greene compliments magenta

This. Is. Gorgeous.

2008-07-21T22:12:00.001-04:00

I want to sit and stare at it all day long. (by Alberto Seveso, via Oh Joy).

Adorable Bats?

2008-07-20T22:51:00.002-04:00

As a sidenote, I found this article in looking for a photo for my last post - let me just say this was not our experience, cute as it may be (but that's debatable).

Cute Animals That are Not Bats

2008-07-20T22:47:00.002-04:00

To offset my last few posts, I offer you a few pictures of animals that I feel are cuter than bats, to cleanse your minds of the images I may have put there (though it will take more than these to wipe the sound of their wings flapping from my memory):

Our Housemates

2008-07-20T22:40:00.004-04:00

My parents were worried we might get bored. So impossible with so much good company and beautiful scenery around! But if we had any doubts, they were shattered Tuesday night when Dirk and I awoke to hear a noise in our attic apartment, turn on the light and see 2 bats flying around! Needless to say, we settled in another room for the rest of the trip and the exterminators were called (and no bat was harmed, except maybe by the sound of my screams). And the entertainment came in the form of sitting outside at dusk waiting for them to show themselves (complete with drinks, of course).

Gratuitous Niece Picture

2008-07-20T22:30:00.003-04:00

Our number one entertainment on the trip was absolutely my niece, who could not have been cuter (but could have asked "Why?" a few less times). The picture above was from a winery we visited - small as she is, she loves dogs and takes every opportunity to pet them (I admit the angle we took the picture from is a bit deceiving, but it was definitely a big dog!). The picture below was the theme of the weekend and every time we get together (shirt custom made by Showroom 64).

Charlevoix

2008-07-20T21:44:00.005-04:00

Charlevoix was the most idyllic, picturesque Midwestern town we could have imagined. We stayed in an amazing house a block from the lake (above), fully equipped with requisite front porch so that we could sit outside and watch the world go by. But the rest of the town and lakefront was equally as perfect - see Dirk's pictures below - can you imagine a better example of summer Americana?

The Mushroom Houses

2008-07-20T21:34:00.005-04:00

One of the sights to see in Charlevoix are the Mushroom Houses, created by developer Earl Young starting in 1918. They are very cute - I would love to see one from the inside, they look like they would be very dark but that would be the shame because they are on the beach and have amazing views of the water. As my mom put it, they look just like what the smurfs live in (if they were real) - it looks like the owners have a sense of humor about them as well, see if you can spot the troll in the last picture.

We're Back!

2008-07-20T19:33:00.004-04:00

Hello there! Dirk and I are back from the Barry Family Vacation in Charlevoix - located in northern Michigan at the 45th latitude, halfway between the equator and the North Pole - and we had so much fun relaxing and seeing everyone! There is so much to blog about, it will probably take me all week. As I gather the pictures, please take a look at the ones here that I'm finally starting to organize, from our Tahitian honeymoon in September. It's so nice to look back, and it reminds me that I always love the pictures taken with Dirk's Yashica T3 - I am going to commit to carrying it with me to take so I can take pictures with it everyday.

2008-07-07T23:03:00.002-04:00

All of my favorite blogs repeatedly reference Etsy, "Your place to buy and sell all things handmade" (TM). I haven't had the patience to dig into it yet, but partly it's also because I'm afraid it will also become an obsession. And I get a little frustrated with sites that don't seem to have an ending (thus, my love for linear blogs). But I'm going to devote some time to it, and hopefully get some new goodies in the process. I also am going to devote more time to shopping for vintage jewelry on Ebay - again, a bit intimidating because of its vastness but could be oh so rewarding.

All of this future shopping begs the question - how do you store your jewelry? I have 2 jewelry boxes and various other cubbyholes in my room, and I am still overflowing - any great ideas (besides the hand, of course).

My Other Favorite Ring

2008-07-06T20:18:00.003-04:00

Of course, my favorite ring is my engagement ring (followed closely by my wedding ring), but this Lola Rose faceted malachite ring is a close third! I first spotted it at my favorite London store, Liberty, but in usual fashion had to sleep on it until I got all the way back to New York. Thank goodness my lovely English husband was kind enough to go back to get it for me!

For Like Ever

2008-07-06T20:13:00.003-04:00

There is no shortage of love in the blogosphere for this print, but even though it's hanging in our living room I still love it! We bought it at village, and they have since expanded the design into notecards and a tote bag (which Alyson bought over the phone and reported back a lovely buying experience).

Leather Wrap Bracelet

2008-07-06T19:30:00.006-04:00

I do have a thing for bracelets lately..............I stalked this Chan Luu bracelet for months before committing to it - and now I don't know why I waited because it is a great go-to (sometimes I wear it as one long strand necklace as well - I love a versatile piece!). What did it for me was when I walked into Henri Bendel and saw a wall of them in all different colors - there is nothing like the impact of a group of things to convince me that I need it! Of all the colors, I did choose this brown version, but mine is silver and gold, although I've never been one to match metals I like the freedom that this one can go either way.

Faux Silver Mesh Bracelet

2008-07-06T19:25:00.005-04:00

I was (so pleasantly!) surprised at how many compliments I received while wearing this bracelet, from Ann Taylor Loft - even my (male) chair masseuse at the local nail place loved it! It comes in gold as well. So what do you think?

Tell Me Your Thoughts.....

2008-07-06T19:14:00.007-04:00

Hello loyal readers (all 3 of you) - hopefully this new feature will make the site a little more interesting. I am lucky enough to be complimented on things that I wear (at times - other times Dirk makes a face before I leave the apartment prompting a costume change). I thought it might be nice to post things other people think are nice as well (not meant to be in an arrogant way, but I have been struggling with things to blog about lately).

So, take a look at the following posts and let me know what you think. Since a lot of the items will probably involve jewelry, I have posted the hand above - not only a symbol of me raising my hand to get your attention, but I have always wanted one to hang necklace from (this one is from the fabulous Living, etc. website that sadly I cannot order from while in NYC. They sometimes sell them at Fish's Eddy as well, but couldn't find it on their site).

Baked Eggs and Mushrooms in Ham Crisps

2008-07-06T18:59:00.003-04:00

We had our inaugural brunch today with Nick, Natalie and Polly and the Baked Eggs were a hit - thanks Allison for introducing me to the recipe! They were really easy to make, and for groups the mushroom mixture can be made ahead and refrigerated. And yes, they work just as well without the ham for vegetarians!

Recipe courtesy of Sara Moulton/The Food Network

Baked Eggs and Mushrooms in Ham Crisps

3/4 crimini pound mushrooms, finely chopped

1/4 cup finely chopped shallot
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons creme fraiche or sour cream
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh tarragon leaves
12 slices Black Forest or Virginia ham (without holes; 10 ounces)
12 large eggs
Garnish: fresh tarragon leaves

Accompaniment: buttered brioche or challah toast

Special equipment: a muffin tin with 12 (1/2-cup) muffin cups

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Prepare mushrooms: Cook mushrooms and shallot in butter with salt and pepper in a large heavy skillet over moderately high heat, stirring, until mushrooms are tender and liquid they give off is evaporated, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in creme fraiche and tarragon.

Assemble: Fit 1 slice of ham into each of 12 lightly oiled muffin cups (ends will stick up and hang over edges of cups). Divide mushrooms among cups and crack 1 egg into each. Bake in middle of oven until whites are cooked but yolks are still runny, about 15 minutes. Season eggs with salt and pepper and remove (with ham) from muffin cups carefully, using 2 spoons or small spatulas.

Scarlett

2008-05-10T20:06:00.005-04:00

I saw Scarlett Johansson at the Vintage Clothing Show last week - almost ran into her actually. Contrary to popular belief (the belief in our household anyway), she does not always look like she does in the picture above; she looked more like the picture below, but still gorgeous.

Endless Pools

2008-05-10T20:02:00.002-04:00

I don't usually pay attention to infomercials, but this was too good to pass up. A machine that creates a "treadmill" version of a pool, so you can swim in place. Brilliant - what will they think of next??

Lunetta

2008-05-10T19:57:00.004-04:00

Since Dirk's move to the new office, we have been exploring the Flatiron area for new after-work-dinner places. Last night, we went to Lunetta and it was good - definitely worth a second trip. I will say there were some problems (we sent the bruschetta back because it was burnt, but was great the 2nd time around; the beet salad was dripping with oil). But when it worked - the homemade ricotta, the meatballs - it was great. So we are giving it a second chance, partly because of the really great service and partly because I am obsessed with the lighting fixtures (such a bad picture below, but they are like huge tassles of glowing globes).

Blogging

2008-04-13T21:15:00.003-04:00

As you may or may not know, I started this blog to keep in better touch - including pictorially - with my friends and family far away. I think it's doing the trick, and although I would love to have the time to do research and have a design-oriented done as well as, say, Cup of Jo - the likelihood is that this will remain a wonderful showcase for my recipe and restaurant reviews, as well as the occasional cultural post, but not much more.

I did, however, find the following article very interesting and inspirational - a few favorite bloggers talking about how they got started (if you have not checked out The Sartorialist and A Shaded View on Fashion, I encourage you to). Who knows - someday when I have quit my job to blog full time (Dirk, are you listening?) I might be telling the same story.

PS - WWD does not allow you to read archived stories, so I have cut and paste the article in it's entirety below. Obviously, if there is any issue with me "reprinting" it I assume someone will let me know. The final irony is my posting here given the title of the article......

Memo Pad: Will They Blog About This Too?...

Published: Tuesday, April 01, 2008

WILL THEY BLOG ABOUT THIS TOO?: Cathy Horyn, fashion critic for The New York Times, first came up with the idea for a blog in August 2006. She was watching the original "Charlie's Angels" reunite at the Emmys and thought about the little things one wants to write, without turning them into a full article. Soon after, Horyn approached "a digital guy" at the Times and beginning in January 2007, she had a blog. Horyn participated in a panel discussion on Sunday at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on fashion blogs, which included The Sartorialist's Scott Schuman and Diane Pernet of Zoo Magazine and ashadedviewonfashion.com. The museum's "blog.mode: addressing fashion" exhibition, located in the Costume Institute, is on display for two more weeks.

Horyn said she reads every single comment about her postings. "I'm motivated by the quality of thought," she said. She also balances her time between the newspaper and The New York Times Magazine. "It's one of the challenges of contemporary journalism," she added. "I can't do enough for it [the blog]." At first, Horyn submitted her posts to an editor, but eventually, she asked for and was granted autonomy from the editing process.

She said one example of how blogs and journalism go well together was the infamous Marc Jacobs show two seasons ago that ran a few hours late. She blogged about it from a restaurant on Park Avenue and at the show and her comments led to several weeks of debate. "People didn't get sick of it," she recalled.

Schuman talked about how his entry into blogdom came while he was a stay-at-home father. He began shooting more photography when his children were born and eventually expanded to strangers, from Chinatown to the Fulton Fish Market. He noticed that everyone he shot had something in common: they had a style that inspired him. A blog soon followed and it wasn't long before Style.com and GQ came calling.

Diane Pernet, in her signature tall, black veil, said she began blogging well before the rest of the pack. She now has 15 contributors worldwide and her photographers were granted backstage access at New York Fashion Week. "I post what I like and what I find interesting," Pernet said, noting she particularly focuses on new designers. Aside from blogs, though, several in the audience were buzzing about Pernet's towering headdress. She said she wears it to please herself. "This is how I feel comfortable." — Amy Wicks

Orange Couscous Salad

2008-04-13T21:04:00.005-04:00

I just spent the weekend in Michigan, and my healthy-eating friend Jen introduced me to Cottage Living magazine (a great new source for decorating inspiration), and therefore this healthy and really tasty recipe. I substituted Quinoa instead of couscous (PS - does anyone have any info on quinoa? As far as I can tell it's a low-carb, protein-packed grain, but it tasted so good I'm afraid I'm fooling myself), and added pine nuts and shaved zucchini to the recipe. Yum!

Ingredients

1 (10-ounce) box plain couscous (I used 1 cup uncooked quinoa, and followed the directions on the package)
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more to taste
1 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, plus more to taste
1/2 small red onion, finely chopped (about 1/4 cup)
2 oranges
2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
1 cucumber, peeled, seeded, and chopped (about 1 cup)
1 cup golden raisins, currants, or chopped dates

Preparation

1. Pour couscous into a large bowl, and stir in 1 cup boiling water. Cover with plastic wrap, and let steam 5 minutes or until couscous is tender. Fluff with a fork, and stir in oil and next 3 ingredients. Let cool slightly.

2. Zest both oranges; juice one. Peel second orange, and chop. Add zest, juice, and chopped orange to couscous mixture. Stir in remaining ingredients. Cover and chill 1 hour or up to 2 days. Add more oil, salt, or pepper if desired before serving.

Yield

Makes 6 to 8 servings

Kim Sunée , Cottage Living, JANUARY 2008

JLOB

2008-03-31T22:08:00.003-04:00

We have walked by Jack's Luxury Oyster Bar a million times - it's right around the corner on 2nd Ave at 6th Street - but for whatever reason have never gone in. We finally took the plunge last Wednesday, and it was worth the wait! Very similar in a way to Graffiti in that it was a tiny place with small plates, and yet so different. A seafood-oriented menu (oysters, obviously) with meat, veggies and fabulous desserts as well. We sat at the bar to start and liked it so much we stayed there the whole night to watch everything being made - the sous chef Betsy (who was so nice, and damn good as well) said that they change the menu every few weeks. We would definitely recommend it - we'll be back soon!

PS - did I mention that Jack was from Michigan? He and his wife have 2 other restaurants as well, all within a block of one another - Jewel Bako and Degustation. Has anyone been to any of them?

Caramelized Brussel Sprouts

2008-03-31T21:57:00.003-04:00

For a kid who wouldn't eat anything but macaroni and cheese, I have become quite adventurous in my old age. One of my favorite veggies these days is Brussel Sprouts, I admit partly because they are usually served caramelized - and with my sweet tooth that's the perfect combination! Dirk made this recipe for me tonight, but even for me they were quite sweet. If anyone has a recipe they love, please pass it on!

Ingredients

1 ½ pounds fresh Brussels sprouts
¼ C sugar
2 T Earth Balance
¼ C red wine vinegar
½ C water
¼ tspn salt

Wash and trim ends of Brussels sprouts. Cut the sprouts in half and remove the center v-shaped core.
In a skillet, heat sugar over medium-high heat, until it begins to melt, shaking pan occasionally to heat sugar evenly. Once sugar begins to melt, reduce heat and cook until sugar begins to turn brown. Add Earth Balance, stir until melted. Add the vinegar. Cook and stir for 1 minute.
Add the water and salt. Bring to boiling and add the sprouts. Return to boiling and reduce heat and simmer, covered for 6 minutes. Uncover and cook about 15 minutes longer or until most of the liquid has been absorbed and the sprouts are coated with a golden glaze, stirring occasionally.

Oh, How They Grow So Fast

2008-03-23T22:32:00.003-04:00

This is cute packaging, for that family that wants to track growth but not mark up their walls. Are there any 2 1/2-year-olds out there that might be interested in one of their very own? (Available from Miss Natalie's Etsy Site)

Duffy

2008-03-23T15:30:00.004-04:00

We went to see Duffy at the Hiro Ballroom Monday night, and she was amazing! She had the Number One single in the UK (I think she just got bumped), "Mercy". We will definitely be looking for her to come back to NYC soon - check out her official site here.

This Makes Me Smile, Part 1

2008-03-23T15:15:00.003-04:00

Not only is this kid adorable, but I love this picture because it just goes to show it doesn't matter how posh your parents are, a 3-year-old will always do what they want (for the answer to this child's famous parents, scroll down). PS - just to be clear, I did not take this picture myself in London, but it goes with the English theme I've got going.....

This Makes Me Smile, Part 2

2008-03-23T15:10:00.003-04:00

Off to Iain and Connie's

2008-03-23T14:58:00.004-04:00

We had the pleasure of spending a night in the country at Iain and Connie's while we were in London. We always like going to their converted-schoolhouse home and hanging out with them and the girls.

Why I Love Dirk.....

2008-03-23T14:33:00.005-04:00

....because he knows the way to my heart is through my stomach, and the fastest way there is on the Cadbury Creme Egg express (this is also another example of great English design).

I Love English Design

2008-03-23T14:08:00.004-04:00

I love everything about England, especially the design of everything there. That goes for the groceries as well - now that I visit with a native Londoner, we always make sure to get some favorite foods while there. This is by far not the healthiest assortment, but it is all good and just looks so English to me! Even the Cheerios are more attractive.

The Pearly Society

2008-03-23T14:02:00.002-04:00

Better than any traditional celebrity sighting was seeing, live and in person, a Pearly King and Prince on Oxford Street my first night in London. I had only heard about them, and even Dirk said he had never seen them in person before. The designs on the suits are all pearl buttons, and are even more beautiful and elaborate than they look in these pictures. Check out the official Pearly Society website or Wikipedia for more information on their history and charitable works.

London - Stella!! Part 2

2008-03-23T13:56:00.003-04:00

While Stella was doing her thing, this guy was playing for the crowd......

London - Stella!! Part 1

2008-03-23T13:49:00.004-04:00

Sorry I have not posted about London before now - but it was a great trip, kicked off by a celebrity siting on the very first day! We were just browsing at Selfridge's, and asked about a line of people milling around only to find out that Stella McCartney (designer and Beatle-offspring) was due to show up any second. So we stuck around, and sure enough she wandered right by us (I apologize for my camera going in and out of focus, but you get the idea). What a fabulously English way to kick off the trip!

Pear Walnut Muffins

2008-03-23T13:45:00.004-04:00

I have been trying to cook more, and had success with these Pear Walnut Muffins (in anticipation of the brunches I hope to host this Spring). The recipe I used was out of the "Bride and Groom Cookbook" from Williams-Sonoma, but the one below (from About.com) is almost exactly the same:

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 medium pear, peeled and chopped finely
1 egg
1/2 cup yogurt, plain
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup vegetable oil
.
Topping Mixture:
3 to 4 tablespoons finely chopped walnuts or pecans
3 to 4 tablespoons packed brown sugar

PREPARATION:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Sift first six ingredients together into a large bowl, rubbing the sugar through the sifter. Stir in chopped pear.

Whisk together egg, yogurt, vanilla and oil. Stir into dry ingredients until just combined.Do not over mix. Fill greased muffin cups about 2/3 full.

Mix topping ingredients together. Sprinkle topping mixture over each muffin. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until lightly browned.
Makes 8 to 9.

Roc

2008-03-23T13:32:00.004-04:00

We have started a tradition of having Friday night dinners with Melanie, Amy, Stephanie and the husbands at Roc in Tribeca - really good Italian food, good service, good overall experience. The exciting part of the first dinner was that we sat next to Michael Imperioli (Christopher from The Sopranos - see below)
Naturally, none of us acted like we cared, when we could hardly wait for him to leave so that we could talk about our sighting. Just went back for our second dinner - and there he was again! Same table, same night of the week - coincidence? Or maybe he just knew we would be there....

My New Obsession

2008-03-23T13:26:00.004-04:00

I don't usually shop in Chanel, but I was particularly struck by their Spring line of Jewelry featuring these brooch clusters. I had the pleasure of trying this bangle on in the store yesterday, and it is beyond gorgeous (and beyond my budget, naturally) - talk about a statement piece! If anyone has an in at Chanel (as in, a discount), let me know!

Hey Peeps - I'm Back!

2008-03-23T13:24:00.004-04:00

Sorry it's been so long.......Happy Easter!!

No, We Didn't Bring One Home.........

2008-02-10T18:23:00.001-05:00

But it was tough to walk away! Would you be able to leave one of these cuties behind??

The Beauty of Decoupage

2008-02-10T18:05:00.000-05:00

I have always loved the look of decoupage, but could never decide which wonderfully retro design to go with. I figured I would pick something out when I had more of a permanent home to decorate. Then I found out that Kaas Glassworks, in the West Village, did custom work - and then I knew exactly what I wanted to do! They have really amazing pieces, I'll definitely be back when I have more wall space to decorate (and for gifts as well - any special requests?). Their window (below) was all done up for V-Day, but I'm partial to the special one I just gave Dirk.........

Design Sponge

2008-02-10T17:51:00.001-05:00

I am going to add this to my favorite sites (to the left), but wanted to make sure it got a proper callout - Design*Sponge is a great site for pretty designed things. It is also a beautifully-designed site overall - inspires me to make more out of mine (someday, someday.........).

Oh, How the Mighty Have Fallen.........

2008-02-10T17:43:00.000-05:00

I just want to say that, as much as I love talking about restaurants I love, I also get very frustrated when places seem to disappoint. I posted about our new favorite go-to place, The Smith, and I now have to sadly take it back. Now not only can I not get in as a walk-in (Friday night we were promised 40 minutes, then when that was up it was going to be ANOTHER 40 minutes, to which we went somewhere else), but this morning I waited 20 minutes for a brunch reservation while other people got seated ahead of us ("They have been waiting a long time" the hostess said. 80 minutes, I presume). I know these things happen, and I certainly have never run a restaurant to know how hard it is. And I will admit most of my frustrations stem more from the hostess' attitude (after I talked to the manager about the issues I felt better, but I am still unsure if and when we will return). Can anyone change my mind?

Graffiti

2008-02-10T17:34:00.000-05:00

We had one of those only-in-New York dinners on Saturday, at Graffiti in the East Village. The restaurant is tiny (I estimated about 1/4 the size of our apartment, or maybe 8 feet wide - what you see here is about it). Dirk and I had dinner with Jeff, and we shared the back table with 6 other people, which is always good to see what they ordered and you didn't. Everything about it was special - the chef is also the host, the small menu is very thought out and easy to order from (everything is grouped by price, and all wine is $25 a bottle although we opted for the lychee prosecco martinis - yum!), and when the food is brought to the table it is carefully explained ingredient by ingredient. Everything tasted excellent - you can tell that this is a place that has had a lot of love put into it and it shows. Even though we tried most everything on the menu, I am looking forward to our next trip!

En Japanese

2008-02-10T17:29:00.001-05:00

Nick and Natalie were nice enough to invite us along to one of their Restaurant Week reservations, to En. Whenever I go to a Japanese restaurant like this, I am reminded that I really like it - why don't I go more often? The food was great - we ordered off of the Restaurant Week menu but I got Miso Black Cod, which is exactly what I would have ordered anyway - and the service was nice. Definitely warrants a return trip!

Dirk's Super Bowl Debut

2008-02-03T23:42:00.001-05:00

Finally - the Super Bowl has come and gone, and Dirk's ad had it's debut! I am trying to post it on the site, but not sure if it is working. Here is a still from it (above), and all of the ads (including the cute Coke - Balloons ad that The Mill also did, below) are available to view on myspace.

Leavin' on a Jet Plane........

2008-02-02T23:08:00.000-05:00

If I haven't mentioned it, Dirk and I are off to London on February 12th - me for 6 days and him for almost 3 weeks (yikes!). I am so excited, and am looking forward to a lot of window shopping, stressing about the exchange rate, and seeing all of our friends and family there. Although I have been there many times before, I've never been for 6 days at a time and I really want to explore new shops and see different parts of the city (of course we'll hit the usual Topshop/Selfridge's/Harvey Nichols trifecta) - does anyone have any great shopping tips for either new or vintage stores?

PS - I love this print, from art.com

This is Terrifying.......

2008-02-02T22:44:00.000-05:00

I have never liked large, or larger-than-life sculptures - I remember being afraid of the Big Bird "statue" at our local JC Penney growing up. So imagine my terror as we were walking down Grand Street in Soho and came across this setup celebrating Stefan Sagmeister's exhibit at the Deitch Gallery. The picture doesn't do it justice, but believe me when I say that a 40-foot-tall monkey that looks like it could get up and run after you is not something I like to run into (only in New York, right?) I would love to see the exhibit if I can gather the courage - if anyone has seen it I would love to hear your thoughts.

Tomato, Red Pepper and Chickpea Soup

2008-02-02T22:26:00.000-05:00

This is a fabulous recipe courtesy of a friend, fabulous because it was really delicious and so easy to make. I usually stay away from most soups because of their lack of protein, but the chickpeas in this one make it really nutritious (it contains almost every food group, if you have bread with it - which we did). It also gave me an opportunity to use the hand-held blender that Allison gave me for Christmas 2006, and now I'm hooked - bring on more soup recipes!

Jar of cooked red peppers (use one or two peppers from it)
1 onion x 1
2 cloves Garlic
19 oz. can of chickpeas
28 oz can of crushed tomatoes
4 cups of vegetable stock
Heaping 1 tsp. cumin
Salt and pepper
Fat free sour cream (optional)

* Fry onion
* Add heaped teaspoon of cumin
* Add chickpeas, stock, canned tomatoes and peppers, S/P
* Cook for 10 minutes or 1 hr - depends on how long you have
* Get immersion blender (or regular blender) and blend ingredients until smooth

* Add a dollup of sour cream to the top before serving

Shrimp with Arugula and Couscous

2008-02-02T22:12:00.000-05:00

This recipe is courtesy of Real Simple. It is really healthy, and more flavorful than expected. I toasted some sliced almonds to add, and served it with the lemon wedges.

1 cup instant couscous
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 clove garlic, thinly sliced
1 5-ounce bag arugula
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
20 medium-size shrimp, deveined
1 lemon, quartered

Prepare the couscous according to the package directions and fluff with a fork. Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook until aromatic, about 1 minute. Add the arugula and cook until just wilted, about 1 more minute. Combine the arugula and couscous in a large bowl, season with half the salt and pepper, and toss gently. In the same skillet, heat the remaining oil over medium-high heat, season the shrimp with the remaining salt and pepper, then cook 2 minutes on each side. Serve over the couscous with a squeeze of lemon.

Tip: Baby spinach makes a nice stand-in for arugula. Buy either prewashed and bagged to make this quick dinner even quicker.

Yield: Makes 4 servings

Imjadara

2008-02-02T21:56:00.000-05:00

I have been trying to cook more, with all of our fun new equipment. My goal is to come up with 5-10 good veggie dishes to make for Dirk. This isn't the most colorful recipe I've ever made, but was really good - I used cous cous because they didn't have bulgar in the market downstairs, and finishing it off with the Greek yogurt was perfect.

Imjadara
4 cups vegetable stock
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon coriander
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
Pinch of cayenne or a tiny squeeze (about 1/4 teaspoon) of chili pepper paste
Salt and pepper to taste
1 cup brown or green lentils, rinsed
1 1/4 cups coarse-ground bulgur
6-8 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 large onions, halved and thickly sliced

In a large, heavy pot, bring the stock to a boil. Stir in the tomato paste and all spices except the salt and pepper, then add the lentils. Simmer, with the lid on, for about 15 minutes or until the lentils are almost tender.

Taste, and add salt and pepper if desired (you probably won’t need the salt if you’ve used a pre-prepared stock). Stir in the bulgur, put the lid back on, and cook over very low heat for another 10-15 minutes. Check it; if it seems dry, add a splash of water. Put the lid back on, remove from heat, and let the pot sit for another 10 minutes or so, after which time the bulgur should be tender and nicely plumped. Stir in 5 tablespoons of the olive oil (I occasionally stop at 3 if the bulgur is very moist.)

As your stock is coming to the boil, get started on the onions. Heat 3 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large skillet. Add the onions and fry over medium heat for about 30 minutes, stirring often, until they’re very brown. Turn the heat up towards the end to caramelize the onions.

Serve the lentils and bulgur topped with the onions and accompany, if you like, with thick Greek yogurt. The dish may be served hot or cold.

Serves 4 as a main, 6 as a side dish.

And The Winner Is.....

2008-01-27T22:27:00.000-05:00

I have just learned how to add a poll to my site. In honor of us seeing "No Country For Old Men" last night, the first poll will be Oscar-related (we are striving to see each of the nominations for Best Picture before the big night, at which time I will vote).

Stay tuned - after next Sunday the poll will be your favorite Super Bowl commercial (of which I am biased of course - I happen to think a certain drink spot should win).

My New Favorite Song

2008-01-27T20:49:00.000-05:00

I am loving the song featured in the new MacBook Air commercial. Turns out it is "New Soul" by Yael Naim, and it makes me feel happy and a bit innocent - appropriately, like a new beginning with Spring on its way and all. I can't post the music (though if someone knows how, I would love to learn), but the link here shows the music video, as well as the comercial.

I have a secret.....

2008-01-27T19:17:00.000-05:00

Wonder why I have posted so much today? Because I have been at work with Dirk, keeping him company while he finishes off his fabulous Super Bowl commercial! The secret is that I can't say what the spot is until it finishes (OK - I've told a few of you in private already, but you are sworn to secrecy). If I can I'll post the finished product here after next Sunday.......

Restaurant Review, Part 2

2008-01-27T19:02:00.000-05:00

Last Friday we went to a great little Italian restaurant on Avenue B called bår-bo-né. It was tiny, but the food was great - a little more creative than your basic Italian fare (I had the duck ravioli). The staff were also really nice, which is probably what I look for #1 in a restaurant (besides food, of course, but if the food is good but the staff isn't I probably won't go back). I would definitely recommend it if you are in the far East Villiage.

Restaurant Review, Part 1

2008-01-27T18:29:00.000-05:00

When I first moved to New York, I felt like I was constantly discovering new and interesting places, but had no way of telling everyone - so this is a great forum to do so! Dirk and I love eating out, so I will try to start sharing some of our favorite places (great for you out-of-towners as well, to get ideas of where you want to go the next time you visit)

The Smith is our new favorite local - very brasserie-esque, a wide range of things to choose from for both brunch and dinner, friendly staff, complimentary still AND sparkling water and only about 3 blocks from the apartment! The only bad thing about it is that it's gotten so popular they quoted us an hour wait for a table last night (good thing they take reservations).

Those Google guys come up with everything.....

2008-01-27T18:24:00.000-05:00

As usual, Dirk finds the coolest things on the internet and has turned me onto Google Reader, on which you can see which of your favorite sites have been updated and just read the updates as opposed to wasting time logging onto each one individually and checking them. I don't have a ton of websites I check, but it is a helpful tool. Maybe you can use it to see if my blog has been updated (hint, hint).

PS - I am still a bit unsure about the use of trademarked/copyrighted material on blogs, and since I'm not making money off of it I think it is OK but if anyone knows differently please let me know. Obviously, Google did not authorize the use of their logo for this, but I'm complimenting their product so hopefully it is OK.......

So Many Collections, Too Little Space......

2008-01-27T15:36:00.000-05:00

I've always liked the idea of collecting things and displaying them as groups (i.e. matchbooks, teacups, pictures) - Dirk and I often fantasize about a new apartment with giant walls to display our art on. Just yesterday I was at a flea market and saw some vintage luggage stickers like the ones above and thought "those would be great to frame and display, but alas we are maxxed out on wallspace so what's the point?" Then I saw this post on Poppytalk and am totally inspired (some of her pictures are below) - looks like I'll be back next weekend to get those stickers after all.......

Michigan Pride

2008-01-27T15:14:00.000-05:00

Even though I've lived in NYC for 7 years (yikes, has it been that long?) I will always be a Michigan girl. Which is why I love the idea of the necklaces at State of Mine - they even put a diamond on where your hometown is (Dirk, do I smell a gift idea? :)

Park Slope, Brooklyn

2007-12-30T23:04:00.001-05:00

We continued to look for a new place this weekend and explored Park Slope in Brooklyn. It has a ton of streets like this, and Wikipedia has a great synopsis of the area: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Park_Slope,_Brooklyn

Bubble and Squeak

2007-12-30T22:58:00.000-05:00

After dinner, there was a lot of talk of "bubble and squeak" for the next day - not a bad idea for leftovers!

Bubble and squeak (sometimes just called bubble) is a traditional English dish made with the shallow-fried leftover vegetables from a roast dinner. The chief ingredients are potatoand cabbage, but carrots, peas, brussels sprouts, and other vegetables can be added. It is traditionally served with cold meat from the Sunday roast, and pickles. Traditionally the meat was added to the bubble and squeak itself, although nowadays the vegetarian version is more common. The cold chopped vegetables (and cold chopped meat if used) are fried in a pan together with mashed potato until the mixture is well-cooked and brown on the sides.

The name is thought to be either a description of the action and sound made during the cooking process, a reference to the gas "bubbles" the dish causes and the "squeak" one's body makes upon releasing them, or from the fact that the ingredients are leftovers; 'the bubble of the stew and the squeak of the pig'

Christmas 2007

2007-12-30T22:44:00.001-05:00

Although we weren't with our families, we still had a wonderful Christmas! It started with stockings and presents (of course!) I'm particularly proud and excited about this gift for Dirk - hopefully it will help us be just that much neater:

After we opened presents, we headed to Brooklyn to Jo and Dan's for an amazing dinner! Jo cooked for 11 of us, and we had quite the spread: 5 chickens, potatoes and root vegetables, broccoli, pea pods, stuffing, lots of desserts and a cheese plate! Let's just say I haven't been very hungry the rest of the week.....

Post Number 1

2007-12-30T22:09:00.000-05:00

I am still not as good with keeping up with everyone as I ought to be, so I thought this would be a good idea to start the new year right and come up with a solution. Not that this will take the place of good-old-fashioned phone calls (Mom and Dad - we are still on for Wednesday and Sunday), but it also makes it easier to show pictures of things rather than trying to just explain them over the phone. Hopefully you all agree. Expect a lot of pictures of Emily, and there will probably be some pandas, dachsunds and other animals mixed in. Don't forget that you can post comments back to me, too!

PS - The color green really does compliment the color magenta (one of my favorites, as you know) on the color wheel, which I thought was a nice coincidence.