Wonderful Winter Warbles

I was really going for an alliteration there, and apparently "warble" is appropriate for song.  Who knew? 
JP and I had a little holiday gathering over the weekend, and I wanted to put together a playlist that wasn't totally schmaltzy Christmas-only tunes; my goal was something that would be accessible for December and January/February.  And okay, there are some holiday pieces, but also some good songs about how great life is and gratefulness.  What are your favorite songs to sing along to during this season?

White Winter Hymnal by Fleet Foxes

Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) by Dustin Kensrue

It Don't Have to Change by John Legend

Winter Winds by Mumford and Sons

Come on!  Let's Boogey to the Elf Dance! by Sufjan Stevens

Hard Candy Christmas by Dolly Parton

What Are You Doing New Year's Eve? by Rufus Wainwright

This Good Night is Still Everywhere by Dustin Kensrue (his holiday album is great!)

Count Your Blessings (Instead of Sheep) by Diana Krall

Coldest Winter by Kanye West

Fairytale of New York by Dustin Kensrue

It Really Is (A Wonderful Life) by The Indigo Girls

Faded from the Winter by Iron and Wine

River by Herbie Hancock feat. Corinne Bailey Rae

Sister Winter by Sufjan Stevens

Just Like Christmas by Low

Let it Snow by A Fine Frenzy

Ain't No Chimneys in the Projects by Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings

P.S. The picture above is from my first winter here in DC, March 2009.  I was like a little kid in 3 inches of snow; just couldn't belive I could walk outside and throw a snowball! 

Apple Baked Oatmeal Cakes

Just finished making these as a little breakfast treat, and they are deeelicious!  I've been eating lots of apples with peanut butter, and thought it might be a nice idea to actually cook with some of my bounty before the fall is officially over.  Every year I mean to hit up an apple orchard to load up on fresh apples, and every year is busier than I anticipate.  Maybe next year will be calmer?

Anyway, this recipe is a great snack on the go: hearty oatmeal, chunks of apple (I used Gala), slightly sweetened with brown sugar.  I'll do things a bit differently next time I bake these, though, namely in adjusting the cooking time.  At 350 degrees, the cakes took 55-60 minutes, which is nearly double the time suggested on the website.  I'll up the temperature by about 10 degrees next time, and cook for 40-50 minutes (I think opening the oven to check on them every 10 minutes after the 30 minute point didn't help the oven hold its heat).  Also, the batter is really runny, so I may through in some flaxseed or 1/3 c. whole wheat flour to help soak up some of the liquid for a heartier cake.

All in all, a great start for a recipe that I can't wait to try again!  What do you do when a recipe doesn't work out?  Toss it, or try to make it work for the next time?

Last weekend

Man, last weekend was eventful.  My apologies that I'm posting this on Wednesday instead of my usual Tuesday, but I needed some time to recuperate!

My wonderful dad and stepmom, Karen, came to town on Thursday and stayed through Monday morning.  I took Friday off to escort them to the American History and Natural History Museums; we got a few pictures in front of the Washington Monument (which is still closed due to earthquake damage!), and saw the Hope Diamond.

It's in a new setting, which is pretty dazzling.

Of course,we went to the dog park; Mia got lots of lovin' this weekend.

On Saturday, JP and I ran the Hot Chocolate 15K!  The race itself had some organizational issues and started an hour late; I, however, was very happy with my time and the fact that we got a tray of chocolate fondue at the finish line!  We washed it down with some delicious hot chocolate.

Very rewarding portion of the weekend.

Mia and Dad really connected over TopGear episodes on Netflix.

On Sunday, we started the day with bloody marys at Martin's Tavern, an old restaurant in Georgetown (it's where JFK proposed to Jackie!)...

...and ended at the National Gallery of Art, where Dad got to see a Pollock.
All in all, it was super lovely!  Definitely whet my appetite to catch up with my Florida friends and family over Christmas break...

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

via

I read this book many years ago, when its cover caught my eye on the New Books shelf at the Blake Library back at home.  It is a beautiful cover, evocative and definitive.  The stark graphic belies that the book has a rather bleak beginning, a boy loses his father during the 9/11 attacks, but the colors are optimistic and hopeful.  The typography, a bit haphazard and in two separate directions, is a nod to the somewhat convoluted perspectives from which the story is told.
Oskar Schell is a precocious 9-year old who is reeling from his father's death the year prior.  He finds a mysterious key labeled "Black" on top of his father's armoire, and sets out to find out why his dad, Thomas Schell, had this key and what it means.  His trek takes him all over the city of New York, where he meets a woman who lives on top of the Empire State Building, a 103-year old neighbor who joins him on the journey, and a wealthy woman who scares Oskar when she offers him finger sandwiches.  Oskar's story is interwoven with both of his grandparents' stories, who survived the Dresden bombings during WWII, their generation's and country's version of 9/11.
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is really a story about coming to grips with loss and the worst sides of humanity: what do we do when our safety net is taken from us?  How do we cope with the evil that resides in the world?  Does the good really outweigh the bad?
John Paul and I listened to this audiobook on the drive to and from Illinois, and it's very well narrated.  However, pick up the print version if you can; there are some great visuals that help to bring the story to life.

Roasted Veggies

As it is fall, root vegetables are king in the kitchen.  We've had roasted vegetables at least once a week for the past month, and still have not tired of them, mostly because they're so terribly versatile.
My base is generally one tray of various chopped veggies.  Pick a few of the following and chop into 1-inch cubes: squash (any kind...butternut, acorn, even summer or zucchini if you can still find it), cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, onions, brussel sprouts.  Add an apple, or cranberries, if you want to add some Thanksgiving pizazz.  Toss with salt, pepper, olive oil, some balsamic vinegar to punch it up a bit and caramelize the meal slightly in the oven.
Pop into a 400-degree oven and roast for 40-50 minutes, stirring around halfway through.

Now, with these delicious veggies cooked, do any of the following:
1. Toss with a whole grain (barley, brown rice, quinoa).
2. Create a salad with arugula or romaine lettuce.
3. Bake a sweet potato, and stuff the veggies inside for a colorful plate.
4. Add to a bowl of whole grain pasta and top with some grated cheese.
4. Serve as a tasty side for the protein of your choice.

Lately my favorite version is #3; oh my goodness, it's so filling and good for you!  Try making a couple trays of roasted veggies, then just using them throughout the week.  So easy and delicious!

Brown Wedges

Tee: J.Crew
Pants: J.Crew Factory Store
Shoes: Cooperative via Urban Outfitters
I've been eyeing these fabulous wedges for months, waiting for them to go on sale.  I've been in the market for some brown wedges I can dress up for winter (yes, I realize they've got an open toe, but I can cover that up with some opaque tights), and these totally fit the bill.  Would you believe me if I said they were also comfortable? 

I'm loving how this look plays with details: woven leather, small print on the pants, heathered shirt.  It keeps the whole thing from being too put-together, the death wish for any outfit.  Don't we all strive for that 'just threw this on' look?

Thanksgiving in Illinois

We drove 27 hours total from Wednesday to Sunday at noon.  I've never driven west from DC before, so it was wonderful to cruise through towns that had buildings painted like works of art.  So cool!

Mia was super-antsy in Illinois until Mom opened the window, put the  bean bag in front of it, and let her stare at the squirrels in the yard.  Then JP joined her, and she was the happiest camper!

Brent showed me how to fold napkins so they stand up on their own, and I added the leaf garland and squirrel placecards.  Cute!

Jeez Louise, the apple pie and pumpkin custard Mom made for dessert was to die for!  Topped the custard with candied ginger, and whipped cream.  Bon appetit!

We had such a great visit to the midwest!  Thanks for the excellent hospitality, Mom and Brent!

Last night John Paul made the monumental Squash-henge while we prepped for dinner.  What an artist!

Orange Oxfords

Sweater vest and pants: Gap
Button down: H&M
Oxfords: Urban Outfitters
Belt: J. Crew
Oh man.  When I saw these shoes on sale at Urban, I bought them asap.  How amazing are they?!  Love the bold color, especially when worn with a relatively conservative outfit like this one.

Gah, I love them!  I did wear argyle socks, which peeked out a bit and looked nerdy-cute.  At least, I hope that's how the look turned out.

I met JP for an event at his job on Tuesday night, which means free wine and crackers.  Really, I was just looking for an excuse to continue wearing this outfit.  It'll be hard to not wear it on a weekly basis!

Thanksgiving 2011

Just a smattering of what I am grateful for this year:

Almond milk

Chocolate

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Netflix

My good health

Francis Field

Mia

My sister's patience for teaching me to knit for the fifth time

Real Simple

Cookbooks

JOHN PAUL 

Hot lemon water in the morning

Parents who have always made me feel loved

Cappuccinos made with love by my fiance

Lavender scones

Family who is incredibly supportive of all of my life choices

Ryan Gosling

Musicals 

Sweet Potato and Kale Soup

Thanksgiving is tomorrow.  Gracious, this year has flown by.  Anyway, tomorrow kicks off the official start of the holiday season, at least in my book, and that means tons of food.  I love to eat, but I also want to use a bit of restraint periodically during the monthlong binge-eating fest.

 

If you're taking it easy before the big day, try this soup by Joy the Baker.  It's delightfully light, slightly spicy, and chock full of healthy stuff.  Kale is a great source of vitamins K and C, calcium, and antioxidants; sweet potatoes have lots of antioxidants, fiber and complex carbs.  There's a splash of coconut milk, which I thought about leaving out but am so glad I added.  It adds a lovely creaminess without the heft of cream or animal milk.

It does make quite a lot of soup, so I'm planning on freezing a small portion of it for December.  Just reheat and serve over brown rice!