Phaidon Sale resulted in fantastic new book…hurry for the best bargains today!

By candia | Published: January 26, 2012

I adore the Phaidon Store in Soho….they are on Wooster Street. What started about two years ago as a pop up store, has become  permanent and going there during lunch is just the nicest way to pass the time. The books are all so wonderful, and now, they are having an amazing sale with some books up to 80% off.

I adore the art and architecture books, it makes you wonder why people would want a kindle…..instead of touching these beautiful works of art…but I am crazy for the cookbooks. I happen to have most of them…some in French that I have purchased in France..but this week I found one I had never seen before. Vegetables from an Italian Garden. Comes from the same group that did The Silver Spoon, that bible of Italian cooking and it is so beautiful. See the cover here, but the recipes inside are simple and easy and designed by season…which makes so much sense. I bought the book yesterday and couldn’t wait to read it..even in intermission at the theater last night….even my husband said, those recipes are mouth watering…and all just highlighting the simple ingredients.

Tonight I made the brussels sprouts with parmesean and nutmeg..I left out the butter ….I can tell you that I also adore Patricia Wells, “Vegetable Harvest” and all her books, and have been so devoted to  her sensibilities, that I felt almost like I was “cheating on her”… but I must say, this is a must buy. Currently at 50% off, it was just over $20.00

Even if you don’t cook you can handle this book, and it would make an incredible gift for anyone…cook or not. Run, don’t walk to Phaidon this week.

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I burned my tongue…I just couldn’t resist the kale chips.

By candia | Published: January 9, 2012

I am really late to this kale chip thing. I adore kale but I must admit I love it with bacon and I am trying to avoid bacon..so as a result I have not been creative enough and have avoided kale. Well, I have been corresponding for work with a very nice lady that has a great website/busines/blog called A healthy Girl and she has had a recipe for kale chips on the site for a while.. here is the link to the recipe on Lorrie Huschel’s site...since we were corresponding today, I decided that was exactly what I was going to try this evening…I knew it would satisfy my salt craving..which seems to have gone over the top this weekend…ok, don’t mention that the New Year’s Resolution for the 25 lbs seems to be lagging…

So, here is what I did, and it is a variation on what this and some other blogs have written about..I think that you have to play with all the recipes to find the one that suits your taste (and maybe is better for you). I had a bunch of beautiful kale, that I washed and dried and cut into pieces. I was lucky that the kale I chose the other day at the farmer’s market was very small, so I didn’t have to remove the ribs, but if you have ribs, then remove them…

I used parchment paper on a jelly roll pan and I placed the kale on the parchment paper and sprinkled oil all over it. I rembered Lorrie said to “massage”the kale, so I did that, and then I poured on the salt. Ok, this is where I went a little overboard…probably could have used a little less olive oil and a lot less salt…..I put the pan in the oven (where I am also cooking a chicken) which was at 400° for about 10 minutes…I was on the computer so when I smelled the kale, I knew it was time to take it out….

The exact time is up to you…I burned my tongue, I just couldn’t wait….but it was worth it. It has cooled down now and still is fantastic. The only thing I will say is that you have to practice. You have to find the right combo of oil and salt..same issue for potato chips…which we all know are compeltely not allowed in our lives..

Try it and let me know what you think…

 

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The most adorable laundry baskets ever seen and so chic!

By candia | Published: December 27, 2011

I don’t have a washer/dryer in my apartment. I live in a building where they didn’t put them in when it was built, and I made the decision to turn my powder room into my office rather than a laundry room…and I actually don’t regret this decision as there have been issues I hear in some other apartments. As a result, laundry baskets are a “thing” to be noticed. Finding one that works for me is one thing, but then there is my houskeeper. Years ago, when I could afford her, I had her every day (ok, she was also taking care of my son at that point, but even when he went away to school, I had her every day, then three days, and then two, and then when I lost my job at Woman’s Day…we went to one day a week) and I do laundry now. Hey, I also iron!.

So, in addition to more than one person having to schlep the laundry to the laudry room there is the space in the apartment. Sure it is romantic to have a real wicker hamper or basket, but where does one put it? If I had room for that, I could fit a washer/dryer. So…over the years, there have been many and some even were collapsable. Most recently a nice one from the Container Store, but it also wore out and didn’t really flatten out after the first use.

However, I have the most adoreable ones now. Thanks to IKEA….they are silver, fold up completely, hang in the closet on a hook when closed, velcro those smart designers!! and because they are not enormous, you are not weighed down. Look how fantastic they look. Now, did I tell you the best part? The cost….$7.00….go run out and buy a dozen and give them as hostess gifts this summer when you go to places in the Hamptons or even in Europe. Corinne if you are reading this, and you can’t find it in Ikea France, I am bringing them to you, for each bedroom….

 

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The Christmas Tree is really a dud..it is official.

By candia | Published: December 24, 2011

The tree is really a dud. I hadn’t decorated it, because I was so unhappy with it, especially as I walked past the beautiful trees on the corner…but it had an issue that I thought we could fix. It is crooked, and so, with help from someone in the building, we got to to at least look “straight”…..but here is the issue….if you go near it, it looses all the needles.

My son came home tonight and I explained that putting lights on the thing was going to be “OUT” as it was losing needles by the minute. He was not angry or didn’t even remind me of my poor choice..he just said, “let’s just put one thing on the top” as the top three branches seem to form a perfect “V” and we can drop something in there…So, as you can see we have done that.

I am thinking the the crummy tree is a symbol for the year. It really sums up how horrible this past year has been for me on so many levels…..I can’t really mention here in the cyber world what all those things are…but the one thing I can mention is the weight. I mean it has been three years (since I left Woman’s Day ) that I just can’t get it off. I have a closet full of clothes I could wear……and 2012 is going to be the year that I make it happen.

The medical issues I am dealing with are just annoying and I still am not up to sounding like someone who lives in Florida thank goodness…but not too pleasant. I think that not having health insurance isn’t so bad…you go on every day doing the best you can and since you can’t get to a Dr. you don’t have to do test after test after test….as I have been doing in the past  month….Seriously, I am begining to think that there must be some contest on in the medical community on who can order the most MRI’s…..and just as the DR. tells me “that MRI was fine”….but we need to do one of “X”….I mean I figure we will be doing an MRI on my toes very soon as we progress up and down my body….

Anyway, although I am not big on New Year’s Resolutions….I am going to make the pledge to fit back into my clothes and fix the other two things that are bothering me in my life…so that this time next year…..I will be laughing out loud.

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukah to everyone.

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