Cooking More

in

Frannys-Simple-Seasonal-Italian-CookbookI used to love cooking — until I moved to NYC. Now that we're back in California, getting back into the habit of cooking has been a challenge. Until today. Franny's Simple Seasonal Italian cookbook just inspired me to cook for the first time in over six months!The recipes written by Andrew Feinberg and Francine Stephens – the famous husband-and-wife duo behind the much-loved Franny's eatery in Brooklyn — are simple, delicious and easy to recreate. We made the Farro Spaghetti with Anchovies and it was really tasty. Nutty, fresh and perfect for a cold winter day.

Recipe: Farro Spaghetti with Anchovies, Chilies and Garlic Serves 4

Ingredients: 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil 8 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed 10 anchovy fillets 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes 1 pound farro spaghetti (or use whole wheat) 1/3 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley 1/4 teaspoon fresh cracked pepper Juice of 1/2 lemon 1 to 3 tablespoons finely grated Percorino Romano

In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over med-high heat. Stir in garlic and anchovies until the anchovies are dissolved, 2 to 3 mins. Add the chili flake and cook for another 30 seconds. Take off heat and add 2 tablespoons water to the pan.

Cook pasta according to package instructions, taking out two minutes shy of al dente; drain.

Toss spaghetti into the skillet with the garlic-anchovy mixture, parsley and cracked pepper. Cook over medium heat for 1 to 2 mins. Stir in lemon juice and a little more water if pasta is dry.

Divide the pasta into bowls and finish each serving with a sprinkle of finely grated Percorino Romano and a drizzle of olive oil.

Love at First Bite

in

Bite Beauty Creme LipstickThe quest for perfect lipstick is over. Bite Beauty's luminous creme lipstick is IT. Made with organic ingredients, this long-lasting, moisturizing formula keeps you looking fresh for hours. I like applying my favorite hue (violet), in small dabs so it looks more like a stain. I'm not much of a makeup person, but this pretty much goes on  my lips every day.

Joan's Favorites

in

Joan Didion Young As a Kickstarter supporter of The Joan Didion Documentary, We Tell Ourselves Stories In Order to Live, by Griffin Dunne and Susanne Rostock, I received a handwritten list of Joan's favorite books today! Joan is one of my favorite authors so I am looking forward to reading her most beloved picks in the new year. Are you a Joan fan, too? Stay updated on the making of the documentary here.

Joan Didion Favorite Boots

Small & Mighty

in

Binchotan Charcoal Facial PuffThis little lava-like sponge might not look much, but trust me, it's one of the most amazing face exfoliators I have ever come across! Meet the small and mighty Morihata Binchotan Charcoal Facial Puff. Made from superfine charcoal powder and the roots of a vegetable fiber called Konjac, this gentle exfoliating facial sponge is 100% natural — perfect for the eco-conscious set. My skin gets really dry in the winter and the Binchotan facial puff has really helped with keeping my face smooth and moisturized.

Keeping Time

in ,

Apple Watch Gold There's no such thing as early — there's only late and on-time. What better way to stay punctual and organized than with the Apple Watch, set to release in early 2015. With features including a music player, a fitness tracker with heart-rate measurements, a communications device, and a virtual wallet, it's hard not to stay organized with this sleek smart watch. The Apple Watch will feature a variety of styles with prices starting at $349. My top pick? The Edition collection rendition in midnight blue and gold.

Chicken Pot Pie Doesn't Get Enough Cred.

in

Easy Chicken Pot Pie RecipeMaking savory pot pies from scratch can be a little intimidating and time consuming, so over the holiday break, my sister and I decided to tweak Ina Garten's famous chicken pot pie recipe so it's a lot easier to make — but just as DELICIOUS! Our secret? Instead of cooking the chicken and pie dough from scratch, we bought a rotisserie chicken from the deli and purchased a high-quality puff pastry dough from our local grocery store. Here's the recipe, enjoy!

1 rotisserie chicken (roughly shredded) Kosher salt Freshly ground black pepper 5 cups chicken stock, --> Imagine Foods Organic Free Range Chicken Broth Low Sodium 2 chicken bouillon cubes --> Better Than Bouillon Organic chicken base 3/4 stick of butter 1 cup of shallots; 1 cup of chopped celery 3/4 cup all-purpose flour 1/4 cup heavy cream 2 cups medium-diced carrots, blanched for 2 minutes 1 (10-ounce) package frozen peas (2 cups) 1 cup of fingerling potatoes 1/4 cup minced fresh parsley leaves

for the pastry: high-quality store bought pastry dough (like Dufour) 1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon water for egg wash Flaked sea salt and cracked black pepper (to sprinkle on top of the pie crust)

*makes six individual pot pies

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

In a small saucepan, heat the chicken stock and dissolve the Better Than Bouillon Chicken Base in the stock. In a large pot or Dutch oven, melt the butter and saute the onions over medium-low heat for 10 to 15 minutes, until translucent. Add the flour and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes. Add the hot chicken stock to the sauce. Simmer over low heat for 1 more minute, stirring, until thick. Add 2 teaspoons salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and heavy cream. Add the cubed chicken, carrots, peas, onions and parsley. Mix well.

Divide the filling equally among 6 ovenproof ramekin bowls. Divide the pre-made dough into six 8 inch circles. Brush the outside edges of each bowl with the egg wash, then place the dough on top. Trim the circle to 1/2-inch larger than the top of the bowl. Crimp the dough to fold over the side, pressing it to make it stick. Brush the dough with egg wash and make 3 slits in the top. Sprinkle with sea salt and cracked pepper. Place on a baking sheet and bake for 1 hour, or until the top is golden brown and the filling is bubbling hot.

Resin + Wood

in ,

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA Resin + wood. Could this be the perfect combination of design and function? Jo Nagasaka from Schemata Architecture created inspiring pieces made out of Douglas fir planks — peeled to highlight its unique grain variations — and colored epoxy resin. Nagasaka's streamlined silhouettes and modern color palette are right up my alley. I sense a DIY project in the near future . . .

Jo Nagasaka Resin Wood Table

Jo Nagasaka Architecture-Office-1

Staying Local With Tilden Reed

in ,

Tilden Reed Tags The Bay Area is filled with talent. I recently came across an Oakland-based brand named Tilden Reed who creates extraordinary garments using materials like selvedge denim and waxed canvas. The brand uses a small-batch process and hand-drafted patterns to ensure each piece is made with the utmost quality and care — and it shows in their work. I recently purchased the Cone Mills Selvedge Canvas Clifton Apron in Raw Denim and am really impressed with the handiwork in every every stitch and detail. The apron features a lot of smartly-placed pockets and an adjustable neck strap. I use it for painting, but it could be used for any activity in your life that requires a little protection. In addition to aprons and weekender bags, Tilden Reed also designs clothes (tees and shirts) for men. I hope they create a women's line soon!

Tilden Reed Apron Picture

Tilden Reed Work Aprons