Last night signaled the end of an era.

When I first moved to the city eight years ago, I was somehow lucky enough to immediately secure a tight group of girlfriends.  Apple Crisp and I were besties from college, as were Vert and Frites. All of us graduated under the Dome in ’03 and somehow all came together in Chicago that same summer of ’07. Legume and Fava rounded out our group of six, and by August we were all having weekly drinks at Matisse, which was, back then, a neighborhood haunt for us all.

At that point, only Vert of us was married, and only just. Apple Crisp and Apple Pie were dating, but he hadn’t put a ring on it yet.  Legume, Frites, Fava and I were all flying solo, and ever week we’d meet over martinis in a very Sex and the City-ish way to discuss jobs, boys, and navigating our shiny new city.

When we met, we were suffering through unemployment, unfulfilling first jobs, law firm slavery and 24-hour residencies.  Making too much with no time to spend it, or not enough and too much time to notice it.

Looking around the table last night, it was very clear how much had changed. Apple Crisp and Apple Pie, now married with two apple treats of their own, were unpacking box after box in their new suburban house.  The Verts were there, also rearing two kids, one starting Kindergarten this fall.  The Legumes had just hit four years of wedded bliss, and the Frites still exhibited the newlywed glow from their wedding a few months ago.

And we all came together to say goodbye to one of our own. Fava is moving to Denver next week and in an effort to clean out her pantry, had us all over for dinner one last time.

Now, if you’re like a normal person, this would mean possibly some chili, saltines, a lackluster pasta dish or stir-fry veggies and rice.  Not Fava.  In typical fashion, she served up a five-course Italian feast, complete with wine pairings, which she joked was a bribe to get us to come visit her.  Not that any of us needed any convincing, but the promise of a good Fava meal upon arrival would most definitely be gravy.

So, today’s post is a little different. Rather than one tried and true recipe, a menu for recreating your own Italian dinner party, complete with wine pairings.  There are a few recipes that Fava gave me, but like so many good cooks, she doesn’t have exact measurements, but rather lists of ingredients.  Measure to taste and you might just do as good of a job as Fava did last night. Something to which we can all aspire. (more…)

While the internet can make many an enemy, it can also make some friends. As such, today’s musings are part of a guest post I wrote for Justine over at Just Haves. I’d like to thank her for the opportunity, and hope that you’ll head over and check out today’s recipe after I get through my own stream of consciousness in a little diversion from all things Caribbean.

As hard as I try to channel the easy, breezy, lazy days of the summer of my youth, I’m bad at it. Horrible, really. When the temps rise and the city busts to life, it’s hard for me to not book every single waking moment of the week. Over the fall I’m better about giving myself a “NO!” day, but this summer so far I get a big fat F+. It’s because I’m not a NO girl, I’m a YES girl, and before I know it volleyball, dinners with friends, multiple book clubs, blogger events, and random comings and goings have left these last few weeks with nary a day for rest. All my own fault, but I think summer should be easy!

Dessert surely can be. While most love a good summer fruit pie (except me and Allison…we’re anti-pie…), that can be a lot of work. Crusts involve pulsing, rolling, cutting…patience. Cakes are admittedly always nice, but often times, at least in my world, involve lots of steps…baking, cooling, whipping, frosting…So when I was trying to settle on the perfect dessert recipe for Justine’s post, and for every summer picnic table, after talking to my culinary consultant team, I settled on pound cake. (more…)

With warmer temps, most of us seems to shy away from the uber rich, over the top extravagant desserts and cookies to which we all gravitate during the cooler months (side note: not in my house.  Hot chocolate every night this week and David Lebovitz’s ultra decadent chocolate spice cake on my table last week). Anyway, MOST people opt for the cobblers bursting with fresh berries, cakes garnished simply with fresh whipped cream or ice cream treats made every which way. Slaving away in the kitchen is at the bottom of all our to-do lists. But we still need cookies, right? So here are some new ones- Chilean chocolate raspberry cocadas. 

(more…)