November 19, 2012

Roasted Rosemary Almonds

I’m totally in denial about how much I have to do this week and in the process I’ve realized that my coping mechanism is kinda messed up. In my head I keep thinking- It’s just food. It’s no big deal. I’ve got this. I mean…this is the kinda stuff I love. Then suddenly a part of my brain is trying to figure out how I am going to fit all the stuff in the oven and the cooking times of everything. Oh! And I’m also processing the fact that I am making my first turkey and that I’m spatchcocking it. And where am I going to find time to clean my toilets & get the sunflowers I want for my table arrangement. My stairs need to be vacuumed too! Suddenly, I’m eating a bite of hobo bread from Trader Joe’s (yeah, that’s a thing) and my to-do list just disappeared.

Food as a coping mechanism? Noted.

Some of you might be in the same boat as me right now and some of you may just have dessert duty or side dish patrol (lucky you!).

If you’ve got crazy hosting brain, you may have forgotten that there needs to be nuts at your appetizer spread. That’s cool. I’ve got something that’s so easy and brainless (we need our brains when we’re getting a whole Thanksgiving together!). What I like about this recipe for Roasted Rosemary Almonds is that it’s a really simple thing to cross off my to-do list. They’re super tasty too. Who doesn’t love almonds?

Hope your/my Thanksgiving isn’t nuts! xo

my everyday life, Photography

November 17, 2012

My Everyday Life: Week 46

Here’s what this past week looked like:

We’re binging on The Peanuts Holiday Collection right now. Cooper loves Snoopy.

Uncategorized

November 16, 2012

I love lists, Friday!

A little video to make you happy & believe in GOODNESS.
I absolute ADORE the Canal House ladies. What a life they have!
30 Horrendous Things I’d Rather Do than Eat Any G-dang MAYO. Amen.
This makes me wonder how Cooper would mirror me….
Let’s all make Geode Rings for the holiday. Wait. Maybe you should just make on for me. K?
Are you prepared for an Emergency? Scented candles don’t count.
The best restaurant review I’ve ever read. Welcome to Flavor Town!
Why People Magazine is Blind, Ignorant & Dumb. *snort*
This video made me cackle.
I love the visuals with this story. MARRIAGE! Also, CONGRATS.
My ideal weekend breakfast looks like this.
Are you cooking a turkey? Tips galore RIGHT HERE.
MARRIAGE REAL TALK. This post is a blessing.
10 Talks About the Beauty and Difficulty of Being Creative. Bookmark this!
I need to find a place that can give me nails like these. Hot mama!

How’s Your Turkey Game? An all new Joy the Baker Podcast is up! We discuss Thanksgiving, friendships, momming & say the word SPATCHCOCK too many times. Get on it!

MY BITES AROUND THE NET:

The Texan New Yorker made my Mini Apple Pie Cheesecakes.

Voracious Vander used my No Knead Pizza Dough to make an amazing Sweet Potato Apple Bacon Pizza!

Inspiration, Uncategorized

November 15, 2012

Thanksgiving Brainstorm Time!

I’m gearing up to host my first Thanksgiving next week so it’s BRAINSTORM/CRUNCH TIME. You with me?!

Let’s brainstorm!

recipes, Uncategorized

November 14, 2012

Celery Salad with Walnuts & Parmesan

Last year I fell out of love with celery. I’m not really sure why. I think I juiced a bunch of celery and it made my tongue numb and I wondered why I would want to drink something that made my tongue numb. Maybe I just had celery sitting in my fridge and stared at it for a few months straight until I finally took it out and swore I wouldn’t waste celery again so I didn’t buy any? That’s probably what happened. Yeah. I’m pretty sure that’s what happened.

In our house we get a weekly vegetable/fruit delivery from a local service called Full Circle. I always love the variety of fruits & vegetables that get delivered because it serves as a good reminder of what’s currently in season. In last week’s box, not only did I get persimmons, carrots & apples, I got a huge bunch of celery. CELERY. So what to do with it? Make a salad!

Melissa Clark is my favorite salad DJ. I can imagine that she would be the best person to stand next to at a salad bar. She introduced to me to this Kale Pecorino number that I make all the time. So, this here salad? This was the salad that made me like celery again. I’m back in the celery game! It reminded me a lot of the Addictive Brussels Sprouts Salad I make/love. The celery isn’t as pungent as I thought it would be. The Parmesan adds a nice bite and oh man HOLY CRUNCH with both the walnuts and celery. When you’re sick of eating turkey & leftovers next week, you should make this.

Let’s think ahead!

recipes

November 12, 2012

Baked Crispy Hot Wings

A few years ago, Casey & I were eating Hot Wings at Hooters and got into a crazy conversation about Astrology with our waitress. At one point during the meal she totally pulled a newspaper clipping of the day’s horoscope from her bra. It was most definitely an out-of-body experience.

It was at that moment that I vowed never to go to Hooters again. SIKE. I thought it was fantastic and then I realized that if I could stomach wearing shorty short shorts with tan pantyhose on these thighs, I could potentially be that girl. I mean…the one that pulls out a horoscope in front of her customers.

Astrology is my jam.

A few years ago I had this goal to do 31 things before I turned 32 years old. Make Hot Wings for my husband was on that list. I kinda paused on that life goal for a couple of years. I didn’t feel like frying all that chicken, but then I found this recipe for BAKED Hot Wings in a stack of recipes I’d clipped out and dove right in.

Not only are they a snap to prepare (almost too easy), they are fantastic! You would never really know that they aren’t fried. That’s what the husband said and he knows what he’s talking about.

Just make sure you have napkins galore. Celery balances it out, I hear.