i (heart) a picnic

since the weather started turning warm this week, i've been dying for a picnic. the idea of slowing down, and eating some really simple, delicious food in a peaceful setting was enough to get me through an especially hectic workweek. i decided that we should go to leonard springs nature park, since it had the word "nature" in the name, and it's only about 5 miles away from our house. brian gets itchy if he doesn't get enough practice time on saturday afternoons, so i knew i couldn't steal him away for too long. we found a little rocky outcrop near the stream and settled down to a salad (fresh greens and strawberries from that morning's market), tofu wrap, and a shared cookie.

i recommend it.

okay, here's the news: we're moving back to portland in a couple of months.

what should we experience, food-wise or otherwise, in bloomington and environs before we go?

cookie issues

i am alone in the house with a freshly-baked batch of flawed cookies: very very tasty, but borderline to take to a memorial day cookout tonight. these are deliiicious, but mine flattened out a lot more than deb's did. the second batch looks to be shaping up better - i gave them more room to spread out by not flattening them as much. and sprinked more salt on top. and i'll wait to take them off the sheet, so they have a little time to crisp up. now the big problem: not eating all the messed up ones before brian gets home.

it's the mooost wonderful tiiiime of the year.

forget christmas, brother! the best time of the year has to be strawberry season. hands down.

...and just think...tomato season is just around the corner...

i'm bringing blogging back.

suffice to say i've had a lot going on lately, but all the time, things i wanted to share with you. like this ice cream cone. JUST KIDDING. i wanted the whole thing.

i've been bad at blogging, and pitiful at my trial of using no plastic the month of may, but a girl just keeps moving along, you know. getting better if possible.

getting excited about spring.

buying asparagus.

thinking of all the interesting food-related things to blog about.

i've got a lot of them.

party foul! quick cake fix.

sometimes, things don't work out how you planned. case in point: your mexican chocolate cupcakes don't come out of the pan. and you have a cinco de mayo party to attend pronto.

what to do with this edible yet unservable cake product?

how about cutting small pieces, and serving in a mini cupcake paper or petit four wrapper with dulche de leche?

yes. that would be good.

even though this was a mistake, i'd recommend the combination anyway. and i liked how they ended up being little bites - good potluck size, and not overwhelming, since the dulce de leche is so rich.

mistakes can be delicious.