Sunday Business Brunch

What do you do when you need to have a work-related meeting on a weekend? You bribe everyone with FOOD. That way, it's more like a meal with some business worked in than something that feels like a day at the office. Yesterday I hosted a business brunch at my house for FoodJiva and put together an easy brunch for the folks.

Something I borrowed from the Barefoot Contessa: Pasta with pesto and peas on a bed of arugula. I used whole wheat pasta, made a quick pesto with basil, garlic, Parmesan and olive oil and tossed it with peas and arugula. Easy.

Another idea borrowed from Ina: the tartine. Egg salad is one of my favorite sandwiches of all time, and this one didn't disappoint. The secret ingredient? Kewpie mayonnaise.

Fresh tomatoes with a drizzle of balsamic and olive oil, sea salt and pepper are the perfect summertime side dish.

Another tartine, but with basil goat cheese, sliced Persian cucumbers and smoked salmon with a bit of dill on top.

Big Butt Peanut Butter & Jelly Bars

OK, these aren't really called "Big Butt Peanut Butter & Jelly Bars," but they should be. Because if you eat more than one, ever, you will probably grow a big butt. Or big thighs. Or just big everything.

For co-worker Alex's birthday, he didn't want anything specific (I always bake the dessert of choice for the birthday gal or guy in our office), and told me he'd eat anything I baked. I first saw these peanut butter and jelly bars on "Barefoot Contessa," and was amazed at how rich and fatty and good it all looked. I would never make these for myself, because I'm not really a dense dessert kind of gal; I prefer lemon cakes, sorbets, Pinkberry and the like, so this was the ideal dessert to take to work so that I could try a bit, and let my coworkers devour the rest.

I have to say that the sliver I had was good: super rich, creamy, sweet with a tad bit of saltiness. This dessert bar isn't for the faint of heart - it's almost TOO rich and thick and heavy and dense. But if you like that sort of thing, and like peanut butter and jelly, this treat is for you. Me, I'll stick with my lemon tarts and Pinkberry, thank you.