Zucchini Muffins

Great holiday muffins!

http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/zucchini_muffins/

Watermelon/Tomato Gazpacho

It's been a while but this is totally worth dusting off the old recipe blog.

We had some watermelon cubes in the frig that were threatening to go to waste and we had a similar soup at a restaurant a few weeks ago PLUS I ran across this recipe not to mention that freaking Siri commercial with Sam Jackson is on a freaking loop so, obviously, the universe was saying "MAKE GAZPACHO ALREADY."

I messed with the quantities of the ingredients as I'm sure you will.

You need:
2 cups watermelon
1 cup chopped tomato
the juice of a few lemons
2 tbs red wine vinegar
2 tbs extra virgin olive oil
sprigs of mint
generous portion of kosher salt (don't be scared, this soup drinks salt; taste as you go)
day old bread hunks, about a cup of it rough chopped
crumbled feta cheese

Add the watermelon, salt tomato, lemon juice, mint, vinegar and oil to a blender and puree till smooth.

Pop the hunks of bread in and let soak for a few minutes.

Blend till smooth again. Check for acidity and oeverall tastiness. Add more of whatever you think it lacks. I ended up adding more salt, oil, vinegar and lemon juice after the first whir, but you be the judge.

I made mine a day ahead. Top with feta cheese and serve super chilled.

Next time, there will be cucumber!

Double Celery Soup with crumbled goat cheese and balsamic reduction

3 tbs butter

1 tbs olive oil

1 onion, chopped

2 large leeks, chopped (light green and white parts only)

2 yukon gold potatoes, chopped

1 large celery root, chopped

2 sprigs Thyme, fresh or dried

1 bay leaf

8 cups Chicken stock/broth 

5 stalks of celery, chopped
1 cup milk (optional)

Balsamic vinegar

Goat cheese, crumbled

celery leaves

Kind of Xmas-y!

Sautee onion and leeks in butter and olive oil till almost translucent. 

Add potatoes, celery root, herbs and broth. Bring to a boil for a few minutes then let simmer for 40. 

Add celery and cook til soft, about 10 minutes. Puree in pot. Add pepper and salt to taste. You can add the milk here if you want but I find the soup so creamy and great as it is that I mostly skip it.

Reduce a half cup of balsamic vinegar in a saute pan.

Top soup with crumbled goat cheese, balsamic drizzle and celery leaves.

Zucchini Fritters

Just like the spinach cakes except I've decided to call them fritters.

3 cloves Garlic, minced

1 Onion, finely diced

1 Tbs Olive oil

2 Zucchinis, shredded

1 serving prepared couscous

1 egg

Vegetable oil

Salt and pepper

Sautee oil and garlic until fragrant, add shredded zucchini and couscous and stir to combine; salt and pepper to taste.

Take off heat. While the mixture cools, heat a thin layer of vegetable oil in a fry pan. Mix in one egg. Shape mixture into patties and fry, 3 minutes on each side.

 Drain on paper towels.

Devour.

Wood Light Fixture

At Tender Greens in Santa Monica, CA

Farmer's Market

I really want to put together a photo collage for above the oven and I think I've taken some great pics for it at the local farmer's market. Some Jeremyville art thrown in for good measure.

Simple frame

Olive Burl Slab

Posting this here bc Pinterest couldn't see it on the page I found it.