Saturday, March 19, 2011

Spring Fun: Sorbetto

Mashing the grapes for grape-mint-lime sorbetto (last summer).
Sorbetto is best the day it is made, but I'll eat it anytime.

Last summer, I borrowed a friend's ice cream maker for a few weeks. The result was a series of sorbetto experiments. Our favorites, the aforementioned grape-mint-lime and nectarine-apple with maple syrup. With the help of our juicer the possibilities are endless.

I'm still fiddling with the sugar substitutes/concentrations to make something low sugar - maybe this summer I'll be more successful. The grape-mint-lime was made with 1/2 the amount of sugar that the recipe called but the texture was more granada-like and there would have been no way it would form "scoops."

I used this Lottie + Doof Framboise Lambic Beer Sorbetto recipe, which was adapted from The Ciao Bella Book of Gelato and Sorbetto by Pearce and Zecchin, for the proportions.
  • ~4 cups fresh fruit juice of your choice
  • 1 lemon (juice only)
  • Simple Syrup (1:1 water and sugar)

Over medium heat combine water and sugar. Whisk often and simmer until all of the sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and let cool.

This is where things get a bit tricky - how to add sugar syrup while taking into account the sugar content of the fruit you used. I am no expert but will point you to this technique over at Fresh Sliced Fruit Daily. Look toward the bottom of their Tangerine and Grapfruit Sorbetto recipe, hint: it involves a raw egg.

photo credit: Cayenne 07.19.10


Friday, March 18, 2011

Copenhagen: Noa Noa Danish Clothing Store


This palena cotton ticking dress by Noa Noa came home with me!

The Bohemian Wardrobe Company, is an online shop that sells the Danish clothing brand Noa Noa.

US source for Noa Noa, Narcisse in Portland, OR; I know where I am headed next time I'm in Portland.
I fell in love with this whistle tunic but it was 100% wool, which I'm allergic to, but you can buy this from Inis.


Their carefree bohemian-style translates into super cute clothing for little people too.

photo credit: top and bottom two images from the Noa Noa website

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Inspiration: Copenhagen, Denmark!

A recent visit to Copenhagen -- my first trip to Europe -- has me itching to blog again. Stay tuned!


photo credit: Nyhavn winter classic by Flumm_Jesus2

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Year of....

Happy Hour!!

Be that for the drinks or food, you will find me out and about on the early side.

There was another option pretty high up on the list, but I was more excited about a year of h-a-p-p-y hour.

Monday, December 6, 2010

Wake-up: Tis the season...

...for giving at KIVA. I've mentioned Kiva before and I just wanted to remind you this holiday season that this is a wonderful, fun way to give a hand up. I am still re-loaning the $100 that TEB gifted me through Kiva.

I give in $25 increments and my most recent loan was to a man in Columbia that makes leather goods by hand. You can search by many different parameters, e.g. female, type of industry, location. Give KIVA this holiday season.

Disclaimer: I have not been paid or compensated in anyway by Kiva. I truly believe that they have a great business model and that they help people all over the globe.

Monday, November 29, 2010

Wake-up: Tis the season...

...for union suits. yah know, the one piece jumpsuit PJs. Outfit the whole family!

Teenager:
Jack Wills' Shelderton All-in-one, $90



Trendy Aunt and Uncle:
J. Crew classic union suit, $70 (grey and red stripe)

Sports enthusiast:
Burton midweight one-piece, $100 (made for outdoor sports)

The Parents:

Baby:

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Quick Dinner: Veggie Soup Base

Looking for a way to use up some turkey leftovers? Try my quick dinner veggie soup base. I normally bake some foccacia during the time it takes to make the soup base.

The secret ingredient is a German seasoning called Seitenbacher Vegetarian Vegetable Broth and Seasoning. I found it at Rainbow People whole foods grocery store in Juneau. Silly me for rationing my one small bottle when you can go buy loads of it on amazon right here. It is cheap, ~1$/ounce, light weight, and vegetarian making it perfect for backcountry travel or the urban hiker who has to hall their groceries for blocks (yup, that is me on both accounts).

Vegetarian Broccoli Soup Base - perfect for Thanksgiving leftovers
Inspired by GP's Detox broccoli and arugula soup recipe, I blogged it here.

Makes 2 servings (multiple 4-6 times to make enough for freezing)

1 tbsp olive oil
3 cloves garlic minced
1 onion chopped (any kind you have on hand)
1 head broccoli chopped (including the thick stems)
2 1/2 cups water + Seitenbacher (according to directions for amount of water)
1/4 tsp course salt
1/2 lemon juice

Saute the onion and garlic in the olive oil. Once onion is soft add your water and Seitenbacher. Bring to a boil, turn down heat, and simmer until the broccoli is soft (~20 minutes). Purée with an immersion blender in the pot or transfer to a regular blender (be careful blending hot liquid and don't fill the blender more than halfway full). Freeze all your extra soup base in tupperware or ziploc bags (lay flat on cookie sheet until frozen to have stackable units).

Now comes the fun part. Clean out your fridge and add whatever looks good, e.g. brussel sprouts. After Thanksgiving we torn up some turkey and threw in some mini tortellini (the dried kind from Trader Joes). Simple. Your done. Enjoy!

photo credit: Cayenne 06.22.10

Monday, November 15, 2010

Wake-up: Fall has arrived

Yup, fall is here. I quite enjoy fall with the beautiful colored leaves, crisp air, and layering of clothing that circumvents having to wear a heavy jacket.


My capitol hill neighborhood is bursting with color.
Red leaves across the street from our house.

photo credit: Cayenne 11.06.10 and 11.13.10

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Weekend: DC Tweed Ride 2010

There were many a dandy and quaintrelle on the streets of DC this Sunday afternoon, including myself. We had so much fun dressing up and riding from Lincoln Park to Stroga in Adams Morgan.
Many ladies had on high heels and everyone was dressed to the nines. I will be expanding my tweed collection in preparation for next year and also looking for some seersucker for the summer ride. Ride info here on Dandies & Quaintrelles: Redemption through Style.

photo credit: grey suit by maxedaperture; quaintrelles ride in heels by Oisercage

Monday, November 8, 2010

Wake-up: I'm still here...

...exploring bustling DC.
...finding a routine.
...commuting 2 hours a day.
...enjoying happy hours.
...settling into the house.

All this takes up the majority of my time and leaves so few spare moments for blogging or cooking. Am I cooking? - not so much, just the quick dinners that I've posted for the past two years here on Cayenne + Carob.

Am I reading blogs? - a few but mostly enjoying the more graphic blogs.

I don't know where this blog is going to end up after my career transition. In the meantime you can still find me on twitter and on Pinterest.

Pinterest is a virtual pinboard. Looking for neat architecture, interior design, or fashion/style there is a cache of boards for you to browse through. I pin a dozen images a week so go check it out. Keep up with me there while I figure out what I'm doing here.

Sign up to create a profile and pin images on Pinterest.
Follow my pins via RSS feed.

photo credit: Cayenne 09.25.10, American Visionary Art Museum (Baltimore, MD)

Monday, September 13, 2010

Wake-up: Bed on the Floor


I moved to DC with no furniture, thus am still sleeping on a mattress on the floor. We mistakenly bought off craigslist the wrong size mattress so even that is not going to stay.

As always craigslist is touch and go - we bought a large table and four chairs for only 80$ but then the mattress was advertised as a queen but when we got home it clearly was a full size (our fault really, seller was foreign). A mirror we purchased at IKEA was cracked along the edge hidden by the cardboard packaging. And we are still searching for an inexpensive couch.

I wish my floor bed was as serene as the one above with the Swedish Crux blanket by Pia Wallen. Buy from Pia Wallen website (~800$ USD).

Friday, September 10, 2010

Weekend: Workshare at Clagett Farm


My first weekend in DC we completed a workshare at the Cheasapeake Bay Foundation's Claggett Farm. Two of my good friends reccomended this great farm where you can work for 4 hours in exchange for 1 share in their community supported agriculture food box. Two adults working a 4 hour shift on a Saturday morning mean we took home 8 pounds of 4 different kinds of squash, and 4 pounds total of green beans, okra, tomatoes, and all-you-can-pick herbs.
Our work on the farm included picking 3 different varieties of beans, cucumbers and cleaning up a rotting melon field. There were black widow spiders involved in that last task. By 1p we felt as though we definitely earned our workshare. I hope to be able to do a workshare once a month depending on if we can a ride out to the farm.

Clagett Farm
11904 Old Marlboro Pike
Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
301.627.4662

CSA pricing: 600$ annually for new members (pick up in Dupont Circle)
Workshare info: workshare opportunities are available Thursday-Saturday. Call 301.537.3038 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on the Thursday or Friday before the Saturday you would like to come to the farm. Bring a water bottle, work gloves, and a good hat to shield the sun. The farm is located approximately 30 minutes from Capitol Hill by car.
Directions: follow the driving directions written on the website

photo credit: Cayenne 09.04.10

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Washington, DC: Home Sweet Home


I truly did intend to show you some of my California summer roads trips before making the big move across the country to the east coast. Alas, once I proclaimed such a plan, I promptly had no time to blog - I am sorry. The last few weeks have been filled with visiting family, moving into my new house in a new-to-me neighborhood, and starting orientation for the fellowship I will be completing in the coming year.

photo credit: U.S. Capitol Building by Cayenne 09.06.10

Friday, September 3, 2010

Weekend: Bike to Brunch at The Pearl Hotel


My very last bike to brunch at the Pearl Hotel was in August. The first Sunday of every month The Pearl Hotel has a special deal - if you bike there for bunch, their brunch special runs you only $10 and includes bottomless mimosas and one of their delicious brunch entrees.
The food at The Pearl is fantastic and I've previously written about the food here and bunch here. Catch September's bike to brunch this Sunday, September 5th. If I was in San Diego I would be there!

photo credit: Cayenne 08.01.10

Friday, August 20, 2010

Weekend: San Diego Zoo Sunset

We have season passes to the San Diego Zoo and realized that we should have been using them more. With a season pass we can just bop over there for an hour or less to take a peek at the animals and views from the aerial tram.

This sunset was taken from the zoo parking lot and the silhouetted palm trees are quintessential southern California. I think I'm going to miss this strange place with no seasons...

photo credit: Cayenne 07.31.10

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Back-to-School: Polarn O. Pyret

The August/September fall season definitely has a back-to-school feel despite the fact that I'm no longer a student (thank goodness after 20+ years of being one) and have no kids. But I have niece, MRC, that I love to buy clothing for. Remember the Olive Juice clothing I bought earlier in the summer, well she got it just in time for the first day of school.
This morning DesignMom, in celebration of her 15 year wedding anniversary, posted a giveaway from Polarn O. Pyret, which was irresistible. Thanks to her for the introduction to this fantastic swedish clothing-brand that is famous for its striped clothing.
I think I've always wanted striped leggings, even when I was a little person. Polarn O. Pyret has a great summer sale going on right now and my niece will be getting another back-to-school package in the mail.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Road Trip 2010: Santa Barbara



The first place we stopped on the drive north was Santa Barbara. Now I've stopped her before and was nonplused - too busy, not enough direction and bad food. This time was different. We met up with a friend who directed us to wine tasting at Giessinger Winery out of Cucamonga Valley. We tasted some 15+ wines for just $8. I fell in love with a blueberry + blackberry chilled red wine that happened to be the most expensive wine they sold. A smooth port was what we brought home instead.

Then we stopped at Cafe Luck for a light French dinner. The mussels in white wine sauce were delicious and we mopped up the excess sauce with french baguette. We ordered almost every one of the sides to split between the three of us: french fries, onion rings, ratatouille, mac and cheese with truffled ham, and green beans with toasted almonds.

After all the food and drink we only made it to San Luis Obispo and the El Toro roadside motel.

Giessinger Wine Tasting Room
210 State Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101-3834
(805) 568-0820

Cafe Luck
18 E Cota St
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 962-5393

Monday, August 16, 2010

Wake-up: Road Trip up the Coast



There is nothing more perfect than a spontaneous summer road trip up the California coast. We have (somehow) managed to swing two of these trips this summer. For the rest of the month I'll highlight some of our favorite stops that we took along the way as we drove along the coast to northern California.


Saturday, August 14, 2010

Weekend: Summer Sunset

One of the things I'm going to miss the most about San Diego are the sunsets. Our grey, mist-filled summer has made for some dreamy sunsets along the coast.

I still do wish the water would warm up enough for me to partake in one last boogie boarding season.

photo credit: Cayenne 08.01.10