I’m not sure about you but just about every other day I have a near melt down at 5:30 when Michael and I look at each other and go “what do you want for dinner?” “I don’t know- what do you want?” and back and forth that goes. Now I have little email folder called “dinner” and everytime I get something that seems appetizing I save it in there. So the other night we had:

Aparagus and Gruyere Tart.

First, it actually looked just like the picture (which almost never happens); second, it was ridiculously easy to make and third, very tasty. Also, it looks really fancy-schmancy so if you needed some finger food for a bridal shower- there you go!

Next, there are two crafts that would be perfect for weddings. I can’t justify buying every Martha Stewart Wedding issue lately so forgive me if these are repeats.

Under a Big Sky: Craft How-Tos

and Leaf-Covered Candleholder

Both nice and nature-y but each in a different way.

Yesterday was full of general craftiness. First there was the sewing craftiness. I have a simple sewing machine from Sears that I got a couple of years ago and get inspired every once in awhile. I am BY NO MEANS a good “sew-er”. But I have fun- and that’s what counts in my book.

It all started with me smelling like beef. We’re still training our puppy so I’ve gotten in the habit of carrying a handful of the soft puppy dog treats in my pocket. Now all my pants smell like beef, chicken, salmon or liver. Then Fiona on Burn Notice (on USA Networks) was occasionally wear a magical NON-FUGLY fanny pack and I remembered a cute wallet in Denyse Schmidt’s Quilts and it kind of went down like this:

And then I realized that although I kind of like the idea of this hip hugging design that smaller would be better so I started making another smaller one and then something happened with the bobbin or rather the thread from the needle ends up wrapping around whatever encases the bobbin and yeah- no idea how to fix it so the other one is half done.

Second bit of craftiness was that I made Chocolate Caramel Crack(ers) that I saw a couple days ago on Smitten Kitchen and… well… Hi, my name is Kristen and I’m an addict.

(image from Smitten Kitchen- I didn’t do as nice a job cutting mine)

Honestly, if you think your job/friendships/etc. are in peril: make some of these, don’t tell them where you got the recipe from and believe me, they’re going to have to hold on to you. Deb says you can add nuts (I used walnuts on half) BUT as I was considering sprinkling some on my grapefruit this morning I thought “coarsely chopped pretzels would be out of sight on this”.

Hopefully it will be as nice for you (where ever you are) as it’s forecasted for the Northeast this weekend– we may see 80 DEGREES! AHHHHSOEXCITED! Go play!

*My birthday is Nov. 1st. I think she’s adopted an annual birthday present concept where you get it when you get it and you’ll get about one a year. I think it’s a fabulous idea present-wise. Cake should always be there to acknowledge the actual day.

I think it’s a little more Urban Outfitters than the rest so I’m excited……buuuuut since it IS going off in a little more of a different direction I’m thinking I’ll wait to post it until the submission date gets closer. Or I’ll say “screw it” and post it later on today so I can forget about it for awhile since I’m already throwing it out in the world now. It’s about 50/50 shot.

Also in the news- I bought a new hat. This is not the most flattering photo but I was mid-thought whether I should choose the LEAST expensive wine or the SECOND least expensive wine to not seem so cheap (I bought both instead! Choosing is overrated.)

(image by Modern Toile photography [link to come!])

And new Earth Day inspired news is that we’ve joined Boston Organics. I’m not sure if places like this are everywhere yet but I’m sure they will be soon. We’ve signed up for the cheapest 1/2 fruit 1/2 veggies every other week plans so every other Friday a box of delicious goodies show up at our door. It’s like a cross between being in a cooking show and being rich (I pretend a magical butler picks the food and leaves it for us)

(image from farmfresh.org)

We ate kale the other night. KALE, people! I had a kiwi for desert the previous night instead of a Reese’s peanut butter cup egg leftover from Easter. I think the plan tonight is to roast up the zucchini and potatoes on the grill since it’s getting nicer. Hm, come to think of it, if anyone knows if you CAN grill zucchini and/or potatoes with good results-let me know that as well.

So as you see it appears my “crankypants” is mixed with a little “crazy shut-in” but that’s how I’m rolling this monday. I’m all put out because I’m half tied to the house today waiting for edits which means I can PRETEND that I’m missing out on awesome things which I probably wouldn’t do as opposed to sitting in front of my computer and cursing Windows Media Player plug-in from keeping me from watching the Lamb Cam. AND it’s past Easter, Mother Nature, I’m no longer impressed with your low-50s weather. Time to step up your game!

But since I had a good food weekend I thought I do a happy little book review.

I believe I received this at my bridal shower. I wasn’t quite sold by the cover and the fact it was a “Bride and Groom” cookbook but I love cookbooks so I was like “I’ll check this out later”. My bridal shower was in May in upstate New York and I was living in DC at the time knowing full well that after the wedding in September I’d be moving to Boston so it probably was also along the lines of, “I’m leaving everything in NY so I don’t have to move it twice.”

But fast forward to after the wedding living in Boston and let me tell you- this cookbook rocks my socks. The book jacket has pretty scallopped edges and the pictures are all lovely and, oh yeah, the food is great. I have made more recipes from this book than any other cookbook. I’ve made the:

• Pizza dough from scratch
• Flaky piecrust to go with the…
• Personalized chicken pot pies
• Guacamole
• Pesto– which went with…
• Goat cheese, sun-dried tomato and pesto torta (which I brought to Easter yesterday and was sooo good)
• Brie and champagne fondue
• Chicken “divine”
• Frittata with sun-dried tomatoes, cream cheese and basil
• French toast with hot buttered run-maple syrup
• Mom’s “flyaway” Pancakes with Melted Berries (my favorite of the book)
• Quick-and-Easy Drop Biscuits (the cheddar version which was so good that I opted for the left over biscuit today instead of a Reese’s Peanut Butter Egg)
• Harvest Apple Crisp
• Great Robert’s Whiskey Sour Slush
• Mary’s Bloody Mary’s (although I never have Clamato around so I just used V8)

And yes, the last two are correct, there are drink recipes in the back! Also I’ve made 15 recipes, although that’s out of many many more in the book, but FIFTEEN?!? That’s amazing. That’s got to be some sort of cookbook record. At least for me. But anyway–great cookbook– and totally an impulse buy for your aunts, friends, cousins while getting other registry gifts at Bed, Bath and Beyond or Crate and Barrel so HINT AWAY!!