February 19, 2010
recipe experiment: creamy veggie dip
I know, I’ve been posting a shit load of recipes lately. My subconscious must be on a cooking kick…bear with me.
Again, another recipe from Superbowl Sunday. No football-watching is complete without a veggie tray and obviously a pre-bought one would absolutely not suffice.
From Southern Living
Ingredients
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup drained, chopped jarred roasted red bell peppers*
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1/4 cup finely chopped green bell pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon hot sauce
Baby carrots, celery sticks, radish slices
Preparation
Stir together first 9 ingredients in a medium bowl. Cover and chill at least 2 hours. Serve dip with baby carrots, celery sticks, and radish slices and whatever other healthy goodies you fancy.
Notes:
Being a garlic fiend, I added in a bit more than called for. I also left out the red peppers…not a fan of peppers and putting the green ones in there was about as far as I was willing to go.
Rating:
3 1/2 spoons
February 17, 2010
unique wedding invites
How creative are these wedding invites found via Bride Pop:
As a writer and lover of literature, this is definitely being filed away in my “just in case I do get married” folder. I’m such a hopeless romantic that I’d probably use an old copy of Pride & Prejudice, with the page containing this quote still intact:
“If, however, your feelings have changed, I will have to tell you: you have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love, I love, I love you. I never wish to be parted from you from this day on.”
Sigh.
February 12, 2010
inspiration board, er, inspiration
Back in college, I would spend literally hours on end putting together inspiration boards for design projects. This work caused me to have a bitter hatred towards the darn things, and I’ve yet to create one out of pure pleasure.
This isn’t saying that I don’t enjoy viewing others’ hard work. For my job, I basically write, all day every day. I love it but sometimes I need a little kick-start in the morning when my coffee just isn’t cutting it, so I have found the perfect use of pretty inspiration boards I find online: desktop wallpaper.
please excuse the messiness of my desk...it is a Friday afternoon.
This particular inspiration board comes from black_kat1 on flickr.
My desktop will be ready to inspire when I groggily stumble in after the three-day weekend.
February 11, 2010
perfectly pink pancakes for valentine’s day
Three things that I love: chocolate, the color pink, and breakfast foods.
And this recipe combines all three.
Pancake Recipe From Martha Stewart
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons sugar
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
3 cups buttermilk
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus 1/2 teaspoon for griddle
10 drops of red food coloring
chocolate chips
photo from martha stewart
1. Heat griddle to 375 degrees. Whisk dry ingredients in a medium bowl. Add eggs, buttermilk, and 4 tablespoons melted butter; whisk to combine. Batter should have small to medium lumps.
2. Test griddle by sprinkling a few drops of water on it. If water bounces and spatters off griddle, it is hot enough. Brush remaining 1/2 teaspoon of butter. Wipe off excess.
3. Using a 4-ounce ladle, about 1/2 cup, pour pancake batter, in pools 2 inches away from one other. Add chocolate chips to the pancakes. When pancakes have bubbles on top and are slightly dry around edges, about 2 1/2 minutes, flip over. Cook until golden on bottom, about 1 minute.
4. Repeat with remaining batter, keeping finished pancakes on a heatproof plate in oven. Serve warm. Top with chocolate syrup and whipped cream.
Me and my sweetie are going to the Poconos with another couple this weekend…this would be a perfect Valentine’s breakfast-in-bed meal. Hint, hint, boys.
February 9, 2010
recipe experiment: fancy pigs-in-the-blanket
I hosted Superbowl Sunday at my apartment this past weekend. Going against my friends’ advice to just order pizza (how dare they suggest that!), I donned my apron over my football jersey and practiced my Martha Stewart skills by making a bunch of homemade finger foods, one of them being a fancy twist to the traditional pigs-in-the-blanket.
What you need:
Puff pastry
Sausage or frankfurters preferably in some sort of flavor (I used organic apple and Gouda sausage)
Your favorite cheese (I used Havarti)
Dijon mustard
Roll out puff pastry. Cut dough into rectangles that are long and wide enough to wrap around an entire sausage/frank. Spread a think layer of Dijon mustard on each rectangle. Sprinkle with cheese. Roll dough around sausage and seal seam by pressing dough together. Cut franks crosswise into thirds and arrange on greased baking sheet. Bake in oven on greased baking sheet at 375 for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
Sorry I don’t have a picture…my guests attacked them before I could get my camera out.
Rating: 4 out of 5 spoons
February 5, 2010
currently coveting: rope banisters
Rope banisters have recently been catching my eye. I kinda like the simplicity of them, and they’re versatility by having a nautical, modern, or country route.
I love the simplicity of this look:
via remodelista
This banister gets a little lost in the graphic Fornasetti Tema e Variazioni wallpaper from Cole & Son, but I’m intrigued by the contrast:
from house beautiful
Thom Felicia (adore him!) added in a heavy rope banister to his stairwell design for the House Beautiful showhouse. I also love how the Sacco runner is off-centered.
house beautiful
The rope paired with the round porthole window give this stairway a subtle nautical theme.
via The City Sage
Oh, and happy Friday
February 3, 2010
inspiration: book side tables
I have run out of room on my bookcase for all my beloved hardbacks and magazines. Obviously, I refuse to throw any of them out (don’t worry domino, I will keep you forever), but I definitely do not have the room for another shelf. Anywhere.
So where will my tales of Bella, Carrie, and countless other characters live?
I kinda love the idea of just stacking them on top of each other right there on the floor. Just bare.
Ooo that sounds naughty.
from young house love
But to pull it off without it looking cluttered in my tiny Manhattan apartment is the challenge. But if successful, I may even get a little side table out of it.
from domino
Love it when function dances with style so harmoniously.
January 26, 2010
bird-themed tabletop
Sometimes I think my obsession with bird-themed items (as seen here and here) is a little over-the-top.
I was browsing in Pottery Barn the other day in hopes of using a gift card I received as a Christmas present, and I came across this bird-themed tabletop set.
Okay, so the birdcages hanging overhead are a little much (would I be tacky to say that I still don’t hate them?), but I love those cute little songbird salad plates:
And the little birdies perched on the serving bowl:
I’d throw in a little bit of Robin’s Egg Blue:
Chirp.
January 25, 2010
bloomingdale’s big window challenge
Installed last week, Bloomingdale’s Big Window Challenge is now set up in their flagship store here in Manhattan and voting is underway! The competing windows are designed by Eileen Joyce, Eddie Ross for ELLE Decor, and Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan representing Apartment Therapy.
by eddie ross for elle decor
by eileen joyce
by maxwell gillingham-ryan for apartment therapy
Gah. I think each room has it’s own perfection.
- Eddie Ross’s: Titled The Modern Woman, it’s typical Eddie Ross-style, mixing old with new in daring patterns. I like it because it looks lived-in. The day’s paper cast aside on the side chair, reminiscent of a Dorothy Draper interior, the champagne, chilled, ready to be popped for expected guests, and I like to imagine that the blue-and-white Delftware collection was put together over years of scouring the Chelsea flea market. In contrast though, there is a lot going on, and my eyes have a hard time resting.
- Eileen Joyce’s: The Urbane Traveller is simple, with her worldly findings taking centerstage in this design. While her design looks effortless, I think it also looks safe. Complete opposite of Eddie’s.
- Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan’s: The Writer’s Romantic Supper has a masculine appeal to it, centered around the Ralph Lauren chair, that has been toned down with the Neisha Crosland wallpaper, giving it a nice balance. The trompe l’oeil bookcases are a nice touch, though wouldn’t a writer have actual bookcases? I’m also completely turned off by the shag rug (ick) and the room overall feels very bottom-heavy.
Sigh. I can’t decide though I think I’m leaning towards Eddie’s. Which is your favorite? Tell me, and then cast your vote here.
