sunday morning brunch : who says gourmet can't be easy

seasonal sundays

sundays in july mean early wake ups, iced coffee, windows down-music up drives to the beach.  and sundays in the fall are best spent in newport day drinking and watching soccer in the pubs.  but providence during the winter usually amounts to reading in bed and netflix watch instantly on our tv, and, weather permitting, a 'quick' trip to bristol for a quick consignment fix.  but those activities cannot happen without a nourishing sunday morning brunch.

after a rough night of drinking and too little sleep, it is rare that i am up for making serious brunch (read: crab cake eggs benedict or brioche french toast).  so, i've tried to keep things simple this winter with creative hashes that use up my leftover potatoes and egg scrambles that incorporate bits of cheese leftover from the past week's meals.  this past sunday i found myself with too few eggs for a proper scramble and not nearly enough cheese to make said scramble interesting.  i did have all the fixins for pancakes, an overly ripe banana, and some berries that were a couple days past their prime.  and i hate to admit this, but i've found myself keeping bacon on hand these days.  so i had that too.

rather than placing the strawberries and blueberries directly into the pancakes, i chose to make a berry compote.  after placing the berries over low heat, i added a few tablespoons of sugar and some lemon juice, making sure to mash a few berries in the process.  after about 15 minutes this mixture turns into a syrupy, sweet, delicious sauce with just a hint of citrus, that is perfect for topping off pancakes, french toast or oatmeal.  in my opinion, this is best served over wheat germ pancakes (the wheat germ adds an amazing crunch), with a side of bacon, and a glass of milk and orange juice.

sunday brunch should always be gourmet, but it doesn't have to be complicated.  berry compote is an excellent way to jazz up more traditional breakfast items, and it is quick too!  in fact, the compote takes about the same time as the bacon.  which, by the way, should ALWAYS be baked!  place bacon on a tinfoil-lined cookie sheet and cook at 400 degrees for about 13-15 minutes.  you'll never reach for your cast iron pan again and lets face it: draining bacon grease from a 15 pound skillet can be challenging with or without a hangover.

hope everyone had a wonderful sunday.
-s-

findlay market : a taste of cincinnati

 a close up of the cheese at Silverglade and Sons

Over the holidays, I returned to Cincinnati, Ohio to visit with family and friends.  As in most families, Christmastime in my family is rooted in tradition.  And traditions in the Keller family are often rooted in food.  So it is fortunate that I was able to visit Findlay Market for our family's annual pre-Christmas cheese and meat stock-up session. I have been going to Findlay Market with my dad on Saturday mornings since I could walk, and my visits were regular until high-school, when Saturday's were used for sleeping in.

For those non-Cincinnatians reading this post, you should know that Findlay Market is an early municipal market constructed between 1852 and 1855.  The Market is located in Over The Rhine, an area that began as a German immigrant community; primarily built between 1860 and 1900, this region of Cincinnati is a prime example of an urban 19th century community.  The Findlay market website does a much better job telling the market's history than I can do in one blog post.  But if you have any interest in outdoor markets, you should read up on this gem.

renovation of the market includes new logos and signage, featured above one entrance to the market

Findlay Market is the oldest municipal market house in the state of Ohio and in the early 1980's it found its place on the National Register of Historic Places.  Physically speaking, the Market has undergone many transformations since its original construction as an open air pavilion.  Today the market is roughly 25% open air, and 75% covered iron frame structure.  But many things about Findlay Market remain unchanged.  It has been, and remains, a mecca for fresh, local foods, with many German specialties.  In recent years, the surge in farmer's market shopping has created a buzz around Findlay Market drawing a younger, more hip crowd to Over the Rhine on Saturday mornings.  But many families have created multi-generational traditions here, and will continue to do so for years to come.

above many stands are featured products (Krause's)

Personally, I am the biggest fan of the CHEESE from Silverglade and Sons.  And my cousin's girlfriend is the resident cheese monger for the stand - so we receive great recommendations and friendly service.  Our family has at least four cheeses out before every holiday meal.  This year we went with the traditional Christmas Cheddar Spread, an English Blue Stilton, Bucheron drizzled with warmed honey and another french goat cheese called Couronne Lochoise, which has a flaky, buttery texture.  We also purchased smoked, cajun bacon with an amazing peppery rind for Christmas breakfast, and our standing roast for Christmas Dinner. 

 

perfect snack

In more recent years, the Market has become home to small business owners selling prepared foods, drinks, handmade soaps and small goods.  One of my favorites is Taste of Belgium, which serves Belgium Waffles, made to order.  Since I hadn't been to the market since last year, I was pleasantly surprised to see the addition of Dojo, a gealteria and coffee stand.  But if you aren't looking for anything serious, you can always choose to snack on a German Style Landjaeger.  This is, to put it simply, a really fancy German Slim Jim type snack.  And although I haven't had the pleasure of eating a Slim Jim, I would imagine the hand-cased, small batches of these dried meats might be a LITTLE bit better.  Maybe. 

jeff on the left, john on the right

The market is such a tradition in our family, that we often run into our own family there.  On this particular Saturday, we happened to run into our Uncle John, my dad's twin brother at the market.  He was picking up an additional standing roast, to be served for Christmas Eve.  John and Jeff (my dad), are often caught planning similar menus and wearing the same clothing (see above). 

  

jocelyn and i with our new market baskets

you really can find ANYTHING here

Findlay Market to me is a place for family, food and fun.  It is a tradition I hold very close to my heart, and it plays a huge role in my passion for food.  

If you can get your hands on a Landjaeger, you will not regret it.

-S-

I'd like to be, under the sea...

I'm not exactly sure why my eye is drawn to the image of an octopus; it's not exactly an attractive creature. Perhaps it is it's ancient and prehistoric imagery I associate with it or the mysterious nature of the animal. In a rendered form, they are beautiful however; the spiraling long lines and curves of the octopus form allow for an interesting artistic image. Recently, the creature has been popping up all over the design world. I wouldn't mind any of the following in my home.  Except for the first one. 

 {attractive?}

 

{thomas paul bath line}

{designsponge}

{anthropologie wallpaper}

{apartment therapy}

-L-

italia nostalgia

Pretty much since I departed the amazing country of Italy when I spent a semester abroad in Florence, I have missed it and longed for it daily. Life there was perfect. I learned, tasted, and observed amazing new things. Class was going to the Uffizi or walking the streets of Florence and observing the architecture. My shopping was at a minimum as my money was spent on weekend trips to Paris, Amsterdam, Praque, Barcelona, Munich, Rome and remote villages around Tuscany. Happiness was found just walking the cobbled streets of Florence people watching with a cappucino in hand. Fragrances of leather, espresso, pastries and the perfumes and colognes of the Italians were frequently infusing my senses. Getting dressed was fun; I could wear dresses and skirts and fancy things every day. To say that I ate well would be an understatement. Essentially, it was a dream and seems like it almost never happened. I hope one day to live this life again. Until then...

{the Duomo: my neighbor}

{a swim after a long hike in Cinque Terre}

{Cinque Terre: my favorite place in Italy}

{canals of Venice}

{our apartment door}

{at the Herculaneum ruins}

{Siena bell tower}

Ciao regazzi

-L-

acadian adventures

    {"Can you please turn around?"}

{beautifully decrepit abandoned home}

{fog along the coast of Maine}

{before the long sweaty hike}

{heading down the great trail along the stream under the carriage roads}

A great weekend was had by all at Acadia National Park. From the park itself, to the roadside antique stores, and visiting the cute town of Bar Harbor, everything was what I had imagined. If it were up to Susie and I, we would have stopped at every antique store or flea market on the road. It was probably a good thing we had some boys to keep us in line. If only I had a few more days up there... I will definitely return to Acadia.

-L-

off exploring

I'm Heading out tomorrow to go to Acadia National Park in Maine. I've wanted to go there for a few years now so I'm really excited to explore "America's Best Idea". The anticipation is killing me. Photos to come next week.

 From one adventurer to another
-L-

Publish Post

headstart on a headboard

As I am moving (again) sometime next month and I'm not too pleased with my current bed, I figured I'd take on another project upon moving into a new place. I'll have a big yard where I can work so I'm looking forward to that. I want to make my own upholstered headboard and hopefully keep the cost around $100. I've seen some inspirational pictures but I can't decide if I i want a solid fabric or a print. I could get sick of a print, but I can also always reupholster the piece to suit my current taste. Any ideas or suggestions or welcome! Here are some I enjoy.

{I like the neutrality and versatility of this piece}

{I really like the shape of these with the added trim and bright colors}

{nailhead trim adds a finished elegant look}

{love the boldness, but would have to be the focal point}

I have a slight obsession with animal prints and am considering a neutral leopard or zebra like the ones below:

 The only main thing I need to consider in choosing a fabric for the headboard is my red desk:

{bench seat to be reupholstered this fall}

What do you all think?

-L-