Author: MS

Food: Carrot Cake

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This morning I had a craving for carrot cake with my coffee. But finding a tasteful slice at the early morning hours in downtown San Francisco is pretty challenging. So, I settled for a scone with the complete intention of baking tonight using this must try carrot cake recipe. INGREDIENTS For the cake mixture • 2 eggs • 125ml/4 1/2fl oz maple syrup • 75ml/3fl oz mild vegetable oil, plus extra for greasing • ¼ tsp black cardamom seeds • 4 cloves • 150g/5oz wholemeal spelt flour, plus extra for dusting • 1 tsp ground cinnamon • A pinch of grated nutmeg • 2 tsp baking powder • A pinch of salt • 300g/11oz carrots, peeled and finely grated • 60g/2 1/2oz dried apricots, chopped • Grated zest of ½ organic orange • 40g/1 1⁄4oz pumpkin seeds For the icing • 150g/5oz full-fat cream cheese • 150g/5oz yoghurt of your choice • 25g/scant 1oz acacia honey • 2-3 drops vanilla extract • 1 tbsp lemon juice  {more} {featured image source and inspiration for today’s post} …

Food: Dinner Tonight – Beef Stew Updated

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My mother is so cute. She attempted a beef stew last night and when I walked into her kitchen to check in on her after the craziness called my life, she told me she had no idea why the meal tasted bland. I took a peek into the pot and noticed, a dozen pieces of cubed beef simply boiled with a few slices of onion and peppercorn – which makes the best of broth, but not really the ideal beef stew without the veggies and some sort of sauce. I reassured her that I could salvage the boiled beef cubes by turning it into a mouth-watering meal with a side of mashed potatoes (her eyes lit up). So guess what’s happening for dinner tonight? INGREDIENTS 3 pounds beef chuck, trimmed and cubed kosher salt and black pepper 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 3 shallots, thinly sliced 6 carrots, chopped 2 cups apple cider 1 cup dry red wine, such as Cabernet Sauvignon can also use beef broth 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 2 tablespoons tomato …

Inspired By the English Countryside

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This morning while commuting to work, bits of the film The Holiday came to mind. Particularly the English cottage where one side of the story took place. Followed by the eclectic decor of course, and then how wonderful the connection between Cameron Diaz and Jude Law’s characters were, sparkly eyes, and bright smiles, make the perfect holiday film, don’t you think? Add Cameron’s/her character’s fashion sense, and basically it is a well rounded and my favorite modern holiday film  I happen to watch every year. So you can imagine me wanting to share these beauties, and my desire to simply hibernate for the entire month of December or maybe trade places with someone itching to hang out in San Francisco. Any takers? So, here are my questions?  Have you seen the film The Holiday?  Which side of the story do you relate to?  If you had the chance to trade places, what part of the world would you consider?  Is the fact,  we are near completing the first week of November freaking you out?  I’m …

Food: Dinner Tonight – Chicken Soup, Not the Usual

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I asked my mother what she wanted me to make for dinner tonight and she said chicken soup – but not the boring one – which I get of course. I don’t like boring, but I had no idea she didn’t either. So chicken soup it is, even with our fluctuating very hot, to mild to weird cold and still hot weather. We’ll just have to wait for the sun to go down to thoroughly enjoy a cold-weather meal otherwise known as comfort food.  Just a note I won’t be using a slow cooker as suggested. I prefer hovering over a pot with a wooden spoon in hand, watching my creation taking shape. INGREDIENTS 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts 1 1/2 cups dry wild rice blend 6 carrots, chopped 3 stalks celery, chopped 2 medium shallots, chopped 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth 2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme or 2 teaspoons dried 1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage or 1 teaspoon dried 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes 2 cups fresh baby spinach or kale 2 …

Lifestyle: Anthropologie Not So In Moderation

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I walked into Anthropologie at the Stanford Shopping mall yesterday with my jaw dropped, and my eyes lit up at the sight of the most beautiful put together emporium of holiday-ish and other products ready for the best shopping season of the year. I wanted everything, and most of the displays managed to captivate and enchant me in ways I haven’t been strolling though an actual retail establishment. Good for them, I say for materializing a solid vision. So I dug deep to find out which umbrella of retail stores was this particular establishment and discovered the results here.  It’s an interesting read that I will leave you to consider. Otherwise please proceed to the fun stuff below. {featured image and inspiration for blog entry}

There is A Story Behind Every Scene

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In light of the fact, I do my best to keep a positive outlook on all things, sometimes the realities of life reset all of my efforts and has me feeling the most vulnerable version of myself. Please bear with me as I work through having to make the most difficult of all decisions – to let go of my loyal companion, savior and the best role model – my amazing dog.  {featured image source}

Decor: The Elegance of Black and White

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I walked into a hotel once in Madrid and my jaw dropped at the most beautiful black and white decor you can imagine. It was a newly renovated property which had their grand opening the week we were there so everything seemed too perfect and perfectly in place. The service impeccable, the entire place smelled of new paint and freshly pressed linens. The trouble is – it was so long ago, I cannot find or remember the name of the property. So sorry about that. But, although I loved the decor, I never considered incorporating the black and white colors in my home until I saw these effortless, yes effortless is the best way to describe playing with the color black in decor, ideas. What do you think? Black and white, or you dream of all colors incorporated into your home? {featured image and inspiration for this post}

Culture: Halloween Appetizers and Films

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I was in Hawaii last week, and was amazed at how seriously Halloween is taken there. I don’t know what I was thinking – on a romantic tropical island, for Halloween preparation to trump over most everything pleasantly surprised me. So, we must prep here on the mainland and across the world for this growing and very popular holiday by sharing some interesting topics. {featured image source and inspiration for this post}

Much To Cover This Week – Where to Start

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I’ve purchased a journal – which prompts with questions to write your way to self-discovery. At the time I thought it was a great idea to invest in a paper bound diary of sorts until I realized the questions border line those you answer in an online job application.  Where you are asked to troubleshoot a problem, or explain your weaknesses or strengths and some trick questions embedded in there to determine your state of mind or psychoanalyze your way of thinking. So I wonder if this blank journal with questions for headers is truly meant to help in my self-discovery.  Then again, do I really need to discover any more about myself at this point in my life? I thought about it long and hard last night, while up staring at the television screen set at the Hallmark channel, reading lips as I had the volume on mute and finally, at four in the morning, decided to play along. Meaning share with you a few of the questions on occasion with my answers, not …

Food: Sunday Fun Dessert – Apple Cider Pudding

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Love a lazy Sunday – where you roll out of bed whenever your heart desires, and simply stay in your cozy pajamas or sweats throughout the day, napping, reading, watching football, or not 🙂 and deciding what to make for dinner. Well, Salmon is in order in our household this Sunday evening paired with a bottle of Cabernet – yes red, since I am not a fan of white wine. But the special treat for this Sunday is that I am testing out this apple cider butterscotch pudding recipe for dessert. The only trouble is – do I indulge in one cup or two? Ingredients  6 cups apple cider 3 tablespoons cornstarch 3 large egg yolks 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 2 1/2 cups half-and-half 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract  {more} What better way then to eat dessert than to watch Hallmark channel – and all of the back to back pre-holiday and holiday films