weekend update

happy monday!

i hope you all had a great weekend - mine was spent relaxing with friends and some good food!

here are a few snapshots:

left: a craft beer tasting cruise via living social - AMAZING. god, i love boats.

right: sunday dinners, round 1: a southern feast with friends

now, it's monday. i am sure this week will be lovely, but i am already excited for friday because we are hosting a housewarming/olympics viewing soirée in our new digs!

as you have probably gathered, i love planning parties and prepping the menu is one of my favorite parts of the process! while this can be daunting, i have a few tips that i stick to that streamline the process:
1. pick a theme

for the olympics, there are many routes to choose from: with london as the host city, you could opt for british-inspired munchies and libations. in honor of the USA, you could go with all-american fare.

for our party, we are making a number of things but have also asked others to bring a dish or drink to share, so we decided to make our menu all-inclusive. the olympics, after all, is a global event!

2. have options: not everyone eats everything

nothing is worse than going to a party and realizing that you can't eat any of the food! 

whether you or your guests are vegan/vegetarian or have dietary restrictions or food allergies, it's always a good idea to make sure there is something for everyone. 

when i plan menus, i make columns like so:

this way, it's simple to see what your choices are, whether you have overloaded in one category, and how best to balance things out (hmmm, perhaps a fish option is needed?)

3. make sure your options work for your prep schedule!

i have a full-time job and a somewhat lengthy commute, and this party is on a weekday. therefore, hors d'oeuvres that require hours of prep time are not good choices for me, and while i love to make as much as possible from scratch, i am fine with taking some shortcuts. 

some examples from my actual menu:

caprese skewers require minimal assembly time, and they are so fresh and delicious in the summer - i will add some basil from our garden, but literally all i have to do is put a tomato and a ball of mozzarella on a toothpick.

pigs in a blanket are my brother's favorite, so i had to include them. i would really love to make this pretzel crusted version via cupcakes and cashmere, but this is not the time for testing a new recipe so i will be purchasing frozen ones from trader joe's instead.

nutella s'mores are a delicious variation on the traditional recipe, and you can put all of the ingredients out buffet-style for people to roast over the grill and assemble on their own! plus, the nutella doesn't need to melt so it's spreadable instantly!

you get the idea. stay tuned for some more party posts this week!


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born in the usa

[via]

as i mentioned earlier this week, i am really looking forward to a low-key celebration tomorrow for the fourth after such a crazed weekend. no entertaining. no planning. just being breezy and letting it happen.

 i am sure there will be instagram updates because i am addicted - feel free to check them out here and have a happy fourth of july!

any excuse for a party: clambake edition

you all know that i love essie's clambake nail polish, but there is nothing i love more than an edible clambake in the summer!

i would love to throw one this summer once our move is complete, but first i need a few essentials:

tiki torches / coasters / beverage tub / beach boys sounds of summer / apron / lobster crackers / lobster pot

throw some beers on ice, light the tiki torches, and put the beach boys on with the volume up! 

this kind of lobster pot is great because you can do steamers in the bottom and then the lobsters in the top - here's a great basic recipe for both. i like to serve my feast with drawn butter and clam broth for dipping, along with corn and tomato salad (recipe here) and plenty of napkins!

on a multi-tasking note, i am thinking that the galvanized beverage tub could double as a storage place for my magazines, making it a multi-purpose purchase!

flag day and other celebrations

happy june 14!

today is flag day, but it is also my parents' 37th wedding anniversary so i wanted to take a moment to honor an incredible couple who have taught me everything i know about life and love.

happy anniversary, you crazy kids!

memorial day weekend

i can't believe that it's already the end of may, and that memorial day weekend is upon us - this year is flying by! i am planning on using the long weekend to start organizing some things for the upcoming move, but i will also be taking some time to kick back and relax.

my weekend might look a little something like this:

a lobster roll 
i will stick to the basics, similar to this recipe, but this video from luke's lobster is adorable AND the roll makes itself!

chilled rosé 

i prefer rosés that are pale in color from either bandol or the cotes de provence region, and you can find good bottles for under $15 (please note: domaine ott is a rip off!)

strawberry tart

how festive does this strawberry tart from cupcakes and cashmere look? i can't wait to try it!

patriotic attire

i am obsessed with this chambray top. so comfy, and appropriately red, white, and blue when paired with a bright red mani/pedi (essie clambake, of course.)


happy memorial day weekend:
let us remember with gratitude all of the men and women who have bravely served our country.

easter bunny

happy friday, everyone! 

i am so excited for this easter weekend - we have a nice mix of fun and low-key plans, which include happy hour and dinner with friends in the city tonight; gym, housecleaning, and errands tomorrow; and easter on sunday!

i love easter. my earliest childhood memories of the holiday are gathering with my dad's extended french-canadian family at my grandparents' house (salient points: almost no one spoke english; there was a lamb-shaped cake that was covered in coconut and therefore looked furry.)  

as we got older, we had easter at our house. my dad would hide about 50 plastic eggs filled with candy or loose change in the yard after we got back from church. my brothers and i each got a basket, and we would run around like crazy trying to find the most eggs. this might sound like a lovely family event, but in reality it was more like the hunger games: i usually ended up bleeding, my youngest brother would be crying, and my middle brother would smugly count the lion's share of the spoils in the corner. i would share a picture, but i think it might be too traumatic for all of us.

this year, the boyfriend and i will be skipping egg hunts in favor of a delicious dinner at home. here's a peek at our menu!

to start:

grandnana's deviled eggs 

(my great-grandmother's recipe: she knew curry was great stuff way before it was trendy!)

ingredients:

a dozen hard boiled eggs

mayonaise

dijon mustard

curry powder

salt

pepper

paprika

1. cut the eggs in half. gently remove the yolks and put in a mixing bowl. 

2. add a little mayonaise, dijon mustard, and curry powder to the yolks and mix with a fork. adjust amounts to your taste - the end result should be a creamy and smooth mixture. season with salt and pepper.

3. spoon the yolk mixture into a large plastic bag. snip one corner so there is a small hole and pipe the yolk mixture into the egg white "bowls."

4. sprinkle some paprika over each egg to garnish

the main event:

boneless stuffed leg of lamb

pan-seared smashed new potatoes

roasted asparagus

we are planning on stuffing the leg with pancetta, lemon, and rosemary and then grilling it.

the potato recipe is simple:

1. cut new potatoes in half (i plan on 4 whole potatoes per person - they're small.)
2. parboil the potatoes until they are fork-tender.
3. heat 1/4 cup of olive oil in a saute pan over medium-high heat.
4. place potatoes in saute pan and smash the tops of them with the bottom of a glass.
5. cook over the heat until the bottoms are golden brown and crispy.
6. season with lemon zest, salt, pepper, and parsley.

i will roast the asparagus in the oven at 425 degrees for about 12 minutes. to prep, cut/snap the ends, place stalks in an oven-safe dish. drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and shaved parmesan if you like. the cooked asparagus should be tender but not mushy.

the finale:

coconut-carrot layer cake with cream cheese frosting

i am improvising with this one: i couldn't decide between coconut cake and carrot cake, so i am making both! 

i plan to use recipes from the hummingbird bakery cookbook and/or the sono baking company cookbook, and my thought is that i will sandwich a layer of carrot cake between two layers of coconut cake, with cream cheese frosting between each layer and covering the outside. then, in homage to the furry lamb cake of my childhood, i can cover the entire outside of the cake with coconut. we shall see how this turns out!

i promise photos next week :)


best wishes for a happy passover, easter, and weekend! 

[image via]

i'd like to propose a toast

somewhat by accident, i have started a little collection of champagne flutes. they are currently on display on our new living room shelves, and i love the delicate femininity they add to our more gender-neutral apartment.

greenish flutes on bottom: anthropologie sale! / tall clear flutes: inherited from my parents' move!

  

one of the blogs i love, hip hip gin gin, touts that every day is a special occasion, and i am completely in agreement. why not have your cocktail in style, even if it's just a tuesday?

i like the idea of having sets of two or four in all different styles, and for my next acquisition i would love to find a set of coupes: very roaring twenties! there are a few great thrift shops near my office that frequently have beautiful glassware in the window, so i have been on the lookout! 

here are a few glasses i found online as inspiration:  

1 / 2 / 3

clearly i am loving a gilded rim!

an ode to the bar cart, part two

following up on an ode to the bar cart, part one, stocking your cart is just as important as finding the right one!

tumblers / similar cocktail shaker / ice mold

 a good guideline for stocking up is to keep in mind what you and close friends of yours like to drink and start from there. 

i always have vodka, gin and bourbon on hand, as well as seltzer, tonic water, and ginger ale for mixers. i have also accumulated other liquors and liqueurs over time, usually from specialty cocktail occasions.

bar utensils are essential to mixing a good drink: i love this vintage-inspired penguin cocktail shaker, and those polka-dotted tumblers are so cute (although all of my glassware comes from pier 1 - great for the budget!) silicone ice molds create perfect cubes, and their flexible material takes the work out of emptying them!

now that we've covered the bar cart and the stocking basics, let's mix a few drinks! since it is mardi gras, i picked a specialty cocktail from three festival hubs: new orleans, venice, and rio!

bourbon street, new orleans
french 75 (with or without a dash of st. germain!)
ingredients: champagne, gin, lemon juice, a sugar cube or powdered sugar (st. germain liqueur optional)

carnevale, venice
spritz
ingredients: prosecco, aperol, seltzer

rio carnival, brazil
caipirinha
ingredients: cachaca, lime juice, limes


[images courtesy of penderyn, the glamorous gourmet, the leather district gourmet, mardi gras new orleans, rio de janeiro travel source, carnevale di venezia]

any excuse for a party: valentine's day edition

isn't this amazing?? 

going out to dinner for a valentine's day date is a great chance to let other people do all the work so you can focus on one another. on the other hand, having a nice dinner together at home is equally romantic.

i remember my first valentine's day with the boyfriend; he made me a spectacular meal featuring roast duck breast with a cherry reduction served with asparagus and risotto, followed by homemade tiramisu! needless to say, he's a keeper! we have continued that valentine tradition each year, only now we enjoy planning a menu and cooking dinner together.

whether you are preparing a surprise dinner, or working to produce one as a couple, here is a menu full of red and white colors that will set the tone for your evening (candles and mood music not included.)

hors d'oeuvres:

crostini duo
ricotta with cracked black pepper and honey 
fig jam and goat cheese

first course:

roasted beet soup with creme fraiche

entrée:

bistecca alla fiorentina with arugula and parmesan (for two)
roasted fingerling potatoes

dessert:

flourless chocolate torte (recipe coming tomorrow - stay tuned!)
cheesecake-stuffed strawberries

that's me with said chocolate torte on valentine's day a few years ago!

to drink:

before (and after) dinner: 
something bubbly! prosecco is crisp and dry, and more affordable than champagne. look for bottles from the veneto area (valdobbiadene is a great region!)

if we're going with champagne, my pick is veuve clicquot :)

with dinner:
we all know red wine is great with steak - i love pinot noirs and cabernets, and an italian red like chianti would also pair nicely.


a festive cocktail:
i love the sound of these pink grapefruit margaritas (plus, they're pink!)


<images courtesy of the cooking channel, epicurious, epicurious, food.com, martha stewart, the sweets life>

boy hearts girl

valentine's day is right around the corner! finding the right gift for that special someone can be a challenge, so i navigated the minefield of love-themed items and came up with a few ideas for her and for him!

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8

1. a good read with recipes

2. something shiny

3. red hot kitchen tools

4. a gift certificate for a mani-pedi goes nicely with a new polish :)

5. everyone's favorite period drama

6. love for her desktop

7. a passionately painted pillow

8. mentionable unmentionables

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8

1. fuzzy slippers

2. heart boxers

3. bacon chocolate (yes, really. and yes, it's awesome.)

4. whiskey stones for chilling nightcaps to perfection

5. comfort food, courtesy of mr. thomas keller

6. needlepoint flask (add your own maker's mark!)

7. a heartfelt, but not too mushy, print

8. mr. eastwood - the ultimate manly man

of course, flowers and champagne and chocolates are always solid choices! what are you getting your other half for valentine's day?

any excuse for a party: super bowl edition

it's the middle of winter. the holidays are over, and spring is so far away. the only holiday on the calendar is valentine's day, and that isn't really a group party type of thing. enter the super bowl!

it goes without saying that i am beyond excited for this year's patriots/giants rematch, and it's so much fun to watch the game with a big group of people. super bowl parties are an incredible excuse for finger food, and a variety is key since there is no real main course. this year, the boyfriend and i are attending a friend's party, but i do love party planning, so here are some ideas and recipes i would try if we were hosting.

first, a brief tangent: i just got the epicurious app on my iphone, and i am obsessed. the recipe box? amazing. adding all ingredients from the recipes you want to make into a shopping list? GENIUS (i should probably mention that i love list-making.)


boston (sorry, foxboro - i'm subbing you out) and new york are both incredible food cities with seriously global representation, so instead of the usual buffalo wings and nachos, these suggested menus play up the international angle.

patriots starting line-up:

north end mini-meatball sliders (make these smaller and serve on buns!)

chinatown chicken wings

new england clam chowder (top this with bacon!)

southie fries      

                                                     

giants starting line-up:

little italy flatbread (use different toppings for variety!)

mini bagels with cream cheese and lox

flushing spring rolls

spaha chicken quesadillas 

      

what to pour:

patriots:

(beers) harpoon and sam adams

(cocktail) cape codder

giants:

(beers) brooklyn lager and sixpoint craft ale

(cocktail) manhattan

second half:

oreo truffle footballs (i made these last year - YUM)

red and blue velvet cupcakes

i am partial to the hummingbird bakery recipe for red velvet (it's the boyfriend's favorite, so i make them A LOT) and you just substitute blue food coloring for red to make a batch of blue velvets :)


what are you doing cooking for the super bowl? GO PATS!


<image credits: wall street journal, make mine vintage, family food, christy's kitchen creations, epicurious, lands of wisdom, amy blogs chow, tastebook, tammy's recipes, live love pasta, one particular kitchen>

weekend kitchen recap

i had a busy weekend in the kitchen, but in a good way. on saturday night, the boyfriend and i hosted a belated chinese new year gathering and we made a variety of szechuan dishes inspired by one of our favorite restaurants (szechuan gourmet on 56th between 8th and broadway in nyc - if you haven't been, you need to go! it is incredible, and their menu includes a section called "gourmet gourmet," so you know it's good.)

on the menu
ginger margaritas
avocado spring rolls
szechuan pork dumplings
twice-cooked pork belly with chili leeks
stir-fried shiitake mushrooms and broccoli

pork belly is harder to find than we had anticipated, but our search led us to the discovery of an amazing butcher in westport that focuses on locally sourced meats! it's called saugatuck craft butchery, and i am thoroughly impressed.

yummm pork belly

the butchers at craft cutting the pork belly to our specifications

ginger margarita fixings

the finished product: delish.

avocado spring roll filling

crispy spring rolls fresh out of the pan

the boyfriend hard at work on his dumplings

all ready to go in the oil!

shiitake and broccoli stir fry

twice-cooked pork belly with chili leeks!

recipe sources

for the margaritas, we made a simple syrup infused with fresh ginger and red pepper flakes, tossed it in the blender, and then strained it. combine with tequila and fresh lime juice for a spicy twist on the classic.

avocado spring rolls are essentially mashed avocado, salt, pepper, and i added chinese mustard for a little kick. spoon some filling in the middle of the (store bought) spring roll wrapper, roll, and fry in peanut oil until golden brown.

the stir fry was simply steaming the broccoli, cooking off excess water, adding the mushrooms, and finished by tossing with cilantro and soy sauce.

twice-cooked pork belly with chili leeks (recipe here - we omitted the bell pepper) 

szechuan pork dumplings (recipe here - you can buy wonton skins at the grocery store)