I am a huge fan of roasted vegetables, especially root vegetables. Carrots, potatoes, beets, rutabagas, sweet potatoes, turnips, and the list goes on. Roasting highlights almost every dimension in root vegetables' flavor profile, but this cooking method really pulls out the rich sweetness hidden inside. As you can probably tell by the recipe posts on Fig + Cotton, I love side dishes. When I cook a meal for family and friends, I tend to go a bit overboard on the amount of . . .
An Easter Fiesta
Easter is right around the corner! If you are like me, you are scrambling to put together some sweet Easter plans that include a touching church service, lots of egg hunting, loved ones, and delicious food. Here in Texas, we love our Mexican food. It is easy to make ahead, the flavor combinations are endless, and it is always a crowd pleaser. When I was daydreaming about the perfect Easter brunch, I decided that a soft spring fiesta would be perfect. With every home soiree, . . .
Recipe: Creamy Potato Gratin (with bacon!)
This rich side dish is a show-stopper. With the creamy cheese combination, velvety potatoes, salty bacon, and sweet caramelized onions, no one at your table will be turning up their nose to this. It is just good, people. Pair with roasted chicken or a grilled steak and a hearty salad, and dinner is served. Recipe: Potato Gratin (inspired by this recipe) 1 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced 2 pounds russet potatoes (4 – 5 large potatoes) 2 cups heavy . . .
Anthro Dinnerware Sale!
Happy Monday! We all know that I love classic, neutral dinnerware; however, I love beautiful accent pieces full of color. One of my go-to sources for for pieces that add the perfect amount of excitement to my dinner table is anthropologie. And, we are all in luck! Anthro has some select pieces 15% off right now, and I am in eye candy heaven. Below are my top picks. So, run, don't walk, to your local anthro or visit them online to see all the fun goodies you can snatch up for . . .
6 with 6: F+C side dishes with 6 ingredients or less
Today is another first for F+C. I am pleased to present to you a new F+C series, 6 with 6, where you will get 6 great recipes with 6 ingredients or less. And no, salt, pepper, and olive oil don't count. This first installment will be all F+C recipes, but I will bring you recipes from the web and my home cookbook collection. Let me know what you think! (1) slow-roasted green beans - (2) cheddar biscuits - (3) grilled zucchini salad(4) . . .
The Frugal Florist
Today's Frugal Florist post in on the blooms from last weekend's last-minute dinner party. Pretty hues of green and white were used to create a chic St. Patty's Day arrangement. . . .
Recipe: Beef Stew
The last few cold weather months have put me in a soup frenzy. Last weekend, the foggy, rainy Saturday created the perfect backdrop for today's recipe, a classic beef stew. For our pre-St. Patty's day get together on Saturday (more on that here), I made individual pots of beef stew for each guest in my new World Market handled crocks. For even more fun, I topped each with buttery puff pastry which created mini pot pies on each plate. I love Cook's Illustrated magazine, and . . .
Entertaining Essentials: Pretty Platters
This is the first of another new series: Entertaining Essentials. Today, I am serving up some of my favorite pretty platters that showcase your food and add to your dinner party decor. Crate and Barrel has some amazing clean, white platters. I tend to use white serving dishes most of the time as I love to see the colors and textures of the dishes I have prepared. This large rectangle is a classic you definitely need in your arsenal. (many price points) This . . .
Party in a Pinch: Last-minute St. Paddy’s Day Dinner
On Saturday evening, we had some of our close friends - who also happen to live in our neighborhood (score!) - over for a last-minute pre-St. Patrick's Day feast. It was a chilly, rainy Saturday here in Austin, and a warm meal was just what the doctor ordered. Since this was on the fly, I chose not to go overboard on the theme. However, I stuck with all things green including the florals, napkins, and even the food. We dined on individual servings of Irish beef stew, . . .
Monday Menu: St. Patty’s Day Dinner
On Saturday, we had an impromptu early St. Patty's Day dinner with a few neighborhood families. Below is a great menu -- close to the one we enjoyed -- to feast on this weekend while you celebrate this fun holiday! More on our dinner this week... potato skins - beef stew - brussels sprouts - colcannon - apple cake . . .