July 2008 Archives

Sometimes when you are too tired to really want to cook anything, everything falls into place to make the meal itself.  The last of the basil from the CSA had been made into pesto, a chicken breast that needed to be used, and fresh cherry tomatoes from a coworker that is just beginning to enter into the "tomato surplus" part of summer.

And before I forget, I did manage to make some birthday cupcakes for one of my co-workers.  Who of course wasn't at work on their birthday.  

It has been a whirlwind of long days and not so restful nights, which has made it a challenge to keep writing...not to say that cooking and other things haven't been happening.  Have been making some really good pizzas of late, but no pictures.  So instead, a bit of the things that have happened in the past.

Maybe it is too many Raymond Chandler novels, or the fact that I took a class called Dick Fiction in the wacky heydays of UC Santa Cruz, but a mysterious blonde hiding something seemed appropo.

Nectarines, raspberries, strawberries, zuchinni, squash, apricots...and those are just some of the stuff that has landed in the house.  Summer always seems to be an influx of fruits and vegetables.  Had way, way too many nectarines in the house and have been subjecting co-workers to nectarine raspberry muffins.  I have to confess that I think I've found my new favorite muffin recipe in The Sweet Melissa Baking Book.  The Sweet Muffin basic recipe is great, lets you add any fruit that you want and has all the right muffin qualities, dense, moist and never tries to be a cupcake masquerading as a muffin.  Now I just have to find the time to try the Savory Muffin recipe...I'm thinking some Rouge Creamery Maple Smoked chevre and crisp pancetta.