Monday, February 28, 2011

Falafel on My Mind

This past weekend, I had dinner with Ericka and Kathy at a new restaurant from the owners of Tilth called the Golden Beetle. I cannot recommend this restaurant enough. We ordered a bounty of bites, shared them, and sipped artfully made cocktails. I could write a whole post on the french fries . . . they literally spend three days making them! Three days!  . . . the scope of this post does not include the french fries. (sadly)

However, it does cover the falafel. It was, in a word, perfect! Crispy little spheres of goodness tucked into a soft pita with an amazing slaw of onions and cilantro. It was really the stuff dreams are made of.

So I decided to try my hand at making falafel. and slaw. not pita; that came from Trader Joes. 


The Slaw:
Actually quick pickled cucumbers and onions, but it did the job!

Half a cucumbers slices (I peeled mine)
One third of a sweet onion sliced to the same thickness as the cucumber
Three tablespoons cilantro leaves
One cup of white wine vinegar
Quarter cup water
One Tablespoon Kosher Salt
Pepper to taste

Combine, let sit in the fridge or on the counter for about one hour
Eat! (with Falafel)



The Falafel Itself

Yummy, beany bites, fried golden in olive oil. Just begging to be slathered in tzatziki!

In a food processor combine
one egg
one egg white
one torn piece of whole wheat bread, torn into pieces
one 15 oz can of drained, rinsed garbanzo beans
one tablespoon sesame seeds
one teaspoon cumin
one half teaspoon chili powder ( I used smoked) 
one half tablespoon of dijon mustard
salt and pepper to taste
one quarter cup diced onions

Pulse in the food processor until smooth and the mixture looks wet.

Heat three tablespoons of oil in a pan and drop in spoonfuls of the falafel mixture. This recipe should make 16 two inch diameter falafel patties. Yum! Cook four minutes on each side. Serve with warm pita, yogurt sauce, chili sauce, of course the slaw, and, if you're so inclined, a cold beer!




Saturday, February 26, 2011

365 Days


I have been absent from the blog world, so here's a taste of what's been happening in the real world!






Thursday, October 28, 2010

Been Away for Way too Long . . .

Hello Friends!

I have been out of the blog-o-shpere for a couple months now, and I feel a bit timid about coming back!
Grad school and working are eating up the majority of my time, but enough of my real-life friends have asked for a blog update to make me want to get back into it. I cannot promise that my blogging will consistent. Really, my style is nonexistent. Working with kids with special needs means simple, comfy clothes for getting dirty in. 

I have some other posts I need to put up, pictures and outfits from three lovely friends' weddings! That will be coming soon! (Hopefully!)

Where?
This outfit was worn to celebrate, my friend Janet's birthday. Her sister and husband rented a school bus and we all went wine tasting for the day. Super fun! Thanks Lori and Kevin! My friend Whitney took these pictures at our last winery.  

Why?
I knew it would be chilly on the bus and in the wineries. I wanted some layers, something comfortable, and cute. 

What?
Jeans: Gap, Always Skinny
Blouse: Gap
Vest: cashmereGap
Coat: Vintage (I feel for the fur collar!)
Shoes: purchased somewhere in Paris




Saturday, August 7, 2010

Haircut, Wedding, and a Seaplane

Hi Friends!

This will be another "farwell for now" post! I'm heading to British Columbia to do some boating with my dad, and this will be my first seaplane adventure! From where we live, we see them take of about 30 times a day, but I've never before had an excuse to book a ticket. That's happening tomorrow, and today I had a lovely breakfast with Nate at our favorite breakfast spot. Now I will be getting a haircut with the lovely Connie and then Janet and Kevin's wedding! So excited! I love weddings (and vacations!)

As for the clothes . . . I am always looking for a way to make my t-shirts and jeans a bit more fashion forward. I love this top from Anthropolgie. It mixes jersey with silk, so it looks dressier but is super comfy. These skinny, stretchy jeans are from Urban Outfitters. I'm not sold on them yet. All in all a comfortable outfit for a lot of sitting then errand running.

Have a lovely weekend everyone!


top, Anthropologie jeans, BDG from Urban Outfitters, shoes, Target

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Mimi's Closet, The Beginning

Hi Friends!

In the spring, I helped my Mimi clean out her closets. It was four days of digging through memories, hearing stories, and deep sighs over elastic waistbands that have rotted away. In the end. I brought home three huge boxes in addition to wearing a fur coat on the plane (in May!). Sadly, many of her pieces are too small for me; she and my great grandma were 5'3" and about a size four. Somethings I am keeping, but most will be in my soon-to-start etsy store. These pieces range from the 30s to the 90's it is amazing to see how her style changed, but mostly stayed the same as she aged.

This top is one piece I knew I wanted to wear this summer. It is made of sheer cotton and has these lovely, billowy sleeves. do not really like it with the shorts I'm wearing, but it was nice for a picnic dinner in the park. Since Jessica from What I Wore did her turban tutorial, I have been sporting this look most days of the week. I love simple hair but particularly in the summer!

Top, Mimi Shorts, Anthropologie Scarf, Vintage Shoes, from Mara Braclets, collected on various vacations





Monday, August 2, 2010

Hello Friends!

I've been away for a while, but I am back, at least for the time being. This summer has been one of transition and change, not bad, just different. We've been staying home, taking long walks, and being quiet together. We've had some lovely times with friends and family as we relaxed our way through July. August will bring more change, one I'm not sure I am ready for, but life happens whether your ready or not. I am leaving the job I love and a program I helped build. Bittersweet as I move on to exciting new things. This fall I will be steeped in academia working toward my Master's and working with special needs children. But enough about that . . .


Scarf, Anthropologie Top, JCPenney Necklace, Banana Republic Pants, JCrew Shoes, Old Navy Bag, ?

Nate and I ventured out to a new favorite restaurant in our neighborhood, Chichetti. I'm in love! I ordered their marinated olives with mint and chili three times in one evening! They have wonderful chilled beaujolais and yummy sangria. We ran into some friends then saw Inception. A nice evening to finish off a languid month.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

A List For Summer

I apologize for being away for so long, but life has a way of getting in the way of hobbies. In the past month or so, Nate graduated from med school and started his residency, we roasted a pig for family and friends at the farm, I boycotted blogging due to cold, rainy, miserable weather, and we spent some time adjusting to our new schedule (which is about to change in a month, again!)


After catching up on my favorite blog reads, I decided to make a list of some of the many things I hope to accomplish this summer. These are the must have, must do, must be's of so many things I want to have, do, and be. 

Must Do:
see an outside concert or play (I love Shakespeare in the park!)
swim in the lake, any lake
spend time on Dad's Boat
watch the sailboat races on Tuesday nights
drink iced coffee and stroll through the neighborhood at night
serve food to friends that I've grown 
make raspberry and blackberry jam
spend a day at the beach
take a walk in a rain shower sans umbrella


Must Eat:
lots of food from the grill
homemade peach crumble
homemade pasta sauce
sun tea with lemon
rainier cherries
creme fraiche, baisl, and sungold tomatoes
at least one drippy, double scoop ice cream cone


Must Be:
hot!
lazy
submerged


Below are some pictures of summers past . . .

roasted tomato caprese salad

Nate trying to fix a tv problem while sailing Vanuatu
(note the woven palm huts, yet they have tvS)

sungold tomatoes

lemon cake from the Macrina Bakery Cookbook

a full rainbow the evening of our wedding

my brothers on a boat trip in the San Juans

lilacs in our neighborhood

sailing in the kingdom Tonga


Find your Farmers Market