WHISK AND WILLOW

i heart this quote...

2011-03-27T06:37:00.000-07:00

"I love the relationship that anyone has with music: because there's something in us that is beyond the reach of words, something that eludes and defies our best attempts to spit it out. It's the best part of us, probably, the richest and strangest part..."
—Nick Hornby, Songbook

SIGNS OF SPRING in North Carolina..

2011-03-05T13:44:00.000-08:00

Pickling, sourdough bread & summer cocktails..

2010-07-03T14:27:00.000-07:00

Summertime..and the living IS easy..a true statement for what my life is like right now living in the south..i've had some days off in a row from work, which gave me a chance to get back into the kitchen a bit and cook up some yummy foods like Soup Au Pistou & summer veggie frittata..and lest we forget the all time favorite and household staple-chocolate chip cookies..i had a little Fluer de Sel leftover from Sweets & Meats Market We also had a serious abundance of cucumbers from our garden share so i decided to try my hand at pickling..they're resting in the fridge for a spell so we'll see how they turn out in about 10 days! i can't wait..

These delectable tiny cocktails are a recipe i found in Fine Cooking, consisting of limoncello, gin, muddled grilled thyme and lime juice..served over ice..they would be even more wonderful with a touch of simple syrup added..but with both the gin and limoncello, it could get ugly if much more than one is consumed...but they sure are delicious and an excellent addition to a dinner party or a relaxing evening at the dads while soaking in the ocean breeze... :)

a.clay

Happy 30th Amy Mac!

2010-06-13T07:15:00.000-07:00

Lemon Layer cake with homemade lemon curd filling and buttercream frosting, with lemon zest, lemon juice, edible flowers and a few raspberries...not too shabby if i don't say so myself..

Freelance Catering...

2010-04-14T07:55:00.000-07:00

Alexis and I have teamed up and taken on some catering work the last few weeks so i thought i'd share some of what we've been creating...these pics are the selection of hors d'oeuvres we did for a marketing dinner a few weeks ago...more to come!

balsamic soaked strawberries with sweetened mascarpone on mini scones with mint and lemon zest
prosciutto-wrapped cantaloupe with arugula and manchego
grilled pear with blue-cheese, candied pecans and quince paste
olive, sundried tomato and artichoke tapenade on FRVB baguette crostini
red and gold beets on spinach with toasted hazelnuts, goat cheese, orange and leek
..to name a few...

a.clay

30!

2010-04-14T07:12:00.000-07:00

Sooo i'm 30. Big deal. I think i'm finally coming to terms with this. As it turns out, it's not the end of the world..so that's a plus. Actually though, it was one of the best birthdays to date with a few of my bestest peeps and a fantastic birthday meal! Everything was perfect, except, of course, for the ONE missing element that was to be a surprise but was kept from me no thanks to Mother Nature herself...my best girl..snowed in up in Maine with no way out for three days..i gotta give her credit for her perseverance, as she was to the point where i thought she might captain a snow plow or steal her brother's snowmobile to get down here. Do not underestimate the power of a woman when she's set her mind to something! However, her boyfriend delicately reminded her that all of new england was socked in and even if they attempted to drive, they'd probably get stuck on the highway and most likely freeze to death, which would most definitely ruin my birthday-not to mention, my life. :) As it would definitely ruin theirs...So i'm glad they decided to go the safe route and plan a trip for the summer, with all fingers and toes and sanity in tact..spring and summer in north carolina is quite lovely and full of refreshing newness, happiness and rainbows. Wisteria-the beautiful flowering vine i like to call the silent tree killer because of it's invasive, strangling nature-is found abundantly around here and just peaked last week...i know it's incredibly detrimental, but man i love it..and the smell....oh it's wonderful! There's an abandoned house across the street from us that's covered in it..which definitely helps the aesthetic of the dilapidated old structure..With spring in full swing and us getting settled into our new digs (yes! a house again-finally!), i've started some small container gardens for the front porch, picked up a couple of plastic adirondack chairs for hanging out on the front porch, hung the hammock and a few boston ferns and scoped out the new neighborhood on my morning walks..i'm ready for lazy, warm sunday afternoon cocktails on the front porch with friends....

a.clay

2010-03-01T05:48:00.000-08:00

HAPPY 30th (THAT'S RIGHT...) DAY OF BIRTH TO MY SOUL SISTER!

XOXO

HOPE YOU HAVE A BEAUTIFUL DAY! WISHING I WERE THERE WITH YOU.

a slow afternoon.

2010-02-19T11:21:00.000-08:00

It is 50 and sunny...it is February in Maine...my sunporch is creeping up to 75 which leaves me pining for my garden, tank tops and afternoons at the beach with Finn chasing birds. But for now, I spent the warmest part of the day on the porch typing letters to good friends on my old Smith-Corona. These new-fangled computers are so sleek and quiet! I can actually hear myself think and correct all my typos.. oh how far we have come!

However it is nice to take a step back sometimes. When it takes effort, forethought, and deliberate pushing of buttons because there is no going back. Once that lever with the letter "A" on it has risen the ink will forever be imprinted on the page. Non of this backspacing with ease. Accepting the mistake and moving on. It feels kind of good and when I pull the letter out when I am finished there are no red squiggly lines all over as a constant reminder that I have misspelled or spaced one to many times. They are there hidden within the letter for the reader to pick out. It's kinda nice.

quotes for life....

2010-02-14T17:31:00.000-08:00

Anyone who eats three meals a day should understand why cookbooks outsell sex books three to one.
L.M.Boyd

fun new cookbook.... exciting new take on eating local and fresh... oh..and he's pretty easy on the eyes too!

it has been too long....

2010-01-17T18:20:00.000-08:00

It has been a while since I have been on to whisk and willow, and with the start of the new year, I figured I am going to be more diligent about keeping up with the blogs. This is just a primer, there is more to come...baking is still pretty fantastic, the beauty and creativity that is a part of the process is so satisfying. I realize quite often just how lucky I am to wake up every morning and go to work to bake. TO BAKE!! Not only to bake, but to bake what I want to be as creative as I like...which as I write I realize I need to take more advantage of. This year I will start logging all the sweat (and savory) treats that I produce and sharing them with you all. Here's to an inspiring New Year!

j.may

HOME

2009-12-27T06:41:00.000-08:00

Hope everyone had a most beautiful, delighted holiday filled with warmth, full happy bellies, family and laughter.and maybe even a little snow..we sure did! Twenty inches of that gorgeous white stuff fell to the ground in Connecticut last saturday into sunday morning...phil, bella and i following right behind it...we made our holiday trek from NC sunday morning, truck packed, kitten in toe, gifts yet to be wrapped and high-tailed it northbound..the last time i can remember snow like this at home in CT was when i was an itty bitty girl person, so i think we were due..it's mostly gone now thanks to the rain last night..

Happy holidays and a peaceful, healthy new year to you...may we all be abundant in Love...for "there are many things i'm sure, without which we could not live...but lOve is the only one i can think of.." (curlygirldesign)

our first snow....

2009-12-06T17:25:00.000-08:00

left me dreaming of this:

j.may

Chocolate and Rosemary-A Fine Pair..

2009-10-20T10:07:00.000-07:00

I found this recipe on a blog one afternoon and tried it last night...let me tell you--it is Delicious! The chocolate filling would also make for great fondue-minus the eggs..i infused a cup of heavy whipping cream with rosemary by allowing it to come to a slow boil on the stove then letting it rest in the fridge overnight. The tart shell gets baked for about 12 minutes, during which time i assembled the rest of the tart filling..it's got a rich chocolaty flavor and the rosemary gives off almost a hint of mint instead of its' rosemary flavor..sprinkling alittle pink himalayan or hawaiian salt on top really makes it..when in need of chocolate, this would most definitely satisfy the craving..a little will go a long way as it's super rich..

a.clay

Fall is on!

2009-10-11T13:04:00.000-07:00

With fall, comes the last of the zucchini harvest, which means zucchini bread with a hint of orange and chocolate chips, such a tasty treat! Hot chocolate chai also comes with fall, my new favorite drink of the season (oh that and tea, which I have been drinking my weight in... Raspberry Leaf Yogi Tea to be exact, double yum!), and of course plenty of hiking. Finn and I just returned from a 2 1/2 hour hike which was absolutely gorgeous with all the oranges, reds, and yellows. Just a perfect day to be wandering around in the woods! Hope everyone is enjoying their fall!

Est. 1980..

2009-09-30T06:56:00.000-07:00

BEER BREWING and GLASS BLOWING..2 birds, 1 stone

2009-09-30T05:41:00.000-07:00

Eddie adding some more water to the pot. Suzie heating her piece.
Full to the brim with hand-crafted liquid enjoyment.

Eddie teaching Andreas about life..and beer..
The Brewers...they even measure together..

Autumn is beginning its slow creep into our lives, bringing us cooler mornings and evenings and even though the leaves haven't really started spiraling downwards yet, on my mornings walks it smells like fall..and i'm excited. The fresh transition into each season is the best, and it always seems to inspire new ideas, projects and motivations..the StarWorks Annual meeting is coming up at the end of october and i'm on the 'party planning committee' again this year and will be making some sweet and savory food contributions with the joined force of my new friend Suzie. The boys' beer brewing operation is going strong and has been really successful..they were asked to provide 3 varieties for the annual meeting so they've been going at it-they'll have 2 IPA's and an amber-each in 10 gal. batches. Each week they do a new brew and every one i've tasted has been delicious. And to get the beer to a boil, they figured out a way to use the heat that's put out from the glory hole instead of using propane. So they rigged a pulley system above one of the glory holes (someone needs to be blowing glass to be able to use the glory hole otherwise it wouldn't be hot enough) to hoist up the giant brew pot. Such innovative thinkers..can't wait to see what else they come up with...

a.clay

wild women

2009-08-09T15:57:00.000-07:00

Ahhhhhh, a weekend retreat!! Time to catch up and reconnect. While Anna and Phil are enjoying a divine meal at Primo back home, I am relaxing on the beach in Deer Isle with Finn reading and yup, I even took a dip! But back to the reading. I have in my hands the most wonderfully inspiring book I would love to share with you all. I had discovered a poster a while back in a bathroom stall in Malaprop's ( a cute book store in Asheville, NC). The poster, I soon discovered, was in fact based on a book called Women Who Run With the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype by Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Ph.D. I cannot put it down. I cannot peel my eyes away. For my Yoga Teacher Training we are really encouraged to read inspiring books (they leave it pretty open ended) and after trying some Indian literature, some Tibetan literature, and some run of the mill inspiring spiritual books, I stumbled upon this in a second hand book store and couldn't wait to dive in. There is nothing I can find more interesting and divine than the strength of women past and present. I am naturally drawn towards spirited and tenacious women. There is nothing I find more inspiring than the natural way of women, mystical, magical, healing, wise, nurturing, and .... wild.

Just a little taste:

"Within every woman there is a wild and natural creature, a powerful force, filled with good instincts, passionate creativity, and ageless knowing. Her name is Wild Woman, but she is an endangered species. Though the gifts of the wildish nature come to us at birth, society's attempt to "civilize" us into rigid roles has plundered this treasure, and muffled the deep, life-giving messages of our own souls. Without Wild Woman, we become over-domesticated, fearful, uncreative, trapped."

Hope you are inspired!

j.may

Who says girls can't play with sharp tools??

2009-07-09T04:53:00.000-07:00

Meat slicer and a cheese cleaver. These are the tools i get to use during the course of my day..don't be jealous boys..I must say i was fairly nervous at first handling the meat slicer but after only two finger slicings on the circular blade while it was NOT in motion, i think i got it. And it's pretty bad ass. So is that hunk of Prosciutto de Parma, which is quite nice to slice. The knife however, if i were a foot taller maybe then i'd have enough leverage to really slice off a piece of cheese with ease, but alas, i am not. So it can pose more of a challenge when trying to cut cheese with an incredibly rough rind. Anyway, things are picking up at the store. We've had a couple write-ups about it too, which has helped to bring people in. And the BluesFest happens this w/e across the street down at the harbor so we may have a slammin saturday. We'll see!

a.clay

Foggy doesn't even begin to describe it...

2009-06-26T16:51:00.000-07:00

What fog?..

The beginning of Sweets and Meats Market- Rockland, ME

2009-06-20T17:07:00.000-07:00

So i've finally made it to Maine! and wanted to share some of Jess and I's new endeavor...

---a dairy lover's delight...as for the faint of heart vegan or vegetarian, i suggest sticking to the case in the front filled with grains and legumes. We've got some serious hunks of meat in this case. Aunt Carol and Uncle Bill-you would be in drooling, back flip mode over some of this stuff! ---

Jess and I, as it turns out, have great success in aquiring job opportunities together. One of many of our talents ;) I think once we start into it, our employers quickly begin to find out they've obviously gotten themselves in too deep and there's no turning back. They're stuck with us. But what a team we make! Our most current endeavor is the new Sweets and Meats Market in the south end of Rockland, ME, a specialty foods market that offers amazing cured and fresh meats, a diverse array of cheeses from cumin gouda to some that i can't even pronounce yet. Julia, the owner, will also be carrying a sweet selection of beer and wine, as well as Ciao Bella Gelato (my favorite), baked goodies from jessa may, sandwiches and so much more..the coffee we're carrying is through a local company called Matt's Roasters and is roasted by matt himself by wood fire. This is when i insert the word delectable . It's been quite a treat to be here for part of the opening process..there will be more to share as the summer progresses...but here are some pics for now that we'd like to share of the store-post and pre-opening day..

I can't help it...it is all just so beautiful!

2009-06-08T04:36:00.000-07:00

what awaits miss anna when she arrives:

2009-05-31T17:03:00.000-07:00

quiet morning walks

and apple blossoms!

j.may

a visit from a friend!

2009-05-28T13:35:00.000-07:00

Annie and I at the beach this morning...and yes, we are wearing winter coats!

Little Miss Annie made an appearance at The Barnacle and spent the evening with me drinking wine and eating some really delicious treats... she could only keep saying "ohhhh, you and Anna are going to have such a good time here this summer!" and I couldn't help but agree! She got me even more excited (if at all possible) for my next visit from Miss A.C.B. in June. The Cottage anxiously awaits your arrival!

j.m.s.

Metals..

2009-05-24T13:07:00.000-07:00

a.clay

ODE TO HAWAII..

2009-05-24T13:02:00.000-07:00

Discovering Picassa can be a very addicting hobby-if you like collaging and photo editing that is..

A.CLAY

it has been a while

2009-05-21T16:44:00.001-07:00

Things have been picking up in Maine lately... a lot of baking for Squash Blossom (thankfully) and Sweets and Meats Market is coming along (double thankfully). I have also started a yoga teacher training program that is fantastic! However, I have lost the internet connection at my cottage which has made this keeping in touch really difficult. So bear with me...there will be more!

j.may

Strawberry Shortcake..

2009-05-07T12:58:00.000-07:00

On my way home from work the other day, i stopped by a little farm stand selling strawberries and ended up bringing a basket full home..so i decided to make a strawberry shortcake recipe i found in Tartine, which turned out to be quite delicious. Throw in my new addiction to Picassa (thanks to Jessica) and i've got a fun collage to show off this simply lovely, old-fashioned dessert. Without forgetting the hand whipped cream to top it off of course. I couldn't even remember the last time i had this, so it was a welcome treat for me and the boys, as well as the javabean crew whom i shared it with the next day..take a peek at the Tartine Bakery Cookbook if you are not already familiar..it is an array of exquisite, yet simple dessert creations (plus a few savory recipes but mostly sweets). Not to mention the beautiful pictures and the full of praise forward written by Alice Waters.

a.clay

a walk on the beach

2009-05-04T09:42:00.001-07:00

water patterns in the sand

j.may

WYSTERIA..

2009-04-30T12:25:00.000-07:00

Wysteria blooms around the beginning of April and man does it grow like wild fire down here in NC..it happens to be one of my favorite flowering vines, although like kudzu (an incredibly invasive vine), consumes everything in its path. But it sure is beautious!

BROCCOLINI MELTS

2009-04-30T11:59:00.000-07:00

So it shouldn't come as any big surprise to those that know me well, but, i LOVE broccoli. Always have. Broccoli soup was my fav and was what i asked for every year for my birthday meal. I was flipping through one of my Moosewood cookbooks the other day, Simple Suppers (thanks Dave Mac) and found a really simple, fairly effortless meal which involved four of my favorite food items:sharp cheddar cheese, dijon mustard, bread and a close relative of broccoli-broccolini..which looks like a shrunken version of broccoli, with small florets and long, thin stalks. It is often misidentified as young broccoli, but is a cross between broccoli and kai-lan, Chinese broccoli. A natural hybrid of the cabbage family, it was developed by the Sakata Seed Company of Yokohama, Japan. Broccolini's flavor is sweet, with hints of both broccoli and asparagus. Jess-i know how you feel about conventional broccoli so you may prefer the flavor of broccolini..and besides, it's a fun word to say! Sounds kind of italian...

Anyway, all that went into preparing this meal was spreading some dijon on the bread of your choice, toasting for a moment while sauteing the vegetable in olive oil with some garlic, salt and pepper, then pulling the toast, topping with the broccolini and laying slices of cheddar on top to broil until cheese has melted. Yum.

a.clay

returning to spring!

2009-04-26T14:20:00.000-07:00

Oh wow! It has been a while and it appears as though Anna and I have been neglecting our blog. There is a perfectly good explanation for this... we actually got to see each other in North Carolina this past week! Oh yes, and boy, it took an 18 hour car ride from Spruce Head Island, Maine to Hendersonville, North Carolina, then another 1 1/2 hour car ride to Charlotte, NC where Anna (with boy Phil and friendy friend Nick in tow) picked me up in a hotel parking lot. We then proceeded another hour to Star, NC. Arriving at their second floor apartment on Main St. in Star at 9p.m. We woke the next morning to travel 40 min. to Southern Pines (aka Star's Hollow he he) where Anna had to work all day (so I took to wandering the streets of this small town over and over again). We did squeeze in a small demo on an old Letterpress by a friend of Anna's and a little bar-b-que with bonfire. The next morn, we were in the car once again for the 3 1/2 hour trek back to Hendo. Just chillin' with my gal was worth all the car time.

The rest of the trip to North Carolina was fabulous. Lots of good food, spirits, and laughs with old friends. . . we always love a good trip to North Caroline!! (However, the laundry upon return was a bit daunting, but we took full advantage of the wonderful spring weather and used the line at my mothers house...ahhhhhhhh SPRING!!)

a sure sign of spring

j.may

my first button hole

2009-04-13T06:23:00.000-07:00

We celebrated my sisters 31st birthday on the ninth...and, with things the way they are (financially) I dug through my stack of favorite prints and decided to sew her up a little hand clutch. I found some material I had bought in France and a button from an Oregon purchase. I added a quote that I found and typed it on my old Smith & Corona and added it to the inside of the clutch. I hope she gets some use from it!

j.may

yup...this is our friend!

2009-04-09T04:33:00.000-07:00

Sambones just sent some pictures of all her....what would you call them....epoch adventures?! and this is one particularly good one.... just had to share!

j.may

oh wait....this is good too.....

Grey mornings, Meet warm thoughts...

2009-04-06T08:13:00.000-07:00

warm thoughts....

2009-04-04T07:02:00.000-07:00

j.may

after a rough day, I feel inspired!

2009-03-27T11:33:00.000-07:00

So, while researching Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton (the legendary moonshiner who just killed himself to avoid a jail sentence for my other blog Squash Blossom), I came across a blog of his daughters, which led me to her website, which is her myspace. Anyway, long story short, this is her quote and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it so much I want it tattooed all over my body:

"Ladies, live your life in such a way that when your feet hit the floor in the morning, Satan shudders and says: "Oh, shit - she's awake!"

j.may

Salt Art

2009-03-24T15:38:00.000-07:00

So i was peeking around on the Free People blog this afternoon and stumbled upon some very interesting art..salt art!...who knew? Done by Motoi Yamamoto.

This one in particular made me feel calm and reminded me of springtime which is upon us..but there are quite a few on the blog that are a million times more elaborate and amazing to look at..there is quite a story behind salt itself...so seeing it used this way only enhances it's uniqueness..check out the other pics and the artists site if you have a sec..

the sea bag...

2009-03-22T16:22:00.000-07:00

I can always tell when it is Spring . . .

I want to redecorate

I want every Free People item I lay my eyes on

I want to reinvent myself.... and this year, I want a Sea Bag.

I just discovered these today and they are even better in person than they are in pictures and they don't even show my favorite bag on their site! But here are a few images to whet your appetite and I would highly recommend glancing at their web page for a better view. All the bags are made from recycled sails so they are durable, eco-friendly, and enchanting! What more could you ask for??...oh, did I mention they are made right here in Portland, Maine?!

j.may

A Cooking Obsession..

2009-03-19T06:02:00.000-07:00

My love of food-good, wholesome, food-hasn’t always been such a huge part of my life, but i do believe i was destined to get there at some point when considering my upbringing. When i was little, my mom made all of my baby food from scratch. And as i grew up, smashed apples and pureed sweet potatoes for breakfast turned into puffed wheat or cheerios. There wasn’t a whole lot of unhealthy stuff in the house (especially since my grandmother also lived with us and she refused to put sugar in ANYTHING-thankfully now, all her baking includes sugar) until i was about 15 or 16. So i grew up enjoying tastes and flavors that the most kids maybe weren't exposed to, and although i fought my mom on this tooth and nail during those lovely years of adolescence, begging for her to buy me Lucky Charms or something that had a sugar coating on it, i am so glad that she was insistently against it. My parents also cooked almost every night, but i never wanted anything to do with the kitchen or any of the food preparations. I didn’t even want to boil water-nor could i..So it came as a shock to my mom when i became very interested in my eating habits-reading food labels, experimenting with the vegetarian diet, and eventually, cooking. Now i can’t get enough of it. I’ve become obsessed with cookbooks, buying the best ingredients, and the creative outlet and satisfaction cooking can give you. I believe the best meals are when they are shared with friends-or close family-and that has only become more true since living in a small town in the south with little to do. When we first moved down here, and i was jobless for 4 months, it was a great opportunity for me to educate myself on kitchen basics, tools and techniques, which i did by reading most of my cookbooks cover to cover. Man, i learned alot! But being bored and jobless for that amount of time also gave me the opportunity to experiment with all kinds of different recipes, and feed those experiments to a couple of hungry men..ie Phil and Nick. But above all, there is really no better feeling than cooking a meal, sitting down at your table and watching everyone enjoy the fruits of your labor.

a.clay

how i spent my afternoon

2009-03-16T12:33:00.000-07:00

wow, I need a job.

j.may

this one's for you chris...

2009-03-13T15:08:00.000-07:00

I found this blog and I LOVED the name so much that I checked it out. Not so bad, I must say, but the name just out does the entire site!! So, when I read the title, I immediately thought of my best friend over there in the great state of North Caroline and it made me laugh so hard that I couldn't resist posting it. And really..............how GREAT is this title!

My Love For You Is A Stampede Of Horses

j.may

just one of those days

2009-03-10T14:33:00.000-07:00

Today has been one of those days. Nothing exceptional or exciting - even, I would dare to venture, below average - and it seems as the day progressed, the more bland it got. The sun was out, I went to my 7am yoga class, the dog park, caffeinated, made pumpkin whoopie pies, a carrot cake, kaiser rolls for veggie burgers tonight, and walked to the beach with Finn. Nothing seemed to satisfy or relieve me from this funk I am in. However, not all was lost. I think right now, I just hit my high point. I have Finn snugged up beside me all warm, cozy, and sleepy on the porch and I FINALLY found these mugs I came to obsess about that I wanted to share.

I found these mugs at a couple of different shops during Christmas time and I contemplated gifting them, because they are so great. I couldn't bring myself to do it because if I gifted one, I would need to have one for myself as well (sounds selfish I know, but I just couldn't do it!). I dream of sipping my morning coffee out of these sweet sweet mugs.

These great cups are made by Iittala Group

Iittala group is a leading company in modern Scandinavian design with a philosophy against "throwawayism." Not only do I absolutely adore these cups, I love what the company that designs them stands for. They say it so well:

"For a long time, Iittala has been part of an ongoing revolution. This is based on the belief that all human beings can make conscious choices in everyday life. Choosing objects that will last in design and quality will please our senses and create harmony in our everyday lives. Fortunately, this is also a choice for a more sustainable society, and against buying short-lived things destined for the rubbish bin. "

I encourage everyone to check out their website and read the rest of Iittala's philosophy and what's even better? You get a two in one - a visually stimulating AND educational experience. Happy reading!

j.may

JAMIE OLIVER'S MINESTRONE SOUP

2009-03-09T06:34:00.000-07:00

I find once i discover a soup i like, i want to try different variations of it and then decide which one i like the best, or pull elements from the ones i've tried and make a whole new rendition. It's fun and a great way to find what you like or don't like, and then end up with something really yummy in the end that has characteristics of each recipe you've experimented with. It's always a such a great feeling to have an experiment turn out well after all the flops..

Serves 6

10 large ripe plum tomatoes (or two 14oz. cans of tomatoes)

3 medium carrots

2 medium leeks

5 ribs of celery

2 red onions

1 cabbage (or equivalent mixture)

1 T. olive oil

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1 heaping T. of fresh chopped rosemary

3 c. veggie or chicken stock

3 good handfuls of fresh basil, torn

6 oz. pasta (or cannelloni beans, which work basically the same-and you'll get a bit more protein)

salt and fresh ground pepper

olive oil

parmesan cheese, grated

Score the tomatoes and place briefly in boiling water. Then skin, seed and roughly dice. (unless you're using canned tomatoes) Peel carrots, quarter lengthwise and chop. Remove the outer layers of the leeks, quarter lengthwise, wash well and chop. Peel the celery to remove the 'stringy bits' (can't ya just hear the accent?!), then cut in half lengthwise and chop. Peel and chop onions. When chopping, try to make them all more or less the same size, about 1/4" dice. Wash and roughly chop the cabbage.

Put olive oil into a warmed, thick bottomed pan and cook the carrots, leeks, celery, onion, garlic, rosemary over medium heat until just tender. Add tomatoes and cook for 1-2 minutes. Add stock, bring to a boil and simmer for 15 minutes. Add the cabbage, cover the pan and simmer 10 minutes more, then adding the basil and pasta or beans-which will absorb the flavors of the soup-simmer 5 minutes. Taste and season. The soup should be thick, full in flavor and the cabbage should not be over cooked. Serve with some grated parm...

Hope you enjoy as much as i did!

a.clay

She has arrived..

2009-03-06T07:48:00.000-08:00

That's right folks..New Belgium's Fat Tire has finally made it's long anticipated journey east of the Mississippi to our shelves in North Carolina..and let me tell you, you've never seen such pandemonium...this is good....Drink up!

a.clay

if only i had a fireplace

2009-03-06T06:24:00.001-08:00

(photo by Iguana Joe)

This is what it feels like here in Spruce Head Island, Maine today. Cold, wet, dreary...I think I will stay inside, watch a movie, drink tea, finish my book, and brainstorm about our cozy bakery.

j.may

a really nice TUSCAN MINESTRONE soup..

2009-03-05T14:57:00.000-08:00

Sweat:

3t. olive oil

2c. onion

2 c. fennel bulb, sliced

1 c. celery

1c. carrot

4 garlic cloves, smashed

stir in and bring to boil then reduce and simmer 20 min:

4 c. veggie broth

1 can diced tomatoes in juice

sauté in non-stick skillet and add:

1c. zuchinni

1 can cannelloni beans, drained and rinsed

2t. pesto

salt and red pepper flakes to taste

sauté in batches in 1t. olive oil:

4c. spinach

Put spinach in bowls and pour soup over top.

a.clay

This Speaks Volumes..

2009-03-05T14:48:00.000-08:00

"I must learn to love the fool in me--the one who feels too much, talks too much, takes too many chances, wins sometimes and loses often, lacks self-control, loves and hates, hurts and gets hurt, promises and breaks promises, laughs and cries. It alone protects me against that utterly self-controlled, masterful tyrant whom I also harbor and who would rob me of human aliveness, humility, and dignity but for my fool." -- Theodore I. Rubin, MD

The Queen is Always right...

2009-03-05T14:22:00.000-08:00

My Aunt Carol sent me this card for one of my birthdays (can't remember which one it was but..) and i just loved it and it has been in a frame ever since-traveling with me from house to house. It felt truthful, in it's purest form to me. And it reminded me of myself..daring to believe the impossible, always scheming the most wild & outlandish ideas, in which my mother would try and talk me down off whatever faltering branch of rediculousness i happened to be on at that moment. I find myself, now that i'm older, being a bit more levelheaded, trying to formulate rational plans and wanting so much to revert back to those days when i didn't question everything-i just did it.

Live, Love and Eat Chocolate...

2009-03-05T13:41:00.000-08:00

So i think it's safe to say that one of our favorite movies of all time is 'Chocolat'. Not that Juliette and Johnny aren't divine enough, but the premise revolves around the delight that is chocolate-sharing, experiencing, experimenting and enjoying it with whomever you can. Could it get any better? Mix chocolate with only the finest ingredients and it's likey you'll create quite a marriage of yumminess. Like coffee, we will climb the highest mountain in search of the best chocolate morsels around. So in honor of this delectable dessert, i would like to share a hot cocoa recipe inspired by the movie Chocolat called:

LOVERS' MIDNIGHT SPICED HOT COCOA

2c. milk

1 oz. semi-sweet chocolate

4 T. cocoa powder

2 T. warm water

1/4c. sugar

generous 1/2t. of ground cinnamon

1/2 t. finely pulverized coffee granules

1/2 t. pure vanilla extract

1 t. cornstarch

2 good pinches of crushed red pepper flakes

In a 2qt. saucepan, heat milk over low heat.

Meanwhile, melt chocolate over double boiler. Whisk in cocoa, warm water, sugar, cinn, coffee, vanilla and cornstarch.

Stir chocolate mixture into warm milk. Stir in red pepper flakes and heat until frothy.

Pour into your favorite mug and enjoy!

a.clay

oh how we love to eat!

2009-03-05T11:40:00.000-08:00

and what a fitting shirt!! Made by Xenotees this t is vegan, a portion of the profits goes to charity...oh, and did I mention it's only twenty bucks??!!

found by j.may

another morning with Finn....

2009-03-05T05:54:00.001-08:00

Trying to convince Finn that it is nearly impossible to make the bed while he is laying on it is out of the questions (as is trying to blog while he wants to play). Needless to say I've gotta run, to give all my attention to the beast. Enjoy the pictures of my morning!!

success!

j.may

THIS COULD VERY WELL BE OUR MANTRA..

2009-03-03T07:37:00.000-08:00

"There are things you do because they feel right...they may make no sense and they may make no money and it may be the real reason we are here; to love each other and to eat each other's cooking and say it was good.."

A TALE OF TWO GIRLS..

2009-03-03T07:09:00.000-08:00

HOWCLAY MET MAY...in the beautiful green mountains of Vermont in a rural town known as Poultney, i was going to begin my first year of college. Being the only school i applied to, i can not begin to describe how ecstatic i was when i received that letter telling me that i was in fact, accepted and was to arrive at Green Mountain College the last weekend in august for an orientation w/e (which would consist of being a part of some kind of outdoor recreation). Now let me just say that i was in no way, shape or form a very outdoorsy person at the time. At all...Unless, of course, you consider building forts as a child with your neighborhood friends, chasing after fireflies or playing tag for so long you think your heart might stop at any moment, outdoorsy. I'm pretty sure that's an entirely different category all together. And let me just say that Green Mountain was based very much on outdoor recreation/leadership and the environment. This was going to cause quite the lifestyle change for me..So the school soon sent a form with maybe 10 different orientation options that we could choose from-from beginners hiking to rock climbing to white water rafting. I went out on my little limb and went with Intermediate Hiking. Daring-i know, but safe as this was definetely going to be my first experience doing anything like this. Not that leaving my comfort zone, and going away to school where i wouldn't know a soul wasn't scary enough, but i was going to have to hike for THREE days with a 45lb. pack with a bunch of hippies in the woods. And i found myself wondering..what have i gotten myself into and- would there be coffee?? At this point in my life, i was still very shy and introverted. So this was a huge leap into the real-or semi real-world for me. Sometime during that summer before college, a letter arrived in the mail from Maine from my soon to be roomate, Sam. She sounded like a very interesting person, full of life and ambition and inquisitive about who i was and what kinds of things i was in to. I wrote her back equally excited about meeting and getting to know her, and yes, i did want to go halfsies on a small fridge for our room. We spoke on the phone a few weeks later and decided to meet before leaving for VT so my best friend from high school, Beth and i packed a few things for the w/e and piled into my white Ford Escort wagon and headed North toward mid-coast Maine to meet Sam and her best friend Jess. I fell in love with Maine that w/e...and met two amazing girls who would each change my life in a different way..Sam, exuberant,halarious, crazy Sam, yanked me out of my shell and helped me to realize the life and humor within myself..and also, that Rugby was NOT the sport for me. And eventually, over the next few years, Jess and I became long distance friends..we'd chat through emails, updating each other on one another's life and times, neither of us on any particular path necessarily but trying to get 'somewhere.' Three years had gone by since we met for the first time, and i had taken a leave of absence from school and been working for Crate and Barrel, and had been bitten by the travel bug. Bad. I wanted to fly as far away as i possibly could. So i picked New Zealand. No great story as to why-i knew little about NZ so it was intriguing, both tropical and cold, and a far, far away distant land. I wasn't trying to run away from anything, i just wanted to be away for a little bit in an unfamiliar place, to experience and to challenge myself. Luckily, after sending Jess an email asking her if she might want to accompany me since neither of us knew what we were doing with our lives at the moment, she agreed. And i was stoked. Now all we had to do was finalize our plans and hand over a good chunk of money to STA Travel for airfare. That part wasn't so fun and i think i may have blacked out for a minute but of course, it was well worth every cent.

That compilation of years between my first year at school and the NZ trip, undoubtedly changed my life..in a positive hands on, growing through experimentation and experience kind of way. If i had thought differently at the time, i might of travelled before i went off to college. I might have had a better idea of what it was i was passionate about and been more driven towards that goal. However, i am a firm believer in things happening for their own reasons, even if we don't completely understand the path along the way, eventually we figure out our direction. Jess helped me to figure out my direction..sitting on lava rocks underneath the shade of a coffee tree, taking a break from an ungodly weeding project, i realized i had found my other half. My soul sista. And ever since then, our mutual love of travel, great food and drink-and coffee-have taken over our lives. I can't walk aimlessly out of the way in search for the best cup of coffee in town with ANYONE else. So maybe someday, the dream of owning our own artisan bakery and coffee shop will come to fruition..

a.clay

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOVELY ANNA B.!!!!!!!!!!

2009-03-01T04:50:00.000-08:00

obsessed

2009-02-28T13:06:00.001-08:00

I love food. I love food a lot. There are moments in my everyday life that I realize this more than others. Take today, for instance. Every Saturday Dave Mac and I go hiking, sometimes they are a bit more strenuous than others but usually nothing I can't handle (occasionally I pick and choose when he has two or more hikes or activities planned). Today, however, as I climbed into his Trailblazer (so fitting) I noticed two sets of snowshoes stashed in behind his seat. After one failed attempt at getting into a parking lot for the Bald Mt. hike (snowed in up to the windows) we went up to Mt. Pleasant. As I was getting out of the car, my intuition told me to grab that bag of granola I had stashed in my bag as I ran out of the house to go meet him. Stuffing it into my pocket I strapped on my snowshoes and headed over the snowbank.

This hike, it turns out was straight up one side and straight down the other. Then you get to the bottom turn around, and go straight back up and straight back down. Now, on my second straight back up I found myself looking for my happy place, which, turns out to be a nice cozy little cafe, with good espresso, tasty pastry, and a fireplace. Not so out of the ordinary. Now, the moment I realized my profound love (and desperate need) for food was when Dave Mac, about midway up was telling about the yummy chocolate espresso beans he had in the car for me when we got back if I could just hang in there (from my silence he knew...hunger + jess = disaster). However, when he looked back he found me, mittens in pockets, CHOWING on a bag of granola that I had, to him, magically summoned to the top of this mountain. So when he noticed the bag of granola, I kindly told him that I had a snack with me (mouth full of granola)... and as much as I didn't want to, asked if he wanted any. To my relief he was all set till we returned to the car. Me, I couldn't wait another minute.

I secretively stashed a bag of snacks in my jacket and when I was hungry, I secretively consumed that bag of snacks in hopes of not having to share any of my gold mine with the one I love. Now, for those that don't know me, normally I am pretty good at sharing (well, my food at least!) but I realized when I was caught red handed that the hunger in my belly overcame any and all thoughts concerning others possible need for nourishment. I am truly and officially obsessed.

(for those worried about Dave Mac malnourishment on our hike, he did in fact survive and no harm was done to his appetite)

j.may

I love these!

2009-02-27T05:05:00.000-08:00

For a couple of gals that love love love to be movin', these earrings are perfect! They are handmade with maps by pica pica design on etsy. She takes special orders so you can wear your favorite locations dangling from your ears!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20213701

the sassy radish...

2009-02-25T12:10:00.001-08:00

Today, between walking Finn five hundred times (yes, you heard... five hundred) I rediscovered a little blog that I had bookmarked a while back and forgotten about (Miss Clay, perhaps this was one of your findings??) Anyway, I clicked away and found myself swimming in yummy recipes and delightful photography. I have printed a couple of recipes that struck my fancy...I highly recommend a peak:

j.may

another blustery day

2009-02-24T10:30:00.000-08:00

Wrapped up in my cozy blanket in the cottage waiting for Dave Mac's birthday cake to bake, I am having flashbacks of an upgraded college day. While times are tough we have stocked up on Thai Kitchens just-add-water soups. Today it is Ginger. Yesterday, Spring Onion. Almost everyday around one o'clock I find myself boiling water and reaching into the cupboard for that little plastic bag of dry noodles. However, today, while it sits steaming in front of me, I feel cozy and comfortable in my space.

After a huge snow storm last night we woke up to a scene straight out of Narnia's The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. A complete white wash which I have found to be quite calm and serene. Chopsticks in hand, the noodles are soft, all I need is a warm fireplace to make the moment perfect. Which reminds me...I need to pick up candles.

j.may

Espresso + waiting for cookies to bake = this...

2009-02-17T05:31:00.000-08:00

So Phil has traveled off to Western Carolina for work and left me with no camera, so the other morning while making cookies for he and the boys to take on their 3hour journey, i started playing around with the PhotoBooth on our Mac. Jess and i had some fun with hers when she was visiting back in october and it turned out to be such fun i thought what better way to pass the time in between batches..now mind you, we have an Apt. sized oven in our place so when i bake cookies, i can only bake THREE at a time on the small sheet pan that will fit in it..that’s right folks..and i only have one sheet pan that is the right size for it so it obviously takes some time to accomplish this task..it really is amazing what i’ve accomplished in this kitchen with what i was provided with…it’s all about determination and creativity really…

a.clay

sweet bella..

2009-02-15T05:42:00.000-08:00

Kittens can make knitting a very difficult task…good thing she’s so darn cute

a.clay

found objects

2009-01-30T14:50:00.000-08:00

On my walk to the beach today, I uncovered this little gem…thought your eyes might enjoy!

an easy to follow pattern for fingerless gloves...

2009-01-27T14:44:00.000-08:00

On cold days, when the temp. outside is -8 with a windchill of -7 (which actually warms up the final temperature) there is nothing more I would rather do than sit inside with a hot cup of coffee, my down booties, a blanket, and knit. Anna and I both had bought inpiring yarn with a project in mind…three years ago. Yes, you heard right, three years ago. Well, here I sit now, finally putting it to use. I found a very simple pattern for fingerless gloves. All it requires really is knitting in the round…good luck!

First, you are going to need four double pointed needles and some warm and cozy yarn.

Cast on 39 stitches to one needle. Divide those stitches among three double point needles (so 13 stitches on each).
Rounds 1-57 just sit back and knit and enjoy!!
Round 58 using scrap yarn sa your working yarn, knit 7 stitches off the beginning of your next needle. Now slip these stitches back onto the needle they came from. With your main yarn, knit across the scrap yarn stitches as well as the rest of the stitches on that needle.
Rounds 59-83 knit with main yarn and bind off loosely.
Now, a bit of a tricky part, but you can do it! To make your thumb opening carefully remove the scrap yarn - as you do, a hole will form with a series of loops above and below. Pass one empty double point needle through top 7 loops and another through bottom 7.
With the third needle and a new piece of yarn, start knitting bottom row. Knit 1, increase 1, knit until the end of the row.
Rotate your work.
Start knitting what is now the bottom row using the same yarn. Knit 1, increase 1, knit until the end of the row.
Divide these 16 stitches among 3 needles and then join in the round.
At the beginning and end of the next needle increase 1 (18 stitches) then knit 14 rounds and bind off!
Voi la! Fingerless gloves

If you have any questions or comments about the pattern, please leave a comment and I will try to explain better!! Happy knitting!

j.may

there's nothin' like a coffee buzz

2009-01-23T14:47:00.000-08:00

This may come as a shocker, but life without your soul mate and best friend can be quite detrimental to your health. With our phone network failing us, we will resort to communication through our new blog. This will be our day to day log of how we occupy ourselves without each other, which, on some days can be quite astonishing and entertaining, while other days may drag on slowly and quietly.

Our obsession with food and coffee, I am sure, will fill many pages and we will try to write during our favorite time of day… morning coffee, also known as our best thinking time, most inspiring, and most motivational…. so stay tuned, it could be quite interesting!

j.may