Tax Preparation Snacking
I failed geometry in high school. Literally failed. Had to take it over the next year. And I was a really good student so this was shocking (well really, I wasn’t all that shocked at all when it came right down to it). I doodled on my Converse in class and wrote moody poetry. Numbers have never been my thing. Words, yes. But not their more logical cousins. So it’s been a bit of an uphill struggle these past few weeks getting the financial statements and tax stuff all squared away for Marge. I’m slowly learning Quickbooks and have some nice people helping me out (thanks Mariane and Carol!) but it’s still a lot of accounting jargon. I feel like I need flash cards. Instead, I make snacks.
These are very simple little sweet toasts that are perfect for evenings when you’re stuck with your calculator dreaming of being somewhere else. They’ll take you there momentarily. Use your favorite crusty baguette and a good quality bittersweet chocolate (I like Scharffen Berger’s 72%). While I’ve been making these later in the evening with tea, I think they’d be darn fine in the morning, too.
![Chocolate, Olive Oil and Sea Salt Toasts](https://asweetspoonful.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_7171-675x675-c-default.jpg)
Chocolate, Olive Oil and Sea Salt Toasts
- Yield: 1 serving
- Prep time: 5 mins
- Cook time: 5 mins
- Total time: 10 mins
This is one of those funny recipes that’s a little less a recipe than four ingredients that work magic together. I like to add a bit of Meyer lemon zest underneath the layer of bittersweet chocolate. Try it this way if you’re a lemon fan. Either way, simplicity rules here. The chocolate obviously melts so don’t obsess to much on getting perfect square of chocolate–I just chopped off uneven chunks.
Slightly adapted from: The Essential New York Times Cookbook
Ingredients
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lay the bread slices on a baking sheet and sprinkle lemon zest on top. Lay a chocolate square on each and sprinkle with a little olive oil and sea salt.
Bake until the chocolate looks gooey and melted but not seeping all the way through the bread, about 5 minutes. The bread should be crisp. Out of the oven, sprinkle with a little more sea salt and a drizzle of olive oil.
Healthy Comfort Food
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Thai Carrot, Coconut and Cauliflower Soup
People describe raising young kids as a particular season in life. I hadn't heard this until we had a baby, but it brought me a lot of comfort when I'd start to let my mind wander, late at night between feedings, to fears that we'd never travel internationally again or have a sit-down meal in our dining room. Would I ever eat a cardamom bun in Sweden? Soak in Iceland? I loved the heck out of our tiny Oliver, but man what had we done?! Friends would swoop in and reassure us that this was just a season, a blip in the big picture of it all. They promised we'd likely not even remember walking around the house in circles singing made-up songs while eating freezer burritos at odd hours of the day (or night). And it's true.
Oliver is turning two next month, and those all-encompassing baby days feel like a different time, a different Us. In many ways, dare I say it, Toddlerhood actually feels a bit harder. Lately Oliver has become extremely opinionated about what he will and will not wear -- and he enforces these opinions with fervor. Don't get near the kid with a button-down shirt. This week at least. He's obsessed with his rain boots and if it were up to him, he'd keep them on at all times, especially during meals. He insists on ketchup with everything (I created a damn monster), has learned the word "trash" and insists on throwing found items away on his own that really, truly are not trash. I came to pick him up from daycare the other day and he was randomly wearing a bike helmet -- his teacher mentioned he'd had it on most of the day and really, really didn't want to take it off. The kid has FEELINGS. I love that about him, and wouldn't want it any other way. But, man it's also exhausting.
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Cheesy Quinoa Cauliflower Bake
I just finished washing out Oliver's lunchbox and laying it out to dry for the weekend. My favorite time of day is (finally) here: the quiet of the evening when I can actually talk to Sam about our day or sit and reflect on my own thoughts after the inevitable dance party or band practice that precedes the bedtime routine lately. Before becoming pregnant for the second time, I'd have had a glass of wine with the back door propped open right about now -- these days though, I have sparkling water or occasionally take a sip from one of Sam's hard ciders. Except now the back door's closed and we even turned on the heat for the first time yesterday. The racing to water the lawn and clean the grill have been replaced by cozier dinners at home and longer baths in the evening. You blink and it's the first day of fall.
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Stuffed Shells with Fennel and Radicchio
I'd heard from many friends that buying a house wasn't for the faint of heart. But I always shrugged it off, figuring I probably kept better files or was more organized and, really, how hard could it be? Well, I've started (and stopped) writing this post a good fifteen times which may indicate something. BUT! First thing's first: we bought a house! I think! I'm pretty sure! We're still waiting for some tax transcripts to come through and barring any hiccough with that, we'll be moving out of our beloved craftsman in a few weeks and down the block to a great, brick Tudor house that we wanted the second we laid eyes on it. The only problem: it seemed everyone else in Seattle had also laid eyes on it, and wanted it equally as much. I'm not really sure why the homeowner chose us in the end. Our offer actually wasn't the highest, but apparently there were some issues with a few of them. We wrote a letter introducing ourselves and describing why we'd be the best candidates and why we were so drawn to the house; we have a really wonderful broker who pulled out all the stops, and after sifting through 10 offers and spending a number of hours deliberating, they ended up going with ours. We were at a friend's book event at the time when Sam showed me the text from our broker and I kind of just collapsed into his arms. We were both in ecstatic denial (wait, is this real?! Did we just buy a house?) and celebrated by getting chicken salad and potato salad from the neighborhood grocery store and eating it, dazed, on our living room floor. Potato salad never tasted so good.
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If your house is anything like ours, last week wasn't our most inspired in terms of cooking. We're all suffering from the post-election blues -- the sole upside being Oliver's decision to sleep-in until 7 am for the first time in many, many months; I think he's trying to tell us that pulling the covers over our heads and hibernating for awhile is ok. It's half-convincing. For much of the week, instead of cooking, there'd been takeout pizza and canned soup before, at week's end, I decided it was time to pour a glass of wine and get back into the kitchen. I was craving something hearty and comforting that we could eat for a few days. Something that wouldn't remind me too much of Thanksgiving because, frankly, I can't quite gather the steam to start planning for that yet. It was time for a big bowl of chili.
![To Talk Porridge](https://asweetspoonful.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/20131208_BlogCranberryPorridge20131208_BlogCranberryPorridge-118-675x675-c-default.jpg)
To Talk Porridge
Porridge is not the sexiest of breakfasts, it's true. It doesn't have a stylish name like strata or shakshuka, and it doesn't have perfectly domed tops like your favorite fruity muffin. It doesn't crumble into delightful bits like a good scone nor does it fall into buttery shards like a well-made croissant. But when you wake up and it's 17 degrees outside (as it has been, give or take a few, for the last week), there's nothing that satisfies like a bowl of porridge or oatmeal. It's warm and hearty and can be made sweet or savory with any number of toppings. The problem? Over the years, it's gotten a bad rap as gluey or gummy or just downright boring or dutiful -- and it's because not everyone knows the secrets to making a great pot of warm morning cereal. So let's talk porridge (also: my cookbook comes out this month! So let's take a peek inside, shall we?)
Mary
I'm doing tax prep right now. Ahem, I'm really scrolling through tweets avoiding tax prep. Hang in there w/the bookkeeping - you'll master this too. ps. Made the salad from your last post - awesome.
Evan
I wish I had this recipe when I was going through my TurboTax.. it would have been a lovely addition :)
Nicole
I have always wanted my own business, but these are the things that give me nightmares.
Good Luck.
Denise | Chez Danisse
Love this idea for toasts -- hubba hubba.
Angharad
This reminds me very much of Dorie Greenspan's "Nutella Tartine" which I made the other week. Baguette+melted butter+ melted nutella+orange marmalade+salt+hazelnuts.
Amazing!
Anne Zimmerman
I sent my taxes off to the tax man, but this still seems a perfect snack. Thanks.
claire
Ahhh, this looks delicious. I need this to get me through taxes!
MICHELLE SCHOEPS
OMG that looks so good!!! After my cleanse that's the first thing I'm eating! x
Jill
i got a D in geometry :/
megang
Jill! I never knew! And I can't believe the wealth of comments that have been coming my way lately from you :)
Shaheen {The Purple Foodie}
I have to get my bills together and get ready for filing my taxes (I have until June though). It's the worst part of being self employed. Worst!
Sprinzette @ Ginger and Almonds
Looks very tasty. Your blog is such a pleasure to read. Good luck with the taxes!
Dawn
I like the way you think!! Maybe I'll bring these with me when it's time to meet with my accountant! ;)
Lori
I remember when Amanda first wrote about these toasts in the NY Times magazine. I was hooked and have dreamed of, consumed and loved them many times over. Thanks fore reminding me to make a batch today. Maybe for breakfast....
Dana
God forbid anything ever happens to Randy because I would be totally screwed on all things financial in our family. This post and your last one are making me realize I need to spend more time with that cookbook.
Kasey
I feel your pain. I took geometry in summer school - it wasn't fun. And I think I barely got above a C- in Algebra 2/Trig by doing a lot of 'extra credit' work. We all figure it out...day by day. :)
Maddie
Accounting, in my opinion, is never fun. But! When you start your own business, it must be kind of exciting to tackle the other, non-baking side of things. I imagine it would really bring home the fact that you're making your dreams into a day-job reality...which is amazing! (Especially with snacks like these to help you through Quickbooks training.)
A Canadian Foodie
Now who woulda thought? Nothing new about snacking during taxes... (or throwing oneself off of a bridge, for that matter) but this snack is absolutely novel. Chocolate, lemon, olive oil, salt and bread? Too bazaar to criticize. It begs to be tried!
:)
Valerie
Emma
hmmm yes numbers aren't my thing either, I loved English and languages at school but maths notsomuch .. and as for taxes!
Love your chocolate spread! Especially with the sea salt, looks very lush :)
Jen @ My Kitchen Addiction
I should be working on my taxes right now, but I'm not! Perhaps I need to whip up a tasty snack like this to get me started.
Rachael
I made something similar the other night, with a bit of truffle oil and toasted sliced almonds. Pure heaven!
Haley
I just came across your blog, and I absolutely love it!
hena tayeb
This looks totally gross but sounds sooo good