[images borrowed from theknot.com, marthastewart.com, brides.com, and Béa's La Tartine Gourmande]What do you think? Do you have any fun ideas to match their color scheme?
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Getting closer to color
I have been spending a lot of time making the inspiration boards below for Jelly. She and BIL decided they liked the colors teal, lavender (their living room wall is teal!), and a vintage-natural feel. Here is a new inspiration board I have created to match their ideas:
[images borrowed from theknot.com, marthastewart.com, brides.com, and Béa's La Tartine Gourmande]
What do you think? Do you have any fun ideas to match their color scheme?
[images borrowed from theknot.com, marthastewart.com, brides.com, and Béa's La Tartine Gourmande]What do you think? Do you have any fun ideas to match their color scheme?
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Turbot with Mango Salsa
Many think it's expensive and time-consuming to cook a dinner that bursts with unique flavors. I really enjoy seafood, and if it were up to me, I would probably be eating swordfish, wild alaskan salmon, and chilean sea bass daily if my wallet could support it. Lately, however, I have been opting for less expensive fish. Turbot is my current favorite. A white fish, Turbot, when cooked just right, is flaky and fondant. Here is a recipe with summer flair to bring some color, and savor to your kitchen!
Turbot with Mango Salsa
2 manila mangoes
2 filets of Turbot
1 large sweet onion
1 cup white jasmine rice
1 lemon
Preheat oven at 350 degrees. Bring water to a boil in pot, and pour rice in. Turn heat to low and cover. Cook until soft. Dice onion and sauté in pan with some olive oil until golden. Dice mangoes and set aside. Place turbot filets in a baking dish. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and half of the freshly squeezed lemon (I like to add herbes de provence but it is optional; cilantro would be very good with this dish too). Bake for 15 minutes (until soft and flaky). Remove from oven and top with mango and onion, and more freshly squeezed lemon. Serve with rice!
[image 1 thanks to Zeetz Jones according to this license]
Turbot with Mango Salsa
2 manila mangoes
2 filets of Turbot
1 large sweet onion
1 cup white jasmine rice
1 lemon
Preheat oven at 350 degrees. Bring water to a boil in pot, and pour rice in. Turn heat to low and cover. Cook until soft. Dice onion and sauté in pan with some olive oil until golden. Dice mangoes and set aside. Place turbot filets in a baking dish. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and half of the freshly squeezed lemon (I like to add herbes de provence but it is optional; cilantro would be very good with this dish too). Bake for 15 minutes (until soft and flaky). Remove from oven and top with mango and onion, and more freshly squeezed lemon. Serve with rice!
[image 1 thanks to Zeetz Jones according to this license]
Inspiration time
Newly engaged Jelly has appointed my little sister, Kiwee, and I maids of honor for her big day. In true maid of honor form, I have put together a few inspiration boards with what I know she likes to help her get an idea of what she would want. I tend to find inspiration in the vibrant colors of fresh produce and plants. Which inspiration boards do you like best?
Farmer's market and local charm with green, yellow, and coral.
Fun and quirky with orange, pink, turquoise, green, and yellow.
Farm chic with red, white, and green.
Fresh and romantic with teal, peach, and green.
Country and sweet with peach, orange, and white.
Farmer's market and local charm with green, yellow, and coral.
Vintage provence with lavender, mauve, purple, fuchsia, green, and gray/silver.
Fun and quirky with orange, pink, turquoise, green, and yellow.[images in the collages are borrowed from theknot.com, marthastewart.com, realsimple.com, and thedesignspongeonline.com]
Monday, June 22, 2009
My Big Sister is Engaged!
So, part of the reason I have been slightly MIA these past few weeks is because I was helping BIL (future brother-in-law) stage his proposal. :o) After many sticks trying to send the wheel off-track (i.e: my sister deciding to stay home the day of the staging... which was planned on the roof of their apartment!), BIL was able to ask for my sister's hand under a tent decorated with multi-colored chinese paper lanterns, and hanging orange and fuchsia orchids. A table was draped with a white tablecloth and adorned with four large vases filled with sunflowers, and a bucket with iced 2000 vintage Dom Perignon. After a call to my sister's boss by MOI the day before, she was 'forced' to go into the office... teehee. Needless to say, BIL did a wonderful job. My sister was so surprised and overwhelmed with emotion. She is so happy and I will take yet another moment to publicly say congratulations.
BIL and jelly.
After she said 'YES', the family (my little sister and her boyfriend were in on the secret) gathered for a dinner that I had prepared. On the menu:
Homemade Ravioli with asparagus-ricotta filling
[image thanks to sonicwalker according to this license]
Tagliatelle with cherry tomatoes, olive oil, and edible wildflowers
[image thanks to Pabo76 according to this license]
Jumbo Shrimp and cherry tomatoes skewers drizzled with olive oil and flambéed in whisky
Strawberry-Rhubarb Clafoutis (recipe borrowed from Béa on La Bonne Tartine)
[image borrowed from La Bonne Tartine]
BIL and jelly.After she said 'YES', the family (my little sister and her boyfriend were in on the secret) gathered for a dinner that I had prepared. On the menu:
Homemade Ravioli with asparagus-ricotta filling
[image thanks to sonicwalker according to this license]Tagliatelle with cherry tomatoes, olive oil, and edible wildflowers
[image thanks to Pabo76 according to this license]Jumbo Shrimp and cherry tomatoes skewers drizzled with olive oil and flambéed in whisky
Strawberry-Rhubarb Clafoutis (recipe borrowed from Béa on La Bonne Tartine)
[image borrowed from La Bonne Tartine]Thursday, June 18, 2009
For Now...
Since I am very busy (and sorry!), I would like to share this wonderful Orange-Walnut cake recipe I borrowed from Body & Soul magazine (click on picture to see recipe)! I promise to post one of my own soon :)
And this beautiful picture borrowed from designspongeonline.com!
[Photograph taken by Sabra Krock]
A bientot!
And this beautiful picture borrowed from designspongeonline.com!
[Photograph taken by Sabra Krock]A bientot!
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
When it's raining...
It's been pouring in New York City. It seems that it has been raining a lot everywhere. Atlanta, Los Angeles, Paris, London... no sun. We're 2 weeks shy from summer and people are still wearing boots, jackets, and scarves. Ah.. miséricorde!
I don't know about you but this weather makes me want to curl up in a hole (or my bed) and stay in there until the sun calls my name. However, since I am of an optimistic nature, I have decided that I am going to set aside my disillusion and disappointment and welcome the rainy days (*ahem*) with some comforting indoor activities. Here are a few ideas to help you make the most of these grueling almost-summer-yet-no-sun-to-be-found days:
#1 Host a board-game night with Cranium Wow. This fun game combines pictionary, charades, and trivia to really get the party going. Another entertaining game that triggers some hefty clowning around is Apples to Apples. I played this word association game on a rained-on camping trip in New Hampshire and I can count that moment as one of the silliest and enjoyable moments in recent years!
Bonus snack to keep everyone fueled with energy: Stacy's Simply Naked Pita Chips with Tribe 40 Spices Hummus
#2 Curl up and reminisce 1990's TV series night with Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Friends, or, what the heck, Dawson's Creek! Make delicious popcorn with this easy DIY recipe:
3 tbsp canola oil
1/3 cup corn kernels
1 3-quart covered saucepan
Heat oil in saucepan on medium/high heat. Put a few kernels in pan and cover. When kernels pop, add rest of kernels. Cover and remove from heat and count to 30 seconds. Return pan to heat. When the corn starts to pop, shake pan gently. Once popping noises start to slow down, remove from heat and put in a large bowl.
Seasoning option #1:
1 to 2 tbsp Brown sugar and cinnamon (to taste).
Seasoning #2:
3 tbsp parmesan, 1 tbsp oregano, 1 tsp sea salt.
Seasoning #3:
1 lime, squeezed. 1 to 2 tsp chili powder.
#3 Relax an unwind with a hot shower. Stimulate your senses with Yves Rocher Vanilla Body Wash, leaving skin soft, smooth, and fragrant. Then pick up a book you've been meaning to read for a while, or a book you really enjoyed and always wanted to reread. Mine is Seeing me Naked by Liza Palmer.
[image 2 thanks to {-Maria-} according to this license]
I don't know about you but this weather makes me want to curl up in a hole (or my bed) and stay in there until the sun calls my name. However, since I am of an optimistic nature, I have decided that I am going to set aside my disillusion and disappointment and welcome the rainy days (*ahem*) with some comforting indoor activities. Here are a few ideas to help you make the most of these grueling almost-summer-yet-no-sun-to-be-found days:
#1 Host a board-game night with Cranium Wow. This fun game combines pictionary, charades, and trivia to really get the party going. Another entertaining game that triggers some hefty clowning around is Apples to Apples. I played this word association game on a rained-on camping trip in New Hampshire and I can count that moment as one of the silliest and enjoyable moments in recent years!Bonus snack to keep everyone fueled with energy: Stacy's Simply Naked Pita Chips with Tribe 40 Spices Hummus
#2 Curl up and reminisce 1990's TV series night with Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Friends, or, what the heck, Dawson's Creek! Make delicious popcorn with this easy DIY recipe:
3 tbsp canola oil
1/3 cup corn kernels
1 3-quart covered saucepan
Heat oil in saucepan on medium/high heat. Put a few kernels in pan and cover. When kernels pop, add rest of kernels. Cover and remove from heat and count to 30 seconds. Return pan to heat. When the corn starts to pop, shake pan gently. Once popping noises start to slow down, remove from heat and put in a large bowl.
Seasoning option #1:
1 to 2 tbsp Brown sugar and cinnamon (to taste).
Seasoning #2:
3 tbsp parmesan, 1 tbsp oregano, 1 tsp sea salt.
Seasoning #3:
1 lime, squeezed. 1 to 2 tsp chili powder.
#3 Relax an unwind with a hot shower. Stimulate your senses with Yves Rocher Vanilla Body Wash, leaving skin soft, smooth, and fragrant. Then pick up a book you've been meaning to read for a while, or a book you really enjoyed and always wanted to reread. Mine is Seeing me Naked by Liza Palmer.[image 2 thanks to {-Maria-} according to this license]
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