December 19, 2018
The second selection of my holiday cookie gifts is the Caramel Pecan Bars from Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar. Gosh, this cookbook is such a throwback. But this is a great addition to a holiday cookie spread because it’s all about richness, texture, and ooey-gooey caramel. Here’s the batch Read more…
December 15, 2018
On the New Years resolution tip and inspired by my old friend in Seattle: Don’t forget to forget. Neuroscientists and Google searchers know that the brain’s Limbic System, also known as the emotional motor system, has many very important components. Inside, the almighty amygdala. This little piece of grey determines how Read more…
December 14, 2018
I kind of love my tacky midcentury modern Christmas tree.
December 13, 2018
I finished off the last of the pumpkin puree from the classroom pumpkins with three more batches of the well-loved pumpkin chocolate chip cupcakes. And the kiddos were excited to decorate their own at our Holiday Party. Though extremely stressful at times, I love that my profession allows me to Read more…
December 9, 2018
With a load of Christmas materials to repurpose after a haul from Materials For The Arts and some donations from friends, I busted out my trusty hot glue gun to create a vintage-inspired holiday wreath. To add some holiday bling to my apartment, I begin my favorite craft medium. I call it 3D Read more…
December 8, 2018
After some heavy lifting with a slight hangover, a sandwich excursion to the Lower East Side. She got The Bowery, turmeric tofu egg, tempeh bacon, and Violife provolone slice on a roll with mayo. I got the Hanukkah special, available only during these days and nights of light. Housemade gluten-free Read more…
December 7, 2018
Wong Kar-wai’s In The Mood For Love is about a man and a woman who discover their spouses are having an affair together. A unique relationship forms as they utilize each other to process the betrayal and hurt while assuaging their loneliness. With innocence and a naive curiosity they proclaim, “We won’t be Read more…
November 25, 2018
There are many benefits to clearing clutter from your physical space. Though there is much that you are helpless to internally, much that litters your brain–things that you can’t easily sweep into a dustpan–this is not the case with your space. To some extent, you have total control of the physical space Read more…
November 24, 2018
More than a marketing demographic. You have critical thought. You’re unpredictable. You embody a spectrum of rich and complex characteristics. You cannot be simplified. You cannot be manipulated to buy a bunch of crap. You’re not a toddler who needs a binky. Pages from my old fanzine remind me that Read more…
November 22, 2018
Firstly, it’s Thanksgiving. Don’t let the growing pile of dishes in the sink dissuade you from using what you got to use to get it right. In fact, this may be my personal philosophy in life, as I’m a little bit of a figurative mess maker (literally, I am quite Read more…
November 20, 2018
This is my 9th year teaching… and my 9th year transforming the classroom pumpkins in Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cupcakes. I’m a creature of ritual. And this ritual starts with my enthusiasm for Autumn and… pumpkins. For home, for the classroom, for those worthy enough to give a pumpkin to. I’m Read more…
November 12, 2018
The Great Jack-o-Lantern Blaze has been a popular Halloween event since 2005 (!), though I just learned of it this Halloween season. It is just the most wonderful kind of whimsy–thousands of pumpkins… hand carved and ablaze within Van Cortland Manor‘s grounds in Croton-on-Hudson, New York. Add spectacular lighting within Read more…
November 3, 2018
The first batch of cupcakes for this year’s kiddos. I start simple with a chocolate cupcake and vanilla buttercream for our Dia de Los Muertos celebration… The classroom spread. I go to Don Paco Panaderia in Sunset Park every year for the pan de muerto. And they never bat an Read more…
October 31, 2018
I’ve always loved Wonder Woman. Since I was a and I had this mirror to gaze upon… …when I was a little baby. And thought this lady was the prettiest girl in the world… And, later, used this comic to make an ad for my fanzine (which was a straightedge Read more…
October 27, 2018
No, I’m not going to be Robert Daltrey for Halloween, nor a shaggy sheep like some guessed. The big, blonde mess of hair would be a misguided role model of my childhood, Barbie… as a Rocker. I am not a costume in a bag type gal. So I took care Read more…
October 19, 2018
As a kid, I loved that my birthday was near Halloween. It was my favorite holiday.. and still is. So with birthday/Halloween season upon me, I forced my teacher friends to join me for opening night of the new Halloween at Alamo Drafthouse. Because I will be calling the shots Read more…
June 17, 2018
VCTOTW vanilla layers, coconut whip and strawberries… with a little lemon zest and one blackberry: This is what Dad wants. An oozy, creamy layer cake is what he gets. Happy Father’s Day!
May 27, 2018
Summer time parfaits started with banana cake (not bread)… using the rest of the bananas. Then the chocolate ganache I had leftover from the Mother’s Day cupcakes. Coconut whip, berries, and we’re ready to assemble. Mint from the backyard and a shaving of chocolate to hint at those thick, rich Read more…
April 1, 2018
I tried dying Dandies for Easter… The color changed but they became so sticky! So I coated them with crystal sugar in assorted colors. Then, taking a bite, they felt just like Peeps! Ah, nostalgia. Hello, Pretty Happy Easter!
I took on the matzah challenge and let it help me to decide how to spell the word… which seems to have multiple acceptable forms. Like on the box below… different from the official hash tag of the official challenge. Either way, the challenge helps raise money for people in Read more…
February 14, 2018
I read this one as “You do all the others” at first. The beet is an important part of the sentence. You are the dapper apple guy of my eye… Wait what? Your unkindness? You have a red pepper temper, my dear. We would make a happy strangely dressed pear Read more…
December 25, 2017
The holidays are typically a gluttonous time… the last hurrah of the year where many have a well-accepted excuse to dip into excess. So this year, I choose to bring a raw dish to my parent’s home. I made Raw Pad Thai using the list of goodies below… realizing I Read more…
December 20, 2017
I made marshmallow chocolate chip cookies for holiday gift-giving. And I’m too tired to say much more about it. But a picture is worth… yadda yadda yadda.
December 10, 2017
I made beautiful ombré holiday cookies a couple of years back, taking inspiration from Bon Appetit. This year I made Hanukkah Rainbow Cookies! And they are possibly the most beautiful cookies I’ve ever made, receiving lots of social media love. So here is a lot of pictures of them and Read more…
December 9, 2017
I love these Nicely Festive shoes from Irregular Choice. In fact, I love a whole lot of their crazy shoes. Their styles are this wacky version of exaggerated whimsy and impracticality. (And they clearly label shoe materials, which is a plus.) Trouble is, they cost a pretty penny. Well–considering their Read more…
November 23, 2017
I love to cook for hours. It’s true. Give me time, space, and the radio and I’ll happily create numerous dishes from scratch with loving care. This Thanksgiving my goal was to use a lot of the ton of pumpkin puree I have. So I started with using it in Read more…