brie toasts with figs and rosemary honey

More figs! I knew this appetizer would elicit some excitement, but I didn't expect five bees to fly straight into my kitchen as I simmered the honey on the stove. They entered through the laundry room where a window was cracked open. After gently nudging them back outside (I had rushed to close the kitchen door and hid out in the living room), Andrew went outside to see if he could find a hive. Nothing visible, at least, but they certainly were tempted by the sweet nectar that I was warming up.

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the saturday post | fig cake for fall

I realized it had been too long since I baked anything and was itching to pull a warm cake out of the oven. My only obstacle was trying to determine just what exactly it was I needed to make. There are always so many choices when it comes to things like this and unfortunately, I want to bake something just wasn't specific enough. But then I saw figs, put them in my cart and strolled home.

The figs still didn't have a purpose just yet, but I had a feeling that once I opened Dorie Greenspan's Baking, their destiny would be sealed. I searched the index, flipped to page 192 and a gorgeous fig and cornmeal cake appeared. This really was the perfect cake to welcome fall. It was also one of the last things I made before our lives changed for the better when we brought home our new puppy, Emma, on September 23rd, which just so happened to be the first day of this new season.

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salmon sandwiches with basil mayo

My go-to meal in college was canned tuna with a light dollop of mayo and lots of freshly cracked black pepper. I ate this on saltine crackers or toasted bread, and it still remains a very simple way to eat lunch if I just can't muster the energy for anything else.

Canned fish has always been a mystery, though. Where is it sourced? Which brand is best? Do sardines from Morocco really taste better than sardines from Mexico? And speaking of sardines, since I haven't had any luck convincing Andrew they're delicious, I thought I'd try something new: canned salmon.

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roasted carrot puree with basil crumbs

Ever since I returned from Nepal I've been desperately craving fall comfort food. It was still hovering around 80 degrees in Los Angeles at the end of August but that didn't stop me from daydreaming about braises, stews and mac and cheese. That cozy time of year is approaching and my body just wanted to let me know where it stood.

The first chance I got, I roasted vegetables. It happened last year around this time that I made the first soup of the season, ushering in the cooler weather, holidays that will be here before we know it and warm, soul-soothing dishes. I was actually alone in my kitchen, smiling a little just at the thought of it. Also, the carrots and onions smelled intoxicatingly good after spending just a few minutes in the oven. What can I say, I love fall.

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farro salad for late summer

Picnics might be one of my favorite ways to spend an afternoon. There's something so relaxing about being outside, sitting on the beach or under a tree, nibbling on cheese, crackers, and a fresh salad like this. It's almost criminal not to take it somewhere. Of course, that doesn't mean you can't enjoy it at your dinner table, but it's really well suited for travel.

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