Make Lemon...Bars

Love this poster...A fitting alternative to..."make lemonade." I mean everyone loves lemon bars, right?image/etsy

So Refreshing

My team survived the first round of kickball playoffs last Wednesday. Our co-ed team plays once a week typically at a local playfield, it's the perfect excuse to get together with friends, have some fun, and get some exercise. Rather than Capri suns & orange slices of childhood leagues past, we enjoy snacks like chips and salsa and appropriately - adult beverages.

We have a rotating snack schedule, and last week Anna brought mint lemonade with a hint of alcohol. Considering the heat on Wednesday, this was the perfect, refreshing snack. I'm even thinking about making my own virgin version next week - and try out this recipe.

image/light

It's My Friday

This weekend is going to be HOT, HOT, HOT! Heat waves are hitting Seattle right now. I've lived here since I was in 1st grade and I cannot remember a 91-degree in June...EVER!

I'm taking a personal day tomorrow (yes, this is allowed for teachers, FYI). So far, the plan is to go kayaking and out to a patio lunch with a friend, onto pedicures, and then celebrating 2 friends birthdays at a joint-birthday party. Hopefully getting plenty of sun (and possibly boating in this weekend)...

image/paulcostello

I ♥ Pizza

If there was any food I could eat everyday for the rest of my life, it would probably be either pizza or potatoes. Yes, I like carbs...can you tell?

However, with the sudden sweltering Seattle heat (90 degrees yesterday), I don't much feel like using my oven. However, I think I could turn on my oven for this to-die-for Spring pizza; Strawberry, Arugula, and Goat Cheese Pizza. Yum! While it's more flatbread with strawberry salad on top than pizza, I think I could definitely stand my oven's warm temps to be able to eat this for dinner!Strawberry, Arugula, and Goat Cheese Pizza

Makes 3-4 servings. Recipe adapted from Cooking Light.

Ingredients
Crust:
3/4 cup warm water
1 1/2 teaspoons dry yeast (from 1 envelope)
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 cups (about) unbleached all purpose flour
1 teaspoon whole fennel seeds
1 teaspoon dried thyme

Topping:
1/3 cup (3 ounces) crumbled goat cheese
1 cup sliced strawberries
1 cup trimmed watercress, arugula, or other leafy green
1/2 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
Dash of salt
Dash of freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup (1 ounce) shaved fresh Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
3 tablespoons toasted almonds or pistachios, chopped

Directions
For crust:
Pour 3/4 cup water into large bowl. Sprinkle yeast over; stir to blend. Let stand 10 minutes to dissolve yeast. Add oil, salt, and herbs, then 1 1/2 cups flour. Stir until well blended (dough will be sticky). Turn dough out onto generously floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, adding just enough flour to prevent dough from sticking, about 5 minutes (dough will be soft). Shape dough into ball; place in large oiled bowl and turn to coat. Cover bowl with kitchen towel. Let dough rise at cool room temperature until almost doubled, about 2 hours. Punch dough down; form into ball. Return to bowl; cover with towel and let rise until doubled, about 3 hours.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Punch down dough. Form into ball; place on floured work surface. Cover with kitchen towel; let rest 30 minutes. Sprinkle rimless baking sheet with cornmeal. Roll out dough on floured surface to 13-inch round. Transfer to baking sheet.

Bake crust for 10-12 minutes or until just set. Remove from oven and sprinkle with crumbled goat cheese. Combine strawberries, greens, olive oil, juice, salt, and black pepper; toss gently to coat. Arrange strawberry mixture evenly over goat crust. Sprinkle pizza with Parmigiano-Reggiano and nuts. Cut into wedges. Serve immediately.

image+recipe/love&oliveoil

They're Here!

It's peony season everyone. I saw and swooned over dozens of these lovely stems down at Pike Place Market last weekend. Life is beautiful once again!

image/apartmenttherapy

Pivot

Whenever I'm having a bad day, I usually resort to watching this classic Friends clip - the infamous "PIVOT!!" episode...you may know the very one I'm thinking of. This clip never ceases to make me laugh...when this episode first aired, my friend Nayely and I were rolling on the floor dying of laughter. Still today, we continue to use the "PIVOT!!" in an aggravated Ross voice - if the mood needs lightening.



If you ever find yourself in a similar situation, I suggest you give it a try, it almost always brings a smile to my fave.
video/youtube

Summer Sniffles

While it's no fun to have the sniffles in the summer, Kleenex has got you covered. Unveiling their "Perfect Slice of Summer" series for Target, having a case of the common cold will never be the same again.
images/dieline