delicious day

I was all about making delicious food today.

After church my mom took me to Bed, Bath, and Beyond to pick out my birthday presents. I was in heaven...my mom and I wandered the kitchen section for ages, looking at everything and trying to pick the things I most needed. Wanted. Whatever.

First on my list was this little guy:

This is a Microplane zester, something I've been wanting for a long while.

My mommy was nice and let me use it this afternoon - and I'm betting she's glad I did (more on that later) - before taking it back so I can receive it properly on my birthday.

It was everything I hoped it would be though...it zested my lemons quickly and with ease, leaving the perfect-sized zest in its wake. I've been trying to zest lemons for years with the smallest grater setting on my cheese grater, which works in a pinch...but now that I've seen the light, I'm never going back.

I also picked out some custard bowls, a few tart pans, two Air Bake cookie sheets, and a complete set of both measuring cups and spoons.

I can't wait for my birthday now...so many things to bake!

Once my mom and I returned from our little jaunt, I took a quick trip to the grocery store to pick up the necessary ingredients for tonight's food.

First, I made this recipe from The Pioneer Woman. I get intimidated very easily by recipes with that many ingredients, so I've put off making it for a while. I sucked it up and went and bought all the ingredients, and it was delicious. I modified the dressing slightly, omitting a tablespoon of soy sauce and adding a tablespoon of water and an extra pinch of brown sugar, and it was perfect. I'll probably hold off on the cilantro next time (I learned that pretty much everyone in my family except for my dad and I don't like it at all), and keep it separate so I can add it on my own.

If I could marry cilantro, I would.

Not really. But that's what I told my family at dinner tonight. I was trying to make a point. Cilantro is so fantastic. It really should be married to lime forever and ever and ever...don't even get me started on that combination. Yum!

Anyway, the "salad" (I'm not sure it could be classified as that) was fantastic and can serve a crowd. We have a lot of extra in my house after having five people eat a healthy portion. Definitely a good dish for a potluck or something of the sort.

After I finished making the salad, I started on my next project, this little gem from 17 and Baking. I'm not quite sure why she named it "Lemon-Scented Pull-Apart Coffee Cake"...I think I'll probably just call it lemon bread.

Anyway, it was fantastic. Light and fluffy and delicious, and a perfect excuse to use my new zester. I doubled the frosting the recipe called for because my family likes things sweet...I put half on the bread and half in a bowl next to it, which seemed to work out quite nicely.

My family loved the recipe too - I pulled it out of the oven at about 8:15, and with five of us here, we've eaten almost all of it (it's 9:37). It will definitely be gone by this evening.

I highly recommend both of these recipes for anyone! They both reminded me of summer, whose arrival I am waiting with great anticipation...it's just around the corner now! Right?

♥ abigail