For the Love of {Feathers}- Jewelry

Anna Korte Vintage Jewelry at Tobi

Alex and Ani at Shopbop

Betsey Johnson at Nordstrom

Urban Outfitters

And, if I had a million dollars...

H.Stern at Neiman Marcus

Karina's Kicked Up Colcannon Recipe

An Irish classic- colcannon. Mashed potatoes with a twist.

Traditional colcannon is an Irish potato recipe thick with cream and sticks of butter. If served for the Celtic New Year, a bowl of colcannon might include a lucky coin hidden in its pillowy depths; the charmed recipient- if she didn't break a tooth on it- kept the buried treasure for a New Year's worth of kind fortune. 

My version of colcannon is anything but traditional. I'm a half Ashkenazi-Jewish-Scot-Irish shiksa zen Jungian humanist, after all. So you know I had to change it up a bit. It had to be vegan. And it had to be spiked with the flavors I crave. Flavors that love snuggling up to potatoes.

Because when it comes to this turning-back-the-clock dark and spooky time of year nothing beats a good potato recipe. 

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Completely Fascinated

A few years ago, I had a pair of heels that I loved. When I first spotted them, I fell head over heels (ha ha) and I knew they had to be mine. They were a little flashier than any of my other pairs, but I was in L-O-V-E.

E, however was not. He thought they were, well, hideous and weird. I slightly doubted my choice, but I tried to stay strong in my conviction that they were amazing.

Since I did love them, I wore them proudly, and it turned out, every time I wore them, compliments were inevitable. I have to admit that I gloated a little every time I received one (not everyone found my selection so horrible!)

I especially loved receiving a compliment when E was present. He knew I loved it too. He would laugh every time and say, "I never said other people wouldn't like them! I don't claim to always understand what women love."

Lately, I have been quite obsessed with hairpieces and fascinators, particularly of the feather and flower variety (well, perhaps I am just obsessed with feathers all-around these days.) I

think these would be fabulous to wear to a holiday party, but I have to wonder whether E would find these interesting or more along the lines of my very-loved shoes...

K.Autumn

Originals By Lynnette

Miss Lola by oh my deer! (sadly, no longer available!)

Miss Erma by oh my deer! (also, sadly, no longer available!)

qgdesigns

I would want to wear this piece by House of Telsa all the time!

For the love of {Plaid}- Part 5

For now, here's one more look at Hatch's work (previously mentioned here and here.)

Perhaps it's because I've found myself a little infatuated with plaid (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4,) but I love Hatch's branding and design for their client, MacLean Winery.

Craig MacLean, the founder of the winery, wanted to reflect his Scottish heritage in his brand, and Hatch incorporated elements of his family crest and tartan into their concept for MacLean Winery.


Their wine, with its festive red plaid design, looks like something I would love to break open for the holidays!

Gluten-Free Crock-Pot Recipes

The new recipe index is:

Gluten-Free Slow Cooker Stews and Crock-Pot Recipes

Cider Roasted Vegetables

Roasted vegetables are an easy, fit for company favorite.

Roasted vegetables. As you may have guessed from my last recipe, they are a favorite staple at our house. And beyond easy. We make them at least twice a week- a convivial ritual. Steve and I join forces in the kitchen at cocktail hour and cut up heaps of vegetables, sipping wine and talking politics. Or religion. Human behavior. Projection. Affect and temperament. All those spiky topics your grandmother warned you not to talk about at dinner parties (or at least in mixed company). We talk, all right. And talk.

After all, we're simpatico.

We're on the same ethical and moral page. We share the same values (muy importante in a marriage, let me tell you). And we're on safe ground here in our tiny desert kitchen- at least as long as the bank holding the mortgage doesn't go belly up (but money is another topic a "polite" woman doesn't discuss).

Steve and I are as fearless and hopeful with another as we were on our very first date- a cup of coffee (make that three) at Jack's Out Back in Yarmouthport. When he asked me where I saw myself in ten years- and told me he wasn't looking for a mother- I knew I'd found the man for me.

And last night- the one year mark of the unfortunate hip incident- as we stood in the very spot of my Charlie Brown smack down, rustling up passionate discourse and tossing veggies left and right into a waiting roasting pan and punctuating Mamet style pauses with. Glugs. Of olive oil. And. Pinches of sea salt. My husband slid the pan into the hot oven. And kissed me.

Dinner is done, he said.

May this election soon be, I murmured.

And I raised my glass to the future.

Cider Roasted Vegetables

While the veggies are roasting their earthy little hearts out, getting all golden and tender and sweet, put on a pot of your favorite brown rice or quinoa seasoned with a little olive oil and a sprinkle of curry, cumin, or Old Bay Seasoning.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Wash and cut your favorite mix of vegetables and toss them into a large baking pan. Mix and match. Some folks worry about pairing the wrong vegetables but honestly, I've never had a problem combining. Just make sure you cut the assorted veggies in an evenhanded manner, keeping the sizes relatively close. Denser vegetables like carrots I usually slice thinner, knowing they'll take a bit longer to cook through.

1 sweet or red onion, cut into wedges

2 carrots, sliced

6 baby gold, purple or red potatoes, cut up

1 1/2 cups butternut squash or pumpkin, peeled, cubed

Half a cabbage- green or purple- sliced

1 1/2 cups broccoli florets

1 cup cauliflower florets

1 yellow squash, cut into half moons

A few green beans, whole, trimmed

A portobello mushroom or two, sliced or cut up

Lots of garlic, several whole or minced cloves

Toss the vegetables into a large roasting pan. Season the veggies with sea salt and fresh ground pepper. Make your sauce.

Cider Roasting Sauce:

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

1 cup natural apple cider

1 tablespoon agave, honey or brown sugar

Stir to blend. Pour the sauce over the veggies, toss well to coat.

Sprinkle with warming spices, if you like. Curry, nutmeg, a touch of cinnamon, some thyme. Roast for 30 to 45 minutes- or until the veggies are tender, to your liking.

Serve over cooked brown rice or quinoa. Add a condiment for more protein- hummus is especially delicious with roasted vegetables. Add crumbles of goat cheese, if you like.

Printer-friendly recipe

More Options:

Add a can of drained white beans or chick peas for added protein; stir them into the vegetables during the last 15-20 minutes of roasting, to heat through.

Leftover roasted veggies can be baked into yummy quiches and frittatas or tossed into soups.


Omnivores can add in sliced cooked sausage or pieces of cooked chicken during the last 20 minutes of roasting; heat through.
 

Simpatico Recipes:

Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
Jalapeño Lime Hummus
Maple-Apple Sausage Patties
Pinon Rice Bake
Maple-Apricot Glazed Meatloaf

Let the Work Not End Today

Image from Pia Jane Bijkerk

I have been truly inspired by all of the posts I read today for Blog Action Day. There have been so many amazing stories and organizations shared by bloggers around the world.

*Pia, who made me aware of this day, posted about poverty here and here, and she also posted links to a number of other posts, which you should definitely check out.

In addition to the links posted by Pia, below are some of the other bloggers who posted on poverty today.

*Oliveaux is donating two dollars to the Nakuru Baby Orphanage in Kenya for every comment left on her post about Blog Action Day.

*Kimberlee of Brown Button and Emma of White & Wander are also donating two dollars for every comment left on their Blog Action Day posts here and here. Kim's money will be going to World Vision and Emma's to Hesperian Foundation.

*Deborah shared memories of her first encounters with extreme poverty in India on Your Destiny is Stone Golden, and she challenged everyone to think what they could do without in order to help others in need.

*Kouji Haiku wrote haikus about the poverty in his homeland of the Philippines, and he also offered a number of easy ways to help fight poverty including Free Rice (a rather addictive website!), Goodsearch and Kiva.

*Miscellany of Me has two very informative posts here and here both offering easy ways to help fight poverty.

And let us remember to not let the work end today!

Teach and Inspire

Image from Mississippi Teacher Corps Summer School 2008

I received a lovely email from the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence informing me of their Teach and Inspire Scholarship Program. The program recruits individuals to teach in high-need schools and subject areas, including 14 school districts in Mississippi (with a number of those districts located in the Delta.)

Blog Action Day 2008- Poverty

In America, we often hear about poverty in third world countries, but we don't always hear enough about the poverty that exists at home.

Flickr: Robert Pollack and jwinfred

One of the poorest states in the U.S. is Mississippi, and the Delta is the poorest region of the state. I've talked about the Delta before. I talked of it's culture and beauty and, briefly, touched on the poverty that reigns in the region.

Flickr: Robert Pollack and jwinfred

Here are more in-depth facts about poverty in the Delta.

In 2005, the U.S. Census Bureau showed 18 counties in Mississippi had over 30 percent of the population living below poverty level

Of the 100 U.S Counties with the highest child poverty levels, 17 counties are in Mississippi. Most of those 17 are in the Delta.

31 percent of Mississippi children live below poverty level according to data at the National Center for Children in Poverty.

Flickr: jwinfred here and here

One of the greatest challenges facing children in the Delta is a receiving a quality education.

Mississippi consistently ranks among the lowest states in regards to educational spending. The Census Bureau reported in the 2005-2006 school year, in "Per Pupil Spending" Mississippi ranked 45th of 50 states.

In addition to low funding, schools in the Delta have also faced teacher shortages. To help address the critical teacher shortage, in 1989, the Mississippi Teacher Corps was founded.

Run through The University of Mississippi, the Mississippi Teacher Corps is a two-year program, designed for non-education majors, placing teachers in classrooms in the Delta.

In addition to receiving a salary, benefits, and teaching experience, participants receive full scholarship for a master's degree in education from the university (the coursework is completed over the two year period of teaching, so that when they graduate from the program, the participants also receive their degree.)

Here is a video that tells more about the program and the work they do.



Teach for America also serves the Mississippi Delta through its program. With the commitment of these organizations, the gap in education is closing, but there is still a long road ahead for children in the Delta to make the climb out of poverty.

Donations can be made to the Mississippi Teacher Corps or to Teach for America specifically for their Mississippi Delta program.

Thank you, Pia, for making me aware of this day.

The City of Lights

I can't stop staring at this incredibly beautiful photo, Lights of Paris, made up of three overlapping images by mkendall.

It strikes me as Paris glistening in the rain, and I love that the overlapping images in the photograph are actually her parent's drapes, the Eiffel tower at night, and blurred Christmas lights.

I also love this photo, this photo, and this photo, although she has so many beautiful works in her Etsy store.

S'more Brownies

I normally don't love brownies all that much (besides the ones I mentioned here!) but, oh my goodness, these look insanely delicious! It might be the perfectly golden brown marshmallow topping that is doing it for me, but all I know is when I looked at this photo I thought, "YUM!"

Image from Food Network

Pet Portraits- Meet the "Kids"

My husband and I adore our dogs, Itchy and Moose, and anyone who knows us would agree that they are very much our "kids."

When our first anniversary was approaching, I thought a lot on what type of "paper" gift would mean the most to him. And then I discovered Elizabeth Fraser. I knew immediately that commissioning portraits of our pups was the answer.

Itchy

Moose

Above are the portraits and the photos from which they were painted. These portraits were oil on gesso prepared paper, but now she also offers oil on canvas. You can check out other examples of Elizabeth's pet portraits here.

I truly couldn't have been more thrilled with her work. Elizabeth captured the pups perfectly, and the color in the paintings is even more brilliant in person. Most importantly, they will always be meaningful pieces for us as they celebrate our first two "kids."

Now, with a rapidly approaching second anniversary, I've got some serious thinking to do on "cotton."

Tag Team, Back Again*

Wow! I was tagged again, this time by the hilarious Kimberlee of Brown Button (I love her blog,) and the lovely Vicki of French Essence (which I've only just discovered, but I am enchanted already.) I am certainly quite honored! So, here goes.

The Rules
1. Link to the person who tagged you
2. Mention the rules
3. Tell six quirky yet boring, unspectacular details about yourself
4. Tag six other bloggers by linking to them
5. Go to each person's blog and leave a comment that lets them know they've been tagged.

The Facts
1. My husband and I have two dogs; one dog weighs 80 lbs and the other only weighs 18! Quite opposites in size, but they get along famously.
2. I dogear the pages of books as I read, but I never dogear the pages of magazines.
3. In case you haven't guessed by my header, I am a complete night owl!
4. I somehow know the words to a lot of songs, and I always sing along. In high school, one of my friends said, "Geez! Do you know the words to EVERY song?" I think she may have been annoyed by my singing, but, then as now, I just can't help myself!
5. I love dark chocolate, but completely pass on milk chocolate.
6. While certainly no one would call me a neat freak (Mom, are you laughing?) I simply can't stand to cook in a messy kitchen. It must be clean before I can mess it up again!

As a kid, I always preferred "Freeze Tag" to the regular version. What that means in relation to this I have no idea. But I am terribly indecisive at times, and right now, I can't decide who to tag. I would love finding out more about you all though, so please feel free to leave comments and play along!

*Yes, that is "Whoomp (There It Is)"

Home Sweet Home

A custom pen and ink drawing of a couple's home from Etsy shop the ink lab would make another sweet and very personal wedding or first anniversary gift.





Think outside the box for a couple who hasn't yet shared a special home; for them you could commission a drawing of the place of their rehearsal dinner, wedding or reception.

A friend of mine received a drawing of the historic home where they held their wedding as a wedding gift, and it is a piece that holds great sentimental value to her. Art this personal seems bound to become a family heirloom

In addition to the ink lab, you can find other custom home drawings on Etsy here and here. A colorful home portrait can be found here, here, here, here, here, here, and here on Etsy.

Forgotten no more

I will be gone for the day, but I wanted to leave you with the Long Forgotten Coat Rack from Anthropologie; if I had my way, it certainly wouldn't be forgotten for long! This coat rack would be a cheerful sight in an entryway, and it would add such interest to the right space.

Dreaming of Apple Picking

My family visited the same apple orchard every fall when I was younger. I always looked forward to those trips; there was something comforting and a little magical about getting to pick apples straight from the tree. I also loved getting fresh apple cider from the farm and spending time with my family.

I haven't been apple-picking since high school, but I would love to be these girls this weekend! I don't know of any apple orchards in our vicinity, but a girl can dream.

Photo by Corrie Bond

I think I may content myself with finally making that Apple Crisp! What are your plans for the weekend?

Gluten-Free Mexican Recipes: The Flavors of Santa Fe

The Land of Enchantment

I lived in rural northern New Mexico for three years. During that time I loved cooking with fresh roasted green chiles. Harvest season in New Mexico smells like roasting green chiles. Everywhere. It's true. And it's seductive. Some might even say, magical.

But beyond the smoky sweetness that tugs at your suddenly empty and ravenous belly there is something else in the cool dry air, some intoxicating, invigorating whiff of the impossible, the extraordinary, the stuff of dreams. Barely there. Unless you pay attention to it. A shape shift at the corner of your eye. A rainbow over the mesa. A wing. The yelp of a coyote. The sudden purple of autumn asters in the rain carved arroyo.

New Mexico enchants her visitors.

It’s a feast of color and tastes spiked with the scents of juniper, chile and sage. To celebrate its flavors I have gathered my New Mexican inspired recipes for you- a reference to tempt you. Until you visit New Mexico. And find your own rainbow, waiting.

Fresh fire roasted green and red chiles.

My Santa Fe + Mexican Recipes

Acorn Squash with Green Chiles
Big Easy Chili

Blue Corn Muffins with Green Chiles

Brown Rice Tortilla Chips

Buffalo Sausage Stew with Gold Potatoes

Butternut Chili

Calabasitas- Zucchini, Corn, Green Chiles, Lime and Black Beans

Chicken and Artichoke Enchilada Casserole (New Mexican Style)

Cilantro Pesto de Esteban

Cranberry Buffalo Roast Stew with Sweet Potatoes

Easy Spinach and Cheddar Quesadilla

Enchiladas Griegos for Two with Spinach and Feta Cheese
Holiday Turkey Enchiladas

How to Make Roasted Green Chile Sauce

Jalapeño Lime Hummus

Joey's Kicked Up Rockin' Guac with Tomatillos
Lime Chicken (Soft) Tacos
Lime Quinoa Salad with Mint

Mexican Pumpkin Soup with Black Beans and Lime
Maple Roasted Acorn Squash with Cornbread Stuffing

Mexican Black Bean Soup

Pumpkin Polenta with Avocado-Tomatillo Salsa

Quickie Enchilada Sauce- Gluten-Free
Quinoa: How to Cook It- the easy way
Quinoa Taco Salad

Nachos Fabuloso

New Mexican Green Chile Stew with Turkey

Parmesan Crisps & Roasted Tomato Salsa

Pineapple Salsa Chicken Enchiladas

Pinon Rice Bake with Corn, Green Chile, Artichokes and Goat Cheese


Red Quinoa with Butternut Squash and Cranberries

Roasted Corn Chowder with Chicken & Cilantro

Roasted Green Chile Tortilla Bake with Cream Cheese

Roasted Tomato Salsa
Roasted Yellow Tomato Salsa
Roasted Vegetable Salsa

Santa Fe Chicken Chili

Santa Fe Pumpkin Chowder

Slow Cooker Roasted Hatch Chile Stew

Spaghetti Squash New Mexican with Black Beans and Lime

Spanish Rice Bake

Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas
Southwestern Stuffed Peppers

Sweet Potato Black Bean Enchiladas
Sweet Potato Soup
Tequilla Lime Salmon

Tostada Nueva- a Southwestern Twist on the BLT

Two Artists Chili

Turkey + Sweet Potato Enchiladas

Vegetarian New Mexican Green Chile

Bakery and Bread

Pear Polenta Muffins

Pueblo Bread- with green chiles

Pumpkin Corn Muffins

Skillet Cornbread with Green Chiles

Sweet Banana Polenta Cake

Sweet Potato Cornbread
Yeasted Quinoa Cornbread

Dessert

Banana Polenta Cake
Mexican Chocolate Cake

New Mexican Hot Fudge Sundae

Pumpkin Raisin Cake
Quinoa Pumpkin Cookies
Rustic Strawberry Cobbler Cake
Strawberries Citronge

More Tex-Mex and New Mexican Recipes from Food Bloggers:

Green Chili Sauce - Salsa Verde from Kitchen Parade
Chile Rellenos Bake from Kalyn's Kitchen
Tangerine and Jicama Salad with Garlic and Cilantro from Pinch My Salt
Turkey Green Chile Chili from Perfect Pantry
Carnitasfrom Simply Recipes
Roasted Green Tomatillo Salsafrom Andrea's Recipes
How To Roast Your Own Green Chiles from Elise at Simply Recipes
Chipotle Chili from Cooking with Amy
Creamy Mexican Chayote Soup from FatFree Vegan Kitchen
Homesick Texan's Carnitas Houston Style
Mexican Grilled Corn from Food Blogga
Three No-Cook Summer Recipes from Farmgirl Fare
Guacamole Deviled Eggs from Coconut and Lime

Tag! You're It.

Image flickr baklein62

I was tagged today by sweet Kate at Kids & Cocktails. It's my first tag too, so, this is rather exciting!

4 things I did today
1.) Went grocery shopping
2.) Finally bought the newest Domino
3.) Played Frisbee with one of my pups
4.) Watched my husband solder my laptop power cord to make it functional again! It was a scary moment when I thought it was a goner. He is definitely my hero!

4 things on my to-do list
1.) Learn how to fly a plane (long term to-do!)
2.) Travel to Russia... and Peru... and India... and Ireland... and New Zealand... and ok, I'll stop here because truthfully the list is almost endless!
3.) Make Apple Crisp- I've been wanting to make some for days, but haven't gotten around to it.
4.) Finish some wedding thank-you notes (ack! I know, Mom! Some of the gifts only came in recently though.)

4 of my guiltiest pleasures
1.) The Hills & Army Wives...hokey shows? Yes. Am I addicted? Yes.
2.) Currently, Peanut Brittle Ice Cream (sadly, a seasonal flavor)
3.) Magazines (see below...)
4.) Starbucks (which I haven't had in a while b/c I've been making my coffee at home every day. Oh, but a flavored soy latte and slice of pumpkin loaf- yum!!)

4 random things you probably didn't know about me
1.) I've been a vegetarian for 12 years, although for the last 6 or so, I have only been a semi-veg, as, on occasion, I will eat fish.
2.) I am a complete magazine-addict and have a degree in Magazine Journalism, but I've never worked at a magazine.
3.) I hate tomatoes (it's a texture thing,) but I love tomato-things: tomato soup, tomato-based sauces, salsa, etc. Oh, and fried green tomatoes- delicious!
4.) In second grade when my youngest brother was born, I told my entire class his name was the one I had wanted, rather than the name my parents actually had given him! Embarrassing when I was busted two weeks later... :)

Thanks Kate!

If you'd like to participate, consider yourself tagged! Leave a comment; I'd love to read your list.

This little piggy...

I read about the Etsy shop Chez Sucre Chez on Design*Sponge today, and I am absolutely smitten with this tote! I really do adore pigs, and for me, this the sweetest way to imagine the ending of "This little piggy goes to market!"

Oh Sew Sweet

I love that these Etsy shops have given new life to sewing patterns by repurposing them into new items.

Etsy Shop Natuur/-e

Here

Here

Here

Etsy Shop Paperwerks

Here

Here

Etsy Shop JenniferConway

Here

Here

Etsy Shop Blue Valentine Press

Here

Here

Etsy Shop copabananas

Here