Travel Mugs

This is food related. Mostly.

It's about a really timely food-on-the-go issue because I really like my coffee. A lot. Granted, I like it a lot less than I did when I was juggling five classes, a job, and design responsibilities. But I still don't consider a day started until I've had my cup of coffee, even when it doesn't happen until six or seven in the evening. (Creating a "grown-up" schedule is extraordinarily difficult and I don't know how you all do it. Mornings. What are those? I'm still having trouble working breakfast into my routine. Meaning, it never happens.)

(Photo courtesy of amazon.com and foodbuzz.com)

Technical Difficulties

I apologize for my absence!

I've been sick with a very headachey cold and then my computer was first having internet issues and then got doused with a good, strong gin and tonic. Needless to say it needed a couple of days of alone time.

But it seems to be working and we seem to be back in business.

So soon I will return with delicious food posts, though tonight it may just be a post about how delicious spring is because I've been a little lazy with the cooking because of the sickness.

Improvisational Ravioli

I know I'm a little late. What can I say? I'm still adjusting. I've also been living off of one big bowl of brown rice salad that I will discuss a little later in the week.

But better late than never, that's what I always say.

And I do want to talk about improvisation because improvisation is the backbone of my cooking. I think people are scared of improvisation (like I was, until recently, with baking), but it doesn't have to be scary. It can be fun and exciting and challenging. You just have to be comfortable with the fact that sometimes things don't always work out just right.

But really you just look in the fridge and you say, OK. I have some tomatoes and some garlic and boy do I like both of those things roasted.

Spring

The calendar page turned to March and all of a sudden Long Island has realized that we have had enough of winter. It is time for Spring. Spring is also the time for puppies to learn to behave themselves on their leashes.

Birthday Cake

It was my birthday on the 27th. I turned 23. Obviously, this required cake. Not just any cake, either. It required a cake that would fit my exact specifications of what a good cake should have.

Ribs and Slaw

I've been craving summer. I've been craving the beach, long walks with Zepp (who is really not enjoying leash-training at all; if only I could convey to him how much fun we'll have once he decides to behave himself on it), and most importantly, barbecues. Dinner-party barbecues. Our friends, blenders full of margaritas, chicken, ribs, burgers... name it. I'll grill it.

But, this is still a few months away. To satisfy this end-of-winter longing, I turned to my oven.