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Hello and Happy Sunday!! Today, I’ve got some deeeeelicious links to share with you plus some fun personal updates. I catered part of a wedding last weekend!! Oh, and I’ve also got a new donut addiction. So grab a cocktail, get comfy, and let’s dish.
- Starting with some tasty nibbles from around the Interwebs:
- Tieghan recently shared this Authentic Canadian Poutine, and it. looks. incredible!! I’m a big fan of poutine, but it’s a rare occasion that we can find an authentic version here in San Diego. I’ll just have to make it at home 🙂
- Jonathan posted this recipe for Roasted Shrimp Cocktail. I’ve got my own version here, but I do like Jonathan’s addition of garlic and spice.
- Check out this Cucumber, Avocado and Kumquat Salad by Brian. Looks so fresh and tasty! Yesterday, I made a quick salad with mixed greens, roasted asparagus, radish and clover sprouts (from my Specialty Produce FMB), sliced kumquat and a watercress vinaigrette. The thin discs of kumquat added intense pops of sweet and sour throughout the salad. Try adding them to your next salad!
- Have you seen the Foodnited States of America yet?!
- Hot Pepper Bacon Popcorn with Chocolate Drizzle. Whaaaaaaat?!
- Holly’s cooking up this Strawberry Cornmeal Cake, and I totally want a slice for dessert tonight.
- I am all about THESE.
- Kate just shared this Green Goddess Hummus. I’d totally dip that.
- Pecan Pancakes with Vanilla Maple Caramel. DROOL.
- Two close friends of mine got married last weekend (view from the venue above), and they asked me to prepare apps and desserts for the rehearsal dinner, and sangria for the wedding cocktail hour! Needless to say, I was craaaaazy busy last week. The bride and groom selected some of their favorite bites of mine that they’ve had over the years, including: Bacon and Avocado Deviled Eggs, Spiced Mixed Nuts with Sugared Bacon, and roasted vegetables served with Romesco Sauce, Saffron Aioli and Watercress Aioli. Everyone just loved the appetizers, especially the bride and groom. Unfortunately, I don’t have a very good pic of the finished app spread, but I did manage to capture this prep shot and this final shot. The venue, Levyland, was goooorgeous. It’s the same spot that I catered a wedding back in 2011!
- A big congratulations to Beverly Toney for winning the Twelve Recipes Giveaway! Thanks to all who participated. You can buy Twelve Recipes by Cal Peternell here if you are still interested in cooking from the book. I highly recommend it!
- Embrace the Mush: Redeem Frozen Vegetables with These Cooking Methods, my latest on Lifehacker!
- Nomad Donuts (picture up at the top) is my latest donut addiction here in San Diego. They’ve got some really, really intriguing flavors, and in general, the donuts are not overly sweet. That makes it easier to eat more of them! Get a description for the donuts above here.
- I know it’s still snowing on the East Coast, but here in San Diego, spring is in full effect. The amount of delicious, gorgeous produce showing up at the markets is just staggering. I don’t have time to cook and eat ALL the things!! So I’ve been all about pickling and preserving recently. How good do these Sugar Snap, Carrot and Radish Pickles look (above)?! Check out the recipe here.
- Kale Salad with Miso-Lemon Vinaigrette, my latest recipe on Kitchen Konfidence. I switched up my post-processing a bit on the photos here. What do you think?
- That’s all for this week! I’m going to leave you with this video. It was a smart idea to disable comments 😉
I’m Brandon: food explorer, recipe curator, cocktail shaker, dessert lover. Kitchen Konfidence is how I document my time spent in my favorite space, the kitchen. Did you make a recipe? Tag @brandiego on Instagram so I can see the how it went!
Alana says
What an awesome roundup and CONGRATS on catering (part of) a wedding!! That’s freakin’ awesome and that venue is amaze–what a view. All about that kale salad with miso-lemon vinaigrette. Also, thank you so much for the link love!! Happy Monday!!
Brandon Matzek says
Thanks Alana!! Yes! I wish I could cook in that kitchen all the time 🙂
Stephanie Stuart says
Fantastic post and OMG LOL at the video! I bet they had a lot of fun making that!
Brandon Matzek says
Thanks Stephanie :)!!
Sheena @ Tea and Biscuits says
Congratulation on being asked to cater at your friends wedding, the view looks fantastic! And I love the idea of devilled eggs with bacon, yum!
Brandon Matzek says
Thanks Sheena. They are pretty darn tasty 🙂
Kirsten says
Brandon,
I had a friend ask me to grow white daffodils for her wedding, which involved filing up my refrigerator crispers for months and then crossing my fingers that I’d have buckets of blooms ready on a particular day. Yikes! I’m not a florist!
Honestly, I’d rather have catered it–the stress was crazy! Luckily we had a backup plan which helped fill in for the less-than-robust flowers.
Brandon Matzek says
Wow, that’s an ambitious project!! I’d have absolutely no room in my fridge for such a undertaking :P. You are a good friend!
Angie | Big Bear's Wife says
Those Pecan pancakes with the caramel need to be in my life asap! Oh and I’m just going to need about 100 Tahini Sandwich Cookies!! Your friends picked some awesome dishes for their wedding/reception!
Brandon Matzek says
I’m with ya Angie 🙂 Thanks!
cristina says
Enjoyed your Sunday dish, Brandon. Isn’t living in SD glorious? 🙂 Congrats on your weekend catering event for your friend’s wedding – must have been fantastic! Have a lovely week…it’s spring time!!
Brandon Matzek says
Thanks Cristina!! You enjoy your week as well 🙂
Karen @ Karen's Kitchen Stories says
How cool to cater a friend’s wedding! (no pressure). This is a great round up of tasty stuff!
Brandon Matzek says
Thanks Karen!!
Laura @MotherWouldKnow says
Brandon, Sounds like you’ve been crazy busy, but in a good and lovely way. Hope you got to enjoy the wedding even in the midst of preparing and watching over your handiwork. I love your roundup – I’m a huge fan of Brian Samuels, and while I think I’m too late for kumquats this year, I’ll definitely try to remember his cucumber, avocado and kumquat salad for next year.
Brandon Matzek says
Thanks Laura! Yeah it’s been busy in a good way :). Definitely bookmark for next year. In the past I’ve just snacked on kumquats or used them in cocktails. Now I love using them in salads!
Cyndi - My Kitchen Craze says
I loved reading your Sunday dish. I love those sandwich cookies. Of course I would love those. I love cookies. They are my fav. How fun for your friends wedding! Was the sangria to die for? Congrats to them. Also I didn’t know you were from sd. I miss sd. I lived there for 5 years (hubby born and raised there) and we still have friends out there. We are now in Palm Springs. Its gorgeous right now, but I just know the heat is coming. Also coachella and stage coach. Help me. Hehe. Thanks for the nice read Brandon! 😉
Brandon Matzek says
Thanks Cyndi! Let’s just say the sangria beverage dispensers were cleared out by the end of the cocktail hour!
We love Palm Springs! Spent a nice little long weekend there last year. We also went to Coachella one year. It was fun, but definitely a rigorous experience!
Terri says
congrats on the catering event! That would scare me to death! You roundup of good food sounds great! I love that you include some details of your personal life!
Brandon Matzek says
Thanks Terri :)!
Faith (An Edible Mosaic) says
So much to love about this post! First let me say, it’s probably a good thing that doughnut shop isn’t near me…I think I could easily become addicted. And I neeeeed pecan pancakes w vanilla maple caramel. 🙂
Brandon Matzek says
Haha yes, I have to limit my donut consumption to one visit per week! Thanks Faith.
Loriann says
I have been obsessed with making spicy quick pickles lately! I need to mix it up & add more veggies
sue|theviewfromgreatisland says
You lost me right after those Nomad doughnuts…need them badly…
Brandon Matzek says
Yes!!! So good 🙂
San Diego Decorator says
Wow! You deserve it! Congratulations on catering your friend’s wedding. You must have had a really great time with a great food and awesome place! Where is this lovely place?
Brandon Matzek says
Thanks!! It was such a fun time. The wedding was at Levyland in Carlsbad.
Joleen @ Joleen Cuisine says
Loving this roundup!! And I may have just fallen in love with your blog…hoping to see more amazing photography and delicious pictures!
Brandon Matzek says
Thanks so much Joleen!!