Cheese-a-day: Chevre with Honey

This is a picture of the view from the back of the house we're staying at- at five this morning.  I was up, so i went out to go watch the sunrise, which I tried to do, until the bugs were eating me alive, and I had to come back in and snuggle back into my bed for a few more hours. 

Anyway.... so the cheese yesterday was a Honey Chevre, which you can read about here

I served it with toasted Tuscan Pane bread, and apricot jam, and there was also a little container of dark chocolate almonds with turbinado sugar and sea salt to snack on at what we've dubbed "the cheese hour"

I thought it was REALLY good.  the honey adds a sweetness, and there isn't any of the chalkyness that you sometimes get with chevre, and I had let it sit out about an hour before serving, so it was room temp and really pliable.  I think the honey emulsifies the cheese a little- it was really spreadable and delicious, and you could taste the honey in it.  The family liked it too, even more than yesterday's brie, which I thought was surprising.

We still had some cheese left when we were running low of things to put it on, so my sister toasted some more bread, and let me tell you- when it's on warm toast, this cheese goes from a solid, standard cheese, to something amazing and wonderful.

Cheese-a-day: Double Cream Brie

Because of my job, I've been recently very motivated to expand my cheese knowledge.  This week while we're in Virginia, I decided that to expand my palate (and the palates of my family) by trying some awesome cheeses that I haven't tried before (and a few, I must admit, I have, but wanted my family to try)

First up, was a double cream brie that I haven't tried.  It's French, and let me tell you, it is goooooooood.

I served it with fig butter and slices of granny smith apple.

My cousin Dan really liked it- he said it was creamy and smooth, and not too strong, and went really well with the sides- I agree with his assessment.

For me, brie is a "comfort food" kind of thing. It is meant to be mild, and unassuming, milky and buttery, and this one really was.  Delicious! Plus, the fig butter was really outstanding- it's one of my new favorite things.  I think it would go well with just about any cheese, but it really rocked out with the brie.

A preview of things to come:

Chincoteague Island

Next Week

Number 25 

Champagne Grapes

Ball Jars

Pectin

Sugar

I AM MAKING THIS HAPPEN, PEOPLE.

Just some randomness

I have had an early morning. I opened at work, and now I'm killing time at Panera until my theater company meeting. I don't know if it is just my level of tiredness, or my need to stay awake, but these are the things that I am thinking right now.  It's a jumble.  Consider yourself warned.

***
The air conditioning is a gentle breeze (or maybe I'm just under a fan), and I'm looking outside the window, it's grey, and a little windy, and all of the sudden, it feels like it could almost, almost be fall.

I know stepping outside will smash this fantasy, and the humidity will curl my hair (even more) and the warm rain will begin on my drive,  and that will be fine, but it's nice to hold onto the hope of fall, and cooler temperatures, for a little while. I love the fall. Sweaters, and a crispness in the air, crunching leaves under my feet, and stirring risotto on the stove. It's my favorite.

***
I've had Elizabeth Bishop's One Art in my head all day.   I wonder why that is?  I especially love this verse.  I think it is because I love the word lovely. Also, because it is beautifully written.

I lost two cities, lovely ones. And, vaster,
some realms I owned, two rivers, a continent.
I miss them, but it wasn't a disaster.

***

We are closing in on the end of my 29th year. I have... not done so well with this year's list, which, I'll expand more on, in a post later, but it's been a hard year- and I got some of the key items done, but I feel a general sense of frustration at how little of the list I've done this year.  Next year's list- I'm making it an achievable- I want my thirtieth year to be a success- unlike this one.

***

I think I want to go back to this haircut:

****

My Drunk Kitchen is still totally awesome.  

*** 

I just caught myself humming to my music (I have my headphones in)  I am totally one of Those Crazies at Panera, aren't I?

***

Pinterest is a thing.  I am on it. 

*** 

Coffee is awesome. 

***

I am probably going to regret this word-spew. 

*** 

I can't wait for vacation next week.  Getting through this week is going to be an EPIC CHALLENGE. 

***

Edie's music is beautiful. 

***

I'm really tired, you guys. 

*** 

Maybe I need another coffee. 

**** 

Maybe not. My eye is twitching. 

***

Ooooooh, iced tea.