10.06.2010

autumn dish

Last week, I successfully made Lidia of Italy's Spaghetti with Tomato-Apple Sauce

I love catching her show on Create TV on from our local station WETP, when I go home for lunch.
Lidia Bastianich is a true Italian cook, actually from Istria (present-day Pula, Istria County, Croatia) who always has a pot for pasta boiling on the stove. Maybe someday we will make it to one of
Lidia's restaurants in New York or Pittsburgh

I love the way Italians use everything in cooking, even used pasta water to reduce sauces.
Try this recipe, its unusual, but good! And perfect for the autumn season.
 

You will need:
3 cups (one 28- ounce can) canned Italian plum tomatoes, preferably San Marzano

6 tablespoons extra- virgin olive oil
2 large stalks celery, cut in ¼- inch dice (about 1 cup)
1 medium onion, chopped (about 1 cup)
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 pound tart, firm apples, such as Granny Smith
1 pound spaghetti
1 cup freshly grated Grana Padano or Parmigiano- Reggiano, plus more for passing

*Recommended equipment: A food processor or blender; a heavy- bottomed skillet or sauté pan, 12- inch diameter or larger; a large pot, 8- quart capacity, for cooking the pasta


Recipe found online and in the cookbook, Lidia Cooks from the Heart of Italy


 pureed San Marzano tomatoes added to sauteed celery, onion and olive oil 
(sorry i forgot to photograph that process)
shredded apples, i used one granny smith, and one red delicious

per Lidia's show
stir apples into the sauce
out of habit, i accidentally covered the sauce for about 5 minutes,
but it should be simmered uncovered
(i had to walk the dog!)
simmer sauce about 15 minutes longer, while boiling noodles
add drained, barely al dente noodles to the sauce,
toss, then add cheese
i used Lidia’s recommended Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese,
even though I hate the smell of Parmesan normally!
and ta-da! yummy dinner is served


and cross off number eight, i think!



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10.05.2010

cityscape



cityscape stamps
 from CB2!



•Natural rubber stamps on reclaimed wood blocks
•Layer stamps to create a cityscape scene
on sale!  $24.95
Set of five stamps: one of each design. 1.25"–1.5"Wx2"Dx.75"–2"H

so perfect for my next mini book inspired by elise's class


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10.01.2010

ohhh zut je suis jaloux !!




Sunday Morning's Man in Paris David Turecamo explores France's strict diet regimen within the school system's gourmet lunch menu.

Read more here

makes me really miss that square pizza I was served from grades k-12
and the amazing cafeteria "food" menu items such as 'chuck wagon steak'
and 'mystery tex-mex' burritos
...yuck!

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9.30.2010

girls weekend!

my sisters and i went with our mom on a trip to new york last June.
Chloe, my baby sister, is all grown up and thinking of attending NYU next fall.
eeeeeeaaarly plane ride...

a trip of 'firsts' for my sisters!

first yellow cab ride & first NY subway ride

quick shot in our hotel room before heading down to campus for the tours.

Chloe and Hallie waiting for the NYU informational meeting to start.

NYU is a beautiful campus!
this is the view from an empty room near the cafeteria, i think?

we did top of the rock instead of the empire state building.
my mom and i had already gone up to the empire state building.
top of the rock is way cooler, i must say.

i found a gorgeous hydrangea plant in Rockefeller center that i wanted to take home.
(no way that would fit in my suitcase)

my sister had her first NY street vendor hot dog

the three of us being tourists in super crowded time square

we lunched at the American Girl cafe inside the multi-level AG store!
 (we were the only table of adults only, ha!)

AG even has little high chairs for your doll, or doll for the day if you don't bring one.
molly was my doll when i was a child, so i used a molly substitute for our lunch.
we had a good time :)

 the food there is really, really good.
 its tea party style, but with yummy three courses that even your dolls get to "enjoy."

this was my second trip to the store, and third trip seeing the amazing AG empire overall.
i possible may have forced my husband into the store on our Chicago trip, and when we visited NY last February...

 
my first trip to the Guggenheim!

 we also made it to the Natural History Museum

my favorites are giraffes

and of course i had to take them to on more firsts!
serendipity3 for frrrozen hot chocolate
and
pinkberry  for a slightly more healthy dessert
my favorite pictured...chocolate with strawberries, and sometimes chocolate dots or nuts
(okay maybe we went to pinkberry more than twice)

 and one of our last stops was a trip to dylan's candy bar
every child's dream

i somehow only got shots of the main candy station on the entry level, sorry. 
or adults who never really grow up...

this was my fourth time visiting the amazing city.
i don't think i could ever turn down the chance to back!

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9.29.2010

blog business

if you haven't noticed...
my blog redesign is completed!
much cleaner than the old blogger layout, don't ya think?

i like the tiled photos i discussed here the best.
thanks to bighugelabs.com for the mosaic and elise for the inspirational kick that i blogged about a few weeks ago!
three columns are the way to go, seriously. and the mosaic maker is SUPER easy to use.
hopefully more items will be added as i get back into the swing of it!

~ let me know what you think ~
tutorial found here

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9.18.2010

26 @ 26

again following the idea of this

i created my 26 @ 26 list shortly after my 25 while 25 list

 i'm pretty satisfied that i will be able to complete it!

1. get married

2. find a new home church

3. plant a garden (in real ground)

4. move to a new city

5. cook dinner at least 4 nights a week

6. have a girls weekend

7. throw a party

8. try something new

9. use my passport

10. switch to diet dr. pepper

11. pretend to be Julie|Julia

12. get a library card

13. order a return address stamp (for a permanent home)

14. create a photo book

15. paint something

16. sell something handmade

17. save $ to pay off reid’s law school

18. make business cards

19. frame something

20. water ski more

21. update my ipod

22. buy a mac

23. go on at least one road trip

24. make something with my minibook training

25. hang the things i created in college

26. stay in touch with friends

meanwhile, here is an awesome post about post-it art that i am loving

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9.16.2010

Ahh! where has time gone!!!

okay so yesterday i got super pumped by this blog. elise is SO inspiring.
i can't believe i have been absent so so many days.
my brand new hubby is now moved three hours away and making progress with his field placement.
cross your fingers for a real job offer at the beginning of december for him!

i've been looking for a new job and working hard though too!
check out the new website look

up next, revamp the blog!

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8.31.2010

Bridal shower, southern style

i love punch! people don't serve it as often anymore, but it's always economical, festive, and of course SO good and homemade! the hostesses of my shower made red hot punch for me, similar to this recipe
my grandmothers
my maid of honor and best friend of 21 years!

so sweet!

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8.26.2010

25 while 25

so i must say this was love at first sight.
being inspired to keep memories in a tangible list, and not take up much time,
i have been compiling lists...slowly.

25 things to-do and done while 25
1. got engaged

2. had an all girls weekend

3. made something organic

4. scavenged a city-wide yard sale

5. got my dream job

6. kept a (small) garden

7. celebrated my “last fling”

8. threw a party

9. got a passport

10. took a weekend trip

11. planned my wedding

12. celebrated with friends who tied the knot

13. used my sewing machine

14. back blond like the old days

15. organized and eliminate stuff

16. took on premarital counseling

17. welcomed new babies in the family

18. went on at least one road trip

19. had a photo session

20. went to a smokies game

21. bought a real piece of furniture

22. chopped off my hair

23. bought my wedding dress

24. made a lot of something

25. went camping in the blue ridge mountains

i plan on showing you  more of this list soon!
my 26 while 26 list is already in the works.

AND even more exciting,
i am taking a class by the very crafty & inspiring elise
on how to compile our photos, travel sentiments,
and tell a good story all at the same time!
i'm really super excited about it.

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8.25.2010

new look!

new header!
with help from here and then here, i am working on refreshing the old blog...

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8.24.2010

and then we were engaged!

we were fortunate enough to somehow convince friend and my 'little' from my college sorority, dana duncan to be our photographer for our engagement photo session and wedding events
aren't they pretty great?

thanks dana!

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