Weekend Finds

Weekend Finds 11:3:13

November 3, 2013February 5, 2017

Phew! We just got back yesterday from a relaxing, sun-soaked week in Mexico. We were there celebrating my birthday and my sister’s birthday with my mom and her boyfriend. It was so much fun, and there were food adventures to be had! Post coming soon about that.

This Weekend Finds is starting to lean towards the holiday season. I don’t know if you know, but this year Thanksgiving falls on the second night of Channukah, for the first time ever, and the only time for the next 75,000 years. My family, being a little eccentric, is going full steam ahead for “Thanksgivukkah,” so the holiday has been on the brain lately. Here are some things we’re thinking of:

1. Rosemary Wreath Place Cards

Weekend Finds // Serious Crust by Annie Fassler — Rosemary wreath place cards from Spoon Fork Bacon

I’m super into these mini wreaths, made of rosemary, so you know they’ll smell delicious. Head over to Spoon Fork Bacon for the (not that hard) tutorial!

2. Butternut Squash Latkes

My mom wanted to make traditional latkes and put cranberry sauce on top (which, I guess, is still a possibility), but I always like making new latke variations. This seems like the perfect year to try these butternut squash and sage latkes.

3. Squash Soup with a twist

Moving away from the holiday theme, this soup from Molly Wizenberg over at Orangette looks wonderful. I love squash soup, but I love even more that this one has some unusual ingredients for a squash soup: fish sauce and sriracha anyone? I can’t wait to try making it.

4. Drinking with your eyes

This is an entertaining article about the design of wine labels. Not that it helps terribly much – I still probably won’t know what to pick up when I go to the store – but it’s interesting to learn about what all goes into the design, and the tools label designers use.

5. Cocktails in a slowcooker

This idea to put your mulled wine or spiced cider in a slow cooker instead of a pot on the stove is brilliant. Having a bunch of people (who’ve been drinking) gathered around the stove where there is fire has always made me nervous, and this seems like a great alternative, and a way to get people out of the kitchen and into other rooms.

Weekend Finds 10:5:13

October 5, 2013February 5, 2017

I’m writing this weekend finds post from my mother’s living room in Seattle, where she has been surprised for her birthday by myself, Jonah, and my older sister (yesterday at about 5) and then again by her mother, sister, brother-in-law, brother, and sister-in-law. I love seeing the absolute joy on her face when she is surrounded by her family. Her boyfriend really pulled off an incredible surprise. How fun.

Now let’s get to the finds!

1. Pok Pok Wings

The time has come. The recipe for the chicken wings that launched a thousand ships has finally been released, as part of the publicity for Pok Pok’s new cookbook. It certainly seems like a bit of work, but man oh man, if they taste anything like the original, it’s so worth it. And hey, I’m lucky enough to live in Portland, so if it’s too hard, I’ll just drive across town and pay to have someone else make them for me.

2. It’s Pumpkin Time

It’s officially October, which means we can officially start obsessing over everything pumpkin. While some people love their pumpkin spice lattes, I am a bigger fan of pumpkin bread, pumpkin soup, and maybe if I get really ambitious, this pumpkin cheesecake.

3. Holiday cocktails

Maybe you’re a member of one of those families that all gets together and doesn’t drink at all. I am not a member of one of those families. My family likes their wine. And their cocktails. And occasionally their beer, too. And the holiday themed cocktails are starting to appear. This pisco apple sour and this apple pie cocktail with cinnamon meringue look like a perfect place to start.

4. How to Fry an Egg

No, it’s not the title of a chapter from How to Cook a Wolf or An Everlasting Meal. This egg frying tip is seriously about to change lives. When you crack your egg into your pan, add a bit of water and a lid – the water will steam the top of the white that’s over the yolk that never gets cooked otherwise. It’s a perfect solution to a serious problem.

5. Miso-creamed Kale

A friend of mine recommended this miso-creamed kale recipe from the now shuttered Wafu, a ramen restaurant in Portland. While I wasn’t crazy about their ramen, I was crazy about their small plates. This dish looks delicious and fairly easy to make.

Weekend Finds 9:29:13

September 29, 2013February 5, 2017

Well, it has been officially windy and rainy in Portland this week (downing trees and outing power and everything!), so the time has come to hunker down, put on those shawl collar sweaters, and bring some of these weekend finds to life.

1. How to Make a Good Crockpot Meal

First and perhaps most importantly, let’s revisit slow cookers as it gets colder. I never know which recipes on the internet to trust, but one resource I always listen to is Bon Appetit. This is a great little reminder of the do’s and don’t’s of crockpotting.

2. Pumpkin Time!

Portland is certainly getting into the fall swing of things, as many bakeries are featuring pumpkin on their menus. This article from Portland Monthly tells you who’s falling for what fall treats. Pumpkin streusel muffins, pumpkin caramal ricotta tart, pumpkin cupcakes with molasses butter cream… how can I decide? It’s also inspiring me to revisit some of my favorite pumpkin recipes…

3. Cinnamon Raisin Bread

Ok, admittedly, all of these breads from A Subtle Revelry look beautiful, but the cinnamon raisin loaf really stood out to me. I grew up eating cinnamon raisin bread, toasted, slathered with cream cheese. I remember how good it would make the kitchen smell in the morning before I went to catch the bus to school. Imagine how heavenly the house would smell if you made a whole loaf. From scratch.

4. Leif

This online shop has some beautiful tabletop items. I’m particularly into the dip dye place mats, the dipped mini bowls, and the agate platters, which would make for an AMAZING cheese spread, and you know it.

5. Buttermilk Bacon Grease Cornbread

I can’t even. This buttermilk bacon grease cornbread from Local Milk sounds so effing good, I have a feeling that once I make it I’ll hide it from everyone else and eat the whole dish, still warm, slathered in butter and honey. Ok, maybe not, but I’d like to do that. There’s another variation for Coconut cornbread in her post that also sounds scrumptious.

Weekend Finds 9:21:13

September 22, 2013February 5, 2017

This weekend’s finds (and many of my finds lately) seem to be about learning. What’s the best way to load the dishwasher? Where can I take an online class about sauces? What about the best caesar salad? I’m finding lately that instead of thinking my ways (though tried and true) are best, I am more open to trying others’ recommendations.

1. Dishwasher loading

This find is mostly dedicated to my mother, who my sisters and I always made fun of for being less than stellar at loading the dishwasher. But there’s always more to learn. For example, who knew to stagger your large and small plates? The rest of Chow’s YouTube channel is filled with videos of tips, etc.

2. Craftsy

Online classes are always kind of a gamble. You never know if it’s going to be worth what you’re paying for it. But the classes on Craftsy look pretty nice. You get downloadable recipes, and you can come back to revisit the material anytime.

3. A Fancy-Ass Caesar Salad

I always judge a restaurant by their caesar salad (let me just say, I really like the caesar-esque salad at my new place of work). And I always wish I made caesar salad more often myself, but I can never quite get that fancy feel. A Cozy Kitchen’s new post teaches how to make your own dressing, croutons, etc. to make the perfect salad.

4. Color Pop Cutting Boards

Apparently I’m on a cutting board kick lately. Last week it was pyrography, this week it’s color pop. I think it’s just because I love the idea of personalizing your belongings, making your kitchen (and your home, and your life) completely unique and 100% yours. This idea from A Beautiful Mess is a cute way to add color and tie in colors from your kitchen/home.

5. Chomp

Chomp is a new little food journal. Each issue (this is just the first one) will feature interviews with and recipes by 3 Portland chefs, plus a game of 20 questions. The first issue features Nong Poonsukwattana, Pascal Sauton, and John Gorham.