these final winter days | coffee ideas

The days are finally starting to become ever-so-slightly longer. We have been pleasantly surprised with warmer days lately, and it just brings the hope of spring to the front of my mind. However, I still look out and see leafless trees, brown grass, death where there was once life. The days have been constantly overcast, making for a dreary glow in the windows.





We are up with the birds whom I hear more and more from each morning, building up to the dawn chorus that is so inspiring in the spring. I carry a baby and follow a toddler, eyes still mostly shut, to the kitchen and flip on the kettle for coffee. I set baby down, rummage for the egg pan, warm it with coconut oil as eggs are cracked and whisked with a fork. In between whisking, pouring, warming, I typically move Calvin to his seat at the table with a full glass of milk and a book to leaf through as he waits for breakfast, usually void of all patience.

After breakfast is made, tummies are full, dishwasher is loaded, I remember the kettle. Every morning, it happens the same way. I mean for coffee during breakfast, but preparation is hurried and coffee is not. And so, as the babes play quietly, I flip the tab for the electric kettle once again and prepare coffee.

Black in the morning, with coconut cream and a bit of honey in the afternoon. Black coffee used to be the only way I preferred it, but lately it's felt like such a treat to get everyone down for naps, I just make it a little more fitting for the occasion.

In the winter, things sometimes need to have a bit more personality to get us through. Black coffee is amazing, but every once in awhile something added makes for a little spark in my days. It may sound silly, but these little things make the biggest difference, don't they?

I've been putting little fresh things in my coffee here and there, and it's turned out quite tasty! I thought I'd share in case you needed a little something to liven up your morning rituals, as I do.

My brew method of choice is my Chemex. It's super easy to add things to the grounds, and I love the ritual of slowly pouring water over them out of my goosneck kettle. I prefer it to my French Press because it seems to come out smoother and without the little film of residue that I find in my press. That being said, I opt for French Press often, as well. It's a little quicker and I can just set the timer for a few minutes and pour when it beeps. I can't recommend adding things to the grounds of your instant coffee machine, because I haven't done it! Just experiment as you like and find your favorite things.

Freshly Grated Nutmeg
Just grate a bit into your grounds (I use probably half of a teaspoon or less), and brew with your coffee! Fresh is key. You can't beat it!

Cinnamon Stick 
I like to throw a cinnamon stick into the bottom of my French Press. I typically add a bit of nutmeg, as well. The stick will strain with the grounds! Keep it and use a few times, if you'd like.

Lavender and Honey
Use just a pinch of food-safe dried lavender in your coffee grounds. Too much will taste soapy, but a little bit will remind you of summer and leave the perfect hint of flavor. I like to squeeze a bit of raw honey in the bottom of my mug before pouring coffee over it. Lavender and honey are one of my favorite combinations. You could also make a simple syrup with lavender, sugar and water to keep on hand in the fridge. In that case, I'd omit the honey.

Fresh Rosemary
I don't always have this around in the winter. When I do, there is typically extra from cooking. A friend made this for me in her french press when I went over for a play date and it was amazing! Just stick a sprig of rosemary in your grounds and it makes for a lovely flavored coffee. Sounds a little weird? Just try it. I was skeptical and am in love.


What kinds of things do you like to add to your coffee? I'd love to hear more ideas!


p.s. If you want a guide on pour overs and french presses, I like to use this one.

recipe | a simple and filling weekend breakfast

Weekend breakfast has become a bit of a special tradition in our home. Typically, I am up early with the baby, Calvin close behind. Sometimes we sneak downstairs and begin making breakfast while their daddy sleeps and other times the whole family is involved. One of us whipping up pancakes and eggs while our toddler is perched on the counter "helping", while the other juggles a baby and grabs ingredients. 

Our go-to is usually a whole wheat pancake recipe that includes oats and minimal sugar. But lately, I've mindlessly grabbed a pound of breakfast sausage here and there to keep on hand for our weekend breakfast. I was glancing through the pantry and came up with this recipe. 

This is a chop-chop, throw in the oven, sizzle-in-a-pan sort of recipe. It really comes together pretty quickly and is best served hot. I like to add heaping amounts of chopped up fresh sage both part way through cooking and at the very end for an extra kick because I love the flavor. The sweet potatoes add the perfect texture of softness and touch of flavor along with the onions. I put them in early so they'll caramelize. Toward the end of sizzling sausage, I actually like to take it out of the pan and soak up the grease, rinse the pan and wipe it down and then continue cooking. That may seem like a lot of work, but I prefer less greasy texture in this dish and that's how I accomplish it. Just before taking the sausage mixture off of the stove, I throw in extra sage and drizzle with maple syrup. I like to heap spoonfuls into a bowl and top with a fried or poached egg. 

Take this recipe and do with it what suits your taste. Maybe a different herb or roasted butternut squash instead of sweet potatoes. Perhaps you like your onions crunchy instead of caramelized. That's the beauty of a breakfast like this. You get to use creativity and taste for a cozy morning meal.

Ingredients: 

2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into cubes

Olive oil for drizzling 

1 lb. breakfast sausage

1 large onion, thinly sliced 

1 handfull fresh sage

1 T. maple syrup (more or less to taste)

4 eggs, cooked however you prefer (really, any way is great. My favorite is poached or fried.)

Preheat oven to 400 F

Spread sweet potatoes on foil-lined baking dish. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Bake for 20 minutes, or until a fork easily pierces the cubes. 

Cook the breakfast sausage in a deep skillet on medium-high. After about 5 minutes, add the onions. Let them sizzle together until sausage is almost finished. I like mine very brown and onions very caramelized. 

If you'd like, take this time to drain off the grease and wipe down the pan. Return sausage and onions to the pan and turn back to medium-high heat. Toss in most of your fresh sage and drizzle in maple syrup.

Throw a couple of eggs on another skillet and cook to your preference. 

Mix sweet potatoes into sausage mixture, add the rest of the sage and pile high into bowls. 

Top with egg, seasoned with salt and pepper. 

moments | a summertime trip home

Last month, my little family packed up and headed East where wildflowers were blooming, summer storms were rolling in, and harvest was finishing up. It was such a sweet time. The weather was unseasonably nice (70's!) and things were green and lush; a nice change of pace from our brown and thirsty landscape in Southern California. Time on the farm where I spent my childhood was nothing short of refreshing and the slower pace of a vacation in the Midwest had a rejuvenating and calming effect on us. I grew up on a farm with a white picket fence, backyard tire swing, land to explore and animals to smother love. I can't think of a better childhood. Above are a few snaps of the home I grew up in and little things that people living there take for granted, but make my heart go pitter patter.

a change of pace

After quite a bit of silence, I am back in a new little blog space ready to write and photograph and hopefully bring a bit of cheer and encouragement to your day.

It turns out I needed a bit of a break from blogging and all of the noise that comes along with being online. Also I was growing, birthing and learning to mother a baby boy. I've been creating new rhythms, discovering new things about living simply in my little home. And I may as well blog about it, right?

So after some thought, I decided to tweak my space into more than a food blog. I will, of course, post recipes; but also some mama things, photos and bits of our little home life that I never want to forget. Things I'm learning, and dreaming up through written word and photography. This space is now a bit more of a journal, a bit of a space for me to stretch out and learn a thing or two.

I hope you enjoy it all, just the same. If you happen to follow along, I hope you find delight in my words. If it's not for you, that's alright. No hard feelings, feel free to move on. Not everyone finds my ramblings on enjoying simplicity and cookie baking interesting.

I'll be back soon!