Flashback

This retro tee is a fun flashback to my childhood. In fact, I believe I got this for my first birthday which was of course held at Pistol Pete's Pizza. Fun times! The little guy looks pretty cool in it, I must say. All he needs now is a pair of Chuck's and a skateboard.

Pants for Patrick

I made these for Patrick today out of an old pair of my jeans. I used this template and cut out the pieces from the bottom of each leg. I think I measured wrong for the waist, because it came out a little small. They just barely fit him now, so he'll probably outgrow them pretty soon. I think I'll try again with some stretchier material. Also, I had a hard time getting the seams to line up right in the seat of the pants. I think this also would have been easier with a thinner, stretchier material.

I embroidered this car on the leg to give it a little something extra. They look so cute on him! By the way, the little guy is three months old today! He's getting so big.

Butter Galore!

Well, let me just say that it is a good thing I joined a gym, because if we keep eating like this, I'm going to gain 50lbs! As Julia says, "This is a book for the servantless American cook who can be unconcerned on occasion with budgets, waistlines, time schedules, children's meals, the parent-chauffeur-den-mother syndrome, or anything else which might interfere with the enjoyment of producing something wonderful to eat." Tonight that's me!

Tonight's recipe of the week comes from my new cookbook. I think Julia would be proud. For the main course, we had Filets de Poisson Gratinés, à la Parisienne, or in other words, fish filets poached in white wine with a cream and egg yolk sauce. Basically, fish drenched in butter. According to Julia, "A beautifully sauced fish can well be considered as a separate course and needs nothing but French bread and a good wine to go with it... A salad or vegetable should come afterward, so as not to disturb the harmony of the fish, the sauce, and the wine." Well, at the risk of disturbing the delicate harmony of the dish, I decided to add some potatoes. I think our taste buds will survive. I simply boiled some red potatoes and then seasoned them with butter -yes more butter-, sour cream, and dried chives. I also warmed up a loaf of French bread and served that with olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette. To drink, we had a bottle of Chardonnay, the same wine I used to poach the fish.

For dessert, we had a chocolate cream pie. A very simplified version of a chocolate cream pie. I searched through Julia's cookbook trying to find a fun dessert to go with tonight's dinner and found that everything in there was just a bit more complicated and time consuming than I was willing to get into, so I went back to my stack of Martha Stewart recipes and found one for this pie. I will admit that I wasn't about to bake a pie crust from scratch on top of everything else tonight, so I bought one at Fry's. The filling for the pie is a simple chocolate custard from scratch. Cook time only about 30 minutes or so, then let it refrigerate for at least 4 hours. Delish!

I thought it only fitting to dress the part if I were going to be cooking from Julia Child's cookbook. So, here I am donning a string of pearls and one of the aprons that I made last Christmas featuring my great-grandmother's quilted stars. How deliciously vintage one feels in a getup like this. You simply cannot fight the urge to bake when you're wearing an apron and pearls.

Thanks Mom!

Only Mom can make a girl feel extra special on her birthday. This year, my mom gave me a copy of Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking along with some new Fiesta ware. Emphasis on the "new" as the "old" supposedly had lead in the paint. I think we can all do without the extra lead in our diet. Can't wait to start digging into this cook book. I may have to deviate from the Martha Stewart recipes each week to make room for some Julia.

Patrick's First Roadtrip

Well, we may have completely ruined him for the car seat, but Patrick did quite well on his first road trip.

Not a peep the whole way to Albuquerque until we were driving into town, and he started to get a little grumpy. Then for the rest of the weekend, any time we would begin to lower him into the car seat, he'd start exercising those lungs to let us know that he did not approve.

Out for some walking around Old Town.

He just loved his great-grandpa. And I think it's safe to say that Papa was a bit smitten as well.

It really was a beautiful weekend to be in Albuquerque.

Headed to lunch at La Hacienda.

I love the old buildings you find in any historic town.

The second night we were there, Papa took us to dinner at his local country club, so we thought Patrick needed something a little special for the evening. Here he is in a little golfer's hat. Can you say adorable!?

Traveling Goodies

One simply cannot travel without the proper munchies, so I made these today for tomorrow's road trip. They are candied ginger cookies with a lemon glaze. I packed quite a few of them away for the car, but had to reserve some for tonight. My family is coming over this afternoon to help celebrate my birthday. Yay for birthdays, family, and road trips of course!

Summer Squash Pasta

This week's recipe is a pasta dish with zucchini, yellow squash and corn. It's flavored with minced garlic, jalapeño and scallions, and topped with parmesan cheese. On the side, we have roasted cherry tomatoes and ricotta on top of toasted rustic crostini.

No special dessert tonight, but I'm thinking a bowl of cocoa krispies sounds pretty good.

Julie & Julia

This sweet film couldn't have landed at a better time in my own life than right now, as I too am beginning my own cooking (and crafting and homing) quest and sharing about it through this blog. I honestly had no idea what this movie was really about when I started my own recipe of the week tradition just a few weeks ago, so I was pleasantly surprised and touched when I went to see this with Luke this past weekend. I discovered that Julia Child was so much more than a good cook and was introduced to another kindred spirit in Julie Powell. What's more, as cheesy- no pun intended- as this may sound, I learned quite a bit about myself as well. Aside from my love of food and cooking, I share something much more important with these ladies, a determination to find joy in life, and to stick to that thing which brings you joy regardless of what anyone else thinks. This blog of mine may bring 1 reader or 1,000, but what matters is that I am making a mess in the kitchen (and in the studio) and I am capturing those precious moments on these pages. So, my advice to anyone who's reading this is find your passion and make the most of it. Cheers!

Bon Appétit

This week's recipe of choice is a veggie ricotta casserole. It is stuffed with fresh spinach, fresh basil, zucchini, garlic, and scallions. As an interesting twist, it is made with a parmesan and rice mixture rather than bread crumbs, making it not only vegetarian, but gluten free. Of course, the slice of toasted bread somewhat negates that.

Rainy Day Baking

I tried my hand today at French Macaroons with the aid of a pastry bag. The perfect activity for a rainy Thursday morning.

There's something about a soft drizzle that just begs for a toasty oven. Perhaps it is wishful thinking on my part, anticipating the end of this broiling desert summer and looking forward to cooler autumn nights.

Sandwiched together with seedless raspberry jam, these bite-size cookies seem to air on the side of elegance. This vintage tin plate felt most suiting for the dainty treats.

It's A Big World

A very little man in a very big chair. What worlds will he conquer today?

Bedtime Stories

Tonight's story of choice: The Hobbit.

A Good Day for Vintage

One of the gifts that we received at the baby shower was this tragically adorable vintage outfit, which Patrick wore this past weekend for the first time. It is a bona fide antique ensemble, complete with vinyl lining inside the underpants.

I just love the sweet gingham trim and pearl buttons. This pocket is also just too cute for words.

Nothing else could quite do this get-up justice more than a black and white photo. So, here's father and son in full-on retro form.

Posing

Here are a few photos from this week. I think Patrick thinks this is just a game that Mommy likes to play now: smile for the camera. He doesn't seem to mind :)

Really Mom? Another photo?

Recipe of the Week

I'm on week two of my new recipe exploration and it's Ratatouille with a poached egg over toasted French bread on the menu. This dish is made with yummy eggplant, tomatoes, zucchini, yellow bell peppers, and fresh garlic, seasoned with thyme and oregano. Veggies are marinated in olive oil and seasonings, roasted in the oven, and served on warm toasted baguette. The dish is topped off with a poached egg. Yum!

For dessert, we had homemade ice cream sandwiches- homemade cookies, store-bought ice cream. The cookies are spicy gingersnaps and the ice cream is butter pecan. I decided to throw in some fresh peach slices because they are so sweet and juicy right now. Perfect tangy compliment to the very sweet and very rich creamy treat.

Musical Fingers

Oh how the pride swells within a momma's heart! My little man discovered the black and whites today. Sitting on my lap this afternoon as I played a little for him, the young maestro decided that mom needed some accompaniment and began plunking out a few notes of his own. Though they may be out of time and out of tune, Beethoven's 5th couldn't have sounded sweeter. It is through moments like these that I am beginning to get a glimpse of how my heavenly father loves me. Despite my greatest efforts, the best I could ever accomplish is as that discordant melody, and yet He looks at me and pride swells in my Daddy's heart.

Saturday Morning Scones

Saturday mornings always call for something special. Today's treat was a batch of homemade buttermilk blueberry scones. I altered the recipe a bit, using only all-purpose flour instead of the cake flour that it called for and substituting non-fat plain yogurt for the buttermilk. They came out so crumbly and soft. I think they actually do just melt in your mouth. Paired with a cup of vanilla chai tea, this breakfast is quite suiting for a lazy Saturday morning at home.