Weekend in Des Moines

We spent a relaxing weekend in DesMoines with good friends Matt and Lori just to catch up and make future plans. They are great travel buddies and we are talking about doing another domestic adventure next year late spring, early summer.

Of course, I couldn't show up empty handed so I made a couple of batons to take with us. Light and airy, I think I am getting the hang of this crusty French loafery(?)

I also made some Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls late Friday and froze them to take with us for Sunday morning.  Here is the problem with taking fresh french loaves on a road trip early Saturday morning....I got up several times in the wee small hours to manage the dough and I was really beat the next day, all day. It is well worth losing a bit of shut eye but....


Lori made some quick meals that were really tasty but this dressing on the romaine really caught my attention. She used Demaris Phillips recipe from the show Southern at Heart. I liked the spicy end notes and the unusual combination of capers in the mix.

 Ingredients

• Dressing:
• 1 ounce drained capers (about 1 tablespoon)
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 3/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
• 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, depending on how spicy you like it
• Small pinch ground cloves
• 1 lemon, juiced (about 3 tablespoons)
• Freshly ground black pepper
  For the dressing: Mince the capers and the garlic; add the salt and use the back of your knife to grind into a paste. Add the paste to a medium mixing bowl along with the mustard, mayonnaise, sesame oil, cayenne and cloves. Whisk to combine. Stir in lemon juice, and add pepper to taste.