Honey, Whiskey & Strawberries

How sweet it is... strawberries, honey, butter & whiskey all on top of a flaky puff pastry. Straight up strawberry seduction. That's all that is. Lucky me, I seduced an amazing photographer into documenting my impulsive behavior...

I have to preface this recipe with one rule: you're only allowed to make this during strawberry season. Otherwise, save yourself the disappointment and just drink the whiskey.

Strawberry Honey Jack Pastry

• 1 - 2 pints of the sweetest organic Camarosa strawberries you can find, sliced
• 1 - 2 shots of Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey
• 1 - 2 Tbsp of your favorite local honey (if you can find it)
• Approximately 1/2 tsp sweet cream butter
• 1 sheet of frozen puff pastry

Preheat the oven and prepare the puff pastry according to the package directions. Meanwhile, warm up a small sauté pan on medium low for 1-2 minutes. Use just enough butter to coat the pan; add the strawberries and a shot of whiskey (more if you're feeling frisky).

Stir the strawberries gently and continue to heat on medium low for 5-7 minutes. Place the puff pastry on a plate and top with strawberry whiskey goodness. Drizzle with honey. Be saucy about it, please.

Enjoy yourself & don't be surprised if you get a little out of control. I did.

Life Changes & Tacos

Once again it feels like I am beginning a new chapter in life (wtf, enough already). Despite my tendency to be cranky about changes, I am as grateful as the horizon is wide.

This is the view from my new neighborhood - sunset after a rain storm reminiscent of the east coast.

I am at the end of my first weekend in my new home. Most of what I have is still in boxes (most of what I have is still in a storage unit on the east coast), but more importantly I am grateful. I am grateful it rained this weekend versus last weekend while I was moving; I am grateful for my cozy, bright kitchen in my sweet little beach bungalow; I am grateful for the generosity of the beautiful people who helped me get here (with a lovely new collection of dishes, eating utensils, and cute Ikea storage containers); I am grateful for the little Mexican store across the street where they make the tiniest little tortillas, so I can make tiny little tacos for my super cute friends.

breakfast-for-dinner-tacos + mango avocado salsa

breakfast-for-dinner tacos deconstructed

 My friends are so cute - they came over and dolled me up for a vintage housewife photo shoot in my new kitchen while I made tacos (like a nice southern Californian vintage housewife).

"Do vintage housewives make tacos?"

"In southern California, they do."

We were banking on shrimp tacos, but I spent all my money moving and making ends meet, and there was no more money in the pot. Fortunately, I spend my Saturdays working at a charming little farm stand, and when I hang around colorful, luscious produce all day, I spend what little money I have left on the most necessary and/or seductive options.

The menu of my first beach bungalow dinner party included breakfast-for-dinner tacos with fried eggs, cabbage carrot slaw, avocado, and salsa fresca. We also had mango avocado salsa, made with some seriously seductive mangoes. They were so sweet and juicy, it was freaking inappropriate. The girls found cane sugar Coca Cola & rice pudding at the little Mexican store across the street, so we had sweet beverages and a sweet dessert to top it all off. It was so so dang delicious!

Beach bungalow dinner party #1

Let me just say, I am so easily torn apart by life changes, I don't know how I would have made it through this weekend without such wonderful friends. What is life without friends and food? and music? I should mention, the soundtrack to the photo shoot was provided by the most lovely, Zee Avi.

So, to all my friends, far and wide, please know how much you mean to me. I cherish the gifts and the memories more than you know... I only wish we could all get together for tacos more often. <3