The Longest Day

Yesterday was the longest day of the year so my boyfriend and I decided to celebrate by taking an early evening walk on the beach and chowing down on some tasty BBQ. Here are some pictures of the beach we live a few blocks away from - reminds me how fortunate I am to live so close to such beautiful surroundings.

A Picnic Essential

My friend Jennifer gave me this recipe a while ago. It's a popular item on the menu at the restaurant Houston's. If you're looking for a cold salad to serve at a BBQ or picnic, try this. It's delicious and pretty healthy.

Houston's Cous-Cous Salad

1 box plain cous-cous
a small handful of fresh flat-leafed parsley, chopped very fine
1 small bunch radishes, chopped very fine
2 large carrots, peeled and chopped very fine
a handful of raisins, chopped
2-3 green onions, chopped (the whole thing is fine)
a handful of raw peanuts, without the skin (not roasted), chopped very fine

Dressing
8 oz. container plain yogurt (1 cup)
2 T. olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 T. honey
2 T. lemon juice

Prepare the entire box of plain cous-cous according to the directions provided on the box. Meanwhile, very finely chop all the vegetables. The recipe doesn't really state how much of these veggies are required so I improvised and provided you with my recommendations. If you like it crunchier, by all means, add some more nuts or veggies. Once all the veggies are chopped and your dressing is mixed, combine all the ingredients including cous-cous in a large bowl. Let the flavors meld in the fridge. Serves about 6 portions.

The Eco Fashionista

I was just checking out Topshop's website when I found a cute little piece they created for how to cycle in style. Cute, current and oh-so bike-friendly. So now you can look good while helping save the planet.

http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StaticPageDisplay?catalogId=19551&storeId=12556&brdcrmb_trail=&identifier=ts1%20saq
f%20wk41&intcmpid=FEATURE_HP_UK_WK41_SAQF_BIKE_STYLE

The New Public Market

Here's a great article in today's NYT Dining & Wine section about a new fruit exchange movement. Web sites have been cropping up to connect folks willing to exchange their home-grown produce with other fellow fruit seekers. So if you've been eyeing the plum tree in your neighbor's yard for those fresh-baked plum tarts you've been wanting to make, they may be willing to exchange a pound or two for some of the meyer lemons in your backyard.

Check out the article below to learn more....


http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/10/dining/10Fruit.html?_r=1&ref=dining

When the Living is Easy

As you may know from my previous post, I recently took a vacation to Rochester, NY to visit my family. Rochester weather is known to be unpredictable but I was lucky and spared the clouds/rain. With a whole week off I finally had time to take some photos and, pardon the cliche, stop to smell the roses. Here are some photos I took at Highland Park (aka Lilac Park). It's a lovely park up the street from my mom's house and is home to hundreds of lilac trees. Every year they hold a Lilac Festival that draws a boat-load of tourists. Many of the shots were taken inside the Park's Conservatory which recently got renovated.

I'll be posting more images periodically through the week....

Vacation Hangover

I am back from vacation and it's taking a while to get re-adjusted to living like an adult with a 9-5 job again. Yes, I have vacation hangover. Thankfully my boyfriend has played the dutiful role of making life after vacation more enjoyable simply by being his usual cute self. :-)

I visited my family back in Rochester, NY where I easily (and willingly) fell back into the mode of BBQ'ing in the backyard, raking grass clippings and digging up flower beds, walking barefoot in the grass and not having to worry about stepping on glass/dog poop/cigarette butts, eating my mom's spectacular food, visiting Wegman's, lounging dockside on Canandaigua Lake, waking up early b/c I have the energy, running through Lilac Park, breathing fresh air, smelling the acacia tree in our neighbor's yard, getting my hair highlighted b/c it's doesn't cost a fortune, having zero access to email or a computer....I could go on.

I didn't take as many pictures as I had hoped but I'll be posting a bunch in the next few days....