friday links

Finally a touch of spring has hit cape cod.
Feels nice to feel and see the sun again!


seagull beach, yarmouth, ma

chatham fish pier, chatham, ma

dense fog after the blizzard: lecount hollow beach, wellfleet, ma

It's Cadbury egg season, and I've found the perfect egg holder. A bottle cap!
I know, breaking news.

I love this.

Got to try a couple samples of Amazing Grass green superfoods. I loved them!
Especially the on the go packs.  They weren't gritty-tasting.

What I'm reading and loving: Charcuteria:The Soul of Spain by Jeffrey Weiss


Charcuteria: The Soul of Spain by Jeffrey Weiss is an enormous cookbook about Spanish butchering and meat-curing techniques introduced to the American market.  Over 100 traditional Spanish recipes, illustrations providing easy-to-follow steps for amateur and professional butchers, and gorgeous full-color photography of savory dishes, Iberian countrysides, and centuries-old Spanish cityscapes.
Jeffrey Weiss has written an entertaining, extravagantly detailed guide on Spain's unique cuisine and its history of charcutería, which is deservedly becoming more celebrated on the global stage. While Spain stands cheek-to-jowl with other great cured-meat-producing nations like Italy and France, the charcuterie traditions of Spain are perhaps the least understood of this trifecta. Americans have most likely never tasted the sheer eye-rolling deliciousness that is cured Spanish meats: chorizo, the garlic-and-pimentón-spiked ambassador of Spanish cuisine; morcilla, the family of blood sausages flavoring regional cuisine from Barcelona to Badajoz; and jamón, the acorn-scented, modern-day crown jewel of Spain's charcutería legacy.
Jeffrey has amassed years of experience working with the cured meat traditions of Spain, and this book will surely become a standard guide for both professional and home cooks.

around the web:

the many wonders of ginger
pornburger--have you seen it? (have a snack first)
rueben chowder w/ rye croutons
13 foods that fight pain
being true to ourselves & forgetting what others think
easter egg oreo truffles
raspberry swirl cupcakes
ADHD & refined sugar
what parts of the ocean are still unexplored (fascinating!)
trader joes opens in boulder, co with mixed reviews
honey walnut shrimp (my favorite!)
can people draw energy from other people?
banana bread energy bites
smores pop tarts
the hair tuck (is this really a thing? I've been doing it because I have bed hair)
how well do you know your Yiddish?
gorgeous video about petit chou
instant health boost
trader joe's or whole foods? (LOL!)
scary evidence on BPA-free plastics
norwegian teen got a McDonald's receipt tattooed on his arm
crispy peanut butter balls (vegan + GF)
single serving birthday cake cookie
butterscotch hard candy
why people say 'rabbit rabbit' on the first of the month
8 most annoying people at the gym
orange & lemon marmalade cake
how to be happier without really trying
what not to eat when you have gout
12 hours in....
FB user spotted something unusual in photo--saved a little girls vision
4 things we need to give up to be happy
DIY modular vegetable protection cage
will it waffle?
chocolate could prevent obesity?
DIY snowglobe
exercise is the best medicine
10 things you need to know about detox
make your own honey-mustard pretzels
6 in 10 people don't get enough sleep
great leaders are made
what tactics motivates bullies to stop bullying
lemon cornmeal sandwich cookies
simple homemade laundry detergent
why you eat too much
are you too busy to work out?
how to boost your brain power with food
resistant starch: your questions answered
try this to freshen your drawers
DIY glow-in-the-dark stars
pizza loaves

Have a wonderful weekend!

friday links

It's been absolutely lovely outside here on cape cod. Our weather is finally turning around for the
better, and I'm making sure to witness it all.

corporation beach, dennis, ma

chatham, ma

chatham, ma

chatham, ma

Quite possibly the best sign of spring after a long, cold, hard winter.

Do you like corn dogs?
How about cheesy baked corn dogs?

Best way to use up those last two apples sitting in the fridge.
Apple-cheddar muffins.

Want to make your own pb eggs for Easter?

Or maybe a homemade coconut egg is more your style?

Or maybe a homemade version of a Nestle Crunch bar? (chemical free)

around the web:

watermelon for sore muscles?
3 easy stretches to start your morning
why do women do this to their eyebrows?
5 second rule on bacteria
clarissa wright of two fat ladies has died (I loved her)
James Beard nominees--congrats all!
henry miller 11 commandments on writing
why you should never quit exercising
bacon, egg & cheese french toast
13 hidden Google tricks
brother loses basketball bet and has to dance in public for 30 minutes (HILARIOUS!)
these gross things are harmless
cinnamon roll sandwich!
what happens to your body when you exercise
sitting around really does give you a bigger bum
thank your gut bacteria for making chocolate good for you
fragmented sleep accelerates cancer growth
oh what I wouldn't give for a josh early easter egg!
fig keplers (like a fig newton but better)
whole grains, fiber & colon cancer
major study exonerates saturated fat
12 hours: travel guides for people like you
20-year old hunter thompson's advice on how to find your purpose
side by side photos of how animals see the world differently than us
a reason NOT to keep hazardous chemicals under the sink (please watch)
bottlenose dolphin gets a nice little rescue from a friend (dolphins are so smart)
genetic link between fried foods & obesity?
7 smart ways to deal with toxic people
DIY salted caramel spread

Have a wonderful weekend!

friday links

Happy Friday!

It's Pi day.  Did you make a pie?
Do you want to make a pie?
Let me entice you with a few of my favorites....

Raspberry-cheddar hand pies. The pie crust is very easy and adaptable to pie or hand pies or pop
tarts!

Or maybe a savory beef & cheddar hand pies?

A list of pies wouldn't be complete without a blueberry pie in there.
This one is blueberry-toasted coconut pie.

Salty caramel-apple pie

Someone was trying to help me eat my lunch.
He got really close.

Pretty cool to see them this close.

Here on cape cod, after we shovel out the snow, we shovel out the sand.

This flag has made it through the winter.
Last winter, the flag left early, and last winter was not as long and rough as this one, so I'm
curious how this flag has made it this long.


These harbors have been quiet; hard to think that a couple months from now all this
'ghost-town'-ness will be busy again.

I almost went in. When I took this shot, it was a freak-weather kind of day with 53 degrees out
and sunny. But the ocean temp is 34-36 degrees!

This is how I want my cupboards to look (photo from latest King Arthur Flour catalog)

Around the Web:

why you should book a massage
what does healthy really mean?
is Vit. C heat-sensitive?
18 healthy brown bag lunches
versatile homemade baking mix
should I ever take up knitting, this is what I will make: arctic wrap (gorgeous!)
mummified remains (6+ years) of a woman missing found in garage
smashed garbanzo bean breakfast quesadillas 
DIY craft: paper plate basket
crappy engagement photos (hilarious!)
cup-o-noodles man is shoveling snow (great pic)
best time to take creatine
yoga for back pain: interview with instructor
what's the difference: steel cut oats, rolled oats & quick oats
magnesium: the missing link to better health
how to learn better at any age
is your kitchen making you sick or fat?
new tick-borne disease found
raw chocolate-coated caramel YOLO balls
coconut muffins made with coconut oil
peach + marzipan hand pies
the dark psychology of being a good comedian
which foods are the most flammable?
(touching article) ' to the man who judged me on the westfield track'
what are prebiotics? How important are they compared to probiotics?
tips & hints for natural hair care
hidden dangers in personal care products
snacks, supplements & scents to help you sleep
14 terrible pies in celebration of pi day
who owns the moon?
salted caramel peanut pie
does sunshine help lower blood pressure?
25 hilarious tweets of people posting their problems
DIY lunchbox using a milk jug
7 little mistakes that steal your happiness
the sunlight you don't see but your cat does
on march 11, the world wide web turned 25
bay leaf pound cake
the quiet greatness of eudora welty
scrabble contest seeks new words
what does the term 'successful writer' mean to you?
creativity & madness: on writing through the drugs
7 secrets how creative people stay innovative
cronut creator has now made 'milk & cookie' cookie
'stuff being thrown at my head' by kaija straumanis


Have a wonderful weekend!

friday links

Happy Friday!

Is it still winter?
I'm really tired of all this cold and snow.
Here on the cape it's still cold, 32 degrees today, and they say a warm up of 45 degrees is coming tomorrow.
Where is my warm up of 85 degrees?
You know after one of the coldest winters on record for new england, I've grown more
appreciative of "hazy, hot and humid".
No complaints on that term anymore.

Seriously.

 Ocean temp about 34-36 degrees.


Shrimp tacos from Chatham Fish & Lobster in Chatham.
The best around.

Someone isn't happy with winter.

Loving the trail mix bar at Whole Foods.
I make a new batch each week and this ensures no stops at bakeries for cupcakes!

The chicken noodle soup at Panera Bread is pretty good.
Needs more chicken though.

Story of my life.

Most D/L recipe of the week: coconut cream truffles. And....

The salted nutella bars still dominate as the most D/L for the past 4 months.

Around the web:

homemade nutter butters
DIY crayons (using your cupcake tin) fabulous!
roasted veg tacos w/ avocado cream & feta (already printed!)
feeling burned out?
DIY dryer sheet replacements!
what's new & beneficial about garlic?
world's oldest person celebrates 116th birthday! her secret?
cream puffs (made so easy by Julie)
need help falling asleep?
how to culture vegetables
40 worst book covers! (adults only!)
pretzel crusted mac & cheese
40 regrets you don't want to have in 40 years (very touching)
the best exercise there is, hands down
how to cream butter & sugar without a mixer
the importance of macronutrients 
how to put the brakes on anxiety attacks
out of body experiences: work of the mind or ?
most genetically modified crops
sticky whiskey toffee pudding
ice cream cleanse!
great guide for indoor plants
7 foods that will work wonders on your digestion
spinach cupcakes
cooking perfect bacon
foods that create happiness
vaccine holds promise for ovarian cancer
want to write? procrastinating? this should help
DIY magnetic pin holder (brilliant!)
sleeping your way slim
use your soda stream to make wine?
best sources of biotin
14 pressure cooker recipes: a better take on fast foods
praline noisette
tools to help you shift from feeling fearful to free
Oreo's new flavor: marshmallow crispy!
selfie of an F-16 pilot
screwed at sea survival quiz
homemade fish sticks
book review of the new book: The South Asian Health Solution
pork-ginger shrimp toasts!
California lawmaker to propose ban on orca's in captivity (Finally!)

Have a wonderful weekend!

friday links

happy friday kids!

In an effort to clean out my cupboards, I'm trying to use up old cake mixes, bread mixes, etc...
Found an old Trader Joe's banana bread that on the first try I wasn't so happy with,
but on the second try I added a few things in to 'kick it up', and it came out much better.
Added in these 'add in's you see in the photo:
couple dashes of eggnog, ripe banana, handful or two of white chocolate chips,
and some spicy pecans.
(yes I have eggnog in the fridge still, I love a little with my morning espresso).


Fell in LOVE with this muffin mix.
It's really good. I found it at Whole Foods Market, like ages ago.
Had no idea it was this good.
Great for last minute morning muffins, and far less chemicals than other boxed versions.


My Friday night treat.  I know how to party right!
LOVE Lake Champlain 5 Star Chocolate: the hazelnut is so good!

The Ginger People have created crystallized ginger chips for baking (and eating)!

It's still snowing and cold here on cape cod. Will winter ever end? (sandy neck, sandwich, ma)


around the web:

guess what? Turn the clocks ahead March 9! Thank goodness, spring is coming!
DIY coffee syrup
free lyme disease testing is FINALLY coming to the Cape
make sure your iphones are up to date; major security flaw
8 chapters of ramen (american chef who took a chance in Japan)
how to clean your dishwasher
what causes migraines & how to treat them
a view of long island's decommissioned nuclear power plant
how 6 highly successful bloggers get stuff done
ramen taco (two please!)
stress: the new cause of alzheimers 
natural dry skin remedies
the best (and easy) chocolate cake recipe
hip or back pain? start with your feet!
California couple strikes $10 million in gold coins (good luck with the taxes!)
mini cinnamon roll pops
aren't these wooden Dutch tubs gorgeous?
haunted house snaps pictures of scariest moments on visitors faces
cape cod native trish hegarty is on this season's Survivor!  GO Trish!
new sitting risk: possibility of disability after 60
how much my novel costs me
new Ben & Jerry's flavors coming soon!
why dark chocolate is good for your heart
the hormonal reset (it's true, I am living proof that heavy lifting helps balance your hormones)
what is torting a cake?
makeup secrets you haven't heard before
doughnut ice cream
rising liver risks deterred by omega 3's
the secret ingredient for the best chicken tostada's?
jeff gordon in 'test drive 2'
10 superfoods for everything from allergies to muscle pain
playing tetris can reduce urges to smoke, eat & drink? (hmmm)
homemade flavored coffee--naturally! (no chemicals!)
urban remedy: organic, cold-pressed juices for cleanses & health (DYING to try these!)
fancy cookie cutters (elaborate fonts, literary figures, 3D boxes, pregnant woman, etc..)
super cute bobby pins
4-ingredient nutella brownies

Have a wonderful weekend!

friday links

Happy Friday kids!
Sorry this is late, but here on cape cod we just had a major thunder & lighting storm, and our power
kept going out.
Thunder storm in the middle of February!  And it was just as powerful as one in the summer!
Crazy.

I made chocolate shortbread fingers.

Do you like nutty crusts? I do.
Here is a pecan crusted strawberry bars. Very easy and quite tasty too.

The motherload of Cadbury Mini Eggs (an almost 2 pound bag found at Walmart).
I was so happy at this find. Is that bad? It's bad right?

Those bistro boxes at Starbucks are quite good.
This is the chicken & hummus bistro box.
This is my kind of fast food--no crash & burn after lunch.

Have you tried these Valhrona chocolate perles?
Like a crunchy cookie-like biscuit in the middle. Terribly addicting.
Found at Whole Foods (in the cheese and/or chocolate sections)

Yeah it's pretty and all, but I'm so tired of snow already.

It's February 21 and we've had over 10 snowstorms? I've lost count on how many feet we've gotten....

So tired of it...

Bass River, cape cod

Minimal flooding this storm around; fingers crossed it stays that way.


Around the web:

cheesecake factory avocado egg rolls
diet coke addict drinks up to 50 cans a day! (if this is in fact true, how is she still alive?)
chocolate-sour cream cupcakes
homemade lime curd
12 types of procrastinators (I'm the snacker & the perpetuator)
steak frites on sticks
understanding inflammation & healing for athletes
DIY cultured butter (have you tried cultured butter? It's really good!)
12 chemicals that are screwing up your hormones
the real reason your cable bill is so high (might go higher now that Comcast might join Time Warner)
vegan comfort food: cashew "cheese" dip
meyer lemon pudding cakes
butterscotch cookies w/ burnt butter icing
DIY dulce de leche (it's so easy!)
turn a sheet into a laundry bag
how to make a heart shaped cake (using your own cake pans!)
chicken flautas
the stupid docu-soap "The Vineyard" might be coming back. I hope not!
how do you tame tension? take the stress-busters quiz
news anchor Brian Williams does a perfect 'cover' of rapper's delight (hilarious)
show your best cookie cutters to Serious Eats!
This is what an $85 million estate looks like
flourless brownies
sweet potato sliders w/ goat cheese & pecans
14 most unintentional terrifying statues in the world (warning: not for kids!)
new french toast goldfish
thin & crispy chocolate cookies
chocolate & weight loss
making buttermilk at home
2014 james beard semifinalists! (congrats to my Baked Boys!)
nutter butter cookies
in case you wanted to know how to put fringe on your sneakers
are make & bake mini loaf pans worth the time & money?
rib-eye steak with béarnaise 
best exercise for weight loss?
dan harris: how an 'on air' panic attack improved my life
phone sends smelly calls & texts! (oh dear)
2 helpless deer on icy lake get rescued with brilliant idea
worlds first-ever internet emergency room
STOP! Scented jewelry! I want! So cute
sunlight pills!
16 savory muffin recipes (excellent list)

Have a wonderful weekend!