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November 28, 2013

Happy Thanksgiving.


Giving All That Thanks. 
Last year, Stevie and I spent Thanksgiving with our dear friends in Cambridge. It was a big decision to stay in Massachusetts and not return to our beloved Georgia for the holidays, but with my work schedule and his school schedule, it just felt like too much. I remember breathing a sigh of relief when I knew we weren't coming home, which is strange, since I am often accused of being family-obsessed. But it just felt good to stay in one place for a few days, rest, read and NOT travel. My lovely friend Carrie and I cooked and baked the day away and spent the evening explaining our curious Thanksgiving traditions to about 8 of our international friends, who joined us for the affair. It was quite a meal. It was a wonderful, peaceful way to spend the day, and we topped it off by sipping homemade cider late into the night. And we slept an awful lot.

But you know what? Stevie and I are such homebodies. We seriously missed being home with our large-and-in-charge families. So this year we bought tickets early (that is the key), and found ourselves in the lovely land of Georgia for the week of Thanksgiving. And it has been, well, let me just say that my heart is full.


No matter where you are today, whether you're in a new place celebrating with new friends, or at home playing out the tried-and-true traditions with your loved ones, I hope you're soaking up this season in your life. I hope you are loving where you live, the work you do, the people you surround yourself with, your patterned life with all it's windy turns. Because the years are moving along. If you don't realize it you will find yourself... older. And hopefully wiser! But even more hopefully, surrounded by those beautiful people who pull you back to your roots and push you to innovate, grow, change and be the best you ever. Thankful for these gorgeous souls today. Because where would I be without them.



Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours today!

November 26, 2013

TASTE: The Perfect Pie Crust

Perfect Pie Crust.
I just had to share this before we are all in the swing of holiday baking later this week. I made a pie crust last week (to make with this quiche) and I couldn't believe how incredibly easy it was. Why haven't I been doing this all my life? Please, this year, promise me that you will resist the temptation to pick up a few pre-packaged crusts from the frozen food section.


Tools:
- Food Processor (mine is a 3-cup and can totally manage this recipe)
- Rolling pin
- Clean counter-top surface or wooden cutting board

Ingredients:
- 2 1/2 cups flour (plus extra for rolling)
- 1 cup (2 sticks) of very cold butter (almost frozen, seriously)
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. sugar
- 6-8 tbps. ice water


Method:
Note: This recipe makes a bottom and top crust combination. If you only need a bottom crust and are leaving your pie/quiche, etc. open on top, you can cut this recipe in half or freeze your dough.
1. Combine the flour, salt and sugar in a food processor and pulse to mix the ingredients.

2. Chop up the really cold/frozen butter into, roughly, 1-tbsp. sections.

3. This is the fun part! Add the butter to the food processor and pulse about 8 times. This part always fascinates me, because it completely transforms the consistency! Keep pulsing until the mixture is coarse and the butter is scattered throughout.

4. Begin adding 1 tbsp. of ice water at a time, pulsing the mixture, then adding another tbsp. Keep doing this until the mixture begins to form a crumbly dough. A good test: if you you pinch some of the dough, it should stick together. If it doesn't, add a bit more water and pulse. You don't want to add too much water because it will make the dough tough to work with.

5. Remove dough from the processor and transfer to your clean surface (preferably a pastry board like this or this, but we can't all be so lucky, huh?)

6. Begin by mashing the dough up a bit. This is not only a therapeutic moment, but it actually helps the dough layers flatten (resulting in a flaky crust, mmm!)

7. Roll the dough with your hands until it forms a round mound. Using a large knife, cut the dough in half. Now you have two parts, one for the top crust and one for the bottom. Wrap each mound in plastic and place in the refrigerator for 1 hour. Note: If you only need one crust for your recipe, you can refrigerate the second mound of dough for up to 2 days. Or you can freeze it for up to a month.

8. Remove the dough from the refrigerator and let sit at room temperature for 5-10 minutes (this allows it to soften a bit.) Flour your rolling pin and pastry board or clean surface and begin rolling the dough out. You want to roll the dough out to a 12-inch circle, about 1/8-inch thick. If the dough is sticking a bit, just keep adding flour to the surface.

9. Carefully lift the rolled dough and place in a 9-inch pie pan. Using your fingers, gently press the dough into the pan. Trim the edges with kitchen shears. I like to use the excess dough to make designs on the crust with these cookie cutters. So festive.

10. Add pie filling.

11. Repeat step 9 with the second mound of dough. Leave a little extra dough around the edge of the top layer and press into the bottom layer around the edges. You can use your fingers or a fork. Make 4 2-inch cuts in the top layer of dough to allow steam to escape while the pie cooks.

Voila! Ready for baking!

I guarantee that you will be so pleased with the ease and TASTE of this dough that you will never go back to the store-bought stuff again! And your family will get a big kick out of your homemade handiwork (they don't have to know how easy and fun it is; that will just be our little secret!)

November 21, 2013

Because Honestly... THIS is New York in the Fall.

// My view from Belvedere Castle in Central Park. //

Central Park. In the Fall.
I don't mean to brag. I really don't. But I do mean to be shamelessly thankful. I AM SO THANKFUL TO BE LIVING IN NEW YORK CITY. I can't say it enough. I can't stop thinking it. Every single day I wake up, so thankful to be living in this vibrant, pulsing metropolis. Even when I see the rats saunter around the subway tracks. They saunter. Because they have no reason to scurry. They own those tracks. And even when my lightyears-old radiator decides to wake me up in the middle of the night, hissing like the soundtrack from a horror movie. And even when I go on auditions and, you know, get rejected (don't cry for me, Argentina.)  I am still happy to be here. So over the moon. And why shouldn't I be? This place is a dreamers city. Full of bright-eyed crazies and cold-blooded cynics alike. What an effervescent kind of mess.

Even those of you who don't care for NYC at all have to admit - the fall foliage in Central Park this year can't compete with even the most picturesque of New England's Berkshires. This autumn has been outrageously gorgeous, and having previously pounded a lot of New England pavement, I can speak from experience when I say that this autumn has been utterly mesmerizing. The papery leaves continue to fall like confetti, swirling around and having a parade in the sky before finally landing and collecting in a decorative array all over the great yard. The temperatures are continuing to drop, but I just had to share these beauties with you before the winter wonderland overtakes my Instagram.
// Classic panorama. Stevie is so good at taking these. See midtown in the distance? //
// We are children. The end. //
// The sun is SO bright. I'll take it. //


From Glory to Glory.
I just love autumn. So tell me. What has fall been like in your neck of the woods - Dreamy? Dull? Comment below!

November 19, 2013

Windy Weekend in Chicago

"Boys, Chicac-y is the biggest noise in Illinois.''
- Doris Day as Calamity in Calamity Jane
The Windy City.
What a town. You've got to cue this jam while you read, because, well, this has been my childhood impression of Chicago. Warren and Meredith are some of our best friends from Boston, and just two weekends ago they got hitched in the grand Chicago History Museum. Stevie and I both had the privilege of being a part of the ceremony, which means we got an up-close view of their loving "I-do's." Not only was witnessing their commitment to one another completely poignant and beautiful, we had the best time exploring (and munching) our way through this spectacular (and truly windy!) city. Cheers to our new favorite couple!

// Millennium Park //
// Cloud Gate at Millennium Park, AKA "the bean" //
Map.
Our friends spoiled us rotten and set us up to stay in one of the poshest areas of town. We lived it up in an Air B&B, just south of Lincoln Park and just around the corner from Michigan Avenue. Sooo legit. We jogged around the downtown fancy stores (I went into Topshop, first time ever!), ran along the water front, and through Lincoln Park. It was really windy (why was I surprised?) so the jogging/sightseeing combo was actually a really practical way to see a lot of sights and stay toasty while doing so. We did take a cab over to Millennium Park to see the Bean (aka the Cloud Gate), met our dear friends Andrew and Sarah for lunch and walked along the Chicago Waterfront as the wind whipped around our joyous selves. The fall foliage must have been at its peak for the weekend, because wow; the colors were fiercely outrageous.


// Yes, there were really horse-drawn carriages riding around this completely non-touristy area. Chicago is just that quaint. //
Mmm.
This weekend, we consumed a LOT of Chicago-style pizza. Which isn't really the healthiest option in the world, but in moderation, it's a real treat. If you are interested in tasting all the grandest pizzas in the world like me, then this is just another one to add to the ever-growing list of awesome pizza pies. It's the kind of deep dish that you eat three bites of and you're completely full. It's about 1.5 inches thick (yes, you read that right), richly packed with cheese, sausage and tomato goodness. And the crust! It's buttery and flaky and just wondrous. (Don't start thinking about the calories, I told myself. Hence, the mad amount of jogging.) We ate at Lou Malnati's more than once over the weekend, and I felt like I reached my life quota. Many thanks, Lou.

// Look at that waterfront path! Pretty priceless. //
// Lake Michigan. You can sigh. //
// Left: The Willis Tower, formerly known as the Sears, Right: The famed Drake Hotel //
// We played and ate all weekend. This was one grand affair. //


Moment.
Strolling along the waterfront of Lake Michigan, hand in hand with my babe, I had a (mini) revelation moment. I have LOVED living in New York for the past 3 months, but there has been a teensy, tiny part of me that has been really nostalgic for Boston in the fall. My time living in Cambridge for two years was tumultuous, terrific, terrifying, but most of all, so treasured. Those cozy winters of hibernating inside... mmm there's nothing like it. But still, I have been really missing the gorgeous foliage along the Charles River that I used to see everyday. However, spending the weekend in Chicago has made me appreciate the sweet memories of Cambridge. And now! Well, here I am, exploring vibrant cities and discovering places where new memories will be created. It's a pretty sweet time in life. And perhaps a bit windy, but nothing that won't blow over.

November 15, 2013

TASTE: Spicy Sausage Chili


Chili Time.
Oh, the weather is beyond cold these days. It got down to 28 degrees last night and the wind was howling. With all this icy weather, I admit that I just want to burrow into blankets and eat warm comfort food. Last week I shared my Turkey-Kale Chili recipe, but I also want to pass this delicious option along. It's spicier, a bit heartier and definitely man-approved. One of Stevie's co-workers came over for dinner at ate 5 bowls of this - I'm just saying! It's pretty tasty. This is a great recipe to whip together for all the upcoming family gatherings - it's always nice to have something warm on hand for entertaining.

Ingredients:
- 1 lb. lean ground beef
- 2-3 large spicy Italian sausage links, diced
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 green pepper, chopped
- 1.5 tbsp. cumin
-  A dash of red pepper seasoning
- 2 tsp. Italian Seasoning
- 2 tsp. salt
- 2 tsp. pepper
- 1 can tomato Paste
- 2 14.5-oz. cans diced tomatoes
- 1 can black beans
- 1 can kidney beans
- 1 bag frozen corn kernels (I used fire-roasted, available at Trader Joes)
- 2 cups chicken broth


Method:
1.
Head your stock pot over medium and coat the bottom with olive oil. Combine the ground beef, diced sausage, chopped onion, chopped green pepper and garlic in the pot. Cook it all together until the mean browns, about 7 minutes. Throw in the salt and pepper. It's flavor confetti.

2. Add the Italian seasoning, cumin & red pepper seasoning to the meat mixture. Make sure to mix it up well.

3. Add the tomato paste and diced tomatoes to the mixture. Stir well.

4. Add the chicken broth, kidney beans (drained), black beans (drained) and corn to the mixture. Stir well. Cover the mixture and lower the heat to medium-low. Cook for about 20-30 minutes.



Enjoy those autumn flavors! Happy Friday to you.

November 14, 2013

The Time We Got Stuck On The Roof.

Where There are Roofs.
In New York City, the apartments are OLD. So old. But one of the benefits to many of these pre-war buildings is the fact that they have roof decks. In about every movie EVER made about New York City, I feel like there is a scene where snazzy people are partying on a roof deck, clinking champagne flutes and wearing sparkles and looking pretty fabulous.

I'd like to say that we are those people. But we aren't.

Stevie discovered that our building actually has a roof deck. A sort of dilapidated one. It's not really set up for people to go out there. In fact, there are huge signs on the doors that say, "DO NOT OPEN - ALARM WILL SOUND", so I figure, we're not really supposed to go up there. I'm a rule follower. So end of story.

Obviously not the end of the story. Stevie determined that we can sneak up on top of the roof of our 6-story apartment complex. And according to his assessment, the view "is awesome!" I never asked him how he figured out that we could get around the alarm system (it's better to know less in these cases.) So against my better judgement, I followed him up 6 flights of stairs and opened the warning door; yet no alarm went off. Hmm. Okay. We were feeling pretty Jack Bauer-ish. Rogue. And sly.


We stepped out onto the windy deck. It was pretty awesome, I admit. We could see the tops of all the buildings on our block, we could look down on all the interesting apartments. We could see the edge of Central Park. We could see cats, flowers, patio furniture, tree tops, we could see everything! It was fun. And colorful. And kind of windy. So windy, in fact, that after about 5 minutes of snapping some pictures, I was ready to go back downstairs. And eat some soup and stuff.

We walked towards the door. Which was slammed shut.

So... AWESOME.

Like I said, the wind was not messing around, and it must have blown the door closed.

It was locked. Totally locked. We wrestled with the door. We threw our body weight against it. But nothing. It wouldn't budge.

"WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DOOOOOOOOO?!" I'm a bit of a wailer. It can't be helped in moments of panic.

Stevie, on the other hand, is cool, calm and collected. Almost always. It's annoying. BECAUSE WE ARE LOCKED OUT ON THE ROOF. It's time for panic.

 "Kris, it's okay. We could call the super," he said to me. Oh no. Not happening. That guy kind of hates us.

"The super hates us. Not an option."

He stared at the ground, lost in thought. "Okay... ok, I think I've got an idea." He hoisted open a side window leading into the stairwell, just around the corner of the extremely locked door. Propping one leg up and then the other, he slithered his wiry self into the slatted opening and disappeared.

I was alone. On the roof deck. All alone. The wind whipped around my head. I was swimming in the thought of having to sleep up there. And the fact that I never knew my husband was secretly in Cirque du Soleil.

When suddenly!

My man reappeared, through the previously locked door! Victory! VICTORY!!!! Instead of whining like a baby about how I am never breaking the rules with him again, I just hugged that man liked crazy and then leapt through that door before it shut on us again.

Moral of the story? Follow the rules. Even if the alarm doesn't go off. Because there won't always be a window of opportunity ready to bail your out of your law breaking!

Mmm so deep.

November 11, 2013

4/50 NYC Adventures: Highline Park

// Chelsea Grasslands //

Highline Park.
Now this is an ode to honest city majesty. A few years ago, a creepy old decrepit freight rail line was on the fast track to getting demolished (see what I did there? Oh train humor.) But a few righteous city folk got together and decided to donate the funds to recreate the railway into something beautiful. Thus, Highline Park was born. This is a park unlike any other; it is a wide green walkway raised above street level and spans about 14 streets running north to south along the Hudson River. With water views to the west and posh views of West Chelsea and the Meatpacking District to the east, The Highline is a refreshing tribute to modern city living.

Eats.
There is an area where the green path widens and there are local vendors selling all kinds of yummy, including the People's Pops (get the custard popsicle!), L'arte del Gelato (pistachio! PISTACHIO!) and I've also heard ridiculous raves about The Taco Truck. So your hunger really shouldn't be an issue on this grand stroll.

Shops.
There are actually some really awesome Highline-branded gear from gigantic designers who just happen to be local to the neighborhood, like this little gem from DVF and this classic crewneck from JCrew. It's also a convenient walk over from the last adventure we explored together, the Chelsea Market, so I always make sure to take make time for a quick stroll when I'm down there. This is the stuff that makes New York so much fun.

Arts.
The Highline is located in one of the most artistic areas of the city (a really strange thing to say, since the entire city is artistic), but West Chelsea is truly home to a great number of photographers, design, fine art and fashion studios. So it's no surprise that the Highline has its own amazing array of outdoor art from world-renowned artists.

// El Anatsui's Broken Bridge II / Pretty purpleness //
// Charles Hewitt's "Urban Rattle" //

Park in the Sky.
The last time I visited, I caught the park around sunset, and it was a magnificent time to photograph all the yellowing beauty. As Super-Nintendo-y-crazy as the idea of a "park in the sky" might be, the concept totally works. The Highline showcases such a savvy way to enjoy a bit of green space in this massive city.