Category Archives: Summer

Elderflower Collins (and a piece of toast)

Posted on May 18, 2013 by Danguole| 4 Comments

Do you know what day it is?

There are only two correct answers to that query, the first of which is:

(Image from omgarresteddevelopment.tumblr.com)

The second of which is: there are only 8 days until the return of Arrested Development!  Also known as: The Unmaking of a Huge Mistake.

Am I a fan?  YES.  Am I excited?  YES.  What was my first thought when my girl Elizabeth aka the SugarHero brilliantly suggested we come up with some recipes to celebrate this legendary event?  HELL YES.

And that’s what we’re doing here!   A week full of Arrested Development-inspired food from both of us.  Fellow AD fans, this is no illusion: hop on the stair van, because we’re going to the model home.  All.  Week.  Long.  It’ll be more fun than Motherboy.

Everyone else, please pardon the interruption and endless gratuitous references to the show–I hope you still enjoy the recipes.  Also, WHAT are you doing with your life.  (Statement, not a question.)

I’m kicking things off with a nod (and a too-long wink) to Lucille.  The matriarch of the Bluth family enjoys her cocktails–and if it’s before noon, a sensible piece of toast will make it breakfast.

Read more →

→ 4 Comments

Posted in Drinks, Entertaining, Spring, Summer

Tagged , , , , , ,

Celery and Radish Salad with Avocado and Toasted Cumin Vinaigrette

Posted on April 29, 2013 by Danguole| 9 Comments

Two items on the agenda today!  Well, three if you count the salad.

In fact, I can cover the salad ground briefly right now: it’s fresh, it’s seasonal, it’s healthy, it’s vegan, it’s crunchy and avocado-creamy, and it’s delicious.  It’s also completely self-explanatory, which allows me to talk about something else with you today.  Selfish, I know, but sometimes these things can speak for themselves…  Everyone knows that celery is especially eloquent.

Anyway, I was reading this lovely post by my friend Sara the other day, and it reminded me of something I thought of a while back and keep meaning to discuss.

Read more →

→ 9 Comments

Posted in Healthy (?), Picnic food, Salad, Sides, Spring, Summer, Vegetarian

Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

Strawberry Caprese Turkey Burgers

Posted on April 23, 2013 by Danguole| 10 Comments

Tomatoes!  I miss tomatoes.  It’s been too long.  Sometimes I wonder if they miss me, too.  Maybe they check my Facebook and accidentally like an old status, then frantically unlike it before I find out.

I’ll just have to wait patiently for summer, for crates upon crates of ripe, juicy, flavorful tomatoes.  We will be reunited, and it will be glorious.

In the meantime, say we’re craving the classic combination of tomatoes+basil+mozzarella.  Say it’s spring, and we’re eager to start grilling again.  Say we’re really excited about gorgeous strawberries this time of year.  Say we’re open to making substitutions for tomatoes.  Lo and behold…  Look.

It’s red, and green, and white.  It’s slightly sweet, fresh, with a slight balsamic touch.  It’s not really a caprese salad, but it’s inspired by one, and it wants to be your dinner!  Right now.  Seriously.

Read more →

→ 10 Comments

Posted in Healthy (?), Main courses, Meat, Spring, strawberry, Summer

Tagged , , , , ,

Basil Chip Ice Cream

Posted on April 8, 2013 by Danguole| 17 Comments

I had a very serious conversation with the family at Easter dinner…  About our favorite ice cream flavors.  It seems every human being is obligated to have one, but if you asked me about my mom’s go-to, I really wouldn’t know.  Turns out, she doesn’t know either, and none of us has a definitive one, really–what might have been a simple Q&A in other families became us just naming flavors.  Yeah…  I’m related to these people.

I should also add that we were eating ice cream.  Before eating cake.  Again–these people are definitely my people.

However, I think my maybe-favorite, the one I would pick if you held a gun to my head (which you wouldn’t do, because that’s dumb) is mint chip.  There is so much to like: the freshness, the balance of sweet with bitter dark chocolate, the crunch…  I am a fan.

But why don’t we branch out today?  You may not think of basil as dessert-appropriate, but why not?  Mint is only used in desserts because we’re used to it.  There are so many other green, fragrant, delightful things that grow in the dirt on our planet.  Let’s play with them.

Read more →

→ 17 Comments

Posted in Dessert, Spring, Summer, Vegetarian

Tagged , , , , ,

Strawberry-Tarragon Gimlet

Posted on April 2, 2013 by Danguole| 11 Comments

Meet the cocktail that was inspired by a sandwich…  A sandwich I never even ate.  (Someday I’ll make sense, but that day is not today.)

See, I’m a fan of a local cheese shop/deli.  Somewhat masochistically, I read their Facebook updates on what they’re serving for lunch, even though I cannot get there during the day because of dumb logistic reasons.  Occasionally, their lunch creations involve strawberry-tarragon jam.  (…And brie–ugh, told you.  It’s downright painful and I don’t know why I do it to myself.)

So what’s a girl to do?  Oh, I don’t know.  Let’s try pouring gin on strawberries and tarragon.  It’ll be fun–I promise.

Read more →

→ 11 Comments

Posted in Drinks, Entertaining, Spring, Summer

Tagged , , , , , , ,

Grilled Skirt Steak with Fresh Tomatillo Salad

Posted on October 26, 2012 by Danguole| 8 Comments

So, this was the sitch at the ol’ bachelorette pad last night.

Not bad, right?

Warm fire, cold beer.  Winter coziness, and the last sign of summer still in my fridge.  It’s a beautiful study in contrasts, really, which is why I bring it up now.  Because I have a dish for you that is also a fantastic merging of opposites:

Boom.

Rich steak and a tart, fresh, crunchy, super green salad.  Tomatillos are still around!  Go round ‘em up, cowgirls and cowboys.  You have a delicious dinner to make!

Read more →

→ 8 Comments

Posted in Fall, Main courses, Meat, Summer

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,