This Week's Dinners

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Time keeps slipping away from me and all I seem to post is weekly meals!

Last week was so much fun, with a trip to Boston and a trip to Toronto, but I have to admit I'm looking forward to a quiet week at home this week.

Since we got home late Sunday afternoon, I arranged for a delivery from Fresh Direct that evening. I'm so glad I did! I arranged for the 7-9 pm delivery, and they showed up around 7:30 with ingredients for the below recipes:

• Fastest Chicken Parm (How to Cook Everything Fast by Mark Bittman)
• Pasta with Spring Greens (Cup of Jo)
• Rice and Beans with Steak and Fresh Tomatillo Salsa (Real Simple)

So easy! 

Easy Weeknight Recipes

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I'm currently on a train to Boston to visit Kaitlin, who I haven't seen in ages! I'm so looking forward to catching up with her. Tomorrow night, I check into a hotel for work, and head back to New York late Wednesday morning.

Thursday night, we head to Toronto for the weekend. It's going to be a whirlwind!

My parents are staying at my apartment to help out both tonight and tomorrow night. I wanted to be sure they had good ingredients and easy recipes to follow, so here's the menu:

• Crock Pot Turkey a Chili (Lemon Stripes) note: this is an enormous recipe. I threw it together last night, and threw half in our slow-cooker and half in a ziplock bag in the freezer. I hope it's good!
• Pan-Roasted Chicken with Lemon Garlic Green Beans (Real Simple)
• Boursin Pasta with Spring Peas (Cup of Jo) note: we made this last night. It was easy and yummy, but much too watery. I wish I'd been much more conservative with the reserved pasta water than the recipe suggested.

Any great, quick recipes out there? I'd love to hear them!

Weeknight Meals

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Another week is upon us already!

Last week's meals were a success, particularly the steak and couscous salad. I'd highly recommend both recipes. Easy, healthy, and tasty.

This week we are trying a few more new recipes. Here's what we're eating:

• Slow-Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala (Real Simple)
• Pasta with Sausage, Mushrooms and Lemon (Cup of Jo)
• Rice, Beans, and Broccoli (How to Cook Everything Fast by Mark Bittman)
• Spiced Lamb Meatball and Swiss Chard Soup (Real Simple) - My parents tried this last week and said it was delicious. 

I may also try a soup if we have time. I was thinking this recipe for Lentil Soup, with or without ham (in one of its variations) would be tasty. Here's another article by Mark Bittman with 7 variations on Lentim Soup that looks like it could have some good options. 

More dinner ideas over here on my Pinterest Boards.

Weekend Links

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I was in a spelling bee at work a week or so ago, and did terribly! I used to consider myself a good speller, so I'll be practicing on this non-stop for next year. So addictive! #nerdalert

Have you seen this house?

I always love style on a dime.

Sexy lingerie, anyone?

These photos are awesome. Here's another article about the photographer.

Ways to stretch at your desk.

Personally, I'm a fan of the Tomato Sauce with Onion and Butter. Now I want to try the rest...and buy the book.

Fascinating read about Cedar Mesa in Utah. I've always wanted to go see this part of the country. Seems like time could be limited.

Great article on destination / travel suggestions with kiddos.

J. Crew Factory Find

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So, I admired this dress last year on J.Crew.com. Now, there's a Factory version and it's on sale for an additional % off. For less than $30, I finally ordered it after googling it and seeing it on Sally at A Piece of Toast.

My hesitation last year was the bagginess of the dress, so I ordered a size down and am hoping for the best (final sale!). But how cute does it look here? Now I just need to find a cool (inexpensive) pair of slip-ons to pair with it--and to hope it fits.

New Movie + Amy Schumer Makes Me Laugh

This clip from Ellen made me laugh. How funny is Amy Schumer? I love her popcorn comments--so true.

I'm also intrigued by her movie "Trainwreck" that's coming out in July. The trailer is below:

My Life in France: House Tour

Spring always makes me nostalgic for the year I spent in France. Spring in France seems to come just a bit ahead of the NY Spring. It's  hard to believe that we lived there 4 years ago now. Looking through pictures last night I discovered some old photos of the house we lived in, so thought I'd post some. Doesn't it look like the narrowest house in the world? It's only that narrow on one side.

On the other side of the wall are the grounds of the Chateau de Fontainebleau. We think this house must have once been the gatekeeper's house, as there's an entry just past where this picture was taken. Here are a few more pictures of the inside, if you'd like to see.

Entrance

We rented this house fully furnished (rugs and all!) but bought a few of our own possessions. We'd just gotten married, so I shipped a box full of dish towels, pot holders, and a few other light-weight odds and ends, along with the books I'd need to write my thesis (plus a few extras).

Kitchen

The estate agent called the kitchen an "American Style Kitchen". Our interpretation of that is that it's open plan with a full-size fridge.

Living / Dining Room

Living / Dining Room Shot 2

Study at the Narrow End

Bedroom

One of the funny things about the house was that it really only had one bedroom. It was the first time in my adult life that I'd had a full house (even to rent), but it was so tiny!

Top Floor / Attic

There was a top floor / attic that came in very handy for visitors. 

That's it! There were a few other nooks along the way, but this shows most of the house. Though I think we've already outgrown the space, I miss living there. 

This Week's Meals

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We are entertaining (twice!) this week, which I'm looking forward to, but am also finding a bit daunting as time on weeknights is super limited.

Here's what we are thinking:

• Warm French Lentils (Ina Garten, How Easy is That?) with a green salad, a baguette and cheese 
• Mustard-Marinated Flank Steak (Ina Garten, Barefoot Contessa Foolproof: Recipes You Can Trust) with this recipe for Couscous Salad (Hither & Thither)
• Pasta with Yoghurt and Caramelized Onion (Food52 via Cup of Jo)

Wish us luck!

Long Weekend in DC

Gravelly Point Park. Image via

Last week is still a bit of a blur. The week before that we left early Wednesday morning to go visit my sister who lives in Arlington, VA and works in D.C.

We were supposed to leave first thing on the morning of April 1. I had a sinister plan to text her and say we weren't coming: April Fools! BUT when we went to leave, our car wouldn't start! We had to call for help, so I guess the joke was on us. Fortunately, we just needed a jump start, and were still able to hit the road by 11ish, and got in around 4:30 (which included a rest stop). We had dinner at my sister's (she made this old favorite) and hit the hay.

Thursday, we woke up early to go to see her office, which was so much fun. She's manages an Athletic Center and several of her clients showed up to meet us, which was such a treat. Two of them even brought Jack a birthday present: a copy of The Very Hungry Caterpillar and a copy of Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. We didn't have either, but both are long-time favorites.

Then, we met up with Peter's cousin for lunch at the Old Ebbitt Grill, which is right across the street from the White House. Such a  fun morning and it was 70 degrees out. A nice change from chilly NYC! Jack fell asleep in the buggy on the way home and we parked it in front of my sister's apartment building and laid out a blanket and just relaxed until he woke up.

That evening, my sister suggested we pack a picnic and head to Gravelly Point Park and watch the airplanes land. We were a bit concerned that the noise would scare a 2-year old, but he loved it. Huge hit.

Friday was Jack's 2nd birthday, so we woke up and headed right to the zoo(which was FREE). We saw pandas, elephants and gorillas. We made it home by nap time and were able to put together dinner and bake a cake for the evening celebration.

Saturday morning, we stopped by Arlington Cemetery to run around for a bit before making the long drive back to Brooklyn.

Such a fun trip. Thanks Emma!

Weekend Reads

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Happy Friday! This week has gone by so quickly for me. Last week we took a trip to DC to visit my sister and celebrate a 2nd birthday (more on that later), so I fell behind on writing. We basically subsisted on leftovers this week. This weekend we are hoping to see a friend we haven't seen in a while and hopefully spending some time outside. It's finally supposed to be nice weather! 

Here are some links I loved this week: 

11 Recipes from Yotam Ottolenghi. I loved his restaurant near my old flat in London.

How well can you see? Take the simple eyesight test. 

Do you rent your home? If so, here are some versatile home products for you.

I've been interested in trying to start collecting art for a while. Here are 12 artists to know. 

In a workout slump? Here are free 10-minute workouts you can do. Please note: i have not tried any of these yet. 

Domaine tells you how to clean practically everything. 

I found this list of plants super helpful. I once killed a cactus!

This made me happy. Long live the brontosaurus!

Round up of the best toddler shoes. 

I want to visit all of the places on this list. 

Weeknight Meals

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We have a short week this week, as we are going to DC on Wednesday to visit my sister. Can't wait!

But we have 2 dinners planned, both of which are relatively quick and easy.

If you are looking for inspiration, we've made both of these many times.

• Mirin Glazed Salmon  (Nigella Express)
• Wild Mushroom & Spinach Risotto (Sara Foster) We are having this with sausages and some broccoli. 

That's all that's on our menu this week so far...we have a 2nd bday to plan for as well. He's requesting green cake that tastes like chocolate. Any ideas?

Weekend Links

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TGI weekend. This week flew by for me. We were supposed to head to my parent's house for tonight, but woke up to find a kid with a fever. What is it with weekends these days?! So, we cancelled our trip and I have just woken up from a 2 hour nap. My son is still snoozing, so hopefully he'll wake up feeling refreshed and a bit better. My parents are coming in tomorrow anyway, as Jack's daycare is on spring break this week. The will take care of him on Monday and Tuesday while we are at work and on Wednesday morning, we will drive to DC to visit my sister. I haven't been to DC in years, and am so looking forward to the trip. Fingers crossed everyone is healthy by then!

Here are some links I found interesting this week:

Why are do women's shirts button on the left and men's shirts button on the right? This article in The Atlantic researches it.

My sister sent me this hilarious Buzzfeed quiz: can you tell which of these quotes were said by serial killers and which ones were said by Christian Grey in 50 Shades of Grey?

Have you heard that the first shape-shifting creature was discovered?

This makeover of a tiny NYC rental apt. bathroom gave me hope. (Domaine Home)

I am so tempted by this list of 10 classic trench coat options. (Verily) I also like this option from Everlane.

I love Kaitlin's new Guide to Modern Etiquette. I have thought so often that we need a new / popular character like Emily Post to set some guidelines that are actually followed.

I also have decided I'm an Ashton Kutcher fan because of this. This was never an issue when we lived overseas; both men and women's restrooms had baby changing tables. I always want to think of America as fairly progressive, but little things like this bother me!

I always love to see what's on other people's Reading Lists.

This Cup of Jo post (plus the fact that it's currently flurrying in Brooklyn) makes me want to go to Jamaica. That bar!

This bag is tempting.

This feminist take on the ABC picture book looks awesome.

I can't not re-post this article that Kaitlin shared. Costa Rica is running completely on renewable energy. So cool!

Short Film: Head Over Heels

I saw this film mentioned last Friday on Cup of Jo, and watched it over the weekend. It's so wonderful. And so neat to read about a film student being nominated for an Oscar.

I rarely watch the short film Oscar nominations, and this made me want to see more of them.

You can watch the whole video here.

Flares

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Flares are everywhere! Le Catch blog says it's her new uniform, Damsel in Dior wears them on date nights, and Cup of Jo mentioned it in a round up.

I love these Madewell flares, and as I mentioned, I bought these. So comfy.

Home Idea: Chalkboard Wall

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We are currently renting our apartment, but I like to dream about possibilities of home ownership. I love the creativity of a chalboard wall. I love the above playroom designed by Emily Henderson.

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I also like the idea of having one in the kitchen, like this one on Decorpad, though it might be awkward to have to lean over the stove to write on it...

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I also love this childrens' bedroom on Simply Grove.

I wonder about the practicality. They look so cool, but is your house constantly dusty?

Monday: Meals for the Week

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This weekend was so nice, though we're still battling colds and coughs, so it was a bit less restful than I'd hoped. Friday night we went out for pizza at a nearby kid-friendly restaurant. We had a playdate on Saturday morning, all took a nap in the early afternoon and then ran a few errands and ended up at the park for a bit. I've checked this book out of the library to read next as Kaitlin recommended it.

Sunday we did our weekly shop and had a friend over for dinner. Nothing too exciting, but a nice mix of quiet and social. Hoping for some spring weather to knock the coughs out of our apartment. Plus, some home-cooked meals.

• Haianese Chicken Rice (Mark Bittman for the New York Times): We lived in Singapore for 2 months in 2010 and the food was amazing. I've been wanting to try to find some recipes from our time there for ages. Hopefully this one will live up to our memories.
• Caramelized Shallot, Spinach, and Goat Cheese Garlic Butter Pasta (How Sweet It Is)
• Spiced Pork Burgers with Grilled Peppers (Real Simple): We've made this a bunch and it's a nice change from beef or turkey burgers. We've accidentally substituted caraway seeds for the fennel seeds in the past and they've been just as delicious. 
• Korean Beef Bowl (Damn Delicious)

Soup: Lentil Soup with Lemon Yoghurt Cream (The Kitchn)

Sweet Treat: Chocolate Chunk Blondies (Barefoot Contessa Foolproof: Recipes You Can Trust)

Notes on last week's meals here. 

Weekend Reading

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This week has been bookended by bad sleep.  Life with a toddler is such a guessing game. Is it a new tooth? A new cold? A bad dream? Anyway, I'm hoping to get some good zzzzs this weekend. We have a playdate tomorrow morning and may have dinner with a friend one night.

It's snowing here again today, which doesn't feel very spring-like, but happy first day of spring anyway!

My high school English teacher sends out a weekly poem. This week's was a favorite.

Everyone is talking about The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. I may have to give it a try this weekend.

Google Feud looks completely addictive. We used to play sporcle all. the. time.

Kind of tempted by this recipe for fried chicken via Food 52.

I'd never heard of Hedgehouse throw beds, but they look super comfy, and are on sale at One Kings Lane!

This is the perfect book for Easter. All time favorite with a feminist slant.

J.Crew is having 30% off spring sale styles. I'm tempted by this and this.

I'm reading this right now and can't put it down.

Wednesday Music

I loved this article about the Alabama Shakes. It made me want to re-listen to "Hold On"(above) and get excited for their new album, "Sound & Color" which comes out next month.

I'm desperate for new music these days!

The Best Winter Tights

via H&M

Winters in New York can be so cold. I'm always on the lookout for warm outfit options. When I was pregnant, I found these amazingly cozy, heavy cotton tights.

After I had my son, I packed away a few functional pieces of clothing (just in case) and burned the rest (so sick of them!). But this winter I found the tights hiding in a drawer I'd missed when I did my wardrobe overhaul. One cold morning, a couple of months ago, I decided to see how they fit when I was not pregnant. Somewhat embarrassingly, I just turned them around...since they're stretchy, they fit fine. They are amazing and I wear them at least once a week. Because they are thick, they aren't particularly slimming, but they are cozy and I've received quite a few compliments on them. 

So, pregnant or not, I highly recommend these affordable, perfect-for-winter-weather, tights. 

This Week's Meals

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This week's recipes are a mix of standbys and newbies. Here's what's on our menu:

• Roasted Chicken and Carrots with Olives and Lemons (Real Simple): This is a hit in our household. My husband prefers a traditional chicken, but I think it's a nice twist, and our toddler can't get enough of the carrots.
• Potato and Spinach Saag (How to Cook Everything Fast)
• Update on this: this was tasty, but the cream made it really filling. I think next time I make it I might cut the cream in half, or use light cream instead. 
• Weeknight Bolognese (barefoot contessa, how easy is that?): This is a perennial favorite. Tip: cut the salt in half. 
• Chicken Pot Pie

Soup: Fire Roasted Chipotle Tomato Soup with Cilantro Lime Crema & Black Beans (Kale & Caramel)
Note: this soup was delicious, but very spicy! I enjoyed it, but don't think young kids would, unless they have a high tolerance for heat.