Tuesday, November 3, 2009
I can now die happy
Ladies, Gentlemen, children of all ages! Stella McCartney is now designing children's clothing for Gap and Baby Gap. It is soooooooo cute. She is one of my very favorite designers and I couldn't be happier about this! The prices are a bit steep ($48 for cashmere footed leggings) so I will be trolling the sales racks as these go on clearance. But please check it out, the kids clothing is more reasonable. Stoked!
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Outfit of the Day
I wore something similar to this for a day at the zoo. I adore insect pins (weird I know). Thoughts?
Monday, October 19, 2009
Urban Dweller Meals
So I have bitten the proverbial bullet. I have started a business. I am (as of today) a personal chef. I have created a second blog to serve this company. I love to cook and I know that I cook well. I hope plenty of busy people get to enjoy my food. While I am supper excited and I am happily terrified. Wish me luck!
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Online bargains
If there is one thing I love, it's a good bargain! One tip I can give you is to join the email list for all the stores you frequent. This can be a lot of stores, if like me, you find yourself in a constant state of commerce. So You could even set up a separate email account just for this purpose. Free shipping coupons galore and special deals abound for those in the know. If you are saving for a big purchase (like furniture) wait until a great coupon or sale. You will also be notified of that sale well in advance. Happy hunting!
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Young love is so stirring.
Here is a great blog/shop/info site that I cannot get enough of! They are a couple of transplants from NYC to VA. Check out their home renovations and their indispensable advice to bring out your inner DIYer. So much inspiration, so little time. Tutorials on everything from painting to changing out an old toilet. Did I mention they are witty too? Fabulous blog!
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Outfit of the Day
New outfits! Yeah! Loving the structured coat with an unstructured hat. I realize it may not be everyones cup of tea, but I love it for being a little off beat. Neutrals are great when paired with small pops of color. What are your thoughts?
Need a sitter?
Here is a service to find a qualified babysitter, nanny, mother's helper, or child care near you!. Read the profile of any giving child care pro and find the right one for you. Many are C.P.R. certified as well as First Aid certified. References are provided as well as expected pay. I am usually not one for any type of child care, but one day I know my husband will want to go to the movies again. So this is probably the route I will go. Another perk of the site is that is allows you to search for pet sitters, housekeepers, tutors,etc. Happy hunting.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Break over, back to work
Sorry about that guys, started to feel as thought I was talking to myself. Had to take a break. But I'm back now. Let the blogging continue.
Pears
While there are many things one might do with a pear, slicing them up for a snack is a simple and delicious way to enjoy this seasonal fruit. But as you guys know, I love posting something really special.
This recipe from Giada De Laurentiis is a poached pear for dessert. Love it.
Another fabulous option is to serve a port wine, some bartlett pears and stilton cheese as dessert. Place the pears straight on a platter with some hearty chunks of the cheese. It looks beautiful and is a light way to end a heavy holiday meal. So elegant.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Mushrooms
These two are my all time favorites!
Ingredients:
2 regular size packages baby portobello mushroom caps
1 container Light Alouette Garlic and Herb cheese spread
1 1/2 cups panko japanese bread crumbs-way crispier than regular bread crumbs
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Remove stems of mushrooms and discard. Rinse mushrooms and pat dry. Make sure they get dry or they will be soggy. Lay your caps upside down on a foil wrapped cookie sheet and, using a butter kn
ife, fill with the cheese spread. Then sprinkle the panko over the tops and pop it all in the oven for about 7-15 minutes depending on the size of your mushrooms. Take them out when they are hot and bubbly and the panko has browned slightly. So good.
As for a second venture for mushrooms, I HIGHLY recommend this next one. It is a cream of wild mushroom soup from Barefoot Contessa. It is astounding. Now for people who don't like cream of mushroom soup, you are in luck! This is noting like that culinary atrocity in a can! It is more of a chowder I would have to say. Please try it, if you hate it give it to someone who has the flu. I am sure the gesture would be appreciated. It is by far Hubs favorite soup of mine. Given that I love to make soup, that is really saying something. Really really special.
Monday, September 28, 2009
One toy to rule them all...
Almost every child has "the one toy". The item that goes everywhere with them and could only be left behind by accident. For us, those toys come from Jellycat. H has the large pink corduroy cat pictured above. Today H helped to choose one for E. A medium sized beige bunny with extremely long ears was the winner. They are made of many different materials and come in a variety of sizes and species. Wooly mammoth anyone? But the thing these cute and addictively cuddly animals do have in common is how shockingly soft they are. Seriously, it's tough for Hubs and me to stop touching them. Get two or three for when one is tragically lost.
Figs
Figs are one of my favorite fruits! They have such amazing flavor and just look at how beautiful they are. Holiday Hens with Fig Glaze and Cornbread Stuffing is a culinary masterpiece! Just as great for a dinner party as it is for your average wednesday night dinner. Just so very very lovely. The recipe says it serves 4 but you can split those hens and make more stuffing, it would easily feed 8 with a little salad. Seriously great, I cannot recommend this enough.
Second is a super easy spread for toast or crackers.
Ingredients:
8 ounce package plain goat cheese, softened
3-4 fresh figs, minced
2 Tbsp good quality honey
Mix this together and store in an airtight container in the fridge. Spread on toast, bagels, crackers, anything you like! Great with breakfast eggs.
image via eyeonspain
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Celery
The humble celery stalk has been used as an aromatic in soups, sauces, roasts, and stews for what seems like eons. I could have given you that type of recipe, there are many to choose from. But I wanted to give you something that would showcase celery as a more prominent flavor.
First up for your consideration: a Celery and Pear Salad It's crunchy and crisp. I think it would make a great lunch. Bonus: it incorporates pears, another fall food on our list!
Second is an appetizer. Stuffed celery is a great recipe to make with your kids!
Ingredients:
1 celery heart, separated and washed
8 ounces softened cream cheese or goat cheese or a mixture of both
1/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
20 green pimento stuffed olives, chopped
Mix the cheese(s), nuts and olives. You may use a butter knife to spread this mixture on the stalks and then cut them into more bite-sized pieces. Or you may form the cheese mixture into a ball and serve the stalks along side for dipping. This spread is also good with crackers, great for the holidays!
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Ipod Love
We are doing a new series on music. I think it is so important for kids to grow up with a love of music. The next time you reach for a dvd to put in, try putting on some music and playing on the floor. You will find your child dancing more, something every parent loves. So here is a new playlist I made last night.
Chillin' Like A Villian
Augustana-All the Stars and Boulevards
Broken Flowers Soundtrack
Lost in Translation Soundtrack
Garden State Soundtrack
The Last Kiss Soundtrack
Death Cab for Cutie- Narrow Stairs
Imogen Heap-Speak for yourself
She and Him- Volume One
It's mostly Indie Rock. But it just has such a lovely vibe for relaxing. Enjoy!
Outfit of the Day
In honor of the chilly weather coming (and in some cases already here) I present an outfit perfect for spending the day outdoors. Say to go pick produce at a farm? I think a really brilliant blogger suggested you do that, didn't she? Hmmmm. There are two pairs of boots as an option for a wet day. Wellies are invaluable in rainy weather. The brand Hunters is what the royal family of England wear, because they are that good. Enjoy!
My French Kitchen
Once we move and buy our house, this is the kitchen I would love to have. It may have to be the house after that or so, but darn it I will have this kitchen! It is the perfect blend of elegant and rustic without looking country. The chandelier is made of an old wine barrel. The fish shaped cooking mold hangs on the wall and reminds me of the copper ones my mother hung in our kitchen when I was a child. A bookshelf is something I think all kitchens should have. It holds the cookbooks and anything else you want to have right on hand. The facade on the fridge is a chalkboard, perfect for meal planning or munchkin doodling. I adore it. Thoughts?
Cauliflower
First up is a Cauliflower Gratin. Let me assure you, there is no safer way to try a veggie than when it is smothered in a rich parmesan cheese sauce. Simply amazing.
Second is a Twice Baked Potato. Now you could use any veg here that maybe isn't such a huge hit in your household. Squashes, turnips, and parsnips work well. The trick is to puree it and no one will be the wiser. Although the baking time is long, I use it to read stories to the girls, do dishes or prep the rest of the meal.
Ingredients:
2 cups chopped cauliflower florets, about half a head
3 large baking potatoes, like russet
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
3 Tbsp butter or margarine, I prefer a heart healthy omega-3 margarine
3 Tbsp sour cream, I prefer fat free as this recipe will still come out creamy
Sea Salt + fresh ground black pepper
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Clean the spuds and prick them all over w/ a fork, place them directly on the oven rack. Bake for 55 minutes. At some point during this time, place your cauliflower in a bowl an cover it with hot water, microwave 8-10 minutes until very tender. Drain well and puree in a food processor or you can try a stick blender. Add 1-2 Tbsp of water if needed but limit it or the potatoes will be soggy. Remove potatoes from oven and allow to cool enough to handle. Turn your oven to a high broil. Cut the potatoes lengthwise and scoop out the flesh, leaving enough to keep the skins intact. Place the part you scooped out into a mixing bowl. Mash this lightly with cauliflower sour cream, margarine, salt, pepper, and half of each cheese using a fork. Portion this back out into the skins and top with the remaining cheese. Broil on a cookie sheet 6" from the heat for 8 minutes or until browned and bubbly. I like to serve this with a simple sautéed breast of chicken and a steamed green veggie.
image via cooks illustrated
Friday, September 25, 2009
Fluttery Nursery
This is actually my infants nursery. The walls are beige. The colors are pink, white, green and beige, I think it looks pretty cute, but I can't wait for her to share with her sister. Two twin beds is just too sweet! The alphabet cards are the artwork as well as the preserved butterflies from a shop in Florida. The pink and white fabric is her dust ruffle with the stripe frog sheets. You like?
Butternut Squash
By far my favorite squash, I have been looking forward to this post for months! To pick a good butternut look for smooth skin with no bruises or damage. The more orange the flesh the better, so buy from a good source for least risk of disappointment! Now a vegetable of this size may be intimidating to cut into, but with a few basic tools and steps it will be super easy! Remember that squashes are harder than fruits so more force with be required for cutting. Once I wash my beige beauty, I use a potato peeler and peel the entire outside. The orange treasure within will be visible. Now, take a large knife (I prefer a cleaver, but a chef's knife will also work) and grab a wooden rolling pin. Set your butternut on a cutting board and use the rolling pin to tap the knife into the squash to separate the long part from the bulbous portion at the end. I realize this seems silly, but you are saving your hands from serious pain. Continue using the rolling pin and knife method to cube up the squash.
Butternut Squash Soup
Ingredients:
5 Tbsp Olive oil
4-6 cups butternut squash, cubed
4 cups low sodium chicken stock
4 celery sticks, diced
1/2 medium size onion, chopped
2 carrots, peeled and diced
1/2 Tbsp dried rosemary or 1 Tbsp fresh
Sea Salt
Fresh Ground Black Pepper
Heat the oil in a stock pot over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, and celery. Mix well and sweat for 5-7 minutes. add the squash and cook an additional 5 minutes. Add the stock and spices. Bring to a boil. Boil for 5 minutes, then lower to a simmer for 15 minutes. Turn off the heat and using an immersion/stick blender (one of the most useful things in my kitchen) puree the soup until smooth. Serve hot with some fresh bread and maybe a little salad. Awesome for a cold night.
Secondly is a Butternut Squash Risotto. A little more complex but so great! Love love love this recipe!
image via maangchi and food network
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