Nikkilooch

I am an excellent dinner party guest.

This isn’t me just tooting my own horn.  It’s fact.  Because I bring things with me: bottle of wine, flowers, cinnadoodles.

A cinnadoodle is a snickerdoodle with cinnamon chips.  Basically a more awesome version of a snickerdoodle.

Tonight is a barbecue at my friend’s house.  I’m bringing these.  I’m trying to make these people realize that the cookies I bring around are good enough to overlook my crazy.  So far it’s working.

Making lifelong friends sure is delicious work.

Cinnadoodle recipe from Cookie Cravings cookbook.

Happy Friday!  After my whirlwind trip yesterday, this Friday feels a lot like Monday.  Let’s fix that with some happy things to think about:

• Cream cheese filled cinnamon roll monkey bread. That’s a mouthful.  I also wouldn’t mind a mouth full of this bread.
• Tips for everyday photos.
• A really good idea.
• This looks like a perfect lunch: eggs in spicy tomato sauce.
• This salad looks like one that would actually fill me up for dinner.  Win.
• I don’t know where she comes up with these ideas, but I’m so glad she does: chocolate chip cookie dough peanut butter.

Yesterday I went to London.  Today I’m home.  It was a good trip, no, great trip.

Tea was drank.  Books were bought.  Football watched.  Friends seen.

It’s not even the weekend.  Love, love, love my life.  So blessed.

We’re going to England today. We had to leave the house at 3:30 this morning. Usually, I don’t get up before 8:00.

Sometimes I get grumpy at 3:30 in the morning. Almost always I get grumpy when I’m hungry. So I thought I’d give myself a chance and make a breakfast that I can take with me and that I don’t have to use my 3:30 in the morning brain to put together.

You’re welcome, self.

If you are a completely unbiased person, like myself in this situation, then it’s easy for you to realize that my parents are the best.

Why?  Because they sent my husband a grill through the mail for his birthday.  I know, right?

This weekend we christened her with ribs.

Annnd I’m pretty sure my parents like my husband more than they like me.  Can’t say that I blame them.  He’s pretty awesome.

Besides our tiny most perfect grill, what did I bring to this barbecue?

Peanut butter cupcakes with cream cheese chocolate frosting, of course.

I’m such a good friend.

Both the peanut butter cupcakes and the cream cheese chocolate frosting recipes I used were from the Joy the Baker Cookbook.

Happy Friday the 13th!  Here’s a list of my favorite things from this past week:

• I need this print in my house.
• Any excuse to eat asparagus this season.
• Baked apple pie egg rolls. Yum.
• I’m a snacker too.  I wish I had this dry roasted edamame recipe for my road trip last weekend.
• Lemon and poppyseed is a winning combination.  Megan takes it to the next level with these lemon poppyseed shortcakes.  WANT.
• What a way to celebrate your first year.
• When you have a busy Saturday morning and want cinnamon buns but don’t have time for 2 rises: cinnamon bun pancakes are the answer.
• 10 ways to use up leftover Easter ham.

Last Saturday, we went to Milan to watch a football match with our good friend. (Of course, why else?)

I don’t think we’ve ever been to Milan without visiting the San Siro.

We did leave without a new scarf for, I think, the first time.

A place I do try to visit every time we’re in Milan is Luini Luini.

See the Italian cops up there hard at work? It’s a universal truth.

Luini’s sells panzerotti. They are a sweet kind of fried dough stuffed with savory fillings.

Oh, Lordy. Deep fried heaven.

This time, I went with mozzarella, tomato, and pesto. I do not regret it.

If you are ever in Milan, Luini’s is a MUST eat.

This weekend we drove from Kaiserslautern to Italy.  About 8 hours.  SO long by European standards, so average by American standards.  The United States is a big country, folks.  According to the Google, 31 Italy’s could fit into 1 US.  If I’m being honest, I thought it’d be more.

Recipe for an Italian Easter:

Always, always start with wine. Always.  Add in some soppressa and pickled asparagus with a side of buttered crostini topped with salmon and a caper and you have yourself a great start to Easter dinner.

Next sautee some pumpkin and onion together in olive oil. Heat up your broth. Toast your risotto. Take turns with all your guests stirring.

Then the secret: once all the broth is incorporated in the rice, add a large pat of butter and a mountain of cheese, cover and let sit. This really makes the risotto over the top.

Finally, open another bottle of wine. Get scolded for eating too much before dinner. Spread the table cloth out and set the table. Make everyone wait while you take pictures in your slipper feet. Then eat until your buttons pop.

Easter success.

We are back in Italy this weekend.  I feel like I am home.  I didn’t realize how much I missed this place.  We lived the spritz life last night and I’m not going to stop living it until we leave.  On to the list!

• These cinnamon roll cookies with brown butter frosting look amazing.
• Low fat hummus.
• This basic pasta carbonara looks like an easy go-to week night meal.  And I might need to make it next week to get some Italy back in my life after this weekend.
• The world’s best cities for street food.
• Easter smackdown: Ham vs Lamb
• How to make golden chocolate Easter eggs.

In Joy’s cookbook, she has a section called “Have Dessert, Will Travel” which put me over the moon when I first read it.  Most of the goodies I make are going somewhere.  They have a purpose.  They have mouths to make smile and tummies to fill.  Aimless sweets these are not.

Tracy and Joy together on a plate.

Mostly, my sweets are going to Bible study with me.  Ladies studying the Bible need to fuel their brains.  True fact.  It’s best if this fuel them with this pound cake.

It was so hearty and honey sweet.  I love the earthiness of this easy loaf cake.  So much so that I’m going to make it again today to take on a road trip this weekend.  Snacks are an absolute must.