this blue room makes me happy.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
judging a book by its cover
we all do it. and why not? especially these beauties. (which I want. now.)
visit here to see how the talented jim tierney creates his cover art for the classic works of jules verne.
rocket ship
my mom arrived this weekend with the sofa pillows she sewed for us. I love them, they pretty much rule. we ordered the fabric from the ever-fabulous fabricworm on etsy.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
new TV stand
Since June is pulling herself up on everything nowadays, we needed to get a new TV stand. Our old one was actually the bedside table of Nick's great aunt Ruth. It was quite rickety - perhaps only stable enough to hold a set of dentures. We certainly didn't want our huge, old TV to fall on Juniper's head. And since we can't afford to buy a slender flat screen, it was off the the naked furniture store to search for a more stable platform.
Here's the old table, now being used as Nick's bedside table....the circle is complete. Look how short this thing is - it doesn't fit with today's high beds!
And now the new TV stand! I painted it with a green/gray/white color I originally bought for the kitchen walls. It's a great color that really changes with the light. Why didn't I use it in the kitchen, I keep asking myself. You can also see I bought a new, faux glass knob for the drawer.
As payback for embarrassing Nick by showing his bedside table, here's mine....cripes that lamp is ugly. Is that lampshade made out of Great Aunt Ruth's girdle??? There's a Home Goods 20 miles from here and I'm going!
Here's the old table, now being used as Nick's bedside table....the circle is complete. Look how short this thing is - it doesn't fit with today's high beds!
And now the new TV stand! I painted it with a green/gray/white color I originally bought for the kitchen walls. It's a great color that really changes with the light. Why didn't I use it in the kitchen, I keep asking myself. You can also see I bought a new, faux glass knob for the drawer.
As payback for embarrassing Nick by showing his bedside table, here's mine....cripes that lamp is ugly. Is that lampshade made out of Great Aunt Ruth's girdle??? There's a Home Goods 20 miles from here and I'm going!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Chicken Kofta with Saffron-Cashew Sauce
The recipes is from Neela Batra's 1,000 Indian Recipes. Kofta are Middle Eastern meatballs made with spices and nuts (or bulgur or rice). We made this dish for the first time a few months ago and loved it! Fragrant and comforting - perfect winter food. Our 10 month old baby even loves the sauce. We spoon it over rice and she gobbles it up. Go easy on the jalapeno, if you plan to share with baby though.
The ingredients can be found at most grocery stores. And don't be scared off by the long ingredient list and instructions - it's not that hard to make and totally worth it!
Kofta Mixture
25 almonds
6 quarter size slices of peeled ginger
1/2 cup cilantro
2 tsp fennel seeds
1 tsp garam masala
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/4 tps ground cardamon
Saute these items in a dry pan a few minutes until fragrant. Use food processor to grind up. (We use the term "wazz" in our house....please forgive our dorkiness).
Set aside the kofta mixture and wipe out the wazzer. Use to make the sauce mixture next.
Saffron Cashew Sauce
3/4 cup unsalted cashews (I just rinse salted cashews off)
8 quarter size slices peeled ginger
3 cloves garlic
1 jalapeno, stemmed
1/2 tsp saffron threads
1/2 cup whole milk or half-n-half
Wazz up and set aside
Next take 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs (cut into medium pieces) and grind up in the food processor. Place in a big bowl and add 1 egg and the kofta mixture. Combine thoroughly, roll into 1 inch balls and place in fridge on baking sheet for at least 30 minutes.
In a dutch oven or stock pot, heat a bit of olive oil, 1 cinnamon stick, and 2 bay leaves. Saute a few minutes until fragrant. Add the sauce and cook until slightly golden. Then add 2 cups chopped tomatoes and increase heat. Cook until most of liquid has evaporated. Be sure to scrape the brown bits off the bottom and sides. Then add 3 cups water and 1 small container plain greek yogurt. Stir to combine. Bring to boil and then lower heat to simmer 15 minutes. Then gently add the kofta balls.
Make sure they are nestled in the sauce and simmer 20 minutes. Add a dash of lemon juice and fresh cilantro leaves at the end. We also add baby spinach at the end and let it wilt. Serve over basmati rice and enjoy!
The ingredients can be found at most grocery stores. And don't be scared off by the long ingredient list and instructions - it's not that hard to make and totally worth it!
Kofta Mixture
25 almonds
6 quarter size slices of peeled ginger
1/2 cup cilantro
2 tsp fennel seeds
1 tsp garam masala
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/4 tps ground cardamon
Saute these items in a dry pan a few minutes until fragrant. Use food processor to grind up. (We use the term "wazz" in our house....please forgive our dorkiness).
Set aside the kofta mixture and wipe out the wazzer. Use to make the sauce mixture next.
Saffron Cashew Sauce
3/4 cup unsalted cashews (I just rinse salted cashews off)
8 quarter size slices peeled ginger
3 cloves garlic
1 jalapeno, stemmed
1/2 tsp saffron threads
1/2 cup whole milk or half-n-half
Wazz up and set aside
Next take 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs (cut into medium pieces) and grind up in the food processor. Place in a big bowl and add 1 egg and the kofta mixture. Combine thoroughly, roll into 1 inch balls and place in fridge on baking sheet for at least 30 minutes.
In a dutch oven or stock pot, heat a bit of olive oil, 1 cinnamon stick, and 2 bay leaves. Saute a few minutes until fragrant. Add the sauce and cook until slightly golden. Then add 2 cups chopped tomatoes and increase heat. Cook until most of liquid has evaporated. Be sure to scrape the brown bits off the bottom and sides. Then add 3 cups water and 1 small container plain greek yogurt. Stir to combine. Bring to boil and then lower heat to simmer 15 minutes. Then gently add the kofta balls.
Make sure they are nestled in the sauce and simmer 20 minutes. Add a dash of lemon juice and fresh cilantro leaves at the end. We also add baby spinach at the end and let it wilt. Serve over basmati rice and enjoy!
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Kimberly Ayres
After falling in love with this room by Kimberly Ayres....
(Grasscloth walls, aqua desk, faux branch chandelier - I could lick this room!)
(Grasscloth walls, aqua desk, faux branch chandelier - I could lick this room!)....I then found some other goodies on her website.
Monday, February 15, 2010
truckee, lake tahoe
we rented a house near lake tahoe this weekend in the quaint town of truckee. it was our first time in tahoe and I will let the pictures do the gushing for me.
venkman gets all wicked eyed when he runs with sheer, uninterrupted pleasure
the boys snuggling pre kevin forcing venkman into his crate in the car. he is not a car happy dog. you can see he is on to us with his dejected expression.
truckee is a sleepy tahoe town built around the train tracks. I love it.
the house we rented was beautiful with a multi-layered backyard that ran into a creek. we loved every minute of our stay. as we sat around in our sweats and socks, surrounded by aztec prints, wooden furniture and an ink drawing of a wolf (not kidding), I realized my distaste for traditional western decor. I think it is tempting for mountain homeowners (especially vacation homeowners) to get lost in the western design. is it me? do other people dislike western decor? is there a way to salvage the culture in your living room without overdoing it?
I am on the lookout.
venkman gets all wicked eyed when he runs with sheer, uninterrupted pleasure
the boys snuggling pre kevin forcing venkman into his crate in the car. he is not a car happy dog. you can see he is on to us with his dejected expression.
truckee is a sleepy tahoe town built around the train tracks. I love it.
the house we rented was beautiful with a multi-layered backyard that ran into a creek. we loved every minute of our stay. as we sat around in our sweats and socks, surrounded by aztec prints, wooden furniture and an ink drawing of a wolf (not kidding), I realized my distaste for traditional western decor. I think it is tempting for mountain homeowners (especially vacation homeowners) to get lost in the western design. is it me? do other people dislike western decor? is there a way to salvage the culture in your living room without overdoing it?
I am on the lookout.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
