To Do: Graduate from College

 Chapman University  Feb 2009

Graduation from High School was somewhat anticlimactic for me. I didn't have any desire to send out announcements or have a big fancy party. I'm getting ready to graduate from Chapman and I'm finding myself conflicted on the topic.  In the past few years there have been various graduation announcements taped to my parents' fridge (they have one of those fancy looks-like-cabinetry refig faces just in case you were wondering about the tape). This accolade certainly deserves a certain level of celebration, but keep in mind that the bulk of these are NOT from close family friends, old baby sitters, etc.  These are mostly grown kids from our neighborhood in Houston (from which we moved away almost 20 years ago). There are a select few with whom we have kept in touch with over the years, but the majority just barely make the Christmas Card list each year. Who is it appropriate to send a graduation announcement to? Grandparents, relatives, Godparents... all obviously appropriate recipients. Who else makes the list? If the list is overly inclusive am I just looking for handouts? I think I'd be more comfortable with a VERY casual party. Or dinner with close friends and family. 

Just a thought. PLUS. Graduation announcements (the ones you order through the school) are so bland. Who wants to tape an ivory 3 x 5 Notecard to their fridge? 

 

What do you think? Party? Presents?

Brazin Old Vine Zin

Brazin Lodi Old Vine Zinfandel (SnoothRank: 4/5)

USA > California > Sacramento; San Joaquin > Lodi (January 2009)

my Rating 4/5

Just trust me. Try this. With Chocolate. it's heaven. and not too expensive. Henry's (In Laguna Niguel) frequently has it on sale for 16.99  (I'm sure you could find it at Central Market.. or online?) Some people say it's "jammy" I don't think it's too sweet at all.. I believe berries. but not jam. Definitely an excellent pre-dinner or post-dinner wine. 

Lemon Half Pound Cake

Absolutely fantastic "Lemon Yogurt Cake" from The Barefoot Contessa At Home.

I made a few minor adjustments... and I'd definitely make a few more next time I made it...but overall this is definitely one of my new favorite late spring/ early summer desserts.

Lemon Yogurt Cake

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup plain whole-milk yogurt
1 1/3 cups sugar, divided
3 extra-large eggs
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest (2 lemons)
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

For the glaze:
1 cup confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 x 2 1/2 inch loaf pan. Line the bottom with parchment paper (wax paper works too!). Grease and flour the pan.

Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt into one bowl. In another bowl, whisk together the yogurt, 1 cup of sugar, the eggs, lemon zest, and vanilla. Slowly whisk the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. With a rubber spatula, fold the vegetable oil into the batter, making sure it's all incorporated. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for about 50 minutes, or until a cake tester placed in the center of the loaf comes out clean.

Meanwhile, cook the 1/3 cup lemon juice and the remaining 1/3 cup sugar in a small pan until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is clear. Set aside.

When the cake is done, allow it to cook in the pan for 10 minutes. Carefully place on a baking rack over a sheet pan. While the cake is still warm, pour the lemon-sugar mixture over the cake and allow it to soak in. (I poked lots of little holes in the top of the cake with the cake tester to make sure that the lemon-sugar mixture would soak in)

Let Cool.

For the glaze, combine the confectioners' sugar and lemon juice and pour over the cake.

It's really sweet, so small portions are fine. (I'd say one loaf yields 8-10 servings) Also, serves well with fresh blueberries and blueberry sauce and whipped cream.

PS. I'm absolutely ham-handed when it comes to baking.. so If I can do this cake, anyone can.

Fried Tofu Pasta

Pasta w/Fried Tofu, Roasted Peppers, Olives *

Serves 4

16 ozs extra-firm tofu, cubed
3 tbsp canola (etc) oil
1 tbsp soy sauce
6 garlic cloves, minced
7-oz jar of roasted red peppers, drained and diced
10 black olives, pitted and halved
1/2 cup fresh parsley sprigs, chopped
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
1/2 tsp salt
pepper to taste
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
4 handfuls of pasta (rigatoni?)

In a large frying pan, fry the tofu in the canola oil until golden brown. Stir and flip occasionally.
Transfer to a large bowl, and drizzle with the soy sauce. Toss well and set aside. Save the pan!
In a large pot, bring several quarts of water to a boil. Cook the pasta in the boiling water until al dente. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of the water.
Meanwhile, in the same tofu frying pan, saute the garlic in the olive oil for 30 seconds. Add the peppers, and cook 2 minutes longer.
Stir in the olives, parsley, basil, salt and pepper and tofu. Toss well.
Stir the reserved pasta water into the sauce. Cook for 1 minute.
Place the pasta in a serving bowl, and pour on the sauce. Mix well, sprinkle on the Parmesan, toss, and serve.

* Adapted from Giant Book of Tofu Cooking by Designboner

I'm thinking about trying this recipe this weekend. Will update afterwards and let you know if it's as tasty as it looks.

Salt Creek Grille Happy Hour

For those of you who don't know, I got a job hosting at Salt Creek Grille in Dana Point. Although the Happy Hour crowd is a little bit older.. the deals are great and I thought it was worth at least mentioning. The bar is all open seating, full menu, full service. 

Salt Creek Grille Website

Happy Hour M-F 5-6:30

$4 Wells, $4 Draft Beers, $4 House Wine

Discounted Appys

Monday: Martini Madness  $6 Martinis

Tuesday: $3 Draft Beers

Wednesday: 1/2 price bottle of wine

There's also great live Music most Thursday- Saturday nights.

Some Weekend Finds

Shopping with any sort of unsettled emotions is dangerous. Especially when Macy's One Day Sale and the "1st day of spring" conveniently fall on the same weekend. I had a really strong urge to go out and buy a ton of new spring clothes: maybe a floral sundress, some airy tops, some new strappy sandals. The list is endless. generic and specific. some things (most things) cheap and astronomically expensive (and unrealistic). These are the things I couldn't live without (and fit into my budget):

Mossimo Patent Grey Pump

Pleated Bubble Skirt 

Oversized Shirred Tee

Corey Lynn Calter Floral Cami

Not from this weekend but I'm totally loving this purchase. 

Hands down, my new favorite jeans

Rich and Skinny Boyfriend Jean

And a few things to add to my wish list:

Waterlily Bandeau Bikini

Frye Hirachi Sling back

Rainbow Garden Oblong Scarf

Diane von Furstenburg

Just what I needed to hear...

Via Black Eiffel

Miss Trish of Capri for Target

 Miss Trish Of Capri for Target - Starfish Sandals in Red

$29.99

This is old news.. I know. Unlike the let down of Alexander McQueen and Orla Kiley (for target)... I'm anticipating these to be.. AWESOME. 

Now, can Marc Jacobs please do a line for H & M?

BEGINNING SEWING

I really did think it would be easy to find a 3-day sewing workshop.. even a 6 week class.. but so far, I've got nothing. Nothing at the community college, nothing in Adult Ed and not anything through the Sports and Req Department. Do people offer private lessons? and sell them on craigslist.. I should check that out.

 Taken out of context, I'm guessing the 30-sec mini rant about sewing classes makes no sense... Rewind a few days:

I offered the (particularly brilliant) idea to Tracey (my bosses wife) of starting a line (under the McKee Home label, of course) of custom toss pillows. The store sells some really cool vintage burlap and linen toss pillows that pretty much fly out the window as soon as we get them in.

Here is an internet quality picture of one of them. For integrity purposes I guess I shouldn't reveal the name of the vendor. Either way, she makes these very organic looking toss pillows in all sizes and shapes. Some with shell inspired details.. others with pearly bead crosses. 

Tracey and I figured that we could make them for relatively cheap (even using really cool textured linens, like stuff in Threads by Lee Jofa collection... or just burlap)  and buying cool beads and trims from international vendors. Only problem is using our drapery/upholstery workroom for labor is pricey. Basically we left the conversation (not likely to be revisited) "I'd really love to learn how to sew" - Me "I could keep you busy for weeks making things for the store" - Tracey

Sounds like job security to me. AND I'm really interested in creating some sort of product like that and selling it on the side. If I could learn to weld I could make a fortune collecting vintage bottles and crystals to make these cross bottles that everyone are so obsessed about. (This would be a very costly set up, so not really an option) However, sewing is definitely a life skill i'd like to posses. Currently added to my to-do list: Find a sewing class... or tutor. I'd pay someone up to $30/hour to tutor me in basic sewing. 

P.S. I'm getting a sewing machine for graduation.. it's not a new beamer.. but I'm pretty stoked about it.

New Best Friend

I saw this in an article in Real Simple and absolutely fell in love:

INANIMATE OBJECTS STICKERS:

make your everyday office supplies, coffee mug, etc. your new best friend.

Find Them Here

Outdoor Living Spaces

I'd Love to have an amazing outdoor space like this to read and lounge on Sunday afternoons

Splashes of Color

This neutral look is something I'm really into right now. It's very "Restoration Hardware."

Kitchen

Living

Bath

Update: More Fun Ideas with Frames

I love the above-the-bed frame wall. Especially since.. I have no bed frame. Or headboard.

Leaning frames like this against the wall above a dresser or desk. Fun Punches of contrasting color mixed with a monotone color palette. I love this purple mixed with all the different greens and yellows.

batik bedding II

What am I going to do with this second batik tapestry?

I really think it could look cool paired with some cool neutrals and whites mixed with really dark gray/greens.

Walls

Right now I'm loving wall murals. Even wall paper. Might be crazy, but maybe it's an easy way to make a bland apartment space for dramatic.

Love Love Love this idea. Do they make wall decals this big? I mean I think this is probably something I am artistically talented enough to copy...err.. Maybe?

TM Happy Thoughts

Succulents

I'm  finally starting to understand why these little guys are so trendy.

too cute, and easy to keep alive!