Archive for the ‘FOOD’ Category

There is nothing like 4 hours in Central Park with a toddler with no stroller to get you in the, holy crap I need a drink and why don’t they have happy hour for moms, mode.

I used to be a greyhound girl (fresh squeezed grapefruit only please!) now I’ve got a new drink.

Brooklyn Gin+ Fever Tree Tonic. Those brands in particular.

Brooklyn Gin is a super delish locally made  and mostly hand made gin (local for me, anyhow) and Fever Tree is the most awesome tonic I’ve ever tasted.It doesn’t taste like club soda with a pound of corn syrup, it actually has a distinct, fragrant smell and taste… like a citrus and lavender perfume mixed with Pellegrino… and I mean that in the best way possible. We got a bottle of Brooklyn Gin as a gift from someone that lives in Brooklyn (duh) and I don’t know how we (my husband) found Fever Tree… but I’m converted. It’s just soooo much better than your average vodka tonic it’s SCARY.

Here’s how to make it the ULTIMATE as per Fever Tree’s website:

HOW TO:

Your favourite gin, {I say Brooklyn Gin} ….. They are all different and with Fever-Tree you will actually get a mixer which enhances their tastes.

A balloon glass. In Spain they have the real thing. Big balloon on an elegant stem. If you don’t have exactly the right one, try a glass suitable for red wine or cognac. The point being that the aroma of this gin & tonic is worth savouring and a balloon glass will concentrate that aroma on the nose. 

Fresh ice - at least four big cubes. Clear cubes from spring water if possible {Don’t you love how there is gourmet ICE now?}

Fever-Tree tonic water from the fridge.

Lime - a curl of the rind of a lime – It’s the oils you want not the flesh (or a slice if you really must)
Ice first, then 1 part of gin (50ml – 1.7oz), then the Fever-Tree (all 200ml – 6.8oz)
Then the lime curl, but be quick. You want that fizz to tickle your nose as you smell the aromas. And then drink.

*every man and woman has the perfect ratio of gin to tonic – from a half/half split to five sixths tonic. We’d suggest 1:4 but any way you like it, you will like it more with Fever-Tree.

You can find Brooklyn Gin HERE and Fever Tree Tonic HERE, or on Amazon, HERE. 

All I know is that its 7:01 PM, both kids are in their beds, hubby is going to poker and my body is aching and I can’t wait to order in vegan curry type foods (vegetarian crap as my hub calls it), pour myself a drink and watch the latest installment of The Hunger Games.  I mean Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. (Speaking of drinks and TV, I take serious issue with Bravo making fun of Kim’s little “kim-toxication”. It’s not a joke. It’s a serious and sad thing. The whole franchise is starting to smell like greed and desperation. Yowsa.)

What are you doing tonight?

(And before some dummy calls me an alcoholic, NO, I’m not.)

 

 

 

I love a good Watermelon + Feta Salad. I made this last week for Cookie’s birthday party (for the parents, not the kids!) And even though my entire family thought it was beyond gross without even trying it, the guests loved it! I dont know why it seems so strange to people, I know people who salt their watermelon! Salty and sweet is the best combo! And serving fruit with cheese is a no brainer too.

Anyway, try this recipe it’s a good one.

How To: Watermelon Salad with Feta, Olives, and Basil

6 cups watermelon, cut into cubes (roughly half a small watermelon)
1 1/2 cups Greek feta, rough chopped
1 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
1/4 cup basil leaves, cut chiffonade (tiny thin ribbons)
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

Cut and prepare the ingredients for the salad. To mix the vinaigrette, whisk the balsamic into the olive oil until emulsified. 20 – 30 minutes before serving, toss the ingredients together and lightly dress the salad. Serve garnished with basil leaves.

Recipe and photo by Babble, via Fashion Intel.

What else is going on in my life? Well this has been the third week since June that I have been racked with flu like symptoms. Shivering, sweating, cant swallow, dizzy, congested, achey… Yep. Get that – 3/8  of my summer has been spent sick, sick, sick.

So the first 2 times, I chalked it up to the nightly antics of my 2 kids. I seriously dont get more than 3 hours consecutive sleep without someone waking up. This week was such a lovely one- While I was sick, little miss 3 year old snuck into our bed…. AND PEED ON ME. Not on my husband. ON ME. Worst night ever.

Anyway, this third time I was really down and out and I started to think that there could be Something Else going on that isnt just lack of sleep. Something Else bad and horrible that is killing my immune system and turning me into a shivering sack of bones every other week. So I went to the doctor. We are doing bloodwork to check for anemia or some other minor problems, but the doctor assured me that its not Something Else. His prescription: you are going to need to get 8 hours consecutive sleep at least a few times a week. Although, I have no idea how you are going to do that.

LOVELY.

And in other news, I sold a bunch of paintings this week, including that super huge one I posted a few weeks ago!!! Im going to philly next week to install it!

Thats all for now. Have a great weekend everyone!

 

 

My teenage sisters made dinner for the whole family last night…. lets not talk about how I didnt know how to boil pasta until I got married. (Seriously, put the pasta in before the water, like eggs.) Anyway, the entire dinner was AMAZING… but for desert they served these watermelon granitas… I loved them so much I just had to post a recipe. What a great desert for a Fourth of July BBQ!

 

Ingredients

• 9 cups (about 2 1/2 pounds) seeded, cubedwatermelon
• 1/3 cup fresh lime juice
• 1 cup mint, finely chopped, plus more for garnish
• 1/3 cup sugar

Directions

 

Happy Graduation to my sisters Stephanie and Jennifer on their graduations! And, of course, to everyone else out there graduating!

I took home a ton of these tassels from M&J one day for no reason- then I came up with this little idea. Cute huh?

Also of note- I found this source for simple, available in any size and any color tablecloths. The ones I ordered are polyester… They were pretty cheap so I got a few different colors including neon orange and lilac:

I want to buy 10 more! Available HERE.

I dont even really like using tablecloths, but my table is so delicate that I have to.

The ruffled placemats (I adore them) are from Parci Parla in Brooklyn. (347) 587-5179 ‎Map HERE. ‎They also now carry the goldware I’m using.

Happy Graduation!

 

This may seem silly, but I dont know why it never occurred to me before.

My two year old daughter is still not trustworthy with glass plates, and we have a few kiddie plates, but they are just OK in the looks department…. Now that its “dining al fresco” season, why not stock up on melamine plates to use for your kid? You can get really fab ones this time of year, so you wont have to compromise on style.

I bought these today from West Elm:

(The fork and spoon are from Pottery Barn Kids)

And I bought a few so if a friend comes over I dont have to scramble all over looking for two matching plates so that the kids dont fight! I totally could have picked something that matched my house a little bit better though!