Thursday, September 8, 2011

Fashion Nerd Edition - 30x30 Wardrobe Remix, Week 3

Week 3

Outfit #15 - Weekend casual
(Take 1...)
Tank: Old Navy
Top: American Rag (Macy's)
Shorts: Old Navy
Sandals: Oldies, but goodies

(Take 2...)
Hubs thought it would be funny to show just how short he can make me look.

Outfit #16 - Casual for work
Top: Target
Sweater: Target
Jeans: American Eagle
Sandals: Old
Necklace: Anthropologie

Outfit #17 - Casual for work
Top: Anthropologie
Shorts: Unionbay
Scarf: Old Navy
Sandals: Unionbay
Toes: Cropped out of photo since the red-eye reduction on our camera also managed to black out my red toenail polish...

Outfit #18 - Casual for work
Tank: Marshall's
Sweater: Target
Cropped jeans: Kohl's
Sandals: Old

Outfit #19 - Casual for work
Top: Anthropologie
Jeans: American Eagle
Sandals: Old
Earrings: Target

Outfit #20 - Visiting friends in Chicago!
Tank: Old Navy
Shorts: Old Navy
Sandals: Old
Accessories: Walmart (Sunglasses), World Market (Earrings), Kohl's (Necklace) Fossil (Purse)

Outfit #21 - Evening in Chi-town
Dress: Target
Sweater: Express
Sandals: Old

Since my friend Mel is the one who inspired me to take on the 30x30 challenge, and her family happened to be showing us around Chicago for the weekend, I also wanted to include a daytime look photo of the two of us.  (She's wearing one of her 30x30 challenge outfits, too!)

Outfit #21 - Traveling home in style
Top: Anthropologie
Jeans: American Eagle
Sandals: Unionbay
Earrings: Target

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Fashion Nerd Edition - 30x30 Wardrobe Remix, Week 2

Week 2

Outfit #8 - Casual for work
Top: Express
Jeans: American Eagle Outfitters
Sandals: Unionbay

Outfit #9 - Incredible Shrinking Woman?
Top: Dots
Cropped pants: Unionbay
Scarf: Kohl's
Earrings: World Market
Sandals: Life Stride
(Same corner of the house in this picture and yet I look about 2' smaller...)

Outfit #10 - Casual evening out
Sweater: Target
Top: Anthropologie
Shorts: Old Navy
Wedges: Rocket Dog

Outfit #11 - Casual for work
Sweater: Target
Top: Kohl's
Jeans: American Eagle Outfitters
Sandals: Unionbay

Outfit #12 - Cocktails at the Atlanta Botanical Garden
Dress: Target
Necklace: World Market
Purse: Fossil
Sandals: Life Stride

Outfit #13 - Casual for work
Top: Target
Scarf: Kohl's
Cropped jeans: Kohl's
Sandals: Unionbay

Outfit #14 - Brunch with friends
Sweater: Target
Dress: Macy's
Earrings: Target
Sandals: Unionbay

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Fashion Nerd Edition - 30x30 Wardrobe Remix, Week 1

Recently, one of my oldest and dearest friends (that is to say, we've known each other for years, not that she's old...) took on the 30x30 wardrobe remix challenge.  If you haven't heard of this yet, check out the blog where it all started at kendieveryday.blogspot.com in which Kendi, fellow blogger and fashionista, took 30 different pieces of clothing and created 30 different outfits.  It's a great idea to switch up your wardrobe with clothes you already have in new and interesting combinations.  If you're interested in seeing my friend Melissa's edition, check out her awesome blog at ohbabyitsababy.blogspot.com also!

I've been trying for the past couple of years to create a more functional wardrobe.  Instead of having tons of items I might only wear every once in awhile, I'm trying to invest in better individual items that can work with each other.  In other words, a grown up wardrobe!  I remember a story about my Grandma and her friends only having about 3 or 4 dresses when they first started working many years ago.  They used what they had such as alternate belts, scarves, and pins to change the looks each day.  If these amazing ladies could do it with just a few items, I can definitely do it with 30!

Week 1

Outfit #1 - Brunch with the hubs
Dress: Target
Flip flops: Old Navy
Scarf: Kohl's
(Kendi doesn't count accessories as part of the 30, so I'll do the same, but will still list brands.)

I love this minty green nail polish!  It's a fresh summer color, and works almost as its own accessory.

Outfit #2 - Casual for work
Sweater: Target
Tank: Anthropologie
Shorts: Unionbay (Macy's)
Sandals: So old I don't remember...

Outfit #3 - Casual with a touch of the 50's
Sweater: Target
Top: Anthropologie
Jeans: American Eagle Outfitters
Sandals: Unionbay
(Photos don't really do this top justice.  It looks like multi-colored confetti and is super cute!)

Outfit #4 - Casual for work
Top: Anthropologie
Cropped jeans: Kohl's
Sandals: Life Stride
Earrings: Kohl's

Outfit #5 - Casual for work
Top: Target
Shorts: Unionbay (Macy's)
Scarf: Old Navy
Sandals: Unionbay

Outfit #6 - Weekend casual
Top: Anthropologie
Shorts: Old Navy
Sandals: Unionbay
Necklace: Forever 21
Legs: Transparent (Yes, I know my legs look even more ghostly in the morning sunlight...)

I'm really excited that braids are so popular right now. They're a great way to give yourself a different look!

Outfit #7 - Cooking blueberry pancakes!
Dress: Macy's
Flip flops: Old Navy
Earrings: Target

Ninja and Lucy, my kitchen assistants

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Cocktails Anyone? White Sangria!

Traditional Sangria is made by soaking a mixture of fruits in red wine overnight and serving it chilled.  I love the red Sangria but in the Summertime, I like to mix it up with a white Sangria.  Here is a recent version I threw together to enjoy with my husband!


Southern Summer White Sangria

2 sliced peaches
1 sliced navel orange (leave the peel)
1/2 sliced lemon
1/2 sliced lime
1 sliced nectarine
1/2 cup raspberries
1 bottle white wine (I used Savignon Blanc)
Lemon lime soda or ginger ale

Soak all the fruits in the wine in the refrigerator overnight.  (The longer it sits, the more intense and delicious the flavors, and ours kept for about a week).  When ready to serve, pour the Sangria over ice and some soda or ginger ale, making sure to get some of the fruit in the glass.  Serves about 6 large glasses.


Thursday, June 30, 2011

Vintage Cookbook: Betty Crocker's Dinner in a Dish - Wait, people ate what?

I was attempting to hold off discussing this glorious gem of a cookbook until I actually had the opportunity to make one of the dishes, but now I'm toying with the idea of a retro potluck dinner party when the next season of Mad Men starts up instead...



Betty Crocker is more myth than actual happy lady in the kitchen.  Interestingly enough, her image has changed over the years.  Initially she had an older appearance, almost like a grandmother.  Since the 1960's she's taken on a more modern "Mom" like image.  (Google "Betty Crocker through the years" and you'll see what I mean)!  I was devastated to discover recently that my own Betty Crocker cookbook (well, actually my Mom's cookbook from the late 1970's that I grew up using and experimenting with in the kitchen) ended up in a pile of books sold at a yard sale.  I've been stalking online auction sites ever since, only to find that it is now considered vintage and quite pricey.  I could kick myself for not stealing it from my Mom sooner!  It's the 1978 3-clip ring edition if anyone has a copy they'd like to donate...  ;)

In the meantime, I managed to find this great edition at a local antique store.  I'm fascinated by how just a few decades can really modify the tastes and preferences of a generation.  For instance, you don't see too many jello salads or GASP!!!! aspics (savory gelatin dishes) at too many parties anymore.  A friend's Thanksgiving family tradition includes serving an aspic every year that only her father eats.  I've tried it and it didn't taste quite as horrible as you'd imagine.  Kind of like a coleslaw gelatin salad, perhaps?

An aspic from Betty Crocker

My husband is always shocked by a gelatin salad I grew up eating on many special occasions, a Cherry Coke jello salad, which includes bing cherries, pineapple, cherry jello, cream cheese, and chopped pecans.  Although, this may be due to the fact that my husband is a Yankee and may just not be used to cooking with Coca-Cola.  Though my generation didn't really enjoy the full array of aspics, sweet gelatin dishes were very common when I was growing up, and now it seems like those may be on their way out, too.

Flavor combinations seem to have slowly changed as well.  Dried beef appears in may cookbooks from the 1950's and 1960's, but now seems dated and not too healthy in the sodium department.  And take, for instance, this "Summer Salad Pie".


It looks so lovely, doesn't it?  Here's the jist of it: Cheddar cheese pie crust, tomato/celery/green olive aspic filling, and tuna salad topping.  WTF???!!!  No, thank you.

Also interesting, is how easy it is to forget how far we've come from the "Get back in the kitchen, woman!" days.  And while I happen to be a woman who loves the kitchen and cooking for my man, my only place in life is certainly not there.  Check out this excerpt from the cookbook:


Now, I don't know about you ladies out there, but speaking for myself and regardless of my current pescatarian diet, I can eat the shit out of some spareribs!  The sexism in old cookbooks just makes me laugh now.  I've got an even funnier cookbook from this aspect I'll save for another time.

Here's the one that confuses me the most:


Upon first glance, it appears to be a precious little tea cake you might serve at brunch.  Not so, my friends.  


Party sandwich loaf?  Shrimp salad filling, cheese pecan filling, AND chicken bacon filling?  Wait, and a cream cheese frosting?  My mind is racing from the overload of flavors.  Stop the madness!!!  All kidding aside, the wonderful thing about Betty Crocker cookbooks is how simple the recipes are to follow.  And there really are some amazing recipes that can be incorporated in today's changing meals.  One recipe I'm really excited to try is this one:

I'll let you know how it turns out!

I connected with my grandmothers especially when it came to the kitchen and I miss them all the time.  When I find cookbooks such as these, I become nostalgic about their cooking.  I like to imagine them cooking some of these very recipes in their own kitchens when this was a brand new cookbook.  Hopefully some of their skills will rub off on me when I attempt to make some of these dishes, too!  

P.S.  I'd love to know if any of you have odd vintage dishes you grew up eating!

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Cocktails Anyone? Blood Orange Margaritas!

I apologize in advance as this blog is long overdue and now it may be too late to find blood oranges this season... But if you can't find blood oranges, grapefruits or your favorite oranges would be just as tasty!

Blood oranges are really delicious and sweeter than most oranges. The flesh is a dark red blood-like color hence, the name.  They can usually be found in the early part of Winter through early May.  We had a particularly harsh, cold Winter here in Georgia which meant a lot of curling-up-at-home-and-drinking nights for myself and the hubs.


We found an easy and delicious Food and Wine recipe (though, be warned, these are very strong and you may want to use a little less tequila and add more as needed).  I'm going to work on a strawberry version this summer and will post a recipe if it turns out as delicious as this one!

Blood Orange Margaritas

Fresh-squeezed juice of about 12 Blood Oranges (enough for 1 qt.)
Fresh-squeezed juice of about 12 limes (enough for 1 1/2 cups)
1 1/2 cups Cointreau or triple sec
3 1/2 cups Silver Tequila
Kosher salt
Mix juices with tequila and refrigerate for about 30 minutes.  Salt the rims of glasses and serve over ice.
(We cut the recipe in half since it was just the two of us and it was still delicious!)



Party Nerd Edition - Baby Shower with Indian Flair

One of my best friends, Diana, is having a baby in July and I recently threw her a baby shower.  I'm seriously beside myself with excitement and have already declared myself an honorary aunt.  I wanted to make sure her shower was extra special since she's such a sweet friend.  Her husband is from Turkey, so initially I thought it would be fun to include some Turkish traditions.  When I told her that one of the main baby shower traditions is to fashion a onesie out of the father's underwear, she wasn't really interested...  Diana loves Indian food, so I decided to go with an Indian color scheme and feature a couple of Indian dishes instead!


I found some lovely pink sari fabric and paired it with an orange paper tablecloth.



Party City carries these lovely tissue paper puffs that you put together yourself.  They come in many colors, so I think I'll be using them for many future parties!


I made veg. samosas and chiken tikka masala with biryani rice, along with more traditional shower fare.


I used Maya Kaimal's Tikka Masala sauce, which is delicious!  All of her stuff is wonderful and can be found in the deli section at Whole Foods.


My favorite find was this precious elephant teapot from Cost Plus World Market.  It was perfect, so I bought two and can't wait to use them for having tea!


Wednesday, April 27, 2011

To-fool me once...


Let's talk about tofu.

I gave up meat in January.  Not because I'm on a "Save all the animals" campaign, trying to get in touch with my inner-hippie, or even for religious reasons.  I was a Vegetarian in high school, and simply felt healthier.  Quite honestly, I was feeling really sluggish from a lot of the meat I was eating.  If all meat we consume on a regular basis came from a local butcher and wasn't pumped full of hormones, I don't think I would feel this way...  But seeing as how most awesome local butchers only sell meat by the whole animal, that's a pretty penny my husband and I can't really afford on a regular basis.  So, I decided to give Vegetarianism a shot again.  Officially, I guess you would call me a Pesca-ova-lacto-vegetarian (fish, dairy, and vegetables only diet).  I really do feel better and have even lost a little weight since making the change and only miss meat occasionally.  Well, more so now that we're getting into Summer: time of the delicious smoked meats...

Now, back to the tofu.  Did you know tofu means "bean curd" in Chinese?  It's made from the pressed curds of soy milk and then formed into a block-like shape (much in the way cheese is made from the pressing of curds from cow's milk).  When I was Vegetarian in high school, I used lots of tofu and soy crumbles as meat substitutes.  I suppose in my "everything tastes good to a teenager" palate days, tofu seemed harmless.  So, why now am I having such a hard time coming to terms with eating the stuff?  There are so many more meatless options nowadays and I actually prefer to get my protein from grains, beans, and protein-rich vegetables.  I find myself torn between wanting to use tofu more since it's such a wonderful protein source, and feeling as though it's my rubbery, bland enemy.



I recently had a terrible tofu experience at a local BBQ restaurant.  They have amazing sides!  So why couldn't I have just ordered the plate of sides?  I was feeling adventurous and they had me at "Smoked Tofu".  The texture was brie-like and the flavor, unforgivable.  No BBQ sauce in the world could mask its taste.  I won't be doing that again anytime soon.  Yet, the Chiang Mai curry dish at our favorite Thai place is so delicious, even my husband orders it with tofu!

This got me thinking...  While I'm trying to incorporate some soy products and tofu "meats" in my cooking, I think Asian dishes lift tofu to its greatest potential.  After all, tofu is of Chinese origin and even my first experiences with tofu go back to Asian dishes my Mom made for me or hot-n-sour soup from our local Chinese restaurant as a kid.

I think I'll keep working with the real stuff in some of my dishes and only use the tofu "meats" on occasion.  Below is one non-Asian dish I've made with Tofurky.  Wish me luck in my tofu adventures!

The Tofurky brand of "sausage" links isn't too bad, but I don't know that it's my favorite yet.  

 Obviously, the real links for my husband are the ones cooking to the right...
 

Et voila!  Bon appetit!
(Not too bad...  Crispy on the outside and the flavor is pretty good!)