Tailored Tuesdays

Perfect for the nondescript weather we've been having lately.

1. Missoni 'Lurex crochet knit scarf'

2. Stella McCartney 'Sheet silk satin shirt'

3. Helmut Lang 'Slouchy cotton blend shorts'

4. Nancy Gonzales 'Extra large crocodile hobo bag'

5. Alex Monroe '22 karat gold plated key necklace'

6. Miu Miu 'Wedge leather espadrilles'

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

Steamed Sea Bass in Black Bean Sauce

It's Friday, and for me that means fish fridays. Well not always fish fridays, sometimes cheese pizza fridays, or fruit-filled fridays or crusty bread fridays. Basically, no meat fridays. In the past, I haven't been so good with finding good meals to eat on Fridays that consisted of no meat. Well those times have changed...

Mmmm steamed sea bass. We have a similar dish like this at the place where I work so when I had some sea bass on hand, I decided to try it out. This recipe is INCREDIBLY simple and easy to boot. I highly recommend it if you are short for time and want a delicious dinner!

The results were simply fabulous. Tender, perfectly flaky fish with some great delicate flavor. Some reviews said that they didn't like this dish because it wasn't full of flavor but that's what I like about it. It's a beautifully light fish with the perfect amount of flavor, just really simple and yummy.
Steamed Sea Bass with Black Bean Sauce

Yields: 4 servings

Original recipe can be found here.

1 1/2 lbs. sea bass filets, about 1/4 inch thick

3 tbsn. black bean sauce

1/2 inch ginger, cut into matchstick pieces

2 green onions, cut into 2 inch pieces

1 tsp. peanut oil (I used sesame oil)

cilantro or more green onion (to garnish)

In the bottom of a steamer, add 1 inch of water and place the steaming rack on top. Heat over medium high heat to boil the water. If you don't have a steamer, place 1 inch of water in a wok or frying pan and place a rack on top of it. Place the fish in pyrex dish and spread the black bean sauce over it. Then scatter the green onions and ginger on top. Drizzle the oil over the fish, then place the dish on top of the rack. Cover and steam for 12 minutes or until fish flakes easily. Remove from steamer and garnish with cilantro. Enjoy!

Perfectly flaky sea bass!

Mmmm I love Fish Fridays!

Simplicity at its best.

Favorites of the Moment

Some of my recent favorites paired with my favorite lyrics from the songs in visual form, and I'm absolutely in love with the video below! That intro is one of the reasons why the strings are among my favorite instruments.

The Morning Benders {Excuses}

Yours Truly Presents: The Morning Benders "Excuses" from Yours Truly on Vimeo.

Dan Black {Ecstacy}

Dan Black {Cocoon}

Yeasayer {Ambling Alp}

* If you didn't know, downloads are located in the {}*

Tailored Tuesdays

Wow, I just realized that I never post these on Tuesdays like their name suggests!

1. Smythe "Linen boyfriend blazer"

2. Albertus Swanepoel "Wimbeldon straw hat"

3. Erdem "Callie printed silk blouse"

4. Current/ Elliot "Distressed skinny jeans"

5. Alberta Ferretti "Multi strap sandals"

6. Fendi "Printed leather shoulder bag"

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

Apple Pie Baked Oatmeal

Oh my goodness, I've been on an oatmeal rant. I'm completely and utterly obsessed. Normally these kinds of intense obsessions are unhealthy, but in this case, this obsession is quite the opposite. It's heart healthy and it's doing all kinds of good for me. Whew...

Apple Pie Oatmeal. It's comforting, nourishing and delicious. Filled with baked apples AND topped with caramelized apple topping. I've experimented with my baked oatmeal recipe more times than I can count and every time I make it, I often omit the sugars and oils and replace them with more apple sauce. I don't include this in the recipe but I wanted to tell you guys that this oatmeal is still every bit as fabulous without those unneeded extras. For that little bit of sweetness that I crave, just a drizzle of sugar free maple syrup does it for me!
For me, it's really important to try to cut down on unnecessary sugars and fats. My dad has Type II diabetes and making healthy snacks that he enjoys and CAN enjoy makes me happy. If it still tastes delicious without that stuff then why add it? That's what I think at least :)

Apple Pie Baked Oatmeal

Yields: about 6 - 8 servings

2 1/2 cups regular rolled oats

1/2 cup steel cut oats

2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 cup packed brown sugar (or more to your taste)

2 cups milk

2/3 cup applesauce

1/4 cup cooking oil (I used coconut oil)

1 apple, peeled, cored and chopped into bits (I used Granny smith)

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

1 tsp. vanilla

Healthier version that I always make:

- exclude the brown sugar

- reduce cooking oil to 1/8 cup

- add another 1/3 cup applesauce

- for sweetness when serving, I like to drizzle a little sugar-free maple syrup on top :)

For the apple pie topping:

3 medium apples (I used Granny Smith)

2 tbsn. unsalted butter

1 tbsn. brown sugar

1/4 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

pinch of allspice

Preheat oven to 400 F. Lightly grease a baking dish, set aside. In a large bowl combine the oats, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and sugar (if using). In another bowl, combine the milk, applesauce and oil. Add the wet mixture to the dry and mix to combine. Fold in the apple bits and then place mixture into a baking dish and bake for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and gently stir the mixture. Bake for another 20 minutes or until top is lightly browned.

To make the apple pie topping, heat the butter in a medium saucepan until melted. Add the apples, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice. Saute until desired consistency and slightly caramelized, about 5 - 7 minutes. Serve the hot oatmeal with the apple pie topping and some sugar-free maple syrup!

To fork or not to fork?

Fall 2010 RTW

The next batch of beauties:

Red & Black never looked so damn good.

Most people associate Tory Burch with resort wear or perfect flats, but I've loved what she's done with women's wear for some time now, and this is no exception.

This is like my ideal version of classic New York fashion. I could see the women of Sex & the City rocking all of these outfits.

I die. Then I become reborn. Then I die AGAIN!

I don't know why people scorn Michael Kors for his work as a designer. I think that he is fabulous in every way. He takes a simple concept: Americana fashion, and takes it to a whole new level every single time.

Basically the closet of my dreams. I love blacks and earth tones.

In one word: breathless.

Chai Spiced Pancakes

Un-freaking-belivable is what these pancakes are. Really. Please, go home, scrounge up these ingredients and make these. Right now. I'm not lying folks; would I kid about such an important thing as Chai Spiced Pancakes? I think not.

First of all, anything Chai really does me in for it. I simply just love Chai that much. It's spicy, sweet and heart warming. Then to combine it with the fluffy lightness that is a pancake? Well, I think we've got a winner folks.

Joy the Baker, in all her amazingness, created a great recipe here. These pancakes are fluffy and light and have just the right amount of spice in them. I substituted some whole wheat flour just because I like the texture that it gives but feel free to use the original recipe. And please, feel free to make these every morning for the rest of the week!

A pat of butter, a splash of syrup and I'm good!

Chai Spiced Pancakes

Yields: 20 - 30 medium sized pancakes

Original recipe from Joy the Baker, which can be found here.

2 eggs

2 cups flour

3 tbsn. sugar

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

3/4 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp. ground cardamom

pinch of ground cloves

scant 1/8 tsp. ground ginger

1/8 tsp. crushed black peppercorns (or dash of freshly ground black pepper)

1 1/2 cups buttermilk

1/2 cup brewed black chai tea

4 tbsn. butter, melted and cooled

1/2 tsp. vanilla

oil or cooking spray, for cooking

In a large bowl, beat the eggs. Add the buttermilk, chai tea, butter and vanilla, mix well. Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, spices and salt. Mix until smooth, let sit for a few minutes. Heat pan over medium heat. Add tsp. of oil or spray with cooking spray. Once pan is hot, pour two tbsn. of batter onto the pan and cook until bubbles start to form on the top, about 1 - 2 minutes. Flip over and cook another 1 - 2 minutes or until golden brown.

Tailored Tuesdays & The Latest of Fall 2010 RTW

Just really, impossibly chic. Perhaps what I'd be wearing in NY if I were to live my dream and attend the Fall shows!

1. Stella McCartney 'Satin and sequin ball necklace'

2. Milly 'Toggle cotton blend coat'

3. Michael Kors 'Stretch wool H dress'

4. Proenza Schouler 'PS1 medium leather satchel'

5. Jimmy Choo 'Private strappy sandals'

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

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Some of my favorites thus far:

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For such a small color palette, Vera Wang sure knows how to keep things interesting.

Tracy Reese adds just a bit of sass to Fall.

Marc Jacobs; kills me over and over again. Every single time.

A fabulously classic collection with just a bit of modern flair.

Simply love the little metallic flairs to a comfy casual wardrobe.

And Chris Benz has once again given me a reason to smile.

All images from Style.com by Marcio Madeira

Salmon & Dill Soup

Not many words today;

Just a lovely, lovely soup.

It's a traditional Vietnamese soup that has a sour taste due to the tamarind powder and tomatoes added. Warm, delicious soup with hearty chunks of salmon and earthy dill. I'd say it almost is perfection.

Put in place:

Dig in by all means!

Salmon & Dill Soup

Yields: 3 - 4 servings

5 cans of sodium free/ low sodium chicken stock

1 tbsn. olive oil

1 small onion, thinly sliced

1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

1 lb. salmon filet, skin removed and cut into 1-inch pieces

1 tsp. tamarind soup base

Rice noodles, cooked according to package

2 cloves garlic, finely minced

1/2 cup dill, roughly chopped

Fish sauce, to taste

Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Green onions, sliced thinly lengthwise (optional)

In a large saucepot, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until tender, about 3 - 5 minutes. Add in the salmon pieces, then cover with the broth. Add the tomatoes and tamarind soup base then turn heat on high and bring broth to a boil. Some 'scum' should come up, which you can just remove with a ladle. Once it has come to a boil, you can reduce the heat to a simmer. Just before ready to serve, add the dill and garlic and let heat for a minute. Add fish sauce and black pepper to taste. To serve, place some cooked noodles in a bowl, then top with the soup. Top with some green onions and enjoy!

Salmon Dill Soup - the cinematic version.

What a lovely Sunday to have soup!

Tailored Tuesdays

Muted tones and a whole lotta sparkle.

1. Tom Binns 'Swarovski crystal multi chain necklace'

2. Miu Miu 'Fine knit cropped cotton tank'

3. Vivienne Westwood 'Red-label high waisted wool blend pants'

4. Maison Martin Margiela 'Cotton canvas tote'

5. Rick Owens 'Mikonos leather ankle boots'

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