Aug
2013

A Labor Day Weekend Michelada

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Have you ever had a Michelada? It’s kind of the best drink ever. I had one a few years back at Hotel Delmano in Williamsburg and ever since then I’ve been completely obsessed. With Labor Day Weekend upon us I thought it would be the perfect time to pass along the recipe for my favorite summertime drink. It’s like a savory margarita minus the tequila- essentially a beer mixed with tomato juice, hot sauce, lime, and a few other goodies. It’s downright delectable with chips and dip, burgers and dogs, and any other kind of summer fare you can dream up. And for this lightweight, I can drink a few before things start to get fuzzy : ).

I hope your weekend looks like the photo above! We’re crossing our fingers for perfect beach weather. Here’s to the end of summer! xx

The Michelada adapted from Food52
makes 4 drinks

lime wedges, for garnish
sea salt, for garnish
one 6oz can tomato juice
2 limes, juiced (about 1/3 cup juice)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 -1/2 teaspoon Tabasco or preferred hot sauce
2 tablespoons orange juice (optional)
2 12oz bottles or cans of beer (Modelo is ideal)
several handfuls of ice cubes

Prepare the glasses: rub the rims of four tall glasses with the lime wedges then coat the rims with sea salt.

In a bowl or measuring cup, combine the tomato juice, lime juice, salt, Worcestershire and Tabasco (or desired hot sauce) and mix well. Adjust seasoning to taste. Add a handful of ice to each of the prepared glasses, then divide the tomato juice mixture between them (each should have approximately 4 tbsp). Top up the glasses with half a bottle of beer each, then garnish with a lime wedge. I like to add a little more juice to my beer so it’s more strongly flavored, but feel free to follow these instructions or make it however you like.

Aug
2013

A Takeout Confession

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I have a confession to make. I don’t like take out. This is bordering on sacrilegious in NYC because the majority of the population lives on Seamless, but it’s just not my thing. It’s not that I don’t have those nights where I have zero time or energy to cook- those definitely exist. I’m just annoyingly picky about the freshness of my food. I want a piping hot pizza with the cheese completely melty, and pad thai that didn’t get soggy on the trek from the restaurant to my apartment. Snobby, I know. The only thing I’ll order is Indian, because that reheats well, and I love me some Saag Paneer.

But beyond that, I’m left to cereal and spoonfuls of peanut butter on busy nights. So when the folks at Plated reached out to me about trying their meal delivery service I was intrigued. Truth be told, because I love to have full control over my kitchen, my initial thought was- “Ok I’ll try it, but I’m not really your target customer.” But then I had a chance to glance at their site. And then I learned more about their philosophies and methods (that they care about sustainability and locally sourced ingredients). And then I discovered they’re using actual chefs to create their recipes. And then I thought, ok, these guys are different. So I gave it a shot.

I tried two dishes- the Summer Vegetable Carbonara and Asian Soy Steak Tacos with Jicama Slaw. Both were delicious but the carbonara literally had me oohing and aahing audibly while consuming. I’m not kidding. I could not believe how good it was! They totally wowed this picky foodie

But what was even more amazing, and unexpected, was that the dishes also acted as a shock to my normal dinner routine- making me re-think flavors, ingredients, and our general way of eating. While Plated makes whipping up a homemade meal a snap, what I love most about it is that it’s creative- and if cooking is not your forté, it’s a great way to ease into it and learn how to cook healthy but truly delicious meals. And it’s WAY better in takeout- whether you love it or not!

Have you tried Plated or any meal delivery service? Would you try one?

Disclaimer: While Plated generously provided me with two meals, this is NOT a sponsored post. All opinions are truly my own!

Aug
2013

On Our Bookshelf |August|

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One of the things I’ll miss most about summer is sitting in the grass — or the sand — with a good book. Curling up inside in the winter is appealing too, but not quite the same. Although these last few weeks of summer have likely been hectic, we’ve all managed to slow down to enjoy a few good books.

Clara // Reconstructing Amelia: What is it about summer that makes it feel completely ok to indulge in trashy reads? If you’re spending the last week of the season at the beach (or just want to feel like you’re there), you need to pick up Reconstructing Amelia. As I mentioned a few weeks back, if you liked Gone Girl and Gossip Girl, you will not be able to put this book down. It’s suspenseful without being too gruesome- exactly my kind of thriller.

Sarah // The Creative Habit: This one is quite literally ‘on my bookshelf’, because I haven’t quite finished it yet! I wanted something a little different to read, and this title drew me in. It’s written by a famous dance choreographer (Twyla Tharp), and discusses how our daily habits can promote creativity. I’ve always thought of creativity as something that just falls in your lap, so it’s definitely a different approach than most. This may be just the thing if you’re feeling stuck creatively.

Lauren // The Sound of Things Falling: Set in Bogota, Colombia in the 1980s, The Sound of Things Falling follows the story of Antonio, a college professor who witnesses the tragic shooting of a casual acquaintance. Left in a state of fear with crippling post-traumatic stress disorder from the event, Antonio sets out to uncover the mysterious past of his murdered acquaintance. Through this journey, you’re taken into another world-of Colombia’s drug cartel era, of fate and death, of human nature, the interconnectedness of everything, and one country’s freefall. It’s a gripping must-read!

Image Credit

Aug
2013

The Last Week of Summer

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It’s the last week of summer! Kind of hard to believe, huh? Working for myself has most definitely made me more conscious of the passage of a year, likely because now the goals and my “must get done” list are much more tangible. I’m thankful for that pressure, though. It’s pushed me to take advantage of each season, and I really felt that this summer. For the first time in years I’ve felt the sun on my face and sand in my toes as much as I really needed. Well, one could always use more, but collectively this summer involved over a month on or by an ocean- the one place that without fail washes away those gnawing feelings of anxiety. In short, its my happy place.

We’ve got good eats and good reads coming your way this week. In the mean time, if you’re hankering for recipes- hit the CC recipe archive! There’s gold in there in the form of summer desserts, killers salads, and BBQ delights. Here’s to a great week.

Aug
2013

Weekend Wishes

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Shop: J.crew’s fall collection (I hope to see some pieces in person later today. These jeans and shoes caught my eye. Also, this nightshirt will be mine : ). On a funny note, I’m pretty sure my dad still has these actual sneakers from the 1980’s!)

Eat: nonstop tomates (This Tomato Crostata with Honey Thyme Glaze is at the top of my list.)

Update: your bedding (I’ve been spending some extra time with the lovely Becca lately, and it has me re-thinking my whole approach to bedding. Stay tuned for her fall collection!)