Recycling tidbit, day-o-baking!

Hello DC and Montgomery-county jammers! Good news! If you didn't already know, you can recycle the lids from your jars of jam. You know, the Ball or Kerr ones, aluminum with a rubber gasket? They can only be used once anyway, so unless you're saving them for reasons other than preservation, toss them in your blue recycling bin. A dear reader, Liz, has confirmed for MC, and I via DC Dept of Public Works. If y'all have good city-wide recycling programs, it's likely you can recycle yours too; if you're unsure, don't hesitate to ask your city service. Today is beautiful, and since returning home from a school meeting, I've happily ensconced myself in my kitchen, cooking and baking away. A walnut-cinnamon coffee cake is all wrapped up, an apple cake is in the oven now. 18 scrumptious brownies are plated, the boxes of jam are towering on my table. Red beans are in the fridge, pecan-oatmeal and blackberry pies sit at the ready. I'm so excited for the Arts Market tomorrow. Thank you, Circle Yoga, for hosting this wonderful event again.

And lunch is served

What a good day: to have catered a large lunch, not have felt much stress, enjoyed the process, and shared some really beautiful food. As I'm learning, photographing food inside and with a flash never does it justice -at all!- but here are a few attempts. And almost best of all, there are a few of each dessert left over for moi!

Sage pesto is the bomb, tart, brownies, bed

Oh.My.God.

I am in love with my sage pesto. Y'all MUST try this: 3/4 c packed sage leaves + 5 basil leaves + 1/4 c toasted pine nuts + 1/3 c EVOO + 3/4 tsp salt + 4 cloves garlic + freshly cooked pasta (recipe posted). Ridiculously good. I tossed mine with grilled salmon which was just divine. This type of round, flat pasta is called Croxetti, a rare'ish shape.

In the meantime, this beautiful tart and a first pan of brownies were cooling. Officially gaga and happy my hubs is coming home tonight, I'm going to tuck myself into the basement and get a good night's sleep in anticipation of tomorrow's luncheon. And do you know what tomorrow night is? A fiesta at the Mexican embassy! Yes please to a marg.