Tomato and Corn Pizza

I know, all I seem to blog about lately is food.  Mostly because it is too darn hot out to do much else than stay inside and cook.

We whipped up this Southern Living Tomato and Corn Pizza on Saturday night, and it did not disappoint.  We modified the recipe a bit, using a whole wheat thin crust pizza dough, but it was great.  The bonus was we got to use things from the garden (tomatoes, basil, homemade pesto, etc). 

No photos of the finished product -- we were in too much of a hurry to get it on our plates!

Recession Garden: Season Two

After learning a few things last year (mint will take over your entire garden), we tried another year of the garden. 

Per usual, the cucumbers, squash, and zucchini are going crazy!  The broccoli was a big fail, and the tomatoes (heirloom, cherry, and one other kind that escapes me) are starting to kick in.  Eggplant and peppers are still TBD.

The best part about the early crop of cucumbers?  Our favorite summer salad:  cucumber, red onion, salt, pepper, and your choice of vinegar.

Recycle, Reuse

I don't generally post pictures of where I live, mostly because I moved to New York with two suitcases and things haven't been exactly picture perfect since then.  However, we've been slowly working towards having more of a home.  Last weekend my parents (very nicely) brought up all of our wedding gifts along with two items we "won" at an auction of items from the Virginia State Capital.  And so our collection of furniture grows, with a very nice little china cabinet and surprisingly trendy round table:

Registry Update and Summer Dinners

My wedding presents all arrived over the weekend and despite my husband's insistence that he doesn't "get" Fiesta ("Why doesn't it match?"), I am very pleased with my new kitchen cabinet:

Another thing that pleases me is summer "cooking":

(Disclaimer:  the blackberry filled puff pastry was not nearly as good as it looks, so I'm trying again.)

Jamie Oliver's Roast Chicken

There is really nothing I (or my dog) love more than the smell of a chicken roasting in the oven.  One of my favorite food bloggers turned me on to this amazing recipe from Jamie Oliver. 
I made it Sunday night for guests and it was devoured instantly.  The potatoes are some of the best I have ever tasted (you really can't go wrong with bacon).  I should have taken photos -- but honestly by the time I thought of it, there was hardly anything left!
Pick up the simple ingredients and whip this up for your next weeknight dinner or casual dinner party.

Magazine Selection

Farrell and I recently compared magazine subscriptions and were surprised to find very little overlap- only Southern Living.  Which magazines come to your house?

Farrell:
Real Simple
Cooking Light
Food and Wine
Southern Living
People
Self
Sports Illustrated
Draft
Golf
Martha Stewart Weddings
Food Network Magazine
Martha Stewart Living
 
Lauren:
Garden & Gun
Virginia Living
Southern Living
Traditional Home
House Beautiful
ESPN The Magazine
New York Magazine
Vanity Fair
(wishlist:  US Weekly, Marie Claire)

Sticky Buns

We had a house guest this weekend who doesn't eat eggs in the morning, so casseroles were out for breakfast and I didn't have a lot of time to make a coffee cake.  The solution?  Easy Sticky Buns courtesy of Ina Garten's Back to Basics.  I wish I had read the reviews on the Foot Network website, because the butter was a little overwhelming.  However, with a bit of tweaking I think these will end up being an easy but impressive treat for friends and family.

What We're Reading Lately

Recent additions to our bookshelves....

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Omnivore's Dilemma

The Girl Who Played with Fire

The Art of Racing in the Rain

What's on your summer reading list?

Easy App

Hummus is a crowd-pleasing appetizer that goes well with a variety of "dippers."  Making your own is SO easy and much more cost effective than buying it in the store. 

Homemade Hummus

1 can chick peas, drained and rinsed
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

juice of 1 lemon

2 TBS tahini (this is optional)

2 TBS minced garlic

Combine all ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth.  I usually drizzle some extra olive oil on top and sprinkle with paprika before serving.  If you want to play with flavors, try adding:  fresh herbs, olives, roasted red peppers, etc.