Dear H-E-B,

I love you.

For everyone that lives outside of Texas I'm sorry that you can't experience the amazing-ness that is H-E-B. It's a good reason, among many others, to move here! When we moved to Houston three weeks ago and were driving around trying to find our way around we passed this beautiful new H-E-B (in the picture). It's not the closest grocery store to us, I actually pass a Kroger and Super Target on the way, but it is SO worth it to drive the extra bit.

Not all H-E-B's are the same, they just started building these new Central Market style ones that are seriously beautiful. They have the best produce, amazing meat and cheese departments, and pretty much anything else you could ever want. Some of our favorite recipes have come from their cooking stations they have throughout the store. Love it!!

But the best part of H-E-B really isn't the selection, the awesome layout, or the freshness of everything - it's the people. When I went today I was really blown away by how nice everyone was, just plain nice! The guys stocking the fruit were happy and smiling, the meat counter guy was friendly and helpful, and the checkers asked me at least three times if they could take my groceries out to the car. (I don't think it's because I'm huge pregnant or anything :)

I don't say any of this to try and change where you grocery shop or rub it in your face if you don't have an H-E-B, when I left there today I was just overwhelmingly thankful for the little things like nice people. It's sounds so silly. But with moving to a new city, a much much bigger city, going from working or being in school full time for the past nine years to being a stay at home soon-to-be mom, missing family and friends, and feeling a little overwhelmed in general it's just really nice to go somewhere that feels like home, where you always know what to expect, and where people are nice to you for no reason - even if it is a little out of the way.

Everyone likes popcorn balls

Don't let the use of a candy thermometer scare you, this recipe is easy and delicious!!

Carmel Popcorn Balls

1 stick butter
1 cup Karo syrup
1 lb. brown sugar
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 large bag popcorn kernels
1 candy thermometer

1. Pop popcorn on stove (no butter), remove un-popped kernels.
2. Place popcorn in large greased bowl.
2. Combine remaining ingredients in saucepan; bring to boil over med. heat.
3. Cook until thermometer reads 235º-240º.
4. Pour over popcorn, tossing with greased spoons. Toss to cool and coat evenly.
5. Roll into balls and enjoy!

Basil, my love

Basil makes me happy. I love the way it smells and tastes, and the way it looks on my back porch! I grew these from little seeds and look how big they are now, I'm so proud!

I used Genovese basil which is supposed to be the strongest smelling and the best for pesto. It really is the strongest smelling basil EVER - even if I just brush my hand against it while I'm watering I can smell it on my skin when I go inside. So I made a little ritual of touching it on my way out to the car in the morning so I can smell the freshness, it's my favorite.

And it happens to be your lucky day my friends - I am sharing the pesto recipe I got in Italy when I studied abroad with you, the best pesto ever! And if there's one thing I know for sure it's that Italians know their pesto. Molto bene, buon appetito!


Fresh Basil Pesto

• 2 cups fresh basil
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup finely chopped pine nuts
• 1 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 tbsp grated Pecorino cheese
• 1 clove chopped garlic

1. Mash basil into a fine paste (best to chop first, then grind with mortar and pestle, or just chop a lot!)
2. Add olive oil, pine nuts, cheese and garlic. Mix well. (add extra olive oil if needed)
3. Serve on hot pasta or chill for pasta salad.

Me, back in the summer, hoping my little basil seeds will grow!

Dessert to die for - Panna Cotta

Kellye likes it too!

This dessert is one of my favorites of all time, it's kind of like custard - but better. The best part is you can top it with just about anything you can think of (chocolate sauce, fresh berries, candied lemon zests, blueberry sauce, you name it!) So you can make the plain panna cotta and have a buffet of toppings for everyone to add their own, definitely a way to impress your friends or family (and it's easy!).

Be sure to make it the night before and let it refrigerate overnight. You'll need some little ramekins like these to make it, you can use large or small ones depending on the portion size you want.

Panna Cotta

• 1 pkt unflavored gelatin
• 1/2 cup whole milk
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 3/8 cup sugar
  

1. Pour milk into a small bowl, stir in gelatin powder. Set aside.




2. In a saucepan, stir together heavy cream and sugar over medium heat. Bring cream to a simmer, whisking occasionally until sugar has dissolved completely. Pour gelatin and milk into the cream, stirring until completely dissolved. Cook for one minute, stirring constantly.
   
3. Pour into large measuring cup with a pouring spout (or something with a spout) then pour into ramekins or custard cups.
   
4. Cool the ramekins at room temperature. When cool, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours (or overnight).
   
5. Turn ramekin over onto plate to remove panna cotta, finish with topping of your choice!
   
   

I like mine with strawberries and a little sugar sprinkled on top.

Friends are good, friends with cool stuff are gooder

You know when you have a friend that moves away and you don't talk to them in a while, and then you get that message from them on your cell phone? How you tell the real friends from the "eh" friends is what they say in that message - if they sound irritated that you haven't talked in a while/try and make you feel bad for not calling them first/back then you have yourself an "eh" friend (you have to make the sound). The kind that will be happy for you when something great happens but are nowhere to be found when you really need them.

On the other hand if they - don't act surprised or irritated that they got your voicemail / try and tell you about some random event that apparently was hilarious but you don't know why because the message was too long and cut them off /choose to sing instead of speak the entire message to you / all of the above - and know you probably won't call them back for 2 weeks and that's just fine with them - then they are definitely worth keeping in touch with, even if it is voicemail to voicemail.

So here's a recipe courtesy of one of my favorite people!

Tangy Tomato Dressing :
(by Lindsey)

2/3 cup ketchup
1/3 cup water
1/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup white vinegar
2 tbsp olive oil
1/8 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp coarse black pepper
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp onion powder
1 pinch thyme
1 dash salt

Directions: Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, whisking often, then reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Cover the dressing until cool, then refrigerate it until well chilled.

I haven't gotten to try this one yet but, knowing the fabulous-ness of Lindsey, I trust that it's tasty. Let me know what you think if you try it!

recipe of the week - the best guacamole ever

Even though one of Bear Gryll's three favorite foods is the avocado I was not having it - until just recently when my younger sister, Kellye, whipped up this amazingly fresh guac in under 10 minutes. I must say I am truly converted. It's super easy (for the culinary impaired like myself) and makes enough for a crowd. Thanks Kel, for opening a whole new world for me and my new found love of the avocado. Enjoy!

Kellye’s Famous Guacamole

INGREDIENTS:
4 large avocados
8 dashes hot pepper sauce (or jalapeño juice)
1/2 cup small diced red onion
1 large garlic clove - minced
1 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp fresh ground black pepper
1 medium tomato - seeded then diced, don’t forget
the seeded part.
2 tbsp Lemon juice (to taste)
2 tbsp Lime juice (to taste)

WHAT TO DO:
Cut avocados in half, add lemon juice (oh, and lime juice, too), hot pepper sauce, onion, garlic, salt & pepper. Toss well using sharp knife till avocados are diced! Then, add tomatoes! salt to taste! MAGNIFICO!


Photo by Nick.

It's Friday, have a cookie....

Pumpkin Cookies & Cream Cheese Frosting

1 c butter flavored Crisco
3 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 cups canned pumpkin
2 teas vanilla
5 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp soda
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg

**Cream shortening and sugar in kitchen aid. Add eggs one at a time. Add pumpkin and vanilla. Mix well. Combine dry ingredients and add to pumpkin mixture. Mix well. Spray Pam on cookie sheet. Bake at 400 for 10 minutes. Move to cooling rack and cool completely.

Frosting
1 8oz pkg cream cheese softened
1/2 cup softened butter
4 cups sifted powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla

**Combine in kitchen aid bowl mix well. Frost cooled cookies. Eat whole batch.