tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-164378252024-02-18T23:40:55.274-05:00CALVINEArt, Food, Travel, Life, New YorkCalvinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03621733579819546891noreply@blogger.comBlogger197125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16437825.post-70416989377810426482010-07-18T17:05:00.007-04:002010-07-18T17:28:23.878-04:00Snacking in the HeatI hope everyone has survived the heat wave this weekend. Wright and I had the most delicious meal sitting in the "back forty" garden of Back Forty, one of our favorite restaurants. The food was fresh and cucumber cocktails delectable, but I can't lie, we were running towards air conditioning by the time we finished (and this was at 10pm!). We woke up early Saturday morning and headed straight Calvinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03621733579819546891noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16437825.post-24563415855786178572010-07-14T07:46:00.003-04:002010-07-14T08:19:33.080-04:00Cooling DownOh, hello. Are you readers still there? If I were you I might have given up on me. I've had quite a busy past month, as I just started in a new job last week. I'm still working in the art world, but am very excited about the transition and my new company. Though of course, it's been hectic! I no longer have time to edit blog posts while I have lunch at the office, or even (gulp) to spend tooCalvinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03621733579819546891noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16437825.post-57265866611728943332010-06-21T13:03:00.003-04:002010-06-21T13:27:48.366-04:00Early Summer Pico de Gallo: A CSA StudyThis month our CSA has started again! It is so much fun to go pick up fresh vegetables every week - I really missed having a refrigerator crowded with local produce over the winter. While the first couple of weeks are generally loaded with greens, we ended up with some lovely spring onions this week, so I thought I'd use them in a pico de gallo. Generally, my pico de gallo recipe consists of Calvinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03621733579819546891noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16437825.post-63899281916762576742010-06-14T21:06:00.006-04:002010-06-15T13:20:42.151-04:00Summer ReadingIt will come as no surprise that I enjoy reading books about cooking. I do try to break it up a bit, but most of the books I've read in the past year have something to do with food. I recently picked up the book Lunch in Paris, by Elizabeth Bard, taglined "A Love Story, with Recipes." Totally up my alley, but I was definitely worried about the cheese factor.There are a lot of these "love Calvinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03621733579819546891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16437825.post-31954343815267440332010-06-06T16:49:00.008-04:002010-06-12T12:41:03.640-04:00Cookbook Therapy and Rhubarb CakeLast week, the Sunday paper ran a review of all the stand out new cookbooks coming out this summer. I was positively drooling over each review, and trying to narrow it down to only three purchases was utterly impossible. Of course, I came home and took one look at my cookbook shelf and reluctantly threw away my list. I have way, way too many cookbooks - many which sit for months without my so Calvinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03621733579819546891noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16437825.post-79935156537939800522010-06-02T12:56:00.002-04:002010-06-02T13:13:23.909-04:00Diner's JournalIs everyone else as obsessed as I am with the re-vamped Diner's Journal blog from the New York Times? They recently combined it with Mark Bittman's and Eric Asimov's blogs, and added some fantastic new features. My favorite is Dear FloFab, where Florence Fabricant answers questions about dining etiquette. I've always liked her writing, but had no idea she was such an expert on things like what Calvinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03621733579819546891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16437825.post-26332727992999530922010-06-01T16:30:00.000-04:002010-06-01T16:31:29.104-04:00Cookin' LobstahWright and I had the house in Maine to ourselves this weekend so we decided to be adventurous and cook up some live lobsters. I'd been eagerly anticipating this activity for a few weeks, excited to try something so drastically different from anything I'd done before. I pictured us cheerfully picking out the liveliest lobsters at the pound, laughing as we had lobster races around the kitchen, andCalvinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03621733579819546891noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16437825.post-63231392013252683122010-06-01T11:23:00.003-04:002010-06-01T12:02:31.946-04:00Fresh Berry SconesI have an announcement to make: I have discovered a scone recipe. A scone recipe that is out of this world - crunchy on the outside, light and fluffy on the inside, and not too difficult to make. Scones are one of those pastries that usually allude me. Often hard as rocks or unbearably buttery, I rarely find a scone that doesn't disappoint, whether from my own kitchen or purchased at a bakery.Calvinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03621733579819546891noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16437825.post-58576262951449038292010-05-25T17:11:00.004-04:002010-05-25T21:39:29.565-04:00Ready for SummerWell, I guess you never know how many readers you have until you space out for a couple weeks and forget to post. I'm so sorry that I've been MIA this month. Is it just me, or is May the busiest month of the year? It's actually become competitive with December this year! For some reason I feel like I haven't had the chance to slow down at all this month to sit back and enjoy the beautiful Calvinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03621733579819546891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16437825.post-26783689676400719442010-05-11T16:32:00.003-04:002010-05-11T16:56:59.975-04:00Spring VegetablesDespite back and forth weather, it finally feels like spring is in full swing in New York when you visit the market. Ramps, asparagus, rhubarb, strawberries, irises, peonies... it is so exciting these days! I've been obsessing over ramps and leeks and just itching to make my first strawberry rhubarb pie of the season.One thing that I've been keeping my refrigerator stocked with these days is Calvinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03621733579819546891noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16437825.post-81483932988301203272010-05-03T10:01:00.004-04:002010-05-03T10:23:57.680-04:00Frozen BlueberriesWhile (not) cleaning out my freezer, I stumbled upon a bag full of frozen blueberries. I may have some mysterious items in that freezer, but I do try to be diligent about writing the dates on things I freeze. Sometimes this backfires. Like when I found blueberries from July 2009.The good thing about finding blueberries from July 2009 is that you know they were fresh and most likely even local.Calvinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03621733579819546891noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16437825.post-76858414020589461132010-04-30T15:18:00.009-04:002010-04-30T15:58:41.464-04:00A little Spring Cleaning...I've been reading the book The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin and have been absolutely loving it. In it, she describes her year-long quest to become happier by trying out small things, so that she could change her life and be happier, without actually changing her life (no running off to Italy or Bali for her!). There are so many different things she tried that are really thoughtful, and Calvinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03621733579819546891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16437825.post-74463459950869904012010-04-28T11:50:00.000-04:002010-04-28T11:51:45.935-04:00Food for Thought & Baking for GoodDo you remember bake sales? As a child, I remember them being a highlight of elementary school. Not only was it exciting to buy a homemade treat, but it was thrilling to be on the other side of the table and spend an afternoon baking cupcakes with my mom. As a teacher, I was always a big fan of them. Not only do they encourage wonderful moments at home (learning to cook! A fun activity with Calvinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03621733579819546891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16437825.post-75600583383808499792010-04-27T11:03:00.003-04:002010-04-27T11:46:40.034-04:00Tomato and Sausage RisottoOn Sunday morning, I (as usual) had a Barefoot Contessa episode playing while I was getting myself organized for the day. Ina was making a spring vegetable risotto, which caused Wright to immediately request risotto for dinner that night. I'd planned to make dinner family-style for a group of friends before we caught up on Lost (!!), so that seemed like a reasonable request, but I couldn't help Calvinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03621733579819546891noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16437825.post-55043855465381810292010-04-19T17:40:00.006-04:002010-04-20T12:46:44.037-04:00Dinner Party Solution: QuicheOn Saturday night, I had a small dinner party at my apartment. I'm lucky enough to have an open kitchen, so whenever I host friends for dinner, I can cook and participate in conversation at the same time. (Technically, one can do anything in my one room apartment and participate in the conversation, but let's not go there.) The only problem is, I'd rather just relax and have fun - it's kind of Calvinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03621733579819546891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16437825.post-14240911521387312222010-04-14T17:32:00.006-04:002010-04-14T17:56:34.131-04:00A Recipe Index!"Bookshelf 11" by Jane MountI started this blog when I graduated from college as a way to keep in touch with friends and write about the adventures I was hoping to encounter. At first, I stuck with my theme of "Art, Food, Travel, Life" and wrote pretty evenly about each of those topics. In fact, I just realized that the first six months or so of my blog was mostly focused on art reviews! RandomCalvinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03621733579819546891noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16437825.post-91305093603508172002010-04-14T13:12:00.004-04:002010-04-14T13:37:28.037-04:00Back Forty Spring Cheese DinnerI am embarrassingly addicted to daily e-newsletters; I subscribe to a multitude - DailyCandy, The Zoe Report, Tasting Table, Tasting Table New York, A Sharp Eye, Grub Street, Politico Daily Playbook, Who What Wear, and the list goes on - you name it, I get it. Or I'll sign up immediately after finding out about it. I don't know what it is - the excitement of getting so many emails, perhaps - Calvinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03621733579819546891noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16437825.post-70205336848602643182010-04-13T08:13:00.005-04:002010-04-13T12:01:46.021-04:00Back in the Kitchen... and baking bread!It felt so good to be back in my kitchen making a mess and cooking up a storm this weekend. I was beyond thrilled to hit the Farmer's Market for the first time since February (eek!) but the sunshine didn't exactly mean great produce - I left with two small herb plants and a large bunch of peach blossoms. Oh so beautiful, but not exactly the bundle of joy (ahem, spring vegetables) that I was Calvinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03621733579819546891noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16437825.post-54421095505271690702010-04-12T14:57:00.002-04:002010-04-12T15:18:39.155-04:00On Cooking for 25Over Easter weekend, my godmother had a casual dinner party... for 25 of us. The four families that made up most of the group (mine included) have been friends for decades, so we always have a blast getting together, and dinner at her house in Charleston has becoming something of a (wild) tradition. Needless to say, we always plea with Nancy to let us bring something or help out, but she is Calvinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03621733579819546891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16437825.post-38776645096094473022010-04-07T12:48:00.006-04:002010-04-08T08:37:59.332-04:00Some highlights from BrugesBruges, which was the first stop on our trip, is an absolutely lovely medieval town in Northern Belgium. We were lucky enough to be there on two beautiful days, and we thoroughly enjoyed exploring the cobblestone streets, riding bikes along the canals, and even taking a boat ride!Bet you didn't know I could ride a bike!Of course, a highlight was visiting Cafe Vlissinghe, a pub that has been in Calvinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03621733579819546891noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16437825.post-7436638627460196372010-03-30T14:38:00.003-04:002010-03-30T14:54:36.857-04:00Home Sweet HomeI finally arrived back in New York yesterday. Though it wasn't the most beautiful of days, the city was shining through my eyes - it's amazing how comforting home can feel when you've been gone for so long. I may have been dazed and exhausted, but walking into my apartment after almost four weeks away was beyond thrilling - I couldn't help but run my fingers along my counter top and look at allCalvinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03621733579819546891noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16437825.post-50271184815493055762010-03-15T03:47:00.006-04:002010-03-15T03:53:14.955-04:00FlowersI spend the hours of 10am - 7pm inside an extremely large convention center, the "MECC." Though it certainly provides it's fair share of dusty air, lack of sunlight, and artificial lighting, one part of the fair is a welcome respite: the flowers.Holland takes it's flowers very seriously, particularly it's tulips. And the various displays, both in the booths and around the hallways, are always Calvinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03621733579819546891noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16437825.post-24892722603810414422010-03-12T12:46:00.000-05:002010-03-12T13:15:20.433-05:00Maastricht MarketOne of the main squares in Maastricht is the "Markt" square, which - shocker - holds a market on Wednesday and Friday mornings. There are a ton of stands, selling all sorts of things, from fresh seafood to flowers, fabrics to spices.It certainly wasn't the same as the Union Square farmer's market, but it was a lot of fun to wander through and explore. I felt like a real local picking out and Calvinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03621733579819546891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16437825.post-73739866325100039322010-03-11T15:42:00.006-05:002010-03-11T16:28:48.180-05:00Snapshots of MaastrichtWorking at the fair, it is easy to forget what a beautiful little city Maastricht is.It's located right on the river Maas, with the old city center on one side, and a more modern area on the other (including a university and the lovely "MECC" where the fair is held).Maastricht is the oldest city in the Netherlands, and actually was part of the Roman Empire. There are still ruins from the walls atCalvinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03621733579819546891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16437825.post-45381292614193656882010-03-10T16:18:00.002-05:002010-03-10T16:23:16.310-05:00Missing home!Couldn't help but notice this in Amsterdam yesterday. It made me think of, well, home. I smiled. Calvinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03621733579819546891noreply@blogger.com0