croissants and root beer

Please don't think that my blog has been hijacked.

It is getting a little fluff and scrub.

Croissants and Root Beer is growing up.  It's taking on a new name and new life with a title more thoughtful and, I think, more fitting.  As a brand new mother, I named my blog after the two foods I craved most during my pregnancies -- croissants and root beer.  I still love both foods.

With the help of some friends today, we've come up with a new name that will reflect my transformation into a hopefully more resourceful food blog with more of a focus on stories, recipes and seasonal meals: The Humble Buttery.  What do you think?

Buttery can be an adjective that you could use to describe your dressed up corn on the cob, but it's also a noun.  A buttery is a Medieval pantry or storeroom where the ale was stored.  I don't literally have a buttery but like to think of my backyard garden, refrigerator and freezer all as my pantry.  I absolutely love the word buttery and thought it would be a fantastic one for this blog.

Outside of my internet space, my real-life home is getting a little scrub down, starting with my family room.  We've taken down the baby gate covering the sooty fireplace, the neon plastic kiddie toys went to a new home and the wooden blocks were given a new location, a new thrifted wicker basket and firewood a round metal bin, also thrifted.  I love my local Goodwill.

It feels so good to sit in this room.

I hope you will enjoy spending time in this new space of The Humble Buttery, too.  I look forward to more time together with you.  If you get a sec., please say hello and tell me what you've done to spruce things up in your home lately.

Catching My Breath

Is it just me or does it seem like January/February is even more jam packed with activities, even more so than December? Don't get me wrong, I'm enjoying this year very much so far but I need to make sure that I don't get sick, or have any unexpected things (beyond the normal) so that I can make sure that I'm enjoying and performing at the best of my ability.  You know?

So, a little of what's been going on in Jan/Feb:


Kindergarten shopping


Super Nate's Super Date that generated over $20,000 for the best little family in the west. My husband was thrilled to meet Miss Arizona Jennifer Sedler.  We took home an original painting and a hair cut certificate.

Dinner at FnB (my first time, can you believe it?) and the They Might Be Giants Concert.  We all went crazy for the beets, the rutabagas, the falafel and the ginger creme brulee.  Dear friend Chris was fun to watch at the concert.  He's an exclusive member of their fan club.



Visiting with Tracy at Arcadia Farms and chewing happily on French canneles.  I've known her since my restaurant equipment sales days.  She would always buy pastry bags from me when she worked at Cowboy Ciao.  Love her and love canneles.

Fancy dinner at Lon's.  Perks of the freelance food writing thing.  They are quite the class acts there.

Meeting Gabrielle Hamilton author of Blood, Bones and Butter at the last stop on her book tour.  Have you read her book yet? I loved the heck out of it and her.  I wasn't sure whether to get the hardcover or paperback since I have it on Audible.com but the paperback has an additional chapter.  I got both.

Also happening throughout the last two weeks: Sick kid and then another sick kid = lots of screaming from the 1 year old and messy house.


Prepping for my Winter Chef Series cooking class on February 18th.  I'm pretty excited.  And also a little nervous.  I spent much of my pre child days giving presentations, but no so much since.  It's a bit funny to see me listed with all these accoplished chefs in town.  I was invited as the home cook of the group.  I hope people know and appreciate this bonus class choice from someone who is one of them.  I've been making napkins for the class.  Tracy thinks I should give them out to the guests with a business card or something.  Do you think you would want to take home a single napkin?  Would that be a fun souvenir?

Went to get the mail this week and found that my mail carrier Sue wrote a note saying "I'm pretty sure this is you.  I grabbed you an extra copy." So sweet of her.  There I am holding a papadum from my last Dining for Women dinner.  Did you know you can cook them beautifully in the microwave?  Did you know you can microwave tortillas and get chips from them, too.  Nuking is really great from some applications.




I also got a haircut.



See? So so many things! I'm not used to such busyness.  I'm much more accustomed to my little family life of family games, playing in the backyard, long cooking sessions and such.  It's been so much more hurry up and slow down this week.



I think I've got a semi-calm week this week and will try to get our regular groove going.

I'm looking forward to getting to the Crooked Sky and see if the Belgian endive are ready.

I'm also loving Sunday nights for Downton Abbey.  I'll be watching the latest episode while I work on my next In Season post.  Do you watch Downton?

New Music Needed

I feel like a new year needs some new tunes.  Any recommendations I should know about?

I love reading Black Eiffel for her Music Monday posts.  Here are a few from her recent 2011 roundup list that I dig and haven't already had on rotation.


Oh Land- White Nights (Live) from Oh Land Music on Vimeo.



Metronomy - The Look from lorenzo fonda on Vimeo.