Monthly Archives: June 2009

Summer Strawberry Salad

With all the cold weather we've been having, you'd hardly know it is June.  While I'm looking forward to warm summer nights in our backyard, I've been content to spend the evenings inside lately — listening to the rain fall and eating impressive quantities of fresh fruits and vegetables.  I'll get back to my stories […]

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Jen - One of my favorite summer salads is very similar to this. Sub feta for the hard cheese and balsamic glaze for straight vinegar. Sometimes we add chopped vegan bacon too. Yum.

Jen - One of my favorite summer salads is very similar to this. Sub feta for the hard cheese and balsamic glaze for straight vinegar. Sometimes we add chopped vegan bacon too. Yum.

Kaitlyn - I have a surplus of strawberries in my fridge, this would make great use out of them! Plus, that fig balsamic vinegar sounds delicious.

Kaitlyn - I have a surplus of strawberries in my fridge, this would make great use out of them! Plus, that fig balsamic vinegar sounds delicious.

AmyRuth - My goodness, what a beautiful photo. So far as the cool weather goes, don’t tell…..hehe many of us are roasting. Would love to have a cool breeze here in COMO.
AmyRuth

AmyRuth - My goodness, what a beautiful photo. So far as the cool weather goes, don’t tell…..hehe many of us are roasting. Would love to have a cool breeze here in COMO.
AmyRuth

Nishta - I am obsessed with fig balsamic vinegar, too! one of my favorite things to do with it is halve figs, brown them a bit in a pan with a little butter, then deglaze the pan with the balsamic and let it get syrupy. put it all over vanilla ice cream–yum, yum, yum.
I recently posted about a strawberry salad myself, but with some pecans & blue cheese. strawberries are so beautiful right now, I can’t resist putting them in everything!

Nishta - I am obsessed with fig balsamic vinegar, too! one of my favorite things to do with it is halve figs, brown them a bit in a pan with a little butter, then deglaze the pan with the balsamic and let it get syrupy. put it all over vanilla ice cream–yum, yum, yum.
I recently posted about a strawberry salad myself, but with some pecans & blue cheese. strawberries are so beautiful right now, I can’t resist putting them in everything!

Maxine - Love that fig vinegar too!

Maxine - Love that fig vinegar too!

gemma - Jen, the bacon addition sounds like a great idea. I’ll have to try that next time.
Kaitlyn, the vinegar is truly stunning. I highly recommend it.
Hi AmyRuth, Thanks!
Nishta, your ice cream topping sounds incredible. I am putting it on my to do list.
Hi Maxine, glad to hear!

gemma - Jen, the bacon addition sounds like a great idea. I’ll have to try that next time.
Kaitlyn, the vinegar is truly stunning. I highly recommend it.
Hi AmyRuth, Thanks!
Nishta, your ice cream topping sounds incredible. I am putting it on my to do list.
Hi Maxine, glad to hear!

Shannalee - Yum, and I love how simple the list of ingredients (and instructions) is. Perfect summer salad.

Shannalee - Yum, and I love how simple the list of ingredients (and instructions) is. Perfect summer salad.

gemma - Thanks Shannalee!

gemma - Thanks Shannalee!

Buenos Aires – Day One

For as long as I’ve been accruing them, I’ve been inexplicably nervous about my frequent flier miles expiring or disappearing. Nick and I recently took care of the whole lot by taking a trip to Buenos Aires, Argentina.  We took an overnight flight from Chicago and arrived at Ezeiza airport on a Thursday morning. We checked […]

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Meg - I love your Buenos Aires post! Evocative photos. Keep it up, please. Makes me want to visit there.

Meg - I love your Buenos Aires post! Evocative photos. Keep it up, please. Makes me want to visit there.

Terry B - Sounds like a glorious trip, Gemma! I love the photos, especially the dark, moody peanuts shot. Dang. Now I want some peanuts, but in a bar or cafe, of course.

Terry B - Sounds like a glorious trip, Gemma! I love the photos, especially the dark, moody peanuts shot. Dang. Now I want some peanuts, but in a bar or cafe, of course.

Hillary - Quilmes! I bought my boyfriend a Quilmes mug when I was there. Love reading about Buenos Aires – I miss the place. Did you make it to La Cabrera in Palermo Soho?

Hillary - Quilmes! I bought my boyfriend a Quilmes mug when I was there. Love reading about Buenos Aires – I miss the place. Did you make it to La Cabrera in Palermo Soho?

gemma - Thank you everyone! I have been awful about editing my photos. I promise to post more about my trip soon.
Hillary, we tried to go to La Cabrera but it was closed!

gemma - Thank you everyone! I have been awful about editing my photos. I promise to post more about my trip soon.
Hillary, we tried to go to La Cabrera but it was closed!

Homemade Pasta for Hectic Nights

I bet some of you are wondering if I skipped out on my return flight and remained in South America.  Sadly, no.  Nick and I returned to Chicago as scheduled, but I've been frantically catching up at work since.  Whatever level of relaxation was achieved on vacation has been quickly and thoroughly reversed. I have […]

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Meg - Oh my goodness. This sounds so delicious. I haven’t had homemade pasta in over a decade.
Does the dough still roll out well after a night in the refrigerator?
My mother maintains that her grandmother made German noodles (spätzle) in the 1950s and cut them into pieces with a knife. I make spätzle too, but with a press.

Sarah - Will have to give it a try as normal pasta as you make it look so simple and delicious. I went through a phase of making completely from scratch lasagna – as you can imagine that was pretty time-consuming, but I never thought to make simple noodle using the dough. I know, duh, right?
Glad you had a safe trip!

Hillary - Your pasta looks much better than my run at homemade pasta. Thanks for the inspiration to try again.

lola - i’ve always wanted to make homemade pasta, and your post has inspired me to finally try it. thanks!

Sarah - I just wanted to let you know that I have awarded your blog the ‘One Lovely Blog’ award!
Please go to
http://lemoulinaeau.blogspot.com/2009/06/one-lovely-blog-awards.html
to see how it works.

Margie - Wow, homemade pasta as an alternative to fast food. Thanks for the reminder that contentment can found in a cup of flour, 2 eggs, and a bit of meditative handy-work.

Kaitlyn - Wow! That homemade pasta looks delicious, it’s great to see you blogging again! Hope you had a great trip!

Jen - I tried this out today–awesome. Much simpler than anticipated.

Caroline - Beautiful photo! This looks awesome.

gemma - Hi Meg, a decade is way too long to wait for fresh pasta! I had fine luck rolling the dough out on the second day. I hope you find the same. I’ve seen other cooks make spätzle with a knife. I have yet to give it a try myself though.
Sarah, lasagna from scratch is an impressive project. Nice work. I hope you enjoy the ease of this recipe. I hope all is well with you!
Hi Hillary. I hope this recipe works better for you. Good luck!
I’m glad Lola. It really is a great thing to know how to make — and it’s cheaper than store bought boxes.
Thank you Sarah, that’s very sweet!
No problem Margie– I often forget myself.
Thanks Kaitlyn, the trip was wonderful!
Great to hear Jen, glad you liked.
Thanks so much Caroline!

Dave Jones - Wow! that pasta sounds delicious…looks simple.

Nishta - this looks so lovely I *must* try–I’ve been too chicken to make homemade pasta, actually, ever. which is a bit shameful so must be remedied!
I’m cooking dinner for friends next week and think I’ll do this. when they’re dazzled, I’ll credit you :)

Kaitlyn - I tried your pasta this past week and it was delicious! I posted about it over on my blog, thanks for the inspiration!

gemma - Hi Dave Jones, thanks. It is quite easy. A great basic recipe to have on hand.
Hi Nishta, thanks! I hope the dish was a hit.
Hi Kaitlyn, I saw your post. Your dish looks wonderful. Nice work!