tomato, corn & zucchini pizza

August 6, 2015

Tomato, Corn & Zucchini PizzaWe have fresh harvest veggies in the plenty over here and I could not be more pleased about it. Every meal we grill, roast or simply eat fresh something from our loot. Last Sunday we all had pizza on the brain and I thought why not top it with summer’s current best offerings. It was a good idea…no, it was great idea.

Tomato, Corn & Zucchini PizzaThis pizza requires very few ingredients, always a plus in my book. There is more work in the prep with the grilling and the charring but believe you me it is worth it. I think we can all agree something magical happens to anything that is grilled, with veggies being no exception. That smokey flavor layered on top of the freshness is what summer is suppose to taste like…and this pizza is all summer – every. single. bite.

Tomato, Corn & Zucchini Pizza Tomato, Corn & Zucchini PizzaTwo days in a row of topping my food with balsamic gaze. Yeah, you could say I am a little obsessed. Drizzle this on your pizza and you will be too. It is the wow factor in an otherwise good pizza.

Of course if you do not have any on hand you can always add umph with cheese. Goat cheese in particular would be fabulous.

Tomato, Corn & Zucchini PizzaI love having another way to eat our bounty of veggies. I want to know what you are doing with yours! (Hopefully this pizza goes on the roster.)

Enjoy!

brandyjsig

 

 

 

tomato, corn & zucchini pizza
 
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Recipe type: Vegetarian
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • Raw pizza dough for one pizza (I used half of my easy pizza dough recipe)
  • olive oil
  • 1 zucchini sliced lengthwise ¼"
  • 2 ears of corn, shucked
  • 1 fresh tomato, sliced
  • 1 8oz ball fresh mozzarella, sliced
  • salt and pepper
  • balsamic glaze for drizzle (can use thick aged balsamic vinegar or reduce ¼cup balsamic to half)
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven 425degreesF. Spread dough onto a olive oil greased baking sheet.
  2. Toss zucchini with olive oil, salt and pepper. Grill both sides in a grill pan. Set aside.
  3. In same pan char the ears of corn on all sides. Cut kernels off ears and set aside.
  4. Take grilled zucchini slices and place evenly on pizza. Top with tomato slices and then corn. Finish with mozzarella. Bake in the oven for 12 to 17 minutes or until the crust is beginning to brown and the mozzarella gets brown bits on it. Allow to cool for a few minutes and then sprinkle a little salt and pepper on top and drizzle with balsamic glaze. Enjoy!

 

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charred peach cobbler

August 5, 2015

Charred Peach CobblerI know, I know…peaches again. What can I say other than it’s peach season and they are cheap (not to mention taste AMAZING right now). Besides, if you give this recipe ago I wouldn’t be surprised if you end up with a bushel of peaches just so you can make this again, and again, and again, and again…

It is cobbler taken to the next level. The Olympic champion of peach cobbler recipes. This cobbler kicks all other cobblers booties and then comes back to do it all over again.

This is my new one and only go to peach cobbler.

Charred Peach CobblerCobbler is simple, and like all recipes that are simple it’s the ingredients and what you do to those ingredients that really set them apart.

The peaches – first and foremost need to be fresh and preferably in season. You will then take those beautiful golden slices and char the hell out of them in the oven. The oven will spill over in euphoric peach aroma and you will already be very happy.

Once those edges are blacked and slightly chewy it is time to take them out of the oven and prepare them for cobbler dominance.

Charred Peach CobblerI’m not sure what it is about this crumble that is so much better than others I have tried, and honestly it’s not something that I even need an answer to. All I know is this – the crumble topping comes together easily and perfectly conceals those tangy yet oh so sweet charred peaches.

Of course there is no rule that says a crumble isn’t a crumble without vanilla ice cream…and if you do not have any on hand by all means still have at it with the cobbler. If you do however have some frozen cream in your freezer now is the time to grab it. Not using it should be a crime.

And…about the sauce on there. It’s not Hershey’s chocolate syrup, no-no. It’s reduced balsamic vinegar. SAY WHAT?! Yes, reduced balsamic vinegar (or really kick butt thick aged balsamic vinegar if you happen to own some). Don’t get me wrong, this cobbler is divine without it…but with it comes the title of “best cobbler EVER!”

Charred Peach Cobbler Charred Peach Cobbler

You guys, look at the luscious peach bite with creamy vanilla, buttery crumble and rich balsamic syrup. I’m about to lick this computer screen.

Try it. Love it. (And bring me some.)

Enjoy!

brandyjsig

 

 

 

charred peach cobbler
 
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Author:
Serves: 3
Ingredients
  • 4 fresh peaches - peeled, pitted and cut into ½" wedges
  • 1 heaping tbsp brown sugar
  • ¼ flour
  • 2tbsp sugar
  • ⅛tsp baking soda
  • ⅛tsp kosher salt
  • 2tbsp cold, cubed unsalted butter
  • 1 egg yolk (only need to use about half of it)
  • ⅛tsp pur vanilla extract
  • juice of half a lemon
  • vanilla ice cream for serving (optional)
  • balsamic syrup for serving (optional - can use either good thick balsamic vinegar or reduce ¼ cup of regular balsamic vinegar to about 2 tbsp)
Instructions
  1. Place rack 6 inches from broiler in oven and turn to high. Throw peaches onto a baking sheet and toss with brown sugar. Spread into a single layer and roast under broiler for 7 to 8 minutes, until peaches are nice and charred. Take them out of oven to cool slightly. Turn off broiler and set oven to 375degrees F.
  2. Meanwhile, place flour, sugar, baking soda and salt in a bowl. Toss in butter and rub into mixture evenly. Add egg yolk and vanilla, site and set in fridge until ready to use.
  3. Divide peaches evenly into 3 small ramekins. Squeeze a little lemon juice onto each. Top with crumble mixture.
  4. Place in over for 20 minutes until tope are golden and fruit is bubbly. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving. Awesome on it's own, even better with vanilla ice cream and balsamic glaze. Enjoy!
Notes
This recipe makes 3 ramekins - easily double to make 6.

 

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fall 2015 hair ways

August 4, 2015

I want to start today with a great big thank you. Last month’s blog stats were awesome. I often ponder why anyone should care to spend their precious time on this site. While I may not have the answer, I do know that all this sharing has made my everyday a little bit brighter. I’d be lying if I said it was easy to keep up with the writing, shooting, social media, networking, tech side, and the many other things that come with blogging. But I wouldn’t be up for all this work if it didn’t fill my soul in some way. It does, and so do you.

Thank You.

Now let’s talk hair. More specifically how we style our hair. What is it about August that makes all of us think fall, fall, FALL! It’s still hot outside and we are all boots, apples, boots, pumpkins, boots! (BOOTS – it deserves another shout out because…BOOTS.)  One way to infuse fall into your still summer days is by taking a note from the upcoming on trend hairstyles. What I love about all of these are their ease. No intricate braiding or curling. Simply easy autumn hair, I like that.

080415_fall_2015_ways_to wear_hair1headbands are always a fave, but this season they are going to be sleek and chic./2a slick, deep part with a bold lip is just the crispness a girl needs for that perfect fall day./3throw on the turtleneck and leave that hair tucked. Wait, haven’t we always been doing that? At least now we will be on trend./4replace those braid days with a messy chignon. I need to learn how to perfect this style…/5my absolute favorite – bed head middle part. If my hair is down this is typically what it ends up like…thank you fashion world for making it cool to look a mess.

xo,

brandyjsig

 

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you say tomato, i say shirt

August 3, 2015

denim dress shirtForever did it again. Tried to pass off a shirt as a dress. I know it said 33″ in length (2 inches shorter than my 35″ safety zone) and I know it looked short on the leggy, skinny model……..but I had to have it…until I had it.

Me wearing this as a dress…nobody wants to see that. Trust me.

I’m not even sure I could pass this off with tights and feel good about it. I know it doesn’t look terribly short in these images, but believe me, those sides – yeah, those sides ride up to “uh-oh land” whenever one bends or sits. That’s never a safe place to journey.

With all that being said this is a darn good Forever find. Fabric is nice and the cut is boxy without being too boxy. I have considered shortening it a bit – as I’m really not one to ever wear a boxy shirt at this length – but I don’t know, this just may be something I need to keep as is.

What do you think? (Other than I need to put white jeans that fit on my shopping list…I swear the legs widen and shorten with every wash. Damn you Forever and your cheap jeans that only last a season….)

denim dress shirt||WEARING||Forever 21 “dress”/white jean similar/Chinese Laundry Mindy wedge

With a fashion shoot  nowadays we get about 2 minutes to shoot an outfit before the minions take over. That’s perfectly fine with me considering there’s often family outtakes involved.

denim dress shirtJettie just figured out that I have a self timer on my camera. She loves the anticipation of it. Look at her all poised while the rest of us act silly  (okay, just me and Sticky).

denim dress shirtCheers to a great week everyone!

xo,

brandyjsig

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these six

July 31, 2015

These Six1I personally love a belated birthday gift. It’s a surprise on a day that is not your birthday which makes it even more of a surprise. Which is awesome. My friend Lisa made my day with this illustration from the talented BigFashionBook on etsy. A now prize possession in my office. Thanks Lisa!/2Every Wednesday Matt Ballassai chugs a huge-arse glass of wine and well, “whines” about it. And this guy is one good whiner. This week’s was one of the best – why clothes shopping is the absolute worst. The kid one is worth a watch too! (There is foul language, just a warning if the kiddos are near.)/3These cutoffs are quite possibly the most comfy shorts I have ever owned. Great length too! To be completely honest they are not the most flattering (legs could be slimmer) but I chose to ignore that small imperfection. (They run huge so if ordering size down.)/4Tomato season! We did not plant a garden this year but Sticky came home with a box of fresh maters from the Amish yesterday. Tomato sandwiches, tomato pizza, tomato omelets, tomato salsa…we are about to turn into a family of tomatoes. Well, all except Jettie – she thinks they smell good but doesn’t want to put one in her mouth./5Coconut margaritas because it is the weekend and I am ready for a drink./6These two, in their grundies, sharing a stool, at the bathroom sink. GAH! Won’t be long before this scene would be well, so wrong. But I’ll soak the cuteness of it up right now while I can!

Enjoy your weekend everyone!

xo,

brandyjsig

 

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