summer pizza

Fig spread + Peaches + Goat Cheese + Arugula = Pizza? Oh. my. YES!
I made this over the weekend for our pizza night with friends.  I really wanted to use some goat cheese that I had on hand. After a little searching I came across a few recipes that used fruit and arugula.  One called for fig preserves as the "sauce". The sweetness of the fig and peaches is tempered by the bite from the arugula.  This is some seriously good stuff!

simple ingredients: fig spread, fresh peaches, crumbled goat cheese, fresh arugula

1.  On a small pizza crust [I used this Udi's Gluten Free pizza crust], spread a thin layer of fig preserves or spread. 

2.  Chop 1/2 a fresh peach and layer on to fig spread.

3.  Sprinkle with goat cheese crumbles.  [ I also added a small amount of mozzarella.]

4. Bake in oven @ 375 degrees until crust is golden and cheese is melted.

5.  Cover pizza with chopped arugula after it comes out of the oven.

6.  Slice, serve, enjoy!

P.S.
I found this fig spread in the deli section by the finer cheeses.  It was delicious!

dalmatia fig spread

heading south for fall

 Heading south.......... to Southcenter that is!

With only 3 stores in the states, the fun, fast fashion from Topshop has been elusive unless you happen to be in NYC, Chicago or Vegas.  In a new partnership with Nordstrom, Topshop and Topman clothing, accessories, shoes, handbags and makeup will be available at a select number [scan list here] of Nordstrom stores in September. In the Seattle area, you will find Topshop [and me!] at Southcenter.

A few things to spark your possible interest.  Currently from TOPSHOP:

 bomber jacket

embellished tunic

sleeveless boucle peplum

rose beaded clutch bag

Will you TOPSHOP?

Read more about this partnership in the NY Times.

homeward bound

you are never too old to go home.  

 [denise (left) and james circa 1978]

see you in a week!

cupcakes and cashmere

A little blog love!  I read this superb blog every morning with my decaf coffee. Emily Schuman shares her love of fashion, cooking [and baking], decor and beauty in cupcakes and cashmere.  She lives in LA and is darling.  Her creativity shines through her outfits.  She includes details of everything she is wearing-down to her polish color.  I have loved the recipes she shares and appreciate her gorgeous photography.   Read her blog for a week and you will be hooked.

A recent outfit she posted:  Golden Hour -July 10

[via cupcakes and cashmere]

She has penned a new book, under the same name, that was just released.  Mine is on its way!

[buy it here]

packaged with care

My son should be receiving his camp care package today.  I smile just thinking about him opening it!  The package will hopefully give my camper a mid-week boost and it includes items to share with his cabin mates.  The box I sent included:

• Uno cards
• the Magic 8 ball
• a nerf football
• a book to doodle in
• a non-fiction book [Just the facts, man.]
• a disposable camera
• whoopie cushions [enough for every boy in his cabin.  I love this!!]  
• ring pops [plenty to share.  and YES I broke the "don't send food " rule.]
• a white pillow cases, with colored sharpies, for his cabin mates to sign

If you have a camper this summer, you understand the importance of the care package. After a google search, I found there are companies that will do it for you.  [Of course there are.] And they have some great items- specially geared for camp -that stores don't carry.  Next year I will pick a few items from these sites to include in my package! 

My favorite item that was on multiple sites:

 Fries Autograph Pillow

A few online companies for care packages:
Sealed with a Kiss
Beyond Bookmarks
The Wrinkled Egg
Just for Camp

an arch enemy

My arch enemy.  Cheez-Its.  If there is a box of these in my house it is a problem.  I usually eat 5-10 at a time.  All day long.  It might be better for me to sit down and eat the whole damn box at once.  Maybe then I would just get sick of them [from feeling ill] and never go back. 

As a friend so aptly named it yesterday, "It is the season of s'mores."  If I am going to have s'mores and/or other delicious desserts with an extra glass of wine this summer, I am going to lay off the Cheez-Its.  They are not permitted to enter my house.  Because once they are in the house...... there is no stopping me!

Do you have a snack or food item that gets you every time?

charred corn salad

[via bon appetit]

This charred corn salad is the quintessential summer salad and is refreshingly delicious!   It is a breeze to make.  Grill corn, chop the remaining ingredients, and add a simple dressing of freshly squeezed lime and olive oil.  We have had it twice in the last week!  Bring it to a potluck or serve at home next to your grilled protein. 

the power of dawn

The power of Dawn saved my life this weekend.  [That might be a touch dramatic.]  Dawn saved my shirt.  While taking a pan of bacon out of the oven, a pop and a splatter covered a brand new shirt with bacon grease.  After a brief freak out, I remembered I had a bottle of original (blue) Dawn in my laundry room.   The recipe for rescue:  a small drop on each of the grease splatters and let it sit over night.  I washed it this morning in hot water. All traces of bacon grease are gone!  I am a true believer. Think about it and it makes perfect sense.  If Dawn can cut through the grease on your pots and pans, why not your clothing? 

[Please note:  If you use this clothing rescue, make sure to air dry your clothing after washing.  You don't want to throw it in the dryer and set any remaining grease.  You might need to repeat the process to fully remove the stains.  I did.]