Whimsy & Spice

There's something thrilling about opening up your mailbox to find something special. In my case, it was a key. A key that led to a package bin that led to this beauty. I love that about online shopping. You know that you've got a wonderful thing coming your way, but there's still that air of mystery of when it will arrive. And this box couldn't have arrived at a more perfect moment.

I'd been wanting to try Whimsy & Spice for ages, but just never got around to it until they announced their 4-year anniversary. The sale was the perfect moment to cave and order their sampler box! No need to be indecisive when you can just get a little of everything. I knew I was going to be in for a treat when I opened the shipping box to this little treasure trove. Perfectly packaged to the 9's, these taste even better than they look. I haven't gotten around to sampling everything yet (I'm trying to be good about savoring), but I can say that the espresso dulce de leche brownies are pure chocolate bliss. Tea time is going to be looking pretty wonderful around here for the next little while.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Kicking off St. Patrick's Day weekend curled up on the sofa with a hot cup of tea. Bliss. I have always been a fan of the holiday, since I was little. I remember how much I loved getting dressed up all in green and pinning this silly little leprechaun pin to my dress before heading out the door. As I grew older and came to appreciate tracing my family lineage more I found out just how Irish I am. Both sides of my family are predominantly Irish, with my mother's side being able to trace back to the clan (complete with crest, tartan, and the beginnings of some names). I would love to devote more time to looking through my past, but in the meantime I will enjoy the excuse to cook up a weekend full of traditional Irish foods and attempt one of the local festivals (this year's pick is the Dublin Down music fest and my fingers are crossed that this is better than some of my less fortunate selections of years past). Any you doing anything to celebrate?

Black Thumb

I have a black thumb. Give me a plant, and despite my best efforts I will kill it. "Guaranteed" to grow plants? Dead. The herb garden that a sweet friend gave me for my birthday a few years back? Gone within the month. This one wasn't so much my fault since we went from sunny spring to frigid storm at the drop of a hat, but still... I am determined though. One of these days I will keep a plant alive for more than a month or two. Any tips?

Favorite First Lines

I was reading a list of famous first lines the other day and it got me to thinking, what about my favorite books? This list was almost exclusively classics, and while that's alright I feel that a lot of great first lines get left out. A first line doesn't necessarily have to be iconic to be great. A first line should draw you in, make you want to read more. Some of my favorites are simple, and the use of irony (or sarcasm) doesn't hurt either. They make me crave more, to know what happens next. They drop me in the middle of an ongoing narrative. They make me form an instant connection with the main character. Quite a bit rests on the seemingly simple first sentence. Here are some of my favorites, what are yours?

"Most people hate Mondays." Kate Collins, Mum's the Word

"Nobody told me about the poison oak." Meg Cabot, Ninth Key

"There was once a boy named Milo who didn't know what to do with himself - not just sometimes, but always." Norton Juster, The Phantom Tollbooth

"The granite was cold and rough against the gray-cloaked man's palms." Kristen Britain, Green Rider

"Afterwards Sarah could never quite be sure whether it was the moonlight or that soft, furtive sound that had awakened her." MM Kaye, Death in Kashmir

"It was a dark and stormy night." Madeleine L'Engle, A Wrinkle in Time

"As an interactive horror experience, with beasts from Hell, mayhem, gore, and dismemberment, it was an impressive event. As a high school prom, however, the evening was marginally less successful." Rosemary Clement-Moore, Prom Dates From Hell

More to come...

Those Simple Afternoons

Sometimes all it takes is a great view and some beautiful architecture to make for a wonderful afternoon.

Roast Asparagus with Poached Eggs

The weekend is beckoning and you know what that means. Time for a blissfully leisurely breakfast. I was sorting through my fridge the other day and the asparagus was calling out to me. It was intended to be crepe filling for dinner last week, but busy nights prevailed and it was left, lonely in the produce bin. In an effort to reduce kitchen waste I snagged the bunch along with some other odds and ends destined for the trash to create what ended up being a wonderfully savory and satisfying start to the day.

Roast Asparagus with Poached Eggs
serves two

1 bunch Asparagus
2 Cloves Garlic, finely minced
4 Eggs, poached
2 pieces Naan
Olive Oil
Cayenne Pepper
Salt/Pepper

Preheat the oven to 450°F. Snap the asparagus spears at their natural breaking point and lay out on a lipped baking sheet. Toss with the garlic, generous drizzle of oil, and salt/pepper to taste. Roast for about 10-15 minutes, or until tender.

Prepare a pot of boiling water to poach the eggs. As soon as the asparagus comes out of the oven, get to poaching. I would suggest this method from Smitten Kitchen. While the eggs are finishing up, heat the naan for a few seconds in the microwave and lay the asparagus over it. Top with the finished eggs. Finish it off with a sprinkle of cayenne and salt/pepper to taste.