Crispin: The Cross of Lead

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This book came to me with a very high recommendation from Haley.  She informed me that it was Newberry Award winner (2003), is one of the most historically accurate portrayals of peasant life in the Middle Ages, and thoroughly engrossing; she's spot-on with everything!

Crispin is a young peasant in the 1300s when his mother dies.  After spying his steward at a secret meeting in the woods, a "wolf's head" is put on him, meaning any man can shoot him on sight (as they would a wolf...get it?).  Although Crispin doesn't know why he's being targeted, he goes on the lam and meets Bear, a huge man who takes Crispin under his wing.  Bear is a jester, and teaches Crispin both how to think independently and how to play the recorder.  As they approach the city of Great Wexly, Bear confesses to Crispin that he has to conduct business of an illegal nature there, and Crispin may be in danger.  Who is Crispin, really?  How can this peasant boy hold the fate of his steward in his hands?  And will he and Bear make it out of Great Wexly alive?

This is a juvenile fiction book, so it's a quick read, but also includes great character development and pacing.  Avi's a great novelist, and this is his 50th (!!) book. 

Country girl in the city

 Button down: Gap
Skirt: J. Crew
Boots: Ciao Bella
This weekend could not have been more relaxing or perfect.  Fall is officially in the air, which gives me an excellent opportunity to get some great new knee-high boots.  These are incredibly soft, have rubber soles so they don't slip when it's wet outside, and the color matches pretty much any other brown.  It's not the most exciting outfit, but it's comfy and perfect for the crisp weather!

 John Paul and I spent our Saturday jogging, baking banana/chocolate chip/pecan pancakes, and caught a showing of Never Let Me Go. Please watch this movie if you get a chance; the acting is absolutely beautiful, the cinematography is stunning, and the story itself is heartbreakingly touching. Such a great day!

 

Turkey Sloppy Joe's

Yay for sloppy joe's!!  It's the meal that's meant to be messy, that should drip down your chin, that shouldn't look really pretty while cooking.  This particular recipe is made with turkey, rather than the usual ground beef, and lots of carrots added to increase vitamin and nutrient intake.
And, I think, for the taste.
It's so delicious: lighter than red meat, fresh because of the carrots and crushed tomatoes, and slightly sweet from the brown sugar.  I topped them off with provolone and put everything on toasted whole wheat buns.  If there are any leftovers, they're tasty when thrown in with some rice and stirred up.  Bon appetit!
I used the recipe from Everyday Food with no changes made to the ingredients and procedure.  Out of sheer laziness, just follow their excellent directions for a trip to taste central!

 

 

The Perfect Weekend Outfit

Button-down: H&M
Skinny jeans: Gap
Belt: Vintage
Moccasins: Nine West
Watch: Michael Kors
Purse: Handmedown from my momma
This is the classic weekend outfit.  The shirt is rumpled, so nothing looks too put-together, the jeans are dark and skinny so it doesn't look schlumpy, and the shoes are great for walking.  I love that the belt injects some personality into the ensemble; otherwise, this could easily look sterile and cookie-cutter.
I wore this last Sunday to run errands with John Paul.  We found the perfect antique gentleman's dresser (from the 50s, and looks great with my beloved Heywood Wakefield), which will look great in our new bedroom, and dropped off a birthday present for John Paul.  There are so many events coming up, and I can't wait for them to be here!

Top 10 Songs Currently on Repeat

 When I find a song I like, I tend to play it to death.  As in, three listenings in a row while on the Metro.  As in, belting it out multiple times while cleaning the bathroom.  Music has always been a big part of my daily commute; when driving Haley to and from high school during my junior and senior years, we loved dueting on Rocky Horror Picture Show and various Me First and the Gimme Gimmes covers.  Once I sold my car during the move to DC, I started packing my iPod shuffle to keep me company during walks to and from Anthropologie or jogs to the White House.
The following ten songs are my favorite to listen to, several times, on my walks to and from Catholic.  I can't get them out of my head!

1. "Melody" Kate Earl
2. "Colourless Colour" La Roux
3. "Make Her Say" Kid Cudi
4. "Locked Inside" Janelle Monae
5. "Good Ol' Fashion Nightmare" Matt and Kim
6. "Jump" Glee cast
7. "The Way I Am" Ingrid Michaelson
8. "These Girl" Childish Gambino
9. "Kids" Sleigh Bells
10.  "Miss America" Something Corporate

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

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Okay, I'm going to be honest with my opinion on this book, which was the most recent pick for my book club:
I really did not care for it.
There.  Wow, I feel great getting that out into the open.
This best-selling novel by Steig Larssen has been a topic of discussion since it was released in 2005, and has two sequels.  There are two plots: the first is centered around the strange disappearance of Harriet Vanger, an heir to the well-known Vanger company; the second plot revolves around the male protagonist's desire to prove that a powerful Swedish businessman is, in fact, a crook.  Henrick Vanger's beloved niece mysteriously disappeared from his life nearly 40 years ago, and his poor health and old age have encouraged him to enlist the help of investigative journalist Mikael Blomkvist.  Mikael is reeling from a guilty charge for publishing a libelous article about Wennerstrom, a Swedish billionaire and businessman.  Vanger promises to tell Blomkvist some dirt on Wennerstrom in exchange for his help in solving the case of the missing Harriet.  Along the way, Blomkvist picks up Lisbeth Salanader, a young punk computer prodigy who helps bring together the missing links in both cases.
Now, if you haven't already read the book, I do think that it's worth the time to pick up the first and develop your own opinion on the characters and themes.  I hate to spoil too much of the plot, but my biggest problems with the book dealt more with the characters.  I found Lisbeth to be unsympathetic, and every woman Mikael comes in contact with falls deeply in love with him, a trait that gets boring.  Not much is given on Lisbeth's backstory, although I'm told that she has more development in the following novels.  The plots themselves did not seem to match up, and I found it odd that Larssen included both within the same pages.  And, in case you've heard that the book is violent and has some disturbing passages, that's absolutely true.  During some readings at breakfast, I had to stop eating cereal because I felt a bit gross with myself. On the other hand, any book that elicits such a strong reaction can't be wholly bad, and I'm glad to have given the trilogy a shot.
I will not, however, be checking out the rest of his works.
P.S. Happy 100th post!

Ruffly dots

Blouse: Catherine Malandrino
Skirt: F21
Clutch: Vintage
Heels: Nine West
I moved to DC and knew a very small handful of people: John Paul, his sister, and my best friend Jessilyn.  After a bit more than two years, I've met such amazing people and have great friends surrounding me; I'm so lucky! 

Two of our friends will be getting married soon, and we went to a brunch at Blue Duck Tavern on Saturday to celebrate their union. So, I get to be lucky for another reason, and it involves getting to eat completely decadent and delicious food for almost four hours with some of the most beloved people in my city. We chowed down on baked cherry-stuffed pancakes, rockfish dip and croissants, and homemade peach ice cream, oh my!

 



It was great to have an excuse to wear this outfit, which is absolutely one of my favorites. The top is superformal without being stuffy, and the clutch is incredibly soft black velvet with a gold chain. It's great to show off the legs while it's still warm enough to do so!

 



Asparagus-Gruyere Tart

Oh, I loooove this savory tart.  It's supereasy, looks incredibly impressive, and can be eaten alone or with a simple salad.  There aren't many ingredients, and everything comes together beautifully.  Gruyere cheese is a little smelly, salty and pairs really well with the asparagus.  The two go on top of buttery, flaky puff pastry.
It's one of my favorite easy things to throw together, and you'll love it!

Asparagus-Gruyere Tart (from Everyday Food)
1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
2 c. Gruyere cheese, shredded
1 1/2 lbs. medium asparagus
1 Tbsp. olive oil
Salt and pepper
1. Preheat oven to 400. On a large baking sheet, roll out puff pastry to a 16x10 in. rectangle. Lightly score pastry dough 1 inch from the edges to mark a rectangle and use a fork to pierce the dough inside of the markings at 1/2-inch intervals. Bake until golden, about 15 minutes.
2. Remove pastry shell from oven and sprinkle with Gruyere. Trim bottoms of asparagus to fit horizontally inside the tart shell, alternating ends and tips. Brush with oil and season with salt and pepper. Bake until spears are tender, 20-25 minutes.



 

 

Old Lady Furniture Shopping

Tank: Arden B.
Cami and vest: Gap
Leggings: H&M
Sandals: Steve Madden
My man and I spent last Sunday looking at furniture and home stuff in Logan Circle; are we old for thinking that's actually a good time?  We're in the market for some new accouterments for when we move into the new place in mid-late October, and having a blast figuring out how to decorate everything.

The weather was beginning to feel like fall over the weekend, but it's back into the 90s this week. I'm really looking forward to wearing long pants again; it's been skirts and shorts since May!


 

P.S. How much do you love that black swan in the first photo?! I swoon.

Steak and Onion Sandwiches

Every time I post a vegetarian recipe, I can hear my Aunt Nesi in the background saying, "I'm a carnivore, Abbi, where's my meat?!"  And she's right; there's nothing wrong with indulging in a little steak every once in a while.  If I'm going to have some red meat, though, I like to do it with lots of carbs...you know, to balance out the protein.  Add a little caramelized onion, a couple slices of cheese, and I'm in nirvana.  Obviously, top this sandwich with whatever makes your skirt fly up: mustard, homemade mayonnaise, tartar sauce...

Steak and Onion Sandwich (courtesy of John Paul, cook extraordinaire)
For 2 people:
2 onions, sliced into strips
4-5 shakes of Worcestershire sauce, to taste
1 ribeye steak, sliced thin
2 ciabatta rolls
Salt and pepper
1. Toss onions into olive oil and soften in a large sautee pan over medium heat, about 15 mintues.
2. Remove onions from pan, and cook steak until opaque, in batches if necessary. Remove to a plate until ready to assemble.
3. Without cleaning pan, put onions back in and turn heat up to medium-high. With a wooden spoon, scrape off burnt parts of the steak in order to "preserve the essence of the meat" (JP's words, not mine!) and add Worcestershire.
4. Toast rolls.
5. Pile a ton of onions onto rolls, top with steak and your choice of toppings. Eat with your hands, like a caveman would!