Christmas tree time!

A leftover from Thanksgiving (not that kind, the pictorial kind)... a picture of my dad "lifting" me to top our family tree with the traditional angel.

What, a 26-year-old can't be lifted by her dear dad to decorate for Christmas?

I successfully messed with tradition!

Happy Monday after Thanksgiving!  Did everyone survive without suffering any charred turkeys, family quarrels, and shopping crowd-induced trampling?  Ha ha, I sure hope so! :)  This super extended weekend was just the way I like it to kick off the holiday season -- bustling!

It all started when relatives arrived on Wednesday afternoon from Illinois and Maryland for the Kemp tradition of baking homemade pizzas (8 of them!) the night before Thanksgiving.  Don't ask me how why we fill our stomachs with fluffy carby goodness on the eve of the biggest eating holiday of the year, but we do.  And it's delicious.  And tradition!  My ultimate favorite this year was topped with mushrooms and bacon... mmmm, I'm drooling just thinking about it now.  You must try it!

The turkey day feast was picturesque, including the best bird my mom has ever cooked (not that they aren't all good, this year's was just in a league of its own).  Look how perfectly golden that turkey is!

Black Friday

Headed out shopping today?  Take your armor...

Happy Thanksgiving!

"Thanksgiving was never meant to be shut up in a single day." -Robert Caspar Lintner

[painting by Norman Rockwell]

What a true statement -- be thankful every day!  I know I'm a little early on this, but there will be no blogging tomorrow in honor of spending as much quality time as I can with family :) So, please accept my early wishes to you for a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!  And know that I am so thankful for YOU and your many clicks and comments and general support!

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What's the one Thanksgiving food that you can't live without?  As delicious as turkey is, it's never the boss of my dinner plate.  For me, it's totally green bean casserole.  Can't get enough of that stuff.  And I'm in charge of it this year, so if all goes well, I'll be sharing the recipe with you next week!  Fingers crossed!

If I were hosting the big feast...

...these are some of the things you'd find on my table:

Gorgeous orange tulips, a la Ina Garten.  Just because it's November and dreary outside doesn't mean you can't feature sunny welcoming flowers on your Thanksgiving table.  I've always loved the clean simple look of tulips, and the bright color really livens up the table.

Start your ovens!

Another beautiful weekend and here we are, Monday of Thanksgiving week!  I can hardly wait to head home and see my family.  I'm not yet responsible for a full day's worth of special food, but I have managed to persuade my mom to help with a few things.  Whether you're the mastermind of the entire turkey-centric operation or just helping a bit here and there, I've got a few things you should definitely add to your Thursday menu.  Many can be prepared ahead of time, not one will break the bank, and all will keep your guests happy, satisfied, and thankful for such an amazing host.

Wizards and a self-made zombie

It seems like I was just walking out of a theater... oh wait, I was... about 5 hours ago.  Yep, I'm proud to admit that I joined friends at a midnight showing of some big movie last night this morning.  No spoilers, but the movie was awesome! and true to the books, win win.  (Totally worth the exhaustion and teensy bit of nausea I'm experiencing right now due to 3 hours of sleep.)

I love seeing movies in theaters and say that I don't do it often enough.  Even though the movie was a late one, that didn't stop me from satisfying my sweet tooth.  (Then again, what really could stop me from doing that?)  I was curious about snacking history and movies, so I did a little research...

Biscotti -- no longer just for coffee

There's something terribly unfortunate about the stigma that surrounds certain foods.  That they are only for holidays or fancy occasions.  Or meant to be carved in a very specific way.  Or only to be served with coffee.  Who are the people saying such things?  Are they in my kitchen preparing and spoon-feeding me said food?  [looks around]  I don't see anyone.  Well, except for that fork gnome.  Because that can be the only logical explanation after 5 salad forks have gone missing.  You can ignore him as I have for the last two and a half years.

Anyway, one such food that I've always felt carried an air of grandeur with it is biscotti.  Biscotti, translated from Italian, means twice baked.  So, it's not in the name.  And it's a rather easy cookie to make and bake, so no laborious process worthy of praise.  Then riddle me this -- why do people seem to treat it like something only to be enjoyed by royalty or others with an outstretched pinky finger?

Meatballs for everyone

Nothing puts a smile on my face quite like the sight of a fully stocked freezer.  (Okay, Penguins victories, anything pumpkin, a certain someone, time with family and friends... so, a few other things.)  But, with one quick glance, I know that I have a few round meals at my fingertips, ready with the addition of heat.  Yep, you guessed it, it's that time of year -- the big freeze!  No snow outside (yet), but the time of year when I start cooking and baking in slightly larger than normal quantities.

I can't tell you how nice it is to not have to scale down a recipe and work from original instructions.  I usually reserve enough for that night's dinner and the next day's lunch.  Since I don't want to eat [large quantity item] for three meals daily for the next week, I pop extras into the freezer.  You'd be amazed how many things you can freeze for later reheating: lasagna, enchiladas, sauces, soup, baked casseroles (mac and cheese, meatloaf), even cookies, baked or unbaked.  Perfect for weeknight meals when, surprise surprise, I'm ravenous after my daily workout.

Let's get to the highlight of this little entry -- the meatballs!

Oh, the weather outside is... disgusting!

If you're in the market for rain/snow/all weather boots, it seems like there are a plethora of fantastic resources now.  A few years ago, rain boots must not have been the hip thing to wear, so my choices were limited.  That being said, I love my bright green boots and wouldn't dream of trading them.  But, that doesn't mean a girl can't look... living in Pittsburgh should at least afford one the luxury of owning multiple pairs of rubber boots :)

Check out the huge selections at places like (direct links to their boots) Target, Zappos, and Piperlime, just to name a few.   Target really has the biggest and most reasonable selection, FYI.  Since I walk to work, I'm partial to the knee-high variety, giving me a few more inches of protection for my dress pants.  Plus, my greenies have done double duty as winter boots for years, keeping my feet dry and toasty warm (with the aid of a second pair of socks). 

Please allow me to share a few pairs that struck my fancy, because one can never own too many shoes, right?

[ModCloth, available here]

[also ModCloth, available here]

[Target, available here]

And last, a clever little invention called the Shuella -- an umbrella for your shoes.  I spotted one pair available at Target, so check there, but here is the deal.  They are plastic booties that wrap around your pair of flats or high heels, hitting at mid-calf.  (The aren't actually transparent, that's just merely to illustrate how they work.)  A zipper pouch comes with the Shuellas, for quick storage once you arrive at the office or destination.  The pink is a bit much for me, but the black is more subtle and could totally be practical.  Perfect for when you don't want to lug around those big boots.  What do you think?

One Year Ago: Homemade granola (coincidentally, a perfect shopping snack!)

"Beer me" that pumpkin butter, please!

Finally... a rejuvenating weekend!  Not that the last two weren't exciting and full of adventures, but this one featured the perfect balance of work and play without any travel at all.  Some shopping, dining, walking, chatting over a beloved salted caramel hot chocolate, and a healthy dose of lounging with two real sleep in mornings.  As much as I live for Thursday night TV, I missed it in favor of a movie, so it was nice to have something good to watch this weekend at my leisure.  How good were the shows this week?  Outsourced is growing on me, and 30 Rock and Community were hilarious as usual.  The Office has totally rebounded from last season's slightly lackluster year, in my opinion.   Not to give anything away if you're still behind, but some hilarious stills.  "Beer me, Jim."

As for the rest of the weekend?

Apple adventure #4: Quick ravioli dinner

Remember the little trip to a country farm when I bought a bag of apples the size of my torso?  I finished them off last week,  but I'm just now getting around to writing about it.  It's been a busy few weeks, and I've been trying to devote equal attention to all that pumpkin.  You'd never know it, but fall fruits and vegetables can be quite jealous of each other.  So much delicious produce, so little stomach space! 

Another item needing my attention is the awful excuse for hockey courtesy of my beloved Penguins.  Like I was saying yesterday, if there were a hockey equivalent of a cat lady, I'm quickly approaching it.  Nothing like sitting in your apartment alone, no lights on, curled up on the couch in sweats with a blanket and only a cowbell sitting in your lap.  And the grumbling that eventually evolved into yelling.  Yikes.  I'm starting to frighten myself just a bit.

Back to the source of this post's excitement, because it's sure as heck not hockey...

"Should I have a cookie?"

I offer up this simple decision-making tree when you find yourself asking such a question:

The future tastes like pumpkin bread!

If 10-year-old me could've traveled into the future and met the 26-year-old version of herself, the younger one would've been in for quite a few surprises.

First, she didn't grow up to be roughly five feet and seven inches tall, like her pediatrician promised based on her parents' heights.  Luckily, only two or so years were wasted developing useless basketball talents :)  Second, "Katharine Kemp" cannot be found among past winners engraved on the women's Wimbledon trophy.  Drat.  Third, my once board-straight light blond hair morphed, sometime during puberty, into a super curly light brown mop.

Together, those are some pretty big differences for a little (and big) kid to grasp, mostly because two were appearance-changing.  But none of them would've startled 10-year-old me quite like this last one -- 2010 Katy loves pumpkin.  Pumpkin soup.  Pumpkin pie.  Pumpkin seeds.  Pumpkin pie oatmeal (oh yes, the obsession only grows stronger).  Pumpkin brownies.  You get the idea.  All things pumpkin.

Greeting card brainstorms

Last night, I saw my first Christmas-themed commercial of the year.  I'm a little embarrassed that I can't even recall what the clip was advertising... probably because I squealed and said, out loud, "Christmas season!"  True story.

So, naturally, my mind started racing with thoughts of the holidays and thus greeting cards.  Frankly, I can't believe it's taken this long.  Last year, I had ideas for a holiday card in (gulp) early September.  It's not as if I'm decorating for Christmas then, it's just that hand-made cards take some time.  Though I'm still in a DIY phase at this point in my life, I am loving the look of these designs, to name a few:

[available here]

And look closely at the names on this card.  Uh, awesome:

Apple adventure #3: Breakfast apple granola crisp

 [enjoyed with a slice of pumpkin bread... coming later this week]

Hey, weekend!  It's me, Katy, calling -- please come back!  Somehow, even with an extra hour due to daylight savings time, the past two days seemed to fly by so quickly that I could barely get a glimpse of them.  But oh, it was a good one, very busy.  I went home and had a nice little day trip to Ohio (and some snow flurries!) with my mom and sister on Saturday.  Walking, talking, shopping, eating... you know the drill :)

Scored some homemade spinach basil garlic pasta and tomato jam (as delicious as it sounds), and an adorable wooden penguin Christmas decoration.  The highlight?  Lunch at Popeye's where we all ordered signature one-bite sundaes for dessert.  You know how I love all things mini, ahem. 

[for comparison's sake]

So, Saturday was a blast, and Sunday was hectic but productive.  I was so amped about getting an extra hour of sleep and somehow sleep was the last thing on my list this weekend.  What did you do with the extra hour this weekend?  It was one of those weekends that my mood and well-being desperately depended on energizing meals.  Because, as I'm sure you know, there is nothing worse than being on a trip to a new place and hitting a wall... that 3 o'clock in the afternoon "I can't possibly walk to another store or try on another sweater" feeling.  That "I just want to sit down" plea.  When the only time you find yourself actually sitting is to eat.

Anyway, because we left so early on Saturday, I didn't get a chance for a big breakfast.  Basically, I was kicking myself for making such an awesome breakfast crisp on Thursday night and then abandoning it for the weekend.  Luckily, I did enjoy some for a late dessert on Thursday night and a big bowl for Friday's breakfast.  (Worry not, for this didn't go to waste.  Matt took the liberty of enjoying it this weekend while I was away.  What a sweet guy, huh?)

This dish is straight up apple crisp adapted for breakfast time.  And, as a bonus, it used up the last of the apples from the originally 10 pound stash.  It's easy and hearty and makes for a perfect wake-up treat if you're having overnight guests.  The apples are spiced just like they would be in any sweet apple dessert and softened in the oven for devouring later.  The granola topping, well, is just brilliant.  Packed with flavors -- shredded coconut, chopped almonds and walnuts, oats, all tossed with maple syrup -- it bakes into a crunchy and chewy topping.  Talk about energy, folks.  So much better than cereal and those wimpy pre-packaged sad excuses for breakfast bars.  Make this on a weekend and enjoy breakfast for the week.  Your weekday morning routine won't know what hit it!

But, hey, don't let me dissuade you from enjoying this if there isn't a jam-packed day in your future.  It's so cozy and delicious that it'd be a perfect preface to curling up on the couch for a weekend vacant of any plans at all.  As of right now, it's looking like this upcoming weekend is wide open without any plans at all.  And, I think (fingers crossed) I will be able to wake up whenever my body is good and ready... without the aid of an alarm clock.  I can't even tell you the last time I did that.  But, you know, if you aren't so lucky and do indeed have plans, this dish is packed full of energy for all of the busy bees in the world.  Just don't expect me to join you this time :)

A few notes: This reheats later marvelously.  Just scoop out a serving and microwave for a minute or two until toasty.  Also, the original recipe called for honey where I used maple syrup -- if you don't have real maple syrup (the fake stuff won't cut it), use honey.  I just wanted a deeper flavor that the maple could provide.  Finally, use whatever nuts you have, whether one kind or a mix.  Chopped pecans would work nicely, too.


Breakfast Apple Granola Crisp
(with a few changes, from Smitten Kitchen)

3 pounds of apples (I used a pie mix of slightly sweet and firm, but use whatever you like), peeled, cored, and cut into medium chunks
2 Tablespoons of lemon juice
3 Tablespoons granulated sugar
1/2 cup + 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, divided
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Salt
1 stick (8 Tablespoons = 1/2 cup) unsalted butter
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
2 cups old-fashioned oats
1/4 cup walnuts, roughly chopped
1/4 cup almonds, roughly chopped
1/2 cup shredded coconut (sweetened or unsweetened will do)

Preheat oven to 400F.  In a large bowl, toss apple chunks with lemon juice, sugar, 1/4 cup flour, cinnamon and a pinch of salt until apples are well-coated.  Pour into a 9x13-inch baking dish.

In a medium saucepan, melt the butter with the maple syrup.  Stir in the remaining 1/2 cup of flour, oats, almonds and walnuts, coconut and another pinch of salt, until clumps form.  Sprinkle oat mixture evenly over the apple mixture.  Cover dish with aluminum foil.

Bake in the oven for 45 to 55 minutes, or until the apples are bubbly.  If the granola begins to brown too soon, cover the baking dish carefully with foil and return to oven for remaining time.

Serve warm immediately or allow to cool completely.  Store, covered with plastic wrap, in fridge for up to 5 days.  Eat straight out of the fridge, perhaps topped with some morning yogurt, or warm it up for a cozier breakfast.

Apple adventure #2 & get me dinner... STAT!

Friday... already!?  This week flew right by me.  Make no mistake -- I'm not complainin', just sayin'.  I'm usually looking forward to and planning every last detail of my days, so when the weekend sneaks up like this, well, it's a pleasant surprise.  Katy - 0, Father Time - 1.  Dare I say it was almost a surprise Friday phenomenon :)  How was your week?

I had grand plans for the truckload of apples I brought home from Trax.  Really!  The first being the so simple and amazingly delicious frittata, which would make a fantastic brunch or lunch dish for the weekend.  The second was going to be this stuffed pork loin.  And then I read the directions and comments more closely.  Other cooks warning that the stuffing wasn't quite right and the meat was dry.  Lots of prep and a minimum of 90 minutes in the oven.  That meant that I'd be sitting down to eat dinner around 8:00, at the earliest, and that wasn't kosher with just-got-home-from-the-gym-ravenous me.  In that 2 hours, I can safely bet that I'd have ingested at least 2 granola bars, some Halloween Oreos with milk, and maybe a bowl of cereal.  The result?  No longer hungry.

Don't throw out those pumpkin seeds!

Halt!  Don't take one more step toward that trash can/compost pile.  Put down those pumpkin seeds, for they are like diamonds in the rough.  (Aladdin reference, anyone?)

 
Sure, just scooped from the pumpkin cavity the seeds are slimy and mixed with orange fibrous strands.  But, after a quick washing and drying, they are prime for dressing to eventually enjoy as a tasty treat.  I was thinking that I should do a post of various uses for pumpkin seeds, once separated from their original home, but someone beat me to it.  Who am I to go to the effort step on someone's toes who has done a magnificent job of putting together a slideshow? :)

Funny Fred

Woke up today with a smile on my face because I am SO happy to say farewell to the onslaught of awful political ads... hooray!  Time for some juvenile has-nothing-to-do-with-the-election fun.  Currently obsessed with all things made by Fred.  I have a generic mp3 player that I love because it has worked swimmingly for almost 6 years now (take that, disposable Apple products!).  I've never wanted an iPod until I saw this little toy.  A mini plunger!!! (squeal)

[seen here]

Apple adventure #1: Frittata

Happy Tuesday and election day, friends!  I can't believe it's November already.  In fact, I was in denial yesterday, the first day of November, writing "10/10" on papers at work.  Woops.  Brain fart.

But, you'd never know it was November, anyway, because Christmas decorations are out in full force!  I know I sound like an old lady saying this, but doesn't it seem like stores put out holiday items earlier and earlier?  I spotted some in Target the week BEFORE Halloween!  What the what?!  Why does fall get skipped and ignored?  Though I'll admit that winter is my favorite season, I do love fall for mainly two reasons: 1) photographic opportunities, and 2) edible possibilities due to the harvest.  Obviously!

Remember the field trip that prompted me to purchase 10 pounds of apples?  We had such a great day, and I was so excited to have that bag of fruit.  But now, folks, it's time to see what this little cook can do with a half peck of fall's greatest in her kitchen.  I'm really glad I forced myself to do a little homework and jot down a few recipes that showcased apples before the drive out into the country.  If I hadn't, I'd either be a) eating apples with every meal, or b) making seventy-plus trips to the grocery store this week to pick up supplemental ingredients to use up the apples.  At least that mile walk to and from the grocery store is good exercise, right?

How to: Make stuffed burgers

How was your Halloween?  Hopefully you've made it to today, all saints day.  I had a busy weekend playing woodswoman... gotta love Dad's giant mechanical toys!  Though all of that hard work outside and inside was rewarded with heaping piles of candy, cinnamon rolls, and home-cooked meals.  My parents and I experimented with pulled pork for the first time; not only was it super easy, but incredibly delicious... I will definitely be making this in the coming weeks, as it seems like a perfect belly-filling warm winter meal :)

I wanted to share with you a meal that I made last week.  It hardly constitutes a recipe, but more a technique than anything else.  Stuffed burgers!  I've seen exotic versions made on Food Network challenges and enjoyed the thought of it.  I even had a plan to finish the mozzarella cheese and chopped sun-dried tomatoes left from the lasagna roll-ups and stew... no waste here.  But, actually making stuffed burgers myself?  This type-A girl would go crazy if the burgers weren't uniform.  That's where a completely ordinary household item came to the rescue...