artful embroidery

clothing collection OMUT

Miga De Pan

Echo by Maricor/Maricar

 Rita Smirna

I have been a little obsessed with all things embroidery so much that I took as trip to Joann's last week and purchased thread, hoops and needles to embark on my own artful embroidery - I will let you know what I end up with. I am thinking something very abstract. Here is a few pieces that have been inspiring me.

it goes on the menu

My drive home from work usually consists of me calling the hubby and asking “What do we do for dinner?” Mind you it’s not like our pantry and fridge are bare - believe me, my $150 Central Market bill from Sunday afternoon begs to differ- it’s just plain laziness. I just worked all day and don’t feel like cooking. If I wasn’t such a food snob I could do boxed mashed potatoes with frozen chicken patties and call it a day.  Problem is, it has to be from scratch, restaurant quality and taste amazing. So we settle on some local eatery. The total bill if we only have one glass of wine each will be around $40. That’s cheap right? No, it’s not when you multiply that by four, because it's the fourth night this week we ate out

So I have been trying to cook at home. Every night. So far so good this week. Here's a new recipe I tried last night and loved.

Butternut Squash and Pancetta Orecchiette

from Spoon Fork Bacon

Serves 3 to 4 (I doubled all the veggies)

Ingredients:

1 lb orecchiette pasta

3 1/2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

2 ounces pancetta, diced

1 shallot, diced

1 medium carrot, peeled and diced

1 celery stalk, peeled and diced

1 garlic clove, minced

2/3 cup white wine

1 1/2 cups butternut squash, peeled and diced

8 to 10 threads saffron

1 tablespoon minced thyme

2 teaspoons thinly sliced chives

2 egg yolks

1 cup pasta water

1/2 cup grated Pecorino Romano, plus more for garnish

salt and pepper to taste

1. Fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil. Once the water has been brought to a boil, add pasta and stir. Cook pasta until al dente, drain (reserving 3/4 cup pasta water), toss with 1/2 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil and set aside.

2. Pour 1 tablespoon of oil into a large sauté pan and place over medium-high heat. Add pancetta and sauté for 3 minutes. Drain pancetta onto paper towels and set aside.

3. Pour remaining oil to pan and sauté shallots for 1 minute. Add carrots, celery and garlic and continue to sauté for 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

4. Add the squash and continue to sauté for an additional 3 to 4 minutes.

5. Deglaze the pan with the white wine, stir in the saffron threads and cook until the liquid has almost disappeared or until the squash has softened.

6. Return pancetta to the pan, with the vegetable mixture and stir in the orecchiette until well combined.

7. Reduce the heat to medium-low and gently fold in the herbs.

8. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and pasta water. Pour the mixture over the pasta and stir together. Sprinkle cheese over pasta and stir until just combined. Adjust seasonings and serve with extra pecorino sprinkled on top.

piling up on my nightstand...

It was 1999 and I was waiting for the L train to Brooklyn and the girl next to me was reading a book and laughing out loud and I immediately jotted down the authors name. It was David Sedaris. Nine books later and just as funny as the first, comes his newest book of essays - Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls.  I am seriously addicted to David's hysterical writings about life.

After my beloved Gourmet folded there was a foodie hole in my life until Adam Rapaport and Bon Appetit showed up in my mailbox. Love the recipes, love the articles. Foodie hole filled.

Tons of articles on subjects you never thought you cared about before - from politics to pop culture. EVERYONE should read The New Yorker.

channeling deadheads

Our winter seems to be lingering a bit so I am craving the warmth of the sun while dressed in long flowing hippie dresses inspired by carefree deadheads. Here are a few I have my eye on...

Melissande printed silk-crepe maxi dress - Isabel Marant
Tulum Wedding Dress - JM Drygoods
Lovers & Friends Silky Fly Maxi- Urban Outfitters
Striped Unearthen Dress - Free People

wish I were here...

We celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary this September so I have been spending a lot of time looking at some great boutique hotels. Here are my top picks so far.

H2 Hotel - Healdsburg, CA

Casa Bianca - Montreal, Canada

The Graham and Co. - Phoenicia, NY

 Mojave Sands - Joshua Tree, CA

The Surf Lodge - Montauk, NY 

 Longman & Eagle - Chicago, IL

fashion clone #1

 

 image via

 

from left to right:

jackets: Rick Owens, Mango

tees: J.Crew, H&M

shorts: Mango, Isabel Marant

sandals: Madewell, Isabel Marant

totes: Mango, Maison Martin Margiela

Olympia Le-Tan

I was immediately obsessed the first time I saw Olympia Le-Tan's Book Clutches. It's so wonderful to see something in fashion that is original and clearly well constructed - truly worth every penny.
While trolling through Instagram last week I think I squealed with excitement with the news of her Punk Collection. As an ex Punk Rocker who played drums in an all girl band I instantly felt a connection to these wonderful objects. Available at Olympia Le-Tan