oh puppy love.

A couple of years ago, my love bought me this amazingly adorable book for Christmas. Now check it out Rachael Hale has made an exclusive for Crate and Barrel. Jealous.

christmas in hollis.

fun bangles.

wish granted. <3

I'm a hat girl.

baby its cold outside.

too early for christmas?

So, yes, my husband and I are those people who put the tree up on November 1st and can't wait to hear that first Christmas song on the radio.  Why wait? Some say it's too early. But with such a wondrous season upon us, is it ever really too early to spread good cheer?  We love the joy and happiness that the season brings. So, we stretch it to the max. Maybe we are the crazy ones, but it seems like a waste to not enjoy the holidays as LONG as possible. 

Thoughts?

made these over the weekend with roast chicken and veggies... thanks giada.

heaven on a fork.. Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Maple Cinnamon Sage Brown Butter

For the Gnocchi:

• 2 pounds sweet potatoes
• 2/3 cup whole milk ricotta cheese
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus 1/3 cup for the work surface

For the Maple Cinnamon Sage Brown Butter:

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick)
• 20 fresh sage leaves
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions

For the Gnocchi: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Pierce the sweet potato with a fork. Bake the sweet potatoes until tender and fully cooked, between 40 to 55 minutes depending on size. Cool slightly. Cut in half and scoop the flesh into a large bowl. Mash the sweet potatoes and transfer to a large measuring cup to make sure the sweet potatoes measure about 2 cups. Transfer the mashed sweet potatoes back to the large bowl. Add the ricotta cheese, salt, cinnamon, and pepper and blend until well mixed. Add the flour, 1/2 cup at a time until a soft dough forms. Lightly flour a work surface and place the dough in a ball on the work surface. Divide the dough into 6 equal balls. Roll out each ball into a 1-inch wide rope. Cut each rope into 1-inch pieces. Roll the gnocchi over the tines of a fork. Transfer the formed gnocchi to a large baking sheet. Continue with the remaining gnocchi.

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the gnocchi in 3 batches and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 5 to 6 minutes. Drain the gnocchi using a slotted spoon onto a baking sheet. Tent with foil to keep warm and continue with the remaining gnocchi.

For the Brown Butter sauce: While the gnocchi are cooking melt the butter in a large saute pan over medium heat. When the butter has melted add the sage leaves. Continue to cook, swirling the butter occasionally, until the foam subsides and the milk solids begin to brown. Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in the cinnamon, maple syrup, salt, and pepper. Careful, the mixture will bubble up. Gently stir the mixture. When the bubbles subside, toss the cooked gnocchi in the brown butter. Transfer the gnocchi to a serving dish and serve immediately.

fab french knives

these cheese knives....

... to match these beauties we received as a wedding gift!

married for 6 months!

So the husband and I have been married for six months on November 1st!! Woo hoo!!  Or it would have been if we both hadn't forgotten it. :( So when I got home last night, the love of my life surprised me with delicious soup, grilled cheese, and flowers.  To me, life just doesn't get any better.

ask and you shall receive

 

the next best thing to mint chocolate chip ice cream and calorie free.... I just want to eat it, but I wont because it's wax. 

this looks to be what i need right about now.

 

the wauwinet in nantucket... wine, massages, beach... bliss.

german chocolate cake is my fave.

and these cupcakes just made me insanely happy!

baby it's cold outside.

this fancy new table cloth...

... with some yummy hot and sour soup.

Ingredients

Soup Base

1 tablespoon groundnut oil (peanut)

1 (1-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced

2 handfuls fresh shiitake mushrooms, sliced or 1 small handful dried Chinese mushrooms, reconstituted and sliced

1 red chile, seeded and finely chopped

1 tablespoon Shaohsing rice wine or dry sherry

3 cups vegetable stock, hot

1 (8 ounce) can bamboo shoots, drained and rinsed

1 tablespoon dark soy sauce

1 tablespoon light soy sauce

1 tablespoon black rice vinegar (recommended: Chinkiang) or balsamic vinegar

Pinch freshly cracked white pepper

1 tablespoon cornstarch, blended with 2 tablespoons cold water

For service

7 ounces cooked egg noodles

2 small handfuls bean sprouts

8 fresh baby corns, sliced*

1 spring onion, sliced

3 1/2 ounces cooked chicken, shredded

*Can be found at specialty Asian markets.

Directions

For the soup base:

Heat a wok over high heat, add the oil, and stir-fry the ginger and mushrooms until softened. Add the chile, Shaohsing rice wine, hot vegetable stock, bamboo shoots, soy sauces, black rice vinegar and the white pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil, thicken with the cornstarch slurry and set aside over low heat.

For service:

In some plastic pots, layer some of the cooked egg noodles with the raw bean sprouts, raw sliced baby corn, and spring onions. Top everything with the shredded chicken, and then spoon plenty of the soup base over the ingredients. Give the noodle pot or bowl a good stir, and serve immediately.

in the mood for this and hot green tea.

if only i was rich i could afford this necklace made out of paper, copper, bronze, and leather ...

.... for $458?!? wtf!? still cute though.

husband got this.

        

salt salt salt and pepa here!!!         

love it   

a soft spot in my heart.

charlie brown holiday collection.

you all might start to notice I have a teeny tiny kate spade obsession

new fave fragrance.

1st post.

With the Christmas season and my birthday season quickly approaching, I find myself web browsing very often through most of my favorite stores. In order to better track all of my delights, I've decided to put together this wish list of all of my favorite things.  I know. I know. A little Oprah-esque, but why not indulge every once in a while!