Recap of 14 previous Stitch Fix boxes

I was surprised as I opened up my box of Stitch Fix to see at the top that my March 2015 box was Stitch Fix #15. Fifteen! I have had 75 items styled by the Stitch Fix stylists for me, like I’m a Hollywood C-lister.

I wanted to share some of the items I’ve kept from the 14 previous boxes to the March box (I covered the March box in a previous post). If you haven’t heard of Stitch Fix before, Stitch Fix is a monthly styling subscription service personalized for you.

You go online and they ask you questions, including showing you images of various outfits, to get an information on your size as well as your preferences in style. You can even put together a Pinterest board of outfit  inspirations, including from celebrities (I’m crushing on Grimm TV show character Juliette’s wardrobe) or stores. You can also let them know if you want a box to include certain fixes, such as pants, or if you have an event (like a bachelorette party or beach vacation trip) to style for. Then, based on all that, a stylist will pick out 5 pieces to ship to you that are mailed to your home for your consideration.

Stitch Fix #15 March 2015

There is a $20 styling fee that is applied to your order as soon as the box is shipped to your home. You can choose whether you want to exclude anything, or ask for certain things, what your price points on various parts of an outfit might be, if there are parts of your body you hide or that you flaunt, etc. They also have petite or maternity styling, if that applies to you.

You also get to choose how often you get your Stitch Fix boxes – monthly, quarterly, on demand… you make the call, down to picking even that date of your Stitch Fix (ha ha I pick it to be after my credit card statement closes for the month). You can keep everything (and get 25% off the price of the entire box) or send any pieces or even everything back in a postage paid package in the box based on what you think of the items in the box.

My boxes have been mixed – there have been a couple times I have kept everything. Other times I might only keep 1 thing, or even nothing (this has never happened to me, I always like at least one thing).

I always try everything on because I have been surprised that things I don’t think would work on me or that I would never pick up in a store actually end up looking surprisingly good once on me. And, I love getting unique pieces that no one else in my circle has, I’ve gotten so many compliments on Stitch Fix clothing from friends and strangers.

This Miilla Alani Draped Mixed Knit Cardigan is probably my favorite piece out of all the boxes. It’s perfect for layering all year long, and the cut of the cardigan is very feminine and flattering. It comes with a detachable long scarf too.
Stitch Fix styled fix of Miilla Alani Draped Mixed Knit Cardigan is perfect for layering all year long, and the cut of the cardigan is very feminine and flattering Stitch Fix styled fix of Miilla Alani Draped Mixed Knit Cardigan is perfect for layering all year long, and the cut of the cardigan is very feminine and flattering

Another favorite is Subtle Luxury’s Madone Silk Back Cardigan that is the epitome of a perfect piece to wear to work or out in the evening. Whenever I walk when I’m wearing it, I can feel the softness of the cashmere-cotton blend and the fluttering of the 100% silk back like I’m a pretty peacock.
Stitch Fix styled fix of a Subtle Luxury's Madone Silk Back Cardigan that is the epitome of a perfect piece to wear to work or out in the evening. Stitch Fix styled fix of a Subtle Luxury's Madone Silk Back Cardigan that is the epitome of a perfect piece to wear to work or out in the evening. Stitch Fix styled fix of a Subtle Luxury's Madone Silk Back Cardigan that is the epitome of a perfect piece to wear to work or out in the evening.

A few other cardigans from other Stitch Fix boxes. I didn’t realize it until Stitch Fix sent me this many just how much I love these really fluttery cut cardigans or the warm coziness of some of those thicker sweaters.

  • Roxanna Chevron Open Knit Cardigan by TCEC works in every season
  • Can’t recall, but love the fluttering movement of this fuschia cardigan/wrap from Qi, I just don’t know the name of the design with this shawl collar
  • Tulle Lawley Cable Knit Open Cardigan has a cheerful color on the grey days and super deep pockets on either side
  • Mystree Demi Mixed Material Cardigan is like a sweatshirt and huggable sweater in one
  • Sanctuary Rollins Striped Slub Knit Sweater is so comfortably cozy but warm and cute

Roxanna Chevron Open Knit Cardigan by TCEC, thanks to Stitch Fix Roxanna Chevron Open Knit Cardigan by TCEC, thanks to Stitch Fix Stitch Fix knows I love these fluttery cardigans Stitch Fix knows I love these fluttery cardigans Stitch Fix box styled me a Tulle Lawley Cable Knit Open Cardigan Stitch Fix styled me a Mystree Demi Mixed Material Cardigan Stitch Fix styled me a Mystree Demi Mixed Material Cardigan Stitch Fix Sanctuary Rollins Striped Slub Knit Sweater is so comfortably cozy but warm and cute Stitch Fix Sanctuary Rollins Striped Slub Knit Sweater is so comfortably cozy but warm and cute

Living in Portland where it might be 40 degrees F in the morning but close to 70 degrees F by 4-5 PM when I get out of work, layering is crucial. Stitch Fix has been helping me out with lots of lovely blouses so that even if I wear only boring black cardigans over them, I still look great.

It’s usually the little details that get me- a color that stands out, a cap sleeve or sleeve that rolls and buttons up, the mix of materials. I’m always looking for pieces that look like no one else’s.

  • Ezra Malena Embroidered Flutter Sleeve blouse
  • Ark N Co Siva Chiffon Rose Print Blouse is a chiffon blouse good to dress up or down
  • Daniel Rainn Tolley Mixed Print Crochet Detail Tie Neck Blouse is so interesting for spring and summer with its colors and materials
  • Blouse from a Stitch Fix box – I cut the tag off because it was itching my neck, so really can’t even look up who made it!

    Life of a food blogger! #lgpfoodcrawl #pdxfoodbloggers #thymeoftaste

    A photo posted by Thyme Of Taste (@thyme_of_taste) on

  • Daniel Rainn Bilson Pleat Detail Abstract Print Blouse can be long sleeved or buttened into the rolled up sleeve look
  • Under Skies Milan Lace Print Back Pleat Top came in the same Stitch Fix box as maroon jeans so was a whole outfit in 1 box
  • 41Hawthorn Moni Stud Detailed 3/4 Sleeve Blouse is a great mix of hard and soft. This is one of the few outfits I think there is a photo of me in… thanks to other people

    Portland bloggers learn how to make fancy salad at @bluehourpdx #bluehourbloggers

    A photo posted by Michelle L. (@hummingbirdhigh) on

  • Sanctuary Ronelle Chiffon Longsleeve Blouse is very sweet with the lace but the raw edges give it a bit more, a Stitch Fix box item that I was on the fence on but ultimately kept
  • The details of this Papermoon Rebecca Floral Print and Lace Blouse are lovely
  • Under Skies Caressa Tribal Embroidered Blouse is a way brighter color of red than I would think to wear, but I love the embroidery details

Ezra Malena Embroidered Flutter Sleeve blouse from Stitch Fix box Ezra Malena Embroidered Flutter Sleeve blouse from Stitch Fix box Courtesy a Stitch Fix box, the Ark N Co Siva Chiffon Rose Print Blouse is a chiffon blouse good to dress up or down Stitch Fix match of a Daniel Rainn Tolley Mixed Print Crochet Detail Tie Neck Blouse is so interesting for spring and summer with its colors and materials Stitch Fix match of a Daniel Rainn Tolley Mixed Print Crochet Detail Tie Neck Blouse is so interesting for spring and summer with its colors and materials Blouse from a Stitch Fix box From a Stitch Fix box, this Daniel Rainn Bilson Pleat Detail Abstract Print Blouse can be long sleeved or buttened into the rolled up sleeve look This Under Skies Milan Lace Print Back Pleat Top came in the same Stitch Fix box as maroon jeans so was a whole outfit in 1 box 41Hawthorn Moni Stud Detailed 3/4 Sleeve Blouse from a Stitch Fix box This Sanctuary Ronelle Chiffon Longsleeve Blouse is very sweet with the lace but the raw edges give it a bit more, a Stitch Fix box I was on the fence on but ultimately kept This Sanctuary Ronelle Chiffon Longsleeve Blouse is very sweet with the lace but the raw edges give it a bit more, a Stitch Fix box I was on the fence on but ultimately kept The details of this Papermoon Rebecca Floral Print and Lace Blouse are lovelyThe details of this Papermoon Rebecca Floral Print and Lace Blouse are lovely Under Skies Caressa Tribal Embroidered Blouse from a Stitch Fix box Under Skies Caressa Tribal Embroidered Blouse from a Stitch Fix box

There are a few dresses in the mix too that just don’t look as good on the hanger as they do on the cards that come with every box, so I just scanned the cards that come with each item in the box. As you can see you always get 2 suggestions how to style each piece. There is also a personal style note with each box from the stylist with her own ideas and suggestions!
Dresses from previous Stitch Fix boxes Dresses from previous Stitch Fix boxes Dresses from previous Stitch Fix boxes

Also not photographed are 5 pairs of jeans and 2 pair of pants (a really cool brocade print black pant and faux leather detailed jogger black pant) I also got from my Stitch Fix boxes. I never ever ever would think to wear cranberry colored Jeans but Stitch Fix styled a box with those Jeans and the Papermoon Rebecca Floral Print and Lace Blouse and… I loved it! I’ve never worn anything but blue and black jeans but now I know I can wear colored pants too. Same with skinny jeans and the brocade pattern black pants and faux leather jogger black pants… Stitch Fix opened my mind to items I would have thought I could not pull off. 

I used to get jewelry and accessories, but have checked it off for now as I seem to be returning those more often than not.
Jewelry from a Stich Fix box Jewelry from a Stich Fix box

Have you heard of Stitch Fix? What has been your favorite piece if you are a fellow Stitch-Fixer (and we should exchange info so we can stalk what each other gets and request a piece if it’s available that month based on each other’s boxes!). If you are not a Stitch Fixer, and are thinking of trying it, would you mind using this referral link that gives me a small credit? And, then become Stitch Fix friends with me!

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Spring Beer and Wine Festival 2015

It’s going to be cool (low 50s) and rainy and windy on Friday… so can I recommend staying indoors but in the company of oh, booths of 33 breweries, 6 cideries, 15 wineries, and 10 distilleries? In particular, I really enjoy visiting the wine booths because this festival is also a competition for them with medals, and you can already see the resulting medal winners for what wine here to help guide your tasting!

Oh, and I shouldn’t exclude 6 booths of chocolatiers, a Tour de Cheese opportunity with artisan cheeses from Jacobs Creamery (usually you can only find Lisa’s cheeses at the Farmers Market, and only a few of her cheeses are once in a while at Whole Foods or a few local stores and restaurants).
Jacobs Creamery cheeses Jacobs Creamery cheeses Jacobs Creamery cheeses

Plus a chance to browse various booths (there are more than 50 booths) including artisan bottle openers to kilts to fun or classy hats and a balloon artist to gourmet foodstuffs like

  • Salami and Meats from The Beautiful Pig
    The Beautiful Pig
  • Several oil and vinegar vendors (I love tasting the different flavors and getting new recipe ideas from the booths!)
  • Shrubs from Sage and Sea Farms, as Saveur Magazine raved as a pick  of their Sage and Sea Farms grapefruit shrub “Mouthwateringly tart and insanely delicious, this grapefruit shrub, or drinking vinegar, makes a hell of a margarita.
  • The delicious jellies of Kelly’s Jelly and more recipe ideas… For instance, a couple years ago she shared this idea of delicious combo of Olympic Provisions Sweetheart Ham with Kelly’s Habanero Pepper Jelly Glaze
    Kelly's Jelly Olympic Provisions Sweetheart Ham with Kelly's Habanero Pepper Jelly Glaze
  • Mom’s Booze Balls.  Yum.
  • Hand-crafted, small batch marshmallows from Lil Miss Marshmallow that include Peanut Butter, Peppermint, Cinnamon Sugar, Chai Latte Spice and more flavored marshmallows
  • And more!

There will also be live music in the evenings, demonstrations on a Culinary Stage every hour on the hour from 1-6 pm varying from talking about home brewing to highlighting artisan vendors to pairing chocolate and spirits.

What is this indoor location? It’s the Spring Beer and Wine Festival at the Oregon Convention Center, this weekend from April 3 & 4, 2015 starting at 12:00pm – 10:00pm both days. It’s hard to believe that this festival has been so successful at it’s indoor summer festival vibe that this is it’s 21st year!

Admission is $8.00 (tickets are on sale here, you can also purchase at the door), plus if you plan to optionally sample beer you need to buy a beer glass (beer is only available in a festival glass or mug). You can purchase a plastic tasting mug or go for the fancy glass with the gold rim… (I admit to having several of these from previous festival years as you can see… the screenshots from the TV are this year’s glasses it seems). They have some packages that include admission, 10 tokens, and a glass as well for a small savings. Purchasing in advance also gives you express entry with no waiting in line and $2.00 off parking at the Oregon Convention Center.
Previous Spring Beer & Wine Fest glass Previous Spring Beer & Wine Fest glasses 2015 Spring Beer & Wine Fest glass 2015 Spring Beer & Wine Fest glass

Tasting tokens ($1 each token, generally you need 4 tokens to get a full mug).  Cider, mead, and wineries may sell samples in tiny plastic cups or have their own glasses for sale or will serve their product in any of the festival glasses. Cocktails and distilled spirits come in their own glasses. Sharing samples is permitted).

Minors accompanied by an adult are permitted until 9:00pm both days, and children 12 & under are free. Plus, on Friday, the first 500 people to enter get in for FREE!

For a little bit more on the history and where the Fest may be going in the future, check out this great writeup in the Oregon Beer Growler by Kris.

What are you doing this weekend?

Disclosure: I have a media pass for the Spring Beer and Wine Fest 2015, but I have attended the festival multiple times in the past, and I will always provide my honest opinion and assessment of all products and experiences I may be given. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are entirely my own.

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Blue Scorcher Bakery Cafe in Astoria

Are you traveling to the Oregon Coast? Going to or passing through Astoria?

Let me share one of my favorite places in Astoria: the Blue Scorcher Bakery Cafe. If the parking lot for Pig ‘N Pancake is full and there is a line out the door, consider going down just 5 minutes further to this gem. You can gaze at all the goodness of the menu on the chalkboards and the baked goodies lined up like treasures in the L shaped case as you approach the register, where you will order, pay, and get a number to get your food and drinks delivered and then bus your own table. Here’s what we had on our Saturday morning visit (same morning as the Fort George Festival of the Dark Arts, but that’s a future post).

exterior of Blue Scorcher Bakery Cafe in Astoria Some of the baked goods you can ogle as you approach the register of Blue Scorcher Bakery Cafe to order

Yes, the banners do say Pastries to Die For and Bread to Live For. We had 3 different pastries while we were there in Astoria for Valentine’s Day weekend/FODA and they were all moist, flavorful, and could easily use the adjective “to live for”. Let’s take a look at what’s behind the case. Is that a Savory Croissant that includes pesto, caramelized onions, cheddar cheese, asiago cheese, and egg? Did that not even last 24 hours in my possession? Yes.
Some of the baked goods you can ogle as you approach the register of Blue Scorcher Bakery Cafe to order Some of the baked goods you can ogle as you approach the register of Blue Scorcher Bakery Cafe to order. Including a Savory Croissant that includes pesto, caramelized onions, cheddar cheese, asiago cheese, and egg

What, Cubes of Deliciousness (gluten-free, it uses tapioca starch and potato starch, but contains hazelnuts)? F and I agreed after devouring one that the name is completely correct. And holy moly look at the size of the scones and rolls (ranging from mini  to regular size Cinnamon Walnut to Cardamon Almond) and Almond Bear Claws…
Some of the baked goods you can ogle as you approach the register of Blue Scorcher Bakery Cafe to order. Including these gluten free Cubes of Deliciousness

Don’t worry, they have plenty of beverages for you to enjoy with your food, including various caffeines from $2-6 or smoothies, various lemonades and ice tea, kombucha, even beer or wine by the glass. Seating includes tables as well as a children’s play area with little couches and toys, and also some seats at a counter by the window to gaze out at the sea just a couple blocks downhill.
All the beverages at the cheery and homey Blue Scorcher Bakery Cafe are written on the chalkboard above the register Interior of Blue Scorcher Cafe

Our breakfast included Almond Milk Mocha, fresh rosemary lemonade, and OMG this super moist merely $3 Chocolate Chip Applesauce Cake, SO good. So DELICIOUS.
Almond Milk Mocha in all it's beauty at Blue Scorcher Bakery Cafe in Astoria, Oregon This super moist chocolate cake made with apple sauce at Blue Scorcher Bakery Cafe in Astoria, OR. SO good. So DELICIOUS. This super moist chocolate cake made with apple sauce at Blue Scorcher Bakery Cafe in Astoria, OR. SO good. So DELICIOUS.

And oh, just this lil plate of French toast with brioche, homemade whipped cream, and local boysenberry and a dusting of powdered sugar served with maple syrup.
Blue Scorcher Bakery Cafe, French toast with brioche, homemade whipped cream, and local boysenberry and a dusting of powdered sugar served with maple syrup Blue Scorcher Bakery Cafe, French toast with brioche, homemade whipped cream, and local boysenberry and a dusting of powdered sugar served with maple syrup Blue Scorcher Bakery Cafe, French toast with brioche, homemade whipped cream, and local boysenberry and a dusting of powdered sugar served with maple syrup

We’ve only been to Astoria twice, but both times we stopped at Blue Scorcher Bakery Cafe, and I’m pretty sure every future trip, we will also be stopping in. Blue Scorcher is open every day, 7 AM – 3 PM. To give you fair warning, this is a worker owned co-op so the people who serve you may vary on the knowledge of what’s in any of the food item if they were not involved in making it.

Everything here is sourced to be organic and mostly local. Everything is also vegetarian, so even on their pizza of the day or reuben, there will be no meat (the reuben is made of tempeh). If you are looking for big portions at a good value, you should go back to wait in line at Pig ‘N Pancake. It is a cafe so it might be hard to accommodate big groups, and there are times, just like any cafe, that you may be sitting at a 4-top and share the space communally (it’s seat yourself).

If you are in Astoria, definitely consider stopping in!

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Easter Treat of a Spaghetti Nest Recipe

I was trying to think of something unique and fun for a Easter Recipe to share (I can’t believe it’s just this coming Sunday, April 5!). Well, as it turns out that I made a little bit too much wheat spaghetti when I was making my recipe for Spaghetti Pie that I wrote about last week to celebrate April Fool’s Day. That then brought me down the path of looking at recipes for fun twists on leftover spaghetti, and voila! I present ideas for a Spaghetti Nest Recipe!
Spaghetti Nests, Recipe on Pechluck.Com. Fill with egg and bake, or bake on their own and fill with mozzarella cheese balls or meatballs. Fun for Easter! Spaghetti Nests, Recipe on Pechluck.Com. Fill with egg and bake, or bake on their own and fill with mozzarella cheese balls or meatballs. Fun for Easter!

First of all, there are several options in putting together your spaghetti nests. The original recipe I saw from Giada’s Recipe  for Spaghetti Nests uses 1 egg as a binding agent. However, for me I just used simple Parmesan and olive oil without the egg, and it still stayed together thanks to baking them in a muffin tin.

I can also imagine you could add some bacon and just make your spaghetti nest a carbonara sauced pasta – or you can use pesto instead if you puree your olive oil and Parmesan with basil and pine nuts (or other cheaper nut like walnuts). You could add more cheese so it’s more of a mac and cheese like spaghetti for your nest too – the possibilities are great!
Spaghetti Nests, Recipe on Pechluck.Com. Fill with egg and bake, or bake on their own and fill with mozzarella cheese balls or meatballs. Fun for Easter! Spaghetti Nests, Recipe on Pechluck.Com. Fill with egg and bake, or bake on their own and fill with mozzarella cheese balls or meatballs. Fun for Easter!

Giada also added wilted spinach to her nests, which I love the idea but I didn’t have any more spinach on hand so left it out. I could also imagine throwing in Italian parsley as well to be the green of the nests. I used chopped sage in mine because that’s what I had on hand, but you could throw in seasonings and greens per your taste.

There are lots of fun ways to fill a spaghetti nest. Giada had little mozzarella balls – I had one big mozzarella ball that I just cut into small pieces for my “Eggs” in the nest after baking the nest. She uses marinara sauce, but you can also use pesto. Or, why make it cheese, you could also use little meatballs, right? Another version is to just crack real eggs and cook them in – the latter of which I also did.
Spaghetti Nests, Recipe on Pechluck.Com. Fill with egg and bake, or bake on their own and fill with mozzarella cheese balls or meatballs. Fun for Easter! Spaghetti Nests, Recipe on Pechluck.Com. Fill with egg and bake, or bake on their own and fill with mozzarella cheese balls or meatballs. Fun for Easter!

I also pretty much am smitten with these three rabbit Easter decorations I recently found for 20% off at Fred Meyer. Or you can go more subtle with sprouts or salad greens…
Spaghetti Nests, Recipe on Pechluck.Com. Fill with egg and bake, or bake on their own and fill with mozzarella cheese balls or meatballs. Fun for Easter!

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 box of spaghetti – I used wheat pasta – and this made about 8 muffin-sized nests for me
  • 2 tablespoons of olive oil
  • 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan plus more to taste
  • 1 tablespoon of chopped basil or sage or seasoning of your choice
  • 1 tablespoon of Italian Seasoning
  • 2 tablespoons of milk or cream
  • Salt to taste
  • Pepper to taste
  • Optional- eggs, one egg per nest that you want a cooked egg
    OR
    18 small mozzarella balls (assuming 3 small mozzarella balls per nest)
    OR
    use 2-3 small meatballs
  • Your choice of sauce – marinara or pesto, about 1/2 tablespoon per nest if desired, and/or more for the plate underneath each nest if you’d like

Directions:

  1. Cook your pasta according to the directions until al dente- probably after putting the pasta into the boiling water this might be about 7-8 minutes in.
  2. Drain the water from the pasta and then add in the olive oil, cheese, and seasonings of your chopped basil or sage (I had sage on hand), Italian Seasoning, and the optional splash of milk or cream if you think the pasta is too dry as well as salt and pepper to taste. Toss until all the pasta noodles are coated.
    Spaghetti Nests - after draining the water from the pasta, toss with olive oil, seasonings, and parmesan
  3. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a regular muffin tin and then with a fork, twirl some noodles and then place into each muffin well. Carefully with your fork now push some of the noodles to the sides so that each nest has a crater that you will be able to place items in later (there will still be noodles at the very bottom as part of your nest).
    By making the recipe for my Spaghetti Nests, you don't need egg as binder for the pasta nest because you bake them in muffin tins By making the recipe for my Spaghetti Nests, you don't need egg as binder for the pasta nest because you bake them in muffin tins By making the recipe for my Spaghetti Nests, you don't need egg as binder for the pasta nest because you bake them in muffin tins
  4. This is optional- if you are filling your nests with “eggs” of cheese or meatballs, then go ahead and go ahead and bake for the next 20-25 minutes. If you are baking eggs to go with your nest, crack the egg into a separate bowl, and carefully pour one egg each into each of your wells that you made. Sprinkle each egg with a little bit of salt and pepper or Parmesan if you’d like.
    Spaghetti Nests, Recipe on Pechluck.Com. Fill with egg and bake, or bake on their own and fill with mozzarella cheese balls or meatballs. Fun for Easter! Spaghetti Nests, Recipe on Pechluck.Com. Fill with egg and bake, or bake on their own and fill with mozzarella cheese balls or meatballs. Fun for Easter! Spaghetti Nests, Recipe on Pechluck.Com. Fill with egg and bake, or bake on their own and fill with mozzarella cheese balls or meatballs. Fun for Easter!
  5. Bake your Spaghetti Nest for 20-25 minutes. If you are baking the nests with real eggs inside, check so that the eggs are just set with no uncooked whites surrounding the yolks, but it should still be liquidy yolk.
    Spaghetti Nests, Recipe on Pechluck.Com. Fill with egg and bake, or bake on their own and fill with mozzarella cheese balls or meatballs. Fun for Easter! Spaghetti Nests, Recipe on Pechluck.Com. Fill with egg and bake, or bake on their own and fill with mozzarella cheese balls or meatballs. Fun for Easter! Spaghetti Nests, Recipe on Pechluck.Com. Fill with egg and bake, or bake on their own and fill with mozzarella cheese balls or meatballs. Fun for Easter!
  6. Since the cooking time is close with or without the egg, you can choose to do partial batches with some with baked egg and some without, and then remove the baked egg when it’s ready if it’s done sooner and then put the rest back in to finish off. When you are ready to remove your nests, carefully using a spoon pop each of your nests out of each muffin tin.
  7. If you are filling your nests with “eggs” afterward, spoon a 1/2 tablespoon of sauce (either marinara or pesto) into each well after they are done baking and then add your cheese or meat ball. If you’d like to serve it the way Giada did, she put her cheese directly into the nest and put the sauce on the serving plate instead – both sound great to me!
    Spaghetti Nests, Recipe on Pechluck.Com. Fill with egg and bake, or bake on their own and fill with mozzarella cheese balls or meatballs. Fun for Easter! Spaghetti Nests, Recipe on Pechluck.Com. Fill with egg and bake, or bake on their own and fill with mozzarella cheese balls or meatballs. Fun for Easter!
  8. Serve your nests warm or at room temperature with a salad.

I hope you have a great Easter weekend. Are you planning on doing any special food or recipe for the holiday? Have you had spaghetti nests before, and what was it filled with?

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A Visit to Cheese & Crack, Portland

I still remember my first meeting with Cheese & Crack in Portland, which was then a fledgling food cart a few years ago. Besides delicious offerings of cheese plates and also homemade crackers, the cart owner William Steuernagel really showcased a sense of presentation and style that helped them really stand out on the food cart scene.
Cheese & Crack's food cart offers cheese plates and homemade crackers Eat Mobile 2013: Cheese & Crack's map of their taste Eat Mobile 2013: Cheese & Crack's map of their taste

In 2012 he launched a successful Kickstarter which ended up with twice what he was asking for to start that little cart (and proving that the demand for cheese and the number of cheese addicts in Portland is real), and then grew up into a store on SE 28th by Burnside that opened around this time last year, though that also meant he sadly closed his cute cart. The snack shop is charmingly adorable.
Cheese & Crack Snack Shop in Portland, on SE 28th just a few steps south of Burnside Cheese & Crack Snack Shop in Portland, on SE 28th just a few steps south of Burnside Cheese & Crack Snack Shop in Portland, on SE 28th just a few steps south of Burnside

Their regular menu has about half a dozen cheese plates, and there may be a special cheese plate or special sundae or special snack on their Specials Board, so make sure you check it out. This is the only part about Cheese & Crack that I don’t like – in the multiple times I have visited, people assume that the only offerings are what is on the board, not realizing there is a printed menu once they reach the register that has a listing of more cheese plates and snacks. I wish they would make a large sign with their regular menu offerings for the wall as well. The service works in that you go up to the register to order and pay, and then they prepare your order and bring it to you, and then you bus it to some shelves with dish-bins.
Cheese & Crack Snack Shop in Portland, on SE 28th just a few steps south of Burnside. This is their specials board, they also have a printed menu with more cheese delights Cheese & Crack Snack Shop in Portland, on SE 28th just a few steps south of Burnside. This is their specials board, they also have a printed menu with more cheese delights

It’s hard to believe he was inspired by simple Lunchables and their little boxes of cheese and crackers into this.
Cheese and Crack plate of Shaft's Bleu and Cypress Grove Fromage Blanc with Marionberry Jam, plus an additional side of cheese I requested of the brie brulee on the right hand side

As you can see, there are quite an assortment on your cheese plate: rustic butter crackers they make in house, homemade savory oatmeal cookie, baguette slices, olives, cornichons, dijon mustard, honey, and even a dessert teaspoon of chocolate ganache. My favorite plate is to put together the Shaft’s Bleu and Cypress Grove Fromage Blanc with Marionberry Jam, plus an additional side of cheese. Below, I requested of the brie brulee on the right hand side, but I change out that cheese – I like the blue and the fresh cheese as a base. Make you you sip the blue cheese in the honey! Be careful with the dijon mustard, it is quite pungent – and make use of the olives and cornichons acidity to balance out your little bites.
Cheese and Crack plate of Shaft's Bleu and Cypress Grove Fromage Blanc with Marionberry Jam Cheese and Crack additional side of cheese I requested, the brie brulee

If you are looking for more to fulfill your appetite, get their Seasonal Sandwich. When I visited below it was a Coppa Sandwich with Alps Provisions Dry Cured Pork Collar, Swiss Cheese, Apple Butter, and Greens all on a Grand Central Baguette.
Cheese & Crack Portland's Seasonal Sandwich, a Coppa Sandwich with Alps Provisions Dry Cured Pork Collar, Swiss Cheese, Apple Butter, and Greens all on a Grand Central Baguette Cheese & Crack Portland's Seasonal Sandwich, a Coppa Sandwich with Alps Provisions Dry Cured Pork Collar, Swiss Cheese, Apple Butter, and Greens all on a Grand Central Baguette Cheese & Crack Portland's Seasonal Sandwich, a Coppa Sandwich with Alps Provisions Dry Cured Pork Collar, Swiss Cheese, Apple Butter, and Greens all on a Grand Central Baguette

Add a side salad for $2 or Mornay sauce for $2 – but I think you should add the Macaroni and Mornay instead of putting the Mornay on your sandwich. Go ahead and get the salad so you get some veggies in with the large amount of cheese you are eating.
Cheese & Crack Portland's Seasonal Sandwich, a Coppa Sandwich with Alps Provisions Dry Cured Pork Collar, Swiss Cheese, Apple Butter, and Greens all on a Grand Central Baguette. Add Mornay sauce to your sandwich for $2, but I recommend adding the Macaroni and Mornay instead! You can also add a side salad for $2 Side Salad at Crack and Cheese comes with pickled lentils for fun texture

For the Macaroni and Mornay, they make it with Trofie Pasta to make it even more melt in your mouth, along with Sauce Mornay made with Gruyere & Beecher’s Flagship White Cheddar and then topped with a touch of garlic, herbs, and olive oil.
Cheese & Crack's Macaroni and Mornay, with Trofie Pasta to make it even more melt in your mouth along with Sauce Mornay made with Gruyere & Beecher's Flagship White Cheddar and topped with a touch of garlic, herbs, and olive oil

Alternatively, get your Mornay fix on in the form of “Nachos”, that is Potato Chip Nachos with Sauce Mornay and Pickled Lentils
Cheese & Crack Portland's Snack of Potato Chip Nachos with Sauce Mornay and  Pickled Lentils Cheese & Crack Portland's Snack of Potato Chip Nachos with Sauce Mornay and  Pickled Lentils

Another visit, they had a Special Snack of Grilled Halloumi with seared halloumi cheese, toast, honey, lemon and greens. I thought it was well worth the price as I assembled by little bites with bread, arugula, warm seared halloumi, a tiny squeeze of lemon and smear of honey.
Cheese & Crack Snack Special of Grilled Halloumi with seared halloumi cheese, toast, honey, lemon and greens. Cheese & Crack Snack Special of Grilled Halloumi with seared halloumi cheese, toast, honey, lemon and greens.

Perhaps you even have room for dessert? I tried the seasonal dessert of a Port Wine Cheese Sundae with Vanilla Soft Serve layered with Ruby Port Wine Reduction and Hazelnut Granola, and then there’s the grated Beecher’s Flagship Cheddar.
Cheese & Crack dessert of a Port Wine Cheese Sundae with Vanilla Soft Serve layered with Ruby Port Wine Reduction and Hazelnut Granola, and then there's the grated Beecher's Flagship Cheddar Cheese & Crack dessert of a Port Wine Cheese Sundae with Vanilla Soft Serve layered with Ruby Port Wine Reduction and Hazelnut Granola, and then there's the grated Beecher's Flagship Cheddar

For their 1 year birthday recently they had a Birthday Sundae with vanilla soft serve, cake mix dusting, sprinkles, and almond whipped cream. This month, I believe it’s a new sundae called Ten Dollar Banana Split boasting Brûléed Bananas, Buttered Chocolate Sauce, Freddy Guys Hazelnuts, Sea Salt, Brown Sugar Whipped Cream and Local Bordeaux Maraschino Cherries. Yep, they are pretty fun with their sundae of the month. This is dangerous to have on your Instagram feed.

 

A photo posted by Cheese & Crack (@cheeseandcrack) on

Their usual Cheese & Crack sundae boasts their vanilla soft serve with torched marshmallow, cracker crumb crumble, and chocolate ganache. Their regular soft serve, a steal at $3, was very popular in the recent wonderful spring weather with the vanilla soft serve with the cone bottom filled with chocolate ganache and optional espresso dust sprinkle on top.

I enjoy following their Instagram @CheeseandCrack which continues the charm pictorially even when I’m not at the shop, and the Cheese & Crack Facebook page is usually the one updated with specials (and food porn images of those specials).

Cheese & Crack Snack Shop on Urbanspoon

 

Have you been to Cheese & Crack? Have you heard of it? What do you think you would try if you visited?

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