So both is what we’re doing. 🙂
A St. Patrick/Pi Day Mash Up Party!
Simple Seared Salmon
Naturally, a book that’s written mostly from a wolf’s point of view isn’t going to have much human-friendly meat in it, but salmon is a notable exception. In White Fang, both wolves and humans regularly feast on fresh Alaskan salmon. And since it’s a dish that can be prepared on the trail, it’s a perfect entree for our menu.
Coffee Muffins with Maple Butter for the Arctic Trail
I love Jack London books SO much. He writes about gritty arctic survival with all the power and heart of someone who truly loves and understands the wilderness. I was desperate to include either White Fang or Call of the Wild as a Book of the Month this year, and since White Fang is longer, it made the cut!
Oh My, March!
February was such a busy month! Between trips downstate, the start of Lent, and crazy weather, March managed to sneak up on me. I was editing pictures for my first March recipe when I realized I hadn’t posted the new Book of the Month hint yet. For shame!
Fear no more, for your photo hint is finally here. And judging from the view outside my window right now, it couldn’t be more seasonally appropriate. 😉
Romeo’s Sighs and Juliet’s Kisses: Italian Sandwich Cookies
When I first decided to do a Romeo and Juliet menu, I was a little worried about finding a suitable dessert. Anything blatantly romantic seemed too cliche, so I was determined to steer clear of anything heart-shaped. I was so excited when I stumbled across these little Italian sandwich cookies!
Star-Crossed Focaccia with Green Onion Parmesan Butter
Considering Romeo and Juliet is based in Renaissance Italy, I wanted to include at least one menu item that the characters would have likely eaten in that time period. Though focaccia has seen a rise in popularity in recent years, the current form of the dish first became popular in Romeo and Juliet’s day. I love this particular recipe because the dough doesn’t need to rise, and it’s got great herbed flavor and fun texture. The star shape, of course, is a tip of the hat to Verona’s famous star-crossed lovers.
10 Valentine’s Day Gifts for Avid Readers
I’ve always closely associated Valentine’s Day with books. Last week, I did a guest post for Real Life at Home explaining why. So if you’re stumped as to what to get your special reader this Valentine’s Day, you’ve come to the right place. I’m always keeping tabs on the latest literary gifts! Here are my Top 10 Valentine’s Day Gifts for Avid Readers, sure to please the bibliophile in your life:
- This awesome scarf
Photo via Uncommon Goods
Poison-Tipped Daggers: Chicken Kabobs with Pesto Dip (An AWR Original Recipe © )
When I first decided to make a Romeo and Juliet menu, I knew I wanted to include the fateful dagger and poison, but finding a way to do it was tricky. Then I took my cue from our Robber Stakes from last year’s Dracula menu and decided to make dagger kabobs. The preparation is super simple, and the “poison” dipping sauce adds a fun punch of color and flavor. It’s reminiscent of two classic Italian recipes (Caprese salad and Margherita pizza), but I swapped out the tomatoes for red peppers, which are more grill-friendly.
Big Important News!
Hey there, everybody! I’ve got some exciting news: I just became a guest writer for Real Life at Home! My first post is a recipe for Heart Petit Fours with Raspberry Cordial Jam. It’s a mash-up of some previous Alison’s Wonderland recipes you might recognize (Hearts of Gold and Raspberry Cordial Ice Cream). And just in time for Valentine’s Day! You can view the post here or by clicking the images in this post.
Bacon Roses: A Rose by Any Other Name…
Welcome to February, folks! In honor of Valentine’s Day I decided to make Romeo and Juliet our new Book of the Month (technically a play, but I figure it still counts). Bacon may not be the first thing that springs to mind at the mention of Shakespeare’s romantic tragedy. Bacon ROSES, on the other hand, couldn’t be more appropriate.