Pumpkin Snickerdoodles

Ahhh serenity.  Coffee, cookies, sunlight.  (Insert here: car coming to a screeching halt noise)

This is a moment in the day, but definitely not my EVERY MOMENT.  These cookies came through much hard work crossing a late night shift and a morning baking session.  It's what a mom's gotta do to get some baking done.  And YES, it's always worth it.

Pumpkin Maple Muffins

It all started over text.

My girlfriend tells me she has "too much pumpkin leftover."  I gladly told her I would take it off her hands.  So there I was, dreaming up what I could make, as my parents were coming into town for the weekend.

The morning she was supposed to bring it over, I get a text apologizing that the puree had gone bad! Noooo!

I was already committed and drooling over the muffin recipe I wanted to try.  I adapted it a bit based on what I had in my pantry and was so pleased with the result.  Really guys, you HAVE to make these.

Turkey with Adobo Meatballs with Avocado Dipping Sauce

It guess it's time to start solids soon based on this picture.  This was an unintentional photo bomb, by the way.

I've concluded a few things about cooking (and food blogging) with a baby:

1) Experimental cooking will only happen on the weekends when my husband can distract baby for longer periods of time in case of missed ingredient, forgotten timer, kitchen fire...etc.

2) Ingredient photos are over-rated.  Gone are the days where I have time to set everything up before hand.

Summer Veggie Enchiladas!

Summer came and went.  So did my time!  I have been wanting to share this recipe with you though!  This is such a good recipe for wrapping up your summer veggies!  These enchiladas are a little different, but that's why I like them.  Super flavorful and packed with summer squash and zucchini!  On my third time making them (and actually getting out my camera) I added chicken too.  Omit that part if you want to keep them vegetarian.

Pear Tomato Bruschetta

My garden has been producing so many tomatoes.  I am in bruschetta heaven!

There are so many variations of bruschetta out there.  Everything from traditional to wacky.  My favorite version stems more on the traditional side but there are a few key elements to note.

Plum and Oatmeal Crisp

With stone fruits in season for the summer, one must master the art of crisps and crumbles.  There is no reason to bring brownies to the party, when there is perfectly good fruit out there!  And really- you could probably make the crisp in less time, plus it has a more "I put work into this" feel.  That always makes your guests feel valued.

Arugula Pesto with Goat Cheese Crostini

Hello World!  I'm back!  And with another human being in the kitchen with me!  Colton Sterling Ritter has completely stolen my heart and wouldn't you know it- he is a great eater too!

I shocked myself with how quickly I got back to cooking.  My mother (God bless her!) stayed with us for a couple weeks and cooked for us while I recovered from my C-section.  But after a few more weeks of meals (so helpful- thank you local friends and family!) I was ready to be back in the kitchen.  Colton will be 2 months tomorrow!

Peanut Satay Sauce and Dressing

So I admit I've been holding out on you all.  The first time I made this sauce, I was stunned.  Was it really THAT good?  Or was I just pregnant and everything tasted good?  Then I made it for guests and they were having thirds- no not of dinner, of JUST THE SAUCE.  My sister was dipping her fork in it and licking it like lolly pop.

Our palates first laid eyes taste-buds on it just before we moved from Portland.  Our treasured friends, Wes and Jess, had us over for a "last meal" of sorts.  We ate out on their patio while dipping veggies and chicken into this sauce.  Neither Chris nor I could believe how yummy it was.  I mean, we were warned that we would want more after scooping a conservative amount onto our plates, but really?  I needed a bowl?!

Coconut Banana Bread

Well my due date came and went yesterday.  But I'm not the type to sit around and do nothing.  I couldn't get banana off my mind.  Then I remembered seeing a recipe for Coconut Banana Bread.  This belly busting mom was gonna do some baking, even if my apron is too small.

For me, the best breakfasty breads need to be moist throughout, but must have that crispy-mc-crisperson top!  The recipe left me with NOTHING to complain about.  Easy recipe.  Easy baking.  Came out of pan perfectly.  And it's taste landed somewhere between island oasis and kitchen comfort.

Impromptu New England Herbed Crackers (with Uncle Ron)

So yesterday...

My smoke jumper/nurse/teacher of handicap children/Montana native/full of more character than even my own mother/UNCLE RON drove in for lunch with my Aunt Nancy.  We decided to make it more than a pit-stop when he said he wanted to show me his new found cracker recipe (over 300 years old)  to go with the soup I had prepared.

Who says no to homemade crackers?  NOT THIS GIRL!  Anytime anyone wants to cook for me, I take them up on it.

"The Best" Scones with Dried Apricot, Pecans and White Chocolate

Oh hello glorious scone!  Whenever I make scones, I ALWAYS vow to make them more often.

One Sunday, Chris dragged me into the church kitchen and said "Honey, can you make these?" (mouth full, crumbs everywhere).  They were made by a wonderful friend of ours, Darlene, who loves to bake and later handed me the recipe.  They were simply titled "The Best Scones."

Venison Stir-Fry with Couscous

40th week of pregnancy.  We've moved into our first home.  All important things are set up- especially Colton's room, the veggie garden and the kitchen.  Cooking has been less, snacking has increased, but I've decided to emerge to take a quick breath before diving deep into the oceans of motherhood.

Morning People Muffins

Chris and I are morning people. If you call us close friends, you most definitely know this. And now you all know! We're all besties now!

I love a tasty muffin. I love a tasty, healthy muffin even more! I found this recipe on Feed Me Seymour. She calls them sunburst muffins, and they really are a bit of sunshine. Morning sunshine! The start your day off right kind. I loved all the breakfast food INSIDE these muffins. Fruit, oats, yogurt, egg whites! Sign me up! I love breakfast, don't you?

Biscuits with White Cheddar, Jalapeño and Green Onion

There once lived a girl who read food blogs.  In bed.  Upon the couch.  On the treadmill.  Everywhere her iPad could travel.

One day she came across a recipe for the exact food item she was craving.  Savory biscuits.

And so she made them.  And they were beyond excellent.  "Maybe the best biscuits I've ever made?!" she exclaimed alone in her kitchen, nearly tearing up at the taste of their deliciousness.

And so she committed to share them with the world.

Homemade Pho with Chicken, Baby Bok Choy and Chinese Noodles

Pho- pronounced (f-uh), kind of like an Asian chicken noodle soup packed with tasty veggies in a garlic-ginger spiced broth.  So good for the soul.  

I used homemade chicken stock, roasted bone-in chicken breasts (my fave) and left out the hot sauce because we had guests coming over.  Jenna's (Eatliverun) soup was so flavorful, I just couldn't stop slurping!

William Sonoma Apple Cake Muffin Top

Sometimes, you just need a muffin top.  No, not the modern term kind (that too many baked goods produce just over our belt line), but the crown of a perfectly baked muffin holding all the crusty goodness begging you to just take a little off the top.  Who needs the bottom part anyway?

This recipe comes from William Sonoma.  I believe they bake their cake in a circular cake pan (and included raisins- bleh).  My cake pans were too far in the back of my cupboard.  First world pregnant problems.  But the pie glass was within arms reach.  Why not?

Out came what looked like a muffin top!  Like a shallow cake.

Embarrassingly Simple: Broiled Salmon with Garlic Mustard Crust

After being out of commission for several weeks due to holidays, pregnancy, work, grieving loved ones passing, house hunting and travel... (whew- did I get it all?), I'M BACK!

No promises, mind you.  But most of you are quite forgiving seeing that I'm nearly 10 weeks away from delivering our son.  So I thought about warming the blog back up with an embarrassingly simple recipe.

This recipe was inspired by my cousin Sean, whom we spent some time with over the holidays.  He's a college student who likes to cook and welcomes the challenge of grocery shopping on a dime, eating quality food and being resourceful.  He was so cute to comment on how brilliant I was to suggest making chicken stock all out of stuff you typically throw away for a soup later in the week.

Sean loves salmon and enjoyed my baked garden salmon recipe.  I told him, "well if you think THAT was easy, you just wait till you try my broiled salmon recipe."  It's fast, painless and you probably have all the ingredients in your kitchen for the crusting!

This recipe makes one fillet, for my one cousin Sean, or for that one gourmet college student out there.