Baked Egg Breakfast

Today didn’t feel like a scramble or a fried egg sort of breakfast day. Maybe something for along the line of comfort food – warm and filling. Preferably eaten while huddling in a blankie.

Inspired Summer

My Instagram feed is positively bursting with pictures of summer vacations, fruits, and beautiful flowers. The flux of inspirations has finally culminated to the point where I’m breaking out my old watercolor paints and brushes. Hopefully I haven’t forgotten how this watercoloring thing works!

Hibiki 12yrs

I know it is suppose to be cocktail Friday but I can’t lift my arms. Have you guys tried the P90X3 workouts? Tony Horton’s P90X workouts were pretty popular awhile back and now he’s recently released P90X3. I completed The Challenge yesterday and now I’m rendered into a limp sponge. There is nothing that doesn’t hurt. Any attempt to make a cocktail would result in a fruity mess on the kitchen floor and broken glassware. So instead I’m going to celebrate the start of the weekend with a shot of whiskey. Cheers!

Happy Friday: Nectariney Lemony Concoction

I spent this afternoon engaging in the very summer-esque activity that is making a white nectarine tart. A happy consequence of making a nectarine tart is that I was left with approximately 1.5 Tbsp of the nectarine-infused honey-lemon syrup. Doesn’t nectarine-infused honey lemon syrup already sound like an ingredient in a cocktail recipe? Yes, I thought so too.

Muddled the heck out of the syrup with a couple leaves of lemongrass, a couple sprigs of lemon thyme, and half a peach (had a randomly overly-ripe peach on the counter) in a cocktail shaker. Added ice cubes and 2 oz of Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva. Shook with great vigor until arms felt like they were going to fall off. Strained into chilled glass with a big honking ice cube. Topped off with fizzy seltzer water. Sat back, relaxed, and sipped as I waited for the tart to finish baking…

Afternoon Tea

Afternoon teas are so lovely – the scones, homemade jams, little tea sandwiches, macarons, tarts! I adore them all. It’s a shame that afternoon tea isn’t part of the American culture. Although it is generally portrayed as a social activity only to be trotted out at bridal showers or thrown by little girls, the tradition is severely underrated. This weekend, I enjoyed a lovely tea setting with some close friends, filling our bellies with deliciousness. We had cherry jam, clotted cream, lemon scones, egg salad tartine sandwiches, roasted turkey arugula sandwiches, 3 kinds of frangipane tarts, and of course plenty of pots of tea!

(Note the lack of cucumber sandwiches. While I don’t hate cucumber sandwich, I’ve yet to meet one that I love. If you have a recipe for a lovely cucumber sandwich, please do share!!)

Negroni

Did you know that this week is Negroni Week? The traditional recipe lists equal parts gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth with a slice or twist of orange peel for garnish. I simply do not have enough hair on my chest to withstand such a high proportion of Campari! I prefer the Esquire recipe where the ratio of gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth is 1:½:½ for a less bitter cocktail. But no matter what proportions you like for your Negroni, may it be a good start to your weekend. Cheers!

(On a different note, today’s run is a perfect 10 bunnies – lots of bunnies, lovely weather, and no aches or pain!)