WHAT HAPPENED

With the roaches behind us, and the boys still off the grid, not to return for yet another full week, I decided it was time to get to work on our house. It started as a whim of an idea.

“Maybe I should help the girls organize thier room” quickly turned into “Get out of my way I’m purging every corner of every room in our home including the garage.”

It’s probably safe to say this mania was fueled in part by the recent visit from our six-legged arch-enemies, but also, it had been a long time since I had shown any love to our home. When I tell you I cleaned out every space, I mean ev.er.y space. Every drawer. Every cabinet. Every shelf. And then, as a gift to myself, I had someone come in and completely deep clean our entire home. Glory be, I felt like a new woman, and our home was beautiful!

This process felt like a huge step forward in my goal to begin to learning hospitality at home. When your space is organized, functional, and clean, inviting others over is a breeze. I needed this shot in the arm, and my mind began to formulate ideas and thoughts on this topic that I am excited to share down the road.

 

WHAT I COOKED

Brisket with Onions and Leeks, Cooking for Jeffery
Kasha Varnishkes with Wild Mushrooms, Cooking for Jeffery
Tsimmes, Cooking for Jeffery
New York Egg Cream, How Easy Is That?
Penne alla Vecchia Bettola, Barefoot Contessa Foolproof
Chocolate Mousse, Family Style
Mache with Warm Brie & Apples, Back to Basics
Panko Crusted Salmon, How Easy Is That?
Lemon Fusilli with Arugula, At Home
Lemon Meringue Tart, Barefoot in Paris
Mussels & Basil Bread Crumbs, How Easy Is That?
Fried Oysters with Lemon Saffron Aioli, Cooking for Jeffery
16 Bean Pasta e Fagioli, Cooking for Jeffery
Profiteroles, Barefoot in Paris
Moroccan Grilled Lamb Chops, Cooking for Jeffery
Tuscan White Beans, How Easy Is That?
Couscous with Pine Nuts & Mint, Cooking for Jeffery
Coconut Madeleines, Barefoot in Paris
Honey White Bread, At Home
Anna’s Orange Marmalade, At Home
Fresh Blueberry Rhubarb Jam, Cook Like a Pro

WHAT I LEARNED

NEW YORK EGG CREAMS.
I loved learning about these! They are quick and fun to make, and if you keep the ingredients on hand, it’s a super simple spur-of-the-moment dessert. My kids said they tasted like sparkling chocolate milk. I agree!

MACHE WITH WARM BRIE AND APPLES.
I love this salad (if that’s what we are going to call it) and have been making it for years. It is an elegant assortment of ingredients beautifully arranged on the plate. If you can’t find mache (and really, who can?), any sort of delicate salad green will work. The warm brie with honey alongside the apples makes this feel like a single-serve cheeseboard.

PANKO CRUSTED SALMON.
Delicious! The panko topping is crunchy and herby and a cinch to throw together. I love the convenience of prepping this in the morning, and then baking it for dinner. Definitely a weeknight dinner option.