My Madison Bistro

Happy Birthday to me!

I’ve never really been one to call attention to myself – quite the opposite, actually – so for me to even wish myself a happy birthday via the Internet is a little odd. But you know what? Life is short and worth celebrating, and you better believe that includes birthdays.

This year is an exceptionally special birthday for me, because of how different things are from this time last year. This week last year I received some not-so-great news about my health. At that point, it wasn’t a surprise, but rather, a confirmation of my worst fear. But when you’re reminded of your own mortality, whether it’s illness, an accident, or even a close call, something special happens: you start living again in a way that you’ve never lived before. You appreciate every little thing, whether it’s the joy you feel when the little four-year-old neighbor girl stops you for an in-depth chat about her lollipop, the laughter that escapes while you watch your pet being silly, the wonder of simple chemistry in the kitchen, or the pride taken when a kitchen experiment turns out exactly as you hoped it would.

Something else happens, too. My hairdresser and I have discussed this occurrence on more than one occasion, she having recently gone through a major life event, as well. You realize the important of doing what is best for you. In my case, it’s trying to find the balance between cooking the food that my body needs to be strong, as well as cooking/baking the food my soul craves.

Continue reading “Orange Macarons”

Tags: buttercream, macaron, meringue, orange

I’m more than ready for warmer weather, but Mother Nature doesn’t seem quite ready to fulfill that wish. Needing to find a way to bridge the gap between using my oven and enjoying more summer-like fare, I nearly jumped for joy when I spotted this recipe duo.

I could handle baking breaded chicken in the oven any night of the week, and the accompanying slaw came together quickly while the chicken baked.

Continue reading “Buttermilk Baked Chicken + Coriander Carrot Slaw”

Tags: buttermilk, cabbage, Carrots, chicken, cilantro, coriander, cumin, everyday food, lime, parmesan, thyme

All month, my calendar has been tormenting me.

With each new month comes a new recipe. When I first flipped the page for April, I hoped I wouldn’t have cause to make April’s recipe: Beer Cheese Soup. It was the first full month of spring! Who would want to make a hearty soup?

Well, I’ve had my heat turned on for most of the month, and finally, the image of a cheesy soup, combined with the thought of fresh baked bread was more than I could take.

So on a cold, dark, rainy day, I took what I learned from making broccoli cheese soup to adapt Trega’s Beer Cheese Soup, then served it with warm baguettes. It turned out exactly as I hoped it would; the only thing more comforting on a cold day would be eating this soup in front of a roaring fire.

Continue reading “Beer Cheese Soup”

Tags: beer, Carrots, celery, Cheese, comfort food, leeks

So I’m a day early, but in case you’re looking for an idea for an easy Easter breakfast, I wanted to share a simple recipe that’s easy to customize.

I happen to love the cinnamon swirl in this bread, but you can very easily substitute some orange zest and dried cranberries, lemon zest and blueberries (fresh or frozen – don’t thaw if frozen), orange zest and chocolate chips, almond extract with white chocolate chunks & dried cherries…you get the idea. Have fun, and/or simply use what you have on hand for a fast, easy breakfast.

Or, if you’re like my family and going out to brunch on Easter, how about a slice of quick bread with a cup of afternoon tea or coffee?

Continue reading “Cinnamon Swirl Bread”

Tags: cinnamon, quick bread