Sunny Day Double Lemon Bars

I have been craving a slightly warm, homemade lemon bar since Chelsee did them for We Are Not Martha. I love all things pertaining to lemon. As I think I've mentioned, the act of cooking with it and the fresh smell it leaves on my hands is one of the sunniest things I can bring to mind. It's perfectly sharp crisp and sweetly puckering. Spectacular and a perfect reminder that spring is coming...eventually.

Chels picked up her Double Lemon Bar recipe from Epicurious and I finally managed a reason to bake them- my annual Easter pilgrimage to the Dawson residence for Easter with CVDJ's clan. I'm making brie cups as well but you've already seen that trick! I think I made baked brie with cranberry relish last year so everything's in keeping with tradition. Maybe Bob's mom and I will be able to regale everyone with our internet dating stories again. God I love that family:)

The recipe at Epicurious is specific and easy to follow so I won't try to improve on it. I will only say that God help you should you be as impatient as I am and break into the baked rectangle early. After the initial breach, I've gone back to "even the sides" of my original sin twice with my fork. I've now washed the fork, covered the squares and put them in the fridge to deter Ms. Hyde further. I kicked it with Chester this morning and I'm pretty sure that 1 row of these would nullify it.

Going for a walk. Maybe I should brush me teeth to further put myself off the delicious tracks leading to my fridge and a fresh fork.

Oh Happy Day

I am a smile MACHINE today. I am trying to keep my hubris in check because pride comes before the fall and all but this sunshine is getting to me. That and I pulled off a rather badass pitch if I do say so myself so this post is my reward before lunch and then I have to follow through! Per above, said pitch looks like it may lead me to Manhattan for business!! I've been dying for an excuse to get up there...

Jonk's done it again- I can't stop singing "Gray or Blue" by Jaymay which he posted earlier in the week. Today's feature? Joseph Arthur, another love (Honey & the Moon being my favorite for obvious reasons). I'm also singing A LOT of:

Lay Your Head Down by Keren Ann
If Les Fleur Were Mine by the Kleptones
Maybe Tonight by Nicole Atkins
A-Punk by Vampire Weekend

Check out a bigger music post tomorrow courtesy of Brother, his rooms Eric and mine/Colleen's Jose Gonzalez adventure...

I could so easily pretend this is me. To the door color. To the orange flowers and brown hobo.

I think you know how I feel about domino. It's like Christmas when it gets to the house and I must drop whatever I'm doing to read. It's the only magazine that still does that for me every time. I was really impressed by the recent dialogue that caught the Washington Post's attention. For all you decor lovers, I'm adding Decorno to my Google Reader. As for above? Drew is the upcoming cover girl and I already want everything in the leaked photos, including that dress she's wearing. Anticipate tearsheets...I haven't been this excited about someone else's space since Kate Walsh's house.


I've posted items from Creature Comforts before but I got so jazzed about the image above that I basically forcefed it to Susie's Tumblr. After an hour of catch-up last night, I'm still thanking my stars for the easy nonstops between Boston & Chi. Also- Ez, you're a rockstar in my book.


I've been recruited to help with some of the wedding details for Lisa and Dave's upcoming nupitals (they've both contributed at TKTC). They're two of my favorite people, getting married at one of my favorite times of year IN CHICAGO (bless them) and, let's be real, I love the details. We've been talking purple, aubergine to be exact, and then this lovely number showed up on my desk today. Front page of Tuesday's WWD. Aren't we in? And how hot is that suit from Bottega Venetta?


Also a few of the other bloggers I follow brought their A game today. This isn't out of the ordinary but today Chelsea and Adie were both just spot on about growing up. Ditto doesn't quite cut it so just check em out!

And I saw a number on the scale this morning that I haven't seen in a few years. Ya'll know girlfriend's been workin hard. You wouldn't know it but for all this talk of cupcakes, I'm eating a lot of steamed broccoli, baked sweet potatoes and grilled chicken. Guess I should be talking about that part more...

As if ALL that weren't enough to put some spring in my step....
He emailed me. It was pretty cute. Still grinning like an idiot even though it's looking like more snow. Off to see Ron & Chester with Nilsa!

The Affair: In Bed with Boston

So as you have already seen, my long weekend in Boston got off to a pretty delicious start. Flirting at 30,000 feet, nothing to my name upon landing but mashed cupcakes & my toothbrush but then another fabulous night out on the town with Sues. I was crushing on Beantown pretty hard by the time we finally went to bed (4am?) on Thursday night/ Friday am.

Then it was 6:30am. And I bolted awake, aware that luggage would be helpful for the remainder of the day, let alone the rest of the weekend. So I crept quietly out of Susie's place in Brookline, down the the T stop (SILLY close to her house, wow) and I then pretended to commute. I changed trains, got my Dunkin Donuts coffee, caught the shuttle to Logan and there was my bag. Seriously it was so easy, I half thought I'd turn into this guy. I slipped back into Susie's right around 8:30am, energized from my adventures.

For her part, Sues was up and about. That girl has some serious self-discipline as a freelancer. I mean, it's a day job. She's got a lot of work and she gets it done, starting at a decent hour rather than sleeping till noon, which after a 4am night may have sounded appealing. Anyhow, we get to chattering along as I get ready to head to my cousin's (OTHER Susan in Brookline, Ha) and we're all playig with products, getting the hair done etc. So now in one morning I have been a pretend commuter and a pretend rooms.

Then I got to Susan's. And met THIS little lovebug!! I was the last in my immediate family to meet Adia but her pictures pepper my bulletin boards at the office. Girlfriend did not disappoint. Despite the hilarious face she's giving me during her lunch below, she is a happy happy blonde bunch-o-fun! Yet another reason I would love to be in Boston at some point, Adia has a sibling coming in May. Can you even imagine TWO this cute?
I also get pretty spoiled when I'm at Susan and Garth's. Garth and I are both little gourmands. Well, I do what I can afford so basically I just go over to this gorgeous house of theirs and ogle all of his pretty toys. Like the tea diffuser below- the Ingenuitea. You put the loose leaves in, full with boiling water, sit it on the cup and the perfect cup of tea flows right in. I ordered one off Amazon this morning because I need to go with the gorgeous Upton tea I got sent home with:) Earl Grey with Extra Bergamot...take a deep whiff.
I had brought Susan the Vosges Exotic Truffle Collection because I sent the same during her first pregnancy and there are flavors for every craving in there. Plus I just really love Vosges and when I went in I of course picked up a few treats for me and my hostesses as well! And Adia loved her little CD of French playground music (errr, maybe it was the orange tissue paper she liked so much) no matter...got to start the Francophilia young:)

Speaking of Francophilia, after lunch I got a super surprise!! Brother found a way to get his work done and came to snag me at Susie's! I had a totally unexpected half day with him getting the full, personal tour of his new hood in the South End. Bonding time started at Pops- "A Diner for the 21st Century". Matt got an unreal steak sandwich and I was very good with my Greek salad, occasionally poaching whatever bits fell out of his sandwich. What are big sisters for?

The sun even came out for our walk and I think it's safe to say Brother knows my interests. We read menus on bakeries, wandered into decorating shops, chic boutiques (the perfect cross between Nice & Nantucket) and the wine & cheese shop featured above. If I lived a stone's throw from that place, I'd be in even bigger budget trouble than I am now. It's a slightly bigger Pastoral, my favorite in Chicago. Smoked Gouda and Appenzellar. Yum.

TKTC Note: Brother never said no. He may have flirted with a few shopkeeps but that's cool, whatever kept him busy while I was off sniffing de la Renta candles and trying on hair combs. Lucky girl.

Our wanderings led us into a very cool little Ceramics gallery called Vessels. We had the sheer, dumb luck to get there while the owner was working and as it was a quiet Friday afternoon, she gave us a guided tour of the collection. Having grown up going from gallery to gallery on the Cape (and coming to love it), Brother & I have both come to be fans of a well made piece of pottery. I know that sounds stupid random but it's true. Ok so usually pottery that can be filled with Peet's French Roast in the morning but Art can be practical too!

When we stumbled on a bowl made by Richard Aerni (featured above) and IN the budget, it had Mom & Dad crazed all over it. Pictures tomorrow but in short, the PERFECT housewarming gift for their finally finished house. Feeling like good children and great gift-finders, we took our treasure all wrapped up to the wine shop and then back to the brownstone Brother shares with his roommates.

Speaking of which, Brother's roommates are awesome. One of them, Soccer Mom, is a very good friend of mine from college but the other two were previously mysteries to me. No longer as, after several glasses of wine and the "Separate Ways" video (check THAT jacket out- look familiar?), we were invited to join a big group to celebrate restaurant week at a place called 33.
I had a Raspberry Intrigue. Probably not what I needed but tasted like high class Jamba Juice and then more wine. Clearly. I do have very crisp recollection of delicious gnocchi, rack of lamb and a sorbet assortment. All for $33. I love restaurant week everywhere.

Brother's roommate Eric, their friend Seb and Brother having winemated conversation with our waitress. They were ready to turn our table into the dance floor. We thought we were helping?

Last picture of the night before I climbed into bed and promptly passed out. Rock Band courtesy of Eric, Brother and Soccer Mom. They're pretty good. So good that I think they will inspire my music post this week. More from the Cape tomorrow....God Bless you if you actually read that whole thing!

Epicurious Alchemist Presents Chicken Tetrazini & Lemon Buttermilk Cupcakes!!!

TKTC Note: The following Guest Post is courtesy of the Epicurious Alchemist, a friend who I can now share cooking blogs with in real life! In his day job, EA is a chem grad student in Hyde Park. But by NIGHT...giving Jamie Oliver a run for his quid. Also- his almost-wifey puts up with our shenanigans, keeps our wine glasses full and helps me clean cake batter up "manually."

So to all you other famous bloggers this may seem very ho hum, but I’m feeling quite honored to be guest posting on TKTC. I was invited earlier to share a recipe for homemade ravioli, but I made it and it was kinda cardboardy, so that may have to wait another six months. I need to get married and get the pasta roller I registered for first.

TKTC Note: If anyone has played the registry game or has some good registry item suggestions, leave em in the comments for love.

I haven’t been cooking for long, but I’m definitely enjoying it. As a chemistry graduate student, I practically do the same crap at work (mixing, heating, etc.). However, working with far less dangerous ingredients and getting to eat my final product makes cooking a little more gratifying in the short-term.

So here goes. The main dish was a chicken tetrazzini, and the recipe can be found here. It looks much harder than it actually is. My observations/thoughts:

• This did take awhile to make, but it’s only because I didn’t plan ahead very well. I think that’s a rookie mistake on my part. TKTC Note: I swear to God, timing is the HARDEST part of cooking. Period.
  
• I thought it could have used more garlic, but I love Italian food so just go based on your own tastes.
• Don’t get chicken that’s too thick. I got huge chicken breasts, and the outsides got a little too brown because the chicken refused to cook through. It wasn’t the end of the world, but you could tell where the chicken was in the final product because the outside was tougher.
• Not enough salt at all! I may have undersalted the chicken too. I solved this problem by adding more parmesan. TKTC supports this measure but also thinks better undersalt than over.
• This stuff reheats great. It’s very creamy so you’ll never get something dry and dull out of the microwave.

The cupcakes made for dessert are courtesy of Whipped, another fantastic cooking blog. These turned out great no thanks to me. I didn’t plan my night very well, so Jessi ended up making these pretty much herself. They were delicious and they also store very well. I will say that I liked them better chilled than at room temperature. Great for breakfast (my guilty pleasure); I drink red-eyes straight up in the morning, so the sweetness in the cupcakes is perfect.

TKTC Note: Are you joking? Not about the red-eyes (I've seen it in action, Blech) but I love baking. You bought all the ingredients and set me up with a sweet standing mixer and an oven that was installed within the last 46 years. That was GREAT!

TKTC Note: I will say that per the frosting, don't let your butter MELT and keep an eye on consistency. Ours could have benefited from using the buttercream recipe in Barefoot Contessa, only adding lemon zest and juice instead of chocolate. Mine just didn't stand up too well this time (hence photo of EA licking off his shoe).

Jessi, thank you so much for the opportunity to guest post and getting me started cooking. I’m not even kidding when I say your kitchen (yes with the tiny half-functional stove) and those brie cups made me want to start cooking, and here I am. And as a thank you for both making the cupcakes and letting me post, I’m gonna bring this next time we all do a dinner.

TKTC Note: One of my favorite things to come of this blog is that my friends who perennially said they "can't cook" are now seeing that it's pretty easy. And highly rewarding on every front. Welcome to the fray, EA!

Sautee the mushrooms- let the amazing smells begin!

Brown and shred the chicken- either go with a thin-med breast or you should consider poaching it in brother rather than baking it. This allows for moist, even cooking and in a dish like this that matters more than the presentation (Hello? it's getting shredded anway.)

Chop garlic & onions (Lisa is pretty great at this- look how uniform that is!)

Stay on that wine. This is imperative to the cooking process.

But not SO on the wine that you drop the salt shaker IN the Bechamel Sauce. Perhaps THIS is why it was undersalted, EA. Sorry about that!

Smells like wine, garlic, onion, baked chicken & heaven.

Ready for the oven!

Too hot to handle. No worries, they're registering for real cupcake pans.

The beginnings of frosting= butter and lemon zest.

I really need one of these mixers. Look, Ma! No hands!

Happy, artsy cupcakes.

Mouth full of cupcakes: Make it work!

Thanks Dave...we'll be collaborating again verrry shortly as I am thoroughly impressed. And really hungry now.

ORD to BOS: Cupcakes, Cocktails & Crazies

Everyone Loves A Boston Girl & TKTC Part II: Boston Edition!
Nice drunk eyes, there, TKTC. What? That was #2??

YAY!! Just minutes before midnight with no luggage, a carry-on of smashed cupcakes and with a flirt-induced blush, I arrived at the Brookline threshold of our favorite Boston blogger, the fabulous Sues. For those of you who may have joined us more recently, Susie and I figured out early on in the life of TKTC that a shared love of Big Bird Goes to Japan, Martha Stewart and orange food hinted that we should get to be "real life friends" as soon as possible. So when she was in Chi visiting her sister, we made it happen and, er, we were right. As in, a force to be reckoned with from "Third Coast" to East Coast.

Sues' frequent partner in crime Chels braved the late arrival on a schoolnight so I got in the door and immediately had two girlfriends to babble with. Let's get this out early...yes, it's creepy to explain to family and friends that you make friends on the internet. My best recommendation is to get over it because no one who watches us for 5+ minutes would be able to figure that out on their own. We decided to give them the opportunity to try though and after a quick freshen up, we headed to Boylston.

We ended up at a little spot called Dillon's and with two spots at the bar and blueberry Stoli/sodas on tap...we didn't even look up from our chatter for 2 hours. Seriously, I remember watching Sues get checked out on our way INTO the bar and on our way OUT of the bar but the in between? We were so intently dissecting our twentysomething nuances that I DOUBT we looked all too approachable. Fine by me, I was quite content with the company:)

So a quiet night for romance at the bars but the real action was on the sidewalks anyway. Let's just say that the two of us, rather a successful team at Pint if memory serves, were really only serving to attract a more "nomadic" variety of man Thursday night. Hilarious. I think homeless men shouted rather unlikely requests on 4-5 different occasions. Not including the rando in a Beamer who wanted to give us a ride home as we hailed a cab and the two F.O.B. Irish guys who wanted to kick off our St. Patty's celebrating ahead of schedule. I think I speak for both of us when I say that the cupcakes at home trumped, nay, TROUNCED all other alternatives presented.

Single slices as big as your head.The best part? We did not discuss the joining of Cupcake forces ahead of time. Susie pioneered the Chicago Cupcake Crawl when she was here so I decided to attempt travel with a sampling from the winning bakery. She, having her own favorites in Boston, thought to pick up a decadent batch from her local champ, Party Favors. I half-thought to develop a system by which to rate the cupcakes but it was 3:30 am and we just wanted to try quarters of everything. So we did. And they were all good. And next time I'm in Boston, we're doing a Boston cupcake crawl. Because now South Enders like the Buttery, Flour Bakery and Appleton all have serious competition from the Brookline scene-stealer on Beacon. I went to sleep in my only shirt with frosting breath. I dreamed of beautiful bakeries and puppies...no surprise as the pics below were both taken on Thursday- inside Molly's and outside Molly's. I want a Nova Scotia Duck Trolling Retriever and a reason to work in Boston for 50% of the year. More to come... it was a stellar weekend.

*And get used to the cupcakes, kiddies. I may have walked off our delicious downfall in the South End on Friday but there's a Guest Post coming from HC's favorite punk-rock chemist that involves our fave frosted minicakes.