (recipes this week!) for a birthday tomorrow...while Erin rests by the fan trying to survive this heat!

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diy lemon exfoliating scrub

There's nothing like a good exfoliating scrub in the summer. This combination of lemon, salt, and olive oil leave your skin glowing (and it only takes 3 minutes to whip up with everyday items)!


Items you will need (for 2 small jars-worth, 1 for you and 1 as a gift!):
1 cup sea salt
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 tsp lemon juice (and zest)


Directions:
1. Mix olive oil and sea salt together bit by bit (may not need all of it, depending on consistency...no one wants a runny exfoliating scrub)

2. Add zest of lemon and lemon juice. Package in air-tight jar. 

 

Boom. Done. Wrap accordingly if you plan to share. Use towards end of shower for gleaming clear skin with a healthy smooth glow!
 

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easiest summer dessert...ever

I look forward to receiving my monthly edition of Bon Appétit...but I rarely have the time for one of their creations during the week.  Unfortunately I do not stock items such as chile de árbol , dried hibiscus flowers, or miso paste on a daily basis nor do I have the energy to pop out to the store for an obscure ingredient. 

This month, Bon Appétit pulled through...in a major way. More than 90% of the recipes in this edition used items I had on hand, and some great simple recipes for summer. My new favorite summer dessert that is unbelievably easy with such a big punch of flavor is the Honey-Lemon Custard with Fruit.

Ingredients (serves 8, halve or quarter appropriately):
 2 cups heavy cream
4 tbsp. honey, divided
3 tbsp. sugar
1/2 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
3 2" strips lemon peel
6 tbsp. fresh lemon juice, divided
1/4 cup light rum
1 cup berries or sliced mango (I used mango)

Directions:
1. Heat cream, 2 tbsp honey, and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat until beginning to simmer. Cut vanilla bean lengthwise. Scrape seeds and add to pot along with pod. Add lemon peel, remove from heat, and let steep for 5 minutes.

2. Remove vanilla bean and peel. Stir in 5 tbsp fresh lemon juice. Divide between ramekins, cover and let chill in refrigerator for at least 1 hour (and up to 1 day).

3. While chilling, whisk remaining 2 tbsp honey, and 1 tbsp of lemon juice with rum in a small bowl. Stir in fruit of choice and let sit until juicy (about 1 hour)

4. When you can't wait any longer to eat the custard, remove from the refrigerator and eat along with fruit.

   

The fruit mixture cancels out the sugary custard to create a  happy (and refreshing) union. As we speak I am chilling a custard for a peach and raspberry mix...I obviously could not turn it down!

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restaurant week and easter

Back to the Northeast and back to eating, drinking, and decorating.  Unfortunately I was only able to take advantage of the Boston Winter Restaurant Week for one dinner. Fortunately, it was at one of my favorite places that serve the best range of cocktails that I have found in this city, Marliave.

You can find their extensive cocktail menu here.

I started with the escargot with garlic, shallots, butter, parsley, cognac, parmesan, and toasted bread served in a Staub escargot dish that was gorgeous and super functional:

This was the highlight of the meal (other than the delicious cocktails of course!) but I continued with the chicken and ended with the cheese assortment. The cheese was delicious and the perfect size for an after-meal nibble. The chicken was mediocre, but I am a very harsh chicken-judge after being raised with 1,726 different preparations of chicken for every meal of the week by my mother. Some believe ordering chicken while at a restaurant is a waste, but on the other hand, I believe in order for a chicken dish to make it on the menu at a nice restaurant, there must be a reason...somehow these chefs must have jazzed up the chicken in order for it to make one of the coveted 4-7 entree spots.

On the home-front my newest additions are my meyer lemon, key lime, and olive trees along with my white rose wreath!

 I'm in love with them and am already eye-ing the newly-listed herbs and trees in the new Agrarian section of Williams-Sonoma.

In other news, my mother has always been enthused about every holiday that ever comes around; her favorites include Halloween, Valentine's Day, and Easter. Mostly she loves any holiday that has their own soap or boxer collection.  Every year at summer camp, college, or even after school, I receive an overly-stuffed care-package chock full of goodies and embarrassingly covered in holiday stickers. Yesterday this bad-boy arrived on our porch:

I disposed of the bunny-covered box, and apologize for the poor-quality photograph I was just too excited. The big-hitters include the soap in the chicken container, bunny sour patch kids, bubble gum eggs, socks, a bunny dog-toy for Erin, a bunny cat-nip toy for Moosey, Lindt carrots, chocolate covered Jelly Bellys (which are odd and the verdict is still out on these...), and of course the rabbit stuffed-animal. Happy Easter!

Instructions here

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