INSPIRATION
Obsessed.
I am absolutely smitten.
THIS to me is comfortable luxury. Just fancy enough to not be kitchy.
Luxurious chocolate souffles in this -real gold- porcelain “crumpled” cup.
Thank you Revol
Fun Fancy and I wish it were Free
11PROSE
Concrete trajectorys will not necessarily get you where you want to be. Where does one want to be? Well that is ever changing as well. Every conversation and situation slightly (or greatly) alters one’s path to fufillment. And while we are on the topic isn’t the only goal happiness. The recipe for happiness is quite different for everyone creating varied trajectories, and a ingredients for fulfillment.
Think of how an architect building a foundation when it is on a fault line. A lot of shocks need to be put in place for the constant change in play with the end goal of keeping a beautiful structure intact.
Be flexible with the ebb and flow.
0FEAST
Corn, Kale and Caper Papardelle
The dog days of summer are fleeting. Lately, there is an occasional turn of the winds that whisper fall is soon to be upon us. The brilliance of autumn, where our appetites shift yet again and start longing for glossy ribbons of papardelle with a rustic warm embrace of a ragu, is a time I look forward to. This is all well and good, but it is not fall. August is here in full force with its bounty of late summer fruit and vegetables. With papardelle on my mind, and the desire to keep it fresh and hold onto my –blue skies- time, I tossed together a quick fresh pasta that is salty, sweet and so satisfying. Super sweet Jersey corn, salty brined capers, hearty kale and a sprinkling of creamy feta hide in the nooks of the ribbons of pasta. Bathe your noodles in olive oil and have a Jersey peach nearby for dessert. There is nothing like putting the enjoyment of late night al fresco meals into your own hands.
Ingredients:
1 box papardelle, fresh or dried.
2 ounces capers, drained.
4 ounces feta, crumbled.
6 stalks of kale chopped, with hearty stems discarded.
2 ears of corn with kernels removed.
Salt
Pepper
Olive oil
1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, salt water generously and add pasta stirring to separate noodles.
2. Beging sauteeing corn in olive oil until slightly caramelized. Add kale and continue sauteeing until kale turns dark green and wilts slightly.
3. Add capers and set aside.
4. Drain pasta toss with olive oil, salt and pepper. Toss in corn mixture and sprinkle (generously) with feta.
Be sure to enjoy a peach for dessert.
1KGH PICKS
Since when do fine writing tools and makeup unite?
Montblanc…the people behind some of the best pens around have a little something to do with the best eyeliner a girl could get her hands on.
Sure drugstore finds fills my purse, by my essentials sometimes get a little more particular than what I can pick up at 2am at the local 24H Duane Reade.
Le Metier De Beaute have created in my very blue eyes the perfect eyeliner pen…and MB has a lotta something to do with it.
Available at Bergdorf Goodman.
0PROSE
TOP 5
1. Phonecalls. Bring them back.
2. Concrete plans in Real Time.
3. Creating an awareness of the correlation between what you want and what you need.
4. Approaching everything with integrity. No games.
5. Smile. Let it go.
2CONTRIBUTE
The Mission of the century old Catholic Big Sisters and Big Brothers is to strengthen low income families and help them recognize, reach for and achieve their full potential regardless of religious affiliation. (CBSBB) provides gender specific services designed for girls and boys to promote mutual respect between the sexes and comprehensive family based services, including one-to-one mentoring, family counseling, group support and skill based programs.
26KGH PICKS
Klein
My pastry tool bag, my weekend getaway bag, my purse, my EVERYTHING bag.
If I were an engineer, it would be my engineering tool bag as it was originally intended, but alas I’m just an everything girl with an everything-it-bag to boot.
The Klein tool bag has my heart. A true must-have. Affordable and chic when the Goyard is just a little out of reach. Industrial for all of your pastry tools. Washable, because well used everyday carry-alls go through a lot.
The tool bag comes in an array of useful sizes. 12 inch being the smallest, is the perfect purse. 14 and 16 inch do the trick for pastry tools and the like. 18 inch, and you’ve got yourself a weekend bag.
Being in New York I have a great hardware store below my apartment, next to my favorite coffee spot of course. The hardware store carries all of the Klein bags, as your local hardware most likely will. Amazon is also the easiest digital hub to order your bag from. Ranging from $45-$75 dollars this is a unique and useful steal.
Because Amazon Carries Everything
(Source: kghcreativeliving)
0DIRT-CAKE
This Cake is Perfect
To be so brazen, this is my perfect chocolate birthday cake. I am talking straightforward, decadent, yet fluffy chocolate birthday cake with creamy lucious chocolate frosting. Not for the faint at heart. Growing up I didn’t care for chocolate cake in the slightest, preferring angel food cake with strawberries (programmed to love a dieter’s delight I suppose!) This cake however has changed things for me. I have been making it for my friends’ birthdays for quite some time. Folks from all areas all agree. This cake is dangerously delicious and without a doubt a worthwhile walk on the indulgent side.
Chocolate Cake
225 grams olive oil
225 grams sugar
225 grams brown sugar
3 large eggs
1 Tablespoons Tahitian vanilla extract*
4 ounces creme fraiche**
2 ounces buttermilk
4 ounces hot brewed coffee
1/2 cup cocoa powder***
230g grams all purpose flower (not self rising)
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon maldon salt****
1. Whip eggs, oils, sugars in a kitchen aid mixer on high speed 5 minutes.
2. Whisk together coffee and cocoa. Whisk in vanilla, creme fraiche and buttermilk.
3. Sift dries and add to egg mixture alternating with the wet cocoa mixture.
4. Spread in a silpat or parchment lined half sheet tray sprayed with nonstick.
5. Bake 350 degrees 30 minutes or until cake springs back to the touch.
Chocolate Frosting
450 grams 66% Caraibe Valrhona Chocolate (or other bittersweet chocolate)
150 grams Jivara Lactee Valrhona Chocolate (or other milk chocolate)
600 grams unsalted butter, softened.
1 teaspoon Maldon salt.
1. Paddle softened butter in mixer on hgih speed for 4 minutes.
2. Stir together melted chocolates and stream into whipping butter, scraping down.
3. Paddle in salt.
Frost your cake in the tray.
Cut out rounds and stack a cake.
Eat it out of the bowl.
I recommend grabbing an affordable digital scale to make baking easy and enjoyable. So many recipes are done by weight and it is the most accurate way to measure out ingredients. Don’t be afraid of making treats, they are worth it every time.
*Everything starts with great ingredients. My favorite place for spices is Terra.
**Creme fraiche is widely available now. Pick it up at Whole Foods.
***My favortie chocoalte? Valrhona…and guess what you can find it at Whole Foods!
****Maldon…a finishing salt I tend to use…everywhere. Yup, it’s at Whole Foods.
(Source: kghcreativeliving)
0PROSE
Forward Motion
Everything in moderation but a constant foward movement is what I channel. Actively making an effort for your life, an ownership and tenacity is the key to fulfillment. I have been talking about building my being for years, slowly plugging along to cultivate something special, something dynamic and something very much my own. With every accomplishment, big or small…and most of them are small I get another drop in my bucket of happiness. Are there setbacks? You betcha. Big setbacks humble me, little ones roll right off my back. I do find it amusing that my forward movement is currently right out there for everyone to see and share right along with me. My drops in the bucket have brought me to a place where what I am trying to achieve is more visible and a whole lot more tangible yet there is still a lot more work to be done. Onward.
0FRESH
Post Tennis Fuel
Routines make it happen. Especially in the world of a city paced wanna-be Wimbledon star with a voracious sweet tooth and appetite for life. Monday through Friday I aim to focus before 8am, specifically through some sweat inducing Tennis. Tennis wakes me up, gets me moving, and most importantly gets me smiling, laughing and focused (albeit on tennis balls) before the clock strikes 8. After all of the activity it is a game of routine clockwork to get me on the train ready to focus at my full time job. Being a tennis star is just what I do on the side. My post tennis routine includes a cold brew and a bevy of vitamins including trusty fish oil, women’s multi and my secret weapon: a hair skin and nail formula from GNC. A solid yet easy bite is essential. Try this wheat wrap with eggs, balsamic and feta. 5 minutes (or less) and trust me your day will be on the best trajectory for success.
Fast Fuel:
1 whole wheat, wheat free, or any favorite wrap. ( I am not scared of white flour)
2 eggs
1 T Balsamic Vinegar
Pinch, Pepper
1 ounce Feta
1. Simple fry your eggs sunny side up (Try placing a lid on top of your pan to get the whites cooked all the way through while maintaining runny yolks.
2. Place eggs on toasted (or untoasted) wrap. Sprinkle with pepper and drizzle with balsamic.
3. Add crumbled feta, roll and done.
The simplest bite, with punchy feta and decadent runny yolks that wont waste your time or waistline.
Scared of yolks? Whites are an easy option, but as a person who exercises regularly I prefer runny eggs as they satiate me until lunchtime.
Start a routine. It will change your life.
(Source: kghcreativeliving)
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