Phoebe

Another cute shot of Phoebe from when I was back. I love the way all the little dresses in the US come with bloomers. The girls love them too and here she is flashing to knickers.

Six Errors On The Path To The Financial Crisis

Interesting article from the ny times here

Cous Cous with Strawberries, orange blossom, mint and green tea

I was reading an old Observer Food Monthly and came across this recipe. Looks delicious and I'm going to make it. I just made cous cous on Friday night (see recipe from yesterday) but I love that this is for a dessert.

Can't find a nice picture of it, but recipe here

So Mini-Me

These are from the Philip Lim kids range. Very cute, basically mini versions of the grown up outfits. Even on sale it's more expensive than what I pay for myself. And how cute is the model? They do this awful thing over here with kids models; basically dress up 6 year olds to look 16. creepy.

Moroccan-Spiced Chicken

This is from Martha and delicious. Takes about 5 minutes to prep. I changed the quantities so this is what I would recommend:

For the spice rub:
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon ground coriander
1/2 tablespoon ground turmeric
I left out the cardomon as we don't have any
1 tablespoon ground cumin
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper (1 teaspoon of each)
4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Recipe calls for a whole chicken, cut and quartered, but Nick came home with boneless thighs. This made cooking really easy - think it took twenty minutes as it was all so flat. I think it would be great with bone-in thighs or legs too.
1 lemon, quartered

Basically make the rub, rub it all over the chicken, let it sit for an hour if you have time (we didn't), put on a baking pan - flat and put the lemon wedges around or on top of it (depending on space). Cook it at 450 degrees (in oz you will have to convert that).

Prob take about 1/2 hour to cook depending on what cut you have. Check with a thermometer for right internal temperature if you have one, if not check a piece.

Take out of oven and let chicken sit for 5- 10 minutes.

You can make the cous cous now. Helps if you have all the bits ready for it- see the attached for Martha recipe for the chicken and also the cous cous. It has apricots, pistachios and olives in it. Very nice.

Chicken here
cous cous here

Easiest dinner I have made in ages.

Nice Room

I can't even imagine having that much space.

Two more pretty bedrooms

Lasagna

I'm used to lasagna with a white bechamel sauce, but this recipe replaces it with ricotta -easier and lighter. It's from Martha Stewart. I made it as is, but the meat sauce takes forever. I would make the sauce how you usually do it and try this ricotta mix instead of bechemal.

Recipe here

More Movies

We saw two on the weekend. Frost/Nixon and Gran Torino. I wasn't really keen for Frost/Nixon but it was excellent and I thoroughly recommend it. Gran Torino (clint eastwood film) is just ok.

Curtains

Such a cute look. If we were on the ground floor, instead of the 6th, i would be tempted to put these on our kitchen windows.

Cheeky Fat Bull

Happy Australia Day! Lucky you with today off. Have a lamington for me.
(title is from 'Australia', the movie)

Cute Idea

This is a growth chart. What a cute idea. From Cookie magazine.
Info here

State Of Play

If you haven't seen this mini-series you should. It's on netflix, and prob at the video store. Great cast and great story. They are re-doing with Russel Crow and Ben Affleck. See this one though, it will no doubt be better.

Cupcakes for anna

This is really for Anna. Cover of the new Martha mag. Thought you might be interested. I can send it to your or scan the recipes - let me know.

A letter to do nothing dads

I thought this was interesting -particularly for those of you with babies. From Cookie mag. Go to the link here

Thoughts?

Trigo

New restaurant in the 'hood that we have to try. Website

Plane Crash

You've probably read about the plane that crashed into the water just 5 minutes after take off. Unbelievable. Good news is that everyone is ok. The bottom two pictures are photos that a friend of ours - Will - took and were part of a slide show on NYTimes.com! The first is by someone else and just helps give an idea of scale. All happened not too far from where we live.

I miss Chicken Twisties.

Macaroons

I often have left-over egg whites that I just throw away. I love macaroons and didn't realise that you use egg whites in them (didn't think about it really). Anyway, recipe looks easy enough, so next time you have egg whites, you will know what to do.
Recipe here

Best Job in the World

Ginnie sent me this. How great would it be?

SYDNEY (AFP) – An Australian state is offering internationally what it calls "the best job in the world" -- earning a top salary for lazing around a beautiful tropical island for six months.

The job pays 150,000 Australian dollars (105,000 US dollars) and includes free airfares from the winner's home country to Hamilton Island on the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland's state government announced on Tuesday.

In return, the "island caretaker" will be expected to stroll the white sands, snorkel the reef, take care of "a few minor tasks" -- and report to a global audience via weekly blogs, photo diaries and video updates.

The successful applicant, who will stay rent-free in a three-bedroom beach home complete with plunge pool and golf buggy, must be a good swimmer, excellent communicator and be able to speak and write English.

"They'll also have to talk to media from time to time about what they're doing so they can't be too shy and they'll have to love the sea, the sun, the outdoors," said acting state Premier Paul Lucas.

"The fact that they will be paid to explore the islands of the Great Barrier Reef, swim, snorkel and generally live the Queensland lifestyle makes this undoubtedly the best job in the world."

Lucas said the campaign was part of a drive to protect the state's 18 billion Australian dollar a year tourism industry during the tough economic climate caused by the global financial meltdown.

"Traditional tourism advertising just doesn't cut it sometimes and we are thinking outside the box by launching this campaign."

Queensland Tourism Minister Desley Boyle said some people might question whether it was risky to let an unknown person become an unofficial tourism spokesperson for the state.

"I think the biggest risk will be that the successful candidate won't want to go home at the end of the six months," she said.

"This is a legitimate job which is open to anyone and everyone."

Applications are open until February 22. Eleven shortlisted candidates will be flown to Hamilton Island in early May for the final selection process and the six month contract will commence on July 1.

Damages

Season Two has started, and we've just watched the first episode. Great show. Anyone else watching it?

Sheng Wang

We rarely venture into China town now that we aren't so close to it. A shame in many ways as I love that it feels soooo foreign. Lots of yummy restaurants too. And cheap. But, after eating in China town, I tend to feel rather ill afterwards. Hasn't really stopped me wanting to go back. This place was in last week's Time Out magazine and seems to serve lots of brothy soups which I love. The most interesting thing however is that they make all their noodles in house. Too yum. Got to go.

Sheng Wang
27 Eldridge between Canal and Division
212-925-0805

Picture doesn't look that appatizing, but it's the one that went with the story.

Dinner

I'm making the chick pea/red pepper soup that was an early post on the blog (see chickpea on sidebar). Easy and delicious. What are you making?

I think I might also try the cilantro chutney to accompany some cod. Will let you know how it turns out.

What a Cosy Looking Dining Room

Not sure if it's obvious here, but the books are just wallpaper.

Throw

We got a rather nice throw in oz. But, wintery. I think this might be perfectly autumnal - bit lighter and brighter. Only from West Elm, so it's cheap (but lovely handloomed raw silk) but even still, I will wait for sale time.

Salumeria Rosi

Nick and I had dinner here a while back and as it's not in the hood (it's on the upper west side), I wanted to keep it here to remind me, so we go back. Front of the store is a shop sellling delicious meets etc and the back is a restuarant. Too delicious, and well priced too. How gorgeous is it? I love it.

Parmesan Chicken

I don't really cook chicken breasts, find it a bit boring, and I don't have many ideas to jazz it up. If you have high speed internet, this is from The NY Times and is a simple Jamie Oliver recipe. It's a video. I will definitely be doing this.

Link here

The Flip

This is my new little video camera that Nick got me as part of my xmas gift. So great, picture and sound impressive too. And you literally just stick it into your computer to download the footage. No need to read instructions, load anything etc. So easy.
Size of a cell phone too. And pretty.

The Wrestler

We've seen a few movies lately, which is nice. The Wrestler is another one we liked. Mickey Rouke (doesn't he look awful now) plays a wrestler who was a huge star in the 80's and still kind of living in the past, still wrestling in a minor way, and basically a bit of a loser. but, it was great. Not a pretty movie, obviously some violence, and he's just difficult to look at. so not attractive. But, go see it.

Dr Oz Checklist

This is from Oprah - she's doing a special health week this week. And this is Dr Oz's 10 ways to live longer. Each step has important information, so go to the link to find out the stuff you should know. As I was watching this, I had a huge indian (with Naan) and now I feel sick.

Link here

New Year's Resolutions

I didn't really make many, did you? Just the obvious ones, be healthier, more green veg juices, lose weight etc. Anyway, I sign up for a trial at the gym, head down to a class and the instructor doesn't bother showing up. Not a good first day. Am determined to make an effort though, so I'll be heading back to the gym tomorrow morning.

Cute

Australia

We saw Australia night. Have to say, I loved it. Such a beautiful film to look at. I bet Catherine Martin wins best set design or costumes or something at the Oscars. Script was a bit cheesy, but with a movie that long, and a Baz Lurhman one, I guess you expect it a little. See it if you haven't. I also so love the poster for the movie. A variation on the above. Must speak to Meggie or Simon to see if they can access one for me.

Cilantro (coriander) chutney

I love fresh herbs but I hate that when you buy them over here you get enough to garnish a small village. I use cilantro a lot but inevitably just need a tiny bit for whatever I am cooking and the remainder wilts away in the fridge until I chuck it. Next time however, I will make this chutney. Recipe here

Finger Limes

I've never seen such a thing but mighty cool looking. Apparently Australian. Anyone seen them or even heard of them before? A type of citrus. Info here.

I wish passionfruits were more easily available here. How I love them so. Someone have one for me please.

Argentina

This is the first of many posts from BA, a little footage taken inside a very cute french restaurant. Footage is not that great, but its taken with my fancy new flip video camera that nick got me for xmas!!!

Beautiful Cheese Presentation

When I see pictures like this, it makes me want to eat cheese. Will definitely have to do this though, so easy and so pretty. Gorgeous styling and photography.

Instructions (if you need them) here