place + taste

MOB.

2012-02-08T06:00:00.000-08:00

During my search for a dress, I stopped by a store in my neighborhood that only sells off the rack samples. Although most of the dresses weren't my style, they did have a gorgeous Oscar de la Renta short dress with sleeves (one of my requirements). I hemmed and hawed for a while. It was incredible - and a steal compared to the original price - but I wasn't convinced it felt like a wedding dress. The one thing I was convinced of is that every girl needs an Oscar in her closet.

Given that, behold this:

(via NET-A-PORTER)

Did I find my mom's dress, OR DID I FIND HER DRESS?

The weekend in review.

2012-02-06T21:06:00.000-08:00

This weekend was incredible. The best weather in recent memory. I drove south to meet a friend halfway between LA and San Diego for brunch (read: bloody marys), lots of chatting, and wandering around a marina. A daycation, as she put it.

On the way home, I drove north along the PCH to stay close to the water as long as possible. This place is overwhelmingly beautiful. There's nothing quite like it.

Kale addict.

2012-02-02T20:44:00.000-08:00

I'm addicted to dinosaur kale. I've had three full bunches in the last four days and am now unclear on how it's possible to divide a bunch of kale between more than one person. When I'm cooking for more than one (which, let's be honest, isn't going to happen because Elliott's going to cook for me), I'm going to have to purchase something like ten bunches a week.

I suppose there are far worse things to be addicted to. But there are downsides to it: you lose all ability to think of recipes that don't involve kale, because it's just so easy. My favorites include kale chips (obvs), M Cafe de Chaya-inspired spicy peanut kale, toasted kale and coconut salad, and a simple saute with olive oil, garlic, red pepper flakes and salt.

Any others I should know about? May as well just feed the beast.

Spicy Peanut Kale
Adapted from Diana, who was inspired by M Cafe de Chaya

I don't use measuring spoons when making this recipe, just a regular kitchen spoon. All measurements below are based on that.

One bunch of dinosaur kale, stems removed and chopped into strips

2 spoonfuls of peanut butter
3 spoonfuls of rice vinegar
1 spoonful of toasted sesame oil
1 spoonful of soy sauce
1 spoonful of agave or maple syrup
1 good dose of cayenne pepper (probably the equivalent of a heaping 1/8 teaspoon)

1/4 small red onion, cut thinly into crescents
1 small handful of chopped peanuts

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Remove water from heat and add the chopped kale. Stir for about 20 seconds, and the drain. Mix the peanut butter, rice vinegar, sesame oil, soy sauce, agave, and cayenne pepper until combined. Douse the kale with this sauce and stir so that it's evenly coated. Add the sliced onion and chopped peanuts. Serve cold or hot. Makes one very large serving or two sides.

Myrtle.

2012-01-31T19:33:00.000-08:00

I happened upon Myrtle while walking with my mom to a dinner reservation several weeks ago. Luckily, we were early and had time to peruse the shop - which is chock full of amazing clothing, jewelry, bags, etc. all made by independent, female designers.

I stopped in for the second time tonight and left with this incredibly flattering Gretchen Jones skirt.

(photo: Kate Miss, styling: Whitney Bickers, model: Taylor Curtin)

If you live in LA, head over now because everything in the store is an additional 20% off to celebrate two months of being open. If you don't live in LA, start crossing your fingers that an online shop will be in the works in the future.

Hair growth impatience.

2012-01-29T22:09:00.000-08:00

I've had short hair for the better part of the last five years. But I've been attempting to grow it out to have the option of doing something with it for the wedding. Not anything elaborate, just something off my neck. The problem with growing out your hair is that it feels like you stay in that awkward just-hitting-the-shoulder phase FOREVER. And this awkward phase makes giving up and chopping it all off very tempting. Seeing Ashlee Simpson's SAG hair tonight didn't help either. If I knew it could look exactly like that, I'd abandon long hair ambitions immediately.

To stay the course or succumb to shortness?

It's all happening.

2012-01-24T20:15:00.000-08:00

Boy, is it.

This place has been dormant since Thanksgiving. Sometimes I wonder how I used to manage to post every weekday. But I've been feeling a dearth of creativity in my life lately, so I'm resolving to bring this thing back to life. After all, dedicating all of one's non-working, non-sleeping hours to wedding planning isn't exactly healthy.

Unfortunately, that's all I've got right now while I try to ramp back up. The save the dates went out this weekend. And you know what that means, right? The list (ohhhhh, the list) is tentatively, almost, maybe final. If I could create myself a custom, wedding-themed dart board - or punching bag, for that matter - it would simply say, "THE LIST." But now that that's over, it's all smooth sailing from here on out, right?

But yes, the save the dates. They were designed by my good friend, Michelle, and I love how they turned out. She was able to take the vision of the Columbia Gorge (where we'll be married) straight out of my head and put it on paper. Can't wait to work with her on our invitations, too.

Navigating interfaith ceremony prep.

2011-11-29T20:32:00.000-08:00

Elliott and I have been engaged for about three months now. Until recently, I've been feeling like a wedding planning rock star. Checking things off the list at breakneck speed. We've got the location, the vendors, the list. All of that was pretty straightforward.

Navigating interfaith ceremony preparation will be less so. Elliott is Jewish, I'm Methodist, and we want to honor both traditions in our ceremony.

Decision 1: Officiant. There are a lot of different options for this one. Pastor only, rabbi only, pastor and rabbi together, justice of the peace, family member, friend, etc. We combed through these options pretty quickly and settled on asking someone we know to officiate. The 'qualifications' (that sounds weird in this context) we thought through were: someone we're equally close to, someone who's married, and someone who'd feel comfortable in this role. Thankfully, we had someone who fit the bill and more. Karen and I started sharing an office in DC the week that Elliott and I went on our first date. And to top it off, she informed me that she had known him since childhood before I left for the date.

Decision 2: Legalities. You've got two options when you decide to have someone other than a religious leader or JotP marry you. Have a courthouse ceremony before or after your main event or have your officiant get ordained through the Church of Spiritual Humanism or the Universal Life Church. Karen was a good sport and said she was on board for whatever we decided. I worried for a while about whether a courthouse ceremony would be a let down. Would the main event be anti-climactic if we were already technically married? Would the main event feel fake if we weren't already technically married? In the end, we decided to just get over those concerns because the two online options were even further outside our comfort zone and not consistent with our beliefs/values.

Decision 3: Details. This is the part we've yet to really delve into and the part that I was originally worried about. There's a lot to consider before deciding on all of the details of an interfaith service. We both want our traditions to shine through but also want people who are unfamiliar with one or the other to understand what's going on. But before even getting that far, I knew that I wanted to understand the traditions that Elliott might suggest. Karen recommended reading The New Jewish Wedding by Anita Diamant. If you're planning a wedding that includes Jewish traditions, I can't recommend it highly enough. It was a fascinating read about the history and evolution of the various components of Jewish weddings. Most importantly, it has me excited about the process and to see how everything turns out.

Recently (and I use that term loosely).

2011-11-09T22:51:00.000-08:00

I don't know what it is. This new schedule of mine has completely thrown me off. I forget to take my camera anywhere, and my motivation to keep this up has been waning. I've thrown all of my previous blogging energy into planning a wedding. But I'm going to try to get it back in an effort to keep myself sane. Let yourself wander around the wedding blogosphere too long, and you'll find yourself in need of a therapist. Like woah.

So here's the extent of my photos from the last two months. It's a start.

Info all on Flickr this time.

The 3rd Street Donut Crawl.

2011-11-02T08:10:00.000-07:00

On a fateful day in early September, and ill-conceived plan was hatched. This was Diana's idea, but she can't take all the blame because I was a willing co-conspirator - cheering her on as we nailed down the details.

The plan was to spend a Saturday eating donuts at every shop that exists on a one(ish) mile stretch of 3rd Street. Just over a week ago, the plan came to fruition.

Originally, we had thought it would be possible to stop not just at donut shops, but also at any place that might sell something donut-like. As you can probably imagine, that didn't pan out. A stomach can only handle so many donuts in one day.

We settled on SK's Donuts, Bob's Donuts, and the new Fonuts. In all, we tasted six donuts (I know, gross). The winner, SK's, easily stood out from the crowd. And coming in at a whopping $1.60 for two donuts didn't hurt either. The donuts - raised glazed and glazed blueberry cake - were so light it's hard to call them junk food.

Bob's is still a favorite in my heart, and I've mentioned it enough that it doesn't need much more explaining. But Fonuts is another story. This place has gotten so much hype, and after visiting, I'm not sure why. My fonut disappointment was the glazed ($3.25). Everything about it tasted fake and elastic-y. Diana opted for two cake-like donuts that were better. But the problem was that they were essentially specialty bread in the shape of a donut.

I take this as proof that when it comes to donuts, the cheaper the better.

The proposal.

2011-10-05T22:22:00.000-07:00

I tend to have a false sense of confidence when it comes to outdoor adventures I've never tried. (Which is pretty hilarious b/c I become the most cautious person you know once I realize I have no business doing said outdoor adventure.) Case in point: when I went skiing for the first time as a senior in college in Steamboat, I recall asking a friend, "How hard can it be? You just point your skis down the mountain and go." She laughed, as you probably are now if you realize how foolish this is, and wished me good luck. My first attempt didn't go so well and ended with me throwing my body backwards in an effort to stop myself on the first run I tried.

Mt. Adams

Lupines

And so it was with my first attempt at mountaineering. I had been begging Elliott to take me up a mountain for two years. After seeing how I reacted to Half Dome (and the bears!), naturally, he was hesitant. One thing I've learned, though, is that if I beg long enough, even Elliott develops a false sense of confidence in my skills.

Vertical WALL

We decided that Mt. Adams would be the first attempt and set out on Labor Day weekend. The easy trek up to the glacier just fed my false confidence. But that was quickly dashed when we hit the first part of snow and had to go up a vertical wall. Ok, it probably wasn't vertical, and the photo doesn't come close to doing it justice, but it felt vertical!

To the top

Dinner

Now fast forward a little, because I honestly thought the going up part was pretty simple and straightforward (aside from the vertical wall). When we got about 3/4 of the way up, we set up camp at Lunch Counter, relaxed, and Elliott made me some delicious couscous.

Mt. Hood view from lunch counter

At this point I'm pretty convinced a proposal isn't in the cards because Elliott has sent me digging through his pack for things we needed (ring clearly not hidden in the pack), and he doesn't seem nervous at all. Turns out, he's pretty good at both hiding rings and nerves. Because just as the sun went down into the smoke of the Mt. Hood fire, he popped the question and whipped out a ring and a bottle of champagne.

Hard to take a photo of your hand when you're shaking in the cold

So there it is. The part about me coming close to vomiting when I eventually had to go down the mountain is less important than the we're engaged (!) part.

It's on.

Hello, internet.

2011-09-26T18:52:00.000-07:00

Remember me? I'm back and coming at you from a new neighborhood, in a new apartment, and with a ring on my finger. Yep, that finger. (And one on another finger, too. But that's a different story.)

The summer got away from me. But lets not bother with those details.

Elliott convinced me to climb a mountain with him. Since I complied, he proposed on the mountain. (Mt. Adams, if you're interested. And not at the top.) Four years, and all I had to do was climb a mountain? I would have done it much earlier had I known.

The ring is a family stone in Bario-Neal's Yucca Prong setting. I knew I wanted something traditional and modern at the same time, and he hit the nail on the head. Per usual.

I'll post more about all of this soon. Baby steps while I regain the swing of blogging.

Recipes from around the blogosphere.

2011-08-07T21:16:00.000-07:00

When it comes to cooking and baking, I waiver between sticking strictly to recipe classics or to new things I've found around the web. Lately, I've been trying all sorts of new things, and the results have been delicious. Here are a few of the favorites and my adjustments:

Smitten Kitchen: Blueberry multigrain pancakes - Elliott is a pro pancake flipper, so we made these when he was last in town. They certainly did not disappoint. Our adjustments: we used reduced fat yogurt (purely for personal preference) and upped the whole wheat flour instead of adding barley flour (didn't have it).
Summer Harms: Homemade granola bars (also via Heart of Light) - These are the BOMB. Plz make them asap and just try to control yourself. My plan was to make a batch once a month so I always have one as a snack each day at work. Yeahhh, not sure that one's going to work because the other day, I think I consumed four of them. My adjustments: I used ground flax seed instead of milled, cut out the salt (my sunflower seeds were salted), used almonds and cranberries (any nut or dried fruit would work), and cut out the molasses.
bigBANG studio: Blueberry cornmeal muffins - I knew when I saw these puppies that they had to be mine. I took the first batch with me as a movie snack during Crazy, Stupid, Love and was told by a friend that they were some bitchin' muffins. So it's not just me. I froze the second batch (it made 24 muffins for me b/c my muffin tin was small) and have taken to defrosting them while the oven is heating to 350 degrees. This gives them a crunchy outer layer that I really like. Only adjustment was not using that extra two tablespoons of butter, but that's only b/c I forgot. They worked fine for me without it.

All About the Bread.

2011-08-03T19:35:00.000-07:00

Jamie kindly offered to pick up sandwiches from All About the Bread for us to have on our hike. Even though I've been to the M Cafe on Melrose a handful of times, I had never noticed this sub shop next door. We split the full size burrata, and I found myself wishing I had the whole thing to myself.

So much so that I drove out of my way coming home from work last night to pick up another. This place lives up to its name. The bread is incredible. Crunchy on the outside but soft on the inside. It's going to be dangerous living so close after the move.

More changes.

2011-08-01T21:25:00.000-07:00

After a long slog through apartment searches, I finally have a new home! I've lived in plenty of apartments, and normally I find this search process pretty straightforward. I know what I like and think (thought?) I'm really decisive. Eeesh - not so this time around. I hemmed and hawed like it was my job.

One part of me was saying: you're settled in, your rent is fair, new appliances, neighbors you know and like. But the other part was feeling like I should go explore a new part of LA and find a neighborhood that allows me to walk and bike more than I can now. I guess it just took finding the right place to make it happen.

Although the idea of moving gives me a mild headache, I'm so excited to explore a new area. And the cool architectural details (high ceilings, built in bookshelves, arched doorways - eee!) I'm gaining will make the headache well worth it.

The weekend in review.

2011-07-31T22:20:00.000-07:00

In search of a hike, I headed up to Franklin Canyon on Saturday with Jamie. It was my first time in this area, and the drive alone could make it worth your while. The trails are pretty minimal, but I would come back in a heartbeat for a picnic. The highlight of the trip was our first in-person coyote sighting. Thankfully, little Romeo made it through unscathed!

Most of the rest of my weekend was spent running errands or doing things that I didn't snap any shots of. I did manage to catch Crazy, Stupid, Love, though, and particularly enjoyed it.

Here and there.

2011-07-25T22:40:00.000-07:00

I have been all over the place lately. Here and there and Baltimore. I'm still getting used to this new schedule, being in the car more than usual, and searching high and low for a new apartment. At some point during all this extra car time, I heard this song. Thank you, Anne Litt.

I had this idea.

2011-07-12T21:41:00.000-07:00

When I was walking through the Huntington Gardens several weeks ago. The idea was this: Wouldn't it be so lovely to get married here? I mean, look at the place. Who wouldn't want to get married there? So I shared the idea with my mom and Elliott. They agreed it would be bomb.

Well apparently Huntington Gardens thinks it would be bomb too. $100,000 bomb. What kills me even more than the idea of spending $100,000 on one line item of a wedding budget is that there is clearly enough demand out there for them to ACTUALLY charge that.

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes.

2011-07-10T22:03:00.001-07:00

It's been quiet around here because a lot has been going on in a very short amount of time. Applying to jobs after grad school was a whirlwind experience. But I feel so so fortunate that I landed a job with an organization that I truly believe in.

I accepted and started a whopping four days later. One week under my belt, and I'm still satisfied with the decision. Good start, right?

Elliott arrived in LA 12 hours after I said yes, so I didn't have to drink the bubbly alone.

A recipe for your weekend: Moroccan couscous

2011-06-30T16:04:00.000-07:00

Kings Highway at the Ace has some killer Moroccan couscous. I had it on both of my visits and decided last weekend I needed to try to recreate it at home. My rendition comes pretty close to the original if my memory serves me right. This one pot meal is going to be come a staple around here for me.

Moroccan couscous
1/4 t cumin
1/2 t ground ginger

1/8 - 1/4 t cayenne pepper (I like spice in just about everything I eat. If you're not a fan, cut back on your cayenne.)

1/2 t cardamom
1/4 t all spice
1/4 t cinnamon
1 T olive oil
3-4 carrots, cut into fourths length-wise then into 1/2" pieces
1 red bell pepper chopped
1/2 cup raisins
1 t salt
2 cups water or low sodium vegetable broth
1 1/2 cups whole wheat couscous
4 green onions chopped, green and white parts
Several handfuls of toasted pistachios
Several handfuls of arugula

In a large pot over medium heat, combine cumin, ginger, cayenne, cardamom, all spice, and cinnamon. Heat for several minutes, until fragrant. Add oil, carrots, and red pepper. Stir to coat the vegetables with the spices. Cook for about five minutes. Stir in raisins, salt, and water (or vegetable broth). Turn heat to high, and bring to a boil.

Once the mixture is boiling, add couscous and remove from heat. Cover and let sit for 5-8 minutes. Remove lid and fluff couscous. Let cool before adding the green onions. To avoid sogginess, add pistachios and arugula just before serving.

Ace redux.

2011-06-29T20:29:00.000-07:00

Sometimes a girl just needs an impromptu trip to the desert with her mom. The Ace was the perfect escape. We spent a lot of time floating and/or treading water (leisure workout) in the pool, eating King's Highway food, tooling around on the free bikes, scoping mid-century awesomeness, and sipping cocktails. That's what I call a good weekend.

Getaway!

2011-06-24T09:00:00.000-07:00

I'm headed out on an impromptu getaway with my mom to Palm Springs for the weekend. I can't wait to soak up the desert heat for a few days and lay by the pool at the Ace again. Have a great weekend!

A recipe for your weekend: Caroline's key lime pie.

2011-06-23T16:59:00.000-07:00

I'm not a pudding person. It's the texture and creaminess that's just too much. So for a while, I just assumed I wouldn't like key lime pie. I would order things inspired by the classic dessert but never the original. Thank goodness I eventually gave it a go, because it was love at first bite.

When I was in DC visiting Elliott last month, my friend Caroline drove down from B'more for a Memorial Day bbq with us. She came with key lime pie in tow, and it blew us all away. I found an excuse to recreate it almost immediately after landing back in LA.

This recipe is a scaled down version of Caroline's that leans on Gourmet for the crust and filling and Paula Deen for the meringue.

Key Lime Pie with Meringue

Crust
1 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
2 T sugar
5 T melted, unsalted butter

Filling
1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
4 large egg yolks
1/2 cup + 2 T lime juice (personally, I don't think it's necessary to use key limes)

Meringue
4 egg whites
6 T sugar
1/2 t tapioca starch (Paula Deen uses corn starch)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Stir together graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter in a mixing bowl. Then press into bottom and sides of 10" pie plate. Bake crust 10 minutes, then allow to cool before filling.

In the mean time, whisk together the condensed milk and egg yolks until combined. Then whisk in lime juice. Add mixture to cooled graham cracker crust. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Then place on a cooling rack.

While pie is cooling, begin beating the egg whites for the meringue until soft peaks form. Then mix the tapioca starch and sugar until combined. Begin adding this mixture while continuing to beat the egg whites until sugar dissolves. Spoon this mixture over the pie, then return to the oven for 10-12 minutes, or until meringue begins to brown.

Allow plenty of time to cool before serving.

Churros Calientes.

2011-06-22T21:20:00.000-07:00

I walk past this store front all the time. It's right around the corner from my apartment. But I had never stopped in to Churros Calientes (warning: there is sound when you click this link) until Rachel mentioned going there a couple months ago.

Now it's an almost weekly trip on my way home from work. The churros are perfectly crisp, and I'm not embarrassed to say that I can take down six of them in under 20 minutes. They're that good. Here's the sad part. Every time I go in, I'm the only person there. This space has changed owners a couple times since I moved here, but I really want Churros Calientes to stick around. So if you're in LA, go there! I can't be deprived of my weekly churros fix. And you shouldn't be deprived of the opportunity for a future fix. Trust.

The weekend in review.

2011-06-19T21:55:00.000-07:00

Weekends post-grad school are decidedly better than those during grad school. Going away party in Culver City, breakfast at The Trails (I could order the whole menu) and a walk in Griffith Park with friends, bdays in Venice, a hike in Topanga, and Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work (loved) to accompany me during some eBay selling. I like this new life.

Guhhh.

2011-06-17T08:11:00.000-07:00

Rachel Comey, you kill me.

Rachel Comey Quill Shoe from Beklina

Seaview.

2011-06-16T14:35:00.000-07:00

I discovered the Seaview on one of my long runs down by the beach. I guess I noticed it a while ago, but it was their "$88/night at the beach" sign that caught my attention. My parents were looking for somewhere to stay on their trip out to LA for my graduation, and you really can't beat $88 by the beach.

I warned them that it would likely be retro-California-rustic, but they're not fussy. Being an airline employee rids you of any fussy tendencies very early on. But guys, when they checked in, I was smitten. The rooms have been recently updated, and while the place is still rough around some of the edges, it's just so.... idyllic. If I didn't already live here, it's a place I'd like to come and stay for a few months. What with it's overgrown courtyard and balcony adorned with pastel adirondack chairs and terrace that leads you straight to the beach. The place looks like it's been frozen in time.

If you are visiting LA or have friends who are (that aren't the fussy Ritz variety), I highly recommend it.

It's time to live it up, oh!

2011-06-10T06:00:00.000-07:00

Today. I graduate from grad school. Eff yeah! It's time to live it up, indeed.

Food.

2011-06-07T10:31:00.000-07:00

I was really healthy this weekend.

I ate:

A Huckleberry donut (my favorite traditional donut in LA*) to celebrate National Donut Day.

Ricky's Fish Tacos (finally) to celebrate a successful shoe shopping excursion with Diana. (Note: these blow Malibu Seafood's fish tacos out of the water.)

A key lime pie (recipe to follow) to celebrate a friend's future adventure in Haiti.

*Nothing will ever top Bob's apple fritter.

Be mine.

2011-06-03T06:00:00.000-07:00

YES. This red dress will be mine.

I'm not posting the link because my mom reads this and will follow it and subsequently believe that she has raised a completely financially irresponsible daughter.

But for those who care, it's from Steven Alan.

Memorial Day in DC.

2011-06-02T10:52:00.000-07:00

I was in DC for Memorial Day - the first time I've been back since moving two years ago. Lot to say about that, but just pictures for now.

LA Food Swap.

2011-05-23T22:12:00.000-07:00

If I haven't mentioned this before, I'll just throw it out there: I can be an intensely competitive person. There are times when this quality comes in handy, and there are times when it rears its ugly head in a major way. When I arrived at my first LA Food Swap on this past Sunday morning, I thought the latter might happen.

The LA Food Swap - which my friend Susan introduced me to - is a community event where people exchange homemade or foraged goods for those made or foraged by others. No money is ever exchanged. Seems easy enough, right? I thought I'd go with the crowd pleasing ginger scones from Molly Wizenberg's A Homemade Life - my all-time favorites.

These simple scones are indeed delicious, but what I didn't know was that they might not live up to swapping expectations. Seeing the crazy jam combos that people came up with and the elaborate packaging for all of their products made me feel more inferior than my undergrad organic chemistry class. So you know my mind immediately went to the possibility of me wanting everyone else's goods and no one wanting my simple (but still delicious!) scones in their less than elaborate packaging.

All of this fear went out the window when the swapping finally commenced. People were so generous with their goods and so willing to take a package of humble scones for a jar of ginger loquat jam (!). I didn't even know about the existence of loquats until I read this article several weeks ago - let alone that they would make unbelievably delicious jam. In addition to the jam, I walked away with another jar of grapefruit marmalade, Susan's spicy roasted chickpeas (amazing on a salad), a package of granola, and a small bouquet of thai basil.

Despite those initial feelings of inferiority, I left inspired to become more adventurous in the kitchen. I normally only have time to worry about what's going on the table that day, but I'm now going to make it a priority to try out jams and preserves. Next time, I'll go in prepared!

Everyday jewelry.

2011-05-19T08:00:00.000-07:00

A couple months ago, I dropped my usual everyday necklace down my sink drain (and I'm too scared to open up the plumbing to try to fish it out). So when Kate at For Me, For You had her last jewelry update, I swooped up one of her brass drops necklaces.

Since then it's been serving as a perfect replacement. I have to admit that I like the replacement even better than the original. Fixed beads are key for people who hate it when the clasp constantly moves around to the front.

The weekend in review.

2011-05-16T22:48:00.000-07:00

I was in Portland again last week to celebrate Elliott finishing his second year of law school (proud girlfriend) and to say farewell to the city for several months while he's away at his summer internship. I can't remember the last time we spent a weekend there when neither of us had school work to do. It was incredible, and so was the weather.

We spent a good majority of our time at a dog park or surrounded by dogs. Saturday morning, we participated in the most hilarious road race I've ever done - the Doggie Dash for the Oregon Humane Society. Funny things happen when you put 6,000 dogs and their owners on a 2.5 mile course together. Noella was a champ and had a good showing. We spent the rest of the day wandering around downtown. I left Powell's with five more books than I intended to leave with (in my defense, two are gifts for my sister). How can you pass up those deals, though? $7 for a hardback "used" book that looks like it's never been opened. Score!

On Sunday, we headed out to Multnomah Falls for a hike with my brother's fam and my nephew who was visiting from MN. I am constantly amazed by how vibrantly green Portland is even when it's gloomy out. Every square inch of the trail was covered in growth.

See you in September, Portland.

Freaks and Geeks.

2011-05-11T18:39:00.000-07:00

I'm woefully behind in 90s and early 2000s television trends. So I've started to catch up on what I've been told is the quality programming that I missed out on through Netflix. I just finished Freaks and Geeks and need someone to explain why the show was canceled after only a season. What the heck was wrong with viewers in 1999? I loved every bit of it and actually got mad at Elliott when I made him watch an episode and he didn't seem visibly entertained.

So, if you watched it, who was your favorite character? I have to admit to having a little crush on Bill - so painfully awkward. Favorite scene has got to be Sam's Parisian night suit dance, though.

The weekend in review.

2011-05-08T21:13:00.000-07:00

This was a recoup weekend. The previous weekend was the most stressful I've had on record, and I think may have caused my first panic attack. Added to my to-do list is finding meditation/deep breathing strategies for reducing stress. Stat. Running alone clearly isn't going to cut it.

The weekend:
>Testing new recipes: Bap Story pulls through again
>MOCA Art in the Streets show with Belle (attempt number two - the first time we weren't cool enough to have an opening invite)
>A wall of flowers in bloom as the backdrop to my local farmers market
>Taking advantage of the evening sunshine and catching up on the magazines that have been piling up the last few months
>Attempting some resourceful cooking and contemplating another restaurant spending freeze
>Finally, lots and lots of sleep

A recipe for your weekend: Doobu Jorim

2011-04-28T15:32:00.000-07:00

Jeana Sohn has her hand in what seems like a million different projects lately, but the one I'm most excited about is her new Korean cooking blog with Bo Carney called Bap Story. I love Korean food but have always been too timid to try it at home - not to mention clueless on where to find good recipes.

I tried their most recent recipe for Doobu Jorim (soy seasoned tofu) with brown rice and am already plotting to make it again. The only adaptations I made were to replace the corn starch with tapioca starch (worked perfectly) and eliminate the white rice wine (didn't have it). The outcome was delicious.

Video save the date.

2011-04-27T07:00:00.000-07:00

Check out this video that my friends Jamie and Jonah did for their save the date. How cool is that? By far the most unique save the date I've ever received.

(Still worth watching even if you don't have sound at work.)

The weekend in review.

2011-04-23T12:16:00.003-07:00

Although a majority of my time this weekend was spent in the library with Elliott, we still managed to have a few fun outings. On Thursday, his mom treated me to a French macaron making class at Sweet Wares. I was shocked by how simple it is to make them based on how delicate and finicky they appear at first glance. (We tried doing them at home - just to be sure the class wasn't deceptive - and had a lot of luck!) Friday took us out to Hood River area to hang with my sister-cousin Katie and her kids before they ship off to Colorado in the summer. I'm still refusing to believe that this is actually happening. Saturday we tackled a massive stack of Indian recipes that called for spices I had never heard of or seen before in my life. And Sunday, I flew back to LA for Easter and was surprised by Diana with the most delicious donut muffin a girl could imagine. (Check out the recipe here.)

In keeping with one of my New Year's resolutions to read more for pleasure, I also picked up and finished Matt Logelin's memoir called Two Kisses for Maddie. Do you guys read his blog? The book made me laugh and cry - sometimes in the same paragraph. And it certainly has me feeling like I need to do a better job of rethinking some of the priorities I have in my life.

PacNW.

2011-04-22T10:42:00.000-07:00

View from the Griffith Observatory at dusk

I'm trading this view for the Pacific NW this weekend. Could be the last trip up here for a while (these ones always make me sad). I know things have been a little quiet around here lately. I'm studying for one last test that happens next weekend, and then I'm free as a bird. Lots to catch up on.

Have a great weekend!

The weekend in review.

2011-04-19T11:32:00.000-07:00

Elliott was in town this weekend, and we ate like it was going out of style. I'm currently eating only plants to atone for this gluttonous behavior.

>3 Square in Venice: Stopped here on the way home from the airport. It was good enough that I'd go back, but not blow-your-mind awesome. The apple pancake made up for a lackluster showing by the eggs benedict.

>Wurstkuche: Before trying the place out right after I moved to LA, I didn't think it possible to make a good vegetarian sausage. But they knock it out of the park with the smoked apple sage sausage. Don't get me started on the fries. Best. In. LA. (Highly rec the chipotle aioli.)

>Umami: Who eats sausage on Saturday night and thinks it's a good idea to go to a burger joint on Sunday afternoon? Guhhhh. Poor planning. This aside, the earth burger (not pictured) was delicious as always. But I wasn't hungry for a good 12 hours after eating it.

While I wasn't eating, I got going on the pallet garden idea (via Life on the Balcony) I mentioned last week. Hopefully I'll have a progress update next week. Start crossing your fingers things don't fall out when I turn it upright!

Spring Break, Part 2.

2011-04-14T10:35:00.000-07:00

I'd say it's about time I got around to showing you the second half of my spring break, wouldn't you? Nevermind the fact that it's approximately three weeks later.

After we got back from Santa Barbara, we were up the next morning at 6am to get going on the second half of spring break: Palm Springs and Joshua Tree. I should probably include a little disclaimer here about Elliott, lest I spoil his glowing reputation as an environmental advocate. He does not condone, nor does he wish to support, the driving force behind Palm Springs' economy: desert golf courses and resorts. For info on why, see this. So to explain how we ended up at the Ace Hotel in Palm Springs, I should probably explain something about myself: I refuse to sleep directly on the earth two days after running a marathon. And let me say, lounging by the pool all day, eating delicious food, and sleeping in a comfortable bed was well worth it. Going to Cheeky's the next morning and drinking a bloody mary out of a boot was, too.

From there, we headed into Joshua Tree National Park. I can't believe it took us this long to make it here - because we've been talking about it since I moved to LA and because it was well worth the trip. Being in the park is like being nowhere else (at least that I've been). It looks otherworldly.

We set up camp in Jumbo Rocks (no reservations necessary, but get there early in the day to get a good spot), which would be an awesome spot to come back with a good group. You could spend the entire weekend just scrambling around on the boulders that surround all of the campsites. From there we went for a hike at Ryan Mountain and saw some of the crazy climbers Joshua Tree is famous for (more photos in my Flickr photostream). We also took a drive down to Inspiration Point - which is a look out point where you can see the San Andreas Fault - and I found myself thinking that sleeping in a campsite surrounded by gigantic boulders would be a highly unfortunate place to find yourself during The Big One. Lucky for us - no shaking occurred.

One word of warning for Jumbo Rocks campers: it gets windy at night. As in, tornado-windy. The top of our tent actually hit me in the face while I was trying to sleep, if that gives you any idea about the kind of wind I'm talking about. This only lasted for a few hours, though, and it wouldn't keep me from coming back. But make sure you're equipped with a good tent before you go because when Elliott and I took a walk to Skull Rock in the morning, we saw tents that looked like they had been mauled by bears and people sleeping in their cars.

If you're in southern California, now is the perfect time for a trip, and I highly recommend it.

Vertical gardening.

2011-04-12T09:24:00.000-07:00

I don't have much outside space at my apartment - just the stoop area outside my front door - so I have to get creative with where I put my outside plants. I love this idea for a vertical pallet garden from Life on the Balcony and immediately added it to my DIY to-do list upon stumbling across it on AT. The one adaptation I think I'll make is creating the pallet from scratch (I know, this defeats the recycling aspect of the project). I'd rather completely avoid the potential of chemically treated wood or wood covered in e.coli (eek! check out the comments in the post) because I'll be using the space to plant herbs.

Photos from Life on the Balcony.

Just Sunday.

2011-04-10T23:20:00.000-07:00

The tornado of thoughts that's been spinning in my brain for a while now finally started to slow down this weekend. A Sunday (half) filled with things that I wanted to do rather than had to do certainly helped.

>Farmers Market: getting back into my weekly habit
>Zelda's and Venice beach lounging with Belle: thanks to a tip off from Kate about delicious donuts
>Reading: I'm obsessed with this book (have been meaning to read it for years) and have become that crazy person who reads while walking down the sidewalk
>Garden store: I can't go to the garden store for tomato and herb plants without picking up a succulent plant
>Forever bouquet of billy buttons that dry perfectly

Speaking of bags.

2011-04-05T09:58:00.000-07:00

Images from Baggu.

Just got an email this morning about the collaboration Baggu is doing with Shabd Alexander. Love these tie-dyed beauties.

Short trip.

2011-04-03T16:01:00.000-07:00

I just have to boast for a second. I was up in San Francisco for a short trip this weekend and packed everything in this little bag. I knew my packing skills had made it when I impressed several guys who thought I was coming from down the street instead of from six hours down the freeway.

Spring Break, Part I

2011-03-30T21:44:00.000-07:00

Let's start from the beginning. My parents and Elliott arrived in LA on Friday, the day after I finished my last final and paper of grad school (I know I'm beating this to death, but it's still sinking in). It was marathon crunch time, and I was happy we were all together. This is going to sound crazy, but in the 15 years that I've been running competitively (and now just in road races), I can only think of one race that one of both of my parents haven't attended. I know I'm beginning to be a bit of a baby by even suggesting that they come, but lemme tell you - it's hard to run a marathon without knowing that there will be people to cheer for you (and hand you Gu packs) at certain mile markers.

So although there are better ways to prep for a big race, we decided we needed a grad school toast after the picking up our packets from Dodger Stadium. Diana came through (no surprise there) by suggesting we check out Big Bar when I told her we were set to go to Forage. Their patio was a perfect way to enjoy the extra daylight hours. Think Urth Cafe but a little bit nicer, and with alcohol. And it goes without saying that Forage was delicious as always. I'm happy to report that their ricotta cheesecake now has two layers. Both of which are delicious.

No pictures of the marathon due to the monsoon that decided to throw sheets of rain at us.

Post-marathon, we all took a trip up to greater Santa Barbara. We started in Solvang (just like last spring break) so my mom could taste a little bit of Denmark. I think I ate exactly the same things as last year. They were all still as decadent as I remembered.

From there, we headed to Los Olivos to do some wine tasting. Carhartt was on the list, but the tasting room (which seats 4 people when the outside space is closed for rain) was full, so we decided to start elsewhere. After snubbing Firestone's cinder block building, we went back to Fess Parker (again, like last year) and enjoyed an extended tasting. I went home with the cheapest bottle - the Frontier Red. Delicious.

Back to Carhartt (same family as the work clothes), which I highly recommend for anyone visiting Los Olivos. You can't buy the wines in stores. They're only available through the wine club and at local restaurants. I left with the Grenache Blanc.

My mom was driving, so I stopped in solidarity. But we went down the street to Bin 2860 so the guys could do a beers of the world tasting, during which we discovered that one man's "horse harness" taste is another (wo)man's "honey" taste. I won't name names.

It was only appropriate to finish at the Hitching Post where - after lots of laughs - we thought they may kick us out. Good trip.

Checking in.

2011-03-22T19:34:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since an update. Checking in from the Ace Hotel in Palm Springs to let you know that I survived finals week and am officially done with grad school! Also survived the monsoon-like weather hand that was dealt to us during the LA Marathon. Enjoying spring break now and will be posting regularly again starting next week. See you then!

A recipe for your weekend: tangerine upside-down cake.

2011-03-11T10:41:00.000-08:00

I've been meaning to post this for weeks. But there's been a lot going on.

This recipe comes from my favorite issue of Gourmet, February 2009. The original calls for oranges, but I used tangerines because they've been so good at the stores near me lately. I also nixed the orange marmalade this time because I found it made the cake a little bitter the first time around. Instead, I replaced it with this tangerine lemon curd that DTAB found via Joy. (Guhhh, that stuff is like crack.)

The other great thing about this cake is that it could very easily be made gluten free. My version has a very small amount of flour, but the bulk of the cake batter is made up of almond meal and polenta.

So here you go:

Tangerine polenta upside-down cake
Adapted from Gourmet Magazine

For the caramel tangerine layer:
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 tbsp water
2 tbsp unsalted butter
3-4 tangerines (depending on size)

For the cake:
1 3/4 sticks unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs
2 tsp water
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups ground almonds (I used almond meal from Trader Joe's)
2/3 cup quick cooking polenta/corn meal

For the topping:
See tangerine lemon curd recipe here or here.

Make the caramel tangerine layer:
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly butter a 9" spring form pan. Cut a round piece of parchment paper to fit the bottom of the pan and a long strip to cover the sides of the pan (the butter will help it stick).

Bring sugar and water to a boil in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Boil, without stirring but instead swirling pan occasionally so caramel colors evenly, until dark amber. Remove from heat and add butter. Swirl until incorporated. Carefully pour caramel into cake pan and tilt to coat evenly.

Grate zest from two of the tangerines and reserve for cake batter. Cut the remaining peel and pith with a paring knife, and then cut peeled tangerines into 1/4" thick rounds. Remove any seeds, and arrange slices in one layer over the caramel.

Make the cake:
Beat butter and sugar using an electric mixer until just combined. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each is added. Mix in water and tangerine zest.

Whisk together flour, almond meal, polenta, baking powder, and salt. On low speed, add dry mixture to wet mixture until incorporated. Spread batter over tangerines with an offset spatula.

Bake until a toothpick or fork comes out clean. About 1-1 1/4 hours. Cool in a pan for 5 minutes. Remove the sides of your spring form pan. Carefully invert the cake onto a plate and remove the parchment paper from sides and top.

Top with tangerine lemon curd as cake is being served. Cake keeps well when wrapped tightly and refrigerated.

It's the final countdown.

2011-03-10T15:33:00.000-08:00

I've been pretty quiet around here lately but realized I never explained why. I decided to finish my graduate program early instead of continuing to take classes during spring quarter. In fact, I just left my last graduate class. EVER. Hugesighhighfivesqueal!

That means that in one week, when I finish my finals, I will be officially done (minus a stressful exam in May). And then, being the masochist that I am, I will celebrate by running the LA Marathon on Sunday. (Yeah, that was pretty poor foresight on my part. Maybe I'll finally learn my lesson after this one. Sixth time's the charm.)

So until then, it will probably remain pretty quiet. But I will be posting the recipe for the amazing upside down cake tomorrow.

The weekend in review.

2011-03-07T08:04:00.000-08:00

I was up in Portland with Elliott this weekend. Shamefully, we spent most of it in the library doing work, so I only have this one picture that I managed to snap downtown from the car as proof that I was there. How was your weekend?

More SHOES.

2011-03-03T11:05:00.001-08:00

I'm still trying to find the time to finish my re-cap of the NY trip, but in the mean time: more shoes.

I'm not planning a wedding. I'm not even engaged. But I will have a wedding, eventually. Is it crazy to go ahead and purchase wedding shoes and then plan the rest around them? Because I'm falling hard for this Vena Cava and TenOverSix yellow number at Frances May (via Unruly Things). I'm picturing them with a short shift dress with elbow-length sleeves. Ok, imaginary wedding planned. Back to real life.

Hello shoe Gods.

2011-02-25T14:53:00.000-08:00

Would you like to grant me a wish that was, until now, thought unattainable? (Try to find that heel height in a cute shoe. I dare you.) Either color will do. Tnx.

Toast Pascale Heel

New York.

2011-02-23T23:22:00.000-08:00

Photos now, text later.

The weekend in review.

2011-02-14T23:30:00.000-08:00

Just photos this weekend.

Happy Valentines day.

2011-02-13T22:44:00.000-08:00

Sometimes - when we have a little scheduling luck - Elliott and I get to see each other two weekends in a row. These last two weekends happened to be one of those occasions. Without discussing it, we both ended up opting for experience gifts for Valentines day. Last weekend, E took me on a little getaway to Edgefield. For my part, I decided to rent him a nice road bike for a day so we could finally bike in the same city together again. Bicycles were our primary mode of transportation in DC, and I've really missed being able to hop on our bikes to get to dinner or run errands instead of taking a car. The weather cooperated perfectly, and we had a great ride down to Manhattan Beach and back.

Have a happy day with or without a Valentine.

Moroccan Oil.

2011-02-09T06:00:00.000-08:00

I have very little brand loyalty when it comes to bath and beauty products - Burt's Bees chapstick excluded. Normally I'm able to resist pitches for expensive hair products at the end of a haircut, but last time I gave in. Without fail, my hair looks and feels better when a stylist does it than when I do. Even with the addition of Moroccan Oil to my routine, it's still not the same at home as it is in the salon. But it's definitely a couple steps closer. Plus, now I have the post-hair cut smell (those scents aren't sold in drug stores, you know) in my hair every day.

Edit: It occurred to me that I should mention what this stuff actually does. I'm told by Teresa at Helmet that it moisturizes your hair from the inside out instead of weighing down the hair on the outside like a conditioner (which I've completely cut out now). It leaves it feeling soft and shiny and protects it from sun damage.

The weekend in review.

2011-02-07T21:46:00.001-08:00

I was up in Portland this weekend, and Elliott surprised me with a little getaway. We went up to Edgefield, which is one of the McMenamins locations in Troutdale. I am a lover of all things McMenamins - from their mediocre but consistent food to their delicious beers. We go to the Kennedy School (a Portland location) almost every time I'm in town.

Edgefield is an all-in-one location. There are multiple restaurants, a hotel, bars, vineyard, and - most importantly - a SOAKING POOL. Heated to 104 degrees. Yes.

On the way back, we drove 20 minutes out of the way for the most satisfying donuts anyone could ask for at Joe's in Sandy.

To top it all off, I got my last Christmas gift that had been on backorder: a Dream Collective bracelet. Well played, E. Perfect weekend.

A recipe for your weekend: Carrot ginger soup.

2011-02-04T12:33:00.000-08:00

So just when I thought I'd be back to life and schedule as usual, I came down with a nasty cold or sinus infection - I can never really tell which is which. I guess it's that time of year. If I didn't know any better, I'd think that I picked it up from Elliott over the phone because he was sick just days before me.

Luckily I had made this batch of soup before things headed downhill. The recipe is originally from a Chow email and was passed along to me by none other than - you guessed it - Diana. Who needs a cookbook when you have her?

The soup is smooth enough to feel soothing when you're getting sick but has enough kick from the ginger and curry powder to wake you up. I adapted it quite a bit from the proportions that Chow recommended, which I actually think would make a pretty bland tasting soup. Here's the version I made:

Carrot Ginger Soup
Makes 4 main dish portions

1 tbsp canola oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tbsp + 1 tsp curry powder
1 inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and minced
1 small yellow onion, chopped
1 pound carrots, peeled and chopped into 1/4" rounds
1 medium bay leaf
2 1/2 cups low sodium vegetable broth
1 can light coconut milk

Heat the oil and garlic in a pot* over medium heat. When the garlic starts to brown and become fragrant, add the curry powder and stir. Then add ginger, onion, carrots, broth, and bay leaf and increase to medium/high heat to bring mixture to a boil. Once you get a boil, reduce the heat and cover - leaving the lid cracked - to let soup simmer for about 30 minutes. Carrots should be soft when pierced before turning off the heat. Discard the bay leaf.

Let everything cool for about 10-15 minutes, then soup (in batches) in a blender until everything is smooth. Transfer the blended soup back to the pot and cook over medium heat. Add the coconut milk, and then adjust seasoning as needed. I added about 1/4 tsp of salt at this point. Serve hot.

*Or in a green Le Creuset French Oven, like the one your aunt got you for Christmas that you LOVE!

The ladies.

2011-02-01T06:00:00.000-08:00

I can't get enough of either of these two ladies lately. Lykke Li is a favorite from DC. Her songs always made appearances on party playlists. And since the first time I heard this Adele song in the fall, I haven't been able to get it out of my head. I end up wearing out the repeat button if I hear it once in a day.

DONE.

2011-01-24T21:58:00.000-08:00

I signed up for this volunteer gig that required me to screen far more tv episodes and movies than is healthy for any one individual in a year, let alone a month and a half. Good cause, no doubt, but not something I had any leftover time for.

And it's over. Officially done. Hello, world! Do you remember me before I had a constant state of bloodshot eyes?

Last night, as I was deliriously screening the last series (Breaking Bad) and trying not to barf/panic about nightmares at the amount of the gore, I decided to do a little multi-tasking. I've been wanting to buy a radio for my apartment for ages because when I play music on my computer, the whole thing slows down and/or crashes. And when you live alone, it's nice to have some background noise that is slightly less mind numbing than one of the many iterations of the Real Housewives (I'm not above it).

I went where the reviews led me and ended up purchasing a Sangean WR-11 AM/FM. Found a deal on Amazon that was about 50% cheaper than others were offering it. It's en route to me now and can't get her quick enough. These eyes need rest.

The weekend in review.

2011-01-17T22:01:00.000-08:00

If I didn't know any better, I could've sworn it was July in Southern California this weekend. The daytime temperatures didn't dare drop below 70 degrees during Elliott's entire stay. We took advantage of it and stayed outside as much as possible.

The highlights included spending an afternoon at Malibu Wines (we came home with the Semler 2009 Sauvignon Blanc and the Semler 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon), True Grit (loved), sunset drinks on the rooftop of Hotel Erwin, and sporting the sandals I got during my last trip to Nashville for $20 (originally $130 - score!). Didn't think I'd have a chance to wear those for many months.

The mini-vacation in LA was just what we both needed - even if it means a lot of catching up later this week.

Classic.

2011-01-13T22:17:00.000-08:00

Check out this precious photo I found of my mom (R) and my aunt (L) when I was back in Nashville. They don't make 'em like they used to, do they?

Enjoy your long weekend!

Suited.

2011-01-11T22:29:00.001-08:00

I'm in the market for a new suit-ish interview outfit because a hungry moth decided to eat its way through my post-college interview suit.

Is it possible that one could wear this to an interview (minus the flower) and not get the job? Too casual? I could take one of everything from the Emerson Made line, so maybe I'm biased. Spring looks so tempting (moto jacket, mod dress, trouser shorts... guhh).

Images from Emerson Made.

The weekend in review.

2011-01-10T22:00:00.000-08:00

Not too much more to report from this weekend other than a spontaneous trip to Pizzeria Mozza. Diana and I had originally intended to check out Olio Pizzeria but found out when we got there that they were out of pizza. At 7:45pm. Sheesh. The next logical option in the neighborhood was Mozza, but of course, we expected a ridiculous wait. Miracle of miracles, we were seated immediately upon walking through the door.

We shared the spicy green beans with mustard and almonds, the bianca (yum) and gorgonzola dolce (mneh) pizzas, and the Meyer lemon gelato pie. While it was good for me to branch out and try new pizzas, and the pie was undeniably delicious, my heart remains solidly with the squash blossom and burrata pizza and butterscotch budino.

A recipe for your weekend: Coconut snowball cake.

2011-01-06T21:52:00.000-08:00

If there's one thing I can count on when I visit my parents, it's that my dad will have a dessert recipe picked out that we need to try. This time, it was supposed to be a surprise for my mom and grandmother, who are both suckers for coconut cake. We were busted the second the cake went in the oven, and the entire house was filled with the smell of coconut, but they pretended to be surprised. If you're looking for a cake project, this is your deal. The cake and icing are forgiving, which makes for good practice for a first try at layers.

Disclaimer: I don't endorse the use of shortening in recipes, but it's the only way to keep the icing totally white. Sometimes you just have to turn a blind eye.

Coconut Snowball Cake
From Good Morning America's Sam Champion

Cake Batter
1 1/2 sticks softened unsalted butter
2 cups sugar
6 egg whites
2 1/4 cups cake flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp coconut flavor (original recipe calls for 1 tsp)
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk
1 cup flaked and unsweetened coconut

Icing
2 sticks unsalted butter
1/2 cup shortening
1 1/2 lbs confectioner's sugar
1/2 tsp coconut flavor (original recipe calls for 1 tsp)
4 tbsp unsweetened coconut milk
1 1/2 cups flaked unsweetened coconut

Garnish
2 1/2 cups flaked unsweetened coconut

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour two 9-inch cake pans thoroughly.

Mix butter and sugar with an electric mixer until fluffy. Then add egg whites until incorporated. Sift cake flour, baking powder, and salt. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Add coconut flavor, coconut milk, and flaked coconut.

Divide batter between the two cake pans and bake for 30-35 minutes. After cakes are completely cooled, remove them from the cake pans. If the cakes don't immediately come out clean, try tapping the underside of the cake pan with a mallet gently so the cake stays in tact. Cut each cake horizontally into two equal layers.

While the cakes are in the oven, cream the butter, shortening, and confectioners sugar in a stand mixer. Add in the coconut flavor and coconut milk.

Take two cups of this frosting, and set in a separate bowl. Add 1 1/2 cups flaked coconut and set aside.

To assemble the cake, put the first layer on a cake stand or other plate. Spread 1/3 of the frosting with the coconut flake over the first layer with an offset metal spatula. Continue this process until all of the layers are added.

Frost the top and sides of the cake with the frosting that does not include coconut flake. Don't worry if it's not completely smooth. By adding the remaining coconut flake to the iced cake, you're able to cover up most of the icing issues.

Serve with ice cream.

Looking back, looking forward.

2011-01-03T21:27:00.000-08:00

I just had the amazing revelation that this is the first year I can actually look through and account for in pictures. Not that I didn't take pictures before I started this blog, but it's nice to have the highlights organized in chronological order. (Only downside is looking back at all those things I didn't buy and still want.)

Who knows what 2011 holds? Maybe another move and new city, hopefully a masters degree and a new job.

In the spirit of the season, here's a tentative resolution/wishlist for 2011:

1. Sleep 7-8 hours/night.
2. Read more non-academic material - at least 1 book/month. And at least one book about interfaith families.
3. Purge apartment of unnecessary clothes/stuff. Then keep it purged.
4. Learn to knit.
5. Sew at least one item of clothing.

Here goes.

New year, new name.

2011-01-02T22:58:00.000-08:00

Wowza. I had quite a long break from the blogosphere while cozied up in Nashville and Portland for the last two weeks. Unfortunately, I also took a big break from the camera. These are basically all the shots I got outside of some food that will be coming soon.

Things are looking a little different around here because I finally had the time to make some changes I've been thinking about for ages. First off, I was a novice when I created this site and made the rookie mistake of essentially giving my blog two names - which really only results in confusion. Blank Slate was dropped because it started to annoy me about two seconds after I picked it. (We'll ignore the fact that changing the name of the blog may be just as confusing as moving forward with two names.) The other main change is bigger photos, thanks to Flickr. I've been paying for the account for ages, so it's about time I start taking advantage of linking from there.

There may be a few more tweaks here and there in the future. But for now, I'm satisfied to cross something off the list. Next up: new years resolutions.

Dream Collective

2010-12-15T08:43:00.000-08:00

All images from Kathryn Bentley's Dream Collective.

YES.

The weekend in review.

2010-12-13T11:13:00.001-08:00

This weekend was picture perfect in LA. Clear skies (this actually makes a big difference in being able to see how beautiful this place is) and 80 degrees. I did a hike at La Jolla Canyon and was able to see Catalina and the Channel Islands; ate fish tacos; hit up the beach; baked my favorite ginger scones from DC (thanks to Belle); and checked out the Renegade Craft Fair downtown at the Cornfields.

I was actually expecting a little more from Renegade but did walk away with three gifts [if your name is Tonsha, Lori, or Shari: do not look at these links] from here and here, and some washi tape for myself.

For Christmas, I'd like weekends like this all of next year.

Pear Ginger Skillet Cake

2010-12-10T06:56:00.000-08:00

I had every intention of recreating the apple tart I made for myself as a birthday cake for Thanksgiving. But when Diana gave me the Farmers' Market Desserts cookbook, I couldn't help but try something new. Even though it bore a striking resemblance to the apple tart, I was intrigued by the pear ginger skillet cake the moment I found it. It would be something new, but something that was also pretty much a sure bet (based on the apple tart success) as a crowd pleaser for Thanksgiving.

And boy, this cake did not disappoint. It would be a great ending to any holiday meal this month and makes a great breakfast, too.

Skillet Cake Progression

Pear Ginger Skillet Cake 
From Farmers' Market Desserts

2 1/3 cups unbleached flour
1 1/2 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp allspice
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup unsulfered molasses
1/2 cup sour cream (not low fat)
1 tbsp grated fresh ginger
1 egg at room temp
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup boiling water

Topping:
3 firm/ripe pears (I used Bosc; Anjou or French Butter will also work)
1 tbsp unsalted butter cut into tiny cubes
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1/4 tsp kosher salt

Pre-heat oven to 325 with rack in lower third. Oil a 10-11 inch cast iron skillet

Stir together flour, ground ginger, salt, cinnamon, allspice and set aside.

Combine oil, brown sugar, molasses, sour cream, fresh ginger, and egg until smooth. Add baking soda to boiling water and stir until dissolved. Add this to your batter and stir until combined.  Then add the remaining flour mixture. Transfer the batter to your skillet and spread evenly.

Peel and core pears and cut lengthwise into 1/2 pieces. Arrange these slices in circles starting at the outermost portion of the skillet. I made two rings of pears, overlapping the inner ring on the outer ring. Dot pear slices with small pieces of butter on the outer ring only. Mix together brown sugar and salt and sprinkle evenly over the top.

Bake until top springs back when you press lightly against it and a toothpick tests clean. About 1 hour. Let cool for at least 20 minutes.

This cake stores well when tightly wrapped and kept in the refrigerator.  It may even be better the second day.

LRP.

2010-12-08T08:30:00.000-08:00

My mom is hands down one of the most difficult people to shop for. She sells women's clothes, so that's out of the question. She's not fussy, so a fancy ingredient or kitchen tool just wouldn't be right (not to mention the fact that she's not a huge fan of the kitchen, in general). But the bigger issue is that she never provides ideas. When you ask her what she wants for a birthday or Christmas, her reply is typically "Thorlo running socks."  I mean, really? Do you think any self-respecting person wants to be the gifter of running SOCKS?? (Especially when her sock drawer is basically overflowing with Thorlos.)

Clare Vivier Le Mini Sac

The one sure bet is anything in the color red.  Specifically, a LRP (little red purse). So when I saw the Clare Vivier red mini sac in context on one of Jeana Sohn's Closet Visits (I had previously only seen the photo on the website), I knew it had to be hers. I placed the order and was so pleased with myself, picturing giving it to her when she and my dad were out in LA to volunteer at the STRIDES 5k.

I didn't anticipate that it could take 10 days for the bag to ship, though. So I immediately contacted Jocelyn, who works with Clare, to see if there was any way to come by and pick up the bag, since they're also in LA. They were the picture of accommodation, and everything worked out perfectly. My mom even got to meet Clare as they wrapped up the bag in a little cloth tote when we showed up to make the hand off. Success.

Done and done.

2010-12-06T21:37:00.000-08:00

Another quarter, another step closer to being back in the working world.

This weekend was entirely writing filled, so the only photos I have to share are of my contribution to Eat My Blog.  The ladies behind this bi-yearly bake sale raised almost $4,000 on Saturday and have raised more than $12,000 to date for the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. That is big time!

If you missed it, or if you're not in LA, check out the others who participated and see if you can score the recipes from their blogs.

Satisfy your sweet tooth.

2010-12-03T08:04:00.000-08:00

If you need to satisfy your sweet tooth this weekend, might I recommend attending the Eat My Blog charity bake sale?  All of the proceeds benefit the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.  The event is being organized by my friend Diana and several other local food bloggers and will feature sweets from more than 50 different bakers.  I'll be making apple bread pudding, but you can see a list of the entire menu here. Arrive early before all the good stuff is gone!

When: December 4, 10AM-4PM
Where: Tender Greens West Hollywood (8759 SMBlvd)
What: Eat My Blog charity bake sale
Why: Raise funds for the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank
More info: http://eatmyblogla.wordpress.com/

I laughed, I cried, I directed a 5k.

2010-12-01T09:32:00.000-08:00

Hopefully this will help explain the blog hiatus I've been on lately.

The suicide prevention program I was directing with a colleague at a continuation high school culminated with a 5k run/walk at Dockweiler beach in LA the weekend before Thanksgiving.  The goal of the 5k was two-fold: to give the students who participated in our program an opportunity to run their first 5k and reach the goal that they set for themselves at the beginning of the program; and to increase community awareness that suicide is preventable.

Southern California decided to deal us a weather wild card on Sunday morning.  We arrived to Dockweiler at 5am for set up in a torrential downpour and wind that was almost strong enough to knock you over. Thank goodness my mother was there to give us the rally cry the rest of us were too cold to muster.  Sure enough, the weather cleared by about 6:30 - before any of the participants showed up.

We had an amazing turn out considering the forecast.  I'm really at a loss of words for how to describe the rest.  We had high school students that were willing to wake up at 6:30 on a Sunday morning to come run a race that two grad students planned for them.  What more can you ask for?

If you're interested in learning more about suicide prevention or other youth development programs that help prevent suicide risk factors, I recommend checking out Didi Hirsch, Trevor Project, Girls on the Run, and our website for STRIDES.

The weekend in review.

2010-11-28T20:53:00.001-08:00

It's been a while. I'll post on why later in the week. But first Thanksgiving. I was in Portland again this year with E's family. Always sad not to be in Nashville, but had a great time up here enjoying real fall weather and way too much food.

We went to see 127 Hours (highly recommend). However, I should forewarn you that this movie may not be for the faint of heart. One of our fellow movie goers fainted (freal) 3 times during the scene you've probably heard about. Avert your eyes if you're queasy.

We also went to a cool (new to me) bar called Blitz with any fun bar game you can think of. Learned two things about myself: I make an excellent shuffle board partner and arguably the worst pool partner of all time.

A poster and a recipe for your weekend.

2010-11-11T21:58:00.000-08:00

Kitchen Conversion poster from sweetfineday* via Hither and Thither

I just realized that I mentioned trying three new recipes during my Halloween boycott dinner party and haven't shared any of them.  This one for curry corn chowder comes from Elliott's mom.

Curry Corn Chowder

2 Tbsp olive oil
4 stalks of celery
3 carrots
4 small red potatoes
2 Tbsp curry powder (+more to taste)
1 Tbsp flour
1 can cream corn
2 cups frozen white corn (or fresh off the cob if it's in season)
3 cups filtered water
1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
2 cups 2% milk (heavy cream if you want to add richness)
1/2 - 1 cup grated Asiago cheese
1/4 tsp paprika
1 tsp red pepper flakes
1 tsp salt

-Dice celery, carrots, and potatoes.  Combine with olive oil in large pot and steam over medium heat.
-When vegetables become fragrant and soften, add curry powder and flour and stir well to combine.
-Add cream corn and frozen corn.
-Add filtered water.
-Add Dijon mustard, and stir well.
-Add milk and Asiago cheese.
-Add paprika, red pepper flakes, and salt.
-Let simmer for 20 minutes - making sure to take note of the heat so milk does not separate.

Makes 4-6 large servings.

*Check out Jenna's blog too, while you're at it.

(Raise It Up).

2010-11-08T20:35:00.000-08:00

I know I mentioned it yesterday, but lady can sing. This is obvious in the recorded versions of her songs. But live, her voice becomes a new kind of big.(Click through to watch/listen on YouTube.)

The weekend in review.

2010-11-07T17:42:00.000-08:00

I lived it up as a lady of leisure this weekend. Saturday was a marathon date day with Michelle. We started at the Steven Alan sample sale - where I purchased the blouse above. My general rule of thumb for stores like Steven Alan is only buy it if it looks unlike something you could buy somewhere else. The cutout detail in this blouse qualified it for purchase.

Then we watched the Northwestern football team crash and burn over bloody marys. Agonizing.

Date-day part three included free tickets to the Florence and the Machine show at the Wiltern - thanks to my KCRW membership. Man, that woman can sing. Highly recommend.

The weekend ended with this sky over my apartment. You'd think that living this close to an ocean would provide sunsets like this on a weekly basis, but I haven't seen one like this in months.

Also this weekend: this spicy butternut squash salad.

Happy birthday to me.

2010-11-03T06:00:00.000-07:00

What a beauty.  Twenty-seventh birthday and an insurance check from the last stolen bicycle were reason enough for me.  Now I have no excuse for not keeping up with Elliott on the roads. 

Go vote!

2010-11-02T06:00:00.000-07:00

The weekend in review.

2010-11-01T21:57:00.000-07:00

FOOD was the theme of the weekend. Amazing meal at Bar Hayama, a box of Two Tarts from Portland, a dinner party with three new recipes, and a clean kitchen the next morning thanks to Elliott (best birthday gift a girl could ask for).

Fall weekend.

2010-10-28T22:38:00.000-07:00

I love fall.  But I'm not a huge fan of Halloween.  Trying to think of a winning costume gives me more than a healthy amount of anxiety, so I'm sitting this year out.

Being in a half-decade stretch of mid-week birthdays gives me an excuse to do a birthday dinner party when others will be out dressed as who knows what. (What are the popular costumes this year besides Jersey Shore?)

Enjoy your weekend!

Bear with me, please.

2010-10-25T21:23:00.000-07:00

Ok, it's time.

I mentioned before in this space that I'm co-directing a suicide prevention program at a continuation high school in LA. STRIDES helps train students to complete a 5k - the culminating event of this program, which is open to community members and will take place on November 21 at Dockweiler Beach in Playa del Rey. The goal of the event is to increase community awareness that suicide is preventable. The sooner we de-stigmatize the discussion of suicide and mental health in our communities, the sooner people who need help will feel more comfortable seeking it.

There are plenty of programs and campaigns out there for you to get involved in if you've been moved to do so by the recent string of tragic youth suicides in the news or by personal experience.  However, if you want to get involved in a local effort (calling all LA readers!), I'm urging you to sign up for our 5k run/walk event.* 

I'll spare you any sappy reflections on delivering the program because my feelings can be summed up by someone far more eloquent than me. Dave Eggers wrote a column in Esquire in 2008 with a message I've been thinking about lately.  He said:

It's like a tic. Or a reflex. (Are tics and reflexes significantly different?) The point is, it's an automatic response, in virtually all humans, to think that things are getting worse. Medieval peasants lamented how good the Cro-Magnons had it; people in the Renaissance looked back on the Dark Ages with great fondness. This is a harmless enough reflex--lazy and uncritical, sure, but usually harmless enough. But when it concerns how we see young people, and how we perceive the landscape of learning and literacy, this kind of doomsaying is a  dangerous kind of intellectual sloth. When we assume, as most adults do, that kids are less literate, less interested in books, than ever before, it involves a willful kind of ignorance, and it imperils how we educate young people. 

This argument applies to more than youth literacy efforts. We can go on believing that things will get worse, or we can put some faith in kids and try to make the 'it gets better' message real. Please consider supporting the students in our program by joining them on November 21 at Dockweiler.

*We're offering free Adidas race day shirts to the first 75 registrants (there are still about 10 left), registration is as cheap as you'll find, and local organizations will be on site to provide suicide prevention information and volunteer opportunities.

My jam.

2010-10-19T19:52:00.000-07:00

The Raft by Fat Freddy's Drop is my current KCRW jam obsession.

The walls.

2010-10-18T18:48:00.000-07:00

When I first moved into my apartment a year ago, I was scared to even hang anything on the walls based on the security deposit threats I got from the management company. I've gotten over that. I'm thinking about pushing the limits a little bit and asking them if I can paint a wall or two.

Sarah Canoit's Sneak Peek

I love the grey (in the post it's called chocolate brown, but it looks grey to me) in Sarah Canoit's Paris home that was featured on Design Sponge yesterday.  Thinking about something similar for one of my walls in the living room.

The weekend in review.

2010-10-17T20:56:00.001-07:00

Dreary rainy weather settled in on LA over the weekend and didn't leave.  It was the kind of weather that called for soup.  But I didn't realize this until a certain someone mentioned it.  My cooking motivation has been somewhere else lately, so I've just become a copycat when recipes are suggested.

I'm hesitant when it comes to lentils because sometimes they do a number on my stomach.  I was pleasantly surprised with this recipe (from 101 Cookbooks), though.  No post-meal stomach pain.  I followed the recipe exactly except that I never de-vein my dinosaur kale.  I love that extra texture it adds, especially in soup.  Next time I do this, I might add adobo sauce to the soup and go with plain greek yogurt, although the original was delicious.

I used the rest of my giant bunch of kale to try out kale chips.  How did I hold off so long on these?  Once I started eating them, I couldn't stop.  I followed this recipe - if you can call it that - and again did not de-vein.  When I do them next, this is one instance I'll make a de-veining exception.  I preferred the chips without veins. 

These two will definitely move into regular rotation.

Skinnies.

2010-10-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

Based on what I see around town, others don't have the same troubles as me in finding skinny jeans.  But I know it must be more than just me that struggles with this.

I've never quite understood it.  I have pretty trim runner legs. But no matter what I do, skinny jeans never fail to make my legs look like they've been stuffed into sausage casing.  Not a good look.

Gap - of all places - has come to the rescue.  Their new black legging jeans (which are not jeggings - the material feels like denim) have a super flattering fit.  On top of that, they're the cheapest pair of jeans I've purchased in ages, coming in at a whopping $50 (my store was offering 25% off all purchases at the time I bought them).  They're my new staple.

Happy weekend.

2010-10-08T14:04:00.000-07:00

I love a good Google homepage surprise.

Have an excellent weekend.  I'm up in Portland for a visit and to run the marathon on 10.10.10.  Crossing my fingers for good weather.

The weekend in review (sort of).

2010-10-04T20:33:00.000-07:00

Life is getting away from me these days.  In a big way.  STRIDES implementation and race planning is in full effect (SHAMELESS PLUG: If you're in LA - please consider signing up for our 5k run/walk!).  And work.  And school.  Ok, enough.  This is to say that there's a chance there will be periods of prolonged silence in this internet space until the holidays.  I'm hoping not, but you never know.

I went to the BAM beer festival in Santa Monica this weekend and didn't snap a single picture.  Sometimes it's easier to just forget about the camera.  Instead the only things I took pictures of were the crunchiest grapes I picked up from the Brentwood farmers market, a succulent clipping that I stole from my courtyard to try to root inside, and my Angeli Caffe copycat meal.

I had a great dinner at Evan Kleiman's restaurant on Friday that a friend aptly described as post-hip.  This is the best category of restaurant to fall into, in my opinion.  Still undeniably delicious, but no hour plus wait times.  A favorite of the night was the burrata with fresh peaches and tomatoes.  I've been recreating it at home with mozzarella, peaches, tomatoes (the second crop from my plant is just coming in), and homemade pesto.  Simple and perfect.

Tieks.

2010-09-30T18:50:00.000-07:00

Did you guys see the peek into Design for Mankind creator Erin Loechner's purse on D*S the other day?  Her shoes caught my eye, and I'm glad one of the commenters before me asked where they were from.

They're Tieks. I love their compact fold up design and the colors available. Which is your favorite color? I'm leaning toward navy now. Think I'll add these to the birthday wish list.

Quick. Before it's too late.

2010-09-29T23:04:00.001-07:00

It's probably too late everywhere except southern California.  But I'm going to put this out there anyway.  Peach and blueberry cobbler.

When Tori was in town, she pointed me to a Ruth Reichl recipe - which I have since adapted two times and loved on both occasions. I don't have pictures of the final product because it was too delicious to take the time for photos.

A few notes: I used peaches the first time and nectarines the second time. Both were delicious. If you decide to add blueberries, be sure to add some form of starch to congeal the fruit juices - I used tapioca starch, Ruth used corn starch. I'm sure both work, but I can only speak to tapioca (worked). Pair with vanilla ice cream, obv.

Peach and blueberry cobbler (adapted from Ruth Reichl)

2 lbs of peaches or nectarines
1/2 cup blueberries
Juice of half a lemon
1/2 cup sugar + some more for topping
1 tbs tapioca starch
1 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 stick of cold unsalted butter cut into small pieces
1/3 cup buttermilk + a little more

Add blueberries and sliced peaches or nectarines to a 9x9" baking dish. Top with 1/2 cup sugar and 1tbs of tapioca starch.

For dough - mix the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt). Then add the butter in small pieces. Mix the dry ingredients and the butter by hand until the butter is in pieces smaller than a pea. Add the buttermilk and kneed the dough until it comes together.

Top the fruit with small pieces of the dough spread across the entire baking dish. Add a little extra sugar on top. Bake at 400 degrees for 30-35 minutes. Serve immediately.

Dogtoberfest.

2010-09-28T22:14:00.000-07:00

It was fate. We went to the fancy schmancy grocery store because we were in a rush to get to a dinner with friends. And on the way out, I couldn't help but notice a poster for Portland's 16th Dogtoberfest. We jumped at the opportunity to hang out with Noella.

Dogtoberfest - held at Lucky Lab in SE Portland - is an annual fundraiser for the DoveLewis emergency animal hospital. The event featured live music, local vendors, $10 dog baths (more than 400 of them!), and Lucky Lab beer and food.

At two years old, it was time for Noella's first bath. She wasn't too into the whole thing, but she made it.

The only pup there that came close to matching Noella's cuteness was a fluffy baby St. Bernard that kept dragging his little (in size) brother around everywhere.

I could get used to this.

2010-09-24T11:44:00.000-07:00

I'm back in Portland for the first time since last spring and was greeted with this for lunch.

Girl could get used to it. Enjoy your weekend!

Cheek stain.

2010-09-23T06:00:00.000-07:00

Full disclosure: I'm not a makeup person.  I didn't own a lip gloss until a little over a year ago, and I only have two real staples: mascara and some form of cheek color.

Because I'd been using the same compact of Clinique bronzer for three years, I thought it was time for an update.  I was looking for something a little more peachy than bronze-y and decided to try out a cheek stain.

Tarte Blissful Cheek Stain

Luckily there are people at Sephora who know about makeup because I'm pretty sure I looked like a lost puppy when I walked in. They directed me to the Tarte natural cheek stains. I had never heard of the brand (not shocking), so I was happy to learn that their products are formulated without the use of phthalates, sulfates, and synthetic chemicals. And their packaging is recyclable. On top of that, it's goof-proof - even for a novice like me - and smells great. Highly recommend.

Extending summer.

2010-09-22T06:00:00.000-07:00

If you live in southern California, you know this summer has left a little to be desired. June gloom decided to hang around a little too long for my liking. I'm trying to extend the summer feel a little longer with some Barbie pink toes. It brightens up every outfit.

Those two weeks flew by.

2010-09-19T21:33:00.000-07:00

After a hiatus that went from one week to two in the blink of an eye - and seven plane rides to boot - I think I'm ready to re-enter the blogosphere.

Did I forget to mention...

2010-09-08T16:53:00.001-07:00

That I'd be marking this occasion with a one week hiatus from blogging?  Oops. 

One year blogiversary.

2010-08-31T23:35:00.000-07:00

One year ago.

This means I've survived:

One year in LA;
One year of grad school;
One year of long distance relationship; and
One year of blogosphere.

Thanks for your comments and for inspiring me to explore more, shop more (double edged sword), cook more, and take more photos along the way.

The weekend in review.

2010-08-30T21:56:00.000-07:00

This weekend, I got to catch up with a friend from DC that I haven't seen for a year. Has it really been that long? We romped all around town - from Mozza, to the Observatory, to the Venice boardwalk, and everything in between.

Lucy Schwartz: Rain City.

2010-08-26T22:36:00.000-07:00

This song is the only thing that's got me longing for winter lately. Do songs ever remind you of seasons like they do me?