Vegetarian Loaded Nachos

One of the most common questions people ask about this blog is how I decide what to make. The answer is as simple as "whatever I feel like eating at the moment (and is within my capabilities to cook)". The execution of those whimsies is another story. A lot of posts sit perpetually unpublished because I'm unhappy with one thing or another, sometimes I try to make a more creative variation on a classic dish and by the time the recipe is perfected, I don't want to eat it anymore. But there's always some success among the many attempts and this post is a great example of when the process works!

I've been having some really strange food obsessions lately, with special emphasis on nachos, banana shakes, and red meat, none of which are foods that I have ever in my life craved or sought out with such fervor until the last few weeks, separately of course (although...steak nachos with a side of banana shake? Sign me up). Today's recipe is a manifestation of the nacho obsession, which started on super bowl sunday and has yet to show signs of diminishing. They're loaded with cheese and all the best veggie toppings for a fun snack or meal. I decided to go sans meat to give them a fresher, lighter vibe, but you can alter them to your heart's content since nachos don't really need a recipe. They're just so goshdang colorful and delicious that I had to share. Hope you guys enjoy.

Apple Pie with a Cheddar Cheese Crust

My dear readers, I have some good news and some bad news. The good news? I got a job. The bad news? I got a job.

As some of you may know, I moved from Chicago to New York back in April and left my job there in order to do so. My educational background is in marketing research (I actually have a master's degree that I got when I was 22 years old, if I may toot my own horn for a second...okay, I'm done now) and I worked at small marketing analytics consulting firm during my time in the windy city. It was nice at first, but toward the end I was miserable, which made it that much easier for me to leave and start something new here in Brooklyn. I had been casually looking for another job in the same field, but after I started this blog, most of my time was spent here. In the six months that have passed this blog has turned into my world, a (mostly) productive way for me to channel my energies. I say "mostly" because sometimes I get down on myself for not being good enough, or for taking shit photos, or for whatever else I can nitpick about. The human ability to create stress out of an otherwise completely stress free environment never ceases to amaze me. All tangents aside, I've learned more than I thought I would in this short time, I've met some wonderful people, and I've developed a deep appreciation for what it means to be a food blogger, a recipe developer, a home chef, a photographer.

Unfortunately, what this new job means for me is that I won't have as much time for good old O&O. Believe you me, this is by no means a goodbye. I could be in a hospital bed and I'd still be updating this blog. What it does mean is that I'll be around less often. Currently I try to post once or twice a week, this might slow down to once every two weeks. Especially as the sun will be setting quite early in the coming days, I'll only have time to photograph my creations on the weekends. To give you an idea, let me walk you through how I made and shot this apple pie. I started working on it at 11:30 am: setting up all the ingredients, weighing flour, cutting in butter, grating cheese, slicing apples, accidentally huffing cinnamon, clumsily weaving a lattice crust, taking photos every step of the way, washing my hands a thousand times over (so I don't get flour stuck inside my camera). I worked until I could no longer take photos as the sun was too far gone, around 5:30 pm. And I didn't even get to cut out a slice! I ran out of time.

I won't be able to do that anymore on a wonderfully sunny Tuesday (that's on top of other days that are full of recipe testing and re-shoots, which I'll spare you the agony of reading about...). I'll have to reserve it for Saturdays or Sundays when I'd much rather sleep in and eat breakfast at 2 in the afternoon, then have my early evening bourbon at 4 and watch tv for the rest of the day. Now, instead of lazy weekends, I'll be cooking, taking notes, and taking photos. All because I've carved out a home for myself here, a little blog home in the vast wild west of the internet.

Buttermilk Cheddar Biscuits

Quick! What is the best gloriously gluten-y breakfast item you can think of?

English muffins? Bagels? Scones? Toast? Nope, nope, nope, and nope. The correct answer is biscuits. Especially buttermilk biscuits and especially if it contains cheese. I guess it's okay if you disagree, everyone has their own opinions, but continue reading and maybe I can change your mind.