Roasted Cherry Tomato And Garlic Pasta

Last night, I enjoyed an unbelievable meal at Edward's Fine Food & Wine (which I'll obviously be sharing sometime soon). After baked oysters and white wine clams, we were served a to-die-for capellini that reminded me of my latest home-cooked "Italian night" dish. I'm handing you a no-fuss, elegant sauce that can top your favorite pasta shape or, perhaps, baguette slice or halibut filet. . .The adaptations are endless when you're working with fresh garlic and roasted tomatoes. Thank you for reading, and have a lovely weekend!

1/2 pound angel hair 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 cup red cherry tomatoes, halved lengthwise 1 cup yellow cherry tomatoes, halved lengthwise 6 garlic cloves, sliced 1 package frozen pearl onions, thawed 1 red onion, thinly sliced 1 handful basil, cut into ribbons 1 lemon, juiced Salt and pepper, to taste

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Meanwhile, cook the angel hair in boiling salted water until al dente, about 6 minutes. Drain pasta and keep warm.

2. On a baking sheet, toss olive oil with onions, garlic, tomatoes, salt and pepper. Roast for 15 minutes, stirring halfway through.

3. Remove from oven and toss immediately with angel hair, basil and lemon.

inspired by saveur magazine

Basmati's (Santa Rosa Beach)

I don't know about you; but after a long day on the beach, my greatest desire is a fresh and fulfilling meal with a glass of Chardonnay. Are you also raising your hand to this seaside supper request? Well, if you find yourself in Santa Rosa Beach, you're in luck -- Basmati's cuisine will wow your taste buds with flavors of both the Gulf and traditional Asia.

I was instantly impressed with the menu's ability to take traditional dishes up quite a few notches. No, Basmati's doesn't serve egg drop soup; they serve a lump crab egg drop soup with season vegetables and spice. . .Yum! I had to refrain from picking up the bowl and sipping the remaining spoonfuls. Next, I was thrilled that the gyoza (pictured above) were served steamed rather than pan-fried. The cucumber salad on the side was a cool, refreshing after-bite to the rich pork and vegetable filling.

I am not exaggerating that this shrimp fried rice was, yes, the best I've had in years. The unique  flavors reminded me of an unforgettable meal at Redfarm in New York City -- the black currants and Chinese sausage added a touch of sweetness, and shrimps were plump and wok-fried beautifully. I really wish rice didn't expand in your stomach (or maybe that's just a myth). . . but I would have finished the entire platter otherwise!

Speaking of rice, these four sushi rolls mastered simplicity, yet the ingredient combinations are completely unique to the restaurant. I've never seen these anywhere else (which is sadly disappointing when I'm nowhere near highway 30A). I was "Feeling Frisky" with the namesake roll, filled with tuna, fresh basil, sesame seeds, sprouts and rose water. The "Dorothy, We're Not in Watercolor Anymore" roll (ha!) had an addicting ginger vinaigrette. Next time, I'm trying the truffled tuna, since tuna and truffle are two of my very favorite things.

For dessert, we somehow had room for homemade coconut cake. . .it's that worth it! And, while I didn't try it, I learned that the tofu chocolate cake is a silky smooth Asian version of cheesecake. Incredibly inventive. I cannot wait to get back to Basmati's for another post-beach feast.

Cherry Crostini with Honey Goat Cheese

Helloooo, cherry season! Is anyone else obsessing over these harvest gems lately? I can't seem to stop opening the fridge every five minutes to grab a stem and bite off its refreshing fruit. I guess I am just trying to take advantage of these beauties before we must say goodbye to peak season at the end of this month.

Due to my travels, I could not attend a private cherry preserving class at Domain Whole Foods led by Austin's finest jam and preserves maker, Stephanie McClenny of Confituras. I'm a huge fan of Stephanie's locally sourced batches; I took home her strawberry balsamic preserves at Austin Food & Wine Festival and have been savoring them since with brie and crusty bread.

Both Stephanie's class and Domain Whole Foods' Cherry Fest event are sadly behind us, but let's continue the cherry love in our own kitchens, shall we? Below, you'll see a mint cherry crostini recipe with honey goat cheese, inspired by Stephanie's sweet & tangy pickled rainier cherries. I luckily got my hands on the recipe from her class, so I'll be sure to share it in the near future, too.

Oh, and guess what, Austinites? Domain Whole Foods will begin carrying Confituras products in-store in this fall. If you're elsewhere, I highly suggest ordering online. Happy cooking and happy shopping!

Makes 12 servings

1 large baguette, cut vertically into 1-inch slices 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 bunch mint, sliced into thin ribbons 2 cups assorted rainier and red cherries, pitted and halved 1/4 cup no-pulp orange juice 4 ounces honey goat cheese

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly brush/drizzle olive oil over baguette slices on a baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes, or until golden.

2. In a small bowl, mix cherries with mint and orange juice. Spread goat cheese over each crostini and gently top with cherry mixture. Garnish with extra mint, if desired.

*This post is in partnership with Whole Foods Market. Thank you for being supportive of my sponsors!

Midsummer Tidbits

Well, here we are, somehow halfway through the month of July! My last "real" summer has been a change of pace. I've learned to lay low but enjoy the little details, from daily morning walks to a homemade pasta dinner. I have been crafting recipes up a storm, yet there are so many little tidbits I want to share with you in the meantime. So, I thought this Sunday midsummer morning would mark the perfect opportunity. -- T-minus ONE WEEK until I'm in a brand new apartment! I can't wait to share pictures once everything is in place. My newest favorite piece is below. I've also started a wish list of apartment (and closet) accessories in the right side bar, entitled "Currently Coveting". . . scroll through yourself!

-- Speaking of accessories, Anthropologie is partnering with a gorgeous, curated line of handmade home goods from Lost + Found. My favorite piece is the wooden chef's serving bowl for entertaining. The entire line (see photo below) is absolutely gorgeous, and you can buy in-stores starting tomorrow, too, if you find yourself in Austin! Otherwise, you can order by searching by brand for "lost + found" on the Anthro home page.

-- It's worth a shot: If you're from Memphis, I'd love your vote for BEST LOCAL BLOG and BEST LOCAL WEBSITE on the Best of Memphis ballot! Thanks in advance!

-- Since pre-ordering my Yellow Table cookbook (only two days left to get yours!), I've become infatuated with Chef Anna Watson Carl's cross-country cookbook road trip. She collaborated with some of my fave bloggers out there, including Jeanine of Love & Lemons and Joy the Baker. Serious jealousy over here, Anna. Get your copy before it's too late!

-- My beloved Memphis has recently been rocking the national food scene! The best slices of the city were shared on NYTimes and Hog & Hominy chef/owners were interviewed on GQ. Andy & Michael's ten unforgettable restaurant experiences sound too good to be true. . .

A Caramelized Conversation with Lisa Lillien

Lisa Lillien is the energizer bunny -- take my word for it. Ever since beginning the food blog era with her brilliant Hungry Girl site, she travels cross-country for bestselling book tours, runs Hungryland (Hungry Girl Headquarters) in Los Angeles and envisions the healthy trends for Cooking Channel, People Magazine, etc. After a lively breakfast and Hungryland tour with Lisa and her Nickelodeon writer husband Dan Schneider in Los Angeles, I decided I needed to share a taste of her vivacious personality with all of you. I hope you, too, view Lisa's ALL CAPS and exclamation points as the perfect illustration of this woman's charismatic energy. Let's converse with Lisa Lillien. . .AKA Hungry Girl!

FAVORITE STOP SO FAR ON THE LATEST BOOK TOUR?

Wow-- good question -- and a hard one. I like them all for different reasons. On this tour, Kansas City may have been the most special. Jack Pullan, who draws the Hungry Girl cartoon character, lives in Kansas City, and he was there sketching little Hungry Girl faces in everyone's books -- so that was totally different and amazing. And the BBQ in in Kansas City is AWESOME!!!! (That definitely didn't hurt.)

GO-TO SUMMER ENTERTAINING RECIPE?

My frozen slushie HG-approved cocktails, of course! I have so many! The margarita may be the most popular... Tequila, sugar free lemonade drink mix, key lime juice, diet lemon lime soda, and LOTS of ice!

YOUR MOST UNFORGETTABLE RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE?

WOW-- another great Q. There are so many! One of the most memorable and impressive meals I ever had was in Carmel, CA at Pacific's Edge. Everything was PERFECT! They had an awesome salad with kale and butternut squash and grapes -- and I ate the BEST scallops on the planet there, too. The view was amazing as well.

Another incredibly memorable experience was at Jack Stack in Kansas City. The BBQ there is so perfect -- sweet and smoky -- it gives you chills (This is a good thing! And I apologize for telling this to a Memphis girl, but it's the best BBQ I've ever had).

And, any time I have a chance to stick a fork into the butter cake at Mastro's in Los Angeles it becomes THE BEST NIGHT EVER...

LET US IN ON YOUR DAILY ROUTINE IN HUNGRY GIRL HQ.

There's always a lot of food tasting at Hungryland. We're constantly testing out and creating new recipes and sampling new food products as well. I'd say we get around 20 boxes of stuff to try each week. . . and we develop about 5-10 new recipes a week as well these days. I am always writing and editing, too -- and meeting with clients, HG staffers, etc. And, I often will have my dog Lolly there with me, so that adds an element of whimsy and also relaxation and to my daily routine.

EVERY HOME COOK NEEDS. . .

A magic bullet. (Sorry to get all "As Seen On TV" on you...)

THOUGHTS ON BEING A FEMALE ENTREPRENEUR (Since you basically started the blogging world?!)

Launching Hungry Girl was the best thing I ever did! I love running my own business and I really enjoy being an entrepreneur. I encourage people to be entrepreneurial if they are truly passionate about something, fully committed to it, and prepared to work nonstop!

HOW DO YOU BEST BALANCE YOUR WORK AND PERSONAL LIVES?

A lot of times they are one and the same. I love what I do, so it doesn't feel like work to me. . .so working is playing and playing is often working. Not sure that even makes sense, but it is true!

image via food network

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WHAT I WORE (in first photo) :: Alberto Fermani Bootie |  J Brand Jeans | Nordstrom Lush Tee

Havana Beach Club (Rosemary Beach)

Rosemary Beach has literally found "The Pearl" of its oyster. The luxury hotel, opened just this past year, has the most exquisite architecture (see featured image on the home page) and atmosphere.

Havana Beach Club, one of The Pearl's three dining options, is inspired by Cuba with gorgeous greenery, eclectic seating, and beautiful patio views. Alex and I stepped in on Sunday morning for the brunch, which frankly made us feel as though we were vacationing in the Caribbean. I'll take that feeling any day!

With an extra hot cappuccino in hand (although the mimosas looked wonderful), I ordered the smoked salmon bagel. The plate arrived like an art piece. I am all about presentation, and this one pleased me much. The rose-shaped salmon was a generous helping, and the sliced tomatoes with capers draped the bottom right corner of the plate. I only wish I could have applied the whipped cream cheese myself, since I prefer a light spread! Luckily, the bagel was perfectly toasted and still warm when served. Delicious.

Alex went with a traditional "Eggs Your Way;" not only was a cheesy scramble served, but also a platter of extra crispy bacon, a housemade biscuit (with whipped butter and strawberry jam on the side), country potatoes, and breakfast sausage. Oh, and two tiny roasted yellow tomatoes! It was a beautiful spread -- my only criticism being the slightly undercooked potatoes (we wanted more crisp!).

You'll be very pleased with Havana's Sunday brunch, and I have heard that their dinner menu knocks it out of the park as well. Thank you for a fabulous finale to my Fourth of July weekend!