My culinary contribution to the feast was two variations on my favorite apricot-sage scones: one batch of pecan-rosemary and one batch of cherry-almond. Delish, if I do say so myself!
3.27.2010
Ladies who brunch
My culinary contribution to the feast was two variations on my favorite apricot-sage scones: one batch of pecan-rosemary and one batch of cherry-almond. Delish, if I do say so myself!
3.25.2010
Building School
Both turned out to be the most perfect re-inspire-ers that I could have hoped for: the walk along the High Line reminded me why I fell for architecture in the first place and the Bauhaus exhibit conveyed the power of a playful spirit in making the world. Thank you, NYC... you were just what I needed.
3.24.2010
Games people play...
3.19.2010
3.18.2010
tastes: Milk Candy
3.15.2010
murray
irving
leon
fred
morris
norman
irwin
murray
harold
walter
oscar
After a tough parting with our beloved {nearly 10-year-old} french bulldog, Ivan, we decided that we missed the pitter-patter of little paws around the house. Imagining that it would take quite awhile to find the perfect pup, we set out right away. And then we found the perfect pup right away... just our {good} luck! So, here he is, around 5 months old and growing like a weed. He is endlessly amusing and keeps us laughing every day.
An adventure film...
Frosted Chocolate-Almond Cookies
COOKIES
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp almond extract
3 oz semi-sweet chocolate
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 raw almonds, chopped
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix butter and sugar in the bowl of a mixer at high speed until fluffy.
Mix in egg and extracts mixture.
Combine melted chocolate and mix well.
Combine flour, baking powder and salt. Mix well.
Cover and chill for about 2 hours or until firm.
5 oz good quality white chocolate, chopped and melted
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
A pinch of salt
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup sour cream
Mix together thoroughly.
Allow cookies to cool to room temperature before frosting.
Garnish with finely chopped raw almonds.
*Orange instead of almond...
Substitute 1 T orange zest and 2 T orange juice for almonds in the cookie dough. Garnish with finely chopped orange zest.
3.12.2010
the dinner party
Mireille Guiliano
The return of the dinner party has been one of the surprisingly wonderful social shifts of late.
It's the perfect testing ground for experimenting with recipes that I otherwise would never get around to. And time with friends, eating and drinking around the home dining table, has quickly become one of my favorite ways to spend an evening. I now prefer it to going out for dinner. Unless, of course, it is someplace truly amazing...
3.08.2010
Rive Gauche
Over the weekend I spent a wonderful, sunny morning with a dear friend in her neighborhood of Jamaica Plain in Boston. We had a delicious breakfast at City Feed and Supply and then strolled down Center Street, popping into a few shops. The shopping stars must have been aligned, because at a small and jam-packed thrift store I came across a vintage Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche wrap skirt that I think will look fantastic over black tights. The pleating detail at the hips carefully follows the vertical pattern of the fabric and the closures at the waist just scream 'Made in France'! Well, they actually do say Made in France, but I was speaking more about the attention to detail.
A good breakfast visit, a good find, a good day.
Papou
Avgolemono (ahv-goh-LEH-moh-noh) is a tangy Greek soup that combines chicken broth, eggs, and lemon juice. The traditional version calls for rice, but my Greek great-grandfather {Papou} always used orzo and I prefer the texture and flavor of the pasta. Papou grew figs in his small backyard in Portland. During visits when I was very young, he would attempt to teach my little brother and me traditional Greek dances while never getting up from the couch. He would often serve us avgolemono for lunch and the creamy lemon-chicken flavors of this soup always bring back memories of visits with him. It's the perfect quick soup recipe for a rainy weeknight and tastes lovely when made with chicken roasted the evening before.
Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 2 cups)
- 6 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh dill
- 1/2 cup uncooked orzo (rice-shaped pasta)
- 4 large egg yolks
- 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 8 ounces skinless, boneless chicken breast, shredded into bite-sized pieces
Preparation
Bring broth and dill to a boil in a large saucepan. Add orzo. Reduce heat, and simmer 5 minutes or until orzo is slightly tender. Remove from heat.
Stir the eggs and lemon juice together until smooth. Remove 1 cup broth from pan with a ladle, and add to the edd mixture. Temper the eggs with the broth.
Add salt, pepper, and chicken to pan. Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat, and cook 5 minutes or until chicken and orzo are done. Reduce heat to low. Slowly stir in egg mixture; cook 30 seconds, stirring constantly. Be careful not to boil to avoid overcooking the egg broth.
About Me
Afternoon on a Hill
Under the sun!
I will touch a hundred flowers
And not pick one.
I will look at cliffs and clouds
With quiet eyes,
Watch the wind bow down the grass,
And the grass rise.
And when lights begin to show
Up from the town,
I will mark which must be mine,
And then start down!
On the bookshelf...
- The Dud Avocado "To find someone to giggle with I place just below finding someone to flirt with and just above the ability to knit."
- An Object of Beauty "She held the jacket of the sound track to Xanadu next to her nose and inhaled it as though it were a madeleine..."
- A Taxonomy of Barnacles Wes Anderson meets Jane Austen and semi-autobiographical to boot
- Blood, Bones & Butter Getting to the guts of food & family
- An Everlasting Meal Reviving & revitalizing a MFK Fisher-esque approach to cooking
- The Sun Also Rises Parties & Pernod. Passion & possession.
- Divisadero Can a book break your heart in the best way possible?
- Cooking for Mr. Latte My imaginary friend, Amanda Hesser, chronicles her life of love & love of food
- Ada, or Ardor Ah, or Aha... the texture & direction of time
- A Model World and Other Stories Chabon carefully crafts fully formed little worlds
- A Widow for One Year John Irving, sans bears
- Just Kids Patti Smith is makin' me fall in love with a bohemian NYC