Back in my bachelorette pad days, my kitchen was so tiny that I could barely turn around, let alone put together an elaborate meal. When dining out got old, there was many a night that I relied on my trusty crockpot for a tasty homecooked meal. Space was so tight that I had to sit the appliance on the drop-leaf table in my living room (there simply wasn’t enough space on my kitchen counter). Fast forward a few years, I now have a grown-up sized kitchen (well, at least by NYC-standards), but I still love a great slow cooker recipe… especially when I’m short on time. I love that I can just drop the ingredients in before work and come home to something spectacular.  The following recipe is one that I adapted from Real Simple Magazine.

Ingredients

• 8oz package of baby portabello mushrooms, trimmed and halved
• 4 large carrots, chopped into 1-inch pieces
• 1 medium yellow onion, coarsely chopped
• 1/3 cup flour
• A few of sprigs of fresh thyme
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 1/2 pounds of boneless skinless chicken breasts (you can substitute thighs, if you prefer dark meat)
• 1 sheet puff pastry
• 1 cup frozen sweet peas
• 1 cup frozen string beans
• 1/3 cup heavy cream
• salt & pepper

Preparation:

• Combine mushrooms, carrots, onion, flour, thyme, bay leaves, and 1/2 cup water in 4-6 quart slow cooker. Season chicken with salt and pepper and place on top.
• Cover and cook 7-8 hours on low or 4-5 hours on high.
• 30 minutes before serving, preheat oven to 425 degrees. Cut puff pastry sheet into four 4.5 circles and place on a baking sheet. Bake 8-10 minutes, or until golden brown.
• 10 minutes before serving, add frozen vegetables, cream and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Cover and heat through.
• Using two forks, shred chicken into bite size pieces.  Spoon chicken mixture into bowls and top with pastry rounds to serve.

Slow cooker recipes are pretty fool-proof, but the one thing I can’t recommend enough is springing for an appliance that has a built-in timer.  It makes life so much easier when you don’t have to worry about the food overcooking!

{Benedetta Novi Jacket, Uniqlo Turtleneck, Forever 21 Skirt, Hue Tights, Zara Shoes}

I fear that I may be committing a fashion sin by wearing black and brown together.  But somehow I think it works in this outfit since the brown is closer to a rich caramel color.

I originally wore this outfit to work with a pair of spiked heel ankle boots, but my poor tootsies were in dire need of a break after a full week of pavement pounding.  Enter my little Victorian-esque booties that I picked up at a Zara clearance sale a while back.  They kind of remind me of Little House On the Prairie.

{Marc Jacobs Dress & Sunglasses, Banana Republic Blazer, Uniqlo Tights, Miu Miu Shoes (similar)}

Way back when, I tried my hand at making a few extra bucks by hawking wares on eBay.  This dress was originally a purchase that was intended for the auction block.  When it didn’t sell on the first try, I went ahead and kept it for myself.  And hence the reason why my eBay business was short-lived…

Rule #1: Never get high on your own supply!

{H&M Hat, French Connection Jacket via Loehmann’s, Zara Skirt, Cole Haan Handbag, Forever 21 Sunglasses & Necklace, Hue Tights, Fendi Boots (similar)}

I was feeling rather playful this weekend, and I think it shows in today’s outfit.  This jacket is hands-down one of my favorites, and I decided to play up the rainbow confetti tweed with a pair of kooky tights.

{Uniqlo Shirt, c/o J. Brand Jeans (#811 in Dark Worn), Forever 21 Cuffs, Necklace  & Sunglasses, Dooney & Bourke Handbag, Christian Louboutin Shoes}

Some days, I find I just want to throw on something simple.  And what could be less fussy than a crisp white button-up shirt and jeans?

With an outfit like this, it’s all about the details: a tunic-length top that nips in a bit at the waist, sky-high heels that help lengthen the leg, and bronze accessories that add a touch of bling…

Sometimes less really is more.

{H&M Beanie, Uniqlo Tunic, Old Navy Vest, Romeo & Juliet Couture Leggings via Hautelook, Elliott Lucca Handbag (similar), Fendi Boots (similar), Marc Jacobs Sunglasses}

It’s finally Friday, and I’m officially looking forward to a looooong break.  Happy President’s Day weekend!

{Club Monaco Jenni Cap, Zara Coat, Asos Sweater Dress, Wolford Tights, Fownes Leather Gloves, H&M Earrings, Dav Rainboots via Gilt Groupe}

Last week, we had one of those rainy/snowy/slushy days that I live for.  Seriously, any excuse to break out a cute pair of rain boots is a-ok in my book!  I stocked up on a few pairs of winter boots back in December, but the weather’s been so mild this season that I’ve hardly had a chance to wear them.  Ah well, c’est la vie!

I was sort of in a rush when I took these pics and forgot to snap a few without my jacket, but you can check out the details of my dress in a previous post.  Speaking of my jacket… isn’t it the cutest? I love how it’s collarless, and it looks great with turtlenecks and tie-neck tops and dresses like the one I’m wearing here.  And best of all, it was only $40 on clearance!

I typically don’t keep much junk food in the house, but I recently stumbled across a recipe for homemade cheeze-its and couldn’t wait to test them out for myself. These turned out great, and I don’t think I’ll be returning to the store-bought version any time soon!

Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 8 oz. shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 4 tablespoons cold butter
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (I didn’t have any cayenne pepper on-hand, so I just used crushed red pepper flakes)

Preparation:

Combine ingredients in a food processor and blend until crumbly. Add cold water 1 tablespoon at a time until the mixture forms into dough (I wound up using 2 tablespoons). Shape into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

Place the dough on a floured surface and roll out with a rolling pin until it’s 1/8 inch thick. Cut dough into 1×1 inch squares using a serrated knife. Poke center of each square with one prong of a fork or the blunt end of a skewer. Sprinkle with extra salt on top.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or spray with baking spray. Place crackers on sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.

Cool, and enjoy!

A few pieces of advice:

• Be sure to roll out the dough until it’s 1/8 inch or else the crackers won’t be thin and crispy
• Sprinkle the salt on top VERY sparingly or even skip this step altogether if you don’t want the crackers to turn out too salty
• Unless you have a vacuum sealer, I recommend eating these as soon as they cool because they tend to lose their crispiness the next day

{Military Beret via Cockpit USA (similar), Uniqlo Dress (similar), Michael Kors Boots via Loehmann’s, Second-Hand Belt}

At the risk of leaving myself vulnerable to sideways glances from my readers, I’ve mentioned previously that I sometimes take my outfit cues from Gossip Girl (one of my favorite guilty pleasures).  Last time, it was a Serena-inspired coat that got my wheels turning.  This time around, it was one of Blair’s millinery delights that set my heart aflutter.  In contrast to the floppy, shapeless varieties that I’m used to, I love how this beret has a lot of structure and sturdiness to it.

Speaking of which, did you know that there’s a proper way to shape a beret?  Well, I had no idea either until after I’d worn this cap many, many times.

If you’re interested, here are the required steps:

1. Start with an unlined beret or cut out the lining of the beret to reduce bulk and ease shaping.
2. Wet and shave the beret inside and out to remove the layer of fuzz. That will ensure the wool has a smooth appearance. (Shaving the beret while it’s wet should make the job easier.)
3. Form fit the beret. Soaking the beret before donning it will help stretch the wool and form it to the wearer’s head. Most of the beret’s material should be pulled down so it drapes over the right ear. The cardboard stiffener should be centered over the wearer’s left eye so the headband is about two finger-widths above the eyebrow. Pinch the cardboard stiffener so that the wool dips down behind it. Tie the two laces in the back in a non-slip knot for a snug fit, then cut off the ends of the ties.
4. Dry the beret – by freezing it or just wearing it until it dries.
5. Have the flash centered on the beret’s cardboard stiffener and sewn on. Though some might suggest that it’s best to sew the unit flash on as a first step, you run the risk of the beret color bleeding into the flash when it’s wet.

[Source]

{Club Monaco Jenni Cap, Jason Wu for Target Dress, Etienne Aigner Gloves, Vintage Bally Handbag via eBay, Nicole Miller Shoes}

Yes, it’s true… I succumbed to yet another Target Designer Collaboration.  What can I say?  I’m a creature of habit.

Since there are only a smattering of Target stores in NYC (and past experience has taught me that the most coveted items would be snatched up within minutes), I opted to wake up extra early and snag a few pieces online.  As it turns out, bleary-eyed shopping is not the brightest idea for me.  My brain was too foggy to properly whittle down my selections, and I wound up purchasing a whopping 4 dresses!  One of them will most definitely be going back, and I’m still undecided on another.

This one is definitely a keeper, but you’ll have to wait for a recap of my upcoming vacation to see what else I got!