Joy the Baker

I’m full of all sorts of ideas.  Loads of ideas.  I’m just brimming with them.  Good ideas often include afternoon margaritas on a sunny patio.  Bad ideas often include margaritas on a sunny patio without sunscreen.  It’s a thin line between good and bad… the difference usually has to do with whether or not there was sunscreen involved.

This week’s awesome includes: eating too many fresh cherries and continuing my aggressive jean shorts tan. I’m also announcing an exciting partnership (tomorrow!!), and daydreaming about upcoming days in NYC (and how frizzy my hair will be) (seriously… how do you New Yorkers deal with the sweat and frizz?) (help!).

I hope your week is full of good ideas.  Here’s a few should you need a little jumpstart.

Good idea:  Simple Roasted Apricots with Honey Mascarpone.

It’s time to slather Bourbon Orange Barbecue Sauce on absolutely everything.  You might start on things like chicken and ribs… but really just put this stuff on everything from saltine crackers to gingersnap cookies (yea… I’m nuts).

Sunsets in Seattle are always a good idea.  I love this big, bright, and wispy sky.

Lemon Meringue Pie Milkshakes mean that you can drink pie.  What could go wrong?

It’s made with tart lemon sorbet and graham crackers, and does not involve pie crust or hot ovens.  Summer dream!

Yogurt is always a solid idea.  You can tell a lot about a person by their yogurt choices.  I’m in it for the Fruity Pebbles cereal.  The yogurt is a vehicle for the Pebbles… that’s real.  I also have some major tan lines on my feet.  That must mean I’m livin’!… or just wear the same shoes all the time.

I love these Whole Wheat Flatbreads!  They’re so simple to make, requiring only a hot, oiled skillet.  The Herb Yogurt Cucumber Dip is a perfect pairing.  It’s a summer dinner without much fuss!

Is it weird that I keep encouraging you to stay out of the kitchen this summer?

This particular dinner was enjoyed on the ground with lots of cutting boards.  Bread, meat, and olives is totally dinner.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls are one of the best ideas I’ve ever had in my life.  Cookie dough, without egg, fork stuck, chocolate dipped and frozen.  They are perfect!  Actually.. .they’re so good, they might actually cross the line and become a baaad idea.  These things are dangerous to have in the freezer.  Nothing but trouble.  Good trouble.  Bad trouble.  Geez, I can’t even tell!