Monday, August 16, 2010

Over the Weekend Recipe: Potato Corn Chowder

There's nothing like a rainy day where you can light a sweet smelling candle, curl up with a book, have something warm to eat and let coziness emanate throughout the room. 

With so many sweltering hot days in the Mid-Atlantic lately, a cool, wet day this last Sunday was an unexpected treat.  I had three ears of corn, an onion and a handful of potatoes left over from a produce box from Delaware. What better than to put them to use by making a thick, summer vegetable soup?

Potato Corn Chowder
(adapted from Mark Bittman's How to Cook Everything Vegetarian)

Ingredients:
3 ears of corn
4 medium red potatoes, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
4 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup whipping cream
2 cups milk
4 cups water
1/2 teaspoon sugar
2 teaspoons salt
1/4 flour
Pepper (or even cayenne) to taste

Start by cutting the corn off the cob and setting the kernels aside.  Put 4 cups of water in a large pot on med-high and toss in the cobs, season with salt and pepper.  Bring to boil, then let simmer for 30 minutes.

Melt the butter in a medium saucepan and once melted, add the chopped onions and sugar.  Cook until soft on medium-high heat, about two minutes.  Add the flour slowly and whisk together.  Cook for 5 minutes, whisking and stirring constantly. 

Remove corn cobs from the corn stock-water, then add the onion and flour mixture.  Next, add the milk, cream, corn and potatoes and stir well.  Raise heat to medium-high, bring to boil, then reduce heat and let simmer while covered on for 30 minutes.  Add a dash of cayenne, then salt and pepper to taste.  Enjoy!

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Sunday, August 15, 2010

Sunday in LA


Here are a few fantasy outfits for a Sunday (evening) in LA. 

Aren't the sets of Chanel purfumes, studs and sunglasses great?

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Which dress would you choose?


Friday, August 13, 2010

Have a love filled weekend!

And stay tuned for a brand new Sunday Story Board on...Sunday!

Bohemian Chic (or Martha Washington?)

Cupcakes and Cashmere is a fun lifestyle and fashion blog I've been reading lately.  Emily has a few fun beauty how-to's on her site, so this week I've been practicing her over the head braid. 

What do you think of it? 

When I did it, it looked suspiciously Amish, sort-of Martha Washington-esque. 


If your hair is long enough, try it out and let me know how it worked for you.

xoxo

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Water Wedding

You know how I feel about "the jump" in wedding photos.  

This jump, on the other hand, is something I could get into!




{Photos by Michelle King via 100 Layer Cake}

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

No Country for Young Women

Have you heard of this site, No Country for Young Women?  I found it through a new blog I've been reading called LittleBrownPen.  Nichole of LittleBrownPen captures beautiful, I mean beautiful photos of Paris and New York, where she splits her time.  (The poor girl...) She writes about simple, down to earth topics and experiences. 

NCFYW recently interviewed LittleBrownPen's author asking questions about her professional journey as a writer and what it's like being a "modern woman".  I found it encouraging and hopeful, showing that there is no direct path toward any particular career, that the journey and process builds from one step to the next.  That every step along way matters, not to lose heart if you don't have everything all at once. 

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Lately I've been inspired by blogs written by and for women like Nichole's.  Many of the women I'm reading about range from young and single, to mothers and wives.  Some focus on fashion, others on weddings, babies, art, home design, cooking or gardening.  They're educated, working at-home or in an office, observing, exploring, writing and sharing. 

From the blogosphere, I see that many women are finding a niche in blogging, crafting, designing, growing gardens, making their own food, taking photographs and reconnecting with what matters.  It feels like a holistic coming-together of art, beauty and meaningful work.  The blog itself provides the platform to share these details and experiences and provides a thread to a community of like-minded people.  I love that there is a sense of community, that one blog leads to another, that many of these women know each other and are connected because of their writing and sharing online. 

While fashion and design can be a place of greed and envy, it's wonderful to see art, detail, and fair labor embodied in people's work these days.  That's part of why I love Etsy.  People have found something they love to do and are making a living because of it.  Simple, but important.

When I was a kid, I remember getting a "character award" in elementary school for observant.  While patience or kindness is slightly more admirable in my opinion, I'm proud of that award. 

I'm enjoying being an observer and paying attention to what's happening in this world. 

Cheers to women, blogs and details.

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Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Portobello Jewelry featured on 100 Layer Cake!

Designs by Portobello, the great little shop I found my bridal veil and sash from, was featured on 100 Layer Cake! 

Susan at Portobello is kind, helpful and so inspired.  She hand crafts veils, sashes, headpieces, jewelry and other wonderful accessories.  While the pieces aren't cheap, I found they beat the prices of many bridal salons.  Each item is hand made and tailored just to your specifications.  The results are unique, sparkling, and beautiful.  And, if you "Like" Portobello on Facebook, you can often take advantage of sales and special discounts offered.




Cinnamon Vanilla Chili

I spent some time in the spice aisle this weekend restocking our growing stash of herbs and spices.  My intent was to grab some cinnamon for a peach cobbler...but I haven't quite gotten around to making it.  Instead, why not make chili?  Maybe not the optimal cool-off summertime meal or the most common use for cinnamon, but oh-so-tasty, nevertheless.

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(Slow cooked, low heat)
Cinnamon Vanilla Chili

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cans black beans
1 large can diced tomatoes
1 ear fresh corn (or 1 cup frozen corn)
1 medium chopped onion
2 cloves smashed garlic
1 1/2 tablespoon vanilla
2 cups water
Chili powder, cayenne, peri-peri, and cinnamon
Sour cream and fresh chives, to garnish

Here's what I did:

On medium-low, add the olive oil to a medium size stock pot and let it warm for a few minutes.  Toss in the onions and garlic and let simmer until yellowy-clear for about 4-5 minutes. 

Next, add the tomatoes, black beans, corn (raw and just cut from the cob is best) and a good swig of the water.  Give it a good stir.

Next, have some fun with the spices.  You really can't have too much chili powder, but start with a few teaspoons, then add a few healthy dashes of cayenne for a little heat, then a few good dashes of cinnamon for a nice sugary, spicy layer.  If you have it, add some peri-peri rub.  Peri-peri is a widely used spice in Mozambique and has notes of citrus, salt and most notably, chili pepper.  It adds a nice flavor layer to your chili by balancing out the heat of the chili flakes with more character and roundness of flavor.  It's well worth the purchase next time your hanging around the spice aisle.  Lastly, add half the vanilla.

Continue giving everything a good stir, add a bit more water, and toss on the lid.  Mind you, the heat is on medium-low but should be bringing your pot to a good simmer.  If it's not, turn it up for a moment so the liquid barely starts to boil, then turn it down to med-low again.  Let the pot sit for a an hour, come back, add some more water, stir and taste.  Need more spices (probably)?  I would add about the same amount as I started with.  Be careful with the cayenne and peri-peri, but don't be afraid of the chili powder and the cinnamon. 

Continue to stir and taste, tip the lid so some moisture can escape, and watch as the chili thickens. The flavors begin to develop as the tomatoes boil down and their acidity ties in the spicy character of the hot peppers in the chili powder and peri-peri.  Add the rest of the vanilla just before you serve the chili (as some of the vanilla will have lost its flavor after simmering for so long), and serve with sour cream and fresh chives. 

The cinnamon and vanilla add a unique sugary, spicy character to the bowl and combined with the peri-peri and cayenne, you won't have to worry about it being too sweet.  This chili has a complex, layered flavor, but is so easy to make! You can let it sit and simmer for hours and hours, or just add less water to make a quick meal.  The addition of the corn is great summertime addition.  Enjoy!

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Friday, August 6, 2010

Brilliance

"...stop, for a fleeting moment, the arrow of time passing by."


This photo is a bit impossible to see properly.  That's why you should go here and learn about this Argentine family's amazing 30 year photography project.  {Via Snippet & Ink}

Wishing you a happy, long, and wonderful weekend.  xoxo

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Shark Week Craft

Ahh, Shark Week.  We've all seen it at one point or another, but it invokes different memories and meanings to each of us.  I think of my older brother laying on the couch for days on end, blood and teeth on the TV screen, and nachos between commercial breaks.  I can't say it was my favorite type of TV marathon (Law & Order SVU is more my kind of thing), but it is a true television phenomenon whether you love or loathe it.

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My fiance says the the movie "Stepbrothers" made Shark Week famous, but I'm convinced it's been a phenomenon long before Will Ferrell started watching.  But, I've never seen the phenomenon of Shark Week turn into what is has this year, though...



There's really something for the whole family in this set.  And if you can't get enough Shark week craftiness, be sure and check out the Etsy Treasuries featuring Shark Week related awesomeness.  It's an impressive list, to say the least.


Happy Shark Week!

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Pennsylvania, again

This week... another road trip -spontaneous in some ways- to Pennsylvania.  Pittsburgh, Altoona, Ligonier, Tyrone and everything in between. 

What are the odds that The Sartorialist is in PA this week, too?  Check out these great shots he took while on the road in rural PA on Route 45.




P.S. Last night I had Lavender Summer Ale at Church Brew Works.  How nice!

Monday, August 2, 2010

American Royal

Congratulations, Chelsea!  What a beautiful dress (by Vera Wang, of course).  And what a glowing, blushing bride!  She looks so happy and relaxed- all that a bride could ask for.


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Sunday, August 1, 2010

Sunday in Cape Cod

Here a few nice things suitable for a weekend at Cape Cod.  Have a great Sunday!

xoxo

Friday, July 30, 2010

Wedding "Tree" & "The Jump"

This photo gave me a good chuckle...

I mean, who really thought this would be a good idea?


"They were having trouble looking natural."

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While we're talking about awkward wedding poses- what's with everyone these days taking posed  photos jumping in the air?

I hope I don't offend anyone who's been caught on camera mid-air in formal attire, but it's become so cliche!  I want to meet the first jumping couple and see how the copyright litigation is coming along. 


I'm sure they're all jumping for joy, which is to be expected at a wedding.  But I'm just not feeling this pose anymore. 

Unless, maybe, there are balloons or parasols involved.  That kind of reminds me of Marry Poppins, in a good way.  Nah... I'm not convinced.

What do you think of "The Jump" pose?


Feeling Green



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Have a great weekend.