Toad in the Hole

Finally, after what seems like months and months of oppressive, swampy DC heat - we’ve been able to enjoy a couple of days around 80 degrees.  That must mean that it’s time for some comfort food!!

Martha calls this dish, Baked Savory Pudding with Sausage and Tomatoes, but it’s known to everyone else as Toad in the Hole.  Oh, you haven't heard of Toad in the Hole?  Neither had my husband.  'Pudding?' He asked.  'And sausage?' From his look of disgust, he clearly thought it was going to be some type of vanilla pudding with sausage.  I had a good laugh and then explained it's sausages baked in Yorkshire Pudding.  Martha gussies up the traditional recipe by adding some tomatoes and scallions, but I decided to stick by the tried and true version as it’s renowned for being a child friendly recipe.  Plus, it's super easy. 

I used my ever-handy iron skillet to brown the sausages,

And then added the Yorkshire Pudding.  The recipe couldn't be easier!

Pop it in the oven until it's browned.

 Serve it with some brown gravy and et voila!

We had a friend over for dinner who had never heard of Toad in the Hole or Yorkshire Pudding and she loved it, as did Ben.  As for Benjamin... well, he did not.

Ali

Zucchini's Last Stand

Okay, I promise this is my last zucchini post.  I know, three posts dedicated to using up my zucchini is quite enough, especially when one considers how few posts we've had overall this summer, but these two sweet zucchini recipes were really good so I feel the need to share. 

First I made a classic zucchini nut bread http://www.marthastewart.com/341354/zucchini-nut-bread.  The things I liked about this recipe were that it was simple, didn't require sifting dry ingredients or even really mixing them in a separate bowl, and made two loaves which is good because I was able to put nuts in one and leave one without for the kids.

After having tried so many zucchini recipes this summer, I finally wised up and brought out the food processor to do the shredding for me.  I had enough for the two loaves and several other recipes in a matter of seconds.  Definitely should have thought of this sooner.

 

The recipe called for using cooking spray on the pans and then parchment.  I skipped the parchment and it wasn't needed at all.  Here are my loaves.

The best part was they got this nice sugary crust on the outside which really good.  My kids loved it too.  As I said before I'm not one who thinks that disguising a vegetable in cake makes the cake "healthy" but I guess it's better than a lot of other things they could be eating.

Next, I turned to Martha's sweet zucchini cupcakes http://www.marthastewart.com/317832/sweet-zucchini-cupcakes.  The recipe for the cake was very similar to the zucchini nut bread, but slightly less sweet and, actually, not as good.  The frosting, http://www.marthastewart.com/312920/cream-cheese-frosting however, was really good although I did modify it after reading reviews that complained that it was too buttery.  I changed the butter from 4 tablespoons to 2 which seemed more consistent with other cream cheese frosting recipes out there.  It came out perfectly. 

Yum.  Wish they weren't all gone.

-Jacqui

What's a butler?

Martha and her staff this month recount the "short list" of hotels around the country they found memorable in categories of design, food, gardening, and craftsmanship.  Craftsmanship?  I'm not even sure what that means for a hotel choice.  Of the 30 hotels featured, I have stayed in a grand total of zero!  How depressing.  All of this wonderful design, food, and "craftsmanship" out there and I am missing out on it all.  Granted, most of my travel nowadays is with kids to Florida or for work overseas, so none of the hotels I've stayed in would have made this cut.  I was happy to see that the "best kitchen" went to the Park Hyatt in D.C., whose Blue Duck Tavern I have been to and found to be delicious.  I recommend it for locals and visitors, but can't comment on the hotel.  

Martha chose the Fountainbleau in Miami as one of her "picks" describing the spa as the most beautiful in America and pointed out that if you go to the spa you get to use the amenities like mineral pools, massage jet showers and eucalyptus steam baths after your treatment.  Hmmm, sounds like Ali and I need a trip to Miami! 

Photo credit: Fountainbleu Hotel
Yup, I could get used to that!

 The best hotel I've ever staying in was the St. Regis in Singapore.  The hotel itself was wonderful, but it was the service that was truly phenomenal.  I went on a work trip with several colleagues and when we arrived at the St. Regis after a long flight and got off the elevator at our floor, we each had a personal butler waiting for us.  Yes, a butler.  Everyone needs a butler once in their lives.  When I returned from this trip and told my husband (at the time a stay-at-home Dad) about the butler, my then 5-year old asked what a butler was.  We explained that it was someone who does things for you around the house.  My son then said, "oh, like you Dad."  Nice.  

- Jacqui

Braids

It's summer, yes.  We've had vacations, yes.  And, well, let's just call a spade a spade, we've been slackers.  But, in all honesty Martha's magazines this summer have been less than inspiring.  Recipe after recipe with no fun crafts or anything else to try (September isn't much better.)  One item thought merited trying--braids.  Not just run of the mill braids but braids called "fishtail" and "rope."  Impossible to try on my own short hair (and in the case of the fishtail impossible to perform on one's own hair anyway) I enlisted the head of my surprisingly willing three-year old.  My guinea pig, uh, model at the ready, I tried the easiest first. 

The Rope
This is pretty cool.  Not really a braid at all, it's just the hair divided into two equal portions and each portion is twisted to the right so there are two twisted sections.  Then the right twist is crossed over the left twist again and again and the hair is secured at the bottom like a normal braid.  Here's my end result.

It looked pretty, but it didn't really stay in place very long.  I sent her to school with this style this morning and my husband said when he picked her up half her hair was hanging down and the rest was in some funky pony tail.  Maybe this one is for times when I'm at the ready to redo it.

The Fishtail
Next I tried the fishtail.  This one looked really amazing.  Here's the picture in the magazine.

Photo Credit: Martha Stewart Living

I struggled with this one.  First I misunderstood the directions.  You're supposed to divide the hair into two sections and take small pieces to cross over and incorporate into the other section.  I thought you had to somehow get the hair to the back of the other section after its crossed over which, it turns out, is really hard to do.  Anyway, after I finally understood the directions and had the idea to try it with her hair still a little wet, I got it.  It's not as nice as Martha's, granted, but not bad either.  This one stays put too.

I noticed when I was looking for the picture of Martha's braid that she has a whole series of useful videos on her website with instructions for all kinds of interesting braids.  For anyone else who has a daughter who likes having her hair done, it's a great resource. 

-Jacqui