birthday treats~cheese

As I contemplate how to celebrate my looming birthday, I can't not think about what I'd like to eat. I'm just so in love with food, you see, that I think about it all the time. Like a lover. It really is one of my greatest pleasures in life...so how could I possibly celebrate without carefully considering what to nosh on?

I couldn't.

And one of my favorite foods in the. whole. wide. world. is cheese.

Michigan cheese

 

For my birthday, I would love to stick a candle in a wedge, like Jo's hubs did for her. What a jaunty little substitute for birthday cake!

I would absolutely want my birthday cheese to be chosen for me by Madame Fromage. She has the best, um, taste in cheese, and her blog always makes my mouth water. Plus, she is a fellow writing prof (I saw her food-writing presentation at the Conference on College Composition and Communication last year), so, solidarity. PLUS, how could you not immediately love and trust a woman who has designed a Downton Abbey-themed cheese board??

The answer is you must absolutely love and trust her. Obviously.

But, I don't have to go across the pond to get scrumptious cheese! I would love to savor some of my favorite Mitten-made favorites, like the peppery Bridgewater or the Great Lakes Cheshire from Zingerman's Creamery, or a creamy, velvety Raclette from Leelanau Cheese.

Of course, this does not in any way preclude enjoying chocolate or cake as well. Just so we're clear.

:)

What about you? What is your favorite treat (birthday or otherwise)? Do tell.

book talk: accessing my inner french woman

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I've attempted it before. This time, it seems different, somehow. In the past, it's been abandoned due to to distraction, crushing food-guilt or just plain non-French-ness. But now, reading Mireille Guiliano's now-classic opus of French eating "tricks" and pleasure-willpower balance, I feel like I'm sitting at the feet of a wise oracle. 

Have you read it? If you have, what do you think? On this, my third attempt, I think I'm finally in the right head space to embrace my French heritage and cultivate my own je ne sais quoi.

Meatless Monday: end of summer

I don't like thinking about it. I wish I could avoid it altogether.

But, the end of summer will be here before I know it (and when I say "end" I mean, "August 31st," or sometimes students say "the first day of class"...instructors merely grunt like Rooster Cogburn and say, "reckon so."); I'd rather be prepared than blindsided.

This week, I will definitely be making this easy-sounding, vibrant-looking summer pasta dish (though I might toss in some marinated bocconcini):

And with the end of summer, comes our anniversary. On Wednesday, Jake and I will have officially hit the three-year mark! We've had a lot of fun and grown together in so many ways these past three years. One thing that I've enjoyed is the fact that we make our own little traditions...being poor, sleep-deprived  educators, we've taken to declaring an annual, anniversary bed-in (yep, a la John and Yoko). Except, instead of protesting the war, we protest not being able to just lay in bed every day. It is something I've come to really look forward to. 

I never make it a full 24 hrs, though. I usually get my fill of laying around, reading, listening to music. Also, I get hungry. So, after awhile, I'll get up and make dinner. That is how the artichoke tradition started.

Last year, I bought some artichokes, and decided it would be wonderfully romantic to steam them and eat them, leaf-by-leaf. Then, I had a tiny meltdown when I got these prickly suckers home and realized I did not know what to do with them. I had to do some research to figure out what the heck I was doing...but depsite my neuroses and lack of cooking technique, it turned out lovely. There are so many interesting sauces to make, but my favorite is by far just a simple, balsamic mayonnaise, like this one. 

Then again, I may just toss the whole plan and make these a-mazing-looking artichoke fritters. Seriously? As if artichokes couldn't get any better!

What about you? Do you have any fun, made-up traditions? Any go-to special occasion recipes? Do tell!