birthday baking

Recipe adapted from Orangette. I didn't have the almonds, so I used 1/2 tsp vanilla extract and 1/2 tsp. almond extract.

This cake is always a crowd-pleaser (or, rather, a Ben-pleaser). A combination like blueberries with lemon zest, or fresh cranberries and orange zest and/or almond extract, can work really well too . I like a cake that can change with the seasons.

market lunch

We returned home from our Saturday trip to Findley Market loaded with goodies. I love making food when the kitchen is full of fresh things. But for some reason, cooking right after shopping is a bit of a turn-off for me, especially when it's all humid and gross out. So we took inspiration from both the weather and our favorite Celebrity Chef.

First Course:



Silken tofu with soy sauce and scallions.

Entree:



Yellowfin tuna marinated in soy and seared. We used scallions again, but the fish would be great with toasted sesame seeds too. This was the Jamie Oliver contribution -- I love his food but don't always love watching him on-screen. Have you ever noticed how he misuses the word "literally" all the time? As in: "I'm going to literally chop this onion and put it in the pan." Drives. Me. Crazy.

On the side:



Salad of roasted corn, avocado, red onion, cilantro, lime juice, olive oil, s&p. The corn was roasted on top of our gas stove.



Quite a yummy meal, I must say. It was also a good display of how Ben and I divide work in the kitchen. I chop; he sears; I wash; he dries; I boss; he lets me think I'm boss.

we are delinquents

To our one dedicated remaining reader (Camille...is that you?), you deserve a shiny gold star. If a blog could be mangy or overgrown with weeds, this one would be. The lack of posts is due to a few factors. Sheer laziness is at the top of the list. To that you can also add: incessant traveling, the stress of house-hunting in Vermont, and, once again, lack of will. Excuses, excuses.

But we've been having fun during these early weeks of summer. First up was a trip back to the Bay Area. My sister was graduating from Berkeley with her MA in Statistics and our friends Camilo and Dalia were getting married. Two outstanding reasons to hop on a plane.



Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures at both of those momentous Life Events. Sigh. Instead, all I have to offer is pictures from a very fun dinner out in the Mission with Ian, Jenny, Kate, and Dan.





That's Ben explaining exactly what library music is. Actually, I have no idea what the conversation was about but I love Dan's intent expression (Judge Judy would say that he has his "listening ears" on) and Ian's bemused one.