Weekend Wishes

September 29, 2012 by Sarah

Wear : an artsy little outfit

Go : to an art show (it’s the season!)

Eat : Kettle corn- straight from the kettle

I can’t even believe that October is two days away! What? You know what that means- a month packed full of quintessential autumn activities. I’ve long believed that I’m a California girl at heart, but autumn in New England is something that I would truly miss, should I ever leave. I live for stomping my way through dried leaves, apple picking, and eating cider doughnuts. Fall is also the season for art shows, which I love frequenting. It’s so fun to see that much creativity in one place, and find art or jewelry that you would never come across in a store, or even online. The art shows that I go to, at least, always seem to have authentic kettle corn that perfumes the air as you walk by. It’s impossible not to pick some up! As long as you’re surrounded by art, you might as well have a little fun with your outfit- why not? Wishing you a happy art-filled weekend!

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Pumpkin Dutch Baby Pancake

September 28, 2012 by

Hello from Rome! We are having such a blast and I can’t wait to share all the photos of our trip when we get back. In the mean time though, I have one more very fall recipe for you guys.

Last month, Amanda, the editor of Delighted Magazine, reached out to me for a pumpkin recipe for their fall issue. If you guys aren’t familiar with Delighted, I highly urge you to check it out! It’s an online mag chock full of entertaining ideas, home decor inspiration, and lots of other goodies. When dreaming up pumpkin recipes, I was eager to come up with something for breakfast. My mind immediately went to pancakes- and then a Dutch baby pancake. I love Dutch babies because you take all the flipping and timing out of the pancake process and just make one massive cake. This Dutch baby is filled with pumpkin and topped with a whipped maple butter (drool) and slivered almonds. For the recipe, head over to Delighted and check out their fall issue. Enjoy!

Ps: Pumpkin Pancakes and a Blueberry Dutch Baby

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The Autumn Pantry

September 27, 2012 by Sarah

Whenever it gets cold out, I suddenly remember how much I’ve missed baking all summer- which then translates into me baking for approximately everyone I know. Last week, I went to pluck a vanilla bean out of the cupboard, only to find that there were none! I’ve ordered some since then, but it got me thinking about what else is I should take account of in preparation for the months ahead. I think keeping a few key things on hand early in the season will ensure that your baking experience is a happy one.

  1. Vanilla Beans- This is my favorite source for them, and vanilla beans are one of the few things I buy online. They’re so much cheaper than in the store, even with shipping costs.
  2. Spices- Fall and winter spices are often different from the ones you use during the summer, so many may need replacing or restocking.
  3. Nuts- There are so many of these in baking recipes, and they’re perfect for entertaining. Roasted and spiced nuts are always a simple solution for cocktail hour.
  4. Chocolate- As much as I love it, it kind of gets ignored in the summer. Restocking several kinds, especially unsweetened and semi-sweet chips, will be helpful later.
  5. Pumpkin- I always get nervous when pumpkin shortages are threatened, like they have been in past years. Now I just buy a ton of it whenever I see it available!
  6. Crackers- If you asked me the last time I ate a cracker, I can tell you that it’s been a while. However, they definitely show up on my radar again in the fall. They’re necessary on any cheese plate, and invaluable for unexpected guests.
  7. Chicken/Vegetable Stock- You can never, ever have too much!
And now, here are just a few recipes that I’m dreaming of making this season. Swoon.
  1. Vanilla Bean and Cacao Nib Meringues
  2. Sweet and Spicy Roasted Chickpeas
  3. Chocolate Nutella Pudding
  4. Tuscan Bean Soup
Image Credits: vanilla, spices, almonds, chocolate

 

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Italy via Instagram

September 26, 2012 by

Buongiorno!  Aaaand that’s about all the Italian I got- except for buonasera, ciao, scusa, and tutto béné! I’m really into that last phrase.

Today marks our last day in Capri, and while I’m not thrilled to board the ferry and say good bye to this glorious island, I’m so excited to get on to Rome. Above is a little sandwich shop we frequented often during our stay. The owner was so sweet, and like all eateries in Capri, the mozzarella was insane and made me wish we had mozzarella like this in the states. Such a bummer. I’ve been posting a few photos of our trip on Instagram, so feel free to follow along there! See you guys from Rome. xx

Ps: Sorry about the link to The Everygirl on Monday’s post- the apple recipes will be up today!

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Setting the Table: Falling for Merlot

September 25, 2012 by Sarah

I’m absolutely loving all things burgundy this season. My nails are even getting in the spirit by getting a weekly coat of this polish. I’ve discovered it’s a great transition color, as it hints at fall, while retaining the bold colorful spirit of summer. It makes perfect sense then, that I’d be inclined to dream up a little table setting in the same color palette. Plus, it makes the usually season-less wine and cheese party a little more festive.

Merlot is as easy to incorporate into the menu as it is the setting. This Raspberry Merlot Sorbet is perfect for those unexpectedly warm days. Rosemary finds it’s way into these Parmesan Rosemary Crackers, while brie is the perfect hearty cheese for fall, and hints at the comfort foods to come in the cold days ahead.

1. plate, 2. pots, 3. candle, 4. wine glass, 5. birch vase

Image Credits: table, sorbet, wine, crackers, cheese

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Apple Chips, Apple Salad, and Apple Quick Bread!

September 24, 2012 by

Greetings from sunny Capri! After a train from Rome and a boat from Naples, Brandon and I finally made it to our hotel. We’ve been in pure relaxation mode since we arrived, soaking up the 80° temps. But right before we left, New York had just transitioned into fall. Truthfully I was a little sad to miss some of those cool crisp days, but I think we’ll make due over here :) . In the mean time, I’ve left you with three quintessential fall recipes all featuring apples. I decided to go a little more savory than sweet when putting together these recipes for The Everygirl this month, so instead of apple pie and apple crisp I’ve got super simple recipes for apple chips and an apple salad with cheddar and arugula, as well as an insanely good (and easy!) apple cheddar quick bread. My advice? Start with the quick bread.

You can access all the recipes on The Everygirl. Have a great week!

More Apple Recipes on CC: Apple Crisp, Apple Pie Oatmeal (<– this is so good!)

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Weekend Wishes

September 22, 2012 by Sarah

Wear : your favorite fall accessories (like this glamourous hat)

Go : on a walk in the woods

Eat : Ina’s apple crisp

Are you aware that it’s the official first day of fall? While this is just the beginning, I for one, cannot wait. I love the crisp air and everything from apple picking to eating cider doughnuts. I know it’s not exactly cold out yet, but that’s not going to stop me from wearing all my favorite fall accessories. I’ll be pulling my hats, boots, and scarves out, and heading to the nearest park for a lovely afternoon outdoors. The perfect way to end the first day of fall is apple crisp, of course!

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Italy bound!

September 21, 2012 by

Happy Friday, friends! We’re in the midst of a packing frenzy getting ready to head to the airport tonight and fly off to Italy. We arrive in Rome Saturday morning and head straight from the airport to Capri. We’ll be spending four blissful days swimming, sipping Negronis, reading, and stuffing our face (of course) on this dreamy island. I’m most excited to tour the Blue Grotto on a boat! Then on Wednesday we head back to Rome to attend the opening of my Dad’s show and pack in a few days of site seeing. I’ll be blogging next week and have lots of delicious fall recipes lined up, and will of course be sharing tons of photos once I get back.  See you guys on the other side- have a great weekend! xx

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Do you like to be alone?

September 20, 2012 by

A few years back, when the second Sex and the City movie came out, Brandon happened to be out of town. Had he been in town we probably would not have seen the movie together, but the fact that he was out of town had me secretly thrilled. I was so excited to go to the movies, on my own, with a big pile of candy and no one there to judge me on how bad the movie was (although, it ended up being a lot worse than anticipated).

Nature of the movie aside, I am one of those people who enjoys going to the movies alone. And in general, I really love my alone time. Because of our work and travel schedules, we each get a fair amount of time on our own in our apartment. While I love sharing a home with Brandon, I know we both really enjoy (and benefit from) having that solo time every four to six weeks. So what do I do in my alone time?

  • I sleep diagonally in our king size bed and surround myself with all the pillows.
  • I have evening dance parties and bounce around the kitchen while I’m cooking.
  • I let all my shoes build up by our front door. If we both do this while we’re home it drives me crazy, but for some reason, when I’m on my own, I don’t seem to care.
  • I’ll work from his desk instead of mine to mix things up.
  • I organize our bathroom cabinets which become a disaster when we’re both home (and because I’m OCD).

It’s not that I couldn’t do these things while Brandon is around (well, minus the sleeping diagonally), and some of them I do (like the evening dance parties), but it’s just something about being on my own that makes me revel in these tendencies.

Do you like being alone? What do you like to do in your alone time? Please don’t tell me I’m the only one who has dance parties!

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Setting the Table: Summer Tomatoes

September 18, 2012 by Sarah

Like many of you, I just can’t get enough of summer tomatoes. Luckily enough, they like to stick around for a while. I get so excited when I first see them early in the season, that I only eat them raw. A sliced tomato is close to perfection, after all. Now that it’s getting cooler though, I love to start cooking with them. This Three Cheese Tomato Tart is definitely on my list. I love the idea of an end-of-summer meal celebrating my favorite summer vegetable, and the hardest part about planning a menu will be narrowing down the dishes! What is your favorite thing to do with tomatoes?

1. chair, 2. dish, 3. olive oil bottle, 4. tomato knife, 5. board

Image Credits: table, silverware, tart, tomatoes

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