I tease my sweet boyfriend a lot for being such a slave to ritual: making sure his email inbox is clear by the end of the night, having to have his breakfast every morning, having to curl up and watch at least one TV show before bed.
He’s on to something good, though.
I generally like to think of myself as a fairly spontaneous person, but I continue to surprise myself with an appreciation for everything related to repetition. I’m craving real seasons (something not abundant in Austin), the school year calendar that I grew up with, and so on.
My favorite way to connect to a cycle? Seasonal food.
I have been trying to keep pace with the seasons in my kitchen. Here are pictures of the confections and concoctions that I’ve made up in the past few months.
Roasted Chicken, Summer Veggies, and Grapes with Basil Pesto
I made this roasted chicken as an indulgent way to savor the last fresh basil of the summer.
Almond Flavored Cupcakes with Peach Almond Butter Cream
I made these moist, super delicate cupcakes for the Open House that I planned for our volunteers and community members. I definitely wanted to celebrate the last summer batch of sweet peaches, and nothing complements peaches better than stone fruit flavor!
Chocolate French Macarons with Orange Blossom Water Butter Cream
This was my second attempt at these airy treats. I think I had beginner’s luck the first time on the execution of the notoriously difficult technique , as these guys weren’t perfect. Check out David Lebovitz’s basically fool proof recipe for the little guys here.
Also: these were a vehicle for orange blossom water butter cream laced with fresh ground cinnamon. MMMMM.
Delicious Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato Soup. With Grilled Cheese, of Course.
I didn’t want to let go of summer on the chilly weekend that inspired this comforting meal–hence the roasted red bell peppers and basil.
A Torte-like Red Wine Chocolate Cake
There’s something about tannin flavors that scream cozy, warm, fall-like weather to me. This Red Wine Chocolate Cake recipe from Smitten Kitchen will knock your socks off, and it gets better with age. It’s the perfect way to finish off that bottle of wine you didn’t quite finish at dinner last night.
What are your favorite seasonal foods? What food do you bite into and automatically feel wrapped in the world of the season it is harvested in? Feel free to share a seasonal recipe in the comments!
klmgrills
