October 20th, 2009
The “Joy of Cooking” cookbook has been a staple in my parents’ kitchen for as long as I can remember. It holds many of my favorite recipes, including one of the best oatmeal raisin chocolate chip cookies I’ve ever tasted (recipe here. Just substitute 1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips for the raisins) . They have a slight crunch when you first bite into them with a gooey center that’s bursting with chocolate and oatmeal flakes. I made a batch last weekend from my own “Joy of Cooking” that my dad gave me for Christmas a few years back. Almost as special as the recipe itself is the inscription my dad wrote inside the front cover that I read every time I open the book (pictured below).
October 19th, 2009
I rarely used to work at my desk and instead opted to balance my scalding computer on my lap while on the couch. The bulky dark wood was not only uninviting, but the shape was not conducive to sitting at for long periods of time. I had always loved Parsons desks (where the width of the legs equals thickness of the top) for their versatility and West Elm’s glossy version fit the bill. I bought a sleek Lucite chair on eBay to accompany it and added a vintage phone and globe I found at flea markets, a simple lamp and fresh flowers.
{Before}
{After}
October 16th, 2009
There are certain aspects of my childhood that bring me just as much pleasure now as they once did many years ago (hence why I’ve convinced my boyfriend to accompany me to a pumpkin farm this weekend). This time of year makes me nostalgic for lots of reasons and it got me thinking about some of the things that aren’t quite as fun now that I’m older. I wouldn’t wish for it to be any other way, but sometimes it’s nice to look back fondly at some of the simpler things that brought me so much joy.
1. Jumping in puddles.
2. Making retainers out of pretzels (it wasn’t as glamorous once I got a real one).
3. Playing make-believe.
4. Mixing five Slurpee flavors in one cup.
5. Building mazes for my dwarf hamster (I’m still creeped out that I even owned a rodent).
6. Overalls.
7. Back-to-school shopping. Nowhere near as fun when I have to pay.
8. Collecting things that had no true significance. Stickers. Pogs. Trolls.
9. Prank calls.
10. Trying to fall asleep on Christmas Eve.
What little things made you inexplicably giddy as a kid?
image via flickr
October 15th, 2009
I typically don’t waste my time on desserts that don’t include chocolate, but when I read about this French apple tart, I knew I had to give a try. I love baking when it’s cold outside and this rustic tart filled my apartment with such a lovely scent that lingered for hours. The crust came out flaky, but not too sweet and was balanced nicely by the apricot rum glaze that I brushed on at the end. Plus, since it included apples, I deemed it an appropriate replacement for my oatmeal breakfast served with a few slices of sharp cheddar cheese.
