CT Day 3

today was a very fun day, we went to Mystic.


taking in the sites


it was really windy out, i almost blew away


after walking around we went and had lunch at Mystic Pizza i have no pictures of this because i was inhaling the most delicious pizza i have had in months


after lunch we went into all the shops in town, my favorite was a store called Whyevernot i found this hutch there and fell in love with it, i was ready to purchase it when i realized that i am going to be moving around the country in the next few months and that not all of my new apartments would be able to accommodate my find, so i passed.


after walking around the shops we went by the river and watched the sun start setting...it was beautiful

some pics from our drive...the mystic seaport

these are my friends the geese, i didn't have bread to feed them, so the friendship was short lived

some big ships

i would live here

some more geese on someones front lawn

we decided to stop at a cemetery because new england cemeteries are amazing to me, some of the dates go back over 200 years

this was probably the most beautiful cemetery i have ever been to

land developers are probably upset that a cemetery is here because its right on the river

i love when the tombstones start to wear away from age

i think that this wouldn't be such a bad place to spend eternity

i have nothing for day 4 because we didn't bring the camera anywhere...

CT Day 2

when i woke up this morning it was pouring rain and this is what i saw when i looked up at the skylight overhead


then we got ready to go replace the belongings from my lost luggage


first we had to stop at starbucks

when we got to providence i was starving so we went to cheesecake factory, the service was super slow so we discovered the macro setting on the camera...

CT day 1

since i am bored and my luggage is lost i have decided to do a photo journal of my time in connecticut, please keep in mine that i am a point and shoot snapshot type of gal so do not be expecting anything interesting, like i said i am wasting time.


n driving and trying to stay awake

Starbucks

my self portrait

a church steeple

there are not many pictures from today, i was having breakdowns since my luggage was lost, today we are going to go buy new gifts and toiletries to replace the stuff i lost...it is also raining so there will not be a lot of outdoor time today :(

This week i'm digging...

i got this game for chanukah and all i ever want to do is play it. i think i like it even more than the 90s edition, n
has had to play this game with me for the past few nights and he also likes it, and if you ever playing this game with us you totally want him on your team, because frankly the boy knows a lot more than he lets on...

these are the game pieces you play with, yes that's right you can be a CARE BEAR!!!! i have been playing with the mead trapper keeper :) the only problem is that like original trivial pursuit they seem to have 900 questions with the same answers, and i fee like they could really come up with a better variety of questions.

Pirates and Peppermint

sunday was step sister s's birthday, we went to a pirate dinner show. This has been open for maybe two years, we had first noticed it when we are medieval times for sister s's birthday (what's with my family and dinner shows i have no idea) we were all super excited. it didn't quite live up to our expectations. i'm not really even sure how to describe the show. i was very lost most of the time, i know there was a black pirate who acted retarded and all of the other pirates kept kicking him and punching him. i also know that they introduced our pirate as antonio the italian, but ps italians do not come from puerto rico and its rude to tease people :) but overall it was a nice night, before we went to the show we all met at my dad and a's for a birthday cake i made s.

so i got the idea from this cake from the cover of a magazine at the grocery store, i looked through the magazine and saw that the frosting was whipped cream, seeing how i am not white trash this was not going to work for me, so i decided to make my favorite cake and frosting and cover it with the crushed peppermints

Vanilla Cake
1 1/2 cups self-rising flour
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
2 cups sugar
4 large eggs
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Line two cake pans with parchment paper (or lightly flour)
Preheat oven to 350
In a small bowl, add the flours; stir to combine; set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter using an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth.
Add the sugar gradually and beat for 3 minutes or until fluffy.
Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Add the dry ingredients in three parts, alternating with the milk and vanilla.
With each addition, beat until the ingredients are incorporated but do not over mix.
Spoon batter into cake pans
Bake in a 350° oven for 30-35 minutes.
Cool in tin for 15 minutes
Remove cakes from the tins and cool on a wire rack before icing.

Buttercream Frosting
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
6 to 8 cups confectioners’ sugar (i use about 6 at most)
1/2 cup milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Place the butter in a large mixing bowl. Add 4 cups of the sugar and then the milk and vanilla. On the medium speed of an electric mixer, beat until smooth and creamy, about 3-5 minutes. Gradually add the remaining sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating well after each addition (about 2 minutes), until the icing is thick enough to be of good spreading consistency. You may not need to add all of the sugar.

After cakes are frosted crush up peppermint candies or candy canes and cover the cake.

Enjoy!

love and marriage...

good news everyone, i have found my soulmate...there will be a small wedding, you will all be invited...

bangs 'n jeans...banging jeans?

yesterday was a day full of adventure, i had a haircut appointment at 5:30, so i figure perfect get down there a little early go to macy's and find the adorable gray skinny jeans that d just got for $20.....false.

i am driving down the 405 and notice, floating, larger than life in the air this GIANT lit up cross, i made some comment about jesus and continued driving... of course karma felt the need to kick my ass and i spent the next hour in bumper to bumper traffic,so i'm sitting there frustrated and annoyed and my car beeps because i am about to run out of gas, i have to get off the freeway and i end up lost in long beach for 10 minutes, but i get back on the road to continue sitting in traffic.. i end up 30 minutes late to my appointment, to find out A was running late so i sat reading for another 30 minutes, but my hair ended up looking adorable, since i have huge life changes right now i did something drastic and got bangs! but they are cute, i will post pictures on myspace later. D has seen it and she can tell you its cute. so by the time my hair is done its already 9 but i figure i really need some skinny gray jeans, so i head over to macy's. now a few weeks ago D got the most amazing pair of skinny gray jeans on sale at macy's and i have seriously gone to every macy's in orange and la county trying to find a pair, but clearly she got the last one, she said there were tons left when she went, but this is a lie. so of course this macy's didn't have them either, then i fell in love with a pair of joes, but only fat ass sizes were left, i finally found a pair of paige that were cute enough to wear of course the were not $20. so i leave feeling happy with my new hair and new jeans. i step outside to go to my car and it is POURING rain, so this means i have to drive 40 minutes back home, without headlights (yes i realize i should do something about this), in the rain. now i have not problem driving in the rain, there are days i spend 4 hours on the road so i am comfortable behind the wheel, unfortunately california drivers forget how to drive once it starts to rain. i understand wanting to slow down, i mean i decrease my speed to 80 once it rains, but i do not understand these assholes who forget how to use their blinkers when its raining!!! seriously people get with the program! anyways that was my yesterday...the moral of this story is don't talk bad about floating crosses or jesus will punish you.
right now i am getting ready to go to brunch and i have a cake for step sister S's birthday baking in the oven, i will post later about the cake and her party....
god bless! :)

even Santa needs a helping hand...

today dad and A were on sunset blvd. they see a guy dressed as santa, of course dad honks for santa to come over to his car this is what santa told them: Mrs. Claus left him to go to Rodeo drive to do some "light" shopping and he hasnt seen her since. And he needed money for beer while he was waiting for her return.

true story...

the road goes on forever....

i start my holdiay travel the 21st, i get back the 7th of january then move the 13th. a few weeks left in southern california. strange to think i will probably never live here again.

pinot noir

lately i've been on a pinot kick...last night i found a great bottle and i wanted to share. its the 2005 sterling vintner's collection. it is a little flat at first but it has an AMAZING finish. its great with food or alone. its reasonably priced, so go get a bottle and enjoy!

Sunday Nights

my favorite thing growing up was sunday night dinner, whether its was just the immediate family or twenty people they were always the best, good food, good conversation and most importantly great company. its one family tradition i try to keep going, i usually try to make something i've never tried before, however there are nights like tonight when i've spent the day running around and don't get home until later and i have to make something simple. tonight i made one of my favorites,
i usually cook it on weeknights because its so easy and healthy. its salmon cooked in parchment paper, super yummy! i think i originally copied this recipe from a martha stewart magazine but i don't remember...a note about parchment if you have never used it to cook with it is amazing, when cooking fish in it there is no need for butter or oil, it stays moist and delicious, parchment is also wonderful for baking...

salmon cooked in parchment
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon coarse salt
1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
3 large carrots, julienned
1/2 head Napa cabbage, shredded
4 fillets (1 1/2 pounds) salmon
Preheat oven to 450°. In a medium bowl, whisk together 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, 1 teaspoon coarse salt, and 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper. Add 3 large julienned carrots and 1/2 head shredded Napa cabbage; toss to combine. Set four 15-inch squares of parchment on work surface. Use a slotted spoon to mound carrot mixture on one side of each sheet; reserve liquid in bowl. Roll 4 salmon fillets (1 1/2 pounds total) in reserved liquid. Place a fillet on each pile of vegetables; season with salt and pepper. Fold parchment over contents; pleat edge to seal, forming a half-moon. Bake on a baking sheet 20 minutes. To serve, cut paper with kitchen scissors to open.

tonight i served it with roasted garlic and red potatoes and broccoli. i paired it with a pinot noir, a lot of people think that fish is only supposed to be served with whites, but the traditional pair with salmon is a pinot noir, you should try it, it is a wonderful compliment. if you insist on having a white with it then i recommend a pinot gris.

a day at the getty

as most of you know one of the best experiences i've ever had in my life was the opportunity to stay for a few days at a russian orthadox monastery and convent outside of albuquerque, new mexico. the monks and nuns were some of the most spiritual, kind, amazing people i have ever encountered in my life time. i spent the mornings walking the gardens with father simeon, who taught me so much about myself, people and the world. i spent the evenings after dinner in the convent with the nuns, who were amazing women and surprisingly funny. the monastery did incredible community outreach but one of the most interesting things were the icons they had collected and even painted. it really got me into icons and the whole thinking behind them.

right now the getty has on loan from st. catherine's monastery, located on mt. sinai, some of the most incredible icons in the world, many of them dating before the iconoclasm period. the exhibit was breathtaking, the lighting was dim, and they played a cd of monks chanting, it was a truly moving experience. if you are in the LA area i highly recommend seeing them, as they do not generally travel and its not so easy to get to mt. sinai. they are on exhibit until march 4th. this was my favorite of the day:

Saint Theodosia

now the getty is a great museum and all but its not one of my favorites so imagine my surprise when there was another INCREDIBLE exhibit there today, the exhibit was called "where we live photographs of america" this exhibit runs until february 25th. if you like photography it's worth checking out. some of my favorite photographers featured were, Mitch Epstein, Joel Sternfeld, Jim Dow, and William Eggleston. there were so many great things about this exibit, joel sternfeld was showing photographs where tragic events had taken place, it was a great idea. one of my other favorites was the photos of churchs in rural areas. of course i love all things mitch epstein and this was my favorite photo of the day "untitled New York":

so you should all go to the getty, on days like today it is incredible, it was warm and clear, you could see for miles. the gardens are beautiful, you can even have a picnic on the lawn, or sit by a fountain and read a book, or you can be like me and people watch, you may even see this woman and her butt crack:

or if you're really lucky you'll see this stone cold fox walking around ;)

Mary had a little lamb and she ate it for Shabbat dinner

last night i went over to my dad and a's for Shabbat dinner, now i have eaten at some incredible restaurants in my time, but my dad is hands down the most incredible cook in the world. i would even go as far as saying he deserves a show on food network. he made lamb, couscous, and vegetables. and of course A made her world famous challah which she was kind enough to give me the recipe for.


Challah

Preheat Oven to 350

3 packages dry yeast
2 1/2 cups warm water
1 tablespoon sugar

5 eggs (room temperature)
2 cups water
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons salt

1 bag flour (5 lbs-better for bread is best, but all purpose is great too)
1 cup oil

Mix yeast with warm water and sugar in a bowl. Set aside for about 10 minutes, it will start to foam.
Meanwhile beach eggs with water, sugar and salt.
Add flour 1/3 of the bag at a time. Add oil slowly and knead.

Eggwash: 1 beaten egg plus 2 tablespoons sugar-mix and brush on top of challah
Bake at 350 for 35 minutes to an hour (or when challah is golden brown)

one of the fancy things A does to her challah is add stuff, she makes chocolate chips challah, she adds fruit, puts sesame seeds on top, so really you can get creative with this.

Lamb

Serves 8
3 lbs of lamb
kosher salt
pepper
rosemary

cooked in smoker with apricot wood, 550 degrees
*if you do not have a smoker* turn broiler on 2 1/2 minutes a side or until done

Mixed veggies
Butternut squash
Greenbeans
Baby cauliflower
Italian Squash

Turn on broiler cook for 3-5minutes

Another Thing in Common

when d and i were kids i used to keep a tally sheet in my diary of all the things we had in common, my diary entry would be something like "d and i both like to take baths, instead of showers, that makes 503 things in common." after chatting with her most of the day on g mail i realize that after 16 years of friendship we still find new things we have in common, it makes me smile as i cry out in my head "ANOTHER THING IN COMMON!"

World AIDS Day

Baby its cold outside

today really felt like autumn so i felt like a hearty yummy meal. i decided on turkey chili, it takes awhile to cook, but it is well worth it, originally i wanted to put the chili in a sourdough bread bowl, but the bakery was out of sourdough.

Turkey Chili
1 pound lean ground turkey
1 small onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
3 (15 oz) cans dark red kidney beans (drained)
3 (14.5 oz) cans stewed tomatoes (undrained)
1/2-1 cup water (depending on consistency you want)
2 celery stalks, chopped
1 medium bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1/4 cup vinegar
2 tablespoons chili powder (you can add more depending on how spicy you want it)
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon parsley
1 teaspoon basil
1/2 cup red wine
Cheese (for topping)
Sour cream (for topping)

Brown the turkey, onions and garlic. Remove from heat and drain. Transfer to large stockpot. Add remaining ingredients except for the red wine, bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for a min. of 2 hours. Add the wine and cook for another hour. Top as desire.

i served mine with french bread, which was pretty good. i feel like it would have been better if i had used a cabernet for the wine, but i only had pinot so i used that. its not spicy so if you are looking for a texas style hot hot hot chili, then this is not for you. i just wanted something mild and not to filling, it did the trick.

Spies Like Us

when n and i first started dating, he had just started seeing a new therapist. n was discussing my emotional detachment, the therapist asked him "how do you know she's not a russian spy?"

i don't know why i woke up thinking about this...

rothko

for all you so cal people: http://www.moca.org/museum/exhibitiondetail.php?id=386

its amazing, go check it out, i think it runs through january...

save darfur

if you have not done so already please go to savedarfur.org, inform yourself, write letters, donate money, its our responsibility as humans to do something...

the blog bandwagon

i figure with the amount of time i spend on the internet i should really have a blog, so here we go.........