Aisle Twelve

I love herbs not only because they taste good but because they look so beautiful.  If you handed me a bouquet of sage and mint and rosemary, I think I would be just as happy as if you handed me a bunch of roses.  Herbs compliment so many savory and sweet dishes and even drinks.  To me, an herb garden is enough. In this year's garden I have chives, parsley, basil, dill, oregano, thyme, cilantro and mint. Notes:  never, ever under any circumstances plant mint into the ground unless you want an entire yard of it...and your neighbors... Yes I learned this the hard way. Also, annual herbs like dill and cilantro must be picked regularly or they become too tall, flower and go to seed making the plant obsolete - unless you're looking for coriander and dill seed. If you see a flower on the top of dill, cilantro or basil, pick them off immediately to encourage growth. Happy gardening!

I pass by my cookbook shelf multiple times a day, but something today made me stop and appreciate it. Maybe its the fact that most of my recipes today come off of Pinterest and it is rare that I actually take down a cookbook, open it up and cook from it. Truth is, I like to read cookbooks the way most people read regular books. When I find one I like I get that excited, can't wait to rip into this baby, feeling. I read it from cover to cover, flagging recipes I want to try along the way. And although I know you can't judge a book by its cover, I can't help but fall in love with the vintage colors and designs of "antique" cookbooks. I also find that those have the best recipes. Tried and true. So sad to think that one day, books will just be a thing of the past. All the more reason to stop and enjoy the beauty of this little cookbook collection.

Life just gets so darn busy. Before you know it, it's five months into the new year and you haven't had a single blog post. That's why when it is your turn to host wine night, you need a fabulous appetizer with minimal effort and clean up. These brie bites are just that. They are a cinch to make and taste great. This is an idea I saw on Pinterest, but was too busy (read: lazy) to get the exact measurements out so I kind of winged it. There is no real measurements to this recipe, just go on your instincts and it will taste great. What could be better than that? Brie Bites 2 packages philo cups (find in freezer section next to philo sheets) 8 oz brie 1/4 cup walnuts honey Preheat oven according to package. In each cup, place about an inch square of brie. Top with walnuts and a good drizzle of honey. Bake according to package and serve warm. That's it. Really, you can't mess it up - it will taste delicious.