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We went to the first Stanford football game of the season yesterday and they killed it, 52-17. Nate is uberexcited about this season…and us girls are just going along for the ride. I’ll admit, it’s fun stuff. Go Stanford! As you can see, the Maynard girls like to wear their Stanford cardinal red…with a little [...]
Guess how many posts I’ve written on this here blog…here, I’ll tell you… Yes, one thousand. That is just crazy to me. So, what are we going to do for the big 1-0-0-0? We are NOT going to talk about food. How about that? It just so happens that the post I planned for today [...]
My favorite margherita pizza is from Bertucci’s, an Italian restaurant chain in the Northeast that also happens to have the best dinner rolls around. Mmmm…I need a roll. But I digress…for the last 11 years or so I’ve been trying to replicate their margherita pizza. I’ve come to terms with the fact I never will, [...]
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again…freezer jam is the best, for two important reasons: It tastes amazing, fresh, delicious, wonderful…did I mention fresh and amazing? It’s so easy to make. I mean EASY. And it’s easy to store, too. No canning necessary, just pop in a tupperware or jar or whatever you have [...]
This peach jam is taunting me this morning. Begging to be eaten. But I can’t. It’s not ready. Word of advice: when you make jam that needs to sit for 24 hours before eating, make it in the MORNING so that the next morning you can actually eat it…in the MORNING. Mmmmm….doesn’t it look good? [...]
I am finally writing about the spice from this week’s menu post. As some of you guessed, it is annatto seed, also called achiote seed. And I made adobo chicken with it. And it was GOOD. Nate came home one day saying how good the adobo chicken at work is, so I started searching for [...]
I’m doing something today I never do. I’m recycling a recipe AND a photo. But I just feel like I NEED to. The warm weather calls for it and, since I first wrote about this recipe, there are a lot more of you reading this here blog. I’m saddened to think you may have missed [...]
Okay, you may be thinking the title of this post is nuts, since summer is over. Apparently Mother Nature doesn’t think so. After a downright cold summer here in the Bay Area, the last two days (including the first day of school) have been steamy hot. What the? So, despite the fact I’m annoyed I [...]
I visited one of my favorite spots yesterday and bought this… If you can tell us what spice (or, more accurately, seed) it is, you win the Spice Queen/King title for the day! And if you don’t know what it is, you’ll find out soon enough…I’m trying a new recipe this week involving this beautiful [...]
I’m finally sitting down to write about the 2010 Avery SocialLuxe Lounge. Ah, SocialLuxe. Even now, two weeks later, I don’t know where to begin! The party was a-maaaaaay-zing. Our sponsors were wonderful, the location was off the HOOK, and throwing the party with Allison Czarnecki and Marie LeBaron was by far and away the [...]
Today the girls and I trekked north 1 1/2 hours to visit the Jelly Belly factory and go on their free tour. If you live in or visit Northern California, this is definitely a fun thing to do with the kids! And, come to think of it, it’s fun for all ages! My favorite part [...]
Good morning! Here, have a fresh blueberry muffin. It’s looking like all is calm on the blogging front. Sorry for all the malware fire drills the last two weeks. Nate said I should give another update and explain what happened. Basically, because I’m on a shared server, I was hacked. Both times it happened, we caught [...]
I know, I know…how can someone be in love with dish soap? Here’s how: I finally bought myself an olive oil dispenser to put my dish soap in. I’ve been wanting to get one of these for years and finally thought about it while I was simultaneously standing in a store that sold them. I was honestly [...]
Just a quick message…the red screen of fear popped up again today in regards to my site having malware. There is no malware. The site is safe. My developer has sworn on a stack of WordPress bibles that we’re good to go. Google blacklisted me again this afternoon, so we just have to {not so [...]
This sandwich looks good, right? I mean, downright delicious? Tell that to Padma Lakshmi. This post is about redemption, folks. Defending my culinary honor! While I was at BlogHer last weekend, I had the opportunity to compete in a sandwich competition held by Hillshire Farms and Padma Lakshmi, host of Top Chef. We had 2 [...]
Are you sick to death of my pictures of grilled corn and barbecue chicken? Well, lucky for you this is the last post with these pictures! I’m finally going to talk about the grilled corn on the cob that my soon-to-be brother-in-law Norman cooked up on Cape Cod. Until I ate the corn in this [...]
My mom is making dinner as I write this post and she just set this bowl of fruit dip on the table. I love visiting my parents’ and my grandparents’ homes and seeing dishes that have been around longer than me still getting used on a regular basis. I wonder which bowls I’ll serve to [...]
Hello everyone! First order of business: This website is SAFE and now Google knows it and you shouldn’t get that awful scary screen telling you This Week for Dinner might be harmful to your computer. Rest assured, it’s all good. The only damage you’ll get from this site will be a hit to the hips [...]
After much convincing, I’ve wrangled a sort-of recipe from my future brother-in-law Norman for his barbecue hot wings. He prides himself on his secret chicken wings recipe…but I suppose the desire to get on the blog overcame that pride. He even took these shots of the prep process for me since I didn’t have my [...]
Yesterday was a sad day. We had to pack up and leave the Cape. Total bummer. The week was fantastic and included this fresh corn on the cob and spicy grilled chicken wings (recipes to come if I can wrangle them from my soon-to-be brother-in-law). This week is going to be nutso banana pants CRAZY. [...]
Cape Cod and ice cream go hand in hand. I think every town on the Cape has an ice cream shop, most often selling homemade ice cream and with a loyal following claiming that that particular ice cream shop is the best on the Cape. Our family visits Ice Cream Sandwich in Sandwich, MA every year. [...]
Even though SocialLuxe Lounge is next week and causing a few grey hairs to sprout on my head each day, this week has been unbelievably wonderful and relaxing. We’ve hardly done a thing. Just the way I like it. I lost my camera cord. Actually, more accurately, my sister-in-law lost my mom’s camera cord, because I forgot [...]
It is so good to be back on the Cape. I love being steps away from the beach. I love seeing my girls’ hair get curlier by the minute in the ocean air. I love the weathered cedar siding, everywhere you look. I love watching my children’s childhood memories being created, unfolding in beautiful ways. [...]
And we’re off! Tomorrow morning, the girls and I are boarding a 6 AM flight…which means I’m getting out of bed in about 5 hours. Ugh. I haven’t posted much this week, which I would like to blame on the upcoming Avery SocialLuxe Lounge, which has officially taken over my life (in a good way…I [...]
When Nate and I were in Berlin a few summers ago, the hotel we stayed in served the most amazing breakfast every morning. One of the items they served was Kaiserschmarrn, or Emperor’s Pancakes, a traditional Austrian dessert…which happens to be very delicious as a breakfast or brunch food. The version our hotel served was [...]
First off, if you voted for This Week for Dinner in the BlogLuxe Awards, thank you! We are one of the Top 5 Finalists for the Tastiest category! Yea! Thank you thank you thank you for voting. The winners will be announced at the Avery SocialLuxe Lounge on August 5. Everyone cross your fingers for [...]
It’s so close I can taste the salt air… On Friday we fly out East for our annual weeklong family vacation on Cape Cod. I can’t tell you how excited I am to get to this beautiful place. And be with both sides of our family. And eat like calories don’t count. MONDAY: - Spaghetti [...]
Since it’s too darn hot to cook in the kitchen, how about we hit the grill? Nate bought a tri tip roast a few weeks ago, a food item we had never cooked before. I browsed a bunch of tri tip recipes and we went for it…with great success! Our tri tip roast came out [...]
Last week I had the wonderful opportunity to visit Thermador’s gallery kitchens in Scottsdale, AZ. Thermador is a luxury kitchen appliance maker that has been around for years and years and years. Julia Child had Thermador appliances, which automatically makes me want them more. Last week Thermador announced their new steam convection oven to a [...]
When I went to my pastry chef friend Faye’s bread making class (which I still need to write about – I’m such a slacker!), she used instant yeast and said it’s the only kind she uses. Since I do anything Faye tells me to do (at least with baking!), I hopped on over to Smart [...]
I love summer. The light is always just right. And drinking fountains abound. Too bad we still have to eat and I still have to plan a menu every week! Actually, this week is kind of nice…no traveling of any kind. A little break before more travel madness ensues next week! Sorry for the multiple [...]
I just got back from a quick but jam-packed-with-food-sun-and-fun trip to Scottsdale, Arizona, compliments of Thermador. Thermador unveiled their new steam & convection oven to a group of food and lifestyle bloggers, as opposed to traditional media in NYC. It was the first time they launched a product this way and I felt honored to [...]
The recipe I’m about to give you is dangerously delicious. If you like baked beans, you’ll LOVE these. I made them for the 4th of July and they were a hit, even with my most-of-the-time-vegetarian friend. Thanks to my mom’s sisters who introduced me to this baked beans recipe to begin with. I have no [...]
Today is a sad day. “My” Lincoln MKT is being taken away from me. Yeah, yeah, I know “Ford” actually “owns” the car and I also know that I was perfectly aware that I would “only” have it for two weeks, but I’m still mad at the {very nice} dudes who are driving to my [...]
Happy 4th of July! I know, I know. A menu on a holiday? And I expect you to plan on a holiday? This website is hard core, people. Okay, not really. Enjoy your day! But, if you DO have a menu, share it! And if you don’t, no worries – I won’t start harping on you [...]
Don’t you hate it when you see plums at the grocery store and buy a whole bunch because you think you’re going to eat them all then you take them home and they sit and sit and you eat maybe 2 and then feel guilty throwing the rest away? Yeah, me too. Which is why [...]
Last week I attended The Evolution of Women in Social Media conference (Evo ‘10) in Park City, hosted by two of my dearest blogging friends, Rachael Herrscher from Today’s Mama and Jyl Johnson Pattee from MomItForward. Before I say anything else, I have to recognize Rachael and Jyl for the amazing women that they are. [...]
Because this is a food blog and I need to desperately talk about some food…first things first. My last night in Salt Lake we dropped by Bruges Waffles and Frites for “dinner” (yes, we had dessert for dinner). These Liège waffles were seriously to die for. They have these big old sugar crystals throughout and [...]
I’m a co-hostess for the Avery SocialLuxe Lounge, which will be held on August 5 in New York City! Each year we announce the winners of the BlogLuxe Awards at the party…and last year I was honored to be a winner in the Tastiest category, along with one of my most favorite people in the [...]
Don’t these lollypops make you happy? They were decoration (and tasty treat!) at the food workshop I was a part of at Evo ‘10. People snagged all of the lollypops except the orange and turquoise ones. I thought that was kind of funny. I think there were 10 of that color left at the end [...]
I’m currently at the Evo ‘10 Conference and having a blast…I mean, working really, really hard. I have lots to report on, but for now I just want to show you what I found at the Waldorf Astoria tonight. I’m pretty sure I know where they got that idea…I do have to say they may have [...]
I recently attended a family reunion where my cousin Jamie served cucumber water. I don’t think I actually drank any…I don’t know why…but when I threw my party a few week ago, I decided to give the cucumber water a whirl. I don’t know what my guests thought, but I loved it. It was very [...]
I’m feeling pretty passionate about my salt and pepper lately. So I think I need to tell you about it. First, I’m loving kosher salt. I love the coarser texture it has versus table salt and, unlike a salt grinder, I don’t break my hand getting enough to use in recipes. I’ve been using it in [...]
Happy Father’s Day! Nate requested Indian food, so I’m making Murgh Makhani (Butter Chicken) today. I can’t wait to eat it myself! We’re having a combined Father’s Day-Birthday celebration for Nate today, and he’s requested Strawberry Shortcake for his birthday cake. I’ve never made traditional strawberry shortcake before, so if anyone has a good recipe [
It’s Friday. And Friday is all about slacking off, taking it easy, getting ready for the weekend. So, let’s discuss meal planning slackerness in honor of this the greatest day of the week. My dear friend Emily (whom I have mentioned before and is the reason I discovered and started blogging) just had a beautiful [...]
I’m super excited about my guest post on Make and Takes today. I made homemade roasted roma tomatoes for the first time and loved it! Not only were they easy and very tasty, but I really had fun photographing them! Big thanks to Faye and Ginger, who both commented on my menu post this week suggesting [...]
Remember this Spanish-inspired nut tart? I am finally sharing the recipe with you! This one is pretty gourmet…which means I didn’t actually make this recipe…I just ate it. But it was delicious, so I have to share it with you just the same. I had the pleasure of enjoying this nut tart about a month [...]
I have 12 roma tomatoes. What should I do with them? I’m thinking some caprese salad. Maybe a Tuscan bread salad? Or maybe something you suggest…hint, hint. Last week was the very busy last week of school, among other things. I only made one thing on my menu plan, mostly because we never made it to [...]
In addition to all of the amazing desserts at my little party for my friends, I had some pretty fun recipes to work with as well. As I mentioned in the original party post, Calphalon and Williams-Sonoma gave me two beautiful non-stick skillets and Michael Symon’s debut cookbook, Live to Eat. I used a few [...]
