Gilded in Gold Easter Eggs

Dying Easter eggs has always been an important family tradition in the Meyer house and as the children who used to guard their mugs of eggs soaking until they couldn’t get any more color got older, the tradition has evolved with each of us celebrating the holiday with our own new traditions.  This year I decided to try a new take on the annual craft and was so excited to come across this super DIY tutorial for foiling eggs.  The process is actually pretty simple – especially if you’ve worked with gold gilding sheets in the past.  I found the eggs took the size (the glue for foil sheets) much better at room temperature.  Pics of my project after the jump.  Happy Easter!

Well Branded Austin

I wish I could say I just got back from a great weekend in Austin, but that wouldn’t be the truth!  It’s actually been months since I visited the great state of Texas where yes, everything is just bigger.  It was a quick weekend visit to see the hubby who was working out there for a while and then due to the hurricane in DC, I had to catch an even earlier flight home before the storm.  Below are some of my favorite examples of the clearly defined branding that flocked building all around the city.

AND it wouldn’t be a trip to Austin without some serious tacos (including a visit to the trailer park for queso), new (to me) cowboy boots and a visit to the underside of the bridge that fills with bats… only during the day!

Healthy Fat Deliciousness!

I’ve been mowing down on these healthy appetizers since I saw them in Bon Appetit a couple of weeks ago.  Simple to throw together and full of healthy fats, avocado is the perfect topping for grilled sourdough – just don’t forget the copious amounts of large flake sea salt, red pepper flakes and EVOO!  Enjoy!

Real Parties: Under the Sea!

Kate and I had a blast putting together all of the cute little touches for our sister’s baby shower a couple of weeks ago and couldn’t wait to share the final pics with you.  We went a little overboard with the theme, but our sister was so surprised and thrilled with all of the fussing!  My favorite part was the two color letterpress in coral and pool invitation that Haute Papier (warning – shameless self-promotion) created just for her, though I think the mom-to-be’s were all of the clear balloon that looked like bubbles, including the giant ones that were three feet wide!  Now, we just need to be patient for another few days until this baby gets here!  Congrats to Ash & Darryl on the little miss!

Roasted Beets & Goat Cheese

Being just back from an incredible trip in France for the last two weeks with my husband, I’m loving anything French.  It’s funny, French food to me seems to always be one of two things… incredibly easy with few ingredients and super fresh or fussy, but worth-the-arduous-labor fancy.  These toasts are great because you can prepare the goat cheese spread and roast the beets ahead of time and then just throw the toasts together right before guests arrive!  This recipe comes from one of our good friends, who always make great food!

Recipe after the jump…

Watermelon + Feta Deliciousness!

I’m not so sure this one even needs a recipe.  It’s simple to throw together, refreshing in the heat and the pretty presentation always wows guests!  Just cube up fresh seedless watermelon, top with a piece of feta and a mini basil leaf, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with sea salt and voila!  Now the only trick is keeping everyone’s fingers out of them until company arrives!

Low and Slow in the Kitchen

With the sweltering heat that DC’s been melting under, there isn’t much incentive to turning on the oven, but I promise, this recipe will make it worth it!  And you can cook a whole large fillet at a time and have plenty of leftovers for lunch the next day.  Add a farro, wheat berry or similar salad as a side, top with tzatziki sauce got a light and protein-filled dinner without too much effort!

Slow Roasted Salmon with Tomatoes and Herbs

• 6 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 1/2 bunch dill fronds
• 1/2 bunch thyme sprigs
• 1 3-pound piece center-cut skin-on salmon or steelhead trout fillet, pin bones removed
• Sea salt
• 8 ounces small cherry tomatoes on the vine

Preheat oven to 325°. Pour 4 Tbsp. oil in a roasting pan just large enough to fit the salmon. Make a bed of herbs in bottom of pan; top with salmon, skin side down. Drizzle salmon with remaining 2 Tbsp. oil and season with salt. Top with tomatoes, if using. Bake until salmon is just cooked through in the center (a small knife will slide easily through flesh), 25–30 minutes.  Use a large spoon or fork to serve salmon, leaving skin in pan. Serve with yogurt sauce and couscous.

The original recipe, with sauce and salad can be found on Bon Appetit here.

Breakfast… Momofuku-style

There’s only one word for these suckers… obsessed!  I am, my husband is, our friends are… The bagel bombs from Christina Tosi and the Momofuku Milk Bar are incredible.  The mother dough that is the “bagel” outside is super easy to whip up in the KitchenAid and then the filling can be whatever you want it to be, though I’ve yet to venture far from the original of cream cheese, bacon and scallions…  You can order the book on Amazon at the link above for this recipe and a ton of my other favorites (chocolate chocolate cookie, candy bar pie, the list goes on and on!)

Breakfast… Momofuku-style

There’s only one word for these suckers… obsessed!  I am, my husband is, our friends are… The bagel bombs from Christina Tosi and the Momofuku Milk Bar are incredible.  The mother dough that is the “bagel” outside is super easy to whip up in the KitchenAid and then the filling can be whatever you want it to be, though I’ve yet to venture far from the original of cream cheese, bacon and scallions…  You can order the book on Amazon at the link above for this recipe and a ton of my other favorites (chocolate chocolate cookie, candy bar pie, the list goes on and on!)

CSA Week 1: Greens, Greens and More Greens!

Haute Papier is so excited to be participating in a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program this year.  We did our research when deciding which farm we would go with and in the end chose Great Country Farms in Bluemont, Virginia. Each week we’ll be giving you a peek inside our delivery boxes and sharing a recipe for something we made with the delicious fresh produce.  First up is this great saute I made using some of the greens we received this week. I’m a big believer in a diet rich in vegetables and try to keep animal proteins to a minimum – not that I don’t love them, I just try incorporate both fiber and protein into my diet at the same time – which is where the beans come in.  This recipe is satisfying enough to have as dinner – add in a crisp, white wine (sauv blanc or sancerre are both perfect) and some crusty bread!

Recipe after the jump…