Turntable Kitchen

Turntable Kitchen is a side project by a San Francisco couple combining cooking with music, two of my favorite things!  You can look up recipes along with the selected playlist on their website, but my favorite part?  You can sign up to receive a 'pairings box' each month.  The package contains the recipe, dry ingredients and playlist (on a seven inch vinyl single!) all bundled up in a brown box with white string.  I want to sign up!

This is Halloween

I'm dying to decorate for Halloween!  I want my house covered in pumpkins, witches, black cats, leaves and every other Halloween icon you can think of, but I promised my roommate Lindsay I would wait for her to come back from New Mexico so we could combine forces in giving our house potential for a Halloween party (perhaps?).  Until then I will light pumpkin scented candles and search for a costume while dumbly smiling at my first ever legit Halloween decoration.  Reminds me of The Nightmare Before Christmas.

I love this time of year.  I love seeing everyone in jackets, I love the thought of curling up in a blanket with a mug of hot chocolate, I love the sight of kids soon running around under the street lights wearing adorable costumes and filling their bags with candy.  I love the treats, the smells, the colors, I love it all!  

At work we've decided to be musicians and turn our office into the 'Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame' and I've chosen Willie Nelson, partly after watching an episode of King of the Hill when Hank meets his hero and partly because I don't have to buy anything for the costume which is both awesome and sad.  I don't know how I feel about being Willie at other Halloween parties though so I'm on the look out for another costume.  Suggestions?  Usually I have my costume picked out in May so this is different for me and I'm starting to feel the time crunch, only 33 days left!  

Loner

The other day while stuck at a stop light on Center Street I noticed a woman, maybe in her thirties, sitting outside at the cute Italian restaurant on the corner, alone. Well, alone with a book, but none the less enjoying a simple alfresco Italian meal in the setting sun. I was mesmerized by this, by the courage! She looked so natural like it was nothing, how is that possible?

I've thought about lone dining before, but I've never had the courage to sit there without thinking I look like a sad fool. What's her secret? Just balls out and do it? I'm too shyyyyyy.  I've mastered loner movies, so why not dinner?  I think the secret is to sit outside, take a book, where sunglasses and own it. Ok I'll do it, but I'm not telling when or where to save myself some drive-bys. Nervous.

Pumpkin Cake

My aunt Carolyn made this for Drea and I on our last trip to California and it is one of my new favorite fall treats.  Best served cold with lots of whipped cream!

1 package angel food cake mix
1 29oz can pumpkin filling
1 1/2 tablespoons pumpkin pie spice
1 cup water

Mix all ingredients together, pour into a 9x13 non-greased baking dish and bake for 40 min at 350 degrees.  Let cool completely before serving, add whipped topping.

"...to hunger is to live, and even when we lose things that really matter, we can always taste, and in tasting, have our appetites restored."

-Tamara Adler

Single Serving Chocolate Chip Cookie

This is the best and worst thing I have ever found on the Internet.  Perfect to curb my new constant craving for a chocolate chip cookie....and no I wasn't eating this in bed so don't ask.  My mouth is waterrrriiiiiing...

1 tbsp melted butter

1 tbsp sugar

1 tbsp brown sugar

3 drops of vanilla

pinch of salt

1 egg yolk

1/4 cup flour

2 tbsp chocolate chips

Mix together in a deep bowl or mug and microwave for 40-60 seconds

Let's go

I was supposed to be on vacation right now. That's a depressing thought isn't it? Plans fell through and will hopefully start up again at a later date, but the thought of a vacation has already been implanted in my brain and I can't get it to go away, it's so bad in fact I OFFERED to go to Idaho. Idaho!

I spent the better part of my work day looking up flight fares for different destinations, trying to find which one would be the most practical right now and even if it's not I'll justify it! So far my top picks are San Francisco or Savannah, surprise surprise. Mmmm doesn't San Francisco sound amazing in the fall?? Jackets, scarves, boots, hats! Or that could just be my excitement for fall in general.  I've never been to Savannah, but in my mind it's always beautiful, slightly warm, green, sunny and perfectly southern. 

My next dilemma is finding a travel companion, San Francisco! Who's with me?

Dear Believer

Edward Sharpe and & Magnetic Zeros