what jen does

Life, home, and a little travel

Year: 2013

  • excited.
    travel

    excited.

    This morning I woke up and it was Thursday. That seems obvious. But what it also meant was that this time next week I’d be in Italy … and perhaps more specifically hiking the coast of it. Sometimes I get a little anxious about this trip. But then, I think about when I would ever…

  • oh hey, I’m going to go to Italy.
    travel

    oh hey, I’m going to go to Italy.

    Oh you know just your casual family bike ride around the neighborhood post Easter dinner. It’s been a bit since the last update… and that’s in part because a lot and a little has happened. A little: no cooking no cleaning no Harbor walks A lot: I’m going to Italy for three weeks. If I’ve…

  • My Birthday Wish: Update

    My Birthday Wish: Update

    Hi there internet, I wanted to provide an update on my Birthday Wish to get 300 people to join (slash donate to) the Be the Match registry. I’m currently at less than 10 people … with about a million people telling me that they’d love to do it. I’ve been meaning to write an update…

  • bacon jam (finally)
    recipes

    bacon jam (finally)

    It’s a good thing that I don’t work for an accounting company anymore… because my accounting of the 52 in 52 challenge for 2012… was a bit terrible. The whole point of the challenge was to try and cook new things, try some new techniques, and break out of habits. When I find something that…

  • Leek Potato Soup
    recipes

    Leek Potato Soup

    As I mentioned in the documentation of my corn asparagus leek tart, I overstocked my fridge with leeks a few weeks ago … and needed to take care of the problem this weekend. When I mentioned this to my friend Meghan, she first suggested a potato and leek soup. I countered with “they all want…

  • Corn Asparagus Leek Tart
    recipes

    Corn Asparagus Leek Tart

    A few weeks ago I bought leeks at the Haymarket market. It seemed like a good idea at the time. But then, I ended up not using them that week, and then last week I was in NYC, and well they were going to kick the bucket real soon. I’m not sure how they managed…

  • Irish soda bread traditions
    recipes

    Irish soda bread traditions

    I’m a sucker for a good tradition. Especially one that involves heritage and the USPS. Fairly consistently for the last 7 years or so, I’ve been making Irish Soda Bread for friends and loved ones. I’m not quite sure how it got started but I remember making my first few loaves and sending them on…

  • zucchini casserole
    recipes

    zucchini casserole

    I’ve been on the lookout the past few weeks for healthier recipes. I’m not exactly cooking with a stick of butter every time I hit the kitchen … but it is always nice to try and be a little more conscious. This recipe isn’t going to blow your mind like a good beef stew or…

  • My Birthday Wish

    My Birthday Wish

    I’m not sure what I’ve done to give back in a meaningful way in a long time. I’ve been thinking about this a fair amount, especially as I approach 30. Life isn’t just about me, it’s about those around me. What am I doing to impact the lives of others? Well, yesterday it came to…

  • donut muffins
    recipes

    donut muffins

    First of all, I will start by saying I don’t have a picture of the final product. Just trust me that they look like muffins. A muffin is a muffin folks. When I remake these little cinnamon gems, I’ll update this post … maybe. But don’t hold your breath. Now for the color commentary. I…