Elie Saab Haute Couture

Elie Saab Spring/Summer 2010 Haute Couture
check out the whole collection here

It's almost too good to be true.

worn by Rachel McAdams last night at the Oscars

all photos from http://www.theyenvy.us/photo/runway-elie-saab-spring-2010?context=album&albumId=2394740%3AAlbum%3A110148

Arroz con pollo

This is absolutely DELICIOUS. And extremely simple.

I got the idea from a Bobby Flay "Throwdown" I saw last week. Since chicken and rice are two of my favorite foods (I'm a pretty simple girl) I knew I had to prepare this dish myself. I made a huge portion that fed me for a week (each time was as tasty as the last).

Directions

Brown chicken thighs, breasts, and/or wings in oil in a very large skillet. Apply adobo to the chicken pieces prior to cooking (this will really sear-on the spices; adobo is a dry spice mix available at most grocery stores).

Once the chicken is browned on all sides remove it from the pan. Add chopped garlic, onion and peppers (green and red), cooking until translucent. Add garlic power, salt and pepper to taste. I threw in some chopped cilantro once the onions and peppers were cooked through (optional).

Stir in the rice and chicken stock (2:1 stock to rice -- like like to go a little light on the stock, just so that the rice doesn't become all mushy), and add in the browned chicken pieces. Cover the skillet and let everything simmer together for about 30-40 minutes (check the tenderness of the chicken and rice periodically -- if the rice is tender but the chicken is still undercooked, add more chicken stock).

Add more chopped cilantro to serve.

Lowering the bar

Seychelles heels, Level 99 jeans, David Cline tank, Moth capelet cardigan, mixed vintage necklaces, hannahnaomi bracelets.

Although I love to buy 4 inch heels, I rarely have a chance to wear them. My life is not nearly glamorous enough to wear high heels on any kind of regular basis (which I'm totally ok with, actually).

However, heels can really make a difference in how you look. They make you stand taller and more upright, elongate your legs, and have an overall thinning effect on your body. More importantly, they add a certain sultriness to any outfit (even if it's restrained, like in the outfit above).

I recently purchased these Seychelles heels in order to satisfy my need of a pair of casual but cute, low heels. They have a cool retro appeal and are an easy addition to any look (I mean, they're grey...)

Seychelles Crystal Ball heels in greyPhoto from 6pm.com

Variations of Grey

Frye Cameron Skimmer sandals, Marlow cut-off corduroys, Urban Outfitters belt, J Crew stripe tee, Gap cashmere hoodie, Pashmina scarf.

This is my version of sports casual. I am extremely partial to monochrome color palates in fashion. And grey is one of my favorites.

My personal rule is that every monochrome color palate needs a pop of color. Random color. In this case green and purple (I derived color inspiration from the SF Chronicle clipping pictured below).

I have decided to invest in proper sandals for this upcoming summer (re. Frye Cameron Skimmer in purple). I find it such a waste to buy crappy plastic flip flops every summer since they inevitably break within a few months time. It's wasteful and unnecessary, I think. Considering the quality of the Frye company, I figure this investment was worth it (I actually scored these for $75 at 6pm.com, compared to the $148 retail value).

And they're cute, really super cute. Plus, I don't nearly have enough purple in my wardrobe.

Frye Cameron Skimmer, photo from 6pm.com

Clip of the San Francisco Chronicle Home/Garden section.

Meyer Lemon Squares and a Rosemary Cocktail

These are delicious, I promise (although these photos make them look a bit like fish sticks...)

This is an original Betty Crocker recipe I picked up from her cookbook. Instead of regular Eureka lemons I used Meyer lemons which are widely available around here (ie on my neighbor's tree).

I've never really considered Betty Crocker a respectable name in the world of food (due to her less-than-mediocre brand of pre-packaged cake mixes), but I do have to admit that her recipes are quick, easy, and very yummy. Nothing fancy or stuck-up. She's no Julia Child, but surely a darn good housewife.

I listed the original Lemon Squares recipe here (just substitute 3-4 T lemon juice for the cranberry sauce).


Below is a photo of the yummy cocktail I prepared alongside my Meyer Lemon Squares and Cranberry Bars.

I'm no mixologist, but I do know that cooked cranberry chunks (the same ones I used to garnish the Cranberry Bars), fresh Meyer lemon juice, and fresh rosemary taste really good when paired with citrus vodka, orange liqueur (2:3, to my taste), and seltzer.... Very earthy and woodsy (due to the cranberry and rosemary) but nonetheless surprisingly refreshing (because of the Meyer lemon and seltzer).

Cocktails are a lot of fun. They can really tie together the flavors of a meal (think fresh herbs and fruits). Just don't overdo it. Stick with simple, complementary ingredients that you might combine otherwise.

Cranberry Bars

I derived this recipe from Betty Crocker's lemon squares recipe (look out for my Meyer Lemon squares -- based on this same recipe -- coming up later this week). I figured a reduced and strained cranberry sauce would substitute well for lemon juice.

To produce a strong cranberry flavor I combined 1 1/2 cups frozen (or fresh) cranberries, 1/4 cup sugar, and 1/2 cup water in a small pot and brought it up to a low boil. Once the berries had burst open I lowered the heat and let the mixture cook for 5-7 minutes. Then I strained out the cranberry chunks from the liquid. You can save the cranberry chunks to serve on top of the finished cranberry bars.

Cranberry Bars
based on the 'Lemon Squares' recipe in Betty Crocker's Cookbook.

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 butter, softened
1/4 cup confectioner's sugar
2 eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/3 cup reduced cranberry sauce (strained)

Heat oven to 350. Mix flour, butter, and confectioner's sugar thoroughly and press into an ungreased baking pan (8x8x2), building up a 1/2 inch edge. Bake for 20 minutes.

Beat remaining ingredients for about 3 minutes or until light and fluffy. Pour over hot crust and bake for 25 minutes (or until no imprint remains when touched). Cool and cut into squares.

100%-ish homemade

Remember when pasta sauce actually contained tomatoes?

Half the time you look at the ingredients in a jar of marinara these days you'll see tomato paste, water and sugar listed first. If you're lucky your sauce might even contain some chopped tomatoes. Um, how old are those "tomatoes"?? I mean, the older food is the less nutritional value it contains...

This past weekend I was in serious need of preparing a meal that was not out of a can or a jar (which, admittedly, can be tough when you're on a budget and pressed for time).

To make this homemade cherry tomato and sausage ragu I chopped some onions, garlic, herbs, sausage, and cherry tomatoes, threw them in a pan, sauteed them for about 10 minutes; then I added some cream and water, reduced, and served it alongside gnocchi (my favorite!). Almost as easy as preparing sauce from a jar, right?

Although I will be the first to admit I'm not quite ready to make my own gnocchi. Baby steps.