November 2011
45 posts
6 tags
Butternut Squash Stuffed with Creamy Quinoa
In the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving there seemed to be an awful lot of quinoa-stuffed squash recipes floating around the internets. So naturally, said stuffed squash was at the top of my list of meals to make for the fam.
I thought it was decent: better than okay but not knock your socks off. My family, however, scarfed it like they’d been fasting all day. I need to cook for...
4 tags
Florida Chic
This was my attempt to make the Thanksgiving table a little festive this year. I had my sister cut some cheerful purple flowers from our yard to adorn everyone’s place settings. My brother took one look at them and said “why are there weeds on the table?”
Change is real big in our house.
6 tags
Black Bean Sweet Potato Chili
When I was home last week I made lots of food that made Pops go “what?” and then do his grumble groan thing. Which, for any of you who know my father, was hitherto thought not possible. The man is not considered picky (a misconception my brother gleefully pronounces false whenever the opportunity arises). He’s also considered one of the healthiest human beings on the...
5 tags
LivingSocial Room Service
LivingSocial recently debuted a new feature called Room Service, in which they bring the restaurant experience to your home. We’re talking a prix fixe menu, legitimate dishes and silverware, candles and flowers, the works. As a means of spreading the word and getting people excited, LivingSocial held a contest via Twitter to win a free Room Service experience. Yours truly was one of...
9 tags
Pear Cranberry Gingersnap Crisp
I’ve made this crisp twice, and both times it was a huge hit. So much so I that I keep forgetting to take a picture of the finished project. The crisp couldn’t be easier, and is definitely my go-to festive dessert this holiday season.
For the fruit: Quarter and slice 5-6 ripe pears into half moon shapes. Toss them in the baking dish (I butter the dish but I’m not sure...
“You want to know how to be remade? Soften your grip on expectations. Embrace and...”
– been thinking…
Holy cow. (via ellens)
Holy cow is right.
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Stuffed Like A...
Whoa Pick, maybe you should’ve taken it easy with that second turkey leg.
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Turkey Day!
I should get Pun one of these.
2 tags
6 tags
Roasted Tomato and Red Pepper Soup
Seeing as the Green Goddess Soup was such a smashing success it took me all of three days before I couldn’t wait any longer to make my next soup. All I could think about was finding an excuse to use the immersion blender again. Next thing you know the creatures will be served puréed duck thighs. (While it is true that F&T lead somewhat pampered lives and have rather expensive ...
3 tags
Rusty
Meet Rusty. Otherwise known as Ruster, Rooster, Rusterito, and so on. Adopted this past spring, he’s a relatively new addition to the Smith clan. Give him another year or two and he’ll have nicknames in the dozens.
6 tags
Fraudulent Advertising
The alarm was set for 4am. Which means naturally I had a wretched time falling asleep and then woke up at 3:45 worried I’d overslept. The cabbie was a no-show and the poor landlord had to drive me to the airport. I was through TSA and strapped into my seat on the plane by 5:30. I’m grumpy all over again just thinking about it.
The view from my window as we descended over...
Cranberry Chutney
On Monday I made the best oven-baked fries ever. The only thing that was slightly different is that I baked them at 450F (I usually do 425F). They were cut perfectly, drizzled with olive oil, tossed with salt and dried herbs, and baked to golden perfection in about 35 minutes. Needless to say, we inhaled them. And we’re both hoping I can pull it off again.
I also made roasted ...
5 tags
Quick! Somebody Buy Me a Lotto Ticket!
Today is my lucky day! I won a catered dinner for four by Kushi courtesy of LivingSocial. As if that wasn’t enough, I then promptly won an aloe and green tea scented gift basket by J.R. Watkins courtesy of Clever Girls Collective. As my dad would say, “go buy yourself a lottery ticket!” I mean, holy smokes! (Who says “holy smokes??”) Here’s hoping I...
4 tags
Elevator Farts
So, this happened:
I’m standing at the elevator (in the building adjacent to ours, which houses our garage) waiting to go down to the car. Another dude is waiting for the elevator to take him up to his apartment. We share a bit of small talk about whose luck will be better; the elevator finally comes and it’s for me — down first.
I step in and immediately gag. It smells...
2 tags
Just Another Day at the Office
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Best Damn Brownies
I have had yet to come across a homemade brownie recipe that I simply could not live without. There have been contenders, but none that really knocked me off my feet at first bite. I had planned to make an apple pancake for dessert on Sunday, as the landlord is wild about apple desserts (I don’t get it either). We had also planned to eat out on Sunday night, as we’ve been...
5 tags
Purple Pom-Poms
I don’t know what these are actually called, but Freshy fondly refers to them as weeds. As in, the weeds I snagged for her from the Union Square farmers market on my way to meet her for brunch. (Sigh. I miss New York.)
I hardly think they look like weeds, but it’s true they’re no highbrow flower. Although with hipster trends going the way they are, I wouldn’t ...
4 tags
Stocking Up
There have been dozens of times that I’ve modified and/or abandoned a recipe because it calls for a spice I didn’t have on hand. I’m all for being resourceful and using what you have, but as the weather cools and more and more recipes call for warm nostalgia-inducing spices, I decided to put an end to my charades and invest in a few spices. There are still half a dozen or...
6 tags
Green Goddess Soup
Sunday night found me digging around for an easy recipe at the last minute. I came across Green Goddess Soup in In the Small Kitchen and was instantly sold. While I didn’t have swiss chard or zucchini, I did have kale and broccoli. Who doesn’t love broccoli soup? Broccoli is also on the list of things the landlord will eat, so it was a no-brainer. As for the kale, what he...
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"The Occupied" Washington Times
First (limited?) edition of The Occupied. Haven’t cracked it open but my yoga studio was handing them out so hey, why not.
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Gobble, Gobble
And so the Thanksgiving menu preparations begin.
3 tags
I Make Monday Look Pleasant
You wanna fuck with me? Bring it. I eat turds like you for breakfast.
Nah, just kidding G. What’s for lunch?
Seasonal Bounty
Farmers’ markets are so fun. If only I didn’t feel like such a douchebag while hovering over tables trying to take arty shots.
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Mama's Boy
Frank is my little mama’s boy. He likes to be where I am, be it snuggled in bed, at my feet in the kitchen, or next to me on one of the bar stools while I write. Yesterday morning my back needed a little support from our lounger chair and Frank was right there with me.
I love you too, buckaroo.
3 tags
While We're at It
via
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Beltway Talking Points
A few weeks ago I stumbled across FamousDC’s Fantasy Football Rant. Needless to say, it was love at first sight. I swooned. The rant had me howling with laughter every step of the way. (It may have hit home a bit due to the fact that my fantasy football team has had something short of a stellar performance this season, but I won’t bore you with minor technicalities.)
As the...
6 tags
Honey Cinnamon Roasted Chickpeas
I stumbled upon this recipe the other day and put it at the very top of my to-make list. Chickpeas, lightly coated in cinnamon and sugar and oil, baked to fragrant crunchiness. They’re then dribbled with honey as they sit to cool.
I will say that the chickpea flavor definitely shines through; they’re not for those who are looking for something candy-sweet. More for those who...
3 tags
Bundled
Maybe I can go incognito in this toasty blue cape thing and no one will find me… I wonder if it comes with cheese snacks.
3 tags
Read Anything Good Lately?
One of my amazing friends, Kate (whom I lived with for three fabulous years on the Upper West Side), comes to me for book recommendations. Rather, I should say, we go to each other — it’s mutual.
Earlier this summer, I typed up a list of all the books I’d read in the preceding months and sent it to her. We both, in turn, ended up forwarding the list to others who asked...
4 tags
Fall Colors & Flavors
Is there a prettier vegetable than the purple potato? They’re so brilliant and unusual it’s hard not to be drawn to them.
It’s a good thing root veggies have their heyday in the fall, because the landlord and I have been eating potatoes like they’re going out of style. Our favorite preparation is simple: thinly sliced, in whatever form strikes our fancy at that...
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Pearly Whites
We l̶o̶v̶e̶ LURRRRRRRRVE brushing our teeth in this house. Seriously. Frank has memorized the sound my toothbrush makes as I lift it out of the porcelain cup that holsters it. He’ll sprint across the apartment and sit himself squarely on the edge of the sink, desperate for a nibble. He’ll swat at the toothbrush as it moves back and forth in my mouth and look at me like ...
4 tags
The Georgetown
Shot this on Sunday afternoon after snagging treats at our fave Baked & Wired. Personally, I think the “Oh.My.God.” bar (graham cracker topped with chocolate topped with caramel topped with fluffy marshmallow cream) is a bit overrated. Kick the caramel to the curb and you have a winner. Also, best damn cupcake in DC. Bar none.
5 tags
Live-Illustrating the NYC Marathon
Christoph Niemann, one of the New York Times’s resident illustrators, live-tweeted his experience via his real-time illustrations during the NYC Marathon on Sunday.
Holy shitballs. Talk about creativity meeting endurance. I am in awe.
7 tags
Marathon Reflections
Seeing as marathon week was just upon us (Marine Corps on October 30th and NYC yesterday), I’ve encountered various people asking if I’m running again and/or training to run another. My answer is always a resounding NO.
While I was training last year, dozens of people told me how addicting marathons are. You kill yourself through your first race, cross the finish line, and...
4 tags
Glorious
Fall ROCKS. That is all.
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Sunday Snoozefest
Sunday mornings are the best.
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Time Change Hangries
Turns out Frank and Taco aren’t huge fans of the whole time change thing.
You expect us to wait an extra hour for breakfast?!?! The fuck you think this is??
6 tags
Bargain Candy
Today my dad will almost certainly come home with some serious post-Halloween loot. He may not directly admit as much to you or me (or even himself), but he will make it his business to include a stop at Target or Kmart or Winn Dixie or similar (god forbid CVS, they who ousted Eckerd, or those “thieves who mashed poor Pantry Pride”) in his errands this morning. Under the guise...
4 tags
Green and Gold
Another picture from the Mellon Gallery. There is a row of rooms behind the main auditorium that run the width of the building. Vibrant and regal. A hidden treasure.
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Mellon Auditorium
Last week I helped a friend set up for The Hope Affair, the American Kidney Fund’s annual gala. The gala was held at the Mellon Auditorium overlooking the National Mall. Lately I’ve been better about taking my camera everywhere I go to capture the incredible architecture in this city.
It’s alarming how worn out I was after a measly four hours of work on my feet. I guess all...
5 tags
Fish Scam
The Boston Globe recently ran a piece entitled “on the menu, but not on your plate.” It reveals the findings of a five-month investigation into the practice of deliberately mislabeling fish on menus by restaurants. What you’re sold and what you’re served are often — an astounding 48 percent of the time — two different things. Customers are unwitting...
6 tags
Garlic Peanut Noodles
It’s been ages since I kept up with my Google Reader. Apparently it doesn’t keep unread archives forever, but rather limits the backlog to thirty days or so. Not my favorite. A good thing overall I suppose, as I had 670+ posts waiting for me as it was. Yeesh.
Anyway. I was all set to make roasted chicken and potatoes for dinner when I came across an unbelievably easy recipe...
2 tags
Ode to Our Dryer
Holy kitty crunchies this bathrobe feels good. What is this, chenille? How is it so toasty warm and fluffy? Yow, I could roll in it all day. What is this godly machine? Maybe I should start leaving offerings at its feet. Mmmmmm. Me thinks its time for a snooze.
