happy birthday to me.

I have three more hours of being 25 and then it is goodbye and onto being a bit older. This year has been a challenge but a good one. I feel so thankful for my life, my beautiful boyfriend, my dynamic loving family and of course the MANY wonderful friends that I share the days with. I think this year has made me stronger, brighter, richer (yes I save in nyc) and a bit more new york (come on I am finally no longer getting lost on the subway). Although I still have not found my calling and what exactly I want to do with my life for the next few years, I have found who I want to spend the rest of my life with. Ron is such an inspiration to me daily-there are hard days in your mid twenties and no one warns you about what happens next but Ron saves me…he gives me his strength and in turn he has made me into a much stronger person. We both feel a bit lost now with our nonexistent careers, but what has never been lost is our love. If anything I think it shines brighter than ever…

So go on blow the bright candles out and suck it all in. Being 26, being happy, being strong, being loving,

being me….and that is the best birthday present that god ever gave to me. 

you gotta just ignite the light.

Here are some of our photos from our 4th of July on the Hudson.

 It was such a beautiful night with an 

amazing sunset, great weather, my love, friends

 and of course the Macy's fireworks

 (which are incredible if you have never seen them.)

Happy 4th Recipes

So as I promised here are a few 4th of July recipes. Of course to start the Holiday off right- I have included a delicious cocktail to start!


Watermelon Margaritas

serves: a pitcher of 6-8 drinks

ingredients: 

• 1 cup tequila
• 1/4 cup cointreau 
• 2.5 cups of cubed seedless watermelon
• 3 cups limeaid 
• 1 cup club soda 
• juice of 2 limes

garnishes:

• fresh jalapeno slices (trust me - so good)
• salt & sugar (equal parts) mixed for the rim
• lime wedge

You can make these either by hand or with the aid of a blender.  if you have a blender and a strainer -- you can pulse the watermelon into a pulp in the blender and strain out the solid parts before mixing with the tequila, etc. if you're at your summer rental, though, and they don't have a blender -- you can do this all with your bare hands.

Put the watermelon into a pitcher and either use your hands or a potato masher to crush up the watermelon until it is in a mostly liquid state. Add the tequila and the cointreau, let sit for a few minutes, then stir to combine. Next, add the limeaid and the club soda. Finally, juice the two limes directly into the pitcher. stir, taste, and adjust as necessary. the margarita should taste refreshing and a little tart.

To serve, run a lime wedge along the rim of your glass, then dip it into the sugar and salt mixture (a small plate works well for this mixture). Fill the glass full with ice cubes and pour the margarita over the top. garnish with fresh jalapeno slices, a lime wedge, and/or more watermelon. The jalapeno won't make your drink spicy, but you will get some wonderful herbal notes from it that for me, made my watermelon margarita experience that much sweeter. 

The next recipe is a great breakfast for the 4th of July but can also be a dessert at any party you are attending. I think French Toast is a staple in any home and this is such a easy recipe that uses Challah bread! 

Happy 4th French Toast

ingredients

• 1 loaf Challah bread, sliced into 1-inch thick pieces
• 4 eggs
• 1/4 cup milk 
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar 
• butter (I use soy butter)
• mixed berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, whatever you have!)
• powdered sugar

In a bowl, gently whisk eggs. Add milk, vanilla, cinnamon & brown sugar, and mix until sugar dissolve.

One piece at a time, dip sliced challah in the egg mixture, flipping the bread so both sides are fully coated.  You may also want to let the bread rst in the mixture for a minute, so that it can really soak up the egg mixture. Repeat with the remaining slices.

Heat a large pan over medium heat, and add butter. When butter is melted & bubbly add challah slices, making sure to avoid crowding the pan. Cook for a few minutes until the underside of the bread becomes golden brown, and flip to cook the other side. After each side has been browned, lower the slightly and continue to cook a few minutes more to ensure the bread is fully cooked though. Repeat for remaining slices of bread.

Serve dusted with powdered sugar and topped with fresh berries! 

I am still thinking of what else to make so that is all I have for you now...But enjoy your 4th! And share with us what you are making! 

Organize a Camping Trip This Summer

[At Bash Bish Falls with my man]

As the weekend approaches it is time to make some plans. Last weekend we went camping right by the Delaware River. It was a great trip with 15 friends, tons of great food and drinks, water rafting down the Delaware river and LCR (possibly one of the best games to play with a group). The campsite we went to I would not recommend as the campsite were flooded with water, making it hard to pitch our tent. The showers did not have filtered water, so it smelled like sulfur (rotten eggs), and we got in trouble for being too loud?! So I can not recommend Indian Canoe Peak. I recommend Bash Bish Falls (2 hour drive from NYC).


My wonderful boyfriend loves checklists (as do i). I know perfect match! So here it is:


Gear/Clothes

• Air mattress
• Air mattress pump (& batteries)
• Bathing Suit
• Batteries
• BBQ brush
• BBQ tools
• Blanket(s)
• Boots
• Brush/comb
• Bug spray
• Camera
• Camera Charger
• Can opener
• Car chargers/adapters
• Cards
• Cell Phone
• Cell Charger
• Charcoal
• Citronella candles
• Contact lenses
• Cooler
• Corn skewers
• Cups
• Cutting board
• Fire starter
• First Aid kit
• Flashlight
• Flask
• Flip-flops
• Folding chair
• Frying pan
• Games
• Garbage bags
• Gloves
• Grill rack
• Hand Sanitizer
• Pillow Case
• Plastic cups
• Pot
• Pot holder
• Radio/Stereo/Speakers
• Shampoo
• Shorts
• Sleeping Bag
• Sneakers
• Soap
• Socks
• Spatulas
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• Sweater/Hoodie
• Tent
• Tin Foil (heavy duty)
• Tools/tape
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Towel
• Utensils
• Water bottle/Nalgene
• Windbreaker/poncho
• Zip-loc Bags
• iPod
• iPod Charger
• Jacket
• Jeans
• Knife
• Koozie
• Lantern
• Lighter
• Long sleeves
• Matches
• Outdoor blanket
• Paper plates
• Paper towels
• Pillow

Food/Drinks

• Beef Jerky
• Beer (cans, not bottles)
• Brats/Sausage
• Bread sandwiches
• Cheese
• Chicken
• Chips- Doritos
• Condiments
• Cooking oil
• Corn on the Cob
• Donuts
• Eggs
• Gatorade
• Hamburgers/buns
• Hot dogs/buns
• Ice
• Instant coffee
• Liquor (ideally plastic)
• Meat for sandwiches
• Milk
• Pickles
• S’mores: chocolate, marshmallows, gram crackers.
• Soda
• Spinach dip/chips
• Splenda/ sweet’n low
• Trail Mix
• Veggies: peppers, onions, mushrooms, zucchini, etc.
• Water
• Watermelon

Stay tuned for some yummy 4th of July Recipes! And happy packing for wherever your Holiday weekend takes you!

Look through that window.

I have always marveled at the shape, size, and color of windows. I always base a house on its windows and I think windows really give a house personality. I looked up the definition of a window and here is what I got: An opening in the wall or roof of a building or vehicle that is fitted with glass in a frame to admit light or air and allow people to see out. I love the last part of the definition because ever since I can remember I have peered out the window to see what the world was doing, or stuck my hand outside to see what the temperature was, to see if it was snowing hard enough in hopes of a snow day and even to make plans with neighbors. I wanted to share some pictures to help inspire someone building a house or someone thinking of changing a window in their house or just to marvel at them like I do in hopes of having a house with such a window one day....

 [I love the oak wood windows-so natural]

[I wouldn't mind cleaning the dishes in front of this kitchen window]

[just amazing]

[i love the blue and white contrast with different size boxes]

[Our vacation home (rented, wish it was ours to keep!) in the mountains of italy-love those half circle windows]

[the window I look through each day]

Hello Gorgeous!

Is everyone enjoying this gorgeous weather today? I sure am and I love how in the summer time you can be closer to mother nature! Here are a few bright pictures that I took in NYC during Spring. Goodbye Spring, hello Summer! 

Carrot Gnocchi on Zucchini Boats

Carrot Gnocchi

serves 2-3

Ingredients
600 grams carrots (about 400 grams puree)
150 grams whole wheat flour
1 egg yolk
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ground pepper


1. Preheat oven to 200 C. Wash carrots and pat dry. Trim ends and cut into 1/2 inch-thick slices (very important for it to cook!) Line a baking tray with baking paper and scatter carrots. Sprinkle with salt and roast for 25-30 minutes or until semi soft (not mushy!)

2. Puree carrots and set aside to cool for 15 minutes. Add salt, ground pepper, and nutmeg. Add flour and yolk. Mix well-dough will be sticky. 

2. Line a baking tray with baking paper and sprinkle flour. Dust a work area generously with flour. Take a handful of dough. Form into finger-thick rolls and cut into little pillows. Transfer onto prepared baking tray and repeat until dough is used up. If you are making extra you can freeze gnocchi on tray and later transfer them to freezer bags after frozen.
3. To make them now, bring a large pan of salted water to boil. Gently drop gnocchi into boiling water and let cook for 4-5 minutes. Again if you are making extra drop them into salt water pan in different batches as putting too many in will cause them to stick together! Remove gnocchi with a slotted spoon.


Zucchini Boats
Ingredients 
2 Zucchini
soy butter/butter (optional)
olive oil
3 garlic cloves finely chopped
10 fresh basil leaves finely chopped
salt
pepper

1. Preheat oven to 210 C and line a baking tray.
2. Wash zucchinis and pat dry. Halve each lengthwise and using a melon baller, scoop out most of the flesh (seed part), leaving 1/2 inch thick flesh intact. Place on prepared baking tray in a single later.
3. Drizzle olive  oil on zucchini and a bit of soy butter/butter. Sprinkle garlic, fresh basil, salt and pepper on all zucchinis. Bake for 25-30 minutes (until a bit browned on top)


Cream Sauce 
Ingredients
1 cup heavy cream
2 tsp olive oil
10 leaves of basil finely chopped
handful of parsley finely chopped
3 garlic gloves finely chopped
nutmeg
salt
pepper


1) Pour 2 tsp of olive oil in a sauce pan on low heat and add 3 garlic gloves finely chopped until slightly browned. Add heavy cream, basil, parsley and stir. Add nutmeg, salt and pepper (for taste).

To Assemble

1)Place gnocchi in zucchini boats (as pictured above) and drizzle sauce over the boat. 

ENJOY!!! This is hands down one of the best meals I have ever made. I love that gnocchi is so versatile and can be made with different vegetables! To compliment the meal I would add a salad and some red wine of your choice!