We're movin on up . . .

Under the advice of the great, all knowing Gabrielle, I am now moving my "cooking" blogging (or let's be realistic, and say the majority of my cooking blogging) over to my Jacob's Kitchen site. I am hoping that this will motivate me to resume using this space to actually write, just like I did way back in the olden days... imagine that. So check in on my cooking progress over there from time to time.

Lately, I have gotten a lot (and I do mean A LOT) of joy from making and photographing food (as you have probably noticed). And since the discovery of the "macro" setting on my camera... well let's just say, the world will never again be the same. There is just something so concrete and tangible, but also sort of magical, about making something so temporal, and being able to capture it and make it into something lasting. The food itself does most all of the work. I just point and click. And while I totally understand that I am the lowest form of amateur photographer, I don't know why, but taking pictures of food is making me super happy these days. So I am spending a good portion of my free time testing some new recipes, and trying to capture them on film. And for now, that is just about as good as it gets.

Lentil Soup (a.k.a. Jacob's Lentil Mash)

A hearty and healthy mix of lentils, broccoli, cauliflower, okra, zucchini, tomatoes, celery, onions, garlic, spinach, chicken stock, and Indian spices (curry powder, garam masala, cumin, mustard, and fennel seeds...and a little pimentón, just for fun)

Grape and Rosemary Focaccia

Please Sir, can I have S'more. . .

S'more Brownies

Vegetarian Sandwich

Blueberry Muffins

Chewy Coconut Macadamia Nut Bars

Sandwiches

Ham and Cheese

Roast Beef and Cheese (on wheat)

Roast Turkey and Cheese

Chicken Salad
(with fuji apples, grapes, celery, slivered almonds and tarragon)

Granola Bars

Oatmeal Raisin Pecan Cookies

Crumb Cake

Cheese Danish

Sticky Buns

Orange Marmalicious

Irish Soda Bread

Carrot Cake

Eggstatic

(Gabrielle's glamorous Martha Stewart Tree)

Sector 9 Update

My curtains are finally done! They add some drama and luxury to the room. I have had that bolt of fabric in the back of my closet for four years now (I bought the whole bolt on super sale for $13 at a going out of business sale, and knew that i would some day put it to good use). It is so nice to see them up and my room feeling a little more complete. Sigh. Oh curtains... why you so good to me? Now I just have to find some tie backs that I actually like, and all will be fabulous with the world! (note: the flash on my jenk camera makes them look a little more golden and less a rich emerald green, but you get the idea...jeez.)

Sector 9

When we first got our house, my bedroom was little more than a graffiti riddled, primer gray, skate park of a disaster area, which we lovingly referred to as "Sector 9" (which had been inexplicably spray painted on the wall by the previous owner). Slowly but surely we have moved through the house, room by room, and revamped this fixer upper, and Sector 9 finally got its turn. Here are some of the before and after pictures. Granted, it is still a work in design process, and my curtains still need to be sewn (though I have all of the fabric and trim for them) and I need to purchase a few more accessories, but you get the general idea.