the sights, sounds and the in between

Breakfast Quinoa With Fruit and Almonds

Quinoa cooks so quickly that you can make it for breakfast without getting up especially early to do so. But you can save a precious 20 minutes if you cook the quinoa ahead of time.

The trick here is to cook the plums just long enough so that they bleed a little bit, which makes the porridge very pretty, but not so long that they completely break down.

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon unsalted butter
2 to 3 plums, pitted and diced
1/4 cup dried fruit, such as cranberries, cherries or diced apricots
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon (more to taste)
1 to 2 tablespoons honey or agave nectar
24 almonds, halved or slivered
4 cups (loosely packed) cooked quinoa (1 cup uncooked)
Milk or yogurt to taste

Directions:

Heat a large, heavy saucepan over medium heat, and add the butter. When the sizzling begins to subside, add the plums, dried fruit and cinnamon. Stir gently until the plums begin to break down slightly, one to two minutes, and add the honey or agave nectar and the almonds. Stir together for 30 seconds to a minute, and add the cooked quinoa. Toss the ingredients together gently and heat through. Add milk, if desired, and heat through, stirring. Or serve as is, topped with yogurt if you wish.

Yield: Serves four to six.

Advance preparation: Cooked quinoa will keep for about four days in the refrigerator. The entire dish can be made a day ahead, and reheated in the pan or in a microwave.

Spicy Baked Rigatoni

2010-09-20T09:57:00.000-04:00

{dash}

Ingredients:

2 Tbsp olive oil
2 each sweet and hot Italian sausages, casings removed
12 oz. rigatoni pasta
2 cups of your favorite prepared marinara sauce
2 medium-size ripe tomatoes, diced
1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, torn coarsely
1 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp hot red-pepper flakes
12 oz. mozzarella (make 6 slices and dice the remainder)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly oil a 9x13x2–inch baking dish.
Heat the olive oil in a heavy pot over medium-low heat. Add the sausages and cook, breaking them up into clumps, until browned, 10 to 12 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to a large bowl.
Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until just tender, about 12 minutes. Drain well and add to the sausages along with the marinara sauce, tomatoes, basil, oregano, pepper flakes, diced mozzarella, salt, and pepper. Toss well. Transfer to the prepared baking dish and cover the top with the mozzarella slices.
Bake until the cheese is melted and the pasta is heated through, about 20 minutes.

Roger Ebert's Chicken With Fragrant Rice

2010-09-17T14:16:00.001-04:00

{serious eats}

Roger Ebert's Chicken With Fragrant Rice

Ingredients

1 cube chicken bouillon
1 1/2 cups warm water
1 1/2 cups jasmine or basmati rice
1 tablespoon sesame oil
2 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
1 green onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and minced
2 boneless chicken thighs, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
2 to 3 cups cut vegetables such as bell pepper, broccoli, carrots, etc.

Directions

Dissolve the bouillon cube in the water and combine rice in the rice cooker with the oils, salt, garlic, and ginger. Stir well, then place the chicken and vegetables on top. Turn on the rice cooker and allow it to cook until finished. (This recipe could also be prepared in a medium saucepan with a lid: proceed by bringing to a boil and simmering over low heat until the rice is cooked.)
Once ready, stir the ingredients well to coat the rice with oil and serve with Sriracha or other hot sauce, if desired.

Asian Peanut Noodles

2010-09-16T12:08:00.001-04:00

{smuckers}

Asian Peanut Noodles

PREP TIME: 10 minCOOK TIME: 20 minYIELD: 6 servings

Ingredients:

1 (10 oz.) package Chinese wheat noodles or 1/2 of 16 oz. package whole wheat spaghetti
3 tablespoons Smucker's® Chunky Natural Peanut Butter, stirred
1/4 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
1 to 2 tablespoons Asian chili oil
1/4 cup rice vinegar
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
4 green onions, sliced diagonally into 1/4-inch slices
1/4 cup chopped red bell pepper
Toasted sesame seeds for garnish

Directions:

COOK noodles according to package directions; drain.
COMBINE peanut butter, soy sauce, chili oil, vinegar and brown sugar in large bowl. Stir to blend well. Toss noodles with sauce, onions and peppers. Cool noodles to room temperature. To serve, place noodles on serving platter, garnish with sesame seeds.

VARIATION
Add 2 cups chopped cooked chicken.
TIP Chinese chili oil and wheat noodles are available in your grocer’s Asian food aisle.

Mashed Tomato Potatoes

2010-09-16T11:11:00.000-04:00

{real simple}

Mashed Tomato Potatoes

Serves 8

Hands-On Time: 15m

Total Time: 40m

Ingredients

2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes (about 6), peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces
2 garlic cloves, peeled
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
3 scallions, trimmed and chopped
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
2 pounds salad tomatoes (about 5 medium), chopped

Directions

Place the potatoes and garlic in a large saucepan and cover with lightly salted water. Bring to a boil; cover and simmer about 20 minutes or until a fork easily pierces a potato.
Drain the potatoes and garlic. Mash with a potato masher or a fork until smooth. Blend in the milk, butter, parsley, scallions, Parmesan, and salt. Gently fold in the tomatoes.

Edun Panel pants

2010-09-13T16:04:00.001-04:00

Edun is a new line from Bono and his wife. They want to encourage trade with Africa with this line.

{edun & treehugger}

Babergh Dress

2010-09-12T17:29:00.000-04:00

{anthropologie}

American Apparel Skirt

2010-09-12T16:51:00.000-04:00

I want to make this using an old t-shirt:

{refinery 29}

{American Apparel}

Alexa Chung for Madewell

2010-09-12T16:33:00.002-04:00

i love this sorta bookishly casual look by Alexa Chung for Madewell.

Her style is easy to wear with a heavy hand in vintage finds and that's why it appeals to me. More looks on MTV.

{listal}

{refinery 29}

{little black dress}

Crocheted Dress bottom

2010-09-10T12:41:00.000-04:00

crocheted bottom for one of my dresses that are too short...

{issa on nymag}

Grown up jell-o shots

2010-09-10T12:04:00.000-04:00

{kimberly belle}

Strawberry-Basil Margarita Jell-o Shots

1 ½ pints Strawberries (hulled)
1 bunch Basil
½ cup Water
3 TB Lime Juice
4 envelopes Knox Gelatin
generous ¾ cup Blanco Tequila
½ cup Cointreau
½ cup Sugar
Fleur de sel & Lime Zest (garnish)

Make sure the tequila and Cointreau are well chilled in the freezer. Puree the heck out of the strawberries, so even the seeds get pureed as best you can. Add enough water to the berries to make a total of 2 ¼ cups liquid. Boil the lime juice, strawberries and water. Mix the gelatin with the sugar, and then slowly stir it into the boiling juices. Allow to cool to room temperature. Add the tequila and Cointreau. Pour into a baking pan, top with the basil leaves, and chill for 1 hour. Sprinkle with fleur de sel mixed with lime zest and chill overnight. Slice in the morning and serve.

Blueberry, Chambord & Champagne Jell-o Shots

1 ½ pints Blueberries (divided)
½ cup Water
4 envelopes Knox Gelatin
½ cup Chambord
½ cup Champagne
½ cup Blueberry-Ginger Jam
½ cup Sugar

Make sure the Chambord and champagne are well chilled in the freezer. Puree half the blueberries and add enough water to get a total of 2 ¼ cups liquid. Boil the blueberry puree. Mix the Knox with the sugar, and slowly stir into the boiling juices. Stir in the remaining whole blueberries and blueberry-ginger jam, and allow to cool to room temperature. Add the Chambord and champagne. Pour into a baking pan, chill overnight and slice in the morning with a cookie cutter or sharp knife.

Chick Pea and Chorizo Soup

2010-09-10T11:59:00.000-04:00

{Goya}

Chick Pea and Chorizo Soup with White Rice

Ingredients

2 tbsp. GOYA® Extra Virgin Olive Oil
4 cloves fresh garlic, minced
1 package (7 oz.) or 4 GOYA® Chorizos, cut into ¼-inch slices
1 can (8 oz.) GOYA® Low Sodium Tomato Sauce
1 small Onion minced
1 packet GOYA® Sazon without Annatto
2 cans (15.5 oz. each) GOYA® Low Sodium Chick Peas, drained and rinsed
2 ½ cups water
1 packet GOYA® Powdered Chicken Bouillon
1 tsp. GOYA® Adobo Light with Pepper or to taste
2 cups of Canilla Rice Extra Long Grain

1.	In a 4-quart saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Add garlic, onions, Chorizo, Tomato Sauce and Sazón and cook for 5 minutes, stirring often.
2.	Add Chick Peas, water and Bouillon and bring to boil. Lower heat and simmer, uncovered, for 25 minutes or until it reaches desired consistency. Season with Adobo.
3.	To cook the Rice, follow the direction on bag.

(of)matter

2010-09-10T11:16:00.001-04:00

jewelry from (of)matter...

{of matter}

i like the logo too...

M by etaletc

2010-09-10T11:03:00.000-04:00

{m by etaletc}

Etaletc

2010-09-10T10:54:00.001-04:00

Hand made clothes. Most are one off patterns. Fabric is mostly from Japan.

{S by etaletc}

Cardiganize a Sweater

2010-09-10T10:30:00.002-04:00

{craftzine}

Stuffed Bunny

2010-09-09T11:23:00.000-04:00

{martha stewart}

Lacy Tiered Skirt

2010-09-09T11:21:00.002-04:00

{ruche}

Felt Pencil Case

2010-09-09T11:20:00.000-04:00

{martha stewart}

Recycled Scrap Paper Notebook

2010-09-09T10:48:00.002-04:00

{design*sponge}

Print Ideas

2010-09-07T12:27:00.000-04:00

{oh joy!}

Color Schemes and look for Interiors

2010-09-07T12:14:00.000-04:00

{design*sponge}

millie marotta

2010-09-02T17:09:00.000-04:00

{frolic and mille marotta}

faux fur message board

2010-09-02T11:00:00.000-04:00

{design*sponge & arcademi}

Tulum, Mexico

2010-09-02T10:16:00.000-04:00

{jc report}

This looks like a nice vacation spot.

Felt Tree-Stump Trivet

2010-08-30T16:57:00.000-04:00

{martha stewart}

Elephant Applique

2010-08-30T10:42:00.000-04:00

pony and poppy

{handmade and vintage & etsy}

rope and rhinestone earrings

2010-08-29T00:08:00.000-04:00

{ps i made this}

safety pin tank

2010-08-29T00:05:00.000-04:00

{ps i made this}

macrame necklace

2010-08-29T00:01:00.002-04:00

{ps i made this}

hodge podge paper clips

2010-08-27T16:20:00.000-04:00

{ruche}

Make Textured String Bracelets

2010-08-26T16:36:00.000-04:00

{i heart handmade & martha stewart}

Liz Earle Cleanser

2010-08-25T13:49:00.000-04:00

{ny times and liz earle}

Sleeveless Lace Dress

2010-08-24T14:41:00.000-04:00

$128

{free people}

up do

2010-08-23T23:19:00.002-04:00

{bazaar}

lace top

2010-08-22T19:39:00.000-04:00

{stylites}

Recipe Box

2010-08-07T14:47:00.000-04:00

{rifle paper co and simple blueprint}

tights

2010-08-05T17:25:00.000-04:00

$20

{ny mag and asos}

denim leggings

2010-07-30T13:11:00.001-04:00

i will resist you no more.

{candystore collective}

$108

AE has a couple too: the military ($50) and denim ($40)

Shirt

2010-07-28T11:32:00.000-04:00

I like this outfit, especially the color of this shirt. The scalloped lace skirt is on sale for $20 at Free People.

{free people}

Olivia Jeffries

2010-07-26T16:55:00.000-04:00

{pergolina}

Umami

2010-07-23T09:48:00.000-04:00

on Laura Santtini

teapot

2010-07-23T09:46:00.000-04:00

Arne Jacobsen teapot

Yes Style Dresses

2010-07-15T17:23:00.000-04:00

Yes Style

(Re)Fashioning Fiber

2010-05-18T15:57:00.001-04:00

{Art cloth text}

Environmental artist and textile writer, Abigail Doan, announces the upcoming exhibit,(Re)Fashioning Fiber opening at Tribeca’s Green Spaces NY on Thursday, May 20, 2010 from 6:30pm-8:30pm.

Doan curated this group exhibition as an opportunity to examine new ways of thinking about fiber in relation to the natural environment, our patterns of consumption, and contemporary definitions of fashioning self.

Fiber is one of the most ancient materials used in craftwork, garment production, and shelter fabrication. It serves as a resilient and easily sourced material for many of today’s sustainable design solutions as well as having an impressive history of use in personal adornment. The practice of (re)fashioning, recycling, or altering natural fiber is on the increase in art studios and fashion houses globally. This new wave of eco-crafting seems to highlight the positive ways that fiber is also (re)fashioning our connections to one another as well as our fragile environment.

(Re)Fashioning Fiber includes collaborative environmental fiber art from Iran; handcrafted vegetation jewelry from Bulgaria; sustainable, locally-minded fashion and drawings by Eko-Lab; no-waste textile fashion by Study NY; recycled ‘flotsam fiber’ from the streets of NYC; handmade books spinning tales about a global pilgrimage; crochet tower structures infused with sound; and one-of-a-kind fiber expressions from the domestic realm.

Invited artists and designers include: Abigail Doan, Atefeh Khas (Iran), Brece Honeycutt, Ceca Georgeiva (Bulgaria), Abigail McEnroe, Kaori Yamazaki, Mackenzie Frere (Canada), Matt Pass, Melissa Kirgan, Meiling Chen, Michelle Vitale Loughlin, Renata Mann, Sibyll Kalff (Germany), Tara St. James, Tara Goodarzy, Xing-Zhen Chung-Hilyard. Unless indicated, all other artists/designers are U.S. based.

(Re)Fashioning Fiber will be on view at Green Spaces NY, located at

394 Broadway, 5th Floor, New York from May 20 thru August 13, 2010.

See http://www.greenspaceshome.com/

Please contact curator Abigail Doan for further inquiries:

abigaildoan@mac.com

Updates on the exhibition will be viewable at the following links:http://eccoeco.blogspot.com and http://abigaildoan.blogspot.com

spoonman

2010-05-17T14:06:00.000-04:00

{design*sponge and fine little day}

harvey faircloth inspiration board

2010-05-17T14:01:00.000-04:00

{harvey faircloth}

Smock Skirt

2010-05-17T13:30:00.000-04:00

I want to make this skirt...(or I can buy it for $79)

{bona drag}

Erica Weiner

2010-05-17T13:21:00.000-04:00

Humming Bird Necklace

{bona drag}

House Wares

2010-05-17T12:49:00.002-04:00

Just discovered some nice house wares from Black + Blum. A lamp that can easily go from table top to floor. Great design! Called Kind of Magic from Black + Blum. And this Dishrack called High and Dry (Radiohead song reference?) is spiffy looking!

{metroplis and black+blum}

Like.com

2010-05-14T11:36:00.000-04:00

i like how this site like.com's lays out their item. It's an easy way to shop through various sites.

For swimsuits, I should check this out.

The National

2010-05-12T16:10:00.000-04:00

Yay, free streaming of their new album, High Violet, on NPR.

Stand up straight at the foot of your love
I lift my shirt up
I was carried to Ohio in a swarm of bees.

-from 'Bloodbuzz Ohio'

Adam Bartos

2010-05-12T15:59:00.000-04:00

{ny photo festival & adam bartos}

{adam bartos}

and this one from los angeles in the 70's...makes me miss home:

{adam bartos}

Polaroids

2010-05-12T12:22:00.000-04:00

The impossible Project

Balloon Shakers

2010-05-12T12:14:00.000-04:00

{time out & merchant no. 4}

Vegan Banana Muffins

2010-05-07T10:36:00.002-04:00

{mango power girl}

Recycled Bags

2010-05-06T17:14:00.000-04:00

{t magazine}

2010-05-06T17:07:00.001-04:00

{mikal winn}

{mikal winn via moon way lodge via t magazine}

African Swim

2010-05-06T16:17:00.003-04:00

{fly girls via thingies i like}

Hand Carved Stamp Tutorial

2010-05-06T16:14:00.003-04:00

{geninne's art blog via thingies i like}

Husband and Wife

2010-05-06T14:50:00.000-04:00

{goodreads & amazon}

Hester Street Fair

2010-05-06T14:27:00.000-04:00

{hester street fair}

New Rooftop bar in Park Slope

2010-05-06T14:22:00.001-04:00

The Rock Shop: Park Slope's new bar with rooftop area. It also has a pool table and flat screen TVs. But they don't want to call themselves a sports bar.

Pickle & Stick

2010-05-06T14:08:00.000-04:00

{brooklyn flea & ny mag}

Black Swan

2010-05-06T14:03:00.001-04:00

{bed-stuy blog & ny mag}

Black Swan, 1048 Bedford Ave., nr. Lafayette Ave.; Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn; 718-783-4744

Bed-Stuy Fish Fry

2010-05-06T13:56:00.001-04:00

{bed-stuy blog}

Bed-Stuy Fish Fry (801 Halsey Street, between Ralph and Howard Avenues)

Croatian Octopus

2010-05-06T12:21:00.000-04:00

Croatian Octopus “pod Pekom”

Ingredients

1000 g octopus
200 g tomatoes (two tomatoes)
100 g onions (one onion)
400 g potatoes (sliced almost like chips)
4 garlic cloves
4 black olives
1/2 cup white wine
2 tablespoons olive oil
salt
pepper
oregano
rosemary (one fresh branch about 15 cm long)

Directions

Use the whole octopus, cut in pieces about 3-5 cm. The best is to use frozen octopus, even if you get fresh one, freeze it – it will be mush softer.
Take one large pan for baking in oven. Put some olive oil on bottom and than put potato cut thin almost like chips all around the bottom.
Than put octopus, tomato cut in ¼, onion cut in ¼ , olives, crushed garlic, salt, pepper, oregano, and on the tom rosemary. Pour the wine and olive oil. Cover with aluminium cover for households preventing steam to get out: very firmly.
Put in the oven on 200°C for 30-40 minutes.
It is also very good with large white fish, or you can add shrimps to taste, or whatever sea food you like.

Eddie Bauer Parka

2010-04-29T11:33:00.002-04:00

i want this parka! $119

{time out}

Felt

2010-04-28T10:21:00.000-04:00

{how about orange}

Utagawa Kuniyoshi

2010-04-27T16:28:00.000-04:00

{japan society}

{ny mag}

Friday, March 12 — Sunday, June 13

Utagawa Kuniyoshi's vivid scenes from history and legend, wildly popular 150 years ago, are a major influence on the work of today's manga and anime artists. This exhibition features over 130 dramatic depictions of giant spiders, skeletons and toads; Chinese ruffians; women warriors; haggard ghosts; and desperate samurai combat.

Admission: $12

students & seniors $10;

Japan Society members and children under 16 FREE.

Admission is FREE to all on Friday nights , 6-9 PM.

Gallery Hours:

Tuesday through Thursday 11 AM - 6 PM

Friday 11 AM - 9 PM

Saturday & Sunday 11 AM - 5 PM

The gallery is closed on Mondays.

Shelves

2010-04-27T10:28:00.002-04:00

I like the floor-to-ceiling shelf they used to divide the kitchen and dining area.

{automatism}

kathy mellor

2010-04-27T10:11:00.004-04:00

{design*sponge and kathy mellor}

walking on a line

2010-04-23T16:56:00.002-04:00

Pony Pony Run Run - Walking on a line from SoLab on Vimeo.

dotted line

2010-04-23T14:14:00.002-04:00

{design crush}

Jewelry...Contained!

2010-04-23T14:04:00.000-04:00

{automatism}

shot of color

2010-04-23T14:01:00.002-04:00

{automatism}

Drunk Girls

2010-04-23T12:34:00.003-04:00

Blogs and Inspirations

2010-04-21T11:00:00.000-04:00

Bloglovin' : a collection of popular blogs.

ImageSpark: Collection of images

Final Print Screening Assignment

2010-04-21T10:36:00.004-04:00

I have my last class next week and our assignment involves getting the design machine done on the screen so we can be as detailed as we want. I want to do something that feels surreal and storybook. Maybe like Alyson Fox

{small collection}

I'm thinking of sticking a map in there too

{enjoy art}

Doodles, because I love doodling...

{image spark}

Graph-y lines...

{image spark}

leafy...

{design*sponge}

dandelion and old science illustration...

{botanical}