spring tarts

Man, words can't describe how amazingly good this asparagus/leek/red pepper cheesy/eggy tart is. I'm not tooting my own horn, by the way; the husband gets all the credit. If you are looking for recipe suggestions for your Easter brunch, I highly recommend a spring vegetable tart or quiche. Pair with a simple salad, and you have yourself a simple yet elegant meal. The inspiration for this tart came from La Cucina Italiana, here. For more seasonal ideas, just type "spring" in La Cucina Italiana's recipe search and be amazed how quickly you start salivating. :-)

While I'm on the subject of homecooking, do consider signing the petition English chef Jamie Oliver has on his web site. His stated mission:

The American Food Revolution needs to start now! If you care about your country and the health of its children please help us make a difference. We need your support to get people back in touch with food and keep cooking skills alive before it's too late. We want to make sure every kid gets good, fresh food at school. It's proven that real food promotes more effective learning. If you want better health for your kids the junk food must go.

If you support whole foods and want to see less sugar, fat, and salt in children's diets, sign up please! Gracias!

friday freebies

It's been a long time since I've posted some Friday Freebies, and today I finally have three for you. First, though, please let's admire the supercuteness of my new niece, aged 11 days. Isn't that just the sweetest little face?! And o the red hair!

Ok, enough auntie gushing. First freebie, the latest in MIT free open courses here. Subjects covered are varied and include, for example, project management, game design, engineering, and robotics, as well as courses in the humanities like English novels, political theory, and women and gender studies.

Second freebie, Oprah's Book Club is offering a new free chapter download each month from David Bach's Starting Over, Finish Rich: 10 Steps to Get You Back no Track in 2010. The first chapter is currently available here.

Third freebie, for the knitters out there, Knitting Daily has made the "Not a Feather Cap" pattern available as a free download here. Check it out---it's a really sweet multiseasonal hat.

Speaking of sweet, look at my niece's cheeks. Aren't they just so squeezable?! Have a GREAT weekend, everyone!!!

two coats in one for less than $5?!

I LOVE this idea---a reversible coat, two distinct collars, made from thrifted fleece throws, AND for less than $5! Wow.

Pattern details and more photos can be found at instructables.

let the decluttering begin!

I don't know when I have so looked forward to a Spring as I have this year. Months of rain---the worst here in more than seventy years---gray skies, damp clammy days, and countless cups of tea can do that to a person. And even though the calendar insists we have passed the Golden Day and perhaps the temperature has warmed ever so slightly, the sun remains elusive.

That said, I KNOW it's Spring because the urge to toss, declutter, and remove the dross that has accumulated in the past few months occupies much of my attention these days. We're even a fairly organized bunch here, but geez the battle of the paper and the books and the computer cables and the clothes and the pantry is a never-ending battle. If you're not sure where to begin, wholeliving has put together an action plan for you, guiding your Spring clean attack through the house room by room. It's a great motivator, so I recommend checking it out. And see how quickly you can find fifty things to get rid of! :-)

spring

Welcome, dear Spring! O how we've missed you!

shamrocks, guinness, and all things green

Almost ten years ago, we were invited to the wedding of a good friend in Ireland, so as we were making quite a journey to attend, we decided to make a proper vacation out of our visit. And wow, were we glad we did! Beautiful landscapes, friendly people, good music, rolling countryside, and despite its difficult history, a real sense of calm and tranquility most of the places we journeyed through. Would love to return to Ireland someday and spend even more time there, but alas that shall have to wait until after the Great Recession loosens its grip on our purse strings.

But if you too need to dose of arm chair travel, The Happy Recessionist has put together a little guide to help you pay homage to St. Patrick today. For a complete menu of Irish cooking (including a bunch of vegetarian options!), mosey by kitchn's shamrock menus. Personally I am a huge fan of potato leek soup, on many days besides March 17th! :-) Of course, there must be Guinness, and if drinking the thick brew doesn't suit you, this beer can be used in all sorts of delicious concoctions, from breads to puddings. Inspiration needed? Look here. Finally, on the music front, NPR is running a live stream of Irish music today---seven hours of tunes to keep your toes tapping and the jigs lively. Sláinte mhaith!

Photo is from Irish Views.