Jaleo

I just had one of the best meals I have ever had. If you ever go to DC, you must go to this delicious tapas bar, it is life changing. Check it out here.

Mrs. Reece goes to Washington

Trains, I believe Are the most civilized way to travel. Comfortable seats, ample leg room and of
course no hurtleing through space at 600 plus miles an hour. This will be my first trip to our nations Capitol and I am quite giddy! However I am still annoyed that I can't post pictures until my return. I would love some recomendations of what I should see, do, eat and of course where to shop.

New York

So here I am in new York having a grand time, but I can't for the life of me figure out how to post the pictures I have from this I phone. So I guess you will have to enjoy my quick wit instead! I love it here and hopefully I can get some pictures up soon! In the mean time anyone have any good shopping tips while I am here in the big apple?

eat well

All this nasty weather we have been having here in Utah has made me want to stay indoors, eat and read. This cake lends itself perfectly for an afternoon of 1 or a party of 10. It is hands down my favorite chocolate cake.



Chocolate Fudge Cake
Recipe courtesy Nigella Lawson
My changes & additions in italics.

For the cake:
2 2/3 C All Purpose Flour (sifted)
3/4 C plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1/3 c light brown sugar
1/4 c best quality cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 eggs
1/2 c plus two tablespoons sour cream
you can substitute applesauce, I think it is better.
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
3/4 C unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1/2 vegetable oil
1 1/3 C chilled water

For the fudge icing:
6 oz bittersweet chocolate, minimum 70% cocoa solids
1 C plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter softened
1 3/4 C confectioners sugar sifted
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Butter or spray and flour two 8 in cake pans.
In a large bowl mix together the flour, sugars, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In another bowl whisk together eggs, sour cream (or applesauce) and vanilla until blended. Using a standing or hand-held mixer; beat together the the melted butter and vegetable oil until just blended, then beat in the water. Add the dry ingredients all at once and mix together on a slow speed. Add the egg mixture, and mix again until everything is blended and then pour into the prepared tins.

Bake the cake for 45-50 minutes, or until a cake-tester comes out clean. Cool the cakes in their pans on a wire rack for 15 minutes,and then turn the cakes out onto the rack to cool completely.

To make the icing, melt the chocolate in the microwave, 2-3 minutes on medium should do it. In another bowl beat the butter until it's soft and creamy. Add the sifted confectioners sugar and beat again until everything is light and fluffy. Gently add the vanilla and chocolate and mix together until everything is glossy and smooth. Sandwich the middle of the cake with about a quarter of the icing, and then ice the top and sides as well.
Serves 10, or 1 with a broken heart.

Recipe & photo v. Nigella Bites. Photographer Francesca Yorke

Yulia Brodskaya

is a magician with paper. See her phenomenal graphic designs here.
image v. oh joy

l.o.v.e. these

enamel alphabet, get them here.

lunch

Mr. Reece & I had a lovely lunch at Bangkok Grill. It was nice to spend a quiet afternoon with my favorite person.

richard avedon

Richard Avedon's portraits are amazing. I really can't describe how much I love them, see for your self here.

Images by Richard Avedon v. Google imaging.

Mr. President

Congratulations Mr. President, sorry that the Chief Justice bungled your oath. But you could just have him removed right?

u2, go home

So, I used to be a HUGE U2 fan. We are talking read every book, went to every concert, sequined Bono on a shirt and maybe just maybe I got crazy enough once to put an iron on patch of the Joshua tree on to my jeans. Yeah, I was um . . . involved. A few years have gone by since my U2-mania and I still really like them, but there last two albums were, well . . . lame. And here they are making another album, and is that really nescessary? I mean isn't 11 hit albums enough? If you already have three greatest hits albums it may be time to throw in the towel. I really would like to see them retire with grace (unlike the Stones, who are living unaturally long lives) and quit making mediorce albums. This new album better be good, but I doubt it. I hope to eat my words.

crush & lovely

Fifty People, One Question: London from Crush + Lovely on Vimeo.

Greece with husband, no question about it, Santori Greece.

in the kitchen

I have an addiction to kitchen gadgets. It is a bit ridiculous but I do use them all, and I hope to be using all of these very soon.
From the top:
Measuring cups, Nigella Lawson
Classic whisk, Nigella Lawson
Mod measuring set, Kaboodle

Martin Luther King Jr.

"Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection." -Martin Luther King Jr.

I believe that most Americans can recite a portion of Martin Luther King's famous 'I have a dream' speech if we were asked to do so. It has become a part of our social selves and rightly so, it was a tremendous speech that helped change history. But not much more is taught, and there is so much more to learn from this icon of social change.
It was not until my third year of college that I was given Dr. King's Letter from a Birmingham Jail. This letter that was written on several napkins, is for me a powerful lesson in tolerance, justice, injustice, love and above all how to embrace and respect those who think differently than you do. This letter is momentous and I believe still very relevant to the state of our country today.
Take a moment and read it here.

eat well

The All American Post
In the spirit of the inauguration tomorrow I thought I would post my favorite all American recipes, and what is more American that meat and potatoes? Enjoy!



Mustard Roast Beef
Recipe courtesy Donna Hay
My changes & additions in italics.

2 teaspoons mustard seeds
1 teaspoon sea salt flakes
1 teaspoon cracked black pepper
1 tablespoon thyme leaves
1/4 C olive oil, plus one tablespoon extra
4 lb boneless beef rib eye
or just a really beautiful roast.
1/4-1/2 C Dijon mustard depending on taste
1 stick room temperature butter
kitchen string

Remember to take the beef out of the fridge at least 10 minutes before you sear it or put it in the oven, this will ensure even cooking.

Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Place the mustard seeds, salt, pepper and thyme in a mortar and pestle and pound until lightly crushed. Add the oil and pound until combined. In a separate bowl combine butter and Dijon mustard until completely integrated. Combine spice mixture and mustard mixture, set aside.
Brush the beef with the extra oil. Heat a large non-stick frying pan over high and cook the beef for 1-2 minutes each side or until brown. remove from the pan. Secure with kitchen string and rub the mustard mixture over the beef. Place on a rack in a baking dish and roast for 1 1/2 hours for medium rare (I use a meat thermometer, and remember that the meat continues to cook after you remove it from the oven.) Serves 4-6 After roasting, cover the meat with foil and rest in a warm place for at least 10 minutes to allow the meat to relax.
I always make a sauce from the pan drippings. Simply put the roasting pan on to your stove top and on medium high heat, add either beef broth or red wine and reduce down a bit and you will have a beautiful sauce to accompany your beef.

Recipe & photo v. Donna Hay Magazine issue 39. Photographer Chris Court
*Donna Hay's recipe measurements have been converted from the metric system.



Double Potato and Halloumi Bake
Recipe courtesy Nigella Lawson
My changes & additions in italics.

1 large sweet potato
1 large red firm potato
1 red onion
1 yellow pepper
1 red pepper
1/2 head garlic, cloves peeled
4 tablespoons olive oil
Freshly ground black pepper
4 1/2 ounces halloumi cheese, sliced as thinly as you can

I ALWAYS add yams & vidalia or yellow onions to this, I often leave out the cheese, red & yellow pepper to give it a different feel. In fact I prefer this dish with out the peppers & cheese, but that's just me. I always double this recipe.

1-2 yams
1-2 yellow or vidalia onion

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Cut the sweet potato into rough 1 1/2-inch cubes and the red potato slightly smaller (1-inch cubes) as the sweet potato will cook more quickly. Halve the red onion, then cut each half into 4 to 6 segments, discarding any tough outer skin. Seed the peppers and cut into 1-inch squares, and separate the cloves of garlic. Put everything into a 2-quart casserole dish, or whatever you want to use (it should be big, otherwise use 2 dishes) and, using your hands, give the vegetables a good coating of olive oil. Season with black pepper, but no salt as the cheese will make it salty (and anyway, the salt will make water leach out).

Bake for 45 minutes, by which time the vegetables should be cooked through and here and there tinged with brown. You'll need to turn the oven up to maximum heat or light the broiler for the endgame: so place the thinly sliced cheese on top of the bake, and put it back in the very hot oven or under the broiler until the cheese has melted and turned slightly brown on top, about 5 to 10 minutes. Serve straight out of the casserole dish.

Recipe & photo v. Nigella Bites. Photographer Francesca Yorke

2009 sundance film festival

The festival is here, and I have never wanted to see so many of the movies. Here are my top 6 picks from the great selection this year! Click on the titles to read synopsis of the films.


SPRING BREAKDOWN
Amy Poehler, Parker Posey, Rachel Dratch, Amber Tamblyn, Jane Lynch, Missi Pyle

Fri. Jan 16 11:59 p.m. - Library Center Theatre, Park City
Sat. Jan 17 11:59 p.m. - Tower Theatre, SLC
Sun. Jan 18 9:30 p.m. - Redstone Cinemas, Kimball Junction
Thu. Jan 22 3:00 p.m. - Egyptian Theatre, Park City
Sat. Jan 24 3:45 p.m. - Holiday Village Cinema I, Park City


THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE
Anna Wintour, editor of Vogue for 20 years, is the most powerful and polarizing figure in fashion. Larger than life and more complex than fiction, Wintour embodies a fascinating contradiction of passion and perfectionism as she reigns over a dizzying array of designers, models, photographers, and editors.

Fri. Jan 16 6:30 p.m. - Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, SLC
Fri. Jan 16 9:30 p.m. - Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, SLC
Sat. Jan 17 noon - Temple Theatre, Park City
Sun. Jan 18 5:30 p.m. - Holiday Village Cinema III, Park City
Wed. Jan 21 3:00 p.m. - Temple Theatre, Park City
Fri. Jan 23 9:15 a.m. - Holiday Village Cinema IV, Park City


PAPER HEART
Charlyne Yi, Michael Cera, Jake Johnson

Sat. Jan 17 8:00 p.m. - Racquet Club, Park City
Mon. Jan 19 2:30 p.m. - Library Center Theatre, Park City
Wed. Jan 21 3:15 p.m. - Eccles Theatre, Park City
Fri. Jan 23 11:30 p.m. - Prospector Square Theatre, Park City
Sat. Jan 24 6:00 p.m. - Broadway Centre Cinemas VI, SLC


AN EDUCATION
Peter Sarsgaard, Carey Mulligan, Alfred Molina, Emma Thompson

Sun. Jan 18 3:00 p.m. - Egyptian Theatre, Park City
Tue. Jan 20 9:30 p.m. - Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, SLC
Thu. Jan 22 8:30 p.m. - Prospector Square Theatre, Park City
Fri. Jan 23 6:30 p.m. - Peery's Egyptian Theater, Ogden
Sat. Jan 24 9:00 a.m. - Egyptian Theatre, Park City


BRIEF INTERVIEWS WITH HIDEOUS MEN
Julianne Nicholson, John Krasinski, Bobby Cannavale, Timothy Hutton, Dominic Cooper, Christopher Meloni

Mon. Jan 19 3:15 p.m. - Eccles Theatre, Park City
Tue. Jan 20 8:30 a.m. - Racquet Club, Park City
Thu. Jan 22 5:15 p.m. - Racquet Club, Park City
Fri. Jan 23 8:30 p.m. - Library Center Theatre, Park City
Sat. Jan 24 3:30 p.m. - Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, SLC


AFGAN STAR
After 30 years of Taliban and wartime rule, pop culture is creeping back into Afghanistan. Director Havana Marking has captured it in this inspired documentary.

Fri. Jan 16 6:15 p.m. - Holiday Village Cinema IV, Park City
Sat. Jan 17 3:45 p.m. - Broadway Centre Cinemas V, SLC
Sun. Jan 18 8:30 a.m. - Library Center Theatre, Park City
Wed. Jan 21 2:30 p.m. - Holiday Village Cinema III, Park City
Thu. Jan 22 6:30 p.m. - Redstone Cinemas, Kimball Junction

great people, great food

Pizzeria 712 is already my go to place to eat. Simple and elegant food, great people and a beautiful atmosphere what more could you ask for? How about this:

Pizzeria 712 Dinner Club
The last Tuesday of every month
$38.00 per person
4 Courses
(one of which will be a cheese course)
Set menu, chef's choice
No Substitutions*
By reservation only
*If you have food allergies, let us know when making the reservation

The first one will be this month
Tuesday, January 27th.
Two Seatings, 6:00 & 8:00
801-623-6712.

junebug weddings

Junebug Weddings presents the best images of 2008, and they are magnificent! See them here. Thanks to Jill for posting about this. The ever so talented Amelia Lyon is featured and if you haven't had the pleasure of looking at her work, you need to stop everything you are doing and go here, she is truly a phenomenal photographer.

SAANS & Grant Hamilton

Grant Hamilton @ SAANS
January 12- February 16

Thanks to YHO for bringing this great show to my attention! Don't miss the opportunity to see Grant Hamilton's Polaroid exhibit at SAANS in downtown SLC.

"Grant Hamilton is a photographer based in Iowa City, Iowa. He shoots with a Polaroid SX-70 camera and produces images investigating color field, abstract, geometric and minimal themes. For this show, his colorful, graphic images are enlarged in size up to 20X24 and are produced in a limited edition. Grant Hamilton will be in the SAANS Downtown gallery on the evening of Friday Feb. 16, 2009 for an artist's reception and to answer any questions. "

how are the mighty fallen

OK, what happened to Grey's? I mean really, has the medical field become so boring that we have to endure Izzy's romance with a ghost? And how boring are Meredith and Derek? Seriously, can't you just write about a third arm, conjoined twins, a human race ending plague or how about the old stand by heart attack? Is this a symptom of the writers strike? Whatever it is I can't take it anymore. I am bidding farewell to the once great show.
Time of death 9:52.

eat well

Roasted Tomato, Eggplant and Haloumi Burger
Recipe Courtesy Donna Hay
*My changes & suggestions in italics.

2 vine ripened tomatoes, thickly sliced
olive oil, for brushing
4 burger buns, halved, wheat buns are delightful with this.
1 eggplant (abergine), thinly sliced
8 oz Haloumi (or a couple of slices per burger)
You really could use a variety of cheeses, but haloumi is delicious.
Garlic Mayonnaise (recipe to follow)
caramelized red onions (recipe to follow)
Arugula
Hot sauce for serving

Garlic Mayonnaise
place 1 cup mayonnaise (I use Vegannaise) 2 crushed cloves of garlic (it is delicious with roasted garlic) salt and pepper to taste in a bowl and combine.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place tomato on a baking tray and brush with olive oil. Roast for 20 minutes or until cooked. Set aside. Brush the bun halves with oil and place on a baking tray. Grill (broil) under a preheated hot grill for 1 minute or until golden. Set aside.

Heat a char-grill pan or barbecue over high heat. You can also roast the eggplant, just follow same instructions for tomato. Brush the eggplant with oil and char-grill, barbecue or roast until cooked through. Set aside. Brush the haloumi with oil and char-grill, barbecue or roast until each side is golden.

Spread the bun halves with garlic mayonnaise and top with the tomato, eggplant, haloumi, caramelized onions and arugula.
Serves 4

Recipe & photo v. Donna Hay Magazine issue 41. Photographer Chris Court
*Donna Hay's recipe measurements have been converted from the metric system.

ah, polaroid

Thanks to my thoughtful husband & mom's Christmas gift to me, I finally scanned in all my polas that have been collecting dust in my camera bag. It is such a shame that Polaroid will no longer be making this amazing instant film.

resolution #3: read more

“Reading is sometimes an ingenious device for avoiding thought.”
^{- Arthur Helps}

From top left:
Paris To The Moon, Adam Gopnik
Eat Pray Love, Elizabeth Gilbert
John Adams, David McCullough
When You Are Engulfed In Flames, David Sedaris
In Defense Of Food, Michael Pollan
Anna Karenina, Leo Tolstoy
Ulysses, James Joyce
Three Cups Of Tea, Greg Mortensen

A legacy in question

On my way to work today I was listening to The Diane Rehm Show on NPR. The subject was our 43rd presidents eight years and what they have meant to America and the world. If you have a moment or two I would recommend listening to it. I thought it was fair and interesting, particularly because he has been one the most polarizing presidents in U.S. history. Listen here

one question

Fifty People, One Question: New York from Crush & Lovely on Vimeo.

How happy did this video make you? I adore it, thanks so much to the lovely Naomi for posting this. It also makes me really, really excited for my NYC trip!

via crush and lovely

resolution #2: exercise more

Could I have chosen a more cliche resolution? I never promised originality in my resolve to do better this year. I am simply stating a necessity, I need to work out. And the lovely (and a bit mannish, but who cares cause look at those abs) Jillian Michaels is going to fill that need. Thanks to Emily, Amazon.com and $8 I will be better looking in a matter of days. Wish me luck!

resolution #1: cook more

This year I am resolving to cook as much as possible. It is better for you, cheaper, and frankly I am pretty good at it . So I hope to hone my skills as the year goes by and I will continue to share my recipes. These two are some of my favorite, bon apetit!


Double-Coconut Cake
Recipe courtesy Cooking Light 2001
3 images courtesy Google Images

I usually insist on making my cakes from scratch, but I almost think this one is better if you use a box mix. There is something about the lightness that comes from a white cake box mix. Just add 1 tbsp coconut extract to your cake mix and split into two nine-inch rounds. I also prefer less coconut on the finished cake and then I serve with a bowl of shredded coconut on the side. I also really like unsweetened shredded coconut. Enjoy!

1 tablespoon cake flour
2 1/4 cups sifted cake flour
2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 2/3 cups sugar
1/3 cup butter -- softened
2 large eggs
1 can light coconut milk -- (14-ounce)
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Fluffy Coconut Frosting
2/3 cup sweetened coconut flakes -- divided

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Coat 2 (9-inch) round cake pans with cooking spray; dust with 1 tablespoon flour.

3. Combine 2-1/4 cups flour, baking powder, and salt, stirring with a whisk. Place sugar and butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended (for about 5 minutes). Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add flour mixture and milk alternately to sugar mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Stir in vanilla.

4. Pour batter into prepared pans. Sharply tap the pans once on countertop to remove air bubbles. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes on wire racks, and remove from pans. Cool completely on wire racks.

5. Place 1 cake layer on a plate; spread with 1 cup Fluffy Coconut Frosting. Sprinkle with 1/3 cup coconut. Top with remaining cake layer; spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake. Sprinkle 1/3 cup coconut over top of cake. Store cake loosely covered in refrigerator. Yield: 14 servings.



Sweet Potato Oven Fries
Recipe courtesy Meikel Reece
3 images courtesy Google Images

4 Yams or Sweet Potatoes (there is a difference, see here.)
I generally do a potato for each person I want to serve.
Sea Salt
Fresh Ground pepper
Ceyanne Pepper (optional)
Olive oil

For the Fry Sauce:
Sweet Baby Rays BBQ Sauce
Ketchup
Mayonnaise (I use Veganaise.)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Peel yams and cut into 1/2 inch fries or wedges which ever you prefer. Put on cookie sheet and drizzle with olive oil until well coated (not dripping just gleaming really) and sprinkle with pepper (not salt, it will pull out the water and make the fries soggy). Place in oven for 20-35 minutes depending on the oven.

In a separate bowl combine equal parts Sweet Baby Rays BBQ Sauce, ketchup & mayonnaise combine and set aside.

Test your fries, they should be fork tender. Turn your oven to broil and watch until golden brown. Immediately salt and serve with your fry sauce.

For more recipes, visit NOSH

christmas past

Another lovely Christmas gone by filled with family, friends and a grotesque amount of food. My aunt and uncle had us all over for Christmas Eve, a tradition that I look forward to every year. The food and company is always amazing and this year was no exception.
Afterward we had such a great time with Luke's parents and sister, they spoiled us rotten with so much good stuff! Luke and I both had to work Christmas day, which is never ideal, but ended up being a great day that we spent with my mom, aunt and grandma.

We capped it off the holiday week with a ruckus New Years Eve, that involved more food and movies. At midnight we banged pots and pans with wooden spoons to ring in the new year! It is our family tradition that we have to break the wooden spoon to bring luck, but I think it may have started because one year someone accidentally broke one and now we break several every year. I suppose that is how most traditions get started, by happy accident.

Hoping all of you had a delightful holiday season, and now all we have to look forward to is snow and cold with no holidays. Good times 2009!