{frolic!}

spring cooking + happy weekend!

Recently I picked up Sophie Dahl's new cookbook. I haven't used any of the recipes yet but I love how short and sweet they are. The photos by Jan Baldwin are just really stunning. Normally I eat out a lot but I've been enjoying my kitchen lately, perhaps inspired by this beautiful book. 

I've been experimenting with extremely simple dishes and it's made the task of cooking a lot less daunting. Sometimes when you cook for one, it's easier to buy a few of your favorite ingredients and mix them up together, to taste, instead of following recipes.

The other day I made this spring salad with English peas, radishes and watercress. I added a bit of creme fraiche, olive oil and salt and pepper. My sister teases me about  my creme fraiche obsession. I try to add it to everything. It was delicious!

Hope you all have a lovely spring weekend!

Photos: Chelsea Fuss.

the sugar cube cookbook!

I am so excited to finally share a project I worked on last spring! As you know Portland is known for their food carts. It's not an exaggeration when I say they are infiltrating every neighborhood at this point and I am not complaining!  One of the most acclaimed food carts is The Sugar Cube, operated by Kir Jensen. This cart is devoted to sweets only. From delicious ginger drinks to salty chocolate brownies, The Sugar Cube will have you breaking all your diet rules in seconds. Kir has been writing a cookbook (with Danielle Centoni) for the last couple of years and last spring, my favorite photographer on the block, Lisa Warninger, was hired to photograph it. Lisa asked if I'd come along and provide some set and prop styling. 

We spent three busy days shooting the cookbook and additional days and weeks, prepping of course! Big thanks to the lovely Lauren Willhite for being my right-hand girl! It was one of the most intense shoots I've worked on, but definitely the most rewarding. I claim to love mostly savory food, but Kir's treats changed me. She's a master at mixing the sweet and savory and I love her for that. I probably gained 10 pounds on the shoot! The honey truffle popcorn recipe, pictured above, is my absolute favorite treat from the book, but I can attest that everything is amazing. 

I'd love to invite you to the book signing on Sunday at The Ace from 3-5 hosted by Powell's. Come pick up a book and meet Kir! If you don't live in Portland, I encourage you to pick up a book, and bring a little Portland food cart love to your own kitchen! You can buy it over at Powell's:  The Sugar Cube: 50 Deliciously Twisted Treats from the Sweetest Food Cart on the Planet.

Photos by Lisa Warninger for Chronicle Books. Used with permission from Chronicle.  Food styling, baking, and recipes by Kir Jensen. Prop and Set Styling: Chelsea Fuss. Styling assistant: Lauren Willhite. Photography assistant: Lauren Hartmann. Food Styling Assistant: Julia Langston.

coeur de neufchatel

Neufchatel cheese is made in Normandy, traditionally in heart shapes. I think it's absolutely delightful and would make a great little Valentine gift or treat for a party. I am keeping my eyes out for it at my local markets. Here are some other places you can buy it online:

Paxton & Whitefield

Daylesford Organic

Amazon

Photo from Flickr, Miss Roboto.

pretty pastel macaron favors

Parchment paper is one of my favorite, very accessible materials to use. I wrapped up these macarons in it for a dreamy little wedding favor or gift. See more at Mywedding.com. Thanks to Lisa Warninger for the photos.

Created by Chelsea Fuss. Photographed by Lisa Warninger. For Mywedding.com.

little pan gifts

I cook almost everything in my little cast iron pan so I love this idea very much! My friend Joke created a little card to put inside the pan (styled by me and photographed by Lisa Warninger). Just print out the PDF (download here) and stick in the bottom of a 5" cast iron pan. 

It's such a charming gift and under $10.  This is a great idea for all those chicken owners out there who like to give eggs to their neighbors!

Concept and graphic design by Tokketok. Styling Chelsea Fuss. Photography Lisa Warninger. For Frolic!

easy thanksgiving centerpiece

For an easy, last-minute Thanksgiving centerpiece try using dried hop vines. Readily available this time of year, hop vines add a rustic touch to a family style meal. 

Just lay a few vines down on the table and you are done!

I mixed mine with a few votive candles in antique tart tins and some white mini pumpkins.

For the full story, visit Project Wedding.

Photos: Chelsea Fuss for Project Wedding.

foodie field trip: a visit to DOC

DOC is one of my favorite foodie spots in Portland so I invited myself and photographer, Lisa Warninger, to visit their kitchen on a chilly fall morning last month. This cozy little restaurant feels like eating in a friend's home. When you walk through the doors to be seated, you walk straight through a tiny farmhouse kitchen where chefs, Paul and Jobie, prepare farmer's market-inspired meals. 

On the morning we visited, the guys had just finished making fifteen gallons of tomato sauce with the last harvest of garden tomatoes. They'll use them all winter in sauces and stews. And the cans will sit on those pretty window shelves which are an awesome use of space.

The menus at DOC are very intuitive and based on whatever the chefs happen to be inspired by that week at market. When we visited, the guys were really excited about these little kuri squash and they showed us how to cook them with saffron couscous. We (OK, I) gobbled it down that afternoon for lunch. If you are willing to forgo tradition, these would be lovely individual servings for Thanksgiving or even served as a side dish. Recipe, below. (Graphic design + lettering by Scout's Honor Co.)

Lisa snapped a few photos of the process. Paul taught us to square off the ends of the squash so they can easily sit on the pan when cooking. 

Paul cleaning out the centers of the squash.

Adding tomatoes to the couscous.

A dramatic gingham curtain separates the kitchen from the dining area. I am impressed that they work in such a small space! 

I love talking to people who are passionate about what they do and it's obvious that these guys love creating fresh, seasonal food and enjoy supporting our local farmers. Thanks, Paul and Jobie for letting us hang out in your kitchen! 

Download the instructions to make Kuri Squash with Saffron Couscous Stuffing below in two recipe cards designed by Scout's Honor Co. Click here to download: Part I and Part II. 

Photography by Lisa Warninger. Graphic design, hand-lettering and illustration by Scout's Honor Co. Recipe by DOC. Created for Frolic!

 

how to keep a pretty fridge

 

I feel kind of ridiculous posting my fridge on the Internet! A few years ago I blogged this photo of a styled up fridge and my mom made it her mission to make the inside of her refrigerator all perfect and immediately started putting everything into glass jars and making cute labels. She's a much better Martha than me so I am just now catching on. The other day, after a grocery shopping trip to New Seasons, my fridge looked quite lovely. I have a weakness for good packaging design and have been known to pay quite a lot more for butter with nice labels. Here are a few ideas for keeping a pretty fridge other than spending your retirement on butter: 

1. Keep leftovers in French canning jars.

2. Use an egg crate.

3. Store veggies in cheesecloth bags. Buy here or make your own like Anabela.

4. Place a tiny vase of flowers in the fridge.

5. Clean your fridge once a week or whenever you shop. (Novel idea for me!)

6. Wrap butter, cheese, or meat in parchment paper and string.

Any other tips?

P.S. A peek into the refrigerators of design bloggers.

Photos: Chelsea Fuss.

west elm

 

The loveliest tableware from West Elm. So pretty for a fall table.

Photos: West Elm.

wooden tableware

 

I'd love to set a table with these wooden pieces from Muhs Home.

Photos: Muhs Home.