sweet miscellany

seasonal plant-based recipes

Out & About : McCheek’s Mayhem Ceramics

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IMG_0040Have you ever walked into a place you’ve never been before and immediately felt at home? Like everything around you spoke to you and reflected your own vibe back at you? This happens every time I go to my favorite dining spot Pondicheri but it happened somewhere else recently. One of my nieces had her birthday party at what appeared to be an unassuming little pottery studio tucked away in the Heights. After I walked inside I never wanted to leave.
At first glance the building looked industrial like it had nothing special to offer. But then my eyes became attuned to each little detail as I walked closer. The front gate was enveloped in lovely overgrown foliage that lightly tickled your head as you walked by. Upon entering the gate, I noticed small hexagonal pieces of painted ceramics lovingly arranged in the cement walkway. This was probably one of my favorite little details about the place. Simple yet beautiful. There was a display immediately outside the studio space of the artist’s ceramics in beautiful hues of aqua and orange, almost like a summer sunset. If I would have had the funds, I might have purchased every single piece. The studio itself had a long, rectangular window where dappled sunlight bathed a row of more beautiful ceramics that were filled with succulents and cacti.
The studio is home Carole Smith of McCheek’s Mayhem Ceramics and McCheek’s Academy. You can sign up for adult or children ceramic classes at the studio as well as book the space for a party or gathering. More information can be found at the links above.
I’ve been trying to explore more of my hometown lately and had the idea to share some of it here with you on the blog. Enjoy the photos and please know that they don’t really do that eclectic and beautiful little studio much justice 🙂
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Mini Coconut Macaroon Tarts with Lemon Curd

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IMG_1327So a month has gone by since I last posted. WHAT??!? I can’t believe I let that happen. Since my health coaching course started I haven’t been able to add much else to my schedule so unfortunately the blog has suffered a bit. In addition to my course work, I’ve also been working on something for the summer issue of Chickpea! Hooray! I’ll share more about it once the issue is closer to print.

I’m trying to figure out how to better schedule my time to include everything I want to get done every day but it seems that the only solution I can find is that I need more hours in a day. Does anyone else feel this way? Every day lately seems to be a struggle and something inevitably gets cut out because I’m too worn out or I completely run out of time. Does anyone out there have any time management advice because I would totally love to hear it? Drop me a line in the comments below if you do.

So let’s talk dessert now. I made these tarts for my family on Easter and I like to think they were a hit. The tarts are actually tweaked past recipes from the blog that I put together to form an awesome dessert. When it’s all said and done these are grain free/vegan and contain no cane sugar! How about them apples? Or I guess it would be more apropos in this case to say lemons instead of apples. Whatevs.

I actually wasn’t planning on posting these on the blog (hence the phone photos), but they were so good I decided not to deprive you. If you feel like breaking the rules, you can make any type of citrus curd your heart desires and top the tarts with whatever fruit suits your fancy. No matter what combo you settle on they will still rock your world. At least I like to think so. If you get around to making them, let me know what you think. Have a lovely weekend! 🙂