Design Musings

Working For The Weekend

I made my maiden voyage to Chicago this weekend and boy am I ever psyched to be here!  I've heard so many wonderful things about this good 'ol windy city and I can't wait to see them all proved true.  I'll fill you in on a few highlights next week.  Speaking of travel, I'm gearing up to be all over the place for the next month...I'm heading back to Nashville Monday morning, then down to Savannah on Friday, looping up to Virginia for a week the following Monday, then a week in Nashville, followed by a week in Jersey.  Living out of a suitcase, here I come!  Hectic as it may be, I'm actually really looking forward to it...so much excitement on the horizon.  Hope your weekend is incredible and you enjoy the links!

Strange but interesting.

Great tips!

Like.

I'm such a sucker...I want all of these...

Such an adorable idea!

I'd love to use this somewhere.

Neato.

Yup.  Very cool.

The Foodie Files

Davey and I ventured down to Pratt's Orchard last weekend for an apple picking adventure (an idea I planted in his head a few weeks ago and he planned...Inception at it's finest).  While I always have the best intentions to revel in all of fall's fun activities, I typically only get around to one or two...a bonfire here, a carved pumpkin there, maybe a fall festival or something if I'm really on top of things.  Never apple picking, though...by the time I roll around to it, the season is always over.  All that to say, I was extra pumped to get to go this year.

We picked Gala, Mutsu, Yellow Delicious, Stayman Winesap and Fuji varieties but by the time we got home I had literally no idea which was which.  So!  I just picked a few random ones and made my first apple pie.  I'm not sure if that's breaking any rules, but it tasted great so I feel alright about it.  I'm not into cinnamon apple so I went with a recipe (first found here) that just used cinnamon and brown butter (my fave).  

Ingredients:

2 pie crusts

4 tablespoons butter
6 medium apples (about 3 pounds)
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons flour
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
Heavy cream, to brush on top
Coarse sugar, for sprinkling on top 

Preheat oven to 425ºF.

Peel, core and thinly slice apples.  It may just be that my knife skills are lacking, but this took me a lot longer than I thought it would.  Consider yourself warned.

Melt butter over moderately high heat in a small (if possible, heavy bottomed) skillet.  Once it begins to foam, whisk continuously until it gets slightly brown and smells nutty and fragrant.  Let cool for 5 to 10 minutes. 

Add the apples, sugar, salt and flour to a deep bowl, and toss with a rubber spatula to coat well. Pour in the brown butter and lemon juice, stir well.  Press one pie crust into a 9-inch pie plate and spoon the apple filling into it.

Place your second crust on top and press the edges.  Brush with heavy cream and sprinkle with course sugar.  Create a steam vent by cutting four small gashes in the center of the pie.

Bake for 15 minutes, then turn temperature down to 350 and bake for 35 to 40 minutes more, until top is golden and juices are bubbly.

Serve with freshly whipped cream or vanilla ice cream (or both!) for a perfect autumn treat.  

Mirror, Mirror

For whatever reason, I have a tendency to hoard gift certificates...I mean, I might have one for years before I spend it.  And I have no idea why!  I just always find myself waiting for the perfect purchase to use it on.  Enter this Michael Kors jumpsuit.  I finally pulled the trigger on a Bloomingdale's gift certificate my dear friend gave me for helping with her wedding in April and ordered it over the weekend.  I'm so pumped for it to get here! 

1. Stretch Jersey Jumpsuit, Michael Kors $140  2. Cat Eye Sunglasses, Stella McCartney $190  3. Lapis Lazuli Necklace, Isabel Marant $570  4. Antigona Bag, Givenchy $2,905  5. Big Dial Watch, Olivia Burton $114.76  6. Brandee Flat, Nasty Gal $50

Get It Together: Geometry Rocks

1. Multiple Taper Candle Holder, Nate Berkus $19.99  2. Port of Amsterdam Pillow, Babasouk $80  3.  Hanging Pot, Cooperativa Panoramica 4. Wishbone Chair, Hans J Wegner  5. Wood and Brash Finish Bar Cart, Target $129.99

Design Musings

The Foodie Files

I was wandering around Trader Joe's the other day trying to figure out what to make for dinner when the thought occurred to me: what if nothing sounds good because I'm craving something I've never made before?  What if it's something I've never tasted before?  And if that is the case...what might that something be?  For whatever reason, this whole ordeal was all of a sudden quite exciting for me so I took a second to think about what flavors sounded appealing.  I came up with the following combo...chicken, roasted garlic, pesto, parmesan cheese.  I knew I wanted to roast the garlic separately but I also didn't want the addition to feel like an afterthought so I came up with the idea to stuff the chicken breast.  I've never made stuffed chicken before so I was kind of flying by the seat of my pants but I'll tell you what- it sure did taste great!  The whole whole entree ended up working together perfectly which was delightful.  So glad I tried something new...hope you enjoy it!

Ingredients:

4 large heads of garlic

4 sprigs of thyme

4 chicken breasts

4 TBS parmesan cheese, roughly cut

6 TBS pesto

Extra virgin olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

I started by roasting up some garlic (a process we covered in an earlier Foodie File...check it out here).  Side note: there's no flavor in the world like roasted garlic!  It's one of my very favorite treats.

Preheat the oven to 375F.  Mash roasted garlic cloves and mix in 2 TBS of parmesan cheese.  Salt and pepper to taste.  Cut a pocket into the center of each chicken breast and stuff with 1/2 TBS roasted garlic mixture.

Coat the bottom of a casserole dish with 2 TBS of pesto, then top with seasoned chicken.  Add 1 TBS of pesto to each chicken breast and spread evenly.

Cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 35 minutes.  Remove aluminum foil and top with remaining parmesan cheese.  Broil on high for 3-5 minutes. 

Mirror, Mirror

There's kind of a lot going on in this outfit...sequins, leather, gold cuffed heels and a necklace to boot.  I kind of love it, though!  Sometimes you've gotta just go for it.   

1. Jane Embellished Tops, Biyan $815  2. High Rise Glossed Leather Shorts, Theyskens Theory $595  3. Crystal and Stone Row Necklace, J. Crew $145  4. Cuffed Suede Pumps, Fendi $1,195

Get It Together: Prima Ballerina

1. Positano Chandelier, Z Gallerie $799  2. Howard Elliot Candles, Lamps Plus $209.91  3. Giclee Print, Art.com $49.99  4. Animal Throw, Zara Home $99.90  5. Field Bench, Jayson Home & Garden $2,920

Design Musings

Working For The Weekend

Happy Friday ladies and gents.  First and foremost, if you're in Nashville, make sure you come to the Dinner and a Suit show tonight!  Doors open at 8, be there or be square.  Hope your weekend is wonderful in every way.  Enjoy the links!

The question remains: Do I buy this for Davey's niece...or...myself?

I'd take these in every color.

I love that this exists.

Oh!  This looks killer.

Sign me up!

Gorgeous collection...

Maybe if I bought these I'd run...?  That's solid logic, right?

Looks like a good read.

The Foodie Files

I had my second go-round with beer battered fish tacos last night and I was thrilled to discover my first try wasn't a delicious fluke.  It seemed a little too...easy the first go 'round so I had to be sure.  I used this recipe as a guide both times and was so happy with how both batches turned out!  Even though we're all gearing up for fall, there's still plenty of summer weather left to enjoy these fresh flavors.  Eat up!

Ingredients:
About 2 qt. vegetable oil for frying
1 cup all-purpose flour
Kosher salt
1 cup beer
2 egg whites
2 lb. cod, cut into strips about 4-1/2 inches long and 3/4 inch wide
12 to 16 corn tortillas (5 to 6 inches wide), warmed

Fill a large, deep, heavy pot with vegetable oil to about 11/4 inches deep. Heat the oil to about 350°F. (To check the oil temperature, use a deep-fry thermometer, or add a cube of bread to the oil, which should bubble immediately.)  Meanwhile, prepare the batter.  First, beat egg whites to soft peaks.

In a separate bowl, mix the flour and 1 tsp salt in a medium bowl.  Stir in the beer until smooth, then gently fold in the beaten egg whites.

Season the fish with salt.  Using kitchen tongs, dip each piece in the batter, let any excess drain off and carefully submerge the fish in the hot oil.

Fry until golden brown and cooked through, about 5 minutes.  Transfer to a baking sheet lined with paper towels.

Serve with tomato salsa (you'll find my favorite recipe here) and corn salsa (corn, black beans, cilantro and lime...easy and delish).

Make a note: sour cream, mexican cheese and guacamole make for tasty toppings, too!

Get It Together: Dining In Provence

1. Kuehn Keramik "Alice Moon" Silver Coffee Mug, Saveur $90  2. Fruit Dessert Plate, Zara Home $14.90  3. Cotton Cushion Cover, H&M $5.95  4. Provence Mini Chandelier, Lamps Plus $233.91  5. Structured Linen Napkin, Zara Home $35.90  6. Red Vanilla Queen Sushi Set 24 Piece Flatware Set, Overstock.Com $129.99  7. Gray Emma Tufted Chair, World Market $319.98  8. Archer Round Dining Table, Z Gallerie $899

Design Musings

The Foodie Files

We've come to the end of the road with recipe's from Giglio Cooking School in Florence.  But!  This last one is a doozy.  For our first course of the evening, we made the most delicious seafood risotto I've ever consumed.  I also got my first taste of cleaning ultra fresh, straight off the boat seafood.  The majority of the cleaning process wasn't too tricky. but the squid required a little finesse....if you're interested, this video might help.  Marcella made everything seem so simple, but I have a feeling this one might be a tad tricky without her guidance.  Nonetheless, if you're brave it's absolutely worth a go!

Ingredients: 

20 oz Carnaroli rice

20 oz clams

20 oz baby shrimp

18 oz squid

20 oz mussels

4 garlic cloves

1 oz parsley

8 cups fish broth (recipe below)

1/2 cup white wine

2 1/2 oz extra virgin olive oil

Fish Broth Ingredients:

1 part shrimp heads, shells, fish bones and vegetables

4 parts liquid (1/3 dry white wine, 2/3 water)

Salt

Finely chop the garlic and parsley which will be used as the cooking base for the sea food.  Wash the fish in cold water; place the clams and mussels in a pan with a spoon of extra virgin olive oil, one crushed garlic clove, some parsley, a few spoons of white wine over a flame and cover.  Cook until they open.  

Clean the shrimp and use the shells for making the broth (which will be used to cook the rice).  To make the broth, combine all fish broth ingredients and bring to a boil.  Let simmer for 20 minutes, salt, then filter through a sieve.  While that cooks, cut the squid into rings; shell the clams and mussels and filter the remaining cooking water.  

Pour half of the remaining oil into a pot and brown the garlic; then add the rice and let toast.  When the rice is hot, add a glass of white wine and let evaporate; add the boiling broth of shrimps, a ladle at a time.  From this time you can calculate approximately 18 minutes until the rice is done.  

At the end of cooking, mix in the mussels and clams water.  While the rice is cooking, prepare the sauce: in a frying pan brown the garlic in the left oil and add the chopped parsley and a drizzle of white wine.  Add in the following order; the squid, shrimp, mussels and clams.  Cook together for 4-5 minutes and remove from the heat.

In the meantime, the rice should be almost cooked.  Mix in the sea food, finish to cook with the shell water.  Serve hot with a sprinkle of chopped parsley.

Mirror, Mirror

While I won't be in New York for this season's fashion week, I may dress the part anyway.  This look makes me think of one of my favorite style mavens (channeling Rachel Zoe...come in Rachel Zoe).  I've gotta find a similar, affordable necklace to add to my collection...it's such a unique piece!  

1. Strapless Jumpsuit, Zara $79.90  2. Happy Wednesday Gold Scarf Necklace, Isabel Marant $325  3. Kidman Tweed Jacket, Alice & Olivia $495  4. Kiss Cuff Bracelet Duo, Asos $25.31  5. Leather Tote, Mansur Gavriel $425  6. Frited Pumps, Aldo $90

Get It Together: All Hands On Deck

1. The Ligonier by R. Palmer, 1stDibs $9,450  2. Faux Coral, Z Gallerie $24.95  3. Dumont Pendant Lamp, Crate&Barrel $299  4. White Decorative Magnifying Glass, Zara Home $59.90  5. Miramar Chair, Serena & Lily $1,450  6. Velvet Cushion Cover, H&M $9.95  7. Upholstered Gold Stool (similar), Serena & Lily $673

Design Musings