Brunch

Buttermilk Pancakes

by alice on January 10, 2012 · 34 comments


Three words. Homemade buttermilk pancakes. As a recovering boxed pancake mix addict, I’ll be quite honest. I think boxed pancake mixes have a more consistent flavor and texture than many homemade pancake recipes I’ve tried and tested from magazines, cookbooks, and the internet. Time and time again I would experience such disappointment with these recipes that I preferred to use packaged mixes because I wanted certain results. [click to continue…]
Pin It      
Updated

{ 34 comments }

Tomato Basil Mozzarella Salad

by alice on August 9, 2011 · 44 comments


2011 has been a roller coaster of a year for my family and I, one I wish I could have stepped off of before the year began.  The year started as a blur, my mind in a complete fog.  We buried dad New Year’s Eve and the following months would prove to challenge me in unexpected ways which I’m still dealing with and slowly processing.   Mom moved into our “cozy” home, a home my husband and I bought eleven years ago.  When we bought this place it was a complete fixer, pink bathroom tile included.  It was a seller’s housing market back then and even the dumpiest of homes commanded premium dollars.  But we were newly married with a determined vision.  Together, we would roll up our sleeves and work on remodeling our house one room every year as our budget allowed.  The sweat equity would eventually pay off as years went by. All my cake decorating experience would serve me well when it came to smoothing out drywall puddy.  As a contractor friend once told me, if you can frost a cake smooth, smoothing drywall will be a cinch for you.

Slowly but surely our ugly, dumpy home started to transform into something beautiful and permanent.  We gutted rooms, opened up walls, designed our kitchen, and added finishing touches like crown molding throughout the house.  The process in which our home turned into a butterfly from a lowly caterpillar has been a remarkable journey of  perseverance and celebration.  This has been the only home my three children have ever known and our plans were to stay here until they were old enough to move out on their own. But sometimes life circumstances have a pesky way of changing plans. [click to continue…]

Pin It      
Updated

{ 44 comments }

Peach Blueberry Coffee Cake

by alice on July 21, 2011 · 38 comments

Sometimes life and circumstances beyond my control collide in such a way I’m left feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, and anxious.  This pretty much sums up the last two weeks spilling over to this week, too.  Last Tuesday my youngest sister gave birth to her second son and I was busy caring for my nephew for a couple days.  Then, my husband with our kids left for Ohio and Michigan for a family reunion while I stayed behind.  Initially I stayed behind because of my sister’s pregnancy but then, my sister stationed in Germany was able to fly home and my other sister from Spokane is also arriving soon.  This will be the first time my five siblings and I have been altogether since my dad passed away six months ago.  For those of you who have been following my journey of having my mom move in with s on Everyday Alice, then you know it’s been a difficult transition for me.  And if this week wasn’t already busy enough, we decided to unexpectedly make an offer on a bigger house to accommodate our growing family better. With mom living here now, one bathroom will not do for a family of six people, not to mention we are a bit cramped. As a result I’ve been spending practically zero time on my computer and all my time working on clearing blackberry brambles, laurel bushes, de-cluttering, and cleaning the house.  Who knew getting a house ready to sell was so much work!? [click to continue…]

     
Updated

{ 38 comments }

Watermelon Feta Mixed Greens Salad

by alice on July 5, 2011 · 27 comments

When reading Ina Garten’s new cookbook,  Barefoot Contessa How Easy Is That?: Fabulous Recipes & Easy Tips, I was saddened to read in the headnote of her Watermelon and Arugula salad recipe (page 65) that she did not like the combination of watermelon and feta. Oh, how sad because I love the combination of watermelon and feta, and I love Ina Garten.  But I am going to have to respectfully disagree with her on this one.  The first time I tried the sweet and savory combination of juicy red watermelon with the salty soft flavor of the feta, I was hooked.  I would never have though to pair these ingredients with each other yet they work harmoniously and not as strange as the Barefoot Contessa would have you to believe.

She has this wonderful salad recipe using watermelon, arugula, lemon juice, olive oil, Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper.  But my heart is totally devoted to watermelon and feta.  And since we’re going with feta, I think adding a few slivers of red onion, a few other types of greens would make this the perfect light lunch for me today, wouldn’t you agree? [click to continue…]

     
Updated

{ 27 comments }

Easy Fruit Tart

by alice on May 30, 2011 · 25 comments

Dishes made with puff pastry have a special place in my heart. Perhaps it is all the flaky, buttery layers of puff pastry which makes just about anything taste really good – especially desserts. Today I have a special treat for you. My eight year old daughter, Mimi, is featured in a cooking video I created and posted for PBS Parents Kitchen Explorers. In the video, Mimi shows you how to make a beautiful fresh fruit tart using strawberries and blueberries. It’s the perfect dessert for Memorial Day. [click to continue…]

     
Updated

{ 25 comments }

← Previous Entries