French Macarons

This is a post I've been meaning to do for quite some time. I actually have let life take over and been terrible about posting! A few months ago my mother and I attempted to make our own french macarons. The first attempt was a huge failure. From what I've read on other blogs this is quite common considering there is so much that can go wrong when trying to make the perfect french macaron. I read all that I could find online and on our second attempt they came out just right! I love how they look and taste. We were planning on making them as favors for my future wedding but now I think that would cause too much stress before the big day so maybe we will just make some for dessert in addition to the cake to look pretty on the table! These were aqua with a lemon buttercream in the middle.

A Few of My Favorite Things...02.02.2011

 Making paper flowers...this was Martha Stewart's tissue paper flower making kit I bought a looong time ago and finally made them! I love them now and they are in a vase in my living room.

This is a tray that I decoupaged over the original image with magazine clippings I had saved and a quote I liked. I love collages and decoupaging and I hadn't done it in quite some time so this was really fun!

These squishy blocks from Target. I bought them for Baby V for Christmas and I didn't know if he would even really play with them but they are great. I can stack them up and he knocks them over and they can't hurt him and he squeezes them and chews on them. Plus they look cute.

And lastly, these pictures of Baby V. He is getting enormous!! My mom bought him this funny hat at a children's consignment store and then Daddy is holding him up to see the crazy amounts of snow we have been getting lately!

Fab Food on a Snowy Day 02.01.2011

picture via

• I cannot rave enough about Giada's pea pesto crostini. The pea puree is so delicious I have used it in omelettes and on sandwiches as well and everyone loves it. This recipe is a simple and healthy appetizer that you will make again and again.

• Why not make this beautiful pink ruffle cake for Valentine's Day?

•  Mmm...healthy smoothies are an easy breakfast anyday...although where I live right now we have so much snow I don't know who's in the mood for anything cold!

• Roasted beets with goat cheese are one of my favorite treats! Just cut the ends off of beets, throw them in the oven on a baking sheet drizzled with olive oil at 400 degrees for about an hour (check on them and depending on their size see when they are easily sliced through). Let cool slightly and peel the skins off, chop as desired and sprinkle with salt and pepper and crumbled goat cheese. Enjoy!

• Drool over the gorgoues pictures (as always) of food at Cannelle et Vanille. Then try to make the Chocolate and Raspberry Financiers.

• Start to dip into all your preserves. We get jellies from a man my Dad works with every year and are lucky enough to nearly never have to buy store bought jams or jelly. Check out these gourmet jams. 

• Heart shaped scones to warm you up on a chilly morning.

• I love this vintage cake icing set!  

• 20 Ways to Roast & Warm Up

Fab Artist: Melissa Nucera "This Years Girl"

I actually came across this artist's photographs through Etsy's little program that finds things for you based on your taste. I want the Little Prince series for Baby V's new nursery! I am beyond excited to start decorating his nursery when we move into our new place. Up until now he has just been living in our room with us in our one bedroom loft apartment and finally we are getting a proper two bedroom. Melissa Nucera's Etsy shop called This Years Girl has gorgeous altered photographs that she sells as prints, pins, cards, and even adorable lockets.

Aren't these beautiful? I think the little animal prints lined up on Baby V's wall would look amazing. Check out more of her work at her shop.

Don't Forget to Enter My Giveaway!!!

Fab Open Sky

I just wanted to showcase some of the awesome products in my OpenSky shop. These are just a few of my favorites.

Top from left to right:
* Organic Chamomile Milk Bath for Mom & Baby
* Orchid Wall Art
* Grow Food vintage style poster
* Glass Glitter Rainbow Bottle Set

Bottom from left to right:
* Lonnie the Boston Terrier door stop
* Mailbox Fill & Spill plush for baby
* Flat Cats-snuggly blanket/stuffed animal hybrid
* Pillowcase dress

Don't forget--With this promo code: 11102Join30pct  you get 30% off your entire purchase under $100! Only until November 21st!

A Few of my Favorite Things...11-12-2010

First off, Yogi Green Tea Super Antioxidant--so delicious and gives you just enough caffeine to wake up a little bit but not be jittery like coffee, and it's healthy! Another little perk, my tea bag tab this morning said, "When ego is lost, limit is lost. You become infinite, kind, beautiful." : )

---------------------------------------------------------------------

The website, Lose it! I actually saw a sign about this website in my doctor's office the other day! It is an iphone app but I don't have an iphone and I went to the website and it's basically like free Weight Watchers. Since I've been doing my 30 Day Total Health Makeover, I've been writing down everything I eat and do for exercise anyway. This site makes it even easier to keep track of how many calories you consume and reaching your weight loss goal.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Ezekiel bread that I bought at Trader Joe's. It's a sprouted, flourless bread so it's much better for you than even whole wheat bread. It tastes great too, we just have a slice as a snack with some Smart Balance spread on it.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Baskets! I never used to like baskets, but we received a lot at my baby shower and from people when the baby was born because they would fill them with gifts. They have become a life saver for storing and organizing baby products, blankets, etc.! 

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Fab OpenSky store. I just started my own OpenSky store! I love all the cool products they have to select from. I definitely am going to get Baby V some Christmas presents from this site. Since I started a new store I get a coupon code that anyone can enter to save 30% off of any order under $100. Visit the store and enter this coupon code: 11102Join30pct  at checkout but hurry because it's only until November 21st!

Barefoot Contessa book signing

I completely forgot to write about the Ina Garten book signing I went to a couple weeks ago. My mom and I waited in line for 3 hours to get Ina Garten's newest book, barefoot contessa how easy is that? signed. It actually went by very fast and there were way more people behind us in line! Unfortunately, since there are so many people waiting, they rush you through very quickly but we managed to exchange a couple words and I got a picture with her! I'm a huge food nerd and I pretty much only watch The Food Network and Top Chef (my favorite show of all time) on Bravo. Anyway, the cookbook is great, Ina Garten is one of the few TV chefs that everything you make of hers tends to come out good. Her apple crisp is one of the best I've ever had and I've tasted it made by 3 different people and it's delicious every time!

One of the recipes in this new cookbook is very simple: truffle popcorn. She recommends D'artagnan white truffle butter. I actually bought the black truffle butter by mistake when I made it but it still came out delicious. I despise mushrooms of all kinds but I don't even know that truffles should be classified as mushrooms on the taste scale because they far surpass that. I would definitely recommend this butter to amplify any dish and bring a touch of elegance--even to popcorn!

Caramelized onion & Goat cheese tarts

I made these the other night for dinner and they were so delicious! I know not everyone loves goat cheese but it's one of my favorites. Now I have to think of an interesting recipe of my own to use with the left over puff pastry! I actually substitued cheddar for parmesan but I'm sure it's fantastic either way. Find the recipe here.

Tuna Casserole

I never liked tuna casserole until recently. This recipe makes me go back for more and more!

Tuna Casserole

2 cans of Chunk Light Tuna

1 bag of Egg Noodles

1 bag of Frozen Peas, Thawed

1 Medium Onion, diced

1 clove of Garlic, minced

4 Tablepoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil

2 tsp. dill

1 tsp. red pepper flakes

1 tsp. dry mustard

1 cup of grated Cheddar Cheese

2 cups of 1 % milk

3 Tablespoons of Butter

2 Tablespoons of Flour

Breadcrumbs

Salt & Pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Set pot of water to a boil.

In the meantime, sauté onions in olive oil until slightly soft. Then add tuna, peas, garlic, and spices, and sauté until peas are warm and flavors have combined, remove from heat.

When water boils, salt, and add egg noodles.

Make a roux with 2 Tbs. of the butter and flour over low heat, add half of the cheese and whisk until melted.

Once pasta has cooked, combine with milk & cheese mixture and then combine this mixture with tuna and peas.

Butter a 13 x 9 glass baking dish. Pour ½ of pasta mixture into baking dish, top with the rest of the cheese, and pour the rest of the pasta on top of that.

Mix 1 Tbsp. of butter with breadcrumbs and mix with fingers until small balls form. Top casserole with breadcrumb mixture.

Bake uncovered for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown on top.

Salem Adventure & The Landing Restaurant

Sorry I've been on a little hiatus. Saturday we went to Salem, MA because even though I've lived in New England my whole life I have never been there, nevermind been there in October for all the spooky Halloween festivities. However, it was a huge and extreme bust! We got there and it was mobbed, we drove around for an hour and a half and NEVER found a parking spot! I saw so many cool shops and activites that I wanted to visit but was unable to. So the plan is to definitely go back someday but NOT IN OCTOBER!

Picture taken through the car window while driving by in Salem.

The trip's saving grace was that we were starving and needed to find food somewhere nearby before making the hour and a half trek home. We ended up in Marblehead and the Baby's Daddy pulled into a parking lot at a random place to turn around. I saw a sign for dining at a pub next to the ocean. He exclaimed, "We are not bringing a baby into a bar!" But I insisted that it said 'Dining' and would be fine. Upon entering we were quite surprised to find a nice restaurant!

We asked the hostess to seat us at a booth since we had the baby in his carseat with us and she graciously obliged. We ended up in a cozy nook next to the window right next to the fantastic ocean view of mansions and sailboats. The low ceilings and dark exterior makes one feel as if they have stepped into the galley of an ancient sailboat. A waiter came by to light the small oil lit candle on our table, and baby V rested peacefully beside me in my booth seat. We both ordered clam chowder to start and after the first bite glanced up at each other and smiled in delicious approval. This was good!

I didn't have to look at the menu long before deciding on Lobster Mac 'N Cheese. I have only had it once made by mother on Christmas day and it was wonderful but I don't trust that the lobster will be fresh enough at many restaurants. Here, with a small dock bobbing on the water right next to me, I figured it was safe to bet the lobster would be fresh. Baby's Daddy ordered Cajun Blackened Swordfish with rice pilaf and a pineapple salsa.

Needless to say, both our meals were delicious. My Mac 'N Cheese came out piping hot and bubbly. The gooey, cheesiness was hidden beneath a herb-infused breadcrumb crust. Large chunks of lobster were studded throughout, including 3 whole luscious claws. The swordfish was perfectly cooked and tasted amazing when paired with the pineapple salsa that was mixed with strawberries.

Have I forgotten to mention the name of this fabulous restaurant; The Landing, found in Marblehead, MA, certainly a gem, though maybe not so hidden. My only regret is that we could not try more of the menu.

The Sandwich Fair, Part Two

I am in love with the carousel photos!

See more photos at my Flickr.

The Sandwich Fair, Part One

New England's Fall is filled with fairs and festivals. This year it was the 100th anniversary of the Sandwich Fair in New Hampshire. My grandmother even has a picture of her eating a candy apple at this fair when she was a little girl. Now, it has become more like a mainsteam fair filled with junk food and carnival rides but it still preserves its origins through agriculture, animals, and crafts.