Thursday, August 27, 2009

A Brooklyn Bride.

I was recently on one of my favorite blogs: Brooklyn Bride. I'm in no position to be married any time soon but I just adore this website! If I were to get married, all of my inspiration would come from this website. 

These engagement photos particularly struck my eye. They took my breath away! Completely and absolutely DIVINE.

Silhouettes are always classic.
I love the contrast against the aggressive black fence.
Such small dots in an amount of vastness.
Wood cannot separate true love.
Completely and utterly cute.

Post can be found here.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Tailored Tuesdays


1. Elizabeth and James "Elizabeth twill blazer"
2. Red Valentino "Ruffled silk organza blouse"
3. Citizens of Humanity "Avedon skinny jeans"
4. Valentino "Pailette embellished tote" 
5. Jimmy Choo "Billie lizard print sandal"

all images can be found at net-a-porter.com

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Peach & Creme Fraiche Pie

Humminah humminah humminah.
Not a joke people.

This is serious stuff. If you could see me right now, you'd recognize the serious expression on my face. This pie is un-fricken-believeable. Absolutely amazing if not outright ridiculous! The hardest part about this pie is the crust, other than that, everything else is a snap. Tender, sweet peaches topped with crisp streusel, all mounded on top of a buttery crust... what more could you want?!?! 

Pie crust making is serious science people. It takes care and an immense amount of love. Take the time to make it right and make it delicious! I followed Deb's directions here.
See that mish mash of colors in the dough? The more uneven the butter is spread throughout the dough, the better. Butter pockets allow for a more flaky and yummy crust:
That's the streusel. Oh my goodness how good it was on this pie, no words can do it justice!
Fresh, ripe yellow peaches:
The pie filling:
Getting ready to par-bake the crust, not the most beautiful of crusts but didn't matter to me:
Stuffing in the filling and spreading the creme fraiche:
YES YES YES! Give me more streusel: 
All ready to be popped into the oven:
All mine!!!

Peach and Creme Fraiche Pie

Yields: 1 8 -9 inch pie

Original recipe from Smitten Kitchen, which can be found here.


Printable Recipe


1/2 recipe of Pie Dough, chilled for at least 1 hour, or store bought (if you wish)


For the streusel:

1/4 cup powdered sugar

1/2 tsp. baking powder

pinch of salt

3 - 6 tbsn. flour

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) cold, unsalted butter, cut into pieces


For the filling:

1 1/2 lbs. ripe, yellow peaches (pitted and quartered), 4 - 5 medium peaches

2 - 4 tbsn. sugar (depending on sweetness preference)

pinch of salt

5 tbsn. creme fraiche


To prepare the pie dough, roll the dough out about 1/8 of an inch thick to fit a regular pie dish ( 9 - 10 inches in diameter). Trim the edges and fold under or crimp as desired. Use a fork to poke holes all throughout the bottom. Transfer to a freezer for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 400 F before you remove the crust.


To make the streusel, mix the powdered sugar, baking powder, salt and 3 tbsn. flour. Add the cold butter and use a fork to work it into the flour until it resembles course crumbs, add additional flour as needed, set aside.


To par-bake the crust, tightly press foil against the crust and fill with beans or pie weights in order to keep the crust from bubbling up. Bake for 10 minutes and then remove the foil and weights carefully. Return into the oven for another 5 minutes or until lightly brown. Transfer to rack to cool slightly. Reduce oven temperature to 375 F. 


To make the filling, sprinkle the peaches with sugar and salt. Let sit for 10 minutes. Spread 2 tbsn. of creme fraiche onto the cooked pie crust, then add the peaches and top with the remaining 3 tbsn. creme fraiche, and then the streusel. Bake until bubbly and golden brown about 40 - 50 minutes. If the edges brown up to fast, cover with foil and continue cooking. Let cool at least 15 minutes before serving. 

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Tailored Tuesdays

OH hey there fall! Are you ready for fall? Cause I sure am!

1. Crumpet "Dolman cashmere cardigan"
2. Zimmerman "Frankie halter dress"
3. Tory Burch "Bar embellished leather boots"
4. Chloe "Paraty leather tote"
5. Giles & Brother "Wishbone necklace"

all images can be found at net-a-porter.com

Monday, August 17, 2009

Video of the Day

Call me a woman obsessed...

MSTRKRFT – Featuring John Legend from vincent haycock on Vimeo.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

New York, I Love You



Look familiar? New York, I Love You is similar in form to Paris, Je Taime. It's basically a compilation of different stories of love taking place in one of the biggest cities in the world, New York. Each segment is directed by various filmmakers, then compiled with each other in order to create a smorgasbord of stories. The cast is all-star enough, but let's hope the cast, and story can live up to my expectations.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

(500) Days of Summer

Favorite movie and soundtrack of the summer, granted I haven't really watched many...


1. (500) Days of Summer -  A Story of Boy Meets Girl
2. Regina Spektor - Us
3. The Smiths - There Is a Light That Never Goes Out
4. The Black Lips - Bad Kids
5. The Smiths - Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want
6. The Doves - There Goes the Fear
7. Hall & Oats - You Make My Dreams
8. The Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition
9. Carla Bruni - Quelqu'un M'a Dit
10. Feist - Mushaboom
11. Regina Spektor - Hero
12. Simon and Garfunkel - Bookends
13. Wolfmother - Vagabond
14. Mumm-ra - She's Got You High
15. Meaghan Smith - Here Comes Your Man
16. She & Him - Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want (Smiths Cover)


The "Best" Made Even Better.

I personally don't really love love love brownies like others do. I don't know why... I don't have that gene (and I know it's strange). That gene is missing along with the "love of watermelon" gene. I feel like I am the only person in the world to not love watermelon, but oh well! 

On to these brownies... wow. For someone who doesn't really love brownies, these were the ones to convert me. Honestly, add Ferrero Rocher to anything and I'm a happy camper! But these also had a nice chewy texture which I loved. Chocolate-y and rich!



The Best Fudge & Ferrero Rocher Brownies Ever
Yields: 9 large brownies
Original recipe from Cooking On The Side, which can be found here.


1 cup (2 sticks) of unsalted butter
2 cups of sugar (original recipe calls for 2 1/4)
4 large eggs
1 1/4 cups of Dutch-process cocoa
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tbsn. vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
12 Ferrero Rocher chocolates, chopped (original recipe calls for 2 cups of chocolate chips)

Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease a 9x13" pan with butter then line with parchment paper and set aside. In a medium saucepan over low heat melt the butter. Add the sugar and mix to combine. Continue heating until mixture is hot and looks shiny, but not bubbling. Transfer the mixture to a mixing bowl then stir in the cocoa powder, salt, baking powder and vanilla. Mix until combined then add the eggs, one at a time. Once combined, slowly stir in the flour and chopped Ferrero Rocher (or chocolate chips) until well mixed. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 25 - 30 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Let cool for 10 minutes, remove from the pan and then allow them to cool completely before slicing. Enjoy!

Tailored Tuesdays

This is how I would do summer. I don't know about you but I am definitely not a shorts girl. It's simple, clean and sophisticated. 

P.S. I'm backkkk!!! Kinda depressed about it but now posts will come back again regularly :)

1. Helmut Lang "Sleeveless wool blend blazer"
2. Splendid "Cotton blend tank"
3. J Brand "7/8th ankle crop jeans"
4. Chloe "Sally shoulder bag"
5. Christian Louboutin "Fortuna 120 platform pumps"

all images can be found at net-a-porter.com

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Cilantro Jalapeno Hummus & Herbed Lebni

Yummmmmm. Delicious creamy hummus. My sister usually makes this hummus on a regular basis, but now that she has been back in school too, she's been super busy. Right as her schedule cleared up, she made this uber delicious hummus and lebni and I am thankful that I get to benefit from it. 

Delicious, stringy Halloumi.

Cilantro & Jalapeno Hummus
Yields: approximately 2 1/2 cups
adapted from Zov's Recipes and Memories from the Heart 


1 garlic clove
2 cups of canned garbanzo beans, drained
1/2 cup of fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup of tahini paste
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 cup olive oil
1 - 2 jalapenos, roughly chopped (depending on how spicy you like it)
1 bunch of cilantro

Mince the garlic in a food processor. Add the garbanzo beans and lemon juice, blend until creamy, scraping the sides of the bowl occasionally. Blend in the tahini, cumin, and salt. With the machine running, stream in the olive oil and blend until creamy and combined. Add in the jalapenos and cilantro, blend until well minced and combined. Serve and enjoy!

Herbed Lebni/ Yogurt Cheese Spread
Yields: approximately 1 1/2 cups


8 oz. yogurt cheese/ lebni
1 tbsn. dried mint
1 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. salt
3 tbsn. olive oil

Stir all of the ingredients in a medium bowl until well combined. Serve and enjoy!

How do I like to eat my hummus? I like to eat it with a big serving of herbed lebni on the side, topped with freshly chopped tomatoes, onions, and cilantro and of course with some toasted pita bread and stringed halloumi cheese. It really doesn't get any better than this.