The Laugh Dream Love screenprint was sold out on Etsy last November, but after many many requests...It's set to re-print and be available in the next week. Keep checking back, they will sell out again quickly!
March 18, 2008
Fabric collection...
Virginia Johnson's colorfully bold collection of fabrics is moderately priced at $45/yd. These very bright patterns are perfect for accent pillows.
Easter feast...
I'm a big fan of brunch! Something salty, something sweet...here are a few recipes for the upcoming holiday.
Sausage and Cheese Strata
12 oz hot Italian sausage, casing removed
3 1/2 c (do not use low-fat or nonfat)
8 large eggs
2 t minced fresh thyme
1 1/2 t salt
1/4 t ground black pepper
11 slices white sandwich bread (about 1 lb), crusts trimmed, bread cut into 1-inch pieces
1/2 c chopped onion
1/2 c fresh grated Parmesan cheese (about 1 1/2 oz)
1 c (packed) grated mozzarella cheese (about 4 oz)
1/4 c cheddar cheese
Prep: Sauté sausages in heavy medium skillet over medium heat until cooked through, breaking up with back of spoon, about 5 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer sausage to paper towels and drain well.
Butter 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Whisk milk, eggs, thyme, salt and pepper in large bowl to blend. Add sun-dried tomatoes, sausage, bread, onion and Parmesan cheese and stir to blend. Transfer to prepared dish. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight.
Preheat oven to 375°F. Bake strata uncovered until puffed and golden brown, about 45 minutes. Sprinkle with mozzarella and cheddar cheese and bake until mozzarella melts, about 5 minutes. Transfer pan to rack and cool 5 minutes and serve.
Blueberry Bread Pudding
2 c whole milk
2 c whipping cream
3/4 c brown sugar
3/4 c granulated sugar
7 eggs
2 T brandy
1 t cinnamon
1 t nutmeg
1 t vanilla extract
8 c cubed challah bread, cubed (can use raisin challah bread instead)
2 c blueberries
Prep: Mix milk, cream, sugars, eggs, brandy, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla. Whisk until smooth. Add bread cubes and stir lightly until all bread has been moistened. Let soak for 30 minutes. Add blueberries and pour into a buttered 9 x 3 x 12-inch baking dish or in individual ramekin's. Bake for 20-30 minutes at 350°F. until golden brown and nicely puffed.
To complete the feast, depending on the size of your group, add any/all of these recipes:
Champagne Punch
Crab cakes with green onion and dill
Garlic roasted potatoes
Glazed ham with pineapple mustard
Shrimp butter toasts
Spinach Salad with oranges and almonds
Strawberries with lemon sugar and lavendar syrup
Sausage and Cheese Strata
12 oz hot Italian sausage, casing removed
3 1/2 c (do not use low-fat or nonfat)
8 large eggs
2 t minced fresh thyme
1 1/2 t salt
1/4 t ground black pepper
11 slices white sandwich bread (about 1 lb), crusts trimmed, bread cut into 1-inch pieces
1/2 c chopped onion
1/2 c fresh grated Parmesan cheese (about 1 1/2 oz)
1 c (packed) grated mozzarella cheese (about 4 oz)
1/4 c cheddar cheese
Prep: Sauté sausages in heavy medium skillet over medium heat until cooked through, breaking up with back of spoon, about 5 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer sausage to paper towels and drain well.
Butter 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Whisk milk, eggs, thyme, salt and pepper in large bowl to blend. Add sun-dried tomatoes, sausage, bread, onion and Parmesan cheese and stir to blend. Transfer to prepared dish. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight.
Preheat oven to 375°F. Bake strata uncovered until puffed and golden brown, about 45 minutes. Sprinkle with mozzarella and cheddar cheese and bake until mozzarella melts, about 5 minutes. Transfer pan to rack and cool 5 minutes and serve.
Blueberry Bread Pudding
2 c whole milk
2 c whipping cream
3/4 c brown sugar
3/4 c granulated sugar
7 eggs
2 T brandy
1 t cinnamon
1 t nutmeg
1 t vanilla extract
8 c cubed challah bread, cubed (can use raisin challah bread instead)
2 c blueberries
Prep: Mix milk, cream, sugars, eggs, brandy, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla. Whisk until smooth. Add bread cubes and stir lightly until all bread has been moistened. Let soak for 30 minutes. Add blueberries and pour into a buttered 9 x 3 x 12-inch baking dish or in individual ramekin's. Bake for 20-30 minutes at 350°F. until golden brown and nicely puffed.
To complete the feast, depending on the size of your group, add any/all of these recipes:
Champagne PunchCrab cakes with green onion and dill
Garlic roasted potatoes
Glazed ham with pineapple mustard
Shrimp butter toasts
Spinach Salad with oranges and almonds
Strawberries with lemon sugar and lavendar syrup
Non-conflict diamonds...
Unfortunately, retailers around the world continue to sell conflict diamonds from Côte d'Ivoire, in West Africa, and Liberia - they are still reaching the trade, labeled as conflict-free diamonds. It is up to each consumer individually to request proof, a guarantee of it's origin. As an alternative, Canadian diamonds are being mined in accordance with the principles of sustainable development and Canada has made progress in identifying diamonds originating in its mines. The Voluntary Code of Conduct for Authenticating Canadian Diamond Claims sets a standard for authentication of claims that a diamond is Canadian -- and therefore conflict free. Adhering to The Code requires each company to initiate a paper trail that tracks a diamond's progression from the mine to its retail destination. The Code also includes rules for proper handling, packing and marking of all diamonds that are represented as Canadian stones. Even with the guidelines, there's no way to absolutely guarantee a diamond is Canadian, but the process definitely helps eliminate doubt.
March 17, 2008
The Bank Job...
The Bank Job is an illicit heist thiller film that tells the story of real life scandal in London 1971. For the first time, the story gets told through an anonymous source who constructs the details of the infamous Lloyd's Bank robbery on Baker Street. The M15 (the UK's military intelligence security agency), found a group of amateur thieves to break into the bank vault of security deposit boxes mainly to obtain scandalous photos of members of the royal family (this is suggested to be Princess Margaret) taken by a black power leader Michael de Freitas (Michael X). He held these for blackmail purposes and avoided charges for many years that would have included alleged murder charges along with rackateering, drug smuggling, prostitution and gambling. He was supported heavily by the finances of John Lennon. When the robbery was semi-successfully executed, a few of the members were hunted by a crooked club-owner whose deposit box contents included a ledger with details of paying off several police force members for years. Two of the thieves were murdered and amnesty by the remainder was sought (although it is said by various sources some were arrested), a deal was struck with the M15 agency to secure the new identities of the 4 remaining, the ledger was given to authorities leading to many arrests of corrupt officers, a D-notice government gagging order was issued to protect members of the British royal family and senior members of the parliament that were exposed in involvement with the local brothel. Michael X was found in Trinidad in 1972 where he started a commune called the Black House, when raided and burned down, the police found the bodies of Joseph Skerrit and Gale Ann Benson (a spy). Michael X fled, but was found shortly after and hung. The D-Notice stopped the story in it's tracks, as it was never published and told before now. The speculated $4M was never recovered and the contents of over 100 safety deposit boxes were never claimed. The robbery became known as the "walkie-talkie bank job" because of intercepted communications by a radio ham, between the robbers. They were able to break into the vault, because the floor was not wired to the alarm system, as it was thought to be impenetrable. Eight tons of rubble were excavated and left behind in the shop when they escaped, with the contents of 268 deposit boxes. The criminal file of Michael X is sealed until 2057 and the whereabouts of thieves unknown. An interesting film, as it exposes the corrupt conspiracy cover-up of the British government. With Jason Statham, as the lead it has an Italian Job meets Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels feel to it.
Fairtrade towels...
"By purchasing Christy Fairtrade cotton towels you are ensuring that disadvantaged small-scale cotton farmers in developing countries can improve their livelihoods."
Learn to Row...
Venture out of the city to Wesport, CT this summer and visit the Saugatuck Rowing Club for skulling lessons. Or try it out at the gym or at home, rowing is a great upper body workout, here are technique and tips from Concept2.
Caramels...
Chewy Caramel Recipe2 c heavy cream
3 1/2 c sugar
1/2 c light corn syrup
1/4 c water
1/4 c unsalted butter, cut into chunks
1/2 teaspoon salt
Line a 9x13 baking sheet with heavy-duty foil and butter generously. Put the cream in a small saucepan and let it warm over low heat. Put the sugar, water, and corn syrup in a large, heavy pot over medium-high heat and stir vigorously until the sugar melts and dissolves. Stop stirring and turn the heat to high. Cook until the sugar turns dark amber. Take off the heat.
Whisk in the butter. Carefully pour in the cream and whisk it. The caramel will bubble up furiously and steam. Whisk until well-combined and return to high heat. Bring to a boil, stirring, then turn the heat to medium-low. Clip on the candy thermometer and let the caramel cook until the temperature hits 250°F. Remove from the heat and quickly whisk in salt. Pour into the prepared pan and let it cool. When it has cooled for a couple hours, put it in the fridge to harden overnight. The next day, cut into small pieces and wrap. These are fine at room temperature. I sprinkled them with fine sugar for an extra little crunch, which was very tasty too.
Whisk in the butter. Carefully pour in the cream and whisk it. The caramel will bubble up furiously and steam. Whisk until well-combined and return to high heat. Bring to a boil, stirring, then turn the heat to medium-low. Clip on the candy thermometer and let the caramel cook until the temperature hits 250°F. Remove from the heat and quickly whisk in salt. Pour into the prepared pan and let it cool. When it has cooled for a couple hours, put it in the fridge to harden overnight. The next day, cut into small pieces and wrap. These are fine at room temperature. I sprinkled them with fine sugar for an extra little crunch, which was very tasty too.
March 14, 2008
Big Lebowski book...
I really have very little commentary for this as it speaks for itself...Urban Outfitters sells the softcover compilation of the film's trivia, photos, interviews and handy guide to speaking in Lebowski language.
Enjoy St. Patty's Day Weekend festivities...
in Chicago...Watch them dye the river green and then see the St. Patty's parade at noon on Saturday. Then stop off at one of the Irish pub's...Galway Arms, Keegan's Pub or the Emerald Loop. in Vancouver...go to CelticFest or one of the local irish pub's; Doolin's or Irish Heather.
in Philadelphia...go to the St. Patrick's Day parade and do the Leprechan Run. If you want a lively crew, go to my cousin's bar the Oakmont Pub in Havertown. The food is amazing and there is Guinness on tap! Don't miss Plough & Stars Brunch on Sunday.
in San Francisco...the Irish Fest, my favorite bars with a fun festive scene: downtown Irish Bank or Royal Exchange, O'Reilly's in North Beach, Finnegan's Wake in Cole Valley.in New York City...take a walking tour with the Big Onion exploring "Little Ireland". Go to Ulysses' Bar way down on Pearl Street, they block off an area outside and bands play all day Saturday. Or do the pub crawl and end up at Dorian's on the UES.
in Boston...the St. Patrick's Day parade, Museum of Science U2 laser light show, Dropkick Murphy's or Van Morrison in concert. Visit the Irish Heritage Trail, stop in for a pint at one of the Irish Connection bars or visit one of the best local Irish pubs the Kells Restaurant, Finnegan's Wake, Paddy Burke's, The Grand Canal, The Harp, or The Kinsale. Or at home...try Chow’s top 10 recipes with a dash of Guinness or bake authentic Irish Soda Bread.
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