Garrett's Popcorn

Last week, my husband and I had the pleasure of hosting our good friend DJ from Chicago for the night.  As a thank you, his beautiful (and always thoughtful) wife Emily sent us the greatest and most unnecessary gift imaginable-a tin of Garrett's famous Chicago-style popcorn.  If you've never tried this Chicago delicacy, you're truly missing out.  As I like to say, it's disgustingly good and the Chicago mix (half caramel corn/half cheesecorn) didn't land on Oprah's 'favorites' list by accident.  

So thank you Emily for not only making my pregnancy so delightful but also for reminding me that it's the simple and delicious things in life that people appreciate the most. 

Friends, remember this idea when you want to send someone a little something to show how much you care or to say thank you. It's the perfect gift.

PC: Garrett's Popcorn

This little piggy went to get a pedicure...

City living has its drawbacks... like walking to and from a pedicure in 20 degree weather.  Luckily, with my latest drug store find, Kushyfoot Yoga socks, my walk (to hail a cab) just got warmer.  These socks only expose your piggies, so that the rest of your foot can run all-the-way-home (without frost bite). Unfortunately flip flops are still needed.

Pair these socks with a pedicure gift certificate and a good book and call it Christmas.

La Cage Aux Folles

Everyone always asks me what Broadway show they should see when they come to New York and now I have the perfect answer: La Cage Aux Folles!

This Tony award-winning musical has garnered rave reviews with the touching tale of one family's struggle to stay together... stay fabulous... and above all else, stay true to themselves.

It definitely doesn't hurt that one of the leads is former TV star Kelsey Grammer ('Frasier').  Who knew Grammer could sing (and swing to the other side)? He's amazing as is the rest of the cast of this colorful and entertaining show.  It's definitely worth your while!

P.S. Kelsey Grammer and Douglas Hodge (the two leads) are only on through February 13th.

PC: Fox News, La Cage Aux Folles

West Elm Hostess Gifts

The next time you walk by West Elm, go in! They have amazing holiday sales on entertaining goods that are hard to resist.  From beautiful horn and cheese trays/knives, to cocktail stirrers, and decorations, they really have host/hostess gifts down flat.  I might stock up for future dinner invitations-it never hurts.  Happy bargain hunting.

Twig Bar Tools Set (Very Michael Aram-esque)

Bone Wine Stoppers ($9.00) (Bring with a nice bottle of wine)

Horn Cheese Knives ($23.00)

 (Bring along a good hunk of manchego, some fig jam, and crackers)

Bone Cheese Knife Set ($23.00)

(Again, bring cheese)

Mercury Birds ($12-16.00)

For a modern household

Cocktail Picks ($9.00 for a set of four)

"Udderly in Love"

An 'udderly' unique and rustic bridal shower for a couple who go together like 'Milk and Cookies.'  Set on the beautiful countryside, the centerpieces are made from items from Pottery Barn, Anthropologie, thrift stores, antique shops, and items the bride/groom already owned.  For seating, they used hay bales to go with their country theme.  I love theme parties!

Kara's party ideas by Love and Lavender

Photos taken by Jonda Spurbeck Photography

Menorahs 2010

"8 days of light, 365 days of gorgeousness" by Jonathan Adler

Jonathan Adler Skyline Menorah

Ventana Menorah: this double agent transforms into a candelabra.

Jonathan Adler Blue & Green Mod Dot Dreidel: great for playing or else a hostess gift

PC: Jonathan Adler

Hanukkah 2010

I absolutely love celebrating the holiday season.  So in honor of Hanukkah, I decided to prepare a beautiful meal inspired by the season for my husband, sister, and good friend Laura, who's one of my oldest friends from Ohio. Since I grew up in a town with a very small Jewish population, my friends and I would always include each other in our different holiday traditions... Ie. I would join them for Easter brunch while they would join my family for Passover seder.  It was an experience that I loved that not only made me appreciate their traditions more, but also serve as an eye opener to show how similar we all are despite our religious labels.

Like all of those years growing up, some things never change... (thank goodness). We had a wonderful night filled with good food, good spirits, and good friends/family.  Isn't that what the holidays are all about?

Here's what was served:

Latkes with Apple Sauce/Sour cream to start:

Spicy Pumpkin Soup:

This soup is out of this world-it is now my favorite soup of all time.

Zomick's Challah:

This challah is equally delicious.  I bought it at Whole Foods and it's one of the best challahs I've ever had! It's great dipped in the soup.

Roast Chicken with Dried Fruit:

Also a wonderful dish-the chicken is moist and succulent and the dried fruit is the perfect accompaniment.

Double Stuffed Sweet Potatoes:

Marshmallows, butter, & brown sugar-need I say more?

Store-Bought Jelly Donuts:

Who doesn't like donuts?

Happy Holidays!

PC: Latkes: diana's desserts, Soup: Junior Master Chef Australia, chicken: Bon Appetit, Food Network, Park East Kosher, & KosherMart

First comes love, then comes marriage...

First, I'd like to apologize for my lack of blogging.  I promise I haven't forgotten about you.  Lets just say that I never imagined anything coming between me and my love of food/entertaining until I entered the wonderful world of motherhood (or pregnancy).  That's right you read it correctly, and not only am I pregnant but it's with twins! 

Since receiving the wonderful news, I haven't been able to cook or prepare a normal meal in months. But don't you worry, after passing the 3 month mark last week I have found that many foods are starting to appeal to me again and regardless, I have to force myself to eat a balanced diet for the sake of my babies. So long diet of bagels, cookies, chips, and ice cream. I'll miss you dearly.

So last night I finally got back on the saddle (to my husband's delight) and prepared a super easy meal: Sweet and Sour Meatballs with whole wheat couscous.  It was hearty, filling, and healthy-enough. :) But I have to say that I am not a fan of the slow-cooker. Patience and pregnancy do not seem to go hand in hand for this girl.   

PC: dairygoodness.ca



Lanvin for H & M

Calling all fashionistas: it's been confirmed that Lanvin is collaborating with H & M! Stay tuned until November 23rd to get your hands on these edgy designer duds at H & M prices. 

Here are some of my favorite pieces from the fashion house's recent collection (not H & M-I wish):

PC: Coquette, New York Magazine-Fashion

Burrito Bowl

Thanks to Closet Cooking I have another easy Mexican meal under my belt: the deconstructed burrito aka the Burrito Bowl.  This hearty meal includes everything you'd find in your typical burrito: cilantro lime rice,  spicy black beans, fresh pico de gallo, and tequila lime chicken all topped with sour cream and grated jack and cheddar cheese.

Even better, no utensils are required-just serve tortillas instead.

And to make this meal healthy, just use brown rice, low fat sour cream and cheese and stick to your serving size.

PC: Closet Cooking

Retro Storage

Only Fish's Eddy would have such stylish and retro storage jars.

PC: Fish's Eddy

Stunner

Dream dress:

Skinny B-tch

I often turn to Mexican when I want a no-fuss weeknight meal that will taste good and do good for my body. My latest find: Old El Paso (Chicken or Steak) Fajitas. With only 4 ingredients to be purchased at the grocery including the kit itself, fajitas have never looked so good, and to be honest I've never felt so good... about a weeknight meal.

 I pair mine with refried beans (out of the can) and sliced avocado.  It's delightful, beyond simple as it takes around 15 minutes to make, and best of all, you wake up the next morning feeling skinny-mini! It's my kind of meal.

Here's what to look for at the grocery:

And here's how beautiful your meal could look:

Dinner doesn't have to stress you out! Just go the Old El Paso route.

PC: Old El Paso, Kalyn's Kitchen

Chicken Salad Veronique

After whipping up a batch of chicken salad for lunch today, I realized that I had to share it with my readers since it's absolutely perfect for that mid-day fix or lunch.  It's so good that my husband even requests to have it in the fridge at all times. 

The recipe: Chicken Salad Veronique by none other than Ina Garten.

A word of advice: since the chicken has to roast for 45 minutes and you have to allow time for it to cool, plan ahead. 

Use low fat mayo to cut down on the fat. 

PC: Ina Garten

A Menu Card that sings to me

PC: Cynthia Warren,

Seasonal Delight

With Chelsea Market around the corner it's never been so easy to buy local fruits and vegetables (and even meat) that is in season from sustainable farms.  Sustainable agriculture amazes me.  I love knowing that the food I buy supports local farmers (and their families) and that the food I consume is fresh, unprocessed, and comes from a humane environment (re: animals).  It's a way of life that I've come to love. 

Now that it's Fall there is so much produce to celebrate like my favorite fruit, butternut squash.  This kind of winter squash is sweet and nutty and adds so much flavor and depth to every dish it graces.  Here are a few recipes that I can't wait to try:

Butternut Squash and Sage Lasagna:

Twice Baked Butternut Squash:

Mac N' Cheese with Butternut Squash:

Squash Potstickers:

PC: Martha Stewart

Where Farro Thou

I recently tried Fine Cooking's Roasted Broccoli and Farro Salad to discover that I have a new love in Farro.  Who knew such a healthy grain could be so delicious?  I served it alongside my (grandma's) stuffed cabbage and it was a perfect meal. I left out the feta since I haven't been able to eat it since Greece (overload) and still loved it. 

So what is farro, you ask? Farro is actually the Mother of all grains; the original grain from which all others come from including rice, barley, wheat and rye.  When cooked, it has a chewy texture and nutty taste making it ideal for soups, sauces and salads (hence the salad above).  And  unlike wheat, it's high in fiber, vitamin b, and protein, so eat to your heart's content (but try to stick to a serving size).

Here's a pic of my salad:

PC: Fine Cooking 

Smells like Team Spirit

PC: Target, Amazon

My Next Dinner Party:

This month's Food & Wine (October 2010) is one of the best issues I've seen yet.  Not only does it feature Batali's mouth-watering Italian-American classics like bucatini all'Amatriciana and butcher's ragu with fusilli but the winning dishes from Tyler Florence's exclusive Twitter Contest.  In case you're in the dark or don't belong to twitter, the food network star agreed to tweet his top recipes to his 200,000 followers (like yours truly) and after 20 days of posting, we (followers) voted for the best recipes that should appear in the Food & Wine October issue. Each recipe looks better than the next and I plan on making the Roast Lamb with Ricotta Gnocchi and Morels for my next dinner party.  I'll serve it with an arugula salad to start with peaches and figs, and Tyler's towering coconut layer cake for dessert.  What an elegant meal!

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PC: Food & Wine, Blue-kitchen, the gerber baby blog,