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I’m done with my new photography website! There are still a few things to polish up but it’s pretty much complete! I hunkered down and worked on it non-stop for a week. Let me tell you, I pulled a lot of all nighters (and by all nighters, and by all nighters I mean I stayed up until 11pm watching Gilmore Girls and working away). It felt great to do something. For the past few months I’ve been feeling a little lost, and just thinking about everything, and attempting to set goals felt completely overwhelming. Sometimes I forget how powerful and positive action can be. So, I stopped thinking about it, bought a new domain name and just built the site, and I’m so glad I did.

It really reflects my skills and my style of photography. I don’t often talk about my photography work here, and you see mostly photographs of food and my garden and my children. But I also photograph maternity, births, newborns, elopements, weddings, and families. A few of my favorite photos from the past couple of years are below. If you care to take a look at the full site at kaciemcmackin.com!

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It is a rainy, grey Sunday morning and I’m at the local coffee shop sipping a Cubano (latte made with a shot that’s been pulled through raw sugar) and working on the desperately needed redesign for my photography website. Well, I guess I’m technically working on this blog post and procrastinating the work that needs to be done on my photography site. It’s been ages since I’ve updated it the site. I kept thinking, “Well, if I’m going to redesign it soon why should I update it now?” Months passed and then more months passed and here I am, finally getting ready to tackle it. Compared to the building of this site and my Gorge in the Gorge site it should be a breeze. Fingers crossed.

This past week really wasn’t much different than the one before, which is how seems to go this time of year. I did finally shake my fever and cold, but I haven’t given up binging on movie watching. The last two books I read were Wild and Gone Girl, so we watched those two movies this week. I really liked both, though there’s something to be said for allowing a little time between finishing a book and watching the story unfold on a screen. I finished reading Wild only hours before we curled up to watch it, so I was acutely aware of every nuanced difference. Gone Girl was such an intense read, and the movie watching experience was too… the casting was perfect!

On that note, my PSA for today is to remind you all that the Golden Globes are on tonight! I love award season. It’s my version of the playoffs and the SuperBowl. Tonight I am going to make Pasta e Fagioli from Ashley’s cookbook, Date Night In. I spent the day yesterday simmering homemade stock for it, Kyle is making sourdough bread, and I’ve been fending Gigi off from eating all of the jamón serrano which, in compliance with Ashley’s recipe, gets crisped up and served alongside the soupy pasta like fancy, frilly bacon. Yesterday G saw a illustration of a chicken that looked disturbingly like a pig. She brought it to me and said, “Did you know that baby pigs are called “chickens” and big, grown up pigs are called “serrano”?!” I only corrected her about the chicken part.

Tonight dessert will be served, as it should be during the Golden Globes, on the couch. I’m making one of my favorite desserts that only takes minutes to pull together. There are few salty, sweet desserts I love more than Kettle Corn. Because Kettle Corn has a savory side, it allows for the addition of earthy, hearty herbs. I love to add fresh thyme, but since our thyme has frozen over, blackened and died for the winter, I’ve moved on to adding fried sage. The thick, perfume heavy leaves thin out and brighten up when they’re fried. They take on the fruity quality of the olive oil in which they’re fried, and they simultaneously crumble and melt when they hit your tongue.

kettle corn with fried sagePINkettle corn with fried sagePIN

Making Kettle Corn is so easy that you’ll thank and curse me in equal measure for sharing this recipe with you… hopefully more of the former.

kettle corn with fried sagePIN

KETTLE CORN WITH FRIED SAGE
Ingredients.
1/4 cup butter
1 Tablespoon vegetable or canola oil
1/4 granulated sugar
1/2 cup corn kernels
5-7 sage leaves
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
kosher salt

A Couple Notes.
Do not use enameled cast iron or Le Creuset for this recipe. The heat diffuses too much and the popcorn kernels will just burn and never actually pop! Use a heavy, stainless steel pot with a tight fitting lid.

Cooking Kettle Corn is all about finding the right temperature and getting it out of the pot and into a bowl the second it’s done popping.  You’ll have to practice on your stove. I use our largest gas burner on medium heat.

Be sure to transfer the popcorn out of the pot the second the popping starts to space out or it will start to burn.

Directions.
In a small sauté pan, heat 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil until shimmering. Gently place in a few sage leaves at a time and allow to fry for 10-15 seconds. You don’t want them to brown. Remove using tongs and set on a paper towel to drain. Repeat with the remaining leaves. Set the leaves aside.

Put your butter, oil, sugar, and corn kernels in a large pot (I use a three quart saucepan with a tight fitting lid) over medium heat stirring constantly until the butter is melted.  When the butter has melted completely, cover with a tight fitting lid, and either leave the heat on medium or reduce it; depending on your individual stove.

Keep the pot tightly covered by using a towel and holding the lid in place.  It can take 4-7 minutes for the corn to start popping depending on your temperature.  Don’t be tempted to lift the lid.  That will just let out the steam and it will take longer and then it can burn.  Once it starts popping give the pot a good shimmy every 10-15 seconds to make sure that all of the popcorn is getting coated evenly. When the popping slows down, remove your pot from the heat and immediately (and carefully) transfer your kettle corn into a large bowl.

Allow the Kettle Corn to cool for a minute or two.  Season with a bit of salt, add the fried sage leaves, toss, and serve immediately.

Below is my video for how to fry sage leaves in case you’d like a visual…


Printable Recipe.
KETTLE CORN WITH FRIED SAGE

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  • Rebeka - The first time I made and therefore discovered fried sage was the first time I made your butternut squash soup (one of my favorites!), and it’s sooo good. How did I not know about fried sage before that? I love popcorn too, so probably I need to make this tonight.

    Glad you’re feeling better!!ReplyCancel

Well, Happy New Year! We had a wonderful Christmas up in Seattle, and after Christmas we came home and geared up for G’s fourth birthday which is on New Year’s Eve. We continued our tradition of heading out for a birthday hot chocolate, followed by lunch with Kyle at the brewery, and then she gets to choose her birthday menu. She chose to have “rainbow veggie pasta” (pasta tossed with lots of different colored vegetables, olive oil, and lots of Parmesan cheese, and a made-from-scratch Rainbow Chip Cake from my friend Ashley’s cookbook, Date Night In!

Somehow I managed to come down with a weird low-grade fever that’s persisted throughout the week just enough to make me tired and chilly, so other than enjoying Gigi’s birthday we’ve been laying pretty low. My laying low has been aided by watching lots of wonderful movies. As a member of SAG-AFTRA I get lots of movie screeners to watch this time of year, so we’ve been indulging in many movie nights these past couple of weeks. So far my favorites have been: St. Vincent, The Imitation Game, and The Theory of Everything. Have you all watched any of those? We’re also rounding out our binge watching of House of Cards. ’Tis the season for watching snuggling up and watching movies.

Other than G’s birthday, movie watching, making ramen, fever fighting, and polishing off the last of the Christmas treats we hauled home, I’ve been browsing a new favorite cookbook: Sunday Suppers. I tend to keep a cookbook on my bedside table along with whatever novel I’m currently reading, and Sunday Suppers has been so lovely to read through. There are so many recipes I can’t wait to dive into: Naan with Rosemary and Thyme (pg.62) , Mushroom Toast with Soft Cooked Eggs (pg.105), White Bean, Warm Radicchio, Crisp Bacon and Saba (pg.218). The only problem with reading in bed is that I often get really hungry before I switch out the light, knowing that I can’t get up and make a Fig Tart with Honey (pg. 51) as a quick midnight snack. If you’re looking for a great new cookbook for the New Year you should check this one out.

sunday suppers cookbookPINsunday suppers cookbookPIN

I hope you all are having a great start to the new year. I’ll be back in a couple days with a recipe for Kettle Corn with Fried Sage!

I received this book from the Blogging for Books program in exchange for this review.

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  • Rebeka - This sounds so cool, I want to do Blogging for Books! I’ve heard great things about Sunday Suppers, and all of those recipes you named above sound amazing. Maybe I’ll have to pick it up, although I think Ashley’s book is next on my list 🙂

    I hope you and your family had a happy holiday season and that G had a very happy birthday!ReplyCancel

  • anja cieri - Happy New Year Kacie!ReplyCancel

Thank you to all of you who left comments on my last post, who sent emails and texts, left notes on Instagram, who called to check in, who dropped off wine, gift cards, and food on our doorstep. We are humbled and truly grateful. It feels so reassuring to have an amazing local community in which we are lucky enough to live, as well as this extended, supportive online community that includes all of you. I said to a friend that I felt bad excepting “charity” since we are so much more fortunate than so many others, and because this is temporary and we can technically get through it alone. She told me, “We know you can do it on your own… but that’s not why you have friends that love you. It’s not charity, it’s just friendship.” So thank you all for your friendship that came across to us in many forms. It is greatly appreciated and deeply felt.

I always try to be transparent in my posts. I certainly have enough recipes that I’ve been working on that I could have just kept them coming and glossed over this whole thing, but I didn’t want to phone in posts and recipes while I was really feeling and experiencing something else. I hope that I can always be transparent even when it’s not particularly easy or flattering. It was obviously something that resonated with so many of you, and I loved hearing your stories, and took your advice, suggestions, and encouragement to heart. A few of you mentioned in comments and via email that I should consider putting a donation button on the site, which I did, in the form of a link on the sidebar.

I don’t have a new recipe for you, but I’m linking of one of my favorites. My girlfriend dropped off all of the ingredients for me to make my Roasted Butternut Squash Soup (there’s also a cooking video), so that’s what we had for dinner last night. It’s a rich and delicious vegetarian soup that falls into the “healthy comfort food” category of my cooking, which happens to be my favorite type of food.

roasted butternut squash soupPIN

 With that, I’m most likely signing off through Christmas to reboot, get some extra snuggling in, and think things through for the new year.

We wish you all very happy holidays.

With love (and endless gratitude),
Kacie

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  • Mazz - I heart you, and your blog.ReplyCancel

  • Ivy - Merry Christmas sweet friend, we adore you.ReplyCancel

  • Angela - Merry Christmas, internet friend. Wishing you a love filled season.ReplyCancel

  • Marian May - Thank you for sharing your story. I can also relate – I used to be a stay-at-home-mommy until my husband lost his job a few months ago and it has been a hard struggle for us – both financially and emotionally. We are extremely grateful that I was able to stay home and raise our daughter up until 18 months of age. I recently went back to work at my old job (another blessing!) and although we live paycheck to paycheck now and do not have the much, we are optimistic and pray for a better year in 2015. We have faith. You touched my heart deeply. I made a small donation- it isn’t much, but I really want you to buy your beautiful daughters a gift from my baby girl, Anah. Wishing you and your beautiful family a very merry christmas! Sending you all love, warm hugs, prayers for blessings from above and good health always! Here’s to 2015! <3ReplyCancel

In my last post I mentioned that things had been quiet around here due to our very tight budget… and the past couple of weeks things have gotten even quieter. We are having a hard time putting food on our table. Every November and December we have to literally tighten our belts, this year more than ever. Around the end of October our much relied upon garden frosts over, we quickly use up our storage vegetables, and our grocery bill increases as my income slows down.

As a wife and mother the struggle to come up with delicious meals using up what’s in the freezer and pantry at first feels productive, but once the main ingredients have been raided and all that is sitting on the shelves in front of you are olives, enchilada sauce, and lots of pasta, the feeling of “I’m doing something” quickly becomes “I don’t know what to do”. The kids get plenty to eat, after all they love pasta in any form, but it’s incredibly frustrating. We have wonderful neighbors and friends who made us dinner a few times last week!

As a “food blogger” the situation has been downright depressing. I love creating recipes to share with all of you. I rely on the creation of those recipes for my daily routine and structure; planning, shopping for, prepping, cooking, and serving dinner is what punctuates my days as a stay at home mom. Sharing what I make gives me an outlet for that creativity and helps me work, meal by meal, towards larger goals. As someone who makes her living photographing food, writing about food, and creating recipes, it’s an embarrassing and frustrating place to find myself.

The point of sharing all of this isn’t to encourage pity for us. We have a million things to be grateful for and our struggle is very temporary and we have wonderful family members we can ask for help if we need to. We are making the choice to try to make do with what we have and to not put groceries on our credit card. Since we live paycheck to paycheck, as so many families do, it can get really tight in between them. With a new paycheck deposited we can head back to the grocery store to shop for this week. This time has been hard but next week, next month, and next year will be better.

The reason I wanted to share this was to remind myself, and you, that “hunger” doesn’t always look the way we think and that this time of year can be a hard time of year for families. The struggle to make ends meet can be overwhelming this time of year. There are so many ways to help support families in your community from donating foods at your local grocery store or food bank, or donating to a larger charity like Feeding America.

empty platePIN

 

I really hesitated to share all of this, and I don’t actually know what to say in closing but I hope you all are happy and healthy and getting plenty to eat!

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  • Vanessa - I’m so sorry to hear that this is happening to you. My family is going through a similar situation as my husband was fired last month and I’ve been a SAHM – we are both on the job hunt now. It’s been a shock for sure as cooking IS my hobby and not being able to go to the grocery store as often and get whatever I want is a reality check, like you said, for all those people out there who suffer through situations like this on a regular basis.

    Somehow I also feel like having less this Christmas is making me appreciate more. I’m less focused on all the gifts, decorations and feasts to prepare and more focused on the fact that we aren’t lacking any of our basic core needs – even if it means eating less exciting food for a month or two :/

    I hope whatever it is that has affected your finances in such a way will ease up soon and you will be able to cook the delicious food you do again! Happy holidays!ReplyCancel

    • Kacie - Vanessa, I’m sorry to hear about your family’s hard time. I really hope you both find jobs soon. We are fortunate that it’s a paycheck to paycheck issue and will be better sooner than later. This time of year just always nails us but we are very lucky and fortunate to have what we have. Sending love to you and your family this Christmas. xxReplyCancel

  • Elizabeth - Kacie, I’m so sorry to hear about this, but wanted to chime in right away and let you know that you’re not alone. My own family has been going through similar financial struggles, and while we do have “enough” right now, it’s just so. I’ve wondered if it’s something I wanted to talk about in a public way, but it feels so strange because I made a giant chocolate cake today, for work, and then we had pasta and a simple tomato sauce for dinner (these days, healthy food is the thing that’s scarce). Thanks for being honest and real, and please know that my thoughts are with you as we head into the holidays. It’s such a tough time to have too little. You guys are in my thoughts and I’m sending love your way.ReplyCancel

    • Kacie - Elizabeth, I can’t tell you how much that relieves me… I mean, I’m sorry to hear that times are hard for you too, but it’s helpful for me to know that I’m not alone, especially when food is my work like it is for you. Sending love to you as well this Christmas.ReplyCancel

  • Kaylan - Oh, friend. Praying you find richness and fulfillment in so many ways this time of year. I’d love to have you over for a meal if I could!ReplyCancel

    • Kacie - Kaylan, Thank you very, very much. Love to you and your sweet family.ReplyCancel

  • Angela - I cannot imagine the internal struggle you underwent to write and post this. I am so glad that you did. It is so easy to see hunger as a stranger’s problem, but not hidden in plain sight.

    We just got off food stamps after two years on them. The experience was humiliating at first. I was strengthened by gratitude and the deep joy that my kids would no longer be without. After my husband graduated, he got an amazing job and here we are now. We are still deeply in debt from school and school related things, but there is hope and there is enough now. I don’t want to forget how difficult it was. Having little made me a much better and certainly more creative cook, but it was a defining moment. Not because of self or communal pity, but because we learned so much about ourselves in the process, in the uncertainty.

    I don’t know what else to say. Even what I wrote feels self serving. My intent was to share so you can know you are seen and cared for and that I wish I could be one of your neighbors to bring your family dinner and you and your husband a bottle of wine. I wish you peace and a full stomach very soon.ReplyCancel

    • Kacie - Angela,
      It was a little challenging since it has to do with our finances and, for some reason, it feels kind of humiliating… but it shouldn’t. I’m applying for state food assistance and I can’t wait to plant a garden again! Everything will come around we just have to keep positive. We have wonderful friends and generous neighbors and supportive families so it will all be good. Your note was not self serving in the least, thank you for taking the time to share. It means a lot.

      KacieReplyCancel

  • liz - This is one of those times I wish we lived closer and I could invade your home with a basket of goodies to cook up together over some good conversation. I’m so sorry to hear times are tough right now. I know how hard it can be, trust me. I’ve been in a very similar situation before. I admire you for opening up and I admire you even more for encouraging others to help those in need, especially during these difficult winter times.

    Love you my friend.
    xoxoReplyCancel

    • Kacie - Liz,
      Thank you, friend. And thanks you for the texts. Love you.ReplyCancel

  • Lindsy - Kaci,
    thank you for being so transparent.
    I’m right there with you.
    It’s a difficult time of year for musicians. Dam is home for 6 weeks (yayy!!!) but he’s also not bringing home the money that we count on. It’s the worst time of year to feel hungry, too.
    Sending prayers your way. XoReplyCancel

    • Kacie - Lindsy,
      I’m sorry times are tight for your family too. Prayers headed right back to you. Enjoy the cozy time with your family and Merry Christmas!

      KReplyCancel

  • Aunt Sue - i love you! What an inspiration you are! It’s time for a visit!ReplyCancel

    • Kacie - I love you, too Aunt Sue. We’ve missed you. We would LOVE a visit. Anytime. Come get some snuggles and drink wine with me! I’ll give you a call this weekend?ReplyCancel

  • Brooke R - Your honesty is inspiring. It’s not easy for most people to talk about these things but it is common for so many. Would you consider putting a donate button on your site?ReplyCancel

    • Kacie - Brooke, Thank you. I think, and am finding since posting, that it is really common. I haven’t really thought about a donate button, but maybe I will… Thanks for the idea. I’m going to seriously consider it.

      KReplyCancel

      • Tara - I’m with Brooke. I tried to find your address to see if I could send something your way, but I’d love to donate on your site. We all come read your writing for a reason, and you give your time and love to your readers consistently. A way to give back to you would be wonderful. *hugs, hugs, hugs*ReplyCancel

  • Marisa Miller - I know it’s not a fun thought to entertain, but what if you saved the paycheck and went to a good bank. My husband quit a fantastic job a few years ago and ‘ruined’ my life with a 65% salary cut, and all the bills we had when he did it. I went to a food Bank for nearly three years so that we could keep paying our debt off and eat ‘well’. Well, meaning I only took produce and dried goods and some milk here and there. It seems like the most awful thing….and it’s not. I even ended up on Eatocracy’s top read stories of last year list http://eatocracy.cnn.com/2013/11/13/how-to-feed-your-family-from-a-food-bank/
    Not how I expected to achieve minor fame, but, as you said, the face of hunger isn’t always what we think it is, and they can be great resources for other things as well.
    Moms need help sometimes and it’s hard to ask, so good for you for being brave enough to tell your people what’s going on with you!ReplyCancel

    • Kacie - Marisa,
      Thank you so much for sharing your story and the link. I read it all. We are lucky in that this is temporary and, although we will have to be on an even tighter food budget for this following year, we will be ok. I am applying for our state assistance program. Thank you for your kind words. Much love to you and your family.

      KReplyCancel

  • Lisa - Thank you for sharing this! For various reasons I’ve lately been thinking a lot about what luxury really means in this world – and this made me realize once more that apart from good health and a loving family it is a warm bed and a full table.
    I hope this next paycheck will come soon!ReplyCancel

    • Kacie - Lisa,
      Luxury, indeed. It does seem nuts this time of year with ads for… everything, everywhere. It sure puts things in perspective. Sending love across the Atlantic to your family.

      xReplyCancel

  • Toni P. - Thank you for your honesty and sincerity Kacie! I’m sure you’re going to find, that many of us (myself included)at one point or another have looked into that same empty pantry and have felt the frustration and lived through the struggle you so eloquently and courageously described. May we all heed your advice and do our part to give unto others when our own plates are full. XOReplyCancel

  • Margit Van Schaick - This is not an instant solution, but since you garden, you might find the information at “Mother of a Hubbard” useful because she has so much information about having an abundant winter garden. I’m going to try next year to experiment. As a senior citizen with limited funds, I also rely a great deal on my garden. Wishing you and your family all the best. Don’t delay applying for Food Stamps because benefits start when eligibility is decided. It’s prorated for the month from the day your application is approved. Try not to feel uncomfortable–taking care of our children is what really matters. Some food banks do have some healthy food. Again, best of luck for better fortune!ReplyCancel

    • Kacie - Margit,
      Thank you so much for the suggestion, and for the very kind email you sent. It meant so much to me. We did apply for food stamps and are just barely above the cutoff. We are getting through this with the help from friends and the love and support from readers like yourself. Thank you.ReplyCancel

  • Casey M Smith - I’m not even sure what to say…but thank you. Thank you for sharing when things are good and bad. I stay home with our kiddos (working minimal hours on wknds for a local clinic) but that choice leaves things tight (a lot tight) here as well:/ Sometimes I get super discouraged by blogs and IG because it would seem these other SAHM’s are able to provide such an amazing lifestyle and meanwhile we’re having PB&J for lunch…for the 3rd day in a row:/
    The perception we get from IG and bloggers is an often told tale…and I know everything I see isn’t what’s necessarily happening behind the scenes and surely I don’t want to follow a ‘Debbie downer’ either;) BUT you haven’t been either of those things to me. And I don’t like you more now that I know you’re struggling but because I know that even with very little…I can aspire to do more, as you have.
    thank you for sharing!:)ReplyCancel

    • Kacie - Casey,
      Thank you so much for the wonderfully kind words. I agree with what you’re saying completely. I was talking with my best friend, telling her that I have enough recipes to “last” me through winter and I could have just glossed over it and posted the recipes I have without being honest but, frankly, it’s been a really shitty last couple of months and I can’t “create” when I’m feeling down or dishonest so… there it is. I’m glad that it was encouraging to you.

      p.s. we’re all pb and j for lunch all the time. 😉ReplyCancel

  • Julie - I hope someone with connections happens to come across your lovely blog and maybe get you some ad revenue, perhaps…
    Love your blog. Everything I have tried of yours is a winner! And I think a lot of people have been here at one time or another … Sucks >_< But I appreciate your positive take on things.
    When cash has been tight for me I've resorted to craigslist and eBay with surprisingly lucrative results! You can sell the weirdest stuff for more than you'd think… Esp brand name kids clothes and shoes.ReplyCancel

    • Kacie - Julia,
      Thank you for the encouragement. This is part of our journey, and although it doesn’t feel important or good right now, I do believe that we will look back and be better people for having been through this. Thank you for the tip. I’m going to keep that in mind as we move into the new year.

      xReplyCancel

  • bold rock cider tour + weekend links | brooklyn supper - […] off, this post by Kacie really got me. In a time of seeming online perfection and “aspirational” media, her […]ReplyCancel

  • Anne - Kacie, thanks for being brave and writing this post! We too, on our tiny grad school budget, go pay check to pay check, and eat pasta for way too many meals so I know how that is. Hoping all good things come to you and your sweet family this holiday season. Love ya girl!ReplyCancel