exit, pursued by bear

sweet dreams.

I love little nightgowns/chemises -- soft, simple little things -- so easy to wear, but so pretty and sweet. Before our wedding, I bought about a half dozen. Nothing fancy or elaborate -- in fact, most of them came from Old Navy -- usually cotton, perhaps with some delicate trim.

Now this ... this is a bit more fancy:

{"Well-Tended Chemise" from Anthropologie: $58}

From the description:

"Under a gardener's watchful care, the pansies on the voile skirt of Lilka's chemise grow oversized and lush, then spill over onto the deep grey jersey bodice."

I mean, who wouldn't fall in love with 36" of cotton with adjustable straps after a description like that? Oh, but the colors are just so darling, I can barely stand it.

And while we're on the subject of bedtime/lounging attire, I'm rather partial to these pants as well:

{"Zigzag Heron Pants" from Anthropologie: $48}

I like the color. And the birds -- they rather look like peacocks.

And those are the only two things I'm even going to look at. Loungewear/sleepwear browsing at Anthropologie may turn out to be a bit of a slippery slope for me ;o)

soup's on.

This weekend I was at Trader Joe's and I almost picked up a bag of leeks, because they looked so gorgeous - lovely and green. I ended up not buying them, because I couldn't really think of anything off the top of my head that I wanted to make. But then this morning I got this e-mail from MyRecipes.com (part of their "Dinner Tonight" series) and I may just have to go back and grab those leeks ;o)

{"Potato, Corn, and Leek Chowder" via Dinner Tonight from Cooking Light}

I love anything with leeks in it, and corn chowder is one of my favorite ... chowders -- so I can't wait to try this recipe. Doesn't it look so yummy, warm and comforting? Perfect for when you're huddled on the couch with your husband and two furry friends ;o)

Potato, Corn, and Leek Chowder

Yield
6 servings (serving size: 1 1/3 cups)

Ingredients
2  tablespoons butter
1  tablespoon olive oil
1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped leek (about 1 large)
1/2  cup finely chopped celery
1/2  cup finely chopped red bell pepper
2  cups whole milk
3  tablespoons all-purpose flour
3  cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
2  cups fresh corn kernels (about 4 ears)
2  pounds cubed peeled Yukon gold or red potato
1  teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
3  tablespoons chopped fresh chives

Preparation
Heat butter and oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add leek, celery, and bell pepper; cook 4 minutes or until vegetables are tender, stirring frequently. Combine milk and flour in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk. Slowly add milk mixture to pan, stirring constantly. Stir in broth, corn, potato, salt, and freshly ground black pepper; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes or until potato is tender. Stir in parsley and chives.

The recipe recommends serving with hot sauce, which seems like an excellent suggestion. Any other soup suggestions for the cold weather?

chill chills.

The combination of plummeting temperatures, the sadly lacking insulation in our old house and my somewhat sadistic desire to keep the thermostat at about 63°, has let to some serious bundling up while at home. This usually results in me sitting on the couch wearing 18 layers, wrapped in a blanket and "fighting" with my husband over who gets to sit closest/huddle next to the body heat dispersion factory of one or both of our dogs. We always want the chunkier one: Norm has more mass to produce more heat. Poor Lou, he's like the little consolation prize.

Oh, and my husband has started to refuse to take off his coat once he enters the house, heh. We make a ridiculous looking pair.

Last weekend, we took advantage of some of the insane sales that you can find in stores now, and purchased this "Pom Pom" Throw, from Macy's:

{Martha Stewart Collection "Pom Pom" Throw, 70x50" - $80 $39.99}

I opted for the turquoise-y "stream" color. I know you're shocked. The other night, I realized that I was wearing turquoise fuzzy slipper socks, turquoise sweat pants, a teal fleece pullover -- wrapped in a turquoise blanket.

I've had my eye on this particular throw for some time, as I had an older throw in a similar color that I was looking to replace (it was getting very worn and shabby looking). The color looks good on our tan-ish sofa, and goes nicely with some of our other living room accessories. But, there was no way that I was going to pay $80 for this thing, something that will endure stains and spills and dog hair.

On Saturday, however -- I was pleased to see that it was on sale. AND of course there was an extra % off if you had a coupon or were paying with your Macy's card, so it ended up being quite the deal.

It's a nice weight -- and the size is perfect (70x50") -- good for sharing and snuggling. It's warm and retains heat nicely, but it's not a super heat trapper that you have to kick off, like fleece or down can be. I like this better for a throw, because I feel like it helps you regulate your own temperature better.

Plus, acrylic or cotton is nice for a more "all season" type throw -- I may be a curmudgeon about the heat, but I adore air conditioning in the summer. It's pretty much chilly in our house year 'round -- so I imagine this throw will work well in the hotter months, too -- when my feet get chilly from all those blasts of frigid air ;o)

Like I could resist those pom poms anyway!

an Italian flair.

My parents have had this cookbook, The Essential Italian Cookbook, for years. It is worn, stained and well-loved. I'm fairly certain that they have made most, if not all, "50 Classic Recipes," ("With Step-By-Step Photographs").

{via Amazon.com}

Several months ago, I asked to borrow it, as I wanted to make "Petti di Pollo Ripieni," or as it's helpfully subtitled: Stuffed chicken breasts. This recipe involves such delicious things as: chicken, Parma ham, Bel Paese cheese, asparagus. So very yummy. Instead of letting me borrow it, my parents generously gave me their copy, asking only that I would copy out some recipes for them whenever needed.

This seemed like an excellent deal. Yesterday, my father called in his favor, and asked me to send me the recipe for Tiramisu. Which he is apparently planning on making for Thanksgiving.

{tiramisu trifle via "notes from my food diary"}

I have vague memories of him making this for our lovely turkey holiday in year's past, so this probably is just merely a continuation of my family's long-standing, fervent, but rather quiet yearning "To Be Italian."

I suspect that this secret desire among my father and his family stems from growing up amongst innumerable Italian families, in and near an Italian neighborhood. However, my father would vehemently deny these urgings, if ever questioned about them.

Further complicating the matter is our last name, my maiden name, which everyone thinks is Italian, especially here in Saint Louis. People often even try to make it sound more Italian by adding an "o" to the end. Everyone's always very proud of themselves when they hear it for the first time, "Oh, Italian, right?" No. Not right.

Our name is, and always has been, Spanish. Spain, by way of Mexico. And it's not like we really try to deny that cultural aspect of our family. We don't, at all. We embrace it! We have enchiladas for Christmas and everything ;o)

So I guess, prodded into an Italian heritage largely due to neighborhoods and name confusion, my family decided to embrace it. And two of my uncles and I have brought great honor to our family by marrying into (legitimate) Italian families. The rest? Failures, especially my dad who had the audacity to marry an English woman. MAJOR fail ;o)

I kid, I kid ...

Since I had to copy out this recipe for my dad, I thought I'd share it here with you, in the spirit of misguided heritages and a desire to belong. Let me know what you think if you try it out:

Tiramisu

Mascarpone coffee dessert

Ingredients:

2 egg yolks

2 tablespoons granulated sugar

Few drops of vanilla extract

1 cup mascarpone cheese

¾ cup strong black coffee

2 tablespoons Marsala

1 tablespoon brandy

5 ounces lady fingers

1 tablespoon cocoa powder

2 tablespoons grated semisweet dark chocolate

 

1.       Mix the egg yolks and sugar together in a bowl, beating with a wooden spoon until they are creamy. Add the vanilla and fold in the mascarpone cheese. The mixture should be thick and cream.

 

2.       Make the strong black coffee in a jug or cafetière, then mix with the Marsala and brandy in a bowl. Quickly dip the ladyfingers in the coffee mixture. They should absorb just enough liquid to flavor them without getting soggy and falling apart.

 

3.       Arrange some of the soaked ladyfingers in the base of a large attractive glass serving bowl or 4 individual serving dishes. Cover with a layer of the mascarpone mixture.

 

4.       Continue layering alternate layers of ladyfingers and mascarpone, finishing with a top layer of mascarpone. Sift the coca over the top and sprinkle with grated chocolate. Chill in the refrigerator for 3-4 hours or until set. The flavor improves if the tiramisu is left overnight.

I'm not a huge fan of tiramisu myself (gasp!) -- a belief which will probably cause me to get my familial Italian green card revoked. And as this recipe seems more trifle-like, be forewarned if you have very specific ideas of how tiramisu should or should not be prepared.

Oh, and I highly recommend this cookbook, especially the aforementioned Petti di Pollo Ripieni recipe. Delicious, very impressive to your dinner party guests and quite easy to make! Check it out if you're in the market for a new cookbook -- the photographs are particularly helpful.

Anyway! Aren't families great? Seriously, love 'em.

Mark Bittman makes me feel bad.

Nothing like the Dining & Wine section of The New York Times to make you feel guilty about what you're eating, drinking or cooking: "Skip the Marshmallows and Give Heartfelt Thanks" by Mark Bittman

{"Sweet Potato Gratin With Ginger and Orange Zest"}

From the article:

WE’VE all been to Thanksgiving dinners where the cook or a guest reveals, with absolute and utter pride, his or her special version of sweet potatoes with marshmallows on top. We’ve all ooh-ed and aah-ed, because, indeed, it’s a lovely dish. And I suspect most of us have dug in eagerly, but then never taken more than a bite or two. I cannot think of a greater injustice done to a fine ingredient than to permanently associate it with that recipe.

You can't think of a greater injustice? Gee, thanks Mark. I'm going to take my marshmallows and go home ... and stick them on top of some sweet potatoes. So there! Pbbbth!

But for those of you who are looking to quash the dreams of those around you who are clinging to the past, here is the recipe for "Sweet Potato Gratin With Ginger and Orange Zest." I'm sure it's delicious.

Actually, knowing me -- next year I'll be on some big fancy-schmancy kick. The Times has a yummy list of recipes and some great resources and articles as part of their "Featured Topic: Thanksgiving." What would we do without their liberal sensibilities, I ask you?

Definitely check out "Now, the Side Dishes: Quick and Simple or a Bit More Complex" -- it has six great recipes of side dishes for a menu that satisfies two different impulses: "[s]ome cooks want a simpler game plan, while others are looking to trick out the meal with a few challenges and a little luxury." So, there are two versions each of stuffing, potatoes and a vegetable side dish: "[o]ne version is ingredient driven and straightforward. The other is more complex, in both technique and ingredients."

{Illustration by Teresa Fasolino for The New York Times}

Their offerings?

• Brussels Sprouts With Mustard, Apples and Caraway
• Savoy Cabbage Slaw With Applesauce Vinaigrette and Mustard Seeds 
• Potato Mousseline
• Roasted Fingerling Potatoes With Dried Figs and Thyme
• Bread Stuffing With Black Pepper and Vinegar 
• Sourdough Dressing With Truffle Butter and Candied Chestnuts

And not a marshmallow in sight!

holiday feasting.

Next week marks the first time in several years that my parents have hosted Thanksgiving for our family. I cannot tell you how excited this makes me -- my mother is a phenomenal cook. This year, I've been asked to bring an appetizer and make some sort of sweet potato dish. I feel like sweet potatoes and/or yams haven't traditionally been a part of our standard, traditional Thanksgiving repertoire, but who am I to complain?

{A sweet potato, via Wikipedia}

I don't really know much about sweet potatoes, other than that they're not yams, and don't really have that much experience either eating (other than sweet potato fries + chips) or cooking them ... so this will be a bit of a learning experience for me.

For whatever reason, I've decided to take an "old-fashioned" approach and look for some of the more retro/traditional/home style American recipes for my contributions. Now, as you might remember -- my mother isn't American, she's English, so Thanksgiving is a bit of a learned behavior for her. So she generally shuns things like green bean casserole and candied yams, because they are largely unknown to her, she didn't grow up with them -- these types of dishes were typically provided/brought by other members of my family.

{file under: "things not typically produced in my mother's kitchen}

Since I believe I'm the only one who has been tasked with a side dish, I have decided to shoulder this responsibility, as I know my mother, if left to her own devices, will produce something delicious, but probably not from a recipe found on the back of a bag of marshmallows or can of french fried onions.

So, in addition with my responsibilities of sweet potatoes and appetizers (oh! and cranberry sauce, which I volunteered for since it's so. flippin'. easy.) -- I have decided, unbeknownst to my mother, to make a green bean casserole. And, to continue my theme of throwback style Thanksgiving, I'm going to try this recipe for "Old-Fashioned Candied Sweet Potatoes" (how terrible can it be, it's been blessed by Whole Foods!). With marshmallows, of course.

{"Candied sweet potatoes" from flickr user fuzuoko}

Although, if I were to continue down this path and honor the true retro stylin' intentions ... my cranberry sauce should probably arrive at the table looking like this:

{"Cranberry In A Can" from flickr user LarimdaME}

Respect the can. Cranberry sauce has appeared for years on our table in this exact form. I'm curious about these all important questions ... horizontal or vertical? Upright or on its side? Intact or neatly, uniformly sliced? Retaining can shape or hastily chopped up to resemble homemade?

However, I LOVE cranberry sauce ... so I will dutifully make it from scratch, which is seriously the easiest thing ever: Homemade Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce. So yummy. Nom, nom, nom.

Are you a lover of all things turkey day related? What are your favorite dishes?

perfect pumpkin(s).

Just because it's November, doesn't mean I have to give up my passion for pumpkins ... right? This white-on-white centerpiece might just be my favorite (I LOVE dahlias, too):

{Pumpkin Vase with Flowers from Martha Stewart}

Step-by-step instructions here. And here's another idea for a pumpkin-related, Thanksgiving centerpiece:

{Mini Pumpkin Centerpiece from Martha Stewart}

Instructions from MSL:

Anchor tapers inside mini pumpkins to make centerpieces. Cut a hole inside each pumpkin with a utility knife, and then carve out space for candles with a melon baller. If desired, stack 2 and secure from inside hole with straight pins. With adhesive putty, affix tapers inside gourds and pumpkins to leaves that cover overturned pie plates.

Good thing I bought all those pumpkins ...

a few pieces that caught my eye ...

Clothing-wise, there hasn't been much this season that has captured my attention in the stores -- but today, while perusing the intertubes, I did find a few items that I wouldn't mind wearing in the very near future, from Ann Taylor Loft.

I usually like to have one or two "fancy" outfits to wear for the [very few] holiday events we attend annually. Sometimes this is a new dress, usually it's just a "nicer" cardigan, or some red shoes from Target ;o)

But! You don't care about some lousy old sweater or some $10 shoes! No! You want pictures of pretty things. And that, that I can deliver. Let's get that "fancy" thing out of the way, shall we? Ooh! A dress!

{V-Neck Dress with Rosettes: $99}

V-Neck! Red! Festive! Rosettes! Doesn't v-neck look weird when you type it out. V-neck. Is that even right? Eh. Look, rosettes! Aren't you excited? I screen-grabbed and everything, just for you:

Moving on, in case red isn't your thing ... how about this snazzy little number?

{Scoopneck Dress with Empire Waist: $79}

Look, it's all fun and lace-y with bell cuff sleeves! How can you go wrong with that?

Here's another fun dress, which is apparently purple, despite evidence to the contrary:

{Lantern Sleeve Dress: $79}

That description really gets right down to it, doesn't it? I think the purple color might be along the hem?

Sick of dresses? All right, moving onto this lovely outfit, complete with sensible black dress pants, fancy sequined top and snazzy bolero jacket. Nothing says "party" like a snazzy bolero jacket:

{This outfit has no name, as it is comprised of many pieces that you can look at and price at your leisure: jacket, tee, jeans (what? those are jeans? I may have lost all respect for this outfit ... boo. Oh well, I guess I could provide my own sensible dress pants), d'orsay shoes}

And here are a few cardigans thrown in for good measure, because you know I can't resist (or maybe you didn't, but now you do):

{Crewneck Paisley Print Cardigan: $59}

Love a good paisley, and no, I don't know why she buttoned it all the way up to her neck either.

{Below Elbow Sleeve Dress Front Cardigan: $59}

I'm sorry, is there a wayward Ann Taylor Loft marketer out there, somewhere, lost and  looking for products to name? "Below Elbow Sleeve Dress Front Cardigan?" That's ... that's the best you can come up with? Marketer, come home! Your clothes need you! They're having an identity crisis without you. Or rather, they have too much identity and need some suggestions for an alternative lifestyle/personality.

OK! That's my fun with fashion Friday! Hope everyone has a fab, fall weekend!

gobble, gobble.

Everyone needs their own ceramic turkey to keep 'round the house (only $138 $99.99!)

{Ceramic Turkey from Williams-Sonoma Home}

need a good read?

I came prepared, once again, for day two of my jury duty. I didn't get much time to read, as my number was called fairly early this morning and I spent the majority of the day in a courtroom for the actual jury selection process (not chosen, boo!).

But here are the books that I brought along with me (I finished The Witches of Eastwick on Monday night. Eh.). I say "books" plural, as I'm a bit of a fast reader and I also wasn't sure what kind of mood I'd be in or what would hold my attention:

1. A Foreign Affair by Caro Peacock
   
   

   

2. All The King's Men by Robert Penn Warren
   
   

   

3. A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again by David Foster Wallace
   
   

   

4. I Was Told There'd Be Cake by Sloane Crosley
   
   

   

This is often my approach to packing mutliple books: a book or two of short stories/essays (DFW and Crosley), a "classic" (Warren), and something more accessible/lighter (Peacock).

When I did have a chance to read today, I picked up A Foreign Affair. I started reading it a few weeks ago and I've really been enjoying it so far -- here's the description from Goodreads:

A remarkable debut novel rich in atmosphere, color, and suspense, Caro Peacock's A Foreign Affair is an irresistible blend of history, adventure, and ingenious invention that brings an extraordinary new writer—and a truly endearing and unforgettable heroine—to the literary stage.

The year is 1837. Queen Victoria, barely eighteen, has just ascended to the throne of England, and a young woman named Liberty Lane has just had her first taste of true sorrow. Refusing to accept that her gentle, peace-loving father has been killed fighting a duel, she vows to see justice done. . . .

The trail she follows is a twisting and dangerous one, leading the spirited young Englishwoman into an intricate weave of conspiracy. Contacted by secret agents, she is asked to pose as a governess in order to infiltrate cold, rambling Mandeville Hall and spy on its master, Sir Herbert Mandeville, who is at the center of a treasonous plan.

Nothing at the hall is what it seems, and every turn reveals another deceit, another surprise, another peril, leaving Libby to wonder who to trust and embroiling her in a deadly affair that could destroy the young queen and place Libby herself in mortal peril. . . .

And speaking of Goodreads ... in case you haven't noticed, I reorganized my right side bar a few weeks ago -- I wanted to incorporate my "shelves" on Goodreads, instead of just having a static list of books and reviews. Right now it's showing my current and recent reads. My "to read" shelf is rather lengthy ... and probably boring to most everyone.

So if you're on Goodreads too, let me know if we need to be friends -- leave a comment or send me an e-mail ;o)