i knew that jen altman was a perfect fit for the in the kitchen with column when i saw her home and her work, especially her lovely polaroids of food. i, like snoopy, love cookies and was so happy when i saw her submission for chocolate and walnut mandelbrot. it was just in time to hit me straight through the heart, as i’ve taken a break from sweets! but when i’m back on, i just hope that making them doesn’t become an addiction like lena corwin’s pumpkin-cranberry bread! so, if you’re ready to try jen’s delicious chocolate and walnut mandelbrot this weekend, click here for the full recipe (or just click “read more” below. i’ve opted to skip the wine pairing with this one for obvious reasons; jen suggests pairing this with coffee and i’d suggest a cappuccino. -kristina

[editor’s note: are these not the most gorgeous photos ever? i’m totally blown away by their softness]

about jen altman: after sneaking copious amounts of freshly baked morsels in her father’s bakery when she was a child, jen knew she was destined for a lifetime love affair with perfect little round baked things. she worked as an apprentice to a pastry chef before becoming a salty sailor and seeing the world. she is smitten with the dreamy world that she spies through her vintage polaroid cameras and chronicles magical moments on her blog, nectar & light. jen also sells her prints in her shop and is the creator and editor of the much-anticipated polaroid collaboration, for the love of light: a tribute to the art of polaroid.

Kelly from Hoping For Happy Accidents was at the top of our list months ago when we put together the names of Grace’s and your favorite voices in the internet design mix. Her recipe for chickpea salad with arugula and roasted garlic is simple and easy, following a very Italian culinary philosophy of few ingredients – big flavors. These types of dishes should never be underestimated as they are easy to put together, the ingredients are easy to pull together, and go well with just about everything. Just don’t serve too many other bean dishes at the same meal! Click here for the full recipe or just click “read more” below -Have a great Weekend, Kristina

About Kelly: Kelly Cooper Kordylewski works as an artist, freelance writer, and also in funding for the performing arts. hoping for happy accidents is her attempt at documenting how her brain stumbles. She’s very interested in the simple, the beautiful, the useful and the “quietly extraordinary.”

ceramicist and design*sponge regular lisa neimeth gets the “third time’s a charm” award. first she submitted dinner, then she submitted breakfast, and then she decided on this delicious summer snack. she even went out and bought a new camera for this last recipe because she wanted turn in the best pictures possible! the end result? lisa has produced an amazingly flavorful and simple dish that anyone can make, and anyone would want to try. to read lisa’s full recipe for citrus granita with shortbread cookies click here, or just click “read more” below. happy cooking! -kristina

about lisa: originally from new york, lisa neimeth is a ceramic artist now living in san francisco. though she loves her new hometown, she also spends a lot of time in new mexico, tromping around the land where georgia o’keeffe and agnes martin have walked. she loves to collect-literally and figuratively-on the beach, in the mountains, in the desert, flea markets and on the street..and incorporate all of these images into her work. tableware is her passion right now and she spends a lot of time creating hand formed plates, platters and bowls of various sizes impressing vintage and found objects with hand etched details. to see (and shop) more of lisa’s beautiful work, click here.

These two recipes for avocado goat cheese spread and spicy penne pasta from Amenity Home are so easy to make- there’s no excuse to not try them the next time you’re hungry but don’t really feel like ‘cooking’ (but still want to have something nice to eat). Of course I may be a bit biased because half of Amenity Home is named Kristina, but you can try these recipes and judge for yourself! Click here for the full recipe or just click “read more” below. Buon Appetito! -Kristina

About Amenity Home: After becoming friends at art school in San Francisco, Californian Nicole Chiala went on to work in publishing in London and Minnesota-native Kristina de Corpo to the advertising world of New York. Only when they both ended up in Los Angeles–a place where the wild and refined collide–did they see the way to combine their passions. Working from real cuttings taken from their gardens and walks in LA, they craft elegant, untamed designs to be silk screened onto luxuriously pure organic fabrics. The two founded Amenity Home in 2004 to ‘bring the solace of nature home’.

i never know what to expect when designers tell me that they have a recipe in mind that they think will be perfect. and jewelry designer abigail percy has kept the success rate at 100% with her recipe this week for a delicious panna cotta! i love recipes for simple sweets that are foolproof- and i love them even more when you get to use cute containers like these for individual servings. part of me now wishes i had never seen these pictures because i know i’ll be spending some time on eBay and in markets looking for them so i can make this recipe! i hope you’ll enjoy abigail’s recipe as much as we did- click here for the full instructions and ingredients or just click “read more” below. -kristina [want to catch a sneak peek inside abigail percy’s home? click here to check it out]

about abigail: abigail percy is a designer/jeweler, living and working in glasgow’s fashionable west end. she graduated from glasgow school of art in 2005 and has been running her own business, making and selling her hand-made jewelery ever since…in addition to blogging, and selling her work online through her shop, she also sells her work through galleries and stores, both nationally and internationally.

if you’re not already familiar with matt armendariz’s work, get ready to fall head over heels in love. based in los angeles, matt is an art director, graphic designer and photographer who spent the past 17 years in the specialty food business before recently branching out into food photography. had it not been for the internet, i never would have had a chance to ‘meet’ matt. his website, mattbites, is full of incredible photography and bold washes of rich color- he even knows his way around interior design. when he’s not running his blog, taking photos are kindly sitting still for interviews with us, matt enjoys his home in LA with his partner adam pearson (a food stylist who worked his magic with these photos) and their three chihuahuas: cholula, moxie and bindi. today matt is sharing a delicious recipe for sautéed beet greens, sun dried tomatoes and pancetta served over polenta. with farmer’s markets opening everywhere this season it’s the perfect way to enjoy some healthy greens over soft, warm polenta. in addition, today marks the beginning of new added feature to the column: wine parings from tom delorme. so if you’d like a little something to go with each meal, tom will suggest the perfect match with each recipe. click here for the full recipe, or just click “read more” below- happy cooking and thanks to matt and adam for the delicious recipe and photos. [editors note: it’s such an honor to have matt on the site- i think we’re all giddy with happiness over here today]! -kristina

today’s in the kitchen with belongs to designer nancy mims of eco-friendly design company, mod green pod. if you’re new to the site, via new york magazine, each friday we share a recipe from one of our favorite designers. today i’m thrilled to share one of nancy’s favorite recipes, beet risotto. if you’re looking for a way to take advantage of spring’s green markets or just create a meal for vegetarian guests, this is a fantastic weekend meal. nancy has included some gorgeous photographs, as well as the full recipe instructions- click here for the full post, or just click “read more” below. [thanks, nancy!]