Cookie swap

So, last night, I hosted the Cookie Swap!
The ladies came over at 7pm with containers full of lemon squares, magic bars, homemade thin mints, and Cornflake cookies, among many others. The coffee table was overflowing. (Toby made a quick cameo before bedtime; you can see him cuddled in my friend Samantha's arms above.)
We passed around pitchers of ice-cold milk (and bottles of wine), and people found cozy spots on the floor to hang out.
Megan (right) made her grandmother's recipe for bark with almonds, chocolate and Matzoh!
Susan Cernek, a fashion editor at Glamour, didn't have time to make cookies, so she brought bottles of nail polish instead. :)
Alex came home just in time to say hello to the ladies, including pretty Lee from Copenhagen.
Toby zonked out about fifteen minutes into the festivities, but we still doted on him (and his sweet bald head) by video monitor.

It was a really fun evening and yummy excuse to get together. Thank you so much to everyone who came! xoxoSource URL: http://ledger-heath.blogspot.com/search/label/food
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Puzzle board

How amazing are these Puzzle Boards? What fun for fall parties.

(Via Swiss, via Apartment Therapy)Source URL: http://ledger-heath.blogspot.com/search/label/food
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Cookie swap

We haven't had a party in a while (and I've been craving some adult interaction), so I've decided to host an old-fashioned Cookie Swap! Everyone will bring two dozen cookies, hang out and exchange them. Milk will be served. I'm really excited.

My current plan is to make these Peanut Butter Crispy Bars, which look insanely decadent and delicious, but I'm not sure. Do you have a favorite cookie recipe? xoSource URL: http://ledger-heath.blogspot.com/search/label/food
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Cheese wedding cakes

For you cheese enthusiasts out there: How amazing are these stinky cheese wedding cakes?! I wish I had known about these when we tied the knot!Source URL: http://ledger-heath.blogspot.com/search/label/food
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United States cheese boards

How cool are these United States cheese boards? (As a Michigan girl, I'm psyched that they made a separate piece for the Upper Peninsula!)

(Via I Heart You)Source URL: http://ledger-heath.blogspot.com/search/label/food
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Banana bites

On my goodness, how good do banana bites look? I don't even like bananas that much, but I'm sold.

(Via Design Crush)Source URL: http://ledger-heath.blogspot.com/search/label/food
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Guest Post: Picnic Ideas

I love Joanna's idea of having a picnic club. What a blast that would be throughout the warming spring and summer months! I envision delicious food picked up a a local deli or nearby farmer's market and lots of outdoor games like bocce ball and croquet and just having fun hanging out with a group of friends. Here are a few things to bring outside. Happy picnicking, everyone!

From top left: Disposable wooden forks; Portland picnic plates; Weber Smokey Joe Grill; france cheeseboard; Belvoir fruit juice A.P.C. dress; John Lewis picnic hamper Anorak kissing rabbits picnic blanket

-- By Rachel from Black EiffelSource URL: http://ledger-heath.blogspot.com/search/label/food
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Guest Post: A Few of My Favorite Things

+ Sun-kissed freckles. Not only are they adorable, they give me an excuse to go easy on the makeup all summer long.

+ Architectural salvage yards. I have this dream of living in a modern home, sprinkled with rustic details, like this sliding barn door.

+ Being feminine.

+ Big, thick, oversized glasses. I crush on a new pair every week.

+ Hats. My mom had me in all sorts of different styles from an early age. Right now I'm enamored of a classic fedora I picked during a trip to Sonoma, California.

+ Boy things, like flannel, hiking boots, oversized watches, broken-in jeans, and super soft T-shirts. I'm always stealing my fiancé's clothes!

+ Cats that do human things. Like this one.

+ Cheeky accessories. I'm a true nerd at heart, with a soft spot for dry humor. I love these playful mittens from Kate Spade. Gotta find a pair on eBay!

+ The best days start with two slices of avocado toast.

+ Designer Paul Rand. Get to know his work here.

-- By Kate from Wit + DelightSource URL: http://ledger-heath.blogspot.com/search/label/food
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Sunday Suppers

Sunday Suppers is the amazing cooking class in Brooklyn, where photographer Karen Mordechai invites a guest chef into her home to teach a small group how to cook a delicious dinner from start to finish. When Martha Stewart Living decided to write an article about Sunday Suppers, Alex and I were lucky enough to be invited to the photo shoot. We were psyched...
I dressed up in a Gap maternity dress, stretched an apron over my belly and joined a group of lovely people (including Sarah from Saipua)...
Alex poured blood-orange liqueur over fruit to make Boozy Fruit...
And under the careful watch of the guest chef--Martha Stewart Living food editor, Shira--we all chopped, diced and stirred to prepare an Italian feast.
Here, Sarah shows off the herbed flatbread...
The meatballs were rich and fragrant, paired with a fresh tomato sauce...
And my favorite part of the meal, hands down, was the ridiculously delicious penne frittata with basil, ricotta and lots of pepper. I would highly recommend it (and definitely ate more than my fair share).
During dinner, we all chatted and drank Prosecco (well, water for me). Ben and Laura, the cute couple behind Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream, told us about their wedding in Central Park, recent trip to Bali, and how pistachio is their most popular ice-cream flavor.
Weren't the flowers by Saipua wild and wonderful? Sunday Suppers classes are always styled beautifully.
For dessert, we had delicious cookies...
...and affogato, an Italian dessert of espresso poured over gelato.
The classes always end with a little favor, and, that day, we got to take home Frankies Spuntino olive oil, as well as a booklet with the recipes. It was such a great day. If you'd like, you can sign up for a Sunday Suppers class here -- they're amazing! And read the full Martha Stewart article here and find the recipes here. We were embarrassingly excited to appear in the magazine, and, needless to say, our moms flipped out. :) Thanks again for including us, Karen!

(Photos by Karen Mordechai)Source URL: http://ledger-heath.blogspot.com/search/label/food
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Yummy sandwich

Alex is hanging out with a friend tonight, so I'm on my own for dinner. I spotted this aged cheddar and apple melt on She Eats Bears, and it looks great, especially on raisin bread. I think I'm going to try it out.

What do you make for yourself when you're eating alone?Source URL: http://ledger-heath.blogspot.com/search/label/food
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Mushroom crepe cake

Wow, this mushroom crepe cake would be impressive to bust out at a brunch. It looks so airy and delicious -- can't you almost taste it? If I were more ambitious in the kitchen (i.e., made anything other than omelettes and burrito bowls), I would give it a shot.

(By Smitten Kitchen)Source URL: http://ledger-heath.blogspot.com/search/label/food
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Birthday cupcakes

Tina (aka Swissmiss) has the sweetest tradition of making her daughter birthday cupcakes, decorated with photos of her changing face. How adorable have the past four years been? Aww, happy birthday, Ella Joy! xoSource URL: http://ledger-heath.blogspot.com/search/label/food
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Cupcakes and cookies

Ming Thompson, a Harvard grad student with a sweet tooth, created this rad website with cupcake and cookie recipes. The recipes are all super creative, with ingredients like Guinness beer, figs, and lots of sour cream. Double thumbs up!Source URL: http://ledger-heath.blogspot.com/search/label/food
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Party food

Alex and I are having a few friends over on Saturday, for one last grown-up hurrah before the baby arrives (in less than two months!). So, my question is this: Are there any foods do you love to eat at parties? I'm kind of obsessed with kettle chips, but I want to have a few more crowd-pleasing snacks. Maybe pigs in blankets? Hummus? Deviled eggs? Brownies? Is there anything you especially like to see when you walk into a party? I'd love to hear your thoughts...Thank you so much!

(Photo by Karen Mordechai)Source URL: http://ledger-heath.blogspot.com/search/label/food
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Sea salt brownie

Mmm, I'd love a caramel sea salt brownie right about now. Sea salt makes every dessert mouthwateringly delicious, don't you agree? (This recipe looks great, too.)Source URL: http://ledger-heath.blogspot.com/search/label/food
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Jamie Oliver

Have you guys seen the new show, Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution? The British chef wants to completely revamp the United States school lunch programs by serving fresh, real foods, instead of fries and chocolate milk. I watched all three episodes on Hulu this past weekend, and the show is amazing and compelling with such a great mission. (Plus, his accent and rumpled hair are completely adorable.)
Source URL: http://ledger-heath.blogspot.com/search/label/food
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Espresso maker print

Sandra Juto's new coffeemaker print would look nice in a kitchen.Source URL: http://ledger-heath.blogspot.com/search/label/food
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Fig wedding cake

I'm one of the few people out there who don't like regular cake (are you, too?), so I'm always secretly psyched when people serve alternative desserts at their weddings. Brooklyn couple Rae and Noah served a carrot cake with fresh figs! What a cool (and beautiful) idea, don't you think?

See more of their wedding here.Source URL: http://ledger-heath.blogspot.com/search/label/food
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Magic juice

Mmm, this drink sounds so refreshing. (Also, cute hand-drawn font.)Source URL: http://ledger-heath.blogspot.com/search/label/food
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Eat, Memory

My darlings, we're back from our California vacation and missing the sunshine! I'm excited to share photos soon (they're all on Alex's iPhone).

In the meantime, at the airport on the way home, I picked up a great little book: Eat, Memory, a collection of food essays from the New York Times. (It was edited by Amanda Hesser, who also wrote the awesome Cooking for Mr. Latte.) The essays range from a guy who hates ice cream to a couple's argument over a word game in a Paris restaurant to a chef trying like mad to invent something new. I'd recommend it, if you're in the mood for something fun and yummy. :)

Have you read anything good lately? xoSource URL: http://ledger-heath.blogspot.com/search/label/food
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