Mint Demode

A Few New Things...

2012-06-22T07:26:00.002-05:00

What a busy & HOT week! Not having central air in Chicago can be problematic a couple months of the year- so much so I couldn't even bring myself to cook this week! The temperature in our kitchen was at a steady 84 degrees- ugh. Luckily we have our new couch which made lounging and staying cool pretty easy. I also found some time to do a bit of rearranging and to enjoy some summer delights.

A gift of a vintage blue phone found it's place in the entry- thanks Linda!

Midwest organic berries- small & sweet!

Bright yellow in the dining room

A new spot for sunglasses to land

We moved this vintage hairpin leg table from the living room to the sunroom- a perfect fit!

Our New Couch!

2012-06-18T05:00:00.000-05:00

Several years of cramming 2 adults, 2 wiener dogs, and a substantial sized cat on 2.5 seater love seat has finally come to an end...HOORAY! Our living room is not huge so we opted for a small modern sectional with a chaise made of a durable brown tweed fabric.We also took the opportunity to do a little rearranging of the room too. I have to say that we seriously love this sofa, let the relaxing begin!

Shrimp Chowder

2012-06-13T07:31:00.001-05:00

I love a good summery chowder, and the combo of shrimp and fennel in this dish is just right! I altered the original version quite a bit and I opted to lighten up mine with low fat cream. I cheated and used a vegetable stock instead of making my own shrimp stock as well. If you love chowder you might want to check out my Elote Corn Chowder as well!

Ingredients:

1 lb small-medium peeled frozen shrimp, thawed & cut into thirds

3-4 ounces prosciutto, diced

2 1/2 cups vegetable broth

1 fennel bulb, (discard tough outer layers & core) inner layers are then diced

1 ½ lbs small gold or red potatoes, halved & then quartered

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 medium white onion, diced

1 cup canned whole peeled tomatoes, chopped

2 cups low-fat half & half

1 teaspoon crushed fennel seed

½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

Salt & pepper to taste

Olive oil

How To:

-Boil potatoes until just done (meaning you can pierce them with a fork without breaking or crumbling) Drain & set aside

-Heat a tablespoon of oil in a Dutch oven or large pot over medium and add prosciutto and cook until browned & slightly crispy

-Add another splash of oil, onion, garlic, pepper flakes, fennel seed, and chopped fennel- cook until softened

-Season mixture with salt & pepper

-Add broth & tomatoes- bring to a boil

-Reduce to a simmer, add potatoes season with salt & pepper and cover- about 10 minutes

-Turn off heat, add shrimp and stir in cream, season again if needed

-Serve within the hour, or refrigerate and re-heat if serving later

Attention cat owners! This litter is AMAZING!

2012-06-11T08:02:00.000-05:00

When you own a cat, the litter box becomes a huge part of your life. The smell, the mess, the cleaning is a daily battle. I have been reluctant to make the switch from the standard scoop-able clay to the wood chips or crystals due to cost and these alternative really don't do anything for the odor. You can imagine how very excited I was the other day when I went to Target to grab my usual litter and found a new affordable (the same price I paid for the old stuff) alternative, made by Tidy Cats. It's a clumping formula made with a blend of cedar, corn and pine, called Pure Nature. The scent is light and woody and far more pleasant than the clay and I HIGHLY recommend making the switch!

Thirsty Weekend: Cucumber Lime & Ginger Agua Fresca

2012-06-08T07:32:00.001-05:00

Aguas Frescas are a simple & delicious concoction of fresh fruits or vegetables, water and sugar. You can find them sold by street vendors here in Chicago or in any Latin American country. I LOVE making this on an especially hot summer day, and the combinations of fruits and veggies is endless!

Ingredients:

4 seeded & peeled cucumbers, chopped

The juice of 7 fresh limes

1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger

½ cup sugar (you can use agave syrup too)

2 cups cold water

Pinch of salt

ice

How to:

-Working in batches, combine cucumbers, water, sugar, lime juice, salt and ginger in a blender

-Add approximately 1-2 cups ice and blend until smooth

-Serve over ice & enjoy poolside!

Kork-ease, my new summer obsession!

2012-06-06T07:55:00.001-05:00

Every season I like to treat myself to a new pair of kicks, and I ALWAYS try to find the best deal, whether it's using a coupon code, waiting for a sale or in this case I found these Kork-ease "Deborah" sandals for less than half of the retail price on ebay. I had my eye on these in particular because of the moderate heel (3in, 2 with the platform toe), the overall known comfort factor of the Kork-ease brand, the authentic vintage aesthetic, and the I love the peachy nude color. You can't always find your size or wanted color of a certain shoe on ebay, but I always check there first...ebay, away!

Farmers Market Fun!

2012-06-03T04:30:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was the first day of the Logan Square Framer's market and it really couldn't have been a more beautiful day, sunny and in the low 80's! It was VERY bustling, and we ran into some friends, listened to some music and just hung out for bit. The market was disappointingly low on fresh produce, but it is still a little early in the season. We hit up our favorite taco stand, Cherub's, and enjoyed some of the best tacos, elote and horchata. Usually I take most of the snapshots for Mint Demode, but this time around I enlisted my husband to capture a few. Can't wait til next week!

Sunday Snack: Skinny Kale Dip

2012-06-01T17:06:00.002-05:00

I always get off track with my eating schedule on the weekends and I don't tend to eat full meals. Sundays are the day to relax, sleep in, eat a late breakfast, walk the dogs and enjoy a super good late afternoon snack! I am a huge dip fan as some of you may have noticed, and this is my new favorite. It has kale (one of my favorite veggies), cottage cheese (another favorite) and that's pretty much it- the perfect snack for the figure conscious!

Ingredients:

1/2 tablespoon olive oil

1 garlic clove, sliced

1/2 small white onion, chopped

3-4 cups chopped kale (stems removed)

1 cup low-fat or fat free cottage cheese

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Salt & pepper

Red pepper flakes

How to:

-Heat oil in pan over medium and add garlic & onion, season with salt & pepper, cook until softened

-Add kale, cook covered and stir occasionally until tender, 3-4 minutes

-Transfer kale mixture to food processor and blend until kale is minced

-Add lemon juice and cottage cheese and puree until smooth

-Garnish with red pepper flakes

-Serve dip with chopped veggies or chips

-Refrigerate up to 3 days

Martha Stewart Weddings Online Gallery

2012-05-29T09:06:00.001-05:00

Here's the link to our big day posted on Martha Stewart Weddings online...Check it out! A Special thanks to all of our friends & family that helped us pull off our NYE wedding, xoxo. CLICK HERE

Our Big Day featured in MARTHA STEWART WEDDINGS!

2012-05-28T02:00:00.000-05:00

One of my biggest resources in planning our big day was Martha Stewart and I'm so excited to be featured in this summer's issue of Martha Stewart Weddings (on newsstands today)! Stay tuned for more photos launching tomorrow on Martha Stewart Weddings online...HOORAY!!!

Wheat Bulgur Salad with apricots, cashews & peppers

2012-05-25T09:16:00.001-05:00

I wasn't a crazy bride that strived to loose a ton of weight before my wedding, but I did take the opportunity to go back to my vegetarian ways, particularly for lunches, by making a ton of different salads. I ended up loosing a few lbs in the end and I have a plethora of yummy salad recipes; I got this particular one from my friend Pam, and it's amazing mix of salty-sweet-crunchy goodness!

Ingredients:

2 cups wheat bulgur or wheat berries, cooked & cooled

1 cup cooked & cooled orzo (or any other tiny pasta)

½ cup dried cranberries

½ cup dried & chopped apricots

1 yellow bell pepper, diced

1 red bell pepper, diced

¼ cup chopped green onions

½ cup cashew halves & pieces

For the vinaigrette:

3 tablespoons olive oil

The zest of one lime

The juice of 1 lime

The juice of one orange

1 teaspoon garlic, minced

¼ teaspoons cumin

½ teaspoon kosher salt

¼ teaspoon white pepper

-whisk together all ingredients in a small bowl

How to:

-Combined all ingredients in a large bowl

- Stir in dressing

-Refrigerate about 1-2 hours

Bridesmaids Dresses under $100!

2012-05-23T20:48:00.002-05:00

It was really important for me to find both cute & affordable bridesmaids dresses for my wedding and I found that looking out of the box for dresses from regular retail stores was the way to go. The dresses are much cheaper and less formal so the chances that your bridesmaids will wear them again is very likely. I found these all form one of my favorite online stores, Dorothy Perkins. I LOVE the pastel palette- sweet & summery, just like ice cream!

1.Rise embellished cape dress
2.Coral spot peplum dress
3.Grey bird peplum dress
4.Mint and Pink deco dip dress
5.Yellow chiffon dress
6.Petite grey lace pencil dress
7.Pink cut out pocket dress

Getting Ready...

2012-05-21T20:37:00.002-05:00

I have a pretty big surprise coming up next week, so I thought I'd lead up to it with a few fitting posts all about 'the big day'. I was combing through some of our wedding shots and some of my favorites are the pre-wedding pics. This was the most relaxing part of my wedding day, surrounded by my best girlfriends in town from all over the country, all of us 'getting ready' in my apartment. I am very lucky to have a talented pool of friends that do make up, hair and take amazing photos so it really was just us, no strangers. (Thanks, Ella, Mandy, Megan & John!)

It reminded me of the old days when we lived in Logan Square and would all converge in one apartment to get ready for a night out- trying on outfits, putting on make up, joking, laughing and thinking of perspective boys we might meet that night. It's sad to think that this chapter in our lives is closed, but I am so grateful for that little glimmer of my twenties I got right before I got married and started a whole new chapter where weddings, married life and kids are the new topics.

Veggie Chili with Sweet Corn & Zucchini

2012-05-18T08:54:00.002-05:00

I made this vegan chili last week for a group of meat loving friends and they devoured it! This makes a pretty hearty batch and they were scraping the pot, always a good sign of a good meal.

Ingredients:

Olive oil
6 red potatoes, quartered

1 medium onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced

1 zucchini, diced

1 green bell pepper, diced

1 red bell pepper, diced

2 ears corn-kernels cut from cob (or 1 cup frozen corn)

3 14.5-ounce cans diced tomatoes
2 15-ounce cans beans (I used red & white kidney beans), rinsed and drained
1 1/2 cups vegetable broth

For the seasoning:

2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 tablespoons cumin
2 teaspoons dried oregano
3 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons pepper

1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

2 tablespoons tomato paste

How to:

-Boil potatoes until you can pierce them half-way through with a fork, drain & set aside

-Heat a splash of olive oil in a large stock pot or Dutch oven over medium high heat

-Add the onion and garlic, season with salt and pepper, cook until softened

-Add bell peppers & zucchini and cook about 5 more minutes, stirring frequently

-Combine the brown sugar, chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, and pepper

-Add the spice mixture and tomato paste to the veggie mixture

-Cook for about a minute, stirring to combine the paste with the spices

-Add the tomatoes and stir, picking up any brown bits from the bottom of the pot

-Raise the heat to medium and add the beans, corn, potatoes and broth to the pot

-Bring the mixture to a simmer, then lower the heat, cover, and cook for about 40 minutes

-Serve hot with cheese & tortilla chips

Long lines with an Edge...

2012-05-16T07:12:00.002-05:00

I actually love a long dress (I really despise the word 'maxi dress') for hot breezy weather, as long as you keep clear of looking like you just stepped off of the prairie! I gathered a few casual options with a bit of an edge- perfect for long summer weekends. If you're a shortie like me, it's important to keep the hem line right at your ankle bone (or above), anything longer that breaks at your foot is going to make you look shorter & frumpy.

1.Tie-Dye Maxi Dress$29.80
2.Kaleidoscope Panel Maxi Dress$110.00
3.Cut Out Color Block Maxi Dress $43.49
4.Grey draped jersey maxi dress$49.00
5.Blue Print tie-strap dress $42.00
6.Wrap Jersey Maxi Dress$50.00
7..Tiered Flounce Maxi Dress $15.50

A Few New Things...pet love!

2012-05-14T00:00:00.000-05:00

I had a pretty busy weekend- a mothers day brunch with some mommy friends, a few long walks and some catch up time with my little boo boos (I know, barf with the baby-talk, but I can't help it!) Sometimes a girl just needs a weekend of sweets and some love from all her furry friends!

Penny modeling a vintage scarf I got as a little thrifted gift- Thanks Tara!

The BEST macarons and a mini eclair from one of my favorite Logan Square spots (they also have THE best baguettes too)- La Boulangerie

Another gift from a friend- orange dachshund coasters!

The weenies looking rather sweet in the sunlight

We finally found the perfect spot for our Kong portrait (pretty good likeness, right?)- the best wedding gift ever, thanks Lauren & Fadi!

Baby Shower Playlist...

2012-05-03T07:47:00.000-05:00

I love making specific playlists for all occasions, you'll never see me set the ipod on random! So naturally when I hosted my friend's baby- shower- party I sat down and scoured my music library for songs with baby in the lyrics and I even found a few about being a parent and about being tired- fitting right? The best album I discovered in this process was Woody Guthrie's Songs to Grow on, a really amazing record!

Maybe Baby by kelly schmidt on Grooveshark

'Light' Blueberry Crisp with Maple Cream

2012-05-01T09:40:00.004-05:00

I made this dish because it's actually a pretty 'healthy' and simple dessert. It calls for whole oats and cornmeal for the crispy topping and uses minimal butter. A serving weighs in at about 200 calories, you can find the original recipe here, pretty good right? Well, I did make it a little more decadent by adding maple whipped cream, which for me ended up being the real star. The cream was perfectly sweet with a hint of the woodsy maple. I like the idea of using the syrup as opposed to added refined sugar as well.

Ingredients:

Cooking spray

4 teaspoons cornstarch, divided

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 pound fresh blueberries
Zest of one lemon
For the topping:
½ cup flour

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats

3 tablespoons chopped walnuts

2 tablespoons cornmeal

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 cup chilled butter, cut into small pieces

How To:

-Preheat oven to 375°.

-Spray a 8-inch square baking dish with cooking spray

-Sprinkle 2 teaspoons cornstarch evenly in dish

-Combine remaining 2 teaspoons cornstarch, lemon zest, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, vanilla, and blueberries in a large bowl &toss

-Spoon berries into prepared baking dish

- In a food processor, combine flour, 1/2 cup packed brown sugar, oats, walnuts, cornmeal, salt & ground cinnamon and pulse to combine

-Add butter & pulse 5 times or until the mixture resembles coarse meal

-Spoon topping evenly over blueberries

-Bake at 375° for 30 minutes or until filling is bubbly and topping is golden

Maple Whipped Cream

Ingredients:

1cup Heavy Cream

¼ cup pure maple syrup

How to:

Add ingredients and beat until fluffy peaks are formed

Thirsty Weekend: Vodka, Rose Water, Lime & Mango

2012-04-27T07:40:00.004-05:00

This cocktail is really delicious and certainly calls for an umbrella garnish! It's mixture of sweet mango, sour lime and fragrant rose is the perfect combination. Rose water can be a little allusive, but I found my French Rose Water at a local French bakery. Indian versions are also available in most Indian markets. Cheers!

Ingredients: Makes 1 drink

2 parts mango nectar

1 part Vodka

1 part Fresh Lime juice

½ part Rose Water

Ice

(*optional- I muddled a little fresh mango and added it to the shaker as well)

How To:

-Add all ingredients to a shaker filled with ice

-Shake, strain & enjoy!

It's Almost Here!

2012-04-25T16:57:00.001-05:00

Summer will be here soon...hooray! Most of these suits are under $100, pretty good when I spotted many $150+ I love the more modest style of the season too, very flattering.

1.Floral Print Sweetheart Neck Bandeau Suit $63.63
2.Navy tummy control swimsuit$49.00
3.Blue Bird Print One Piece $68.00
4.Colourblock One Piece $64.00
5.Isometric Maillot$128.00
6.Women's Twist-Front Control Max Swimsuits$44.94

1.Marie Meili Spot Gathered Halter Bandeau Bikini$25.00 top/$21.00bottom
2.Star-Scattered Bikini$68.00
3.Retro Poppy Bikini$78.00
4.Lemon daisy bandeau$21.00top/$15.00bottom
5.Ruched Halter Bikini$24.94/each

Sunday Snack: French Bread, Brie & Asparagus

2012-04-23T06:00:00.000-05:00

Sundays for me usually start off with a leisurely brunch that is always pretty filling. When I start off the day with a rich filling meal, I never really feel like eating another full meal the rest of the day, so I've become pretty good at creating 'Sunday Snacks'. Yesterday after brunch we stopped off at a little French bakery and picked up a fresh baguette (with garlic & cheese) and I used some brie and some asparagus that was on its last leg to make this really good nosh. A good movie, a couple of beverages and a tasty snack = Sunday perfection!

Ingredients:
French baguette- sliced in half, length wise
Brie- cut into1/8 inch slices
Asparagus- blanched
olive oil
salt & pepper to taste
Fresh lemon
How to:
-Brush the baguette with olive oil
-Layer the brie & asparagus atop the bread
-Squeeze a bit of fresh lemon juice over the asparagus
-Sprinkle with salt & pepper
-Bake in a broiler (or oven at 400 degrees, top rack position) about 4-5 minutes or until brie is browned & bubbly

Penny & Trout looking longingly at the food- they wish!

A Few New Things...

2012-04-20T05:00:00.000-05:00

Another long week and a sick weenie to boot! Poor little Trout has been sick all week long but I think he's just in the clear, back to eating & playing per usual. Despite the sick dachshund, we did still manage to make our way to a new Logan Square joint, I caught up on some reading and I found a new gem at Target... hopefully the much needed weekend will come fast!

Trout resting in his favorite spot- on my stomach :)

Tested & approved!-the tequila based 'lonesome hero' from Scofflaw (the best part is the banana ice)

An embroidered ship pillow from Target made my day!

I can't help day dreaming of this mid-century wonder in Acapulco- Hotel Boca Chica

I've been enjoying flipping through another photography book Lucas acquired by Lee Boltin

This set of annoyingly cute deer decor from the baby party found a home next to the milk glass!

Forever Looks under $40.00!

2012-04-18T05:30:00.000-05:00

What to do when the wallet runs dry...go for broke at Forever 21! It's so true that when you can't spend, all you want to do is spend, and thank god for walking into a store that you can buy an entire look for under $40!

1.Cutout Back Dress $11.50
2.Metallic Foil Thong Sandals $7.50
3.Studded Buckle Bracelet $4.80
4.Round Sunglasses $5.80

1.Horseshoe Post Earrings $1.50
2.Triangle Drawstring Dress $14.50
3.Cutout Leatherette Clutch $12.80
4.Floral Trimmed Scarf $8.90

1.Colorblock Tote$12.00
2.Striped Maxi Dress $14.50
3.Arrowhead Charm Earrings $3.80

DIY: no sew bunting!

2012-04-16T08:21:00.001-05:00

This was a really easy decorative project I did for my friend's baby shower and it turned out super cute. I could've used my sewing machine but since this was just a temporary piece the stapler worked just fine. I would recommend if you are making bunting as a permanent arty wall hanging for a nursery of kid's room to take the extra time to finish the edges of the flags. I like this project because, depending on the size you make it, it is large enough to be the only decoration at your party and it only took about 45 minutes to complete.

Ruler, twine or rope, fabric, stapler, pinking sheers- Cut your flags of equal sizes using the pinking sheers to prevent fraying. Leave about an extra inch worth of fabric at the top of the flag which will be used to fold over the rope.

Simply fold the top end of your flag over the twine...

and secure with 3-4 staples

Arrange your flags on the twine with any extra elements- I hung onesies with tiny clothes pins in between the flags

Hang & you're done!

Thirsty Weekend: Pimm's Cup

2012-04-13T06:00:00.000-05:00

I love a good punch and the Pimm's Cup punch I made for Cindy & Rob's shower was REALLY good! Pimm’s NO.1 is a liqueur from England containing ‘a secret mixture of herbs’ and a “Pimm’s cup” is a cocktail designed to be made into a “long drink” which means it's made with more than 5 fluid ounces of a mixer such a lemonade or ginger beer. A heavy garnish of fruit and mint is also commonly added to a Pimm's cup. It's light, slightly sweet and perfect for Spring & Summer...Cheers!

Ingredients:
1 part Pimm's No.1
1 part gin
3 parts fresh lemonade or ginger beer
Top with soda water (if using a non carbonated mixer)
Garnish: cucumber, mint, lemon, strawberry
* For punch:
1 cup gin
1 cup Pimm's No.1
3 cups lemonade or ginger beer

Kong loves a refreshing Pimm's cup in the spring (I like to think he speaks with an English accent, Cheerio!)