recipe: individual baked huevos rancheros

A few years ago, Tony and I were visiting our friends Andrew and Erin in New York, and I ordered huevos rancheros at brunch. And since then, I've been kind of obsessed with huevos rancheros for brunch. I order them at restaurants, and I make them at home regularly.

A few Fridays ago, I was talking to my friend Avery about what to serve at brunch the next day with my friend Jen and her boyfriend Andrew. Avery didn't hesitate when she suggested individual huevos rancheros. Clearly I was intrigued.

Oh my gosh, these things were a hit. First of all, they look impressive. They're a unique dish to serve. And they also taste so good.

Individual Baked Huevos Rancheros

Adapted from Simple Cooking in a Complex City

• 8 small flour tortillas
• 1 1/2 cups pico de gallo
• 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 2 cups eggs (about 10 eggs), beaten
• 1/2 cup colby jack or cheese of choice
• guacamole for serving
• sour cream for serving

Butter 8 cups in a muffin tin. I used jumbo muffin tins. (If using a regular muffin tin, cooking time may be shortened.)

Wrap tortillas in a damp paper towel and microwave for 30 seconds to soften. Mold the 8 tortillas into the buttered muffin tins.

Divide the pico de gallo and black beans into each of the tortilla cups. (Note: I made my own pico de gallo with enough chopped tomatoes, hot banana peppers and onion to measure 1 1/2 cups, then added a splash of lemon juice, a splash of olive oil, salt and pepper. Stir to combine.)

Top each tortilla cup with 1/4 cup egg. (Make sure not to spill the egg between the tortilla cup and the muffin tin, or it makes a mess. Speaking from experience -- Tony ate that one.)

Bake at 400 degrees for 8 minutes.

Top with cheese and place back in the oven for 15 more minutes, or until eggs are firm.

Serve with guacamole and sour cream.

Makes 8 individual huevos rancheros and serves 4.

recipe: apple cobbler

Stuck at home again today because of the storm? You can always pass the time by baking. This is a good pick because you probably have all of these ingredients in your pantry. (Assuming you stocked on apples before the hurricane.) And turning on the oven will help keep your house warm and cozy.

Here's the apple crisp I made a few weekends ago for brunch with my friend Jen and her boyfriend Andrew. (We also had individual huevos rancheros -- I'll be posting that recipe soon, and definitely keep an eye out for it because they were so fun.)

Apple Crisp

From The Complete Book of Desserts

• 6 large tart apples, peeled, cored and sliced
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 cup sugar, divided
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 3/4 cup flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 6 tablespoons shortening or butter

Arrange apple slices in a greased baking dish. Pour orange juice and lemon juice over the apples.

Combine 1/2 cup sugar with cinnamon and sprinkle over apples.

Combine remaining 1/2 cup sugar, flour and salt. Cut in shortening with a pastry cutter. Sprinkle over apples.

Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour until crust is crisp and golden.

Serve with whipped cream if you have it.

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This is a fun old cookbook, by the way. I got it at the used book store by Eastern Market. If you haven't been, you really should. Books are in every crevice in the three-story shop. The owner sits behind the counter and calls out (to no one in particular) where every genre can be found in the store. It's quite the shopping experience.

recipe: creamy corn-and-arugula pasta

When Tony and I were in Ohio earlier this month, we spent a night catching up with our friends Adrian and Gretchen. Tony and Adrian worked together at the beginnings of their careers, and sometimes it's hard to stay in touch with friends when you live so far away from each other. But I'm so happy we all connected again, albeit only for 24 hours.

Gretchen spent a lot of years as a vegetarian, and she has a pile of vegetarian cookbooks in her kitchen. For dinner, she picked out a recipe for a creamy pasta, and even the meat eaters were raving. It was rich and delicious, and it's also quick to put together, which would make it a great dinner to make on weekdays.

Gretchen's Creamy Corn-and-Arugula Pasta

Via Real Simple

• 3/4 box of fettuccine
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 leeks (white and light green parts only), cut into thin half-moons
• 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1 cup frozen corn
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• 3/4 cup heavy cream
• 2 cups arugula
• 1/4 cup grated pecorino

Cook the pasta according to the package directions.

Meanwhile, heat oil in large skillet. Add leeks, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Cook 3 to 4 minutes until tender.

Add corn and wine. Simmer 2 to 3 minutes.

Stir in cream.

Add the pasta, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Toss to combine. Fold in arugula. Sprinkle the pecorino on top before serving.

(P.S. Here's a really informative video from Gourmet on cutting leeks.)

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Not only was the food wonderful, but we ate in Adrian and Gretchen's formal dining room, which is so beautiful. If someone were to say to me, "Jessi, what does your dream dining room look like?" I would probably respond with a photo of Adrian and Gretchen's dining room.

I love every single thing in this photo, starting with that table and the crystal chandelier. Also the hardwoods, the natural wood molding, the built-in display cabinet. The blue cabinet, the antique frame. The romantic floral wallpaper. And you can't even see the gorgeous old buffet against the wall, the original 1920 light switch, the original doorbell. Love it all.

life: halloween candy & halloween puppy

As I type this, Tony is outside cleaning the gutters. He's also raking up leaves, so they don't crowd the drain and flood the backyard. The wind is starting to pick up. It's getting chilly. The hurricane is on its way.

And we are now fully stocked with Halloween candy. Always be prepared. I couldn't remember how many pieces we gave out last year, but it was in the hundreds. I got 280 this year. Hopefully I estimated correctly.

And speaking of Halloween, Tony, Jamie and I stopped by Camille and Matt's house this afternoon to meet their new, 12-week-old puppy, Ducky. Who is going as a distinguished gentleman for Halloween. How cute is this guy.

I tried to convince Tony that Victor should get a Halloween costume when we were at Target getting the candy. He said no. He doesn't believe in dressing up animals. I, however, think it's adorable if the animal's into it. And Ducky clearly is into it.

things to do: union market

Last Saturday afternoon, Tony, Jamie and I finally checked out the new Union Market in Northeast. It's a large warehouse near Gallaudet University, and the vendors sell everything from fresh vegetables to oysters to pickles to cheese.

We grabbed dinner at the market. Jamie and I got some food at TaKorean, which sells Korean BBQ tacos. TaKorean has a food truck around D.C. and now also has this stand in Union Market.

Tony ordered some oysters from Rappahannock Oyster Co. And he ordered a beer. At least on a Saturday evening, the oyster place seemed to be the place to be because it was the only vendor serving beer.

The vendors we talked to said more vendors will be opening soon on both the first and second floors. Right now, Union Market is kind of limited. And it's not in the most convenient location. (Florida Avenue is the closest Metro stop, but we drove.) But I'm really rooting for it. The building is industrially beautiful. And I hope the new vendors bring more variety (and more beer options) to make it a destination spot.

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After dinner, the three of us spent the rest of the evening on U Street, at two bars I hadn't been to before but which I like very much now. First, we had some cocktails on the rooftop bar at Braxton at Ninth and U streets. Great rooftop bar on a mild evening. Then we walked down the street to American Ice at Ninth and V streets, where we grabbed a picnic table on the front patio and had some more drinks. Tony and Jamie ordered some swachos (swine + nachos), which wasn't my thing, but the two of them seemed to enjoy it plenty.

recipe: roasted pumpkin seeds

My friend Valerie -- who grew up down the street from me in Ohio and by sheer coincidence now lives down the street from me in D.C. -- came over last Sunday for an evening of pumpkin carving and a seasonally appropriate dinner. (I made minestrone soup in the crock pot and and homemade pull-apart rolls -- recipes coming soon!)

Valerie and I each carved pretty awesome pumpkin faces. Tony also carved a pumpkin. But I can't think of a nice way to describe it with words. Pictures are at the end of this post.

And after we finished carving the pumpkins, we ended up with a boatload of pumpkin seeds, which means ... roasted pumpkin seeds!

(Sidenote! I have a thing for vintage Pyrex bowls. And this Amish pattern is probably my favorite pattern of them all.)

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

• Pumpkin seeds
• Salt

After scooping the seeds from your pumpkin, wash away all of the pumpkin guts.

Place pumpkin seeds on cookie sheets. Sprinkle with salt and toss with a rubber spatula to coat. Ensure seeds are in a single layer

Bake at 275 degrees for 40 minutes or until seeds are dried out, stirring once.

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Now, and I know you're dying to see what our carved pumpkins look like. 

Ta-da!

And I know you're thinking, wtf is wrong with that pumpkin closest to the camera? Yeah, that was Tony's pumpkin.

Valerie's cute Nightmare Before Christmas pumpkin is in the middle, and mine is on the end. (Pumpkin carving tip, courtesy of Valerie -- rub vaseline on the exposed areas of the pumpkin to hold off the rot.)

Here's a close-up of my pumpkin:

That face, by the way, is kind of my signature thing. Triangle eyes, triangle nose, big grin with a few teeth.

Observe, Halloween 2011:

Halloween 2006:

Halloween 2005 (with what appears to be a bonus Harry Potter-inspired scar):

Hey, if you find a good thing, stick with it.

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So I have the pumpkins on the porch. The inside of my house isn't quite so festive, but I do have a few Halloween decorations. My favorite: these small vintage jack-o-lanterns. My mom bought a box of them at a flea market for $1, and she gave me three, which I have in my living room, dining room and kitchen.

And on my dining room table, I have a pile of gourds. I tried setting them out in a bowl for a centerpiece, but I didn't like how they looked, so I just put them in a pile, and I kinda dig it.

So now we're all set for Halloween! Except for the candy for the trick-or-treaters. That has to be a last-minute purchase because chocolate doesn't last in this house for too long.

things to do: kennedy center mytix

I love going to the Kennedy Center. I love getting dressed up in big earrings and big heels, walking through the grand hallways with a handsome man on my arm who's wearing a jacket and tie. It's so fancy. It's a very D.C. thing to do.

Tony has taken me to the Kennedy Center a few times to see ballets. (I love ballet. Tony loves me.) But those have been splurges for special occasions -- going to the Kennedy Center isn't the kind of thing we do on a regular basis.

But there's good news! The Kennedy Center has regular ticket giveaways and offers discounted tickets for young adults (18-30 years old) through its MyTix program. The idea is to get more young people to the theater to enjoy the performing arts.

Last Friday, I got discounted MyTix tickets to see a play called Famine. As the title implies, it's an incredibly uplifting (sarcasm!) show about the Irish potato famine in 1846. Despite the heavy material and the really depressing nature of the show, it was a wonderful, thought-provoking play with a particularly beautiful set. The show was in the Eisenhower Theater, and our seats couldn't have been better. And the tickets were only $15.

The Kennedy Center sends out e-mails with its current MyTix promotions - I recommend signing up!

recipe: applesauce

I'm not going to lie. Making apple sauce is a pain in the ass.

That said, homemade apple sauce is far and away better than the store-bought stuff. So I think it's worth the trouble. But just once a year.

When Tony and I were in Ohio this month, we went to an orchard near my parents' house, and I bought a half bushel of "seconds" apples for $7.95, which comes out to about 33 cents a pound (!). Most of my apples had small bruises on them, being "seconds" and all, so they're perfect for making apple sauce.

In case you were wondering, this is what a half bushel looks like (minus one apple, which I ate):

The key to preparing a half bushel of apples? An apple machine. This is a fantastic invention. You skewer the apple, turn the crank, and the little mechanism peels, cores and slices the apple all at the same time.

Apple machine, I couldn't have done this without you.

Applesauce

• Apples

Peel, core and slice apples. 

Put apples in a pot (with a small amount of water to avoid scorching). Cook over medium-low heat. Stir frequently. Occasionally use a potato masher to break the apples down.

For small batches, cook for 30 minutes to an hour. Larger batches may need up to two hours.

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Note: Since I had so many apples, I put the first few apples in the pot, then turned on the heat. As I cut up the remaining apples, I just added them to the pot. It took me about an hour to cut up all of the apples, then another hour for everything to break down.

Note: You can leave chunks in your apple sauce. Chunky apple sauce will not take as long to cook as smooth apple sauce. I kept mine chunky.

Note: You do not need to add sugar to applesauce. Choose sweet apples, and the fruit will provide all of the sweetness you need.

Note: You can add cinnamon to taste. My mom has added some Red Hots candies to batches, which gave the applesauce a cinnamon flavor and, as a bonus, turned it pink.

decor: elephant update

I've found a home for the fabulous elephant planter that I bought earlier this month at an antique store!

I put it on an old steamer trunk that my father-in-law found for me. The trunk is under my spiral staircase, along with a tall wood mirror and some gold frames that are leaning against the wall.

I'm in love with this spot in my house now. It's a fun combo of rustic (trunk, mirror) and fabulous (elephant, frames). And not to mention functional - that trunk is great storage space. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: When it comes to decor and storage in small spaces, you can never have too many trunks.

dining out: spring mill bread co.

I have a new favorite neighborhood coffee shop! Spring Mill Bread Co. on Barracks Row.

It's been open for about a year, but it wasn't until earlier this month that Tony and I tried it. We woke up a couple of Sundays ago and decided we wanted to go out for an easy breakfast. And it ended up being a nice, laid back spot to grab breakfast, chat with my husband and do some people watching on 8th Street.

As the name indicates, this place is all about the bread, so we ordered breakfast sandwiches on homemade bread. There are few things better than homemade bread.

Also delicious: the rocky road brownie that we shared for dessert. (Is dessert for breakfast a thing?) Anyway, it also was tasty.

It's a small restaurant inside, but there's also patio seating when the weather's nice. Next time, I think we'll go back for lunch because the menu had several veggie sandwiches that I'd like to try.

Spring Mill, I'll be back. It's at Eight Street and G Street Southeast.

recipe: pumpkin bread

It's that time of year for pumpkin everything!

I tried the Cook's Illustrated recipe for pumpkin bread recently, and it was fantastic. Moist. Spongy. Good pumpkin flavor.

The recipe calls for walnuts, but next time I make it, I might substitute the nuts for chocolate chips. I'll let you know how that turns out. When my mom made this recipe, she omitted the walnuts entirely and reported that hers also was fantastic.

Pumpkin Bread

Adapted form Cook's Illustrated

Topping:

• 5 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon flour
• 1 tablespoon softened butter
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon salt

Bread:

• 2 cups flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 15-ounce can pumpkin puree
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 4 ounces cream cheese, cut into 12 pieces
• 4 eggs
• 1/4 cup buttermilk (or combine 1/4 tablespoon lemon juice with 1/4 cup milk and let sit 5 minutes)
• 1 cup walnuts, toasted and chopped

Mix the topping ingredients in a bowl with your fingers and set aside.

For the bread, mix flour, baking powder and baking soda.

In a large saucepan, mix pumpkin puree, salt, and cinnamon. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, for about 8 minutes.

Remove pot from heat and add sugar, brown sugar, oil and cream cheese. Let mixture stand for 5 minutes, then whisk until no pieces of cream cheese remain.

Whisk eggs and buttermilk together. Add egg mixture to pumpkin.

Fold flour into wet ingredients. Fold in walnuts.

Divide batter into two greased loaf pans. Sprinkle topping on the top of each loaf.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes in 8 1/2-by-4 1/2-inch loaf pans or about 40 minutes in 9-by-5-inch pans.

Cool in pans for 20 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

recipe: white bean spread

This recipe is so good. And so easy. And so, so good.

My mom made a batch of her white bean spread before I came to visit last weekend, which I loved so much that I ate it for lunch each of the three days I was at her house. It's a can of smashed white beans with dill and some other ingredients, spread on bread of your choice and topped with veggies.

We made this recipe for the first time last year for my sister's bridal shower. We served it with other tea sandwiches, and it was a great vegetarian addition to the buffet.

Here's one of the sandwiches I had for lunch, on flat bread with spinach:

White Bean Spread

• 15-ounce can cannellini beans
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tablespoon chopped dill
• bread of choice
• optional assorted veggies: 1/2 cucumber sliced, 6 radishes sliced, 1 cup sprouts and/or 1 cup spinach

Drain and rinse the beans. Put in bowl and smash with a fork. Mix in lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper. Fold in dill.

Spread on bread. Top with veggies.

Makes 8 small tea sandwiches or 4 large sandwiches.

decor: home with antiques

Tony and I got back to D.C. yesterday afternoon after spending a long weekend visiting our families and some friends in Ohio. It was a great trip, and it was cool to spend some time in a swing state so close to the election. While I was there my parents' phone rang dozens of times with calls from pollsters and politicians. And every other commercial on TV seemed to be for Obama, Romney, Obama, Romney.

Anyway, prices at antique stores are crazy inexpensive in that part of the country (compared to D.C.), so every time Tony and I visit, we come back with an carload of stuff from various antique stores, thrift stores, flea markets, or auctions. And this trip was no different. The backseat and trunk were stuffed with treasures for our house.

I've got a lamp, mirrors and some other decorative pieces in my living room right now, and I'll spend the next few weeks trying them out in various parts of the house to see where I like everything best -- so stay tuned.

But I'll give you a sneak peak of one of my favorite pieces. I saw it at an antique store in Berlin, Ohio, and I said to Tony, "I think we need to have this in our house." And he said, "Yes. Yes, we do." And that is how I came to acquire this fabulous white-and-gold elephant planter. Now to figure out where to put it.

I spent a few minutes searching for my elephant online, and I didn't come up with anything. Although I did see this similar squirrel planter at Etsy, which is just was fabulous.

dining out: sticky rice

On Saturday evening, after our brewery tour, Tony, Jamie and I wandered down to H Street looking for dinner. Our first stop was Toki Underground, where the host said the wait would be 2 hours and 20 minutes. No thanks. (Seriously, I would be happy to spend money there at some point if the wait was ever reasonable or if they took weekend reservations.) Anyway, the three of us kept walking down H Street and wandered into Sticky Rice, where I was pleasantly surprised to hear there was no wait.

We ordered a bucket of tater tots as an appetizer. Of course. Because how can you go to Sticky Rice and not order a bucket of tots? And I ate them with chopsticks. Of course I did. How do you eat your tater tots? 

My meal was fabulous. I was in the mood for lots and lots of vegetables, and the veggie tofu medley hit the spot.

That said, neither Tony nor Jamie finished their meals. Tony had the dirty vegan, which he said was "too coconut-y," and Jamie had the mock chicken szechuan (with real chicken), which he said was "too hot." Whatever -- mine was delicious! Many many stars for Sticky Rice. Extra stars for not having a wait.

things to do: virginia apple picking

Tony and I woke up on the Columbus Day holiday, hopped in the car, stopped to pick up Camille and Matt, and headed out on I-66 West for a day of apple picking and wine tasting. We got to Stribling's Orchard in Markham, Va., around lunchtime and grabbed a picnic table at the top of a hill, which had this spectacular mountain view:

What a view to see when eating a picnic lunch. (The food, by the way, was delicious. Camille and Matt packed falafel and hummus wraps with feta, tomatoes and cucumbers. And a baguette with cheese and grapes. And pumpkin bread. And there may or may not have been a little wine in red plastic cups.)

Once our bellies were full, we started roaming the orchard, scouting trees that were still picking. We're well into apple season, so some of the trees were already all gone. But there were still plenty of apples left, especially York, Rome and Golden Delicious.

The picking technique required the use of a contraption on a long stick that's capable of reaching the tops of the trees. Which was fun to use, clearly.

(Yes, I am wearing my awesome jean jacket in that photo. I finally broke it out -- it's officially fall.) 

You know what else is awesome? Hot apple cider.

So once we had our fill of apples, the four of us got back in the car and drove just down the street to a winery called Chateau O'Brien. We had our wine on the patio in front of a fire, again overlooking the mountains. It was a good daylong escape from the city and a nice way to spend the holiday.

Apples cost $1.50 a pound at Stribling Orchard, and it's about an hour and 15 minutes from D.C.

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From the archives:

things to do: maryland berry picking

things to do: dc brau brewery tour

Tony, Jamie, and I piled in the car Saturday afternoon and drove to the DC Brau brewery. We heard it has free tastings and tours on Saturdays from 1-4 p.m., and we wanted to check it out.

The brewery is way, way out in the Northeast part of the city, in a neighborhood you would never normally venture to. It's in an industrial area on Bladensburg Road, in an alley behind a post office.

But once we got inside, it felt like we just walked into a party at the house of a friend of a friend. The three of us got samples of each of the four beers on tap and drank them while sitting on folding chairs on the loading dock. And all of the beers were fantastic. My favorite was the Belgian beer, called the Citizen.

It's not a huge operation, and we got a tour from the CEO himself, whose shirt made me smile:

He told us about all the ways DC Brau is expanding to keep up with demand. After the tour, I found myself invested in the brewery's success as a small business, rooting for it to succeed. DC Brau has a new fan.

Here's the canning machine, which reminded me of something that Lucille Ball would've had fun with.

And look at all of these cans, just waiting to be filled with delicious beer.

I came home with a couple six-packs. (They also fill growlers on Saturday afternoons.) And I'm adding the brewery to my list of places visitors might like to see when they're in D.C.