Relish

What is it about summer weekends that are so blissful? For me, this weekend was equal parts relaxing and productive filled with shopping, (too much, I will admit..and soon deny) running into old friends, and consuming yummy treats. I also attended a cooking demo by Daphne Oz at the Columbus Circle Williams-Sonoma, which was really exciting.

For the demo, Daphne made two recipes from her book Relish: a massaged kale salad with hemp seeds and Parmesan cheese, and her chili jam chicken. Both were as delicious as they appear in the book, but also required few ingredients, and very little time with both dishes ready in less than 30 minutes. Throughout the demo, Daphne chatted about her book, her love of food, what it's really like behind the scenes at The Chew (as hysterical/crazy as it appears on TV), and why she thinks it's so important that we take time to relish life. 

The trick to the massaged kale salad? "Manhandle it!"

The finished salad with a little red pepper thrown in and the most amazing vinaigrette ever. 

The demo was a lot of fun and Daphne was as sweet in person as she is on TV and in her book. Even though it took me a bit longer to get through than I anticipated, I guess you can say I relished Relish as it is filled with SO many great recipes and tips (and beautiful photos) like how to use PLU (price-look up) codes to find out how your produce is grown, how to decorate and entertain effortlessly, and what is essential in making the most out of all the relationships we encounter in life. Everything Daphne Oz presents in her book is doable, no matter what your age, income, skill level, etc. and best of all, Relish is all about finding your joy and happiness in every day, something that I am finally learning/allowing myself to do. If you are looking for a summer read that you will love way past summer, Relish is it. 

Isn't the weekend such a tough act to follow for Monday? (Yes, that was a reference to the Tony Awards...) What did you get in to this weekend?