going, going, gone...

Well, I'm off for about 10 days...hooray! While I'm off celebrating my birthday in primitive style (ie. camping), why not enjoy some old gems from my archives? All of these are from my first few months of blogging waaaay back in 2005. Enjoy!

Moroccan Chickpea and Vegetable Stew. This was my very first recipe (but not my first post on this here blog). I didn't have a camera back then, but trust me, it's a good recipe. Actually, it's a bit less freeform which really represents how I cook. Measuring? Me??

Strawberry Shortcake. How can you go wrong? It's spring, get out your strawberries!!

Couscous & Yam Salad. I make this all the time. It's awesome. Again, no photo but you get the idea.

Mint Ice Cream. Oh yeah, it's definitely getting warm out now and ice cream is pretty perfect for this time of year (any time of year, actually). We have an old-fashioned crank ice cream maker that was gifted to us as a wedding present. We make use of it often. It's hard work but the results are worth it.

i'm back from europe and totally cultured. totally.

It's day 2 of our European Vacation® and look how relaxed I look on a train zipping along the beautiful Rhine River with a buttery croissant nestled lovingly in my gut. Ahh, those were the days.




Brussles, how delicious you were with your oceans of beers, your roving gypsy punk bands, your markets filled with great cheeses, sausages and breads (perfect for afternoon picnics in urban parks), and your greatest gift to the world: the Leige waffle. I adore you.

And Ghent, how can I forget you with your delicious fries topped with "stoverijsaus" (perfectly spiced meaty beer sauce) served up by Julien, a friendly proprietor who had a right to be proud of his wares.

I've been back since Monday night and I've only just begun the arduous task of uploading 35 days of photos onto Flickr. So far, I've only caught up to day seven. Oh my! But despite the 11 hour flight from Frankfurt and the 4 hours of sleep due to jetlag, I loved every moment of the trip. Highlights, stories and more photos to come!

road trip: portland, or

Today we're heading out to one of my most favorite cities, Portland, OR. There we will meet up with good friends, reacquaint ourselves with good food and good beer and partake in some nature with a hike n' Bagby hot spring visit. I ♥ Portland.

Have a great weekend and see you when I return mid-week!