New Year, New You.
This sentiment seems to be how many people approach the 1st of each calendar year. Some of us even wait until after the 1st to talk about what we need to work on to become a better . . . fill in the blank. A few of us reject the concept entirely, constantly reminding ourselves to strive to be our best every single day.
Hi lovely readers. Boy, am I ever glad it’s August! I sure have one heck of a month lined up!
First, this little book I am writing is almost done. The final manuscript is due at the end of this month and I couldn’t be more giddy about it! I honestly don’t think I’ve been this excited since I discovered New Kids on the Block when I was like 9 years old. For real, I am that pumped.
Also! Because I am always up for a challenge and work best under pressure (sarcasm, indeed), this month my family and I are buttoning up a big move that will be taking us 500 miles east of Ohio. Yep, we are finally making the long anticipated trek to Philadelphia; we’ll be residents by the 1st of September! That’s so soon! I can’t even express to you all how genuinely excited we are about this relocation.
If any of you Philly readers have some tips to dole out for great places to eat, shop, or just plain be… I would love to hear from you. I mean, we know the city is chock full of awesome–that’s why we’re moving there–but getting some direct recommendations from you guys would be super swell. :D
So, to keep things short, sweet, and to the point (as well as provide a little extra time for writing, shooting photos, and packing) I whipped up this simple, but friggin’ stupendous parfait. I had mine for breakfast, but I’m pretty sure this would make an even better dessert.
This simple dessert is bound to put a person in the mood for sweaters and bonfires. Serve with a mug of hot cider and embrace the chill in the air.
For those of you in warmer climates- this rice pudding is also delicious served cold with a spot of thick coconut cream.
If you are craving sweet, sour and a little bit salty all at once, this pudding will deliver. It is pretty fast and easy to make… but it does seem to take forever to set up in the fridge. It is worth the wait though. The taste kind of reminds me of an Orange Julius… which makes me want to make one of those really badly.
If you cannot get your hands on any Meyer lemons (I couldn’t find any until I moved closer to a Whole Foods) try combining the juice of one lemon and one orange along with the orange’s zest. I’m guessing that would taste pretty awesome too.
This date pudding is a very rich treat that is fabulous as breakfast, a snack, or dessert. Unlike some date puddings I have encountered, it does not rise much. But it certainly has boatloads of taste, density, and stickiness- especially if you stack them like pancakes. Even though it seems like a lot of steps to arrive at this pudding, it is not a difficult recipe. I made it for breakfast, before having my usual pot of coffee… and it still turned out miraculously well. A great start to a chilly day.
