Baking Simplified

 

I have previously raved about the fantastic customer service and low prices at Trader Joe's, but feel that I neglected to properly emphasize the variety of user friendly products.  After perusing some old photos last night, I came across these (see below) of pumpkin bread that I made back in October.  Not only was it impressively delicious, but it was also one of the simplest and fastest recipes I have ever baked.  The only steps involved literally were add an egg and some water to the mix, then pour it into a baking tin and bake in the oven until done.  What I did not realize was, that if my heart had so desired, I could have just as easily poured the mix into muffin tins, instead of a bread tin, for tasty pumpkin muffins (perhaps adding a touch of frosting to the top).  So simple.  So obvious.  Alas, no one tells me these things...makes me seriously contemplate whether there is that much of a difference between waffle and pancake mix.  Never fear if you are a pumpkin hater, for they have a variety of seasonal and traditional bread mixes, including corn bread, blueberry bread, and banana bread.  The options are truly unlimited!

 

Step 1

Step 2

 

Spring is Just Around the Corner

  

I do not know if it is the tease of all the warm weather, or just fatigue with the winter season, but recently I have become obsessed with color.  This is particularly surprising considering that, my style consists for the part of solid neutral colors, which-in my opinion-are the easiest to mix and match, and to spice up with the occasional splash of color.  After wandering the streets one day in an attempt to get my mind off of the winter blues and all the incomplete tasks left unchecked on my to-do list, I discovered that no one does color better than Kate Spade.  Unfortunately, my wallet cannot support retail therapy when it comes to actually purchasing fun goodies, but walking into the Kate Spade store was medicinal and magical enough in itself to give me a shot to cure vitamin D deficiency from all of the bright red, pinks, and neon yellow and oranges.  Even better (if that is possible) are all of the inspirational sayings on Kate Spade products.  Conclusion: Kate Spade is the ultimate feel-good buy (I have a feeling that this is going to lead to some dangerous purchases in the future...at least I will be happy!)

My new iPhone case (in addition to color, I am recently obsessed with polka dots)

It's like she knows me!

  

The New Museum 

 

Modern art never ceases to fascinate.  Not only is it immediately evident whether or not you like something, but when you don't like something you absolutely positively hate it.  It is this revulsion that interests me because while there are some pieces that clearly merit talent, others just leave you puzzled as to how they could even be classified as art, and why anyone in their right mind would willingly pay an obscene amount of money to be the owner of something so hideous.  Nevertheless, back in January I went to the New Museum back in January where they had an exhibit where the themed focused on the interaction between since and art.  Consequently, everything was interactive, which my inner child relished.  At the end of the day, however, I decided that I was not drugged up enough to appreciate the experience-although the goldfish bench was regardless the best part of the show (we were not willing to wait sixty minutes for a thirty second ride down a two-story slide).

 

A progressive depiction of the development of mushrooms

Bird cages as seen from the carousel

A girl preparing to go down the slide

Carousel

More shots of the carousel (don't be fooled by appearances...it moved .00000001 mph...even if that)

 

Coincidence?...I Think Not

 

Kate Spade earring

Light at the Lincoln Center

 

Instant Upgrades

 

Despite the warm weather, I am still (shockingly) I tad bit nostalgic for winter considering that we only had a few sporadic days where the weather dropped to freezing temperatures.  Considering that I have to walk everywhere, I should be grateful for the fact that the weather was, overall, mild these past months.  Nonetheless, on those few days when it was unbearably cold, I discovered the power of fur.  Coming from Ohio, I thought down coats and layering were the most effective ways to stay warm.  No, the answer is fur.  Not only is it warm, but it gives an instant feel of elegance and sophistication.  Have a great weekend!

 

Mink coat

 

Cool Trick

 

One of my biggest pet peeves is when deodorant gets stuck to my black shirts, which is usually the case when I am rushing to get dressed in the morning.  Thanks to my cousin's trick I will never again be plagued by this annoyance: rub nylon tights or stockings on the deodorant mark and, like magic, it will instantly come off.  Don't believe me?  I dare you to try it.

 

Before

After

 

Proportions are Growing

Several weeks ago I made "Spinach and Mushroom Veggie Lasagna" (see recipe below)...and just recently finished it. Seriously, it was like the magic porridge pot, and-as delicious as it was-I thought that this lasagna was never going away.  Lessons learned: try cutting a recipe in half (leftovers are always great, but there is such a thing as too much); place container over a cookie tray or some other larger container when cooking in the oven (some of the tomato sauce overflowed while I was cooking and made some SERIOUS smoke-I was actually afraid that I was going to burn the apartment building down); and do not try bringing lasagna leftovers to work for lunch in your purse (I thought I had placed it in spill proof container, and turns out I was wrong.  Fortunately, the spill could have been MUCH worse).

INGREDIENTS:

-2 tablespoons olive oil

-1 and 1/2 lbs. cremini and/or shiitake mushrooms, sliced (I was not paying attention and grabbed only one plastic container of shiitake mushrooms.  Needless to say it was not nearly enough and would recommend three-four cartons to eyeball the weight).

-1 tsp dried thyme

-kosher salt

-1 15-ounce container of part-skim ricotta

-3/4 cup skim milk

-2 eggs, lightly beaten

-3 cups shredded, part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided evenly

-3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

-1 ten-ounce box frozen chopped spinach, defrosted and drained

-1/3 cup chopped fresh basil, plus more to garnish

-1 teaspoon dried oregano

-freshly ground black pepper

-5 cups tomato sauce

-12 sheets no-cook lasagna noodles

-nonstick cooking spray

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees

2. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.  Add the mushrooms and thyme and season with salt.  Cook until softened, about ten to 12 minutes

3. In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta, milk, and eggs and stir. Add 1 cup of mozzarella, Parmesan, spinach, basil and oregano; season with salt and pepper and stir to incorporate

4. Spread 1 cup of tomato sauce in the bottom of a 9-by-13-by-2-inch pan.  Layer 4 sheets of lasagna on top, slightly overlapping.  Spread half the ricotta mixture on the noodles, and cover with half the mushroom mixture.  Top with 1 and 1/2 cups tomato sauce.  Repeat with 4 sheets of lasagna pasta, remaining ricotta mixture, remaining mushrooms, and 1 and 1/2 cups of tomato sauce, and the remaining mozzarella cheese.

5. Lightly coat a sheet of aluminum foil with nonstick spray and cover the uncooked lasagna, spray-side down.  Bake at 375 degrees, covered, until bubbly, about 45 minutes.  Remove foil from lasagna and increase the oven temperature to 450 degrees.  Cook until cheese browns, about 12 minutes.  Remove from the oven and let stand for 15 minutes before cutting.  Serve warm and garnish with basil.

End product

My mama taught me that no matter what, ALWAYS clean off vegetables and fruit

The smell was incredibly delicious

Ricotta cheese and egg

I think I needed a deeper pan

Ready to bake

 

These Are some of my Favorite Things...

 

Black licorice "Scottie" dogs

My replacement candle (smells like a fireplace)

Free upgrades from Starbucks

Homemade chocolate truffles and "cake balls" gifted from Mrs. Farris

Purple and gold

 

New York City Sights

Puppies in a pet store window

More puppies

Sweatshirts with built in headphones in the hoodie strings (I definitely did a double take)

A Betsy Johnson Christmas Tree (at the Plaza Hotel)

A store for selling exclusively neon signs

 

Bright Ideas

 

As Murphy's Law would have it all of the light bulbs in my apartment managed to go out...on the same day.  Now I am not so completely helpless that I cannot change a light bulb, but the problem was that I had never before changed ceiling bulbs.  The precariousness of the situation was compounded by the fact that we do not own a step ladder in my apartment-no room for storage.  Consequently, my only option was to climb up on a bar seat equipped with a "spinney" seat.  Fortunately, I lived to tell the tale, but want to share some of my insights garnered from this incident.  First, always have an extra set (whether it is light bulbs, paper towels, toilet paper, dishwasher detergent, etc.) because, as much as you attempt to ration, the fact of the matter is that you never know when supplies will run out, and when it does run out it is inevitable that it will be at a time when you need a TON of that material.  Second, it is okay to use a 60 watt bulb even if the outlet calls for a 70 watt bulb.  Third, despite contentions to the contrary, those "environment" safe light bulbs do not last a life time.

 

 

Sweet Finds

 

A couple of weekends ago, courtesy to the unseasonably warm weather, I resolved to set out on foot and explore my neighborhood by running my errands on foot as opposed to the subway.  In addition to discovering that not only am I surrounded by an infinite number of deliciously tempting restaurants, but that my apartment is also within walking distance of an Apple store and Loehmann's (which will prove to be my downfall).  The best find of the day, however, was Baked by Melissa.  All of the walking had roused a significant, inexplicable craving for a cupcake.  Although rumor has it Crumbs cupcakes are the best (Magnolia Bakery fans may beg to differ), I wanted something a little smaller and healthier so that all of my walking would not be in vain.  These bite-sized mini cupcakes at Baked took the cake.

 

Pictured from left to right: Chocolate peanut butter cup, blueberry cobbler (the flavor of the month), and cookie dough