A Little Catch-Up

So, it all started just a pinch over a week ago. I was on the open road, headed home to Georgia. Before me lay NINE work-free days, a week at the beach and a suitcase full of unread books. I was feeling quite footloose and fancy free. The short drive east permitted time to throw any remaining cares to the wind whipping just outside my car window. Thoughts of uninterrupted vacation created in me an insatiable appetite for sand, sun, good literature and goooood food...

With Mother's Day just a couple days away and a promise to furnish brunch for a small table of seven, I started on the hunt for a menu of light fare. I promptly decided on this savory quiche, paired with these fruitlicious muffins, washed down with these refreshing bevs. Such a mouthful of flavors only served to whet my appetite for more adventures in the kitchen. I finally tested out this DIY nutella (che bello!) 

After I devoured this scrumptious book in the span of a few hours, I was hungry for more culinary experimentation. 

I started with a home-ground hummus: a little tahini, a couple a cans garbanzos, a splash of lemon, a tad of garlic and a sprinkle of salt. 

Then, thanks to page 192 in Molly Wizenberg's homemade handbook, I roasted these beautiful tomatoes (with the intent of making the pesto, detailed on page 193). Have you ever beheld such lovely maters?

Those in the oven, I moved onto granola bars. My own version included flax seed, oats, dried cranberries and raisins. I mixed up a "glue" of peanut butter, vanilla extract and agave nectar. When this didn't seem to do the trick, I added a bit of brown sugar, butter and honey. What began with the intent of making a healthy snack ended up an effort just to get those suckers to stick together. I'll do better next time. You live, you learn and in the meantime, you wear elastic waistbands. 

Lastly, I whipped up these quick and buttery scones a la Martha. I replaced the blueberries with blackberries. Oh, Martha. You've really done it this time.

Sad to see this week come to a close. I do, however, return as one completely sated - in more ways than one.