Of crust & good filling.

So. I enjoy baking; some of you may know this already. To me, the allure of cooking lies in the way it can be appreciated on so many levels. It should look beautiful and taste delicious. It must also smell appetizing and, ideally, make people happy. 

All in all, quite the toothsome challenge.

Additionally, baking is the creation of an impermanent work. In fact, you don't want it to stick around long at all—you want it to disappear quickly! I delight in this contrast to other styles of art.

My friend MJ and I bake well together. We like to make similar things, and our styles harmonize easily (MJ is also a fantastic writer and photographer, as may be witnessed here). 

A few weeks ago we made two wonderful pies, if I do say so myself. But let me show you!

The first was Rhubarb Meringue.

With leftover crust we mixed up some blackberry filling. So cute in its itty cast-iron skillet-turned-pie tin!

Sorry, we have none left for tastings. Alas!

Perhaps next time.

A Reunion and an Adventure

Every once in a while, a long-expected party lives up to all expectations.

A group of friends reunited this weekend, to celebrate a shared love for good food, entertaining society, and all things well made, well said, and well done. Our planned adventure took us to The Fiddler's Hearth in South Bend, a fine public house teeming full of families and friends, in addition to good food, drinks, and entertainment.

I loved the inquisitive eyes of children peering over well-worn benches.

Our table was covered in miscellany, from drinks to paper creations.

Excitement!

Delicious cheese, among other hearty things!

And, we celebrated a birthday! This cake was truly one of the best I've ever tasted
(though I was not surprised at all, since I knew who was making it).

This is the closest I have ever seen a face get to complete contentment.

Attempts were made to take a polaroid, but the film was damaged.

It did not, however, deter any of our enjoyment. We feasted, talked, listened, and couldn't stop smiling.

My friends, I salute you all. May our next meeting be less distant than usual or expected!

A welcome day.

Happy, joyous day! Friends' graduation, reunions, good work, and a beautiful sunset.

St. Patrick's Day

Hello, dear readers.

It is with great joy that I share just a bit from a fabulous party we held a few weeks ago, on St. Patrick's Day. 

One of my roommates is a redhead with a zeal for all things Irish. I pine for the chance to see the Emerald Isle myself, once in a while (or perhaps more often than that...), so naturally we went all out for our grand jig on Sunday March 17th.

Our house was full of shamrocks and party favors, and all the Irish-themed books we had were set out.

On the menu: Irish Flag veggie tray, soda bread, spinach tortilla chips. 

Guinness pot roast, colcannon, apple cake. Everything was delicious.

All were quite delighted.

On Living Vicariously Through Art

I have started a new series of paintings!

Last month some friends with serious culinary and hospitality skills put on a delectable spread in celebration of The Hobbit's theatrical release. Sadly, I was unable to attend, seeing as I was back home holidayin' it up, island style, with my family. 

Fortunately, another friend (with an excellent blog to be found here) took pictures of the food. I decided that the next best thing to experiencing this Sadly-Missed Party would be to paint it. So here is painting number one, hopefully of several to come:

"Shropshire Blue." Watercolor, 7x9in. 2013.

What do you think—should I paint more food pictures?

Watercolors as of late