One Day

I read about this book on eonline; apparently, Anne Hathaway is starring in the film version of this hugely popular British novel.  Thinking to myself, "I like books.  I like movies.  I should find a way to combine the two," I picked the novel up from the DC library and read it in about two days.  It's the perfect end-of-summer read: light enough to read quickly, enough substance to bring to work without looking like a literary lightweight.
The premise is simple: each chapter is a snapshot of two people's lives on July 15, and there are about 20 chapters.  Dexter Mayhew and Emma Morley begin their stories on the day of their college graduation, after spending a whole night talking and getting to know each other.  Over the next twenty years, we read about Dexter's life in the public eye as a television presenter, and his inevitable downfall, and Emma's disastrous 20s that end with her being a well-known young adult author.  Although the chapters do not always include the two of them spending July 15 together, Nicholls gives the reader enough information to see how their lives evolve over the years.
It's an easy read, one that won't have you scratching your head or looking up complex words.  There is enough disappointment and frustration to keep the characters from being cookie-cutter, and Nicholls does not make their lives easy.  The author writes the same way as Nick Hornby and Jonathan Tropper, meaning it could be construed as chick-lit or literature for sensitive men.  Either way, it's a good way to cleanse the palette after reading something as heavy as The Passage.

Bunny Hop

Denim Button-down: Gap
Skirt: F21
Belt: Anthro
Oxfords: Aldo
We spent our Friday night at a deli, stuffing our faces with deluxe hamburgers and french toast with excellent company.  The weather has cooled down a smidge here in the District, meaning it is again okay to wear shirts with sleeves.  The denim and polka dots look cute together, and the belt and oxfords are the same brown; sure I could pair them all together into one outfit! 

The whole thing ended up looking a bit vintage-modern, with the bunny belt adding the quirkiness. I'm excited to wear the oxfords more as it gets cooler; it's just been too hot for closed-in shoes!

 

 

Rosemary Olive Knots

 I love a man who cooks for me.  I love a man who bakes bread for me.  Currently, John Paul is very high on my list of best things in the world.
I came home from work on Wednesday to find him tying these into knots, and the apartment smelling of yeast and rosemary.  Totally yummy.  We found this recipe in Malgieri's book of all things baking, and fell in love with the idea of savory knots.  Let me tell you, this recipe does not disappoint: the knots smell amazing, the olives and rosemary blend together perfectly, and they go with pretty much everything.  Oh, and see if you can have someone else make them for you.  They taste even better that way!

Rosemary Olive Knots (from The Modern Baker, by Nick Malgieri, 2008)
3 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
2 tsp. salt
2 1/2 tsp. active dry yeast
1 1/2 c. warm water
4 Tbsp. olive oil
1/2 c. pitted Kalamata olives, chopped
3 Tbsp. fresh rosemary leaves, chopped
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1. Combine flour and salt in the bowl for a food processor fitted with the metal blade. Pulse several times to mix.
2. Whisk yeast into water, then whisk in 3 Tbsp. olive oil. Pour liquid into processor and pulse until the dough forms a bowl. Let rest for 10 minutes, then let machine run continuously for 15 seconds.
3. Turn out dough onto floured surface, and fold over several times. Place dough into an oiled bowl and turn it over to coat top in oil. Cover bowl with a towel and let dough rise until it's doubled in size, about 1 hour.
4. Turn dough onto floured surface and sprinkle some flour on top. Pat into a 10-inch square, transfer to floured cookie sheet, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until it's firm, about 1 hour.
5. Make filling by placing olives, rosemary, 1 Tbsp. oil and pepper in a small bowl and stir well to combine.
6. When dough is firm, remove from fridge and evenly distribute filling on bottom half of the dough. Fold top half down to cover filling, and press down with your hands to adhere both halves.
7. Use a sharp knife to cut dough into even strips, each about 3/4 in. wide. Tie each strip into a knot, and place on a cookie sheet topped with parchment paper. Cover pan with towel and allow to rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
8. Place rack in center of oven and preheat to 400. Bake knots until deep golden and feel firm to the touch, about 30 minutes. Take out and enjoy!



 

The Passage

 I should start by apologizing.  If I've talked to you in the last couple of weeks, chances are high that you've already heard me extolling the virtues of Justin Cronin's new novel The Passage.  It's not my fault that this book is unputdownable, that the story spans decades, that I was held captive by the plot twists and character development.  The only downside is that the book is over 750 pages; this could be construed as a positive, as the length allows you to get incredibly involved in the story and build up the anticipation.  But I'm getting a bit ahead of myself.
The story begins 10-15 years in the future, close enough to make the events vaguely plausible and even spookier.  A military experiment to create a super-soldier, one who can heal after devastating wounds or even deflect ammo, has taken a turn for the scary; the twelve death-row inmates who are being used for testing have turned into "virals."  These creatures are bloodthirsty vampires, who are able to get into the minds of people, and quickly escape their military confinement and destroy humanity as we know it in a matter of a few years.  The thirteenth patient, a young girl, was infected by the same virus, but holds the key to the survival of humankind.
Cut to 92 years into the future, and a small settlement of people have eked out a living in northern California.  The lights that surround their village are failing, though, and a group of desperate humans have set out into a world unpopulated for decades to explore the vast unknown.  They, along with the mysterious girl who has entered their lives, must trek through this brutal landscape to find the key to their own survival.
Cronin has done a masterful job of blending the literary aspects of the story with the supernatural.  I have no problem admitting that there were one or two restless nights during the reading of this novel; the writing is so descriptive and set in our world that it's difficult to not get wrapped up in the goings-on.  This isn't like the recent wave of vampire fiction- there is no hope for romance between humans and "virals."  Instead, this is a mesmerizing struggle for survival in the face of unprecedented catastrophe.  I really can't say enough great things about The Passage.  If you can squeeze a nearly 800-page tome into your schedule, I highly recommend choosing this one.

Peacock Print

 Dress: F21
Crazy Tall Heels: Nine West
Clutch: H&M
Ring: Gift from Marie Bores (She makes beautiful jewelry!)
I love love Restaurant Week here in DC!  The best places in town all have special, prix fixed menus for lunch and dinner that are a fraction of their usual cost, and most restaurants actually extend their specials for an extra week (or two!).  We were lucky enough to grab a reservation for Sunday night at Oyamel, a completely delicious upscale Mexican restaurant run by Jose Andres.

According to the website, dress is "upscale casual," which I took to mean, "Find a crazy print and tone it down a bit with a neutral." This dress is super, super fun, with the cowl neck and amazing print. I like how the black clutch and heels help ground the colors and keep it wearable. A great outfit to close out an eventful week!

 

 

Grandma's Orange Yogurt

 When it comes time for a trip to North Carolina to visit Grandma and Paul, my heart skips a beat and my stomach automatically gets larger.  We always eat very well, from Smithfield's barbecue pork sandwiches to Grandma's zucchini quiche to Paul's crab cakes.  I also love watching Grandma in the kitchen; she's so at ease, using her hands to mix if necessary and not getting too fussy about her recipes.  It doesn't hurt that her kitchen is the cutest I've laid eyes on, with red accents and lots of black and white.
As of late, my favorite thing Grandma in North Carolina has made is her orange yogurt.  Now, the recipe itself is from Ina Garten, so we'll give some credit where it's due.  However, without Grandma, I never would have made this; it's not my typical carb- or chocolate-laden treat, so how could I possibly enjoy it?  Thankfully, there are people around me who know me better than myself, and force delicious food on me when necessary.
This yogurt recipe is easy, and perfectly refreshing.  The tang of the yogurt is replaced with a subtle sweetness from honey, a rich aroma from the vanilla, and the orange takes citrus to a whole new level.  It's almost akin to an orange creamsicle, with the added interest of dried fruit and walnuts.  It's great as a light snack, as a meal with some fruit and toast, or even part of a dessert tray, along with dark chocolate on the side.

Grandma's Orange Yogurt (from Ina Garten)
2 pints plain yogurt
1/4 c. dried cranberries (can use raisins instead)
1/4 c. chopped walnuts (can substitute almonds or pecans)
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 c. honey
Zest of 1 orange
1/2 c. to 1 c. orange juice

1. Line a sieve with 2 paper towels and suspend over a bowl. Pour yogurt into sieve and drain between 3-8 hours.
2. Place thickened yogurt into medium bowl and add cranberries, nuts, vanilla, honey and orange zest. Thin with juice to desired consistency. Top with additional nuts, orange slices or zest and serve!



The Perfect Birthday Outfit!

Tank top: F21
Skirt: F21
Pin: Gap
Ballet flats: Gap
Clutch: Birthday gift from Haley!
I love birthdays!  For that day, whatever you say, goes.  You get to eat cake for breakfast, ice cream for lunch and donuts for dinner.
Well let's not go crazy here.  John Paul did make a delicious breakfast in bed, I got a great haircut, and a dinner of my choice from my man.  I got to be lazy, read my book for as long as I wanted, and wore crazy prints just because.  The top is navy, which pairs color-wise with the purples and magenta of the skirt, and the pin brings the floral into the stripes.  I really love the way this all came together, and everyone at the salon said it worked!  Shout-out to Haley for gifting this clutch; it's in a superfun color, and the size keeps me from carting around the kitchen sink.  I absolutely love it, and it was the perfect accent for this birthday outfit!

Chocolate+Guinness Cake

Oh my good gracious.
I love having an excuse to bake a cake, and my birthday yesterday was certainly an excellent one.  After scanning through a number of websites, my beloved Smitten Kitchen pointed me in the direction of one chocolate cake.  With Guinness.  And a coffee ganache.
What kind of girl would I be if I said no?
This cake is absolutely superb: moist, rich, and enough to serve about 12-15 people.  Don't worry, John Paul and I did share, albeit a bit grumpily.  The ganache could not be easier to make, and the cake is easy to pull together.  If you're looking for a great cake that is sure to please the chocoholic inside of you, give this one a shot.  And if you're in need of an excuse, I hear that Thursdays only come around once a week and are worth celebrating.

Chocolate+Guinness Cake (from Smitten Kitchen)
1 c. stout (such as Guinness)
1 c. (2 sticks) unsalted butter
3/4 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
2 c. all purpose flour
2 c. sugar
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. salt
2 large eggs
2/3 c. sour cream
6 oz. good semisweet chocolate chips
6 Tbsp. heavy cream
3/4 tsp. instant coffee granules

1. Preheat oven to 350. Grease the heck out of a bundt pan.
2. Bring stout and butter to a simmer in a large, heavy saucepan over medium. Add cocoa powder and whisk until mixture is smooth. Cool slightly.
3. Whisk flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat eggs and sour cream in another large bowl to blend.
4. Add stout mixture to egg mixture and beat to combine. Slowly, add flour mixture and beat briefly on slow speed. Using rubber spatula, fold batter until totally combined.
5. Pour batter into prepared pan and back about 45 minutes, until cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean. Transfer to rack and let cool completely in pan; invert and drizzle ganache over.
6. Melt chocolate chips, cream and coffee in top of a double boiler over simmering water until smooth and warm, stirring occasionally. Drizzle over top of the cooled cake.



 

 

24

23 was a pretty great year, and gave me ample opportunities to explore myself and grow more into the person I want to be.  I experienced my first big snow storm (look at that smile above; for a Florida girl, making snow angels is a blissful thing!), graduated from my Masters program, and traveled further south than Key West.  I'm really looking forward to 24, though, and figuring out my first grown-up job, moving into an apartment with amazing views of Georgetown, and traversing the terrain of being a twentysomething!

Currently, I'm working through a 770 page tome on military-created vampires (so looking forward to sharing it with you!), so will leave you with a list of some great books I read while 23.  There's so much wonderful literature out there!

The Help, by Kathryn Stockett

Chick lit without all the cheesy romance, this book narrates the lives of three women in Jackson, Mississippi in the 1960s as they combat racism in their own ways.

Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins

This book about a teenage girl's struggle to stay alive during a competition of life and death will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.  Part one in a trilogy.

Graceling, by Kristin Cashore

A young adult novel about a girl with unnatural powers who goes on the run with the prince of her kingdom.  It's fantasy with a foot in reality and a strong heroine who isn't afraid to speak her mind.

The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak

A heartbreaking account a one family who hides a Jew during the Holocaust in Germany.  Keep a box of tissues handy.

Animal Farm, by George Orwell

I know, I know, pretty much everyone has read this political satire about a farm taken over by animals who aim for equality, but end up with something much more akin to communism gone wrong.  If you're one of the few who haven't, it's definitely worth your time.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, by Rebecca Skloot

The true story of a black woman whose cancer cells became a medical phenomenon, although her family did not find out about it until 50 years later.  A fascinating account of racial inequities in the medical field.

Wild Wild Vest

Shawl vest: Gap
Belt: J. Crew
Skirt: Urban Outfitters
Wedges: Nine West
I can already tell that this vest is going to be a staple this fall.  It's 100% recycled cotton, looks great belted with leggings, skirts and jeans, and can be worn open to add a wee bit of coverage to a tank top.  This was great for a summer workday; took off the vest for the walk home, and traded the wedges for flats.