Fresh Basil

Lately

2012-01-26T09:23:00.000-05:00

We got another dusting of snow last night. I'm not mad because it's going to be in the forties again today and should all disappear. Plus, excuse to wear my snow boots (aka knee high slippers) to work.

Winter vegetables can be boring, but I thought these looked so pretty before I put them in the oven to roast. The pink stuff is radishes. Have you ever cooked those? They lose their peppery zing and really mellow out. Delish.

This little desk was in my room growing up, and we brought it back from my parent's house a few weeks ago. The lamp is a little large in scale for the space, but eh. It's evolving!

And in my final bit of unnecessary news, Peter and I played an epic game of Jenga last night. The box says you are expert if you build it up to 32 stories (double the starting size). Ours was 35 stories high! Don't be shy with the praise, I know you're in awe right now :)

Hope you guys are having a lovely week!

Arctic Char and Gnocchi with Creamed Greens

2012-01-25T09:12:00.001-05:00

Idlywood, a cozy, Mediterranean wine bar nestled in an unassuming strip mall, was a favorite of ours when we lived in Northern Virginia. Partly for sentimental reasons, to be sure. It was here, while having a glass of wine at the tiny bar in the back of the restaurant, that we first discussed moving in together. We had been dating for eight months, and I was just twenty-two. It probably have felt quick to our parents, but it didn't feel scary to me at all!

My favorite dish - an often appearing special, if I remember correctly - was salmon with pesto gnocchi. We haven't been back to Idlywood in years, so I can't vouch for the food now, but this dish has stuck with me. I tried to re-create it last week with more winter-y vegetables, and it was just as good as the original I remember so fondly.

Arctic Char and Gnocchi with Creamed Greens

You will need:

5-6 leaves of kale, washed and torn
1/2 cup cream
1 clove garlic, sliced
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving if you wish
One package potato gnocchi
1 tablespoon olive oil, or a combination of butter and oil
2 small fillets of Arctic Char or salmon
Salt and Pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil, or a combination of butter and oil
Squeeze of lemon

In a sauce pan, add a splash of olive oil and heat at medium high. Add in sliced garlic and cook for one minute. Add torn kale leaves and toss to coat with oil. Cook for one minute more. Reduce heat to medium low and add in cream. Cover and cook for 8-10 minutes, until soft and completely wilted. Remove from heat. Once cool, add kale mixture to a food processor. Give it a few whooshes until it has the consistency of pesto. Return to the sauce pan and stir in grated Parmesan cheese, and more cream if it looks a bit dry.

In a large sauce pan or wok, heat a tablespoon of olive oil (or combination of butter and oil). When melted and hot, add the gnocchi. Toss them around every minute or so, until they are slightly golden and crisp on the outside. Add in the creamed kale, reduce heat to low and cover. The gnocchi will absorb the cream and finish cooking.

Heat a grill pan to medium high. Brush fish with a bit of oil, salt and pepper. Cook four minutes per side if they are an inch thick. These were slightly smaller, so I cooked them four minutes on one side, two on the other.

Plate gnocchi and place fish on top. Generously squeeze with lemon juice and enjoy!

Washing machine, I love you still

2012-01-23T09:07:00.000-05:00

(My laundry room!***)

Having a washer and dryer in my basement is one of my favorite things about the new apartment. Six months in, Peter and I will still looking at each other while folding a giant pile of towels and say, "Can you believe we washed these in our house?!" After four years in New York that involved hauling a giant bag of dirty clothes down the street every week, this convenience still feels very lucky and posh (though I realize most of you have been enjoying this modern convenience all along!).

Yesterday, my washer tried to betray me and test my love, like a teenager pushing its boundaries for the first time. Half way through a load, the hose connecting the water to the machine sprung a giant leak, and water sprayed violently all over the basement, covering boxes, artwork and furniture. Peter ran some key belongs upstairs, turned off the water and started mopping everything up (I was at the grocery store. Great timing, me!). For most of the afternoon, we mopped and sloshed through it, while our landlords speedily fixed the leak.

I put a second load in that afternoon, to make sure the fixed hose was in working order (it was!). Washing machine, my love for you still burns strong, even if you tried to betray me! As punishment, you must hang out in a damp basement and think about what you did.

***Not my laundry room at all, you guys. Via Martha Stewart.)

More is on the way

2012-01-20T08:59:00.001-05:00

My Christmas poinsettia is still going strong. My aunt told me that she keeps her's going all year long, and just cuts them down so there's only a few inches of stalk left once the first set of flowers die. Then it will grow and bloom again throughout the year! I'm going to try it and report back.

This weekend we are meeting friends for Thai food, going to a museum, and doing a drop off at Goodwill (we know how to have a good time, ha!). Boston got a lovely dusting of snow last night, and more is on the way for tomorrow! Cheers to the weekend, everybody!

Staying ahead

2012-01-17T10:51:00.000-05:00

(Via Lilly)

Last week, in an effort to stay ahead of the winter doldrums, I made a list with everything I could think of that makes me feel happy. Turns out, I'm easy to please. It included things like make a yummy dinner, have flowers in the house, get a hair cut (I seriously love to get my hair cut!), and keep my house clean.

In a happy turn of events, Peter came home with a bundle of pale pink tulips the exact day I wrote the list (he's so good!), and a humble, thrown together dinner of spaghetti, white beans and Meyer lemon turned into something divine and supremely comforting. My house isn't the cleanest, and I haven't made a hair appointment yet, but the week is young. More happiness is on the way!

This was sort of a silly exercise, but for me, it's always sort of a "duh" moment when I realize how simple, inexpensive things make a huge difference in my outlook, especially this time of year.

Hope you all had a lovely long weekend!

Pretend shopping: Bedroom edition

2012-01-13T11:24:00.000-05:00

1. Everyday Percale Bedding 2. Pink glass lamp base 3. Cottage iron bed 4. White and Natural Big Fat Stripes Pillow 5. Cable-knit Euro shams 6. Animal locomotion

I haven't shown you our bedroom yet since it's still a work in progress. I picked up a headboard similar to the one above for a song on craigslist, and have a pair of cute pale pink lamps on the nightstands. But the room still needs a few finishing touches!

I like bedrooms to be very calm and pretty. We have a fantastic down comforter, but I'd like to get a duvet cover for it so it doesn't look so naked :) I love the first one in the top picture, it's called "Tempest" on the website. And those cable knit shams! So cozy looking, right? Not sure how I'll like them come summer, but right now, they are really appealing.

For artwork, I have our anniversary painting up, and an antique map of Martha's Vineyard, but I think the room might be leaning a little too far into pastel territory. A black and white photo could be a good contrast, though I'm not usually drawn to that sort of thing.

Something about chilly winter weather makes me want to spruce up the bedroom! Any tips or suggestions for me?

Happy weekend to you all! As a totally random aside, today is my half birthday - Friday, January 13. In six months it will be my real birthday - Friday, July 13. Cool, right? Good think I think Friday the 13th is a very lucky day!

Grace in small things: Winter edition

2012-01-11T09:33:00.000-05:00

Winter flowers (get yourself a $5 amaryllis bulb from Target or the like and you'll have huge, gorgeous blooms like this for a few weeks!)
Planning a sweet gesture for Valentine's Day
Talking about all the rides we definitely want to go on during our upcoming Disney trip
Watching the days grow a little bit longer
Looking forward to making (and eating!) a fancy pizza for dinner

What little things are you celebrating on this chilly Wednesday?

Carrot Avocado Salad

2012-01-10T08:48:00.000-05:00

I've been laid up the last ten days or so with an annoying knee injury. Between Drop Dead Diva and a stack of books, I've been doing okay in the battle against boredom. I'm usually a pretty good relaxer, but as soon as you're mandated to stay still, all kinds of absurd things start to sound appealing (Hiking! Dusting the baseboards! Trying on everything in your closet!).

On Sunday afternoon, I hobbled into the kitchen to try a slightly ambitious salad I've had on my radar screen for a while. I paired it down quite a bit, but it was still one of the best things I've made in a long time. To round this out into a full meal, I think lemon chicken and couscous or quinoa would match up beautifully!

Carrot Avocado Salad

You will need:

4 peeled carrots, cut into 2 inch long pieces, about 1/2 inch thick
4 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 of a Meyer lemon
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/4 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon fresh thyme
2 radishes, thinly sliced
1 Haas avocado, cut into 1/2 inch slices
Salt and pepper, to taste

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Fill a medium sauce pan 2 inches high with cold water. Add the carrots and turn to high. Let boil for a five minutes, then drain and set aside.

In a small bowl, combine 2 tablespoons olive oil, a squeeze of the lemon (about 1 teaspoon of juice total), garlic, smoked paprika, cumin and thyme. Toss carrots and the lemon half together with the marinade. Place on a baking sheet and roast for 10-15 minutes, until the carrots have a few dark spots. Remove from the oven and let the carrots and lemon come down to room temperature.

In the same bowl used to make the marinade, add the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil, the juice from the roasted lemon half, salt and pepper. Plate carrots, radishes and avocado. Toss with the dressing and serve.

P.S. More winter salads!

Paris Planning: The Reading List

2012-01-06T08:00:00.000-05:00

I'm going to start a (likely irregular) feature on Paris planning for our upcoming vacation. I hope you'll enjoy it!

First up is my reading list. I've already read The Paris Wife and From Paris to the Moon, and heartily recommend them both. Beyond guidebooks, which I certainly rely on for planning purposes, I love reading about a place I'm going to visit through fiction and memoir and history books. And there's certainly no shortage of wonderful books set in Paris and France! Any recommendations for me to add?

P.S. Idlewood, a great travel store in NYC, will put together bundles of books in different genres for destinations all over the world. Such a great idea (and a lovely gift!).

Wedding bathroom baskets

2012-01-05T08:00:00.001-05:00

"Wedding bathroom baskets" is one of the most popular searches that lead people to Fresh Basil. I mentioned these a few times when planning my wedding, but never did a post on what I put in it.

I volunteered to make another one for my sister-in-law's wedding, and snapped a few pictures to share the contents (and hopefully help other brides-to-be who are putting one together!).

In this one, I included:

Aspirin
Pepto bismol
Tampons
Pantyliners
Deodorant
Hair spray
Bobbi pins
Mouth wash
Individual disposable tooth brushes
Sewing kit
Lint roller
Tide-To-Go stick
Band aids
Nail file

The band aids, deodorant and tooth brushes were the most popular items. I've been to a few weddings where the sewing kit had to be used to keep the bride's bustle up once the dancing got going. Luckily that didn't happen this time!

Any suggestions to add? The ~~dozens of~~ three people searching Fresh Basil for this information would love to hear, I'm sure!

The Year of Enjoy

2012-01-04T08:15:00.000-05:00

Last year, much of our time was spent preparing for our move, packing up and settling into our new apartment, and then adjusting to our surroundings (including new jobs for both Peter and me).

In 2012, I want to just enjoy everything! Here's my loose plan:

Cooking enjoyment:

Slow roast a duck.
Make pate.
Smoke our own salmon/trout.
Get back on the baking train.

Friendship enjoyment:

Continue to build up friendships in our new city, hosting or meeting people out and about at least a few times a month.
Join a book club. I desperately miss my NYC book club, and I hope to find one here (or start a new group!). Boston ladies, any takers?! I will come bearing treats and a large supply of wine!

Travel enjoyment:

Florida in February.
Paris in April.
Martha's Vineyard in August.
At least two local-ish weekend trips.

And finally, very adult-like, financial enjoyment:

We've been saving up for a house for over a year, and still have a long way to go. Luckily, I take an absurd amount of pleasure from transferring money into the savings account. I want to keep our momentum going and watch our down payment swell up!

Anyone else trying to embrace a year of pleasure? I'd love some company :)

Happy new year, indeed

2012-01-02T21:12:00.003-05:00

On New Years Day, my sister in law got married! (We have a thing for holiday weekend weddings, it seems.)

We spent all morning in a gorgeous suite where the ceremony and reception were being held, drinking coffee, eating chocolate bark and having our hair done.

She hopped into her pretty dress while I was being fluffed.

Here are all the bouquets in the box. Goodness, I love flowers!

The family veil! Remember?

You'll notice from the non-iPhone quality of these pictures that I received a camera for Christmas, yay!

It was such a wonderful day, celebrating a truly fantastic couple.

I hope you had a lovely Christmas and New Years!

December

2011-12-23T14:06:00.001-05:00

A little girl is singing for the faithful to come ye
Joyful and triumphant, a song she loves,
And also the partridge in a pear tree
And the golden rings and the turtle doves.
In the dark streets, red lights and green and blue
Where the faithful live, some joyful, some troubled,
Enduring the cold and also the flu,
Taking the garbage out and keeping the sidewalk shoveled.
Not much triumph going on here—and yet
There is much we do not understand.
And my hopes and fears are met
In this small singer holding onto my hand.
Onward we go, faithfully, into the dark
And are there angels hovering overhead? Hark.

- Gary Johnson

Gearing up

2011-12-21T12:12:00.001-05:00

(Photo taken inside Rolf's years ago)

I'm trying to remind myself that this is the most wonderful time of the year. Usually I don't need that reminder! But the last few days, I find myself trying to gear up for the holiday next week, instead of bubbling over with excitement. I don't like this little nagging dread, not one bit.

I think Peter's feeling it, too. (If anyone ever asked for my relationship advice - which they never do! - I would say that you can't both be feeling down at the same time. Easier said than done!).

We are very lucky to live near both our families, but it means that we run around a lot between different houses over Christmas. I hesitate to go further, since I know many people aren't able to see all of their families over the holidays, but...it's a lot! Lots of time in the car, lots of chit-chat, lots of packing and re-packing.

Anyways, enough with the grumpiness! After tomorrow, I am on vacation for ten glorious days. There will be a fancy dinner at a great looking new-to-us spot, lots of delicious wine, skiing, and to top it all off, a family wedding on New Years Day! So much to look forward to.

I'm wishing you all a very happy, joyful, relaxing holiday. Let's gear up for this together!

New Years Resolutions

2011-12-20T08:00:00.000-05:00

"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects."

- Robert Heinlein

Springtime in Paris

2011-12-19T09:48:00.002-05:00

(photo courtesy of my sister)

Fun news - we bought tickets to visit Paris in April! I've been wanting to do this trip for a long time, and I'm thrilled to pieces that we'll be going in a few short months.

Because we're both researchers (stereotypical first-born children!), Peter and I stepped into planning mode very quickly. We have books on hold, websites book marked, apartment rentals researched, and an ever-growing list of restaurants to try. If you have any can't miss items to share, I'd love to hear! Merci bien!

Stocking Gifts for Men

2011-12-15T13:26:00.002-05:00

We have a long-standing family joke about the time my sister and I got cough syrup in our stockings. We were pretty little, and this gift was so offensive to us! Way too practical.

Well, now that I am in charge of a stocking for Peter, I have come over to the practical side. Practicality and I are best buds! Here's how you can fill your husband's stocking with one trip to the grocery store. (Peter, dear, stop reading if you like surprises!)

Do you do a stocking for your significant other? Please tell me what you put in it! Last year, I totally dropped the ball on this, and Peter got dollar store hand warmers and a bottle of whiskey (could have been worse, actually...).

We linger

2011-12-13T08:21:00.001-05:00

This photo is from a dinner we had at our house a few weeks back, but over the weekend our table looked very similar. Seeing this crazy, cluttered scene made me think of a new marker for a successful dinner with friends: many beverage glasses. I had in front of me a cup of tea, water, a glass for Amaretto, and just to the right of that, a wine glass and a Champagne flute. I look like a bit of lush, but lots of cups means happy guests, right?

During the week, Peter and I eat at our dining room table, often with a glass of wine or a drink. But it's a quick, casual affair. I try to get Peter to remember funny stories about his students, and I wow him with web stats. Afterward, lunches and coffee are made for the next day, and we settle in to read or watch a favorite show. I'm not trying to make this sound boring, because it's actually one of my favorite parts of the day, but it's just so different when friends are at our table, too.

With guests, we linger. People share sweet and tender and awkward and funny things, and we laugh and nod and rest our chins in our hands. And while that dinner party magic is happening, we go through a lot of glassware.

I once had awkwardly short bangs (+ weekend plans)

2011-12-09T15:44:00.004-05:00

(Talking to Santa, via LIFE)

When I was about this age, my mom decided to cut my bangs herself. She sat me down on the bathroom vanity, and just as she put the scissors up to forehead to make a cut, I abruptly turned my head to the side. Eventually I ended up with even - extremely short - bangs. I don't have actual memories of this event, just photographic evidence of the damage. My mom decided to keep a scheduled appointment for professional photographs soon after (?!) so we have a slew of photos of me dressed like Raggedy Ann while sporting my short bangs.

Moving on!

This weekend we are seeing a few different sets of friends, and it has me all sorts of excited. For dinner one night, I think my menu will be:

Red wine-braised short ribs
Pommes Dauphinois (that's how Dorie says it, and you know I don't mess with around when it comes to D.G.)
Kale salad
Peppermint ice cream

We might also see a movie or try this fun looking new spot (please ignore the admittedly questionable name).

I hope you have a wonderful weekend! Also, if you have any awkward childhood hair stories, I would be thrilled to hear :)

Red cabbage, apple and blue cheese salad

2011-12-08T08:45:00.002-05:00

(Purple cabbage ornament, Sur la Table)

We have salad almost every night with dinner, and usually I continue buying romaine and red leaf lettuce all through the fall and winter. These days I find myself drawn to their cool weather friends, kale and cabbage. The least sexy leafy veg!

True, you do have to work a little harder for them to sparkle, but that's the fun thing about cooking this time of year, right? In the summer, you chop and sprinkle with salt and your job is done. But now, humble things become glorious under your direct influence. Butter, wine, bacon, cheese. Puree, saute, roast, braise. Winter dishes make you work harder, but then of course, you get more credit and personal satisfaction for those magical creations.

I made this red cabbage last night to go with mashed potatoes and mustard-y pork chops. It's a cinch to put together, and while I won't go so far as to claim that it's magical, I can almost guarantee that you'll get a compliment or two for making a humble head of cabbage taste so darn good.

Red cabbage, apple and blue cheese salad

You will need:

1 or 2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
1 tart apple, cut into bite sized pieces
1/2 small head of red cabbage, cut into small strips
Splash of olive oil
Splash of vinegar
1/2 cup stock
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 cup stock
Handful of blue cheese crumbles

Heat a cast iron skillet on medium for a few minutes to get the pan hot. Add a splash of oil, garlic and apple pieces. Saute for 2-3 three minutes, until the apple is just starting to get soft. Add the sliced cabbage to the pan and cook for 5 minutes more. Then add the stock, a splash of vinegar and the Dijon, reduce heat to medium low, and simmer for 20 minutes, or until cabbage is delightfully soft. Take off the heat and sprinkle blue cheese on top.

Oh, tannenbaum

2011-12-06T08:25:00.003-05:00

Yay, here is our first real tree in all its glory! This past weekend was a non-stop holiday fest. We went to the most wonderful Christmas concert at Boston College, a holiday market at a local school, got our tree, and made a the most delicious cassoulet (minus the ick tomatoes, obviously).

All weekend, I kept saying to Peter how pretty and festive our house looked, and how fantastic it smelled. Inside, I kept thinking how grown-up it felt to have a real live tree. I wonder why this symbolizes adulthood to me?

On a somewhat related note, I keep dreaming that I wake up to find all the needles on the floor, and the branches totally bare. Are my tree dreams telling me I'm secretly afraid I'm failing at adulthood?!?! Deep, deep fraser fir thoughts. I might be a little too attached to my tannenbaum.

Christmas tree skirt

2011-12-05T08:52:00.003-05:00

I fell in love with a striped Christmas tree skirt from this darling shop, and thought I might be able to do something similar with the stacks of fabric I've collected over the years.

I presented my idea to make a circle tree skirt to Peter (resident math-doer) and he suggested I just make a square one. I reminded him that he was not really living up to his high school mathelete title, so he stepped up and did some tricky math for me to make my template.

To make a skirt that is 50 inches across with a nine inch hole in the center (for the stand), have the bottom of your template be 9 3/4 inches, the top be 1 3/4 inches, and make it 20 1/2 inches long. You'll need 16 fabric pieces.

I usually say that a project is so easy at this point, but I'll be honest. Sewing in a circle is surprisingly challenging! I sewed all the strips together first, then hemmed the bottom and top, and then sewed off the edges for the opening. You have to leave an opening between two of the strips and hem them (instead of sewing it into a complete circle) so that you can get it around the tree. Make sense, jelly beans?

Hope you all had a lovely weekend!

Night of nothingness

2011-12-01T08:56:00.000-05:00

(Fake sick person Pho)

Last night I found myself flirting with the idea of getting sick. Not really ill, but you know. Just a touch of something. Enough to warrant an evening of reading and drinking tea and watching Law and Order (SVU, obviously, the most superior version).

I was trying to find a reason for my lack of pep. Why, I asked myself, did it not sound appealing to dust and clean the bathroom and then whip up a Christmas tree skirt? If you can believe it, these all usually sway me into productivity.

It was slightly disturbing that I thought I needed to catch a cold in order to have night of nothingness. I mended this insanity and gave myself a sick night (minus the germs). I cruised through a stack of New Yorkers and made the most deliciously simple Pho for dinner. It was so good, and I feel on the mend already.

Celebrating the Season, Grown-up Style

2011-11-30T12:17:00.001-05:00

It's easy for me to feel like all the fun holiday traditions are specially designed for children, or at least adults who have children. I blame Pinterest and all the cute baby blogs I read, so I guess there's no one to blame but myself! Here's my grown-up list of fun to celebrate the season:

Attend a holiday show (we're going to a concert here over the weekend!).
Write cards for family and friends.
Make a giant batch of peppermint bark. This is great to have on hand to bring to get-togethers thoughout the month! And to eat yourself.
Watch Holiday Inn, or whatever movie screams Christmas to you :)
Donate a bit throughout the month to organizations you believe in (I like to give little amounts to lots of different groups, but I know others love to donate in one big bundle. Whatever works!)
Keep a gratitude journal for the month.
Make a fancy dinner and serve with only candles and Christmas tree lights on.
Take a really long bath and read magazines instead of wrapping presents. You're an awesome adult, you can do that super fast at the last minute!
Read something that gets you in the spirit (last year I read this; any suggestions for this year?).
Treat yourself to a bottle of bubbly, because it's December, and you get to celebrate like a grown up!

What's on your list of fun this holiday season?

Post-Thanksgiving catch-up

2011-11-29T14:54:00.002-05:00

(Watercolor Christmas Tree, via Etsy)

I feel like I lost some of my blogging mojo after being away for a week! To ease back in, a short little list of things buzzing around in my brain:

My holiday decorations are up, and we are getting a real live tree soon! Never had one before in my adult life. But I passed my little fake one on to my sister, so it is time!
On a somewhat related note, I set a goal to finish all my gift shopping by December 1st. I'm not going to quite make it, but I only have two more people to shop for. Pretty good, right?
This is yummiest winter pizza: braised red cabbage, roasted butternut squash and lots of Gruyere. You won't be sorry :)
We almost bought tickets to Lisbon last night! I found a good cyber Monday deal and we nearly went for it...but decided to hold out for inexpensive tickets to Paris for a bit longer.
Over the weekend, we finally went to DreamAway Lodge in the Berkshires. It's been on our list for years, and I wish we'd gone sooner! Such a funky, fun spot.
I've got a little sewing project in the works that I should be ready to show you later this week (writing it here makes me actually do it, so brain, consider it written!).

Happy Tuesday, all!