empire delicious

Kid Proof Range

noreply@blogger.com (Empire Delicious) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:10:00 +0000

It would never have occurred to me before, but now that I have a nearly one-year-old kiddo I'm seriously wishing my range had its dials for the stove top burners up high so Harriet would quit messing with them. What we have is nowhere near as fancy as this De'Longhi below, but it has it's dials in the same place (just above eye-level for a toddler). Who can blame Harriet for finding the dials so intriguing and there's the bonus quick response that turning the dials elicits from me. I guess it's one of the best ways to get my attention.

What would be better is a range with dials above the stove top like this:

Please note the range above is an Aga, which is on my wish list. Looking at ranges just now, I think that electric stove tops have dials above the burners whereas gas stoves have dials on the same level as the burners either on the lower face or as seen above.

Clotheslines

noreply@blogger.com (Empire Delicious) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:09:00 +0000

Oh dear, we didn't all die of cardiac arrest from the bacon party, though it was really really good. I just saw this article in the NY Times on bringing back the clothesline and it's got me thinking. We do use a lot of propane, in our case, drying clothes by machine so why not give line drying a try? Next step will be finding a better drying rack. Stay tuned.

More Maira!

noreply@blogger.com (Empire Delicious) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:16:00 +0000

It makes my day when there's a Maira Kalman op-ed. This one makes me feel like I'm going to get a lot accomplished today. Just look at everything Thomas Jefferson got accomplished.

Bacon again

noreply@blogger.com (Empire Delicious) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 23:13:00 +0000

For those wanting to fully embrace a bacon party, this T-Shirt will surely be a hit. My friend Elizabeth sent over the link to snorgtees.com where they have it and lots of other Tees.

Click here for just about every bacon link you could ever want. Porkopolis is worth a visit, kind of one big ode to the pig.

I don't know, all this bacon is making me want a salad.

Edith Zimmerman's food art

noreply@blogger.com (Empire Delicious) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 23:22:00 +0000

Moving forward. Edith Zimmerman's food art rocks.

Has Bacon Jumped the Shark?

noreply@blogger.com (Empire Delicious) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 22:44:00 +0000

There's a funny post at Fall Off the Monkey Bars about bacon related items that have taken bacon to unwarranted and frankly repulsive levels with, in my opinion, the bacon-flavored personal lubricant taking the cake. I mean really, that's just gross. Seriously. Deeply. Wrong.

I've got to move on from here quickly so as not to sully the innocent anticipation of the Bacon Party. I wonder if a small amount of bacon is good in a chocolate chip cookie? Anyone want to speculate on what's made bacon so trendy right now?

Patron Saint of Bacon

noreply@blogger.com (Empire Delicious) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:46:00 +0000

Who knew there was a patron saint of bacon? Saint Anthony is available here.

Here's a link to a bacon lovers gift guide at mrbaconpants.com. While it sounds enticing, the bacon bandages, air freshener, and wallet might be a bit, well, revolting.

There's lots of bacon recipes, gift ideas, some downloads at the Royal Bacon Society.

The burning question is, I suppose, will we make the famous bacon explosion this weekend? I'm inclined to say "no." It looks sort of dense and unseasonable.

Bacon Week

noreply@blogger.com (Empire Delicious) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 23:08:00 +0000

I guess I might as well just admit I'm obsessed with the Bacon Party and declare this Bacon Week. My friend Elizabeth sent info about Vosages Bacon & Chocolate bar. I must confess, I've already sampled one and found it delicious. I think a few mini bacon chocolate bars will make for good take home party favors (by "party" I mean four people are coming over). Check out too their Flying Chocolate Pig.

Also, there are wine pairings to consider. There's this article about it.

And holy moly, who knew there was a Baco n of the Month club? Looks like seriously good stuff.

Bacon Vodka

noreply@blogger.com (Empire Delicious) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:51:00 +0000

I had to post this link for Bacon Vodka sent by KCS in FL...it's intriguing, perhaps disgusting, though I wouldn't say "no." I wonder, instead of olives would you put meatballs on your toothpick in a bacon martini? I was going to order some for our bacon party, but it's not available until the first week of July. Bacon Vodka Bloody Mary sound good--maybe with a scrambled egg floater.

Does anyone else have other ideas for the Bacon party?

Bacon Party

noreply@blogger.com (Empire Delicious) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 18:35:00 +0000

I'm a twitter with anticipation. We're having a bacon party in a couple of weeks, a few friends are coming over (I suggested people wear pink in honor of the pig). We're having parmesean cheese "cookies" with bacon, W's special ABC salad (the B is for Bacon), and possibly bacon ice cream if we can figure that out. All things bacon, though of course in moderation. BYO Lipitor. Any other suggestions for bacon recipes? I'm looking into wines. Sorry, not a very PETA friendly post.

Hilarious wedding video

noreply@blogger.com (Empire Delicious) — Fri, 22 May 2009 20:29:00 +0000

Brian & Eileen's Wedding Music Video. from LOCKDOWN projects on Vimeo.

Where to start? This speaks to my personal daydream of having the bridesmaids and groomsmen at our wedding do dance routines. Anyway, this video made me smile. I saw it on A Cup of Jo.

Britannia in Brief

noreply@blogger.com (Empire Delicious) — Wed, 20 May 2009 01:47:00 +0000

Our book, Britannia in Brief, was released today!

You can read the preface here. Over at Anglotopia.net you can leave a comment and enter their contest to win a free copy. Though it's kind of tooting our own horn, I'll paste our advance praise below. Toot.

Here's who I think will find our book useful: anyone who is dating or married to a British person, who is moving to the UK for work or pleasure, who works or hangs out with British people, who is just visiting the UK, who enjoys British "telly and film" but doesn't get a lot of the references, and also armchair Anglophiles.

So pick up a copy and tell your friends!

"Britannia in Brief is an indispensable guide. Better than Fromer's, shorter than the Encyclopedia Britannica, it is hilarious, clever, and spot-on. This book is perfect for every foreigner who wishes to talk local, and for every local who doesn't get out enough." --Amanda Foreman, author of Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire

“A witty, irreverent crash course ‘101’ that all Anglophiles will love. Leslie Banker and William Mullins have bridged the great divide between two countries separated by a common language. A bloody good read!” --Anita Naughton, co-author of Tea & Sympathy.

"A brilliant guide to the highs and lows of British pop culture from Ascot to alcopops." --Nicky Perry, co-author of Tea & Sympathy and owner of Tea & Sympathy on Greenwich Avenue.

The amazon page for the book has an excerpt.

My Perfect Yellow

noreply@blogger.com (Empire Delicious) — Mon, 04 May 2009 00:30:00 +0000

There's nothing better than finding a really terrific color. I'm still in love with the yellow I painted my old studio apartment in NYC and am seriously considering trying it again in our new house in RI. It's Benjamin Moore mellow yellow 2020-50. My place had a lot of sunshine, in a darker space I'd go for a lighter shade, Benjamin Moore moonlight 2020-60.

This photo was taken by my friend and interiors photographer Poul Ober.

Cabinet of Curiosities

noreply@blogger.com (Empire Delicious) — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 16:25:00 +0000

I just stumbled across this post on Apartment Therapy that showed via Morbid Anatomy this amazing cabinet of curiosities. That's it, I'm going to make my own cabinet of curiosities--it will never be as beautiful as this one, but it will be something. What's amazing about this one from Paris is the cabinet itself, I love the curvy details, that it's painted white, and the horns mounted on it. Brilliant!! What a perfect way to display a collection.

Tweenbots

noreply@blogger.com (Empire Delicious) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:13:00 +0000

Lily sent me a link to this great project, Tweenbots. See more below, but basically artist Kacie Kinzer made cute little robots and set them out in NYC with just a flag telling people where they were going. What's amazing is how many random people stopped to help the little robot get to its destination. Maybe this would have happened in other cities--but it makes me love NYC even more to see it in action.

10 Baby Essentials

noreply@blogger.com (Empire Delicious) — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 13:36:00 +0000

I didn’t think having a baby would be THAT big a deal. I mean, people do it all the time. So, I ignored most of the advice given to me while pregnant deciding to “go Zen.” This was partly because there is so much info out there and I felt overwhelmed trying to sort through it all without giving myself even worse heartburn. Now, with a five month old baby, I offer ten thoughts for first time mothers in easy reading format:

Don’t buy a lot of newborn size diapers and clothes before the baby is born as your baby might outgrow them in a week or not fit into them to begin with.

The two books you need are Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child and The Happiest Baby on the Block. Read at least the first couple of chapters before having the baby.

Fill your freezer with chicken pot pies, frozen soups and whatever. Seriously, unless you live in a city where take-out is easy, just do it.

Accept the fact you’ll need lots of help. Ask for it when you need it.

Make sure you like your pediatrician. Take the time to meet with candidates before the baby is born.

If possible, get your hair cut (a trim, nothing dramatic!), nails done and such beauty things right before the baby is born. It'll help you feel more human.

Take lots of pictures.

In the night, change diaper before feeding (so you don’t wake him/her up if she falls asleep).

After a month or so, even if you’re exhausted, you need to find a babysitter, take a shower, put on some earrings, and go on a date with your husband even if it’s just an afternoon walk without the baby.

It’s easier to dress a baby in clothes that are a little too big.

Does anyone have anything else to add (or any disagreements)?

Baby's Own Parade

noreply@blogger.com (Empire Delicious) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 13:57:00 +0000

At first I was skeptical about the "family basinette," though now I don't know what I would have done without it. Essentially, it's a wicker basket on wheels that was in my mother and aunt's nursery some decades ago. Many little cousins have spent their first few months here.

My aunt lent it to me and my mom had a new skirt and bumper made (from an absolutely adorable Osborne and Little print). The beauty of it is the parade aspect...I wheel baby and bassinette around with me a lot of the day. Into the kitchen while I make snacks and bottles, into the living room to listen to music, and wherever. The only sad part is Harriet is on the verge of outgrowing it---then what will I do?

Here's a wicker bassinette on ebay.

Cookie House Tour

noreply@blogger.com (Empire Delicious) — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 15:04:00 +0000

Oh look, our house (and Harriet) is featured in Cookie Magazine's House Tour.

Maira Kalman, So Moved

noreply@blogger.com (Empire Delicious) — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 14:41:00 +0000

I'm not sure I've fully expressed how much I love Maira Kalman's work--her piece in today's NY Times and otherwise. I love her attention to hats, the colors she uses, how she captures a feeling with some drawings and not many words. Genius! Here are links to some of her books:

Swami on Rye: Max in India

The Elements of Style

What Pete Ate

And lot's more...see her web-site here.

Printable Press

noreply@blogger.com (Empire Delicious) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 13:58:00 +0000

Affordable and very cool customized stationary? Yes please. Lily sent me this link to Printable Press where they design great looking invitations and send you the PDF so you can print as many invites as you want (or you can upload to an on-line printing service). I love the designs and also the idea of keeping costs down while not worrying about running out of invites. Isn't this a cute pink mouse? And chipmunk too?

Pigeon Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Empire Delicious) — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:04:00 +0000

In case you didn't know, I have a pigeon obsession. It's a love hate thing. Anyway, it's a bit off topic but I stumbled across this blog and it's made my day...maybe my week. Hilarious. All pigeons all the time and the commentary couldn't be better.

Chicken Pot Pie to the Rescue

noreply@blogger.com (Empire Delicious) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 23:52:00 +0000

Before I had a baby, when I was Very Pregnant, a few people told me to load my freezer with things like chicken pot pies. Another good piece of advice I didn't take. Then, when Harriet was still tiny, my aunt and cousin drove almost four hours through the rain and sleet to visit us...and they brought the most delicious chicken pot pie I've ever had.

Besides being just about the best comfort food, chicken pot pie freezes well, is delicious and relatively healthy. The CPP my super-star family brought was from Dean and Deluca in NYC. These are available by mail frozen and I think I'm going to send one or two to my next friend having a baby.

UK on the Brain

noreply@blogger.com (Empire Delicious) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 18:03:00 +0000

We've been doing a lot of thinking about the UK recently and so I thought I'd do a round-up of British things previously mentioned here. The pound is relatively cheep now, so maybe it's time for that trip...

There's some pretty English wallpaper.

Notes on a trip to London.

True story about eating squirrel.

A bit about Liberty fabric, which I adore.

Beautiful natural history prints.

These prints are made in the USA, but the Keep Calm and Carry On phrase is originally British. Or, these fun prints from Abbey Goes Design Scouting which riff on the theme...

And, of course, the reason we've had the UK on our Brains.

Okay! Cheerio.

Color!

noreply@blogger.com (Empire Delicious) — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 23:41:00 +0000

"Jaisalmer, India: Men smear coloured powder on each other's faces during celebrations for Holi, the Hindu festival of colour Photograph: Gemunu Amarasinghe/AP" This from the Guardian today.

I'm totally in love with the colors found in India. In so many ways the country is dirty, dismal, and depressing and then just when it's getting you down you see yellow marigolds, bright blue saris, red tikas and this sort of action pictured above. It's a good reminder what a strong and lively splash of color can do for one's spirits. I want to have a festival of color all the time--around the house, with what I wear, and just about anywhere.

Disappearing Mother Trick

noreply@blogger.com (Empire Delicious) — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 19:52:00 +0000

When people say they can't take a shower while also taking care of a baby, I'm afraid I don't get that. I've been putting H. in a bouncy seat in the bathroom with me and things seems to go okay. Until, of course, she becomes upset because I've disappeared behind the shower curtain for long enough that she's sure I'm gone forever. So I'm thinking of getting a clear shower curtain, so she can see that I'm still there. I think just a clear liner would do, or else something a little more interesting like the one above. Has anyone tried this? Do you think it will work?