A Valentine To Dismember

Dear Readers,
I'm just kidding. The only reason I called this post "A Valentine To Dismember" is that the entree is heart shaped...sorta.
This meal is going to make you a hero to your loved one - especially if you are one of those people who say they can't cook because it's really easy and pretty much foolproof. You don't believe me? Read on!
First, I'm going to make sure you get everything you need in one trip to the grocery.
This is the I-Don't-Cooker's biggest problem, the plan ahead thing. Now I'm assuming you all have the basic staples like salt and pepper in the house, but everything else - and I mean everything - is going to be listed.

SHOPPING LIST

Entree & Side Dishes:
2 double boneless, skinless chicken breasts - this means you might have to go to the butcher/poultry counter and tell the person behind the counter that you want two double breasts that will each become ONE SERVING. You don't need gigantic breasts (now get those minds out of the gutter!)
Salt & Pepper
2 tbsp Honey
1 small package frozen strawberries (unsweetened), thawed
1 small bunch of scallions
1 lemon sliced into thin slices
1 pint fresh strawberries (or if you can find them at the salad bar, all you need are 2, with their green tops for garnish)
1 small can frozen O.J.; thawed
1 pkg frozen twice baked potatoes (prepared as instructed on the box)
2 large, fresh carrots (or carrot sticks from the salad bar enough for two servings)
Garlic powder
Olive oil
Butter

Dessert:
1 package frozen puff pastry
Seedless raspberry jam
1 bar of GOOD dark chocolate
1 single serving of premium quality vanilla ice cream thawed but still chilled

And that's it!

Now, let's prep....

1. Grab 2 scallions; cut the end off and cut it about two inches up from the bulb.
2. Now, turn your paring knife over so the blade faces up. While holding the bulb end in your left hand, stick just the tip of the knife into the scallion and pull upwards through the stem toward and through the green. Continue around the scallion slicing shallow lines up the stem until you have what looks like a tassel. Drop these in a glass of cold water and stick in the fridge - Voila! Garnish!
3. Take a couple fresh strawberries and slice them vertically toward the green top BUT NOT ALL THE WAY THROUGH. If you then put the berry on its side and gently but firmly press down on the biggest part, the berry should fan out and look all purty - More garnish!
4. Take your thawed strawberries and push them through a strainer with the back of a spoon (to get rid of most of the pulp and seeds) into a small saucepan. Add a half teaspoon ground pepper, one teaspoon honey, a pinch or two of salt and a squeeze of lemon. Warm this mixture on low until bubbling and then remove from heat and set aside.
5. Prepare potatoes as instructed on package.
6. Take chicken breasts from package and place each one between two pieces of plastic wrap
7. Using the flat bottom of a saucepan or saute pan, pound the breasts to a uniform thickness
8. Salt, pepper, and lightly garlic powder on both sides. Notice that they look like hearts? Neat, huh?
9. Next, in a microwave safe vessel (I usually use a Pyrex measuring cup) set your carrot sticks in salted water and nuke 'em till they're still snappy and bright orange but tender enough to enjoy.
10. While those are cooking, go back to the greens of the scallion and choose a few nice looking ones. When the carrots are al dente, put them in a bowl and use the hot water to soften the greens till they're pliable, You're going to use these to tie the carrot sticks into single serving bundles - Impressive!
11. Now, take a couple pats of butter and 2 tbsps of the orange juice concentrate and mix them in the (now empty) measuring cup - This is your orange butter sauce for the carrot bundles...keep it warm.
12. Now it's time to heat up your saute pan with some olive oil and saute the chicken breasts until they're cooked through.
13. Service: On the warmed plate, place a generous spoonful of the strawberry sauce in the center and, with the back of your spoon, spread it in a circular motion to cover the bottom of the plate.
14. Place the chicken breast on top of the strawberry sauce and place your splayed strawberry on top; Lay a lemon slice at the top of the heart and grab a curly topped scallion, shake of the excess water and tuck it under the top of the heart on top of that lemon....pretty, huh?
15. Now, on a smaller side plate, serve the twice baked potato and scallion tied carrot bundle and drizzle the orange/butter sauce over the carrots. Gawgeous!

 Dessert Prep:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
2. Cut the thawed puff pastry into 2 six inch squares and place on a baking sheet
3. Place a square or two of chocolate in the center of each square, top with one tablespoon of raspberry jam and twist the corners together to form a bundle.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes or until golden brown
5. Cool on a rack for about ten minutes
6. Remember what you did with the strawberry sauce? Do the same with the vanilla ice cream "sauce" on a dessert place and place the chocolate bundle off center in the puddle of sauce and put a small dollop of jam in the sauce. Using a toothpick draw it through the center of the jam until it forms a little heart...Cute.
7. If you have any powdered sugar, you can shake some over the top of the bundle....Serve warm

Enjoy yourselves and let me know what happens! Well, not EVERYthing that happens!

Love Means Never Having To Buy Them Roses

I should apologize, dear readers, for shirking my responsibility and leaving my blog at the bottom of my priority list for too long. My life has been busy but I should not let all of that get in the way of sharing with you.
BUT, the good news is that I have a few things stored up for you all regarding the upcoming (though totally fabricated) holiday....Saint Valentine's Day.

Now, please don't get me wrong, I love love love the holiday that's all about love love love.
My only concern is that people get in trouble trying to top their last year's event by making the declaration of their love too involved, too fancy and too little about what they truly feel.

In these days of financial difficulty, why not put in a little thought and a little effort to make your offering about tenderness, love and your individual feeling for your beloved rather than buying a bouquet of  over priced (just for the day) roses and being done with it?
Believe me, I'm not asking you to break the bank or even spend weeks preparing gifts or special meals - unless you want to do that...then I say, have at it and reap the rewards that will surely come your way.

No. I am going to share some ideas that have always landed me in the "I can't believe you are so amazingly thoughtful" seat and that's a really nice place to be.

First, the easiest.
The Love Letter. Now I know we all can't write sonnets and other poems without feeling and/or sounding like an ass. But try this - Find a nice card - either fine stationery or a simple but elegant greeting card - it doesn't even have to be a Valentine, per se - preferably blank inside.
On a piece of scrap paper, decide what you want to write. Be concise. Simple. A simple "I Love You" will work if inspiration fails you.
Date the inside of the card simply Valentine's Day 2011 and say what's in your heart. If you want to write a poem, go for it. If you're moved by somebody else's poetry, quote it and MAKE SURE to attribute the quote!
Make sure to write legibly and cleanly. Then, before you put it in the envelope, try to find a photograph of the two of you from a day that you both really enjoyed yourselves and remember fondly and add that to the envelope before you seal it.
If you can't find a photo like that, remember where you had your first date or your first kiss or asked them to marry you and go THERE and take a picture of the PLACE. It will mean so much.

My next installment will be a menu, and recipes, for the perfect, easy and impressive restaurant quality meal to make for your beloved. Come back and see!

Cosy Rainy Day Recipe

Friends,
It's been a while since I've posted a recipe and, frankly, the reason is that I've been so busy doing so much actual cooking - what with the holiday season and all - that I haven't had time to write about it!
But the last couple of days were either bitterly cold here in New York (Split Pea Soup flavored with Smoked Turkey) or rainy AND cold like today. So, here's one of my favorite comfort foods to share with you:

Asian Inspired Roast Chicken Quarters

Ingredients:

One impossibly large package of chicken thigh quarters 

(I use dark meat in this recipe for a couple reasons. One, I prefer dark meat. And, two, because of the high temperature of roasting, the dark meat is more flavorful when it's all said and done.)

Sea salt

Freshly ground black pepper

Onion powder (NOT onion salt)

Garlic powder (see above)

Fresh ginger

Red pepper flakes

Sesame oil

Good quality soy sauce

sesame seeds

Xiao Xing Rice wine (or a good dry sherry if you don't have the wine)

Two roasting potatoes peeled and quartered lengthwise

1. Coat your largest roasting pan with nonstick spray and preheat your oven to 400 degrees
2. Remove as much of the fat from the chicken as humanly possible and place in pan
3. Beginning with the skin side down, prepare the meat by generously seasoning with the first six dry ingredients preferably using a micro plane for the ginger (although, in a pinch, dry ground ginger will work too)
4. Place the chicken quarters skin side up in the pan and season the top (skin) side generously
5. Arrange the potatoes around the edge of the pan 
6. Drizzle the sesame oil sparingly over the chicken - a little goes a long way for flavor and aroma
7. Add the soy sauce - not more than a quarter cup and you can definitely do with less
8. Put your thumb over the mouth of the wine (or sherry) bottle and shake little rivulets over the meat
9. Then, generously sprinkle sesame seeds over the whole darn thing
10. Bake at 400 degrees basting with the accumulating juices every 20 minutes - don't freak out if there's not a lot of liquid after the first 20 minutes...just do your best with what you've got and there will be lots of liquid before the next 20 minutes is up.

I usually serve this with some roasted vegetables - for some reason it goes AMAZINGLY well with quartered brussels sprouts that have been salted, peppered and tossed with some olive oil. Put those in the oven in a casserole dish for the last 20 minutes and you will have a feast. The skin and the sesame seeds get crackly and the potatoes are perfectly browned on the outside and smooth and buttery on the inside!

Share this or not - your choice - but I will say that for those of you who like cold chicken this is amazing.

I hope you'll try this and let me know what you think! Meanwhile, stay warm!

-SSG

Shoestrings Aren't Just For Shoes Anymore

Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am proud to share with you a newly completed project. This one was sort of a "pro bono" effort that I decided to do for a friend who hasn't had his own apartment in almost two decades. He also works out of his home as a coach and accompanist so this new studio had to serve double duty as his home and his workplace.
His budget was minimal to say the least but his taste is anything but cheap - sort of, as my mom was fond of saying, "Champagne taste and beer pocket."
I took on this challenge and managed to find some wonderful pieces that were donated to the cause and he re-purposed some salvaged objects in some very creative and beautiful ways and, in the end, I think we came up with a very comfortable design that serves every need and makes for a supremely comfortable and pleasantly bright and cozy home.

Here are some before and after shots of this upper west side studio...

 

A very organic and warm combination of greens were what we chose for the walls with accents of wood tones and black for contrast.

In the little alcove off the main room of the studio you can see one of three tall door panels that were literally found on the street. One had a mirrored insert so it got a coat of black paint on the trim and the darker of the greens as an accent near the bottom. Flanked by vases filled with coffee beans and orchid stems on small floating shelves complete a simple but beautiful view from the main room and since this alcove is used as a dressing room, the full length mirror not only reflects light but is practical as well.

The main area of the apartment, as I said, has to act as bedroom, office, living room, music room and dining area and all of those things have been addressed without the room feeling cramped or stuffy.

Because the apartment is on the fourth floor it gets a lot of light during a lot of the day and in the spring, summer and fall months there are trees to enjoy outside the large windows. Phase two of the design plan will include some richly textured draperies.

The client wanted a fireplace and a comfortable seating area and that's just what we provided, keeping everything light or on legs to keep the space from feeling too heavy and cramped. Not shown in these photos is a pair of chrome and black leather directors chairs on either side of the fireplace.

Over the sofa is the second of the three door panels hung vertically with black and white photos mounted behind the glass so that the green wall color shows through almost as if it were a matte.

The "foyer" of this apartment is painted a beautifully rich chocolate brown with the two closet doors and trim painted out in a crisp clean white. By the front door there is a antique reproduction, drop leafed round table with cabriole legs that can double as an intimate dining table when not holding a beautiful brass sphere lamp with a large black shade -  both pieces donated to the cause of style and comfort.

For this man who hasn't had an apartment of his own here in New York, this comfortable, efficient, luxe and handsome home is just the thing he has been missing. I believe he will be very happy in this space as it grows around him.

My Review of Prelit Clear Light 7.5 Foot Ashby Pine Christmas Tree

Originally submitted at ChristmasTreesGalore.com

This slim pine Christmas tree is strung with 550 clear lights. Hinged branches are easy to assemble and add to its charm.

Prelit Clear Light 7.5 Foot Ashby Pine Christmas Tree

Perfect tree

By Interiors by Daddy's Home, Inc. from New York, NY on 1/6/2011

 

5out of 5

Pros: Great size, Festive, Attractive, Well packaged, Durable

Cons: Not enough lights

Best Uses: Christmas

Describe Yourself: Budget Shopper

I looked around a lot for an affordable, tall tree that didn't take up too much floor space - important in New York City apartments. This one was ideal.

(legalese)

FaLaLaLaLa...LaLa...Bye Bye!

Tis the season to be merrily taking down the decorations and putting them away for one more year. Unless, of course, you decide to throw a Christmas In July party which does hold its own allure.
My schedule this year is such that I couldn't wait until after the twelve days were over and I spent a good part of January 2nd dismantling the tree, wreath, etc.
I also have an odd habit of trawling the after-holiday sales on festive decor and packing whatever I find away with this year's ornaments and lights so that come next November, when the decorations make their yearly appearance again, there are things in those boxes that I don't remember purchasing! It makes it seem almost like...well...um...Christmas!

This holiday season was great. Jae and I got our greeting cards out before Valentine's Day, we had another couple over for dinner on Christmas Day, we had our annual Holiday Open House on New Year's Day and it was wonderful seeing so many friends come by to share the festivities.

Yes. It was all marvelous. But am I glad it's OVER!!!

Don't get me wrong. I'm no Ebeneezer Scrooge and I'm just as excited to celebrate as the next reveler, but you have to admit, the holidays are exhausting! You have your normal life and then all the other stuff layered on top of that. I love it, but I'm just as happy going back to routine and calm and cooking regular meals and having a clean house and the poor cats not freaking out because their favorite sleeping spot is occupied by some stranger's butt or coat or bag.

So, happy new year and let's get down to the work at hand. The storage challenge.
This year we were lucky enough to purchase the perfect artificial tree. Tall but narrow so as not to take up valuable floor space. It also came in a box that is strong and actually big enough to get the tree BACK INTO without damage or excessive bending. Not only that but it was also big enough to pack the lights and lighted garland in as well...great space saver.
I also did something this year that I had never thought to do before (I have no idea why not, knowing who I am). I decided to take everything off the tree and pack it in separate piles before combining it all in the bigger boxes. It was sort of like a 3D jigsaw puzzle but I managed to get it all (including my new sale items) in one less box! Cool, huh? A great boon to New York apartment dwellers with limited storage space.

Tomorrow, everything goes into the long-term storage closet from which I will chose the "Three Wise Sacrifices". These are three, usually bulky, items whose time has come and gone in our home and have been in the long term closet for over a year. I know already that one of the TWS's is going to be a huge fax machine in its original box that we have never used and kept "just in case". In case of what?! In case we ever get a landline? In case we forget how to use email? Out it goes!

It's sort of a New Year's resolution and sort of spring cleaning run amok and WAY ahead of schedule but it works and I highly recommend the feeling of comfort and joy it affords!

Meanwhile, dear readers, I will continue to try to offer you suggestions and ideas and maybe a laugh or two during, what I hope will prove to be, a spectacular 2011.

-SSG

A Happy and Safe New Year

My friendly readers - and can you believe that I JUST found out that the number of readers can be VASTLY different than your number of followers?! My little ego-driven soul just exploded over that little tidbit of news - I wanted to take an opportunity to wish you the happiest, healthiest, most productive and love-filled of New Years ever known to the world.

I'd also like to take a minute to caution you about one tiny thing....EXCESS

For those who know me (and for those who have only seen my pictures or heard of my exploits) you know that I am a BIG fan of excess. Excessive beauty, excessive fun, excessive enjoyment of life that seems, all too often, not to supply us with the excesses that we would like.

Enjoy your celebrations but, please, enjoy them in a way that keeps you and those around you safe.

So, as I continue my New Year's Eve Day with preparations for tomorrow's Holiday Open House - baking, cooking, mulling of cider, etc. - I wish you all again a....

Happy New Year!