Tomatoes with Vanilla and Mint

Tomatoes with Vanilla and Mint
{I made this a few weeks ago when peaches were in season, too.  I 'm waiting for my firswt watermelon to make this dish again for a dessert}

Softly perfumed with vanilla bean, this tomato and mint salad is so simple and perfect that you might have stumbled upon it yourself on a night with a sparse pantry and creative inspiration using ingredients you plucked from your pantry and backyard. Now you don't have to wait for that flash of brilliance to strike.

I’ve been picking tomatoes for the last few weeks on my regular Tuesday visits to Crooked Sky. I always hand my two children each a tomato to eat on the way back to the car since we’re always hot and thirsty.  A sweet snack of a perfect tomato, always bring me back to life.  


Yellow tomato pulp dripped all down the front of my daughter's shirt as she bit into the flesh and sucked on the juice.  


Yes, I know better than to just hand my 2 year old a tomato.  Despite my better judgement, I hope she cements that tomato into memory of what a pleasure it is to eat a just-picked summer tomato with sweat dripping down your cheek and fine layer of dust covering your body from tromping between the rows for the best one.

We took a few extra home and made the recipe I've been thinking about for months since I first spotted it.


It could easy pass for dessert, but we loved it as a first course.  With a wedge of brie and baguette, it could even pass for dinner.


Tomatoes and Peaches with Vanilla Bean Olive OIl and Mint
inspired by Not Without Salt’s recipe, which was inspired by The Walrus and the Carpenter menu item

ingredients
tomatoes, the sweetest and most flavorful you can find, sliced thick, about a ½ pound
peaches, the ones that smell sweet and like flowers, sliced into wedges, about a 1/2 pound
vanilla bean, or ½ teaspoon of vanilla bean paste
olive oil, extra virgin, best quality, ¼ cup
fresh mint, a good handful
sea salt, to taste

If you have a fresh vanilla bean, slice it lengthwise down the middle and with the tip of your knife, slide it along both sides of the bean. In a small bowl, combine the olive oil and the vanilla bean seeds (or the vanilla bean paste).

Arrange the sliced tomatoes and peaches however you would like on a nice platter. Shingled is pretty, or just scatter willy nilly since it’s your house and you can do what you want.

Top the tomatoes and peaches with a Jackson Pollack style stream of the olive oil and season evenly and lightly with sea salt.  Finish with a shower of mint leaves.  It would be lovely to serve this simple dish with your good silver. I think it makes it taste better.

Home Videos

Have you noticed the trend in stylish homegrown videos (or alternative to traditional TV programming) on the blogosphere?  They're appearing everywhere, it seems, and I love it.  Finding these little delightful pieces of media is like discovering a new variety of tomato at the farmers' market.  I can't wait to take the first juicy bite.

Stumbling around the internet lately, I've found a few treasures.  I've even started trying to figure it out how to do it myself a bit with my iPhone4 and iMovie.  I'm not at the level I would like to be yet but I'm learning and trying to put myself out there.  The movie's I've made recently are featured last.

Whole Larder Love's Rohan Anderson cooks pasta at home for this online cooking series in Australia.  His back to basics style of living and photographs are really something that inspire. 

Olive Us: An American family in France who loves each other and gardens (among other things).  They've started a series of weekly "episodes." It appears they've been able to fund this endeavor and dress the kids fashionably with the help of a popular major retailer. 

Food 52's How to Make Your Own Cooking Videos: A fantastic DIY instruction for a more professional outcome. 

Apple Town Plum Jam: This one is by Daniel Grey.  It's a polished and stylish intimate peek into a family in their home making jam out of their backyard bumper.

And now, for my little movie debut, please enjoy these two short movies.  The first is on artichokes and the second, tomatoes featuring a new seed from Johnny's called Indigo Rose at Crooked Sky Farms.  They star farmer Frank Martin, my daughter and me.

If you have any new favorite videos or series' I should know about, I'd love to hear about them!

Simplicity Parenting Virtual Book Club at Fern and Feather

The sweet and talented Alexis from Fern and Feather is having a book club discussion about the book Simplicity Parenting this week.  Simplicity Parenting is all about removing the stresses in our kids lives so that they can feel more calm, safe and secure.  Who doesn't want that for our children?

She's asked me to co-host a chapter and of course I said yes!!

Today is the discussion about the "Environment" chapter and I gave my two cents about how I've incorporated it into my home and how incredibly well the kids have responded.

Come say hello and tell share any insights you might have over at Fern and Feather.

*That's my dad and me at Torrey Pines State Beach when I was a little thing.  I can't wait to go back and visit this summer.

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.

Happy 2012

Hi, how have you been? Did you have a good holiday? I had such a wonderful time with my family and had a low key Christmas at our house.  My brother was able to come into town, too, and with a new fiancee.  We're so excited for them and their future together.

We did, however, suffer from what many have called the plague of late 2011.  We all got the stomach flu for about a week and probably gave it to many of our loved ones. 

It did force us to slow down and just enjoy each other, even if we were cleaning up vomit a few times a day.

Even with lingering fears of accidental #2 diaper leaks, we loaded up the family in the car and headed to San Diego to see my folks' new place in Solana Beach.

My 4 year old son learned to play chess on the trip and my 1 year old daughter finally said "Grandma Kimmy" out loud and repeatedly called my brother "Keenie" which also sounded like "Weenie" and we all that thought was pee your pants funny.  She also thinks it's hilarious to ask "what" over and over again - emphasis on the "t" sound.

We went to the aquarium, hiked around Torrey Pines (the smell of the misty side of the hills take me back standing at the bus stop as a pre-teen) and ate lots of Mexican food.  I didn't make it to Fidel's but we did make it to Roberto's and discovered Rudy's.  We did the Holiday of Lights show at the Del Mar Fairgrounds and I met up with old friends at Pannikin more than once.  We also drove up to the Orange County Great Park and almost rode on the huge orange balloon - they were booked.

I feel like there's so many fun things happening already planned for 2012 but somehow I feel like I'm more calm about it than I would have been last year.  Yes, there are lots of fun big outside plans.  But what's most exciting for me right now is that my daughter is spending more time by herself on projects and that is helping me immensely.  Even if it's only 10 minutes at a time, at least it's 10 more minutes that I've had to use the restroom by myself, load the dishwasher, or take the garbage out.  Sometimes I feel like a more appropriate blog name for this place would be Diapers and Dog Poop.  But that's not romanic, nor lovely, nor inspiring.  I do have so many things that are getting me excited, though.

Things I'm looking forward to this year:

Playing chess with my son during my daughter's nap time.

My dear friend's son's family fundraiser: Super Date for Super Nate January 20th.  Nate's 3 and he's really having a rough time with this whole cancer thing.  If you're in the Phoenix area, you should try to come.  If you've got a good poker face, you might even with something. :)

Meeting Gabrielle Hamilton for the Blood Bones and Butter paperback tour at Changing Hands February 2nd.  

My cooking class at the Downtown Phoenix Public Market on February 18th from 2 - 4 p.m. - I've just about finished my menu.  It's a Winter Greens Ninja class with Salad Lyonnaise, Goat Cheese Pizza with Green Sauce and Orange Peel Studded Brownie Bites with a Whipped Creme Fraiche dip.  Still working on the beverage pairings.

Ignite Food Phoenix March 19th.  It's sort of like Ted Talks but for food and it's all local.  Such a wonderful idea.  I really want to go and even considering submitting my own 5 minute presentation.

Summer in San Diego

Kindergarten in the fall for my son.

What are you looking forward to this year, so far?

Fridge Fashion

{frolic} posted photos of her kitchen last month.  I loved them and had to share.

 

Photos: Chelsea Fuss.

I think it's so important to make you space happy.  Cooking at home can be more of a joy than a chore when it's filled with your favorite music, special touches that feel luxurious, like having a silver-plated flatware set for every day.  Find all the ideas and sources here.

Do Try This at Home: Cinnamon Water

Apartment Therapy mentioned a cafe in Los Angeles CA, called WoodSpoon, where the table water is infused with a cinnamon stick.  Has anyone tried this?

Sounds so simple and exotic.  Perfect cold-weather season water, isn't it?

Peppermint Bon Bons

Dear Friends,

I have the best recipe to share with you.

If you like peppermint patties, you're gonna love this homemade version.

It all started when I tried to save a few pennies and eat the cheaper after dinner peppermint patties with the silver wrapping and green writing.  Well, after 4 days of a tummy ache.  I discovered that they were the culprit.

This recipe has 4 ingredients:

Sweetened condensed milk, mint extract, powdered sugar and semi-sweet chocolate.

Here's how to do it.

Mix a 8 oz can of sweetened condensend milk with 1 tablespoon of mint extract.  Stir to combine.  Add 5-6 cups of powdered sugar - 1 cup at a time.

Scoop 1 tablespoon rounds onto a cookie sheet or something similar (that can fit into your freezer) lined with waxed/parchment paper or a silicone mat.

Freeze the minty sugar balls for 20 minutes or so while you melt 12-16 oz of chocolate chips (good ones) over a double boiler or in the microwave at 30 second increments.

Once the balls are quite cold, dip them into the melted chocolate and using two forks, fish them out of the chocolate.  Let them drain a bit back into the chocolate bowl and place back onto the cookie sheet.

I had to do this in many many many shifts because I had to find slivers of time while my 1 year old daughter was sleeping or distracted so as to be able to not have a tray of toddler fingerprinted balls.

They're fluffy, minty and cold.  My son likened them to ice cream.

I love these and will probably make them each Winter from now on.  If you're as big a fan of Peppermint Patties as I am...you should, too.

Bumble Cafe in Los Altos

I saw this over at Elements of Style.  It's Bumble Cafe in Los Altos, California.

They've created a kid-friendly space to eat, drink and enjoy your friends' company without chasing after the small ones.  So smart.

I would so love it if someone would make this happen in Phoenix.  Love this.

Winter Chef Series - Come Cook with Me

I was stunned when I was asked to participate in the Winter Chef Cooking Series at the Downtown Phoenix Public Market.  Me? Eek! This will be my first time cooking for an audience.  

Of course I said YES and have been planning my meal and stories to share, ever since.

I hope to nail down the menu this weekend. It will be three courses plus wine pairings.  It's a steal of a good time at $55 for a 2 hour class in such a cozy and intimate space.

What you can expect is to learn all about leafy greens.

I'm thinking a greens tasting, possibly escarole with warm dressing and poached egg, maybe a butternut and goat cheese lasagna stuffed with greens, mustard chips and candied seville oranges.  This girl might change her mind, but that's what I'm tossing around today.

For all the details and the other guest chefs in the series, you can go here.  Mind you, I'm the home cook of the group. :) I'd love it if you want to register for the class and hang out with me on a Saturday afternoon in February, here's the link.

Holiday Technology

My husband and I spend countless hours in bed next to each other tied to our laptops, looking like lab experiments. Usually, I'm working for Crooked Sky, writing for Chow Bella and/or watching Hulu/pinning things. My husband, meanwhile, finished law school, got into baseball cards, and wrote some iphone/ipad apps. The last one he wrote, is amazing.

It's called Holiday Box and it automatically adds antlers/nose, Santa hat/beard, or an elf hat/cheeks.

I adore it.

Good morning

New video from The Black Keys - a little something to make you smile and wiggle. :)

Halloween 2011

1-3 Comfy Walking Clothes in Halloween-y colors (in lieu of costume)

4 Specs (so I can see, I need them - especially at night)

5 Flips - 'cause it's fall in Phoenix

6 Phone, clock, flashlight, protected

7 JW Hulme Field Thermos Guard (would love this)

8 Pumpkin chili for early dinner before trick-or-treating

9 Wagon - 'cause we'll need to haul the loot and the tired kid legs

10 Mexican hot chocolate (in case it gets cold) kept warm in thermos - photo credit

____

This is my plan for cruising the neighborhood on Monday.

The little dude (son) is planning to be a snake - husband is planning to sew it, like on a machine.  Excited to see how it will turn out.

Little darling (daughter) will be a fluffy white kitty cat.

Mom (me) will be photographer and wagon puller.

Dad (husband) might surprise us with a costume, as he often does, or me might not and assist in parent duties in the dark.

Also excited for Sunday's Cupcake Love In event in Scottsdale and family photo session with Tiffany.  Tiffany is a friend of a friend and we won a free session almost a year ago.  So happy we're finally making it happen.  I've been gathering outfit ideas on my Pinterest - check them out here.

What are your plans for Halloween?

Central Farmers Market

The North Central Phoenix Farmers Market opened yesterday Ocotober 1st by my friend and by one of our CSA coordinators for Crooked Sky Farms, Bo Mostow.

I'm so proud of her making her dream a reality and it couldn't have been more fun to see it come alive and on a quite warm but breezy day which made me think of a California market -- especially with all the palm trees and grass underfoot.

It is located at the Crossroads Church at Central and Northern, right on the Murphy's Bridle Path and in my opinion, the most romantic street in the whole Phoenix Metro area.  I'm lucky to be a nearby resident.

{Here are Jesus and Angelica - my coworkers at Crooked Sky Farms}

{How gorgeous is this setting...the most happy tree.  Bo says they will add more seating in the coming weeks, as well as some food trucks for post soccer families. Yes!}

{This pic of Piestewa peak in the back makes me think of Tucson}

If you're not doing much next Saturday morning, and even if you are, check out her market, it's lovely.

so much beauty: gradient cake, vintage linen aprons and roasting chiles

I highly recommend you check out the beauty of cooking in this Not Without Salt video recently.

So so gorgeous.

___

Another beautiful thing for you today are these vintage linen aprons.

Amazing.  I wrote more about them in this Chow Bella post.

Pretty.  Pretty.

Following his bliss : girl talk

{photo}

While not feeling well but not able to sleep, I tapped around my Hulu app and came across and really inspirational fun little program called A Day In the Life: Girl Talk.  Girl Talk is the stage name of Gregg Michael Gillis, who at just 29 is rocking out huge venues with his DJing of all sampled music.  He likes to explain how he really is creating his own style/brand of music {his instrument is his laptop} and either way, it's a far cry from his engineering job he had just 5 years ago in engineering.

Here's a video I found on You Tube of one of his shows.  Kind of awesome, I think.

Feeling Fall

We got our first drop out of triple digit heat today and it appears it will last into this next week.  For us, that's our signal that fall is coming.  Here's a little something I put together to document what this looks and feels like to me.

planting the fall/winter crops

a new autumn uniform of skirt/crossbody bag/long sleeved top/something on the wrist/breezy shoes/my warbys

spending time thinking about loved ones {especially the little ones} who are fighting the big C.  love u #supernate. 

finding {on craigslist} and using silverplated forks and spoons for every day

using the nice glassware - even for water {when you know the kids aren't going to knock it on the floor}

getting back into mealtime traditions.  we tend to to homemade pizzas on friday nights.  tho' bianco's pizza is now available at pane.  that's definitely a good thing.

and the smell of roasted green chiles.  it's everywhere here.  the farmers markets, crooked sky, the super market...and i love it.

What does fall feel like to you?

*photo credits: Silverware: BeachHouseLiving Etsy, Shoes and Bag: Ruche, Top and Skirt: Banana Republic, Farm: My Farmyard, Chiles and Watch: Me, Glassware: CB2, Glasses: Warby Parker, Pizza: http://blog.junbelen.com/ 

Food & Fashion

Loving the accompanying blog to Coterie called Ill Seen, Ill Said and anytime you can incorporate food and fashion, I'm happy.