To make sure I didn’t step on any toes but still bake some sweets for my sweetie [awwww..] I sleuthed out what Jeremy’s second favorite dessert was – chocolate-pecan pie. Since I haven’t ventured into making my own pie crust and was already in my pajamas [meaning, no running to the Kreepy Krogs around the corner to see if they might have some non-dodgy pre-made pie crusts available], I got to googling and discovered Deep South Dish‘s Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars.

I tweaked just a few things from the original recipe. I love using King Arthur Flour‘s Midnight Cocoa in place of regular Dutch-processed cocoa. It makes your desserts all that much richer, chocolate-r and less sweet [which is my personal preference]. I also added the optional bourbon [yes, puhleese!] as well as the suggested shredded coconut.

The next time I make these, and there will definitely be a next time, I’ll probably skip the coconut and bourbon and add some cayenne pepper to the mix when toasting the pecans, as well as adding some large flake sea salt to the top of the mix pre-baking to add a bit of a savory edge to the pie.

Do you have a favorite dessert you usually have on your birthday? What is it? I’d love to know!

xo,

@

Coconut Bourbon Pecan Pie Bars

via Deep South Dish – Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars

yield : 1 9×13 dish / 12-16 bars

Ingredients

Toasted Pecans

1 cup pecan halves

1 cup pecan pieces

1/4 cup [1/2 stick] unsalted butter

2 tsp kosher or coarse sea salt

Crust

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 cup midnight/black cocoa powder [like this version from King Arthur]

2/3 cup confectioners’ sugar

3/4 cup unsalted butter, cold

1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Filling

3/4 cup packed light brown sugar

1 heaping TBSP all-purpose flour

3 eggs, large [lightly beaten]

1 cup light corn syrup

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

2 TBSP bourbon [I used Wild Turkey's American Honey]

1 cup shredded, sweetened coconut

2 TBSP unsalted butter, room temperature

Directions

Toasted Pecans

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Melt butter, pour over pecans and toss to coat evenly. Spread buttered pecans on a rimmed baking sheet and bake for 12-15 minutes, stirring about halfway through.

Remove from oven, sprinkle with salt and let cool to room temperature.

Crust

Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees.

Line a 9×13 baking dish with aluminum foil, leaving excess hanging over the ends to help with the bar removal after baking. Butter foil generously and set aside.

Whisk together flour, cocoa and confectioners’ sugar. Cut in the cold butter with a pastry blender or fork until the mixture resembles coarse meal.

Press crust mixture into the bottom of the prepared baking pan, making sure to go slightly up the sides [about 1/4 to 1/2 an inch].

Bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven, sprinkle evenly with chocolate chips and return to oven for 3-4 minutes to begin melting the chips. Remove from oven and, using an offset spatula, spread melted chocolate evenly over crust. Set aside to cool completely, about 30 minutes.

Filling

In a medium bowl, whisk together the brown sugar and flour. Stir in eggs, corn syrup, vanilla extract, bourbon and softened butter. Finally, stir in toasted pecans and coconut.

Pour pecan-coconut mixture on cooled crust and bake for 25-30 minutes. Let cool on rack, about 1 hour. Transfer pan to refrigerator to chill and set for another hour.

Using aluminum overhang, remove bars out of baking pan and cut into bars of desired size. [I did 12 3x3-ish sized bars, 3 rows of 4 bars].

Enjoy!

I am lucky enough to be connected to a great group of community minded people here in Nashville through our Nashville Food Bloggers group. Not only do we support each other through our kitchen successes and failures, but we oftentimes get involved great movements that support our neighbors near and far. [see : Sweet Relief 2.0 : Hurricane Sandy and StreetSmart]

Our friend and Nashville mover and shaker Jennifer Justus, a food/culture reporter for the Tennessean, recently reached out to us after she had seen a new documentary called A Place at the Table. She was so very moved by the film that she immediately reached out to a network she knew would respond. Thanks to her, we are all going to have the opportunity to see this film at the end of this month.

So, what’s this film about? First, watch the trailer:

Essentially, although our nation has a glut of food that gets tossed at the end of each business day [have you ever walked behind your local grocery store, by the dumpsters, around quitting time?] there are 16 million [one out of every five] children in our country that are going hungry. One in five.

In conjunction with hunger, our country is also setting up the next generations to live shorter and unhealthier lives than their parents due to issues stemming from childhood obesity. This is thanks to a lack of access to healthy and fresh foods for those living on federal assistance programs.

Even this federal assistance program [SNAP [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program]] is at risk for severe budget cuts.

At this point you’re probably asking yourself what this means for you, what you can do. Well, honestly? A lot. Even from your tiny apartment in your tiny town. Start here:

1. Connect with these great leading organizations here in our country that are leading the charge to end hunger once and for all :

Share Our Strength

Bread for the World

Feeding America

The Food and Research Action Center

Each of these organizations has mailing lists, calls to action, suggested next steps. Donate your time, your letter-writing abilities, your knowledge and your money, if possible. Each little action step adds up.

2. Send a letter to your local congress person. It’s easy. Visit this link, fill in your contact information, add something to the form letter if you’d like and then click send. Easy, right? I’ve done this one myself.

3. Attend the screening of A Place at the Table in your hometown. If you live in Nashville, come join me and other Nashville Food Bloggers here:

Monday April 29, 2013 6:00 p.m. [movie begins promptly at 6:30]

Downtown Presbyterian : 154 5th Avenue North Nashville, TN 37219

4. If you’re a Nashville resident, look into supporting and getting involved with Vanderbilt University’s Mobile Market. An entirely student/volunteer-run effort, the Mobile Market’s mission is to provide a sustainable source of healthy foods in low/no access neighborhoods. This program not only meets an immediate need for community members but also educates a new generation [college students] in various community development techniques that the graduating students will continue to use and employ in their post-college careers.

5. Play around in the kitchen. When you go grocery shopping next, keep in mind what types of food are eligible to be covered by the SNAP program and make one of these recipes that some of my Nashville food blogger pals have shared with us today:

- La Aguacate : Sweet Potato Black Bean Tacos

- Erin’s Food Files : Red Lentil Curry Soup

- An Organic Process : Tomatoes and Cannellini Beans Over Brown Rice

- Vivek’s Epicurean Adventures : Basmati Rice Salad

- Life a la Mode : Ground Beef and Green Bean Stir Fry

- Eat . Drink . Smile : Turkey Sausage and Spinach Ragù on Parmesan Polenta

- A Nasty Bite : Collard Greens and White Beans

- check out Lesley Eats who has linked several of her budget friendly and healthy recipes, as well as some tips on how to shop fresh and healthy on a budget.

I’ll be updating this page as we find out more information about the upcoming screening and other action opportunities locally. Make sure to check in, especially if you’re planning on attending the screening later this month. I’d also love to know how you’re planning on getting involved in the fight to end hunger, so please leave a comment on this post!

xo,

@

I tweaked Darla‘s original recipe for No-Bake Biscoff Cream Pie by adding some [locally distilled!] Prichard’s Sweet Lucy Cream Liqueur. The regular Sweet Lucy bourbon has been my go-to sipping and cocktail bourbon and though I’d purchased the Cream Liqueur ages ago, it had been sitting on our bar shelf gathering dust. Most literally. The bottle caught my eye when I was going back and forth from the refrigerator to the counter assembling my needed ingredients, so I picked up the bottle and just went with my gut. And my gut was very very right.

The bourbon taste is most noticeably when the pie is eaten after the first chilling noted in the directions. I saved the pie for a visit to my in-laws and noticed that the bourbon wasn’t as strong a day after [not-] baking. Because of this I would recommend that if you need to prepare the pie in advance that you split the whipped cream recipe in half and only add the bourbon to the whipped cream topping you can make and assemble just before serving.

I hope you’ll make this, and soon. When you do, come back here and let me know how ridiculously over-the-top delicious it was. I’ll be waiting!

xo,

@

No-Bake Bourbon Biscoff Pie

from Bakingdom‘s No-Bake Biscoff Cream Pie

yield : one 9″ pie

Ingredients

Crust

20 chocolate Oreos [approx 2 1/2 cups crumbs]

7 TBSP unsalted butter

Filling

6 ounces cream cheese, room temperature

1 cup Biscoff spread [I used nearly the entire jar of Biscoff Crunchy spread]

3/4 cup confectioners’ sugar

2 cups bourbon whipped cream [recipe below]

Bourbon Whipped Cream [Filling and Topping]

2 cups heavy whipping cream

1 tsp sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 TBSP Pritchard’s Sweet Lucy Sipping Cream bourbon

Decoration

4-5 Oreos, chilled and sliced into 5-6 pieces each

small piece of semi-sweet chocolate, grated

Directions

* I find chilling a metal or glass bowl and the beaters of a hand-held electric mixer in the freezer before making the whipped cream speeds up the process.

Crust

Pulse Oreos [about 5 at a time fit in my Vitamix blender] until you get uniform crumbs. Melt butter and mix with Oreo crumbs until evenly distributed.

Press crumbs firmly and evenly into a 9″ pie plate. Refrigerate.

Filling

In the bowl of an electric stand mixer, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add Biscoff spread and mix on low until combined thoroughly. Add confectioners’ sugar [all at once - no need to divide] and continue to mix on low until combined. Don’t worry if mixture looks curdled!

Set Biscoff mix aside.

Bourbon Whipped Cream

Add all ingredients into a large bowl. [Large! The volume of this mixture will quickly double once the whipping process begins.] Whip on high with an electric hand-held mixer until light and airy, where stiff peaks form on the end of the beater blades when removed from mixture.

Assembly

Divide whipped cream in half [estimate, as it's not crucial to be exact]. Fold half into the Biscoff mix until well combined.

Pour and spread the Biscoff mix into the chilled pie pan, on top of the crust. Top with whipped cream.

Decorate with shaved chocolate and extra Oreo crumbs [optional]. Return to refrigerator to chill for at least 3 hours.

Serve and enjoy!

I had a bag of fresh cranberries withering in a produce drawer of our refrigerator [last hold-outs from the winter holidays] as well as a bag of candied ginger slices. Adding both amped up an already deliciously spice-ful recipe and added a variety of textures with the pop of fresh cranberries and the chew of the candied ginger.

The beauty of these buns is that they don’t have to be pigeon-holed just for the Easter holidays. Just skip the addition of the plain flour cross on top of the buns – but don’t skip the sugar glaze!

Hot cross buns were never a tradition for the Easter holiday in my family, unlike the ham and potatoes au gratin, but after these buns turned out so beautifully, I’m thinking I may have to make them one!

What are your favorite family Easter traditions, if you celebrate this holiday? I would love to know!

xo,

@

Cranberry Ginger Spice Hot Cross Buns

from London Bakes‘ Spiced Cranberry Hot Cross Buns

yield : 12 buns

Ingredients

Buns

300 ml [1 1/4 cups] milk [I used whole, but you can use whatever you prefer]

50 g [a little under 1/2 stick] unsalted butter

500 g [4 cups] bread flour

1 tsp kosher salt

75 g [1/3 cup] granulated cane sugar

1 packet yeast

1 large egg, lightly whisked to combine yolk + white

100 g [4 ounces] fresh cranberries, sliced in half

1/4 cup candied ginger, small dice

zest of 1 lemon

1 tsp ground ginger

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp cinnamon

Cross [optional]

75 g [2/3 cup] all-purpose flour, unbleached

Glaze [optional]

2 TBSP granulated cane sugar

Directions

Warm milk to near boiling, stirring to prevent scorching the milk. Add butter and stir until melted. Set aside and let cool to 120-130 farenheit [ideal temperature to activate yeast].

While milk is heating, butter is melting and/or mixture is cooling, put flour, salt, sugar and yeast into the bowl of an electric stand mixer. Whisk to distribute evenly. Make a well in the middle of the dry mixture.

Add milk and egg to flour mixture. Stir together with a wooden spoon or spatula until combined. Knead mixture with dough hook attachment on low for about 5 minutes until smooth and elastic.

Cover dough with a clean cotton dishtowel and set in a warm place for an hour or so, until the dough has doubled in size.

Return bowl to stand mixer. Add cranberries, ginger and spices and knead for a few minutes until well distributed. Re-cover with towel and allow to rise again for an hour, or doubled in size, in your warm spot.

Divide the dough into equal pieces, weighing about 3 ounces each. Smooth into round buns and place on parchment-lined baking sheets. Cover again and let rise until the buns have doubled in size, about an hour.

Heat oven to 375. While oven is coming to temperature, mix 2/3 cup all-purpose flour with 2-3 tablespoons water until you have a smooth paste. Pipe flour paste on top of buns into crosses.

Bake for 20-25 minutes, until golden brown.

While buns are baking, melt 2 tablespoons granulated sugar in 2 tablespoons water. Once buns are finished baking [golden and crispy outsides, especially bottoms], brush syrup on top of each bun with a pastry brush.

I grew up with a black labrador retriever, named Mushka [which is a Russian name that means 'little black fly']. She became a part of the family while we lived in the Philippines and over the next fourteen years of her life she traveled with us to New York City, New Jersey and Hong Kong.

In the recent year or so my parents were seriously beginning to entertain adding a dog to the family again. And so, Zuzu has made her grand entrance!

I was able to spend 5 days with the sweet [then] 9 week old puppy, so this week’s favorites round-up is dedicated to this sweet floppy-eared, snotty-nosed, puppy-breathed bundle of fur.

zuzu loves shopping!

beware the shark puppy!

crate training . nailed it!

and so it begins – zuzu’s a jersey girl!

sophie + zuzu during their new nightly routine : cuddle time!

squee! those eyes! those ears!!

all . of . the . LICKING!

preferred sleeping position 01

preferred sleeping position 02

zuzu + sophie waiting for the school bus

and a video to ensure complete squee-ability :

[eats at home]

I made a bunch [3 dozen!] of paleo-friendly muffins so that Jeremy + I have quick and easy breakfast-on-the-go options [which, apparently, we've been needing after this whole Daylight Savings lose an hour thing]. I used this great recipe from Amazing Paleo for the strawberry ones and then made a blueberry-ginger-coconut version subbing coconut flour for the almond flour, blueberries for the strawberries, adding some candied ginger and dried coconut and a few extra egg whites to compensate for the incredible density you get while baking with coconut flour. They have been delicious and are easy freezer-to-toaster options for the ones you don’t finish in the first few days after they come out of the oven.

We’ve been roasting a chicken at least once a week these days. This is my new go-to favorite – a vertical roast with the chicken sitting on a mason jar full of stock [which I made myself, thanks to inspiration from Kira!], two lemon quarters, fresh rosemary and thyme as well as a couple cloves of bruised garlic. The mix is packed with flavor and steams the chicken full of its deliciousness from the inside, while the skin that’s coated with some butter, salt and pepper gets crisp and brown. You should try it!

I made a double batch of dog treats [loosely based on my Two-Ingredient Dog Treats] to use up some bruised fruit and finally get the dog some treats as I kept forgetting to stock back up on their favorite goodies. These are a mouthful – Peanut Butter-Banana-Blueberry-Oat-Parsley treats, made with some peanut butter, mashed bananas, mashed fresh blueberries, oatmeal and fresh parsley [for fresh breath!]. The dogs are digging them.

I did a modified juice Nashville cleanse this week, where I drank juice all day until the evening where I joined Jeremy for a light dinner. One evening I used one of my recent favorite OXO tools to mince up some fresh parsley, rosemary and garlic, added some olive oil and coated some halved baby zucchini before tossing them in the oven for a quick roast or broil. Served on top of butter lettuce, it satisfied my need to chew and eat something warm [finally!] without going overboard on calories, carbs, etc.

[eats around town]

I met a recent alumna from my high school at Whiskey Kitchen for dinner with Jeremy and asked for recommendations as to what to eat, as usually I’m there for happy hour and am completely satisfied by their Tennessee Whiskey Yam Fries and Blue Ribbon Pub Cheese. I got a shout-out for the Shrimp n Grits and knew after the first bite that I hadn’t been steered wrong. The sauce hovered between sweet, savory and tangy, the shrimp were perfectly cooked, and I could’ve gone face-first into that mini kettle of grits if I hadn’t been out in public.

Last minute errand running had me by Back to Cuba which I’d seen on the twitters as a great recommend by Vivek and Amy and also has a great write-up in Jennifer Justus’ new book. Vivek + Amy both recommended the Carne Asado platter, served with rice and beans and a tamale, and thanks to Vivek I also got an order of sweet plantains, a Cubano sandwich and a deliciously sweet, tart + flakey guava cream cheese pastry. Don’t worry, I shared. And, y’all? If you haven’t been, you really must go. Jeremy and I already planning a return visit.

so, do tell. what’ve you been eating these days?

xo,

@

[I have decided to write a series of picture-filled 'sweet journey] posts that I hope will share my story, a story of a Third Culture Kid turned Adult. You can find earlier posts here : Paris [1980-1983] and Manila [1983-1987]]

This is where we begin the tale of a newly-initiated Jersey Girl trying to make her way in the blaze of neon, slap bracelets and New Kids on the Block, otherwise known as the ’80′s. We moved to a modest Colonial style home in central New Jersey, West Windsor to be exact but “near Princeton” to the non-Jersey folks. Surrounded by farm land and about a 70-90 minute drive to New York City or Philadelphia. Essentially the best of both worlds.

My life was all about school [I was a nerd - often found on my bed or couch, or up a tree on occasion, reading, reading and doing some more reading], playing the viola and perfecting my soccer fullback skills. We saw a lot more of my extended family since we were finally Stateside, so we often spent holidays together, at one or the other’s homes.

alexandra, circa 1989-ish . straight rockin’ the patterns, colors + neon .

my cousin Mary Frances & I on Santa’s lap . I finally could face Santa without tears!

me and my bestie, Anna, prior to an Elementary School orchestra concert .

me and my superstar viola teacher, Mr. Pugh . I loved being in pictures, can’t you tell?

The Comets . Man, don’t we just scream soccer all-stars? I scored the teams only goal all season, in position as fullback [coach just screamed "run! go! RUN!"], in the last few minutes of our very last game . All-stars, indeed!

A favorite summer tradition was celebrating my father’s July birthday at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, NJ where I got to bring a pal or two along to ride the coasters for a day . I may not look like it, but I loved the super fast upside-down ones. Here, I’m with my pal Petra [my dad's sitting behind her] .

Granny Mary, me & Grandpop Al after my First Holy Communion . The short period of time I had pink, instead of red, glasses .

Another favorite summer past-time was spending a few weeks a year at various spots along the Jersey Shore . Here with Petra and a friend of hers at Long Beach Island . 

with Mom & Grandpop Pete on Easter Sunday .

slumber parties were all the rage . with my besties [bonnie, petra and anna] eating pizza, watching a riveting movie, apparently .

another birthday party where swooning over boys and sharing gossip became more important than watching movies and eating pizza .

in front of our gigantic lilac shrub with my great Aunt Dorothy [my Grandpop Al's sister] . this must have been before or after a community orchestra concert, given my uniform . I often wear Pacifica’s French Lilac perfume to remind me of spring in New Jersey . this was taken a few months prior to moving to our next destination…

[a new weekly series, so I am catching up on the past few weeks]

{blvd} : french onion soup + mediterranean wedge salad

Jeremy and I met a friend who was back in town for a visit at Arnold Myint‘s newly revamped {blvd} restaurant [formerly cha chah]. This was my first french onion soup that was creamy, and though the cheese could’ve used some more broiling, it was delicious! Salad was worth ordering again, too. Loved the pairing of the cool wedge lettuce with green goddess dressing.

Chinatown restaurant Lunar New Year banquet

For the first time since we have been together, Jeremy and I made multiple plans to celebrate Chinese New Year during the the tail-end of the holiday. Our first celebration was at new-to-us Chinatown restaurant in Green Hills. We feasted with new friends and had a great time. The sweet and sour whole fish [the blue & white platter on the right] was the highlight of the meal, but every single one of the dozen or so dishes was delicious. Jeremy and I hope to return to Chinatown to satisfy our pretty regular cravings for Chinese food. Vivek recommends trying the braised pork belly, which is at the top of our list.

Pearl : dachshund mix at Nashville Humane Association

Now that I’m working pretty regularly during the week, I no longer am able to head over to the shelter to walk and socialize the pups like I used to. I am, however, spending most Saturdays with Teddy’s Wagon, NHA’s off-site roving adoption unit. Make sure to keep an eye out for the bright yellow RV with Teddy on the side when you’re out and about Saturday morning. You’re always welcome to come on board and tour the state-of-the-art customized interior and, of course, cuddle the pups and cats on board and available for adoption.

bhel puri chaat at Bombay Bistro

Jeremy and I were meant to finish our Lunar New Year celebration the night after our Chinatown feast with a banquet organized by the Chinese Arts Alliance of Nashville. Sadly, due to an event start time misprint on the tickets, we showed up just as dessert was being served. We didn’t  mourn for too long, though, as we were right around the corner from our favorite Indian restaurant in town, Bombay Bistro. Though I learned how to make a few different chaat recipes through a University School Nashville evening class, I’ve yet to tackle that myself so I always order some chaat variety when we’re out and it’s on the menu. This bhel puri is my favorite – sweet + sour tamarind sauce, cool yogurt, fresh veggies, fried bits and chickpeas. All for me!

pinned it and did it : lemon rind ice cubes

Yes! Something I pinned and actually did! No matter it’s simply some sliced lemon rinds in ice cubes. I used a large number of meyer lemons and oranges recently in some baking projects and rather than shoving a half or two of the rinds down the garbage disposal to freshen things up, I sliced the rind into skinny strips, placed 3-4 in each ice cube well, topped off with water and froze. Stored in a ziploc bag in the freezer, I grab two or three when the disposal’s starting to smell funky, whirr it around, and problem solved!

soy chai // zolli koffee . gamecock // doughworks craft doughnuts

Jeremy and I have a new Sunday morning routine. After I’ve made an early weekly grocery run to beat the pre- church rush, we head out to a coffee shop for some breakfast and work on some crossword puzzles [our favorite are from the Vanderbilt University Hustler newspaper] or play gin [I'm currently winning, but I doubt it will stay that way for long!]. We’ve been going to a new place each week, hoping to find a favorite where we will become regulars. On this Sunday we headed over to Jackalope Brewing Company who is sharing space with newly opened Zolli Koffee. After grabbing our morning java we ordered breakfast from the visiting Doughworks Craft Doughnuts truck. I had my first taste of hot[ish] chicken, topped with honey, dill-centric dressing and blue cheese crumbles. It was delicious! Hope I spy the truck around town again soon as I want to try one of their sweet offerings.

vietnamese sweet pork salad, slow cooker edition

My friend Sarah recently shared her version of a favorite Vietnamese dish of mine [she and I went to the same high school and actually traveled to Vietnam on the same school trip, though in different years]. Once I saw the recipe I couldn’t stop thinking about it. A quick Monday morning run to Interasian, where I was able to stock up on pretty much everything needed for the dish aside from the pork, lettuce and peanuts, and dinner was served. Bonus trip down memory lane not guaranteed for everyone! Highly recommend you make this dish if you’re a fan of Vietnamese flavors. I can’t wait till the weather’s warmer so I can try grilling the meat and getting that char flavor.

Angela & Roi handbags

One of my favorite bloggers, Kelly at Design Crush, recently highlighted this wonderful concept. Purchase your favorite handbag from the selection of quality, timeless pieces and select a charity close to your heart to which some of the proceeds from your purchase will be sent. I personally have my eye on a Casual Shoulder bag in gray [when they're back in stock!] with a brown ribbon in honor of my father-in-law who died of pancreatic cancer.

Tim’s Place / Albuquerque, New Mexico

Huffington Post Food recently featured Tim’s Place, the only restaurant in the United States [that this family is aware of, at least] owned by a young person with Down Syndrome. I wouldn’t care if the food was fantastic or mediocre, if I lived in Albuquerque I would have to make Tim’s a regular part of my schedule so I could get some of those genuine [and free!] hugs. Watch this video – but be sure you have some tissues nearby. It’s definitely a feel-good happy-maker!

What have you been up to lately? I’d love to know!

xo,

@

[I have decided to write a series of picture-filled 'sweet journey] posts that I hope will share my story, a story of a Third Culture Kid turned Adult. You can find the first in the series here : Paris [1980-1983]]

After spending a few years in the romantic history- and cheese-filled city of Paris, my father took an offer with a job that would have us relocate to the tropics of the Philippines. It was here that I started school, made friends that I still remember to this day and cut my teeth on my favorite breakfast to this day : garlic fried rice, a runny fried egg and longganisa. And it was here that we were introduced to the life of an expat that has all but disappeared since.

while my father started his position in Manila and began the home search for a suitable place for his family, I spent a few months with my [paternal] grandparents in Philadelphia with my mother and [maternal] grandfather, Pete . here I am with [from l to r] Grandpop Al, Mary Frances [cousin], Granny Mary and Eddie [cousin] in front of the Christmas tree . Philadelphia, PA

bossing Eddie, my oldest cousin, around in front of the Christmas train set . the train set was a long-standing tradition of my Grandpop Al’s and was always a highlight of the Christmas season . Philadelphia, PA

goofing around at a family meal with my Granny Mary’s brother, my Uncle Michael, who lived around the corner from my grandparents in Philadelphia . their neighborhood was very much reminiscent of the traditional ethnic enclaves you would find in the early years of a city’s development . this one brimming with Lithuanians, Poles, Russians and the like . Philadelphia, PA

be warned . what they say is true . not long after this habit developed, I was sporting my very first pair of glasses! Philadelphia, PA

my earliest food memories center around this kitchen table at the back of my grandparents Philadelphia row home . here, I’m making meatballs with my mother and grandmother . clearly after a doughnut breakfast! [until his last days, my Grandpop Al would have a predictable breakfast of a plain cake doughnut or two.] also – check out the Osh Kosh overalls! Philadelphia, PA

Christmas Eve with my mom, Claudia, and cousin Mary Frances . Philadelphia, PA

ready and on our way to join my dad in the Philippines, my mom and Grandpop Pete and I journeyed to San Francisco where we spent a day or two before an extended stay in Hawaii . notice the matching tennis shoes Claudia and I are sporting? that’s a Smurf jacket on me . child of the 80′s!                      San Francisco, CA

the airline lost our checked luggage so we restocked at the nearest ABC store for stay in Honolulu . hence the oversized tacky Hawaiian shirt on Grandpop Pete and the gigantic running shorts I’m swimming in . Honolulu, HI

soon after finally arriving in Manila I started pre-school and dove head-first into a community where I was, for the first and not the last time in my life, the minority . don’t you love the smocks the boys and girls had to wear? one of the clearest memories I have of my time at the Institute for Child Advancement [ICA] was learning and reciting the Filipino National Anthem . Jeremy can tell you that I only remember the first line or two anymore, but I’ll belt them at the top of my longs at the most inopportune moments regardless . Manila, Philippines

my makeshift Fisher and Price kitchen was my most favorite corner of my room . Manila, Philippines

with a close second, the outdoor sink where I dragged all my Fisher and Price dishes and cookware for a good scrubbing . Manila, Philippines

it was in Manila that Mushka joined our family . she was the runt of a littler of black labrador retrievers and was loved and adored from day one . ‘Mushka’, by the way, is colloquial Russian for ‘little black fly’ . rather suited her . Manila, Philippines

see? even Mushka got a piece of my birthday cake . Manila, Philippines

our home, and most homes in Manila I believe, didn’t have central air conditioning . the bedrooms on the second floor did, but the rest of the house was wall-to-wall French doors and windows with plantation shutters to allow the tropical breezes to cool the house down on their own . so even during our annual Easter egg hunt, I stripped as bare as was acceptable and made do with the heat!         Manila, Philippines

of all the homes I’ve lived in, this one is the one I’d love to revisit . this is a picture of the living room that my father took to send home to us so we could have a preview of our new home before we made the big move . those French doors! the light! sigh…. Manila, Philippines

the plantation shutters and windows I mentioned earlier . this is the master bedroom . see the spot for a window air conditioning unit? Manila, Philippines

our family pretty much grew by three during the years we spent in Manila . as I alluded to in the introduction to this post, we were introduced to an expat lifestyle while living in the Philippines . it was common to have housekeeping help, driver[s], gardener[s], etc. here, Noela, Dio and Nita join us at a birthday dinner celebration for my father . Noela was my best friend, looking the other way when I snuck into my parents bedroom to jump on their mattress . I looked up to her and Nita so much so that for years I would answer the “what do you want to be when you grow up?” question with “a maid”. Manila, Philippines

my adventure-seeking father and his colleague-turned-friend, preparing to jump off his friends’ property wall into the backyard pool. Manila, Philippines

and he made it, a-ok . Manila, Philippines

my best babysitter, Grandpop Pete did much more of the same as he did when we lived in Paris . read books, listened to his records . I love that this photo demonstrates that despite the tropical temperatures [as evidenced by my bare feet and nothing-but-a-sundress wardrobe] he remained in a crisp button-down shirt, pressed trousers and lace-up shoes . Manila, Phillipines

and my mother spent much of her time volunteering at a local orphanage . remember this, as this passion is going to rear its head in a major way 10+ years down the road . Manila, Philippines

it was in Manila that I first took ballet . here I am posing with my instructor, Jimbo [legs for days!] Manila, Philippines

I never said I was good . [I'm in the far right in this picture . doing the exact opposite of everyone else!] Manila, Philippines

I love and cherish the memories I have of the scraggly Charlie Brown-esque Christmas trees we had every year . we weren’t so much in the right climate to find 7′ pines or firs . Manila, Philippines

it was in Manila that, thanks to my Granny Mary back in Philadelphia, that I received my first ever Xavier-signed-butt Cabbage Patch doll . Manila, Philippines 

and it was in Manila that I celebrated each birthday with a traditional meal of homemade pancit . Manila, Philippines

I had sleepovers with my best friends Erin and Melanie where we stayed up into the wee hours of the night dreaming up fantastical lives for our favorite My Little Ponies . Manila, Philippines

I learned how to swim at the Country Club, taught by my parents, and became that kid that never wanted to get out of the water . ever . Manila, Philippines

the same Country Club that was the venue for many a birthday party . my own and those of my friends . I wish I could remember who that brave young boy flying solo at my 7th birthday party is . I’d love to know how he survived such an event! can we also talk about how lovely the dresses we wore back then are? so frilly and frocked and feminine . Manila, Philippines

it was in Manila that I allowed my mom to girl-y me up . never again did I have my hair in French braids or wear sweet smocked dresses with white mary janes and lace ankle socks . Manila, Philippines

and it was in Manila that I established the trend of being either the only, or one of two, girls tall enough to get a spot in the back row for class pictures . here, with my kindergarten class and teacher Mrs. Narvasa at the International School of Manila [ISM] . Manila, Philippines

it was also while we lived in Manila that we took a brief trip to Hong Kong [here, posing in Repulse Bay], unaware that we’d be returning for 6 year stint in just a few years . Hong Kong

and it was while on a home leave trip over the summer that we reunited with my father’s side of the family to celebrate my Grandpop Al and Granny Mary’s 40 years of wedded bliss . in the back row, left to right, we have Claudia, Stephen, Shari & Michael [dad's youngest brother and wife], Nadia & Al [dad's oldest brother and wife] . seated in the front row are my aunt Mary [dad's younger sister] and uncle Ed with their two children, my grandparents and me! Green Lane, PA

xo,

@

Big Horizons 2001-2002 Leaders . Saddle Up! Project Day

Our friendship continued while we were both still at Vanderbilt. She even had a small hand in the romance brewing between my then crush [now husband] and I, when she took this photo of J for an interview she wrote on him for the [now defunct] literary magazine Versus.

The Husband . Swoon! [amiright?!]

In those ten years, we’ve both graduated from Vanderbilt University, married our college sweethearts and returned to Nashville to make a life for ourselves and our families. Oh, and though she may be ahead in the human baby department, we both have Boston Terriers! [Theirs, Lucy. Ours, Ramble] Speaking of said human baby, Kate + JD’s sweet little, Maggie, turned the big 0-1 recently and they turned to me to help them out in the smash-cake department for this fun monkey-themed party. Because Maggie’s still so young and hadn’t yet eaten any processed sugar, ever, Kate’s only request was that we use alternate sugars.

Miss Maggie, delicately eating her own Honey-Banana Cake!

Moving with the monkey/banana theme, I suggested a delicious banana cake recipe [from my pal Lesley] as the base, subbing the cane sugar for [local] honey. One of my favorite and key steps to make a delicious cake with a strong banana flavor is roasting the bananas prior to adding to the cake batter, making sure to include all the juices that accumulate within the banana peels into said batter. Give this cake recipe a go, and let me know how it turns out for you. You won’t miss the traditional cane sugar. I promise!

xo,

@

PS – See some cute pictures of Maggie, and the cake set up, in Kate’s recap of her sweet daughter’s 1st Birthday, here.

banana cake, topped with [optional] freeze-dried banana slices [like these]

Honey-Banana Cake

adapted from Lesley Eats‘ Banana Bread

Yield : 1 large or 2-3 small loaves [I doubled the recipe and made 1 8" round cake and 20 cupcakes]

Ingredients

1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

heavy 3/4 cup honey

3 large eggs, room temperature

1 tsp salt

3 large ripe bananas

1 tsp baking soda

1 cup + 3 TBSP unbleached all-purpose flour

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground ginger

1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

Directions

1. To Roast Bananas: Preheat oven to 450 F. Place bananas on lined baking sheet and roast for 15 minutes on each side. Remove from oven and let cool.

2. Adjust oven temperature to 350 F. Prepare loaf pan[s] by buttering and and dusting with flour. Set aside. Measure out salt, baking soda, flour and spices into a large bowl. Whisk to incorporate then set aside.

3. In bowl of electric stand mixer, cream butter and honey until uniform liquid [about 5-6 minutes]. Add eggs one at a time, allowing them to incorporate into honey mixture before adding the next one.

4. Add cooled bananas to honey mixture. [Make sure to peel bananas over stand mixer bowl so the sweet liquid from the roasted banana is also included in the mixture]. Mix on medium until mashed/broken to desired consistency. [I like to have some bite-sized chunks of banana in the final product.] Finally, add vanilla extract until just combined.

5. Add flour mixture to honey mixture in three additions, mixing on medium/low until just incorporated.

6. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan, smooth top and place in oven. Bake for up to one hour, checking for done-ness with a toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf at 45 minutes. [The top of the loaf should spring back slightly to touch and the inserted toothpick should come out clean.]

7. Let loaf cool in pan for 10 minutes before removing and letting come to room temperature on wire rack, about 30 minutes.

I topped the extra banana cupcakes with chocolate chips, banana + honey and blueberries

Honey-Cinnamon-Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients

1 1/2 packages cream cheese, softened and cut into 1/4ths

1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature and cut in 1 TBSP pieces

1/4 cup honey

1 vanilla bean

1 tsp vanilla extract

1-2 dashes of ground cinnamon

Directions

1. Add cream cheese and butter to the bowl of an electric stand mixer. Using the whipping attachment, mix on medium/high for 5-6 minutes until combined, light and fluffy.

2. Add honey, vanilla bean caviar and cinnamon and whip for another 2-3 minutes on medium/high until combined.

3. Spread frosting on cooled loaf with offset spatula or pipe with frosting bag.