butter & eggs

Whole Wheat Butternut Squash, Apple and Hazelnut Muffins

November 1, 2013 by Erica

Whole Wheat Butternut Squash, Apple and Hazelnut Muffins

OMG muffins.

I am trying to concentrate on writing a nice little blog post for you, complete with a description of the flavor and texture of these muffins. But all I can think about is taking a gigantic nutty, squashy, apply bite out of one.

Whole Wheat Butternut Squash, Apple and Hazelnut Muffins

They are so good that all descriptions seem extraneous, and the thoughts swirling around in my head keep getting interrupted by interjections of “MUFFINS!” and “HAZELNUTS!” Funny how I really can’t concentrate on anything, including stringing together a coherent description of these muffins, when presented with the thought of them.

Let’s stick to listing the ingredients – that, I think I can handle. And I should tell you that I am excited about every single one of them.

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Summer Squash Loaf Cake with Fennel and Almonds

September 6, 2013 by Erica

Summer Squash Loaf Cake with Fennel and Almonds // Coffee & Quinoa

So you guys: Moving. Let’s talk about it, because it’s kind of taking over my life lately. Also, you’re so supportive.

I promise we will get to this cake in a minute.

But first, moving. Moving is terrible.

I am at peace with the process now that we are fully moved in, only 2 walls of our living room are stacked with boxes (instead of the entire apartment), my kitchen is 90% organized, and some new IKEA furniture has even been assembled. But during the move, things were pretty painful.

Our new apartment is only about a mile from the old one, i.e. pretty much the easiest move possible. We signed the lease completely on a whim, and moved almost immediately. (Somehow my old landlord had no problem with this! Although I learned later that she was looking for a new place and ended up moving in when I moved out. Thaaaat might have something to do with it.) Anyway, I am about the least impulsive person imaginable., and definitely experienced some buyer’s remorse after signing the new lease.

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Lemon Cornmeal Pancakes with Blueberry Sauce

July 31, 2013 by Erica

Lemon Cornmeal Pancakes with Blueberry Sauce

When was the last time you went berry picking?

Lemon Cornmeal Pancakes with Blueberry Sauce

Mine was years ago, when my family came to visit me in Germany at the end of my semester abroad. It was late summer, and we were set on berry picking. We drove about an hour just to pick some raspberries. I probably have vivid memories of it mostly because it is well-documented – my dad likes to take lots of pictures when the family is all together.

Aaand this is reminding me of many funny things that happened during that visit – my sister falling off a folding bike (she didn’t think it was too funny at the time), my dad whipping the cream to go on top of those berries by hand because he couldn’t find an electric mixer, our crazy German relatives… good thing I am with my sisters this week, because we have some reminiscing to do.

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Chocolate Terrine with Sea Salt and Thai Basil Ice Cream

July 12, 2013 by Erica

Chocolate Terrine with Sea Salt and Thai Basil Ice Cream

It’s chocolate lovers only from here on out. This is some serious chocolate.

Chocolate Terrine with Sea Salt and Thai Basil Ice Cream

A few years ago, I had this dessert at the restaurant Ten Tables in Cambridge, MA. I was out to dinner with my mom after work, and naturally ordered the most chocolaty thing I could find on the dessert menu – chocolate terrine with sea salt and Thai basil ice cream. I thought Thai basil ice cream sounded weird and that I probably wouldn’t eat that part; I was mostly interested in the chocolate. So misguided.

The first bite blew my mind. An ultra-chocolaty flourless chocolate cake topped with crunchy sea salt and fresh, creamy basil ice cream. The combination was SO unexpectedly delicious. I was in heaven.

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Coconut Rhubarb Cake

June 26, 2013 by Erica

Coconut Rhubarb Cake

I couldn’t let the season go by without posting some rhubarb recipe. It’s no secret that I love colorful foods, and rhubarb is right up there with the prettiest of ’em.

Coconut Rhubarb Cake

I hope rhubarb is still in season where you are! That way you can make this yummy cake.

Coconut Rhubarb Cake

Now I wasn’t raised on rhubarb; I don’t recall my mother ever making a strawberry rhubarb pie. In fact, I think last year was the first time I’d ever had rhubarb! It cracked me up when I first tasted it – looks like red celery, tastes like sour apples. What a funny little stalk!

I have a lot more experimenting to do with rhubarb, but let’s focus in on this particular experiment: coconut rhubarb cake.

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