How to Set the Perfect Table!

10 May

I’ve always struggled with remembering which side the fork, knife and spoon go on when setting a table. On top of remembering that, which side does the napkin go on AND what about the wine and water glass? I’m not saying I’m one of those people who stresses myself over this kind of stuff, but at the same time, there are occasions where it just might matter… So, I found this cool little chart and a ‘saying’ to live by so that remembering is no longer a problem!

perfect-table

To follow up, I thought it might be nice to share this diagram. What to do with it all once it’s set (in case you’re like me and always need a refresher)!

Bacon Weaving…

9 May

No words needed.

Mhhhhhhh *-*

Roasted Red Pepper & Goat Cheese Alfredo Pasta

7 May
Sweet roasted red peppers in a creamy and tangy goat cheese alfredo sauce served over pasta. How can you go wrong?

Roasted Red Pepper and Goat Cheese Alfredo Pasta

Here’s the Recipe:

(Makes 2 servings)

Printable Recipe

Ingredients
  • 1/2 pound pasta
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 clove garlic, grated
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 4 ounces goat cheese
  • 1/4 cup parmigiano reggiano (parmesan), grated
  • 2 Roasted Red Peppers, coarsely chopped
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 handful basil
Directions
  1. Cook the pasta as directed on the package.
  2. Melt the butter in pan over medium heat, add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about a minute.
  3. Add the cream, goat cheese, parmesan and roasted red peppers and simmer until the cheese has melted.
  4. Remove from heat, season with salt and pepper, add the basil and puree with a hand blender or in a blender or food processor.
  5. Serve hot over the pasta garnished with more parmesan and basil.

Beach Reads

6 May

Let’s start out by saying that I’m not a fan of reading for pleasure. I’m just not one of those people who can sit down with a good book and get lost in the afternoon. But,  I wish I was.  I must have some sort of A.D.D. because I simply can’t stay focused enough to read line after line…Unless of course it’s something like Fifty Shades of Gray, but that’s another story.

Luckily, I like to post things that my reader’s can relate to and enjoy- so this is one of THOSE posts…

Yesterday, on my flight home from Annapolis, I read (yes read) an article on the top beach reads. So, I wanted to share because it looked like there were some interesting books out there that even I might try.

And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini

Bestselling author Hosseini returns with an instantly relatable novel that follows generations of a troubled family across the Middle East.

For fans of: New York: The Novel, The Kite Runner.

No One Could Have Guessed the Weather by Anne-Marie Casey

One woman is forced to surrender her aristocratic lifestyle when her husband loses his job—but the three friends who she finds in Manhattan pick her up one experience at a time.

For fans of: The Girls’ Guide to Hunting and Fishing, Sex and the City.

Nice is Just a Place in France by The Betches

The creators of Betches Love This tackle life’s difficult challenges (frenemies, boyfriends, hangovers) with a satirical guide about ‘how to win at basically everything.

For fans of: Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns), Bossypants.

Sisterland by Curtis Sittenfeld

Bestselling author of Prep Curtis Sittenfeld breaks new ground with this supernatural story you won’t be able to put down about twin sisters who can sense the future.

For fans of: Her Fearful Symmetry, American Wife.

The Other Typist by Suzanne Rindell

Set in Manhattan’s Lower East Side in the 1920s, two typists engage in an unforgettable flapper-era friendship.

For fans of: Rules of Civility, The Great Gatsby.

Freud’s Mistress by Karen Mack and Jennifer Kaufman

A historical novel that introduces—and gets to the bottom of—Sigmund Freud’s intimate and scandalous love life.

For fans of: The Paris Wife, The Chaperone.

The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls by Anton DiSclafani

From debut writer DiSclifani comes a story that would make even Holden Caulfield Blush about teenage Thea Atwell and how she learns to find herself during a summer of sex and secrets.

For fans of: Prep, The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

The Sweetness of Forgetting by Kristin Harmel

Hope, a divorced mother who runs a bakery on Cape Cod, reconnects with her grandmother, whose onset of Alzheimer’s spurs the revelation of a family secret about the Holocaust.

 

Juliet in August by Dianne Warren

The Canadian town Juliet plays the main character in this tale of how a quirky cast of characters handles knowing everyone’s business but not speaking of it.

 

Salad Jars

3 May

Look at this fancy little idea. Perfect for healthy eating and advanced planning. I’m so sick of buying lunch at work because  it’s expensive and unhealthy. These salad jars are just the thing I need.

THE ARRANGEMENT
From BOTTOM to TOP:
Dressing
Shredded carrots
Cherry tomatoes
Sunflower seeds
Hard boiled eggs
Baby spinach

DIRECTIONS
1) Arrange ingredients in a large mason jar
2) Store in fridge for up to a week
3) When ready to eat: shake jar, place on a plate, and eat!

You can make any arrangement you want… you can add red onion, cucumbers, radishes or peppers. Always remember to put the dressing at the bottom and the lettuce at the top—a MUST. As long as the dressing does not touch the greens this will stay fresh in the fridge for up to a week!

****NOTE****

If your making a few salads at a time for the week, you MUST remember to vacuum seal the Mason Jars. (Mason jars can be bought at Wal-mart, and various grocery stores) They must be vacuum sealed to remain fresh and crisp Here are two different ways to vacuum seal a mason jar

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhb1gfVSB9Y

Non Foodsaver vacuum seal

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMDfyRjfBbc

My Summer Must-Haves

26 Apr

Comfy Flip Flops

Vineyard Vines - $45.00 http://www.vineyardvines.com

Patchwork Seersucker Flip Flops

The new Phillip Phillips Album (love!) http://www.target.com

Kiel James Patrick Bracelets

How cute are these!? – $58 https://kieljamespatrick.com/product/936

Light-weight PJ’s

JCrew- $89 http://www.jcrew.com

Vintage short pajama set in stripe

Floral Print iPhone Cases

Lilly Pulitzer – $26.00 http://www.lillypulitzer.com

iPhone 4 Case

Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray – 28$ http://www.sephora.com

(Gives you that “just off the beach” look)

Bright colored/chunky necklaces

Stella and Dot – $228. (out of my $ range, but you get the idea)

Bamboleo Necklace

Mason Jar mugs for cocktails

6 for $30 http://www.poterybarn.com

(There’s nothing better than drinking from a mason jar in the summer)

Floral Prints

Loft Shorts – $44 http://www.loft.com

Ray-Bans in fun colors

Fresh flowers somewhere in your home

Maxi Dresses

JCrew Factory- $84 http://www.jcrewfactory.com

Factory V-neck chevron maxidress

Anything with an Anchor Print…

JCrew Factory- $36 http://www.jcrewfactory.com

Factory 3" printed stretch chino short

A good fake tan, $38 http://www.nordstrom.com

Clarins is my favorite brand of liquid bronze.

Rompers

Loft – $70 http://www.loft.com

Cherry Cheesecake

18 Apr

Cherry Cream Cheese Pie

This is my grandmother’s recipe, but I found the recipe online, too. Some of the recipes called it ‘cherry cream cheese pie’…

It is by far the easiest pie/cake I have ever made, and it’s my husbands favorite. So, that’s a win – win for me.

Ingredients:

  • 1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese, softened
  • 1 (14 oz.) can Eagle Brand® Sweetened Condensed Milk
  • 1/3 cup lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 (8 or 9-inch) prepared graham cracker or baked pie crust
  • 1 (21 oz.) can cherry pie filling, chilled

I made my own graham cracker crust:

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/2 cups finely ground graham cracker
crumbs
1/3 cup white sugar
6 tablespoons butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Mix graham cracker crumbs, sugar, melted butter or margarine, and cinnamon until well blended . Press mixture into an 8 or 9 inch pie plate.
2. Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 7 minutes. Cool. If recipe calls for unbaked pie shell, just chill for about 1 hour.

Instructions:

  • BEAT cream cheese until fluffy in large bowl. Gradually beat in sweetened condensed milk until smooth. Stir in lemon juice and vanilla.
  • POUR into crust; chill 4 hours or until set. Top with desired amount of cherry pie filling before serving.
  • TOPPING VARIATIONS:
  • BLUEBERRY: Omit cherry pie filling. Combine 1/4 cup sugar and 1 tablespoon cornstarch in medium bowl; mix well. Add 1/2 cup water, 2 tablespoons lemon juice then 2 cup fresh or frozen unsweetened blueberries; mix well. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer 3 minutes or until thick and clear. Cool 10 minutes, stirring constantly. Cool 15 minutes. Spread over pie. Chill thoroughly.
  • CRANBERRY: Omit cherry pie filling. Combine 1/3 cups sugar and 1 tablespoon cornstarch in medium saucepan. Add 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons cold water and 2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries; mix well. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes. Cool 15 minutes. Spread over pie. Chill thoroughly.
  • FRESH FRUIT: Omit cherry pie filling. Just before serving, arrange well-drained fresh strawberries, banana slices (dipped in lemon juice and well drained) and blueberries on top of chilled pie. Brush fruit with light corn syrup if desired.
  • AMBROSIA: Omit cherry pie filling. Combine 1/2 cup Smucker’s® Peach or Apricot Preserves, 1/4 cup flaked coconut, 2 tablespoons orange juice and 2 teaspoons cornstarch in small saucepan; cook and stir until thickened. Remove from heat. Arrange fresh orange sections over top of pie; top with coconut mixture. Chill thoroughly.

5 Reasons to Drink Lemon Water in the AM

9 Apr
 Number 1
It balances pH–Lemon is an acidic food, but once metabolized, it becomes alkaline.  I work very hard at keeping my body alkaline.  Why?
Number 2
It keeps skin clear and glowing!   I have noticed this.  Hydration from drinking lemon water is great for moisturizing our skin from the inside out.  Lemon also contains lots of Vitamin C, which helps with wrinkles and blemishes.
Number 3
It kick starts the digestive system–a big glass of lemon water is a great way to start the day.  It encourages the liver to produce bile which in turn aids in digestion.  It increases urination which helps purify it.  It also helps with heartburn and constipation.
Number 4
It helps with weight loss–I have read that keeping the body in an alkaline state helps people lose weight faster.  Lemons are high in fiber pectin, which helps keep one full, longer.  They also have a diuretic effect, which helps with water weight gain.
Number 5
It helps control the coffee habit–I will drink coffee sometimes, but only if I have had my entire glass of lemon water.  Many days I feel like the lemon water wakes me up more than coffee does…
…which brings me to bonus Number 6:
It helps kick the pop (soda for you East Coast people) habit--I have found that adding lemon to sparkling water and adding a whole lot of ice satisfies any soda craving I might have.

Snacks for Spring: Fruit Salsa with Baked Cinnamon Chips

8 Apr

Ingredients:

For the fruit salsa:

2 kiwis, peeled and diced
2 Golden Delicious apples – peeled, cored and diced
8 oz raspberries
1 (16 oz) carton of strawberries, diced
2 tbsp white sugar
1 tbsp brown sugar
3 tbsp fruit preserves, any flavor (I used strawberry; would only use 2 tbsp next time)

For the cinnamon chips:

10 (10 inch) flour tortillas
melted butter or butter flavored cooking spray
Cinnamon sugar:
1 cup white sugar
2 tbsp cinnamon

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, thoroughly mix kiwis, apples, raspberries, strawberries, white sugar, brown sugar, and fruit preserves. Cover and chill in the refrigerator at least 15 minutes while the oven preheats to 350 degrees.
2. Coat one side of each flour tortilla with melted butter or butter flavored cooking spray. Sprinkle tortillas with desired amount of cinnamon sugar, cut into wedges, and arrange in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Spray again with cooking spray (not necessary if using melted butter).

3. Bake in the preheated oven 8 to 10 minutes. Repeat with any remaining tortilla wedges. Allow to cool approximately 15 minutes. Serve with chilled fruit mixture. This salsa can also be served with cinnamon graham crackers or cinnamon pita chips. Best when made and eaten the same day otherwise the fruit gives off too much juice and it gets runny!

Enjoy!

Orecchietta with Mini Chicken Meatballs

19 Mar

This recipe is basically like a deconstructed chicken parm….mmmmm.

Orecchiette pasta can be hard to find so you may need to venture to a pasta shop… But, the rest is easy peasy.

Picture of Orecchiette with Mini Chicken Meatballs Recipe

Ingredients

1 pound orecchiette pasta
1/4 cup plain bread crumbs
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon whole milk
1 tablespoon ketchup
3/4 cup grated Romano
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 pound ground chicken
1/4 cup olive oil
1 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken stock, hot
4 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan
8 ounces bocconcini mozzarella, halved
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil leaves


Directions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes.

In a medium bowl, stir together the bread crumbs, parsley, eggs, milk, ketchup, Romano cheese, and the salt and pepper. Add the chicken and gently stir to combine.

Using a melon baller (or a teaspoon measure), form the chicken mixture into 3/4-inch pieces. With damp hands, roll the chicken pieces into mini meatballs.

In a large (14-inch) skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Working in batches, add the meatballs and cook without moving until brown on the bottom, about 2 minutes. Turn the meatballs over and brown the other side, about 2 minutes longer. Add the chicken stock and tomatoes. Bring to a boil. Using a wooden spoon, scrape up the brown bits that cling to the bottom of the pan. Reduce heat to low and simmer until tomatoes are soft and meatballs are cooked through, about 5 minutes. Drain the pasta, reserving about 1 cup of the pasta water. Transfer pasta to a large serving bowl and add the Parmesan. Toss to lightly coat orecchiette, adding reserved pasta water, if needed, to loosen the pasta. Add the meatball mixture, mozzarella cheese, and 1/2 cup of the basil. Gently toss to combine. Garnish with the chopped basil.

Home Sweet Home

18 Mar

Well, the time has come where my husband and I have decided to pull the trigger and purchase our first home together. The rates are low, the market is getting back on track and it just seems like the right thing to do. Right? Well, little did we know, this would be the most stressful process of our lives.

We started looking back in January when we finally decided that we were sick and tired of paying outrageous $$ for rent and getting nothing in return. And so, the house hunt began. We were completely clueless with the entire process. “What do we do? Who do we call?” I barely even understood what a mortgage was… But, at the end of the day, everything somehow magically came together. BUT, don’t be fooled! From the point where you start and end will be the craziest, most emotional time of your life.

The toughest part for us: Low inventory. There just weren’t any homes available for us to buy!  Homes for sale are becoming scarce in neighborhoods throughout the Boston area and it is creating a “seller’s market” (not necessarily a “buyers market”) . Real estate for sale signs, once common during the recession are now few and far between. I read somewhere that the inventory of single family homes on the market has reached a five year low. So, it was a really tough road for us and there were a lot of let downs along the way. What do I mean by “let downs?” Well, we would put an offer in on a home only to find that there were already five other offers in with two or three of them being over the asking price.  It became a battle with other buyers and let me tell you, it’s not fun.

Luckily, as the process went on, and time passed, we got better at knowing exactly what we  wanted and what we could afford/offer. So, although we paid over asking price, we were competitive. But, we had to be. At the end of the day, that’s what will get you the home you want (in this market). But, we also wanted to make sure we weren’t getting ourselves in a mess. While the shortage of homes on the market is a very competitive place for buyers, we did not want to overpay. Doing so can create problems if the home does not appraise at the sale price because lenders won’t fund loans in excess of the appraised value of the property. We haven’t had our appraisal yet, so we can’t quite cross that off the list. We’re hoping it appraises for what we paid- and I think it will.

I want to also mention that the home buying process is a numbers game. Once we made it through getting our offer accepted, the real fun started. We had an inspection. Ugh. I hated every second of it. Luckily, we got by without too much bad news and they ended up giving $$ back at closing for the things that needed to be done. Its’s all one big negotiation. I’m lucky because I have a husband who has a brilliant mind and he can crunch numbers faster & better than anyone. He really has done such a wonderful job through all of this. Jeff- If you’re reading this- thank you for being so diligent through all of this. Your excel spreadsheets and extensive research have really paid off!!! I love you.

So, here we are. We bought a home and I’m so so glad the tough part is over. We close on June 3rd, and that’s right around the corner. The only question now…will it be worth it? I don’t know the answer to that, but I sure hope so.

Here’s a picture of our new home!

Spring Flings

27 Feb

As always, I am anticipating the next season way too soon. But, I can’t help myself. Here are some spring decorating ideas, materials & fashions that I have fallen in love with, so far…

Beautiful bedding from Pottery Barn. I love PB bedding. I always try to wait for the spring to buy their duvets because the prints are always so gorgeous (soft, too).

A pop of color…

Grassy centerpieces. I love the idea of fresh Easter centerpieces with fun floral accents…

easter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mint. Vans. Need I say more?

Mint Vans.

Fun Easter Baskets…

Kate Spade Ballerina Flats…ahhhh, I love these.

Kate Spade ballerina flat

Glitter Eggs…

Lilly Pulitzer Prints

4G/4S iPhone Covers from Lilly Pulitzer Fan Dance

Jute Rugs. Jute pillows. Jute bags. I absolutely love JUTE! ;)

jute

Rainbow cake… Because there’s a pot of gold at the end of it!

20 Feb

5140_042010_rainbow_cake_vert

Ingredients

  • Vegetable shortening
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 4 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 2 1/3 cups sugar
  • 5 large egg whites, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups milk, room temperature
  • Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple gel food coloring
  • Lemony Swiss Butter cream frosting *See Below

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush six 9-inch-round cake pans (or as many 9-inch cake pans as you have, reusing them as necessary) with shortening. Line bottom of each cake pan with parchment paper; brush again and set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt; set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugar. Slowly add egg whites and mix until well combined. Add vanilla and mix until fully incorporated. Add flour mixture and milk in two alternating additions, beginning with the flour and ending with the milk. Mix until well combined.
  3. Divide batter evenly between six medium bowls. Add enough of each color of food coloring to each bowl, whisking, until desired shade is reached. Transfer each color to an individual cake pan. Transfer to oven and bake until a cake tester inserted into the center of each cake comes out clean, about 15 minutes (working in batches if necessary).
  4. Remove cakes from oven and transfer to a wire rack; let cool for 10 minutes. Invert cakes onto a wire rack; re-invert and let cool completely.
  5. Using a serrated knife, trim tops of cakes to make level. Place four strips of parchment paper around perimeter of a serving plate or lazy Susan. Place the purple layer on the cake plate. Spread a scant 1 cup butter cream filling over the first layer with a small offset spatula so it extends just beyond edges. Repeat process with blue, green, yellow, and orange layers.
  6. Place the remaining red layer on top, bottom-side up. Gently sweep away any loose crumbs with a pastry brush. Using an offset spatula, cover the top and sides with a thin layer of frosting (also use any of the excess frosting visible between the layers). Refrigerate until set, about 30 minutes.
  7. Using an offset spatula, cover cake again with remaining frosting.

****Lemony Swiss Meringue Buttercream:

Ingredients

  • For The Frosting

    • 5 large egg whites
    • 1 cup sugar
    • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces, room temperature
    • 1 teaspoon pure lemon extract

Directions

  1. Make the filling and crumb coat: Cook egg whites and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat, whisking constantly until sugar is completely dissolved. Transfer to the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment; mix on high speed until mixture is room temperature. With the mixer on medium-low, add butter, one piece at a time, mixing well after each addition.
  2. Remove whisk attachment and switch to paddle attachment. Increase speed to high and beat until buttercream comes together, about 5 minutes; beat in lemon extract.
  3. Make the frosting: In a clean saucepan and bowl of an electric mixer, repeat process in step 1.

 

Buffalo Mac N’ Cheese

31 Jan
In spirit of the super bowl this weekend, I thought I would share this gem. I plan on making it on Sunday for a party because it’s easy and so so tasty (nice looking, too). In my opinion, you HAVE TO have something buffalo inspired for the big game. This is perfect.
This recipe came from an e-mail chain that Jeff was attached on @ work.  Some of his co-workers had this Mac N’ Cheese served to them in one of the box suites at the TD Garden (tough job, huh?). I’m not really even sure if I’m supposed to know about this recipe, let alone, share it. But, you know me- always bending the rules.  Hope you enjoy!

2 Pounds Chicken Thighs, boneless, skinless
3 Tablespoons Extra-virgin olive oil
1 Pound Elbow macaroni
7 Tablespoons Unsalted butter, plus more for the pan
¾ cup Onion, finely chopped
3/4 cup Celery, finely chopped
2 Cloves Garlic, minced
¾ Cup Frank’s red hot
2 Tablespoons Flour
2 Teaspoons Dry mustard
1 Pound Orange Cheddar Cheese, shredded
8 Ounces Pepper Jack Cheese Shredded
2/3 Cup s Sour cream
2 ½ Cups Heavy cream
1 Cup Panko
1 Cup Crumbled blue cheese
Chopped parsley
Kosher salt to taste

Step 1.

Preheat a convection oven to 350 degrees F.

Toss the chicken thighs with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.  Arrange in a single layer on a rack on a sheet try and roast in the oven until cooked through, about 15-20 minutes.


Once cooled, shred into roughly 1” pieces.

Step 2.
Brush a 2” deep half hotel pan with butter.
Boil the macaroni according to the package directions, until a firm al dente. Drain.  

Step 3.
Heat 3 tablespoons butter in large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and celery and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in chicken and garlic and cook until combined, 2 minutes. Add 1/2 cup hot sauce and cook about 1 minute more.

Step. 4
Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a saucepan over medium heat, whisk in flour and dry mustard until smooth. Whisk in the heavy cream. Add remaining ¼ cup hot sauce, stirring until thick, about 2 minutes. Lower heat to medium-low, stir in the cheddar and pepper jack cheeses. Turn off the heat and whisk in the sour cream, until smooth.

Step 5.
In a large bowl mix the macaroni, cheese mixture and chicken mixture.
Transfer the Mixture to the half hotel pan.
Step 6.
Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter, stir in panko, blue cheese and parley until moistened. Sprinkle evenly over the mac and cheese.

Step 7.
Bake until brown and bubbly, 30-40 minutes (cover with foil if the bread crumbs begin to take on too much color). Let rest 10 minutes before serving.

Shades of Green Salad

30 Jan

If you ever have the chance to check out http://www.Food52.com , do it. It’s such a fun cooking website that I heard about from my mother-in-law. She’s a fabulous cook with so many great recipes up her sleeve.

This is one of my favorites. You could eat an entire bowl just for dinner (and breakfast, and lunch and to snack on…) Yum. The tartness from the apple, the acidity from the dressing and the creaminess of the cheese  & avocado come together so nicely. It just melts in your mouth.

*Drooling just thinking about it.

Serves 2-3

for the chive dressing

  • 1 small clove garlic
  • 2 tablespoons Champagne vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon creme fraiche
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 tablespoon chopped chives
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • sea salt and black pepper, to taste
  1. In a blender, add in the garlic, Champagne vinegar, creme fraiche, honey, chives, salt, and pepper. Blend until combined.
  2. With the blender still on, through the top, stream in the olive oil. Blend until combined. Taste for salt and pepper. Set aside.
for the salad

  • 1 Granny Smith apple, chopped
  • 1 Hass avocado, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1/2 english cucumber, chopped
  • 1/4 cup chopped pistachios
  • 1/4 cup green raisins
  • 1/4-1/2cup (depending on how much cheese you like in your salad) crumbled gorgonzola cheese, at room temperature
  • chive dressing (recipe above)
  • salt and black pepper, if necessary
  • chopped chives, for garnish, optional
  1. Toss the apple and avocado in the lemon juice so they don’t oxidize. Then, combine all of the ingredients in a bowl and toss with the chive dressing. You may not have to use all of the dressing, it depends on how you like your salad. I don’t like mine too wet. If necessary, add extra salt and pepper. Garnish with some chopped chives. This salad can be made up to 3-4 hours in advance. If you are making the salad in advance add in the room temperature gorgonzola when you serve the salad.

Wings, Hooters Style

22 Jan

So, a couple of years ago I acquired the Hooters wings secret recipe. These wings are better than Hooters. And, they don’t require actual hooters. ha!

I served them on Sunday for the Patriots/Ravens game. They were a hit- the game on the other hand, was not.

Here’s the process for making these awesome things:

In a small bowl mix:

1/2 Cup Flour

1/4 Tsp Cayenne Pepper

1/4 Tsp. Salt

1/4 Tsp. Paprika

Dip each wing into this floury mixture until well coated. Put the coated wings in the refrigerator for an hour or so. That way the flour mix will really stick to the wings.

image

For the sauce (buffalo sauce):

1/2 Stick of butter

1/4 Cup Franks Red Hot

1/2 Tsp Garlic Powder

1/4 Tsp Ground Pepper

Melt these ingredients together and set aside.

image (2)

While your wings are in the refrigerator soaking up the flour mixture   get a large pot and add 3/4 gallon jug of vegetable oil (or fill your large pot about half way with oil).

Heat until oil is hot (350-375 degrees). I just eyeball it by splashing water on the oil. If it sizzles slightly, it’s ready. I doubt any professional would tell you that’s a good idea. One time Jeff and I had a sizzling explosion when the oil was too hot! Make sure to test it several times while it’s heating and you wont have that issue.

Add the wings (about 5 at a time) and fry for about 6-8 minutes. They will start to float and get a nice golden color when they are ready.

Then, take them out of the oil and transfer them to a bowl lined with paper towels. Once the oil has drained off a little, put them in a clean bowl and dribble the sauce you made earlier on the wings.

You’re done. Isn’t this an easy recipe? WHY would you ever go out any buy wings from a wing shop when you can make these?

I also make these wings “Adobo” style (plain). Instead of adding the buffalo sauce at the end, I sprinkle Lawry’s seasoning salt and regular salt on the wings. I think they are even better this way…OR, you could even do BBQ sauce.

I made all three types for the game.

AND DON’T FORGET: Serve with blue cheese and celery sticks!

image (3)Yes, those are solo cup shot glasses. Jealous? 

Spring Thinking…

14 Jan

I know it’s still winter and most of us probably haven’t even gotten the worst of the snow, yet. But, I can’t help but think about spring and all the wonderful fashion that comes along with it. All the spring magazines are out and my mind just can’t stop thinking of floral prints and polka dots.

So, I’ve been fancying this new brand I found called “Boden.” I bet some of you haven’t heard of it- especially those of you on the west coast? Or, maybe you have?  I’ve only known about them for a year or so…but, it’s a mix of JCrew, Madewell and Lands End Canvas if you’re wondering. I like them because they have a little more of the relaxed (hippie vibe) than some of the stores on the east coast. I’ve only ordered online because I’m not sure if they even have a physical store around here.

Anyways, their look book has these little tabs/stickers where I can “love” or “like” a page…I ended up marking the whole book. What can I say- I love their their spring line (wish I could win the lottery and buy everything). Unfortunately, we’re trying to save for a house (hardest task on earth). So, I guess I’ll just have to look and share (with you of course).

My next post will be about jewelry and some awesome finds that are pretty reasonably priced. Perfect for the spring, too. I think I need a whole blog post for jewelry. But here’s one of my favorite finds this year (so far).

From Forever 21- $10. YES, IT’S ONLY 10$. Forever 21 is a hit or miss, but for jewelry- I mean- Come ON! – 10$. http://www.forever21.com

I also can’t help my obsession with colored jeans. I started buying them last year and now,  I have about six different colors. But, I am in love. I’ve gotten bored with the basic blue jean. My life needs spice, and these are just the remedy.

If I’m not wearing these color pop jeans this spring, you can find me in boyfriend jeans. Jeff (my husband) hates them because they aren’t tight and sassy. But, I’m all about comfort and I think their cute. You can even dress them up if you think about pairing them with a heal and cute top…

boyfriend jeans + neons

Here are a few of my favorite spring fashions from Boden…

The floral skirt. $68.  I might have to indulge and get this (eek- I hope Jeff doesn’t read this). I love the idea of wearing it with a blue chambray shirt.

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This stitch jumper comes in a variety of other colors. Perfect for those days where it’s not quite warm enough. $88.image (2)

Ok, I have an obsession with flats. These flats look exactly like the ones from JCrew, too- but, for about half the price. $78

image (6) How adorable are these polka dot sneakers? Perfect for shopping around and just hanging out. I might have to indulge in these, too. $78

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And….THE OXFORD. I remember oxfords being popular when I was is middle school- believe it or not. But, now, they are  back in style. Luckily, I wont have to splurge on these babies since I already have a pair from way back when…$168. Super cute with rolled up jeans or even that floral skirt (Pictured above.)

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A ritual I can’t live without!

10 Jan

A few years back my mom got me the Clarasonic Mia Exfoloation device.

It’s awesome.

If you think you get your face clean by just washing it with a cleanser and your hands- you’re wrong. Not only does this thing clean deeper that ever before, it polishes your skin and leaves it radiant. I use it once a day (usually in the morning) with the Philosophy Micro Delivery. I use the Mico-Delivery in the morning and the Purity cleanser at night.

I love philosophy cleansers. They are natural and not too harsh for my skin.

You can get the Clarasonic for about $120 at http://www.sephora.com along with the cleansers. I promise you’ll love it!

Here are some of the benefits this revolutionary skincare tool delivers:
- Removes makeup six times better than traditional methods.
- Clears pores and reduces the appearance of pore size.
- Cleanses so thoroughly that skincare products absorb better.
- Creates noticeably healthier looking skin.

What else you need to know:
Clarisonic should be used as part of a daily skincare regimen to provide smoother feeling and looking skin. It is ideal for all skin types, and used and recommended by leading dermatologists and cosmetic surgeons.

Night At The Movies

9 Jan

Jeff and I went to see Les Miserables last weekend and I’m so glad we did. What a wonderful movie.

First of all, I should tell you that I’ve never seen the play or  previous movies based on the play. So, I was seeing and hearing everything for the first time. I’m happy that this was the way that I got to experience it…

It was enchanting and magical. I loved the moral of this beautiful story, too. The way love and compassion are nearly infectious, passed on from one person to another. The story in Les Miserables is heavy on themes of grace, mercy and redemption. The line that really seemed to stick with me was “to love another person is to see the face of God.”

I was also so taken by the music. A beautiful score matched with voices of unedited passion. I loved that the actors sang without a studio. In my opinion, the vocals didn’t need to be sweetened. It made the movie so much more believable and real- pulled the strings of my heart.  The singing, for me, brought the story to life.

 

Although a good portion of the movie did not call for tears, I found myself crying for the entirety. So many great lessons were taught through such great sorrow. In many ways, it’s the perfect story.

Spiced Roasted Cauliflower

8 Jan

Spiced, Roasted Cauliflower.

Spiced, Roasted Cauliflower.

As anyone who knows their vegetables will tell you, roasted cauliflower with a touch of oil and spices is terrific, and for what it lacks in color, it more than makes up in flavor.

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Spiced, Roasted Cauliflower:

Notes Before You Start:

  • You can use any variety of cauliflower for this recipe.
  • If you don’t have cumin seeds, just add a bit more ground cumin.

What You Get: Sweet, salty, spicy and crisp cauliflower.

What You Need: No special equipment required.

Ingredients:

(Serves 4-6)

  • 2 medium heads of cauliflower, stem and green leaves removed
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1 teaspoon whole cumin seeds
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • Scallion, chives and/or Italian parsley, for garnish.

Assemble:

  1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Combine the oil, salt, pepper and spices in a large bowl. Mix thoroughly.
  2. Cut the florets off the cauliflower and break into roughly 1/2 inch pieces. If making “steaks” cut the cauliflower cross-wise into 3/4 inch slices. Toss the florets in the oil mixture and/or brush the oil mixture on both sides of the “steaks”. Place the cauliflower pieces on a large baking sheet.
  3. Roast the cauliflower in the oven for 25-30 minutes, or until soft in the center and golden brown on the outside. Flip the steaks or toss the florets halfway through the cooking time. When done, remove the cauliflower from the oven, taste and adjust seasoning. Garnish with sliced scallions, chives or Italian parsley, if you like. Serve.

Pictures and Recipe courtesy of PutneyFarms Blog

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