Life has gotten in the way a little bit too much again in this first month of the new year. But don't worry. I'm still here. While I'm still playing catch up, to tide you over, I'm including a hodge-podge of links and tidbits for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy!
Momofuku Milk Bar Compost Cookie
This month is not only the start to the new year, but also the month of my birthday. This one was a big one. I was so spoiled that not only did my mom bake me the Flour bakery birthday cake, but I also got the Momofuku Milk Bar cookbook AND cookie mix. So this weekend I made the compost cookies. All you have to provide is butter, an egg, and some pretzels and potato chips. The recipe begins with creating graham cracker crumbles - something I would've never imagined making for a cookie recipe. According to some of the reviews I read online, a lot of people who have made them at home have had some difficulty with the outcome being really flat crunchy cookies. Mine did flatten out a bit from the original ball shape, however, they weren't exceptionally flat or overly crunchy. For a first attempt, they came out just right - a delightful combination of salty and sweet. Just how Christina Tosi would want it. Up next: corn cookies!
A new take on Pioneer Woman's Creamed Spinach Another thing I tried my hand at this weekend (gotta balance out the sweet somehow, right), was making creamed spinach. I had a bag of spinach taking up space in my fridge which I had intended to use to make a salad. Instead, it endlessly sat in my fridge until I finally fated it to become creamed spinach. Not wanting it to go to waste, I set about making Pioneer Woman's version, with a few twists of course. Instead of sauteing the spinach in butter, I opted for a splash of white wine, also sitting idly in my fridge. And, in addition to the spinach, I added a sprinkling of roasted red peppers. I think my roux got a little too thick, however the end result was still delicious.
"The Trip"
On a random night in, I decided to have a date night with my Netflix. Ok, fine so this is the case less randomly than I might be willing to admit. Browsing through the new releases, I came across a film called The Trip. The description promotes it as a mockumentary about a foodie road trip, which is the main source of the plot, but as with most things relating to food, the inspiration is so much more than that. I thoroughly recommend it for a watch. If not for the element of foodie exploration, than at the very least for all the Michael Caine impressions or Muppet references. You just never know what can and will happen when two people sit down at a table together to enjoy a meal. The conversations, and dishes, are endless.
Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream - The "Super" New Collection
I can barely contain my excitement. Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams has a new collection. The theme surrounding it is being sneakily described as "cake-saturated". While the flavors within the collection haven't been disclosed yet, just browsing the pictures on the Jeni's blog site will be enough to get you salivating. Think hand-piped meringues from the bake shop and brilliant colors achieved with all-natural food colorings (beet and black carrot powders). Does it get much better than that? No it does not. Try to resist - the new collection won't be released until Feb 3.
Today, I had some unexpected time to myself and for once had the time and space to think and recollect about the happenings of 2011. So, I decided to come up with a list of random things, thoughts, happenings and ideas of Smashed Muffin related things (aside from the obvious) that are the "bomb dot com" in my book. (A friend of mine started saying that, or maybe she's been saying it for a while, but regardless, I love it and I'm totally stealing it.)
1) New Cookbooks and Foodie Reading Material Flour by Joanne Chang
A friend at work tipped me off on this one as she had worked at Flour and let me borrow her personal copy of the book. However, shortly after it became quite clear that I would need my own copy. And let me tell you, discovering the cookbook has brought a lot of joy to this household. I've only made a handful of recipes so far, but all of them have been winners. Still need to try the sticky buns, but they will be a must make in 2012!
A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg
When I worked at the Sun-Times, we had quarterly book sales of material that had been sent for our review. Books, CD's, DVD's. I acquired quite a collection over the years and picked a lot of books and such at random intending to get to them later, A Homemade Life being one of those such books. A friend was visiting from out of town and noticed the book on my bookshelf in my kitchen and told me I had to read it. I finally got around to reading it and I was not disappointed. Now, I'm obsessed. So obsessed, that I'm hoping to plan a trip to Delancey (the restaurant the author opened with her husband in Seattle) sometime in 2012.
While doing my Holiday Shopping this year, I came across the magazine Lucky Peach. I missed the first issue, but the second issue was kind of perfect for me because it was surrounded by the theme "the sweet spot." Not only am I obsessed with it because it's published by McSweeney's, but this issue also had an article about someone else I'm currently inspired by, Christina Tosi of Momofuku Milk Bar. I can't wait to try making the grilled ham and cheese sandwich (with smart balance "ham" of course), which is wrapped between two corn cake cookies. As one of the editors writes in the introduction of the issue, the sweet spot in your life can be anywhere, event that moment "when you've eaten too many cookies and decide to try making a ham sandwich with cookies as bread." What's not to love? The mag even came with a page full of stickers for you to decorate your fruit with. Cuz, let's be real. Even if you're not a kid anymore, it's still hard to eat your fruit and veggies sometimes. But making it fun, makes it go down easier at the moments when you need an extra nudge.
2) Good Eats The Pickled Carrots at Birchwood Kitchen
Obviously, I couldn't recollect without mentioning the pickled carrots at Birchwood Kitchen. Not only was it the inspiration for this blog's beginnings, but those carrots were also one of my favorite go-to holiday gifts this year. With a feature on Tasting Table, I certainly hope others were as psyched as I was to bring a piece of the BK home with them.
This August, I was fortunate enough to visit Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams in Nashville, TN. They have other locations in Ohio, however, I really wish they would expand to Chicago. There are a handful of retailers throughout our local area that sell their pints of premium ice cream, however, it's not quite the same. Although, after discovering the new Jeni's sublime holiday video (I'm also obsessed with all their George Lange/Lange Studio videos by the way), I'm convinced that this should be the only way I chose to celebrate my new years, or any holiday for that matter.
4) All things Craft-tastic Pinterest
Pinterest is my new favorite hobby. When I'm not writing, or at work, or crafting, or baking, I'm probably pinterest-ing. Ok, that's not a word, but you get what I mean. It's got it all, fashion, food, crafts and a whole lot of randomness that will make you smile. Check it out. You might find yourself perusing for hours. Or longer. It's kinda dangerous like that, but still pretty great.
5) Movie Moments Stranger Than Fiction Ok, so maybe this movie isn't from this year, but I did watch it recently. And while doing so, was reminded how perfectly cheesetastic (yet oh-so-loveable) the scene is where Harold Crick brings Ana Pascal "flours" in an attempt to win her over. I mean, seriously. Who needs "flowers" that are going to wilt and die, when you have "flours" that you can bake with and enjoy the benefits of for weeks or months (thank you freezer)?! And I also second Ana Pacal's wish to make the world a better place with cookies. Bite by bite, it'll happen. Watch out world. Nothing makes the end of a long, terrible day seem to wash away than a delicious, gooey, out of this word cookie or dessert.
6) More videos to love
DOSE Market
This year, my new favorite thing to do when I'm not feeling Green City Market, was to splurge a little and visit Dose Market. The video sums it up pretty well, but if you're not convinced.... well I'm really not sure why you wouldn't be convinced, to be honest.
Tattly
I think I've already professed my love of Tattly, however this video just solidified my love that.much.more. It's very cute. And as they say on the blog, you won't be able to watch it without smiling, even just a little. Go ahead and try not to. I dare you.
Butcher & Larder video by Big View Makes
I know it seems weird coming from a vegetarian, but I completely stand behind the message in this video. Bring the neighborhood butcher back! And heck, the owner used to be a vegetarian too, so you really can't fight me on this one. We're all on the same side, regardless of what you choose to and choose not to consume.
So, dear readers... What are/were your favorite moments of inspiration that you stumbled upon this year? What are you looking forward to the most in the coming year?
It's just about that time of year. I've felt a little stumped on the gift ideas lately as I have yet to cross off anything on my own "gift-giving list", nor have the lists been properly made and organized (yes, I'm a little OCD). But, then I got those wheels turning a bit and I thought, to myself, "Dab Nabbit! Hows about a Smashed Muffin Gift Guide?!" So here you have it folks, my top suggestions for gifts to give to you and yours this year. Want to get your hands on my "highly inappropriate" but oh so delicious holiday rum ball recipe for the perfect DIY gift? Send an email to smashedmuffingoods@gmail.com and tell me what you're getting the lovelies on your list...!
1. A couple years back, I went to a book signing event at my favorite book shop in the city, The Book Cellar. Not only is it a great place to get gift ideas, but it also introduced me to the editors and concept behind The Smith Magazine Six Word Memoir project. Specifically, the Six Word Memoirs on Love and Heartbreak by writers famous and obscure. The idea seemed rather genius to me at the time. Now I've come to learn that there's a game, yes, cheesetastic, I know. But what can I say, I'm a sucker for a game that relates to writing. SOLD.
2. I've seen my fair share of tattoos, but I have yet to sport one myself. Getting a tattoo in my book has always meant applying with soap and water. For your fellow non-committal inkettes, Tattly has just the thing. Sign up for their subscription box and get 8 temporary tattoos a month, for 6 months, for $60. JUST ADD WATER!
3. Speaking of Tattly, they also recently came out with a custom Field Notes edition. I happen to be a fan of Field Notes to begin with. I mean, who can't relate to their slogan - "I'm not writing it down to remember it later. I'm writing it down to remember it now." Not only am I all about the writing, but who can't find a pocket notebook handy from time to time to jot down those shreds of ideas we come across during a day that we grasp to remember? And, it's made in the USA to boot. ADD IT TO THE LIST!
4. While we're on the topic of writing and books, I'm going to share with you one of my favorite coffee table books. It may seem silly to some, but when I'm having a bad day, nothing brings me more comfort than flipping through the pages of this book and not being able to help myself from cracking a hopeful smile. Not to mention that Everything is Going to be OK is published by my favorite publisher, Chronicle Books. With the stresses of the day, sometimes we all need a friendly, inventive reminder to put things in perspective. What are you waiting for? You might even want to buy one for yourself, it's that good. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. GO BUY IT ALREADY!
5. Wait, wait... Don't Tell Me! I know this one! The uber dork in me would love nothing more than to spend all my Saturday nights drinking chai in my living room and listening to the Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me show (and thusly trying not to snort said chai out of my nose during the intense fits of laughter). You can do my nerdalicious fantasy one better and go to a live taping of the show at the Chase Auditorium Theatre. And if you have a foodie lover on your hands, I've always thought it would be the best treat ever to recreate Wait, Wait's Sandwich Monday for someone - the absurd, disgusting, delicious and everything in between. Mix well and it sounds like fun for all to me! Some available at local haunts in the city, some you can fabricate live in your very own kitchen. Just sayin..... SIGN ME UP!
6. Growing up, I was always intrigued by nesting dolls. When I came across these nesting doll (ok technically they're called "matryoshka dolls") measuring cups at a recent trip to Paper-Source (or I've also seen them at Sur La Table), it was love at first sight. Not only are they adorable, but they're also quite functional. They're great if you're short on cabinet space - and you get double the measuring capabilities with tops and bottoms. Who can't use an extra measuring cup or two? Especially when they're so stylish and cute! ....WIN WIN!
7. When I first moved to the big city (from the nearby western suburbs, but still), I quickly discovered the thriving crafting scene in Chicago. And thus, quickly fell in love with Renegade Holiday Craft Fair. I instantly gravitated to my favorite vendor for the perfect gift for all my Chicagoan friends, Circa Ceramics. (I find their magnets to be great gifts, for your Chicago and non-Chicago friends alike.) Handmade in Chicago, they have a line of bowls, cups, vases, plates, you name it, in the blue stripe/red stars design of the Chicago flag. WHAT'S NOT TO LOVE?!
8. While we're on the topic of making your kitchen fully stocked with functional and cute kitchenware supplies, I couldn't help but include this camera cookie cutter set from DIY Photography. I discovered these while browsing Feature Shoot's gift giving for photographers list. These truly will be the "best cameras you've ever tasted." SWEET!
9. Now that you're friends will be fully stocked with functional and fun kitchen ware, they'll need fresh and local ingredients to cook with. I can't think of anything better than a produce box from Green Grocer Chicago. GET COOKIN'!
10. My last gift suggestion kind of comes full circle. This blog's very first posting was about attempting to recreate, at home, the pickled carrots from Birchwood Kitchen. Then I got the newsletter from Tasting Table in my inbox last week, and it provided a friendly reminder of this blog's beginnings. If you don't have time to make them on your own, now you can take those pickled carrots (and more) home with you. At $7.50 per 12 ounce mason jar, you'll be stocking up on more than just the carrots (jars are also available in green and white wax beans, beets, cauliflower, and even brussel sprouts). WHAT'RE YOU WAITING FOR?!
As of late, you might have noticed, my blogging has suffered. If it makes you feel any better, my food writing has suffered too. While I struggle to achieve balance in an ever demanding life, I am attempting to change that and fight my work life from taking over. In doing so, I've been scouring the world wide web for new sources of inspiration. I didn't have to look far.
Have you ever heard of Pleasant House? I read about PH in a feature in Chicago Mag, and then noticed them pop up at a recent trip to Dose Market. And then I stumbled across this video on Gapers Block while attempting to catch up on happenings at the Chicago Food Film Fest, and let me tell you. As if I wasn't dying to go before, now I really really want to take a trip to Bridgeport. Seriously. All I want for Christmas is for someone to take me to Pleasant House so I can eat one of their kale & mushroom royal pies. Go ahead. Take a look. And tell me you don't want to hop on your bike and go right now. (***If the video doesn't load below, click on the link for "Farm to Barstool" and it should load in another window.)
So since I watched one, I decided I might as well watch them all...
Next up was a very charming video for The Doughnut Vault. Now I see donuts being made at work every day. And sure, they look quite tempting and the process is pretty amazing. But this just took it to a whole new level. Who cares about taste. They make it look like magic. Magic I tell you. Don't you want to camp out overnight with me just to be first in line? Please? And when we get there, maybe they'll even let us use the stamp ourselves to put the logo on the bag. Cuz that would just make my day. PS - Would it be weird to ask for a sheeter for my birthday? Ok, it would. But here's to dreaming...
Lastly, I leave you with an inspirational caffeine jolt. Now, mind you, I'm not the world's biggest fan of Intelligenstia. I like the idea and their coffee is pretty gosh darn good, however, sometimes they take it to such a level that it becomes inaccessible for me. I love that their baristas are coffee nerds turned mad scientists, but sometimes it seems just a bit too much. Maybe I just don't know enough about coffee. Regardless, I still thoroughly enjoyed the artistry of this video. And plus, what goes better with a doughnut than a cup 'o joe. (Ok, first off it's espresso, not coffee. And second off, they'd NEVER call it that, but come on. Have a sense of humor already.)
This week marked the one year anniversary of my official exit from the newspaper industry and my entry into the food/service industry. Boy, has a lot happened in that year. Sometimes, it's hard to believe what transpired this year happened at all. From making popcorn and slinging sandwiches, to selling baked goods, to working in the freezer of that infamous grocery store with those little shopping carts, it feels like more than just a year has gone by. The past few months especially have been an exciting whirlwind with the demands of my newest gig, and my entry into the online community as a bonafide food blogger. I've realized some important things about myself in the past year, that the written word never left my bloodstream, and nor has my desire to continue to be inspired and craft at every opportunity. While my list of hopeful future accomplishments continues to grow, I'm still pretty proud of all that's unfolded in a year. It may not seem like a lot on paper, but when you consider that a year ago I was basically entering my working life with a clean slate, I feel like I've made some pretty good strides in the right direction.
On that note, I'm leaving you with (what I found to be) an entertaining video entitled "WORK." Sometimes we get so bogged down in work, we lose sight of what we're working for. It could be so you can afford nice things and provide for your family, it could be to achieve your dream job, or heck, it could be for moon shoes. Either way, I don't know about you, but I'm definitely "ready to start the work!" as the prospect of a new calendar year approaches.
There's nothing I love more than Sunday brunches spent relaxing at home. With few exceptions. Not so long ago, I finished reading Molly Wizenberg's A Homemade Life. Not only is it an enchanting read, especially for all you foodies, but it also doubles as a great recipe book. This past Sunday, I found myself with a day off from work and a hankering for a delicious, filling, but somewhat quick and easy brunch to make. So I turned to Wizenberg's recipe pages, naturally. I remember reading her chapter on her dad (Berg's) French toast. Something about that chapter stuck. Maybe it was the description of her intoxication with his breakfast specialty, or maybe it was because I knew there was a loaf of my favorite white bakery bread sitting on the counter, but I knew I had to give this recipe a try.
It definitely did not disappoint. It may not be something you categorize under "healthy" breakfasts, however, it will most likely hit the spot if you're hankering for a special Sunday treat. I had mine with fresh fruit and some soy whip cream on top. Heavenly. And the perfect meal to round out the end of the weekend. I definitely recommend giving it a try. And if you do, be sure to let me know what you think!
You can find the recipe from Wizenberg's book here. Enjoy!
Why hello there dear readers. It has been quite a long while since my last post and I apologize. Life has gotten in the way a bit too often lately. But that's a good thing. While work and life have been a bit overwhelming these days, I must say, a lot of good has come out of my zombie state of over-worked exhaustion these days. Whether gathering around a table with new friends (ok, I'll admit it, sometimes we skip the table for some bar stools), adventuring on culinary feasts in China Town, or just finding humor in the little things, life has been good, albeit bursting at the seams.
Some other things I am quite excited about of late aside from recent company and altering work settings, are some new books I have recently learned about. First up, is Chicken and Egg: A Memoir of Suburban Homesteading. Now most of you probably know, that I don't eat chicken. However, this book is about so much more than just the meat a chicken can provide. It's really more about the eggs and appreciating where they come from.
The author, Janice Cole, documents her journey after deciding to purchase three tiny chicks to provide her with and endless supply of fresh and free eggs. Of course the story of raising a home chicken coop provided to be a lot more than Cole was ever expecting, but what a pay off. Now I've only leafed through the recipes and skimmed some of her stories, but so far, I can tell Cole's story is one worth reading. I always have an extra appreciation for recipe books that separate their concoctions by seasonality. Not only is Chicken and Egg separated like so, but Cole also specifies the time of season when these recipes work best (i.e. late winter, autumn harvest, etc).
The next book is Flour: Spectacular Recipes from Boston's Flour Bakery & Cafe, on loan from a coworker who used to work at Flour. The introductory paragraph says it all for me.
Flour. On its own, it's an ordinary ingredient. Likewise, there's nothing special about a cup of sugar, a few eggs, or a stick of butter. But together, these seemingly pedestrian ingredients form the foundation of the magical world of baking.
Again, I haven't quite gotten the chance to get my hands dirty with this one just yet, but I cannot wait. Just flipping through has me wanting to spend every day trying everything out. Plus, it was published by my favorite, Chronicle Books. What's not to like about that? I also can't wait to attempt their ever famous stick buns that nudged out contender Bobby Flay on an episode of Throwdown.
I leave you with this video as a nugget of inspiration about the theory and composition behind creating the Flour cookbook, which, I have a feeling is going to become one of my newest personal baking bible. Enjoy!
This month is not only the start to the new year, but also the month of my birthday. This one was a big one. I was so spoiled that not only did my mom bake me the Flour bakery birthday cake, but I also got the Momofuku Milk Bar cookbook AND cookie mix. So this weekend I made the compost cookies. All you have to provide is butter, an egg, and some pretzels and potato chips. The recipe begins with creating graham cracker crumbles - something I would've never imagined making for a cookie recipe. According to some of the reviews I read online, a lot of people who have made them at home have had some difficulty with the outcome being really flat crunchy cookies. Mine did flatten out a bit from the original ball shape, however, they weren't exceptionally flat or overly crunchy. For a first attempt, they came out just right - a delightful combination of salty and sweet. Just how Christina Tosi would want it. Up next: corn cookies! 
Another thing I tried my hand at this weekend (gotta balance out the sweet somehow, right), was making creamed spinach. I had a bag of spinach taking up space in my fridge which I had intended to use to make a salad. Instead, it endlessly sat in my fridge until I finally fated it to become creamed spinach. Not wanting it to go to waste, I set about making Pioneer Woman's version, with a few twists of course. Instead of sauteing the spinach in butter, I opted for a splash of white wine, also sitting idly in my fridge. And, in addition to the spinach, I added a sprinkling of roasted red peppers. I think my roux got a little too thick, however the end result was still delicious.
