Want! Want!

I was reading thekitchn.com earlier - one of apartment therapy blogs that i check almost daily. It's such a great site and always has amazing stories, products, recipes and stuff I just want. This here Soda machine feels so 80's but I want it. I love sparkling water and used to get cases of pellegrino until Nick reminded me that it's been shipped in from Italy so is super bad for the environment given it's just cheap water that I quickly go through. But how I miss the bubbles so. What do you think of this? It's an at home soda machine so I could have all the bubbles I want. I hate drinking water, and know I need to, so maybe I should do it. The machine is $65 after a $35 discount available on thekitchn.com. should I do it?

Food Network Recipes - Gazpacho

Another recipe from the Food Network. This time from The Barefoot Contessa. I've ordered a food processor so I can't wait to get it so I can make this gazpacho. It's a Greek one. Not sure why. Perhaps because it has feta (yuk) and olives? It all basically goes into the chopper and you end up with a yumbo cool soup.

Again, picture looks gross. They need a food stylist over there at the food network. The food always looks rather unappetizing on their site.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_122688,00.html

Martha's Garden

The latest Martha Stewart Living magazine is all about gardening. This picture is of Martha's very own vegie garden. In the mag they labeled it with what she actually had growing. Looks incredible I think. They had to shoot it from a crane. One day, one day...

Food Network Recipes

I've just been watching "Everyday Italian' with Giada Delaurentiis. I love her food. Everything looks super easy and delicious. I want to make both of these now but I'm doing a food detox; no wheat, no booze etc so I'm putting the links here so I don't forget them in the future.

Both take no time at all, the crostini has my favorite stuff on it, parma ham, mozzarella and melted sage butter. Devine. Not really a recipe but I just want to remember it. Picture makes it look disgusting but I was drooling watching it being made. The chocolate mousse has a orange mascapone cream on top. Great flavour combo. Here they are:

Crostini
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_122703,00.html

Chocolate Mousse
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_122711,00.html

Pappadelle with leeks and porcini pangrattato

We've just been watching Jamie's Kitchen and this looked delicious. I plan to make it as soon as my cuisanart processor arrives (just ordered it now) so I want to have the recipe handy. Food Network has some good recipes on the site so check it out. I plan to add some others from Nigella's new quick and easy program.

Recipe here:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_122644,00.html

For Nick

I got this print for Nick as an every-day-is-Valentine's Day gift. Just because really. When I saw it, it reminded me of him, and a little of us, although I can't imagine what we would ever be doing in Williamsburg (cross streets are from b'burg)! Like the man in the picture, Nick is my tall drink of water. If only my legs were like hers.

So much great stuff on the web. I found it at little paper planes.com

From My Darling Boyfriend

This is what I got from Nick for Valentine's Day. I think he wants to make our relationship even stronger. He's so sweet. So romantic. How I love him so.
If you click on it, it will go to a readable size.

Hanging Baby

For you new moms/mums and pregnant ladies out there, this looks like a good idea to me. Ideal for shopping and restroom stops. I saw it on tinsiders.blogspot.com which is an interesting website to visit. I think Simone may have suggested this one, I can't remember. It works as a regular baby carrier that converts.
http://www.mommysentials.com/babykeeperbasic.htm

A bag for Marcie Greene

I think you have to buy this one. Or maybe hint that Dirk get it for you as a late V'day gift. Seems appropriate. It's from vivre.com - i just saw it on the dominomag.com website (after visiting your blog). Hope you are enjoying London

Comments

i love comments. makes me feel like someone is reading. even though i know there are only four of you. and, if you leave a comment, chances are i will respond to it too. (lucky you). am i sounding desperate?

More Cupcakes

One of the reasons for doing this blog was basically to have a space that could always be accessed with files/images/recipes etc. Anna is on a cupcake mission and you can't help find stuff all over the 'net, so I am adding it here so she can come back to it whenever needed (and go to cupcake label at side to find all cupcake items).
This is from Martha Stewart website. There are so many designs and recipes on this site. The images are just a few of them. For recipes, go to: http://www.marthastewart.com/portal/site/mslo/menuitem.e28a2ad6d3341f8836eb9e2bd373a0a0?vgnextoid=42cacf380e1dd010VgnVCM1000005b09a00aRCRD&rsc=search_home&autonomy_kw=cupcakes&x=0&y=0

Jodie's Apt in Sydney

When we were in Sydney we stayed in Jodie's beautiful Paddington apartment. So girly and airy and lovely. Just beautiful. Something straight from the pages of Vogue Living.

Petersham Nurseries & Other stuff to do in London

Dirk and Marcie are off to London this week, so I guess London stuff is top of mind at the moment. We went to Petersham Nurseries when Nick and I were back in October. Just the most perfect place. It's a garden shop but it also has a cafe and restaurant in it. Deliciously boho - indian carpets on the wall and all that. Very expensive - especially now with the weak dollar but worth a trip (i'd go for soup and bread at the cafe). Anyway, these elephants are apparently from the grounds. I don't remember seeing them. I wish I did though, cutey patootie.

Marcie, I was also just reading about this restaurant/venue called The Wapping Project. I would definitely go there for a meal if you have a time. And also, I saw i the new Wallpaper that the bar at Claridges has recently been done up. Looks nice and wintery

Posters

I saw this on the desiretoinspire blog, and it's apparently featured in the new Inside Out and comes from a company called Print dolls. Similar vein to the NY/Brooklyn ones I love. Interestingly, I was watching Cashmere Mafia (anyone else watching that?) and I saw some posters that are also similar (they have NY places in white against black) and I was thinking they looked familiar. I wander if one ripped off the other or if it's the same company.
Caro, this might be nice for the house? I think the NY one might be more fun but this is pretty too.

Cupcakes

Marcy pointed out that the cupcake image from the last post is from a chain-let called Sprinkles. Cute name. Anna, great site to have a poke around at.
http://www.sprinklescupcakes.com/

Hummus

I've never made hummus before. It's so easy to do that it's not really worth buying it. Nick says this tastes just like the bought stuff, which I guess in this case is a good thing.

I found the recipe at desert candy blogspot and here is the recipe:
http://desertcandy.blogspot.com/2007/07/hummus-dilettante.html

Cupcakes

My friend Anna (aka Michelle) in Bangkok is all about cupcakes at the moment. So, if you see a pretty picture of a cupcake, a recipe, a book, site etc, please email me so I can share. I found this blog in Time Out this week www.kumquatcupcakery.com which has lots of inspiration, flavor combinations and images. The image is not from the site, just something I thought was pretty.

Urban Outfitters

As I said in an earlier post, I haven't really looked at Urban Outfitters in a long while. Their 'sister' company - anthropologie - is more to my taste when it doesn't get too floral-y and expensive. It's also a shop that Nick hates so I tend to look online or when I'm by myself. Anyway, I digress. Here are a few finds from Urban Outfitters. I love the chair. It might be nice in our new living room (ha ha) with a cushion to make it more comfy. I like that it isn't too big and heavy looking. I think it would make the space feel big as you can see through it. The decal (more to post on those later) is great. I haven't found a bedframe that I really love, so this might be a fun band-aid solution. Internal debate however is whether it is quirky or just cheap looking? Thoughts? Coat rack is nice too, but we just don't have the room.

The Perfect Bedroom

Isn't this divine? I want this bedroom. If we had a huge space, I might like this light with it. I love this light and read that the designer is doing a line with Habitat so I will be keeping my eyes open for it. If they are lovely - and affordable - I think we may have to get something like it for above the dining room. Love Love

Celeriac Soup

This is quite yummy. I guess any soup with potato in it is. I like celeriac but have never cooked with it. In fact, I don't think I even knew what it looked like raw. Landmarc, a local restaurant does a great lamb shank with celeriac mash. Lovely. I wanted to make something we could have for dinner, so as much as I love a good mash, I decided to do a soup.

You'll need

1 x celeriac
potatoes (use at least 4 but prob up to 8 depending on how many people and how strong a taste of celeriac you want)
1 x onion
1 x stock cube
grated ginger - heaped teaspoon (optional)

Brown the diced onion for a few minutes and then add the potatoes and celeriac chopped up (sliced or chunks). Stir around for a a few minutes and then add about 4 cups (i find i am always adding 4 cups of liquid) of veg or chicken stock. (if you add ginger, add it before the stock)
Let it simmer away for about 1/2 hour or until everything is nice and soft and then blend with immersion blender. Quite lovely. I added some sour cream, and a little bit of oil. Picture looks gross but trust me, it's a goody.

Super Bowl Madness

The New York Giants won the Super Bowl (American Football) on Sunday. They were the underdogs so the victory was that much sweeter (for those who care about that stuff). Today, there was a victory parade for them and it ended at City Hall which is opposite our apartment. Pandemonium right outside the door. No joke. Apparently some people have been waiting since 11pm last night - not sure if I believe that, but there are some freaks out there. The players didn't arrive in the 'hood until around 11.30am but the first shot outside the door is from around 9.30am. Don't these people have to work? And, with many folk only getting two weeks holiday a year is this really worth taking the day off for? Different strokes for different folks I guess. The other photos are from the roof.

Valentine's Day

I don't know why I keep posting about V.Day as I am not a big fan (do I sound like i am protesting just a bit too much?). Seriously, I am not, as again, everyday is VDay around here (kind of). Anyway, as expected, the web is full of VDay stuff. Perhaps if Nick had a sweet tooth, he might get this. It's from www.geoffandandrews.com and is $36 for a two pound cookie.

If I was to get it, I would also want some vouchers for sessions at www.physique57.com to help burn it off. The classes here look hard-core but great. I keep reading about this place, and soon as I get another well-paying job, I intend to go.

So Clever

So DWR (a furniture store) has an annual champagne chair competition. The rules are "Create an original miniature chair using only the foil, label, cage and cork from no more than two Champagne bottles."

These are winners. Frightfully clever.

Valentine's Day

I thought these pillow-cases would be a cute idea for a Valentine's Day gift. Maybe on the student-y side but I like them. They are from Urban Outfitters which I haven't been in for the longest time. I have actually seen some other cute stuff which I will save for another post.

Valentine's Day

Neither Nick or I are ones for Valentine's Day. Everyday is V.Day around here. However, I am seeing lots of posts on the web about it, gifts etc. Maybe I will get one of the above posters for Nick. Is this post too mushy?

A lovely blog

This is a great new blog that features amazing stuff from Australia and NZ. Makes me want to order lots of things I don't need. There are some beautiful links to artists and shops carrying amazing stuff for the kids.

http://www.studiohomecreative.blogspot.com/