Jun
2014

Watermelon & Butter Lettuce Salad with Feta & Crushed Marcona Almonds

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Like seriously, is there anything better than watermelon right now? This watermelon salad pic slays me. It’s definitely prettier than mine (let’s just call a spade a spade.) Here’s the kicker though, a whole watermelon is a lot of watermelon. A lot, in particular, for one 28 year old gal. I’ve started toying with a new nutrition app where you’re paired with a personal nutritionist and submit pictures of everything you eat (a whole other discussion entirely), and given my diet the past few days this woman must definitely be thinking… “Does this girl eat anything other than watermelon??” She’s also probably confused as to why my weekday lunches are so perfectly plated.

Anyway, this salad is straight up good and succinctly reflects how I like to eat in the summer. Simple dishes with a big hello to fresh produce. Not a ton of fussing. That’s my jam. The other thing that would be really good is if you took the remaining watermelon and made a version of this cocktail. Consider me ON IT, friends.

Ps: This recipe is part of a whole host of epic picnic recipes over on SELF.com- head over to see them all!

Watermelon & Butter Lettuce Salad with Feta & Crushed Marcona Almonds
Serves 4

About 16 leaves of butter lettuce (one standard package should be sufficient)
16 watermelon triangles (a quarter melon will be sufficient)
1/3 pound feta cheese cut into triangles (about 2 per bowl)
juice of one lemon
1/3 cup olive oil
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp fresh pepper
generous 1/2 cup of marcona almonds, roughly chopped (don’t chop too fine!)
extra fresh pepper and flaked sea salt for serving

Whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp fresh pepper and set aside.

Divide the butter lettuce among for shallow bowls. Layer the watermlon wedges, cheese, and crushed almonds on top. Divide the lemon vinagrette among the four bowls and top with extra freshly cracked pepper and flaked sea salt. Serve immediately.

Jun
2014

Sesame & Scallion Soba Noodles with a Fried Egg

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Foooood. A food post! I bet ya’ll can barely believe your eyes. It’s been a while, that’s for sure. But there’s no looking back, only forward, so let’s dive into this dish. First and foremost, it’s not very complicated, which is the general theme of what I’ve been cooking and eating as of late. I fell in love with soba noodles while traveling in Japan a few years ago, and yet up until earlier this week had never made them at home. Shameful! They cook up so quickly and beautifully sop up a soy based sauce. I created a simple scallion ginger sauce, pulling together items I had on hand in the pantry, and then topped it all with a fried egg. When topping Asian inspired dishes with eggs, I fry them in canola oil over a low flame, and then place a lid over the pan towards the end to fully cook the egg while keeping the yolk yellow (as opposed to flipping it).

A friend commented on my Instagram feed earlier this week, remarking that it looked like I’d been having a lot of fun. It honestly couldn’t be more true. I’ve been extremely focused on having a lot of fun, which has candidly meant time away from this space. I’m working to strike a balance, but right now my personal life has taken priority. After all, it’s summer! SUMMER. Doesn’t it feel so good?

Ginger Scallion Soba Noodles inspired by simply reem

9 oz soba noodles
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 1/2 cup finely chopped scallions
1 1/2 tablespoons grated ginger
2 tablespoons soy sauce
3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
2 tablespoons honey
1 1/2 tsp harissa (or chile oil)
1 tablespoons sesame seeds for sauce, 1 tablespoon for garnish
4 eggs
canola or sesame oil for frying the eggs

Stir together all ingredients for sauce and let rest in fridge for at least 15 minutes.

Cook the soba noodles according to package directions. Rinse immediately in cold water. Top with the sauce and toss well to coat.

Divide the noodles into four bowls. Fry eggs in canola oil and place on top of noodles in each bowl. Top with additional sesame seeds, scallions, and a bit of salt. Serve immediately.

May
2014

Little Details wth Lulu & Georgia

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I was first introduced to Lulu & Georgia through my wildly talented graphic designer, Erika. I always had a thing for their beautiful aesthetic, so when the time came to outfit my new apartment, I knew I had to weave in a few things from their gorgeous products! One of the things I love most about the online shop is the breadth and depth of their selection. You can find everything from rich rugs to beautifully scented candles, fun office accessories for your home, and more…

I’ve always had a thing for their mirrors, so I started there, and settled on this stunning Rusted Wheel Mirror. It really brings my entire bedroom together- and also makes it feel about 10 times larger. Key!

I then honed in on the details. I’m not one for a ton of accessories, but I really fell for L&G’s Wishbone Ring Holder and Make a Wish Bauble. The first is sweet but functional, serving as a spot to collect the jewelry normally strewn all over my dresser. And the second brings a little character to my window sill. Isn’t it darling? And lastly, their Oceano candle. It has such a soothing scent, perfect for lighting while I’m reading in bed and getting ready to turn in for the day.

Now here’s the most exciting part friends- L&G is offering 20% off to Clara Persis readers for the next WEEK with the code “CLARAPERSIS20.” I’ve got my eye on this gorgeous rug for my living room and a handful of their fun prints. What would you guys choose? Do tell, and remember you have until Wednesday June 4th to take advantage of the code. Happy shopping!

Photographs by Lydia Hudgens. Huge thanks to Lulu & Georgia for providing me with all these pieces. They’re a brand I truly love, and I’m thrilled to support them through my site!

May
2014

A Serena & Lily Bathroom

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And now on to my bathroom! One of the first things that sold me on my new apartment was the bathroom. The fact that it has a window and its fixtures aren’t still sporting mildew from 1982 is HUGE. When selecting bathroom items from Serena & Lily, I was really focused on adding elements that served to compliment the white subway tile walls and marble floor. I wanted it to be as light and bright as possible.

The Fouta Bath Towels and hand towels served as my foundation, reflecting soft hues of sky blue and grey. What I love most about these towels is one side is soft cotton, and the other terry cloth, making them luxurious but light and thus quick drying. Key for small spaces! From there I added in the Feather Shower Curtain in Aqua to give a beachy feel and provide a stronger contrast to the stark white walls. I kept it simple with the washcloths and bathmat, keeping them both in white. I love the weight and richness of the fabric for both of these items. And lastly, I rounded the space out with one of S&L’s gorgeous baskets to store towels. Isn’t it lovely?!

A huge thanks to Serena & Lily for providing me with all the gorgeous items for this post. Be sure to check out their other gorgeous products in bedding, furniture, and décor!

All photographs by Lydia Hudgens.

May
2014

A Crane & Canopy Bedroom

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I’m thrilled to finally share some pics of my new home! When embarking upon the decorating process, it was important to me that I be highly intentional with every piece that went into the space for two key reasons. One, I’m working with a whopping 350 square feet (helloooo NYC!), and two, to create a completely serene haven. As someone who struggles with sleep, creating a calm space was especially key for the bedroom. I’m a big believer in all white bedding, not only to create a soothing environment but also an instantly clean look. I fell head over heals for Crane & Canopy’s luxurious 400 thread count Linden Gray Border Bedding made with XL staple cotton. It provides that cleansing blast of white but with a hint of gray detail that really pulls together the entire look of my room. I love how it complements my headboard and bedside table lamps. That said, when choosing my bedding, I was also really drawn to the coral border bedding- that pop of color would have been just as lovely!

One of the things that impressed me most about Crane & Canopy was the quality of their product. From the actual fabric to the invisible zipper closure, their bedding is so well made. And then given the price in comparison to the rest of the bedding market? An absolute steal. They’re most definitely a company I can get behind! Huge thanks to their founder Karin for so generously sending me some lovely items for my new home. Be sure to check their site for all the other amazing collections!

All photographs by Lydia Hudgens