What goals are you working on right now?

Gretchen Rubin (of Happiness Project fame) wrote about how even after you stop going to school, September remains “charged with possibility and renewal.” I just registered Jack for preschool this week, so I am definitely in the mood for some goal setting. This week I finished two books, I officially weigh 35 pounds less than I did in February, I hired a calligrapher for our Christmas card, and yes, I am perfect. ;) The momentum feels so good! The point is, when I set my August goals this weekend I wanted to talk about one my current goals: fancy Sunday dinners.

In October I said I wasn’t hosting any more Sunday Dinners with friends. Sunday snacks worked just as well with the added benefits of getting to see my friends more and never doing dishes. Unfortunately, this life philosophy also resulted in never cooking anything on Sundays. We spent all day scrounging for food, and Chris just starved. So I decided to make our Sabbath more holy (and happy) by really cooking a serious Sunday dinner.

Because we eat salad for dinner on weeknights I figured I could muster the strength to cook once a week, especially if it would make our Sundays more special. After the kids start napping, Chris and I cook and then eat together. The house is quiet, there are sides to the main course, we drink fun juices out of fancy glasses, and it really does make our Sunday better. I feel closer to Chris, I love the time searching for recipes, and I love cooking. The post from October notwithstanding, it has been a great, slow, simple, rewarding goal for me right now.

Do you have a favorite goal you’re working? I want to hear.

b perry

bolognese

Every night, after Chris tells me stories from his childhood or the day’s news, I make bolognese in my head until I fall asleep. Even though I’ve only actually made this recipe once in real life, I’ve been making it in my head nearly every night since December.

I mentally collect all the ingredients and lay them out on the counter. I grate the onion, the carrots, the celery. After they’re browned, I add the tomato, then beef. When the grape juice is reduced (yeah, I don’t even make-believe cook with make-believe wine), I restock my make-believe counter, and I start grating a new onion.

It’s kind of like counting sheep, but tailored to an over-anxious law student who finds solace in Italian food.

britt

Dear USF Cafeteria Pastry Chef

Wonderful, blessed person, whoever you are:

It’s hard to believe that something so delicious could come from my campus cafeteria, but it’s true. Your croissants are so flakey and semi-sweet that they make me want to be a better person. Not the kind of person who “goes to the gym” or “loves veggies,” but the kind of person who “eats chocolate croissants like it’s her job.”

 britt

Oh Deep Dish Pizza Gods of Justice,

This is me eyeing their pizza. Outraged. Also: it was 10:30 at night, and I was starving... I probably wouldn't have gone crazy under normal circumstances.

Friday night we went to Zachary’s, finally completing the Bay Area deep dish trifecta – Little Star and Patxi’s being the other two horses in the race. It’s too soon to tell who wins First Place, but there is one thing I know for sure: A group of people showed up 25 minutes after we did, and they got our pizza before we got ours. Some would call that unjust. I would call that incredibly unjust, and would further add that those guys are lucky I didn’t steal their pizza and smash it over their heads (in the name of justice).

britt

Stevie

Today I went to Berkeley to see Mackenzie for lunch, and I had a burrito in honor of your birthday. I can think of no greater way to honor a person. I'm so glad we're related - you are the best and I love you.

love,
your older thithter.

Kristen,

This is Chris pointing to The Best Donut [He's] Ever Had. While we were at Bob's, I ran into a friend who I had promised to give my favorite (old) neighborhood restaurants to. I thought I would pass it along because this list is seriously solidfreakinggold. 

Here are my favorite places to eat in the neighborhood. Sorry it took so long for me to get this to you! With the exception of the deep-dish pizza, all of these are within walking distance:

• Sandwiches: Listed first because I love it beyond measure, Ike's Place. My favorite is the Jim Rome (roasted turkey, red pesto, avocado, cheddar).
• Indian: Pakwan is the best Indian I’ve had in America, possibly ever. I love the chicken tikka masala (but we don't really like the chicken...) and always get it with a couple potato naan. NB: they’re cash only.
• Pizza: I love the Alamo calzone (bbq chicken, pineapple, tomatoes, cheese) at Deja Vu. As far as Chicago-Style pizza, we LOVE Patxi's, but SF locals usually feel loyal to Little Star. Also, I haven’t tried it, but the East Bay supports Zackary’s.
• French: L'Ardoise is this little place on Noe run by a couple French guys, and they keep a seasonal menu. Adorable.
• Tacos: 1) Little Chihuahua has my favorite carne asada taco; it's a thicker cut steak, but it's nice and spicy. 2) The fish tacos at La Fajita were my most cherished comfort food.
• Desserts: 1) the pecan pie sundae at Super Duper is a personal favorite because it was given to me as a “welcome to the neighborhood” gift from the manager during my first week of school. 2) The Creme Brulee truck that comes to Market and Castro usually has some fun flavors. 3) At Eureka, they have a half-baked brownie with ice cream, and it's good. Real good.

Glad you're liking the city, hope to run into you again soon,

- britt

To Pi Day, the most delightful of holidays,

amazing apple pi here. those are cutouts of numbers filling the Pi pie.

Thank you for indulging a brief return to my old-time religion, eating breakfast in bed.

- prodigal daughter

Mr. Gaffigan,

every single time I watch this movie, I laugh so hard I cry. every time.

I’d like to say Happy Leap Day. Also: I will be having cake this weekend. And this cake is bringing people together.

- you know, the bride, or whatever

Dear Giant Chocolate Chip Cookies

NYT image here. The NYT recipe we used here. 

Corporations is a night class that I normally have once a week. It’s from 6:30 to 9:30 and it’s pretty dense material. Federal proxy voting rules, etc. Well this week I had THREE, three-hour Corporations classes in seven days. We had to read nearly a billion pages to prepare for class, and then had nine. hours. of. lecture. When we first made you, giant cookies, I thought we’d never get rid of you, and we shared you with Esther, Marcus, Aly, Laura… but it was much harder to stress eat when you were gone, and I missed you.

 - apparently full-time Corporations student

Ike,

this is the jim rome. my favorite. 

Tonight when I approached the register, you laughed and said that I walked in like I owned the place. I blushed, “Um. Don’t you own this place?” At the end of the conversation you shook my hand and thanked me for being a regular. And I said it then, but I’d like to say it again: thank YOU, Ike Shehadeh. Thank you for bringing so much happiness and sandwich into my life. It was such a pleasure to meet you before I move next month. Of all the places in San Francisco I will miss, I will miss yours the most. 

- Jim Rome Recommender

Dear Ethics Cookies,

cookie cake here.

Each week, my Professional Responsibility professor brings cookies and tea for everyone in the class. He does this because studies show that snacks “promote positive and efficient discussion in depositions.” I am the only second-year student in my class; everyone else is in their last semester of law school, and I thought I would be more comment averse. The point is: I know he brings these cookies to manipulate me into talking in class. I know he’s tricking my brain into being happy for that three-hour seminar. 

But it works, cookies.
It works every time.

- Little Cookie Monster

Dear Olives,

Yes, Chris sliced our cheese with a spork. On the flight back to San Francisco our picnic was a bunch of Dunkin Donuts. It didn’t look as classy, but it was TEN TIMES AS AWESOME. 

Last week I read this article about packing a picnic for your flight. So for an upcoming trip to Chicago, I went into my favorite Italian grocery store, and I bought crackers, pepper jack, fancy chocolates, and you – you salty, wonderful, scrumptious, perfect olives. And I guess I'm writing to apologize that you didn’t make it to the airport. You didn’t even make through the seven minute walk to my apartment. You looked too tasty. I had to eat you. Maybe you’ll make it on next weekend’s flight to Utah

(unlikely).

I love you,

the impatient eater

hello family,

Page: thank you for the chocolate chip cookie recipe. You are the absolute best, and I love you. The ninjabread men cookie cutters were my gift to Spencer for Christmas. He got me ALL EIGHT HARRY POTTER MOVIES. My family is the best at gift giving, we love doing it, and we start months in advance. Steve got me a hot chocolate maker and some James Bond movies. Sam gave me my favorite sweat pants and a very sweet letter. Jules got me and Chris matching Perry the Platypus t-shirts since we're about to become the Perrys.

Two hours before Chris and I were supposed to head to Utah, I decided that, as a parting gift, I would leave behind chocolate chip cookies in The Greatest Shape Ever. I miss you, see you for New Years Eve,

- daughter, sister, chocolate chip cookie lover

to the universe:

picture from my aunt cari 

I am most thankful for:

• my family. 
• a flight back to san francisco with a travel buddy (for the first time in like seven years).
• the best travel buddy ever.
• pie.
• the people I go to school with.
• the little girl playing the ukulele in the Oakland airport this week.
• being half-way finished with law school in three weeks.
• Caltrain.
• Birthdays and birthday parties.
• the internet.

Dear Diary,

this weekend we also made some grilled cheese sandwiches with brie + green apple slices + SF sourdough 

I’m not proud of this, but if I kept a food diary, today’s entry would have looked like this:

• Three of the best salted caramel chocolate cupcakes ever made from Esther 
• A fun-sized almond joy from Jackie
• A handful of brown sugar pumpkin seeds from Jackie
• A giant pumpkin sugar cookie from Aly
• Two hard candies (lemon and strawberry) from Professor Greene
• Snickers Peanut Butter Square from Professor Dahr
•  Leftover pizza from Little Star

The corresponding feelings diary for today would have looked like this:

•  I don’t feel awesome... But I am so freaking happy.

- junk food junkie

Little Brittney,

this is Chris on our late night doughnut run to Bob's. I've had Bob's before, but never been in person. For reasons not even I understand, seeing the doughnut man squish the dough into the deep frier was the new Best/Happiest/Greatest Moment Ever

This week was a busy one in the Bay Area. Out of necessity, “Do Laundry” became “Eh, Rub a Tide Pen On It And You’ll Be Fine.” And I realized I haven’t been grocery shopping in nine weeks. I know how much you love food, preparing it, eating it, sharing it, talking about it, but I have some bad news: the closest thing I’ve done to “cooking” is A) putting milk in cereal and B) rinsing off berries to put in a salad. Other than that, I haven’t so much as boiled water. But you’re eating well. Not to worry.

- chef brittney

To Hyperbole -

Joe, me, Paul, Kels. This night was basically a picnic flash mob in Golden Gate Park, everyone had to wear white and bring their own four course meal, table settings, chairs, etc. And then we ate/danced for a couple hours. It was freaking sweet. There are more pictures on facebook, but this is my favorite of the four of us. 

I often speak in extremes. Okay: always, I always speak in extremes. And I’ve been told that this can make it hard to know when I actually believe this is the best taco I’ve ever had, or the best movie I’ve ever seen, or the best night of my life. But listen, this weekend, seriously was the greatest weekend of my entire life. And on Friday, I had the most incredible meal I’ve ever had, the weather was absolute perfection, the French band was utterly charming, I could not have enjoyed the company any more than I did. The energy of the dance party was amazing, and I felt like every single one of those thousand-ish people were also having the best night of their lives. If I could add any other superlative to that summary, I would, but that might be going overboard. 

- Le Diner a San Francisco attendee

Dear Growing List of Responsibilities,

this is a closeup of my locker at school: job search handbook, Constitutional Law casebook, California Probate Code, Wills, Trusts, and Estates casebook, Evidence casebook, Federal Rules of Evidence supplement, Accounting, Auditing, and Finance for Attorneys text, and Costco trail mix (aka the source of life and happiness)

Even though the weather has been absolutely beautiful recently, I’ve taken to wearing long sleeved shirts and hanging out in the library. Before I start my homework, if I take a moment to literally roll up my sleeves it gets me focused and keeps me in the right frame of mind. I have more to do before Halloween than can actually be done. I ask you. In times like these, what’s a girl to do but roll up her sleeves and get to work.

- trail mix addict

Dear San Francisco,

photo of morning bun at Tartine from my dad

I'm back. And it feels so good.

- your prodigal daughter - who returned to a robe, a ring, and a fatted calf (and bread pudding, Ike's, clam chowder, a carnitas taco, and balsamic strawberry ice cream).

Dear California,

went to orange country for Paul's brother's graduation. took a day trip to San Diego.

I miss you the most because you have the good food.

- lover of sea food and fresh produce