jamie of all trades

how to roast any vegetable :: via the kitchn

an email from apartment therapy's the kitchn landed in my inbox and the subject line was 'how to roast any vegetable.'  i thought joat readers might enjoy.  i am a huge fan of roasted vegetables.  it feels so italian to eat them with a side of balsamic and some crusty bread.  i encourage you to get crazy with your veggie roasting!

How to Roast Any Vegetable

• Pre-heat oven to 425°F
• Chop or break up vegetables, or roast them whole. The larger the piece, the longer it will take to cook.
• Place in an oven-safe skillet or cast-iron pan, or a roasting pan. Have neither? Make a boat out of aluminum foil. Whichever you use, tent the top with foil.
• Drizzle with a spoonful or two of olive oil, just enough to very lightly coat when tossed. Toss.
• In general, the harder (to the touch) the vegetable, and larger in size, the longer it takes to roast. Whole beets can take an hour or more, while asparagus will roast up in about 10 minutes and doesn't need the tenting.
• Test for doneness by pricking with the tip of a paring knife. Knife should pull out easily. Also notice the aroma becoming rich and even listen for sounds from the oven.
• For a crispy finish, remove when you have 5-10 minutes left.
• Serve with a light shower of sea salt or sprinkle nuts (whole, chopped or ground), breadcrumbs, or grated cheese (like Parmesan) on top.

j. crew jenna's picks

my favorite part of the j. crew catalog is jenna's picks.  i always love her selections.  and it's fun to see what non-j. crew items she likes too.

fall flowers :: dahlias

dahlias are the perfect flower to have around the house for the transition from summer to fall.  they come in beautiful fall colors, dark yellows, oranges, reds and deep purples.  and their shape, the bushy petals with pointy yet round tips seem to have a hint of summer left to them. 

i'm hopping there's a hint of summer left in seattle.  i'm not ready to say goodbye!

wedding cookie bar

a friend of mine recently got engaged {congrats kim + bill} and as the wedding planning is beginning, the bride told me she was thinking of having a dessert wedding.  and i think i've died and gone to heaven. {i may have even grabbed my chest when she told me.}

later when i was poking around one of my favorite blogs, the paper pony, and saw a wedding cookie bar! what an awesome idea.  i don't think a dessert wedding would be complete without a cookie bar, just don't forget the milk! 

 {image via}

carafe with cucumber water

ever since i tried dry soda's delightfully refreshing cucumber soda* i have been on this cucumber kick. i thought it would be fun and mix things up a bit if i started drinking cucumber water at work.  i bought the cora carafe from cb2 for my desk since it's wide enough to plop in a few cuc slices, i like 4, and easy to clean.  

i've found 4 slices provide the perfect amount of cucumber taste per fill up and you can refill multiple times per day without refreshing the slices.  i've also noticed my water intake has increased and i do feel a little bit like i'm at the spa.  i wonder what else i could try? lemon? lime? grapefruit slices? ginger?  

 *{currently the soda is only being sold in northwest starbucks stores.} 

glassybaby second sale :: tips

i'm going to one of my favorite events tomorrow - the glassybaby seconds sale.  it's a seattle event that every girl must experience.  if you've never been before and are thinking of going, consider some of my tips before going. {this is hard for me to share, i don't want you getting my seconds!}

:: get in line early.  doors open at 10 so i'd recommend being in line around 8:30 at the lastest.  yes, i'm serious.  it gets long.

:: wear comfortable shoes and dress in layers so you can take items off or put on.

:: bring your friends or your mom.  it's more fun to chat with someone in line.

:: have a plan of what colors you are going to go for once inside.  divide and conquer if needed.

:: bring a big, sturdy bag.  so as your making your way through the madness and see one you like, you can throw it in your bag. do not bring a laundry basket.  i've seen it before, it's big, it's bulky and it's just in the way.

::  bring your checkbook.  when it's time to leave there will be two lines, one for cash + check and one for credit/debit cards.  the cash + check line is always faster.

i'll be tweeting from the event so if you want to follow along, catch me there.

happy glassybaby shopping!  xo joat

storage for cheese

since i am a big cheese lover i went to the seattle cheese festival this past weekend.  i tried lots of cheese and came home with a few hunks... of cheese, not men.  i got a gorgonzola and a parmigiano reggiano from academia barilla.  {something i didn't know about the cheese festival they have deals on cheese!}

both were wrapped in plastic, like they are when you buy at the store but i learned from one of the vendors that plastic and cheese are not friends.  i did not know this.  he said to store your cheese in cheese paper or wrap with wax paper and then wrap again with aluminum foil.  this will preserve your cheese and will help your chedda stay betta!

recipe book - old vs. new

a friend of mine told me when she was pregnant and on bed rest {and bored out of her mind,} she organized all her recipes into two books - one with all the recipes she's tried and the other with all the recipes she needs to make.  so when i was stuck on the couch all day saturday with a food poisoning i decided to do the same.  now i can see all the ones i need to make and create some new favorites... when i'm ready to eat something other than ginger ale or top ramen.

and don't forget about the cupcake card giveaway!

ciao bella sorbet {mini}

don't mind if i do!  ciao bella sorbet now has single servings.  their blood orange flavor {the oprah favorite} is now in a mini serving and only 105 calories.  how great is that?  i found them at safeway and for $1 too.  it really does just keep getting better.

homemade vanilla

for my birthday last year, a friend of mine made gave me the coolest present.  at first i thought it was a kit to make your own vanilla vodka.  but after looking closer, it was a kit to make your own vanilla.  i'm almost out so it's time to make some more.  it takes about a month to make so i'm starting now so I don't have to go without.

1-8oz. glass bottle or jar with a cork or lid and tall enough for a vanilla bean

3 vanilla beans

1 cup (8 oz) vodka

run a small pairing knife down each vanilla bean.  open the vanilla beans up so the seeds are exposed.  place beans in the empty glass bottle and pour in the vodka.  cork the bottle and store in a cool, dark cupboard for one month.  once a week give the bottle a shake to mix the liquid around.  

a month later...voilà!  you have your own homemade, good vanilla to use in your favorite recipes.  check back to see mine.  I'll post when it's ready.