interlude

im off setting up a wedding today. so i though i would just post a few kitchen photos that ive been ogling on my desktop

hope you are enjoying your weekends. Im very excited for my madmen party tonight and to finally wear my outfit.

be back soon!

**my apologies but except for the last photo from sacramento street these images have been on my desktop a while and i dont remember where they are from~

fruits of labor. Irish Brown Bread

the fall season is well upon us here in San Francisco. With chilly temps and driving rains you can be sure to find me in the kitchen most days. Nothing fills a house better than the smell of baking bread.

Inspired by these lovely photographs via eastsidebride by Susanna Howe. im sharing a very special recipe- for irish brown bread. The recipe came to me via SOS's mom and what i love about it is that it has been worked on and adapted over the years by her and her 8 sisters to reach its current state.

below is the recipe. enjoy and let me know if you have any questions I would be happy to help!

This recipe makes 2 loafs and I use 8 x 4" loaf pans. see them here.

wholefood bulk section is a great place to find many of these ingredients.

Pre heat the oven to 400.

Combine all dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.

1 3/4 C course ground whole wheat or brown flour.

1/2 C self rising white flour

1/2 C oat bran

1/2 C steel cut oats (not the instant kind)

1/4 C sesame seeds

1/4 C wheat germ

30 hazelnuts halved

2 tbsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

1 tbsp brown sugar

mix all of these together gently.

Next begin to add in wet ingredients

1 pint of buttermilk

2 eggs beaten

3/4 C plain yogurt

mix all ingredients together very well and pour into greased loaf pans. batter should be quite wet. like a cake batter almost.

Bake for 45 mins at 400.

After 45 mins remove pans from oven and cover tops with tinfoil.

return pans to oven and continue baking for another 20 minutes.

total cooking time 1h 5m.

remove as soon as possible from pans and let cool.

Fall in The French Laundry gardens

yesterday i had the privilege of walking through the fall gardens of the world renowned The French Laundry. not only are the gardens immaculate they stand for me as a symbol of many of the things i hold most important in my life. Its a thrill for me to be walking among their neat rows.

"Take your time. Take a long time. Move slowly and deliberately and with great attention" - Thomas Keller

fruits of labor: first produce box of the new year

i am so excited to start the new year off with such a great produce box - by the end of last year i was not feeling so creative on the culinary front - but this box has be really excited!!

im thinking about a roasted butternut squash and pear soup with some crumbly blue cheese or a filet of salmon with grapefruit and cilantro reduction sauce, maybe some cabbage rolls or perhaps a kale and white bean dish of some sort - cant wait to get cooking!!