January 27, 2024
I used Raspberry Oranges, one of the darkest kind of blood oranges, for this recipe by Rainbow Nourishments. It started with some juicing… This upside-down sake was sure to be a stunner with citrus like this. Because the juice was so dark, the batter took on a hue that wasn’t Read more…
January 26, 2024
Now that I am far from New York City, my love of thrifting, rummaging and antiquing has returned. This post is dedicated to this amazing vintage find–A Lady Schick Consolette Hairdryer for… $1.00! It was dirty and neglected, not attracting much attention, but after a quick clean: 😍 First, the Read more…
January 25, 2024
If you have followed my blog carefully you’ll remember the many varieties I make rainbow cookies. I get enthused when I think of new color combinations to try. It was time to make a batch with a favorite color, a light teal I can say I suppose. It’s Pantone 3252. Read more…
January 22, 2024
Stepping in front of the majesty of Taughannock Falls in the winter is pretty magical. The ice-coated land, the air’s motion, the sounds–all feel otherworldly, like a ice fairy could emerge to recline on your shoulder at any instance. The ice a gorgeous shade of pale blue-green at its thickest, Read more…
January 21, 2024
With a big bag of Butterfly Pea Flower powder at my disposal, I was on the hunt for uses right away. I found this very basic recipe to help create what we called “Butterfly Bread” — for its beautiful periwinkle hue and the shape the swirls made. But first, first Read more…
January 18, 2024
I can’t. This is why: It’s a one pot meal. I don’t need to follow a recipe. I get to add whatever needs using up. It’s delicious. To follow, a few of my concoctions… What is your favorite ingredient to put in your chili?
January 15, 2024
Since I made baked mooncakes last Lunar New Year, I have wanted to try making “snowskin” mooncakes. Traditionally eaten during the Mid-Autumn Festival, these Chinese no-bake treats are also called Crystal Mooncakes or Snowy mooncakes. With the recent snow, they were on my mind… even though it is not Mid-Autumn. Read more…
January 14, 2024
So I had this idea for a snow photoshoot, but wimped out about doing it outside in the frigid temperatures. So after getting all dressed up in the spare bedroom, a photoshoot with the extremely gaudy lamp I scored at the Salvation Army a few weeks back. Notice the lamp… Read more…
Though wafts of snow land in Buffalo, Rochester is somehow protected by Lake Ontario. So just a thin sprinkling to enjoy. The temperatures are very low, like many parts of the country. This is the kitchen window. Headed to Highland Park for sledding Love the pops of color against the Read more…
January 8, 2024
With the first significant snowfall, I knew I had to return to Green Lakes State Park. I knew its emerald lake would look beautiful next to a soft white. Some quick shots before the wandering rabid emaciated raccoon attacks me or one of the many dog walkers. Some playful visitors Read more…
January 5, 2024
Ever since I made my Mom an Easter wreath, I looked forward to making my own. I also looked forward to diminishing the pile of craft supplies piled in the spare bedroom. I just loved the motifs and colors of the holiday. I mean, look at that bunny face. Are Read more…
January 4, 2024
I have been wanting to see the Yayoi Kusama exhibit at Memorial Art Gallery since I moved to Rochester. For one, it wouldn’t be as annoyingly crowded than it’d be New York City, a motivation I use often here. In fact, when we arrived on their evening hours on Thursday, Read more…
January 3, 2024
Being a lover of vintage dessert cookbooks, the Baked Alaska always appealed to me. The beautiful pastel layers, the encasement of torched meringue… the cohabitation of ice cream, cake and marshmallowy meringue. So with the new year, I’d start with checking it off my to-make Bucket List. It was partly Read more…
December 31, 2023
An early toast for a 2023 packed with change! And a 2024 filled with new. Getting ready for the evening now All my dresses don’t fit anymore 🙁 This one does but I want to be comfortable… Festive! Yay, snow on New Years Eve We had a 10:30 reservation at Read more…
December 30, 2023
Needing a good breakfast before heading back to Rochester and needing to see Angela, we met at Le Petit Monstre bright and early and managed to find primo parking… a delicious appetizer if I do say so myself. This place is large and refreshingly spacious for Brooklyn and has a Read more…
December 29, 2023
Spending time on the North Shore of Long Island, I saw some pretty things. It was very foggy! From the shore we couldn’t even make out the land across the way… Dinner at the Onion Tree in Sea Cliff. This is the Bum tchoonth waingan (Eggplant & Apple Curry) “A Read more…
As promised a few years ago, a visit to King Zog’s estate in the barren winter. Thwarted at two previous visits, I finally saw the ruins of these ruins, formerly the Knollwood Estate. It was purchased by the exiled ruler of Albania, King Zog, in 1951. But King Zog, who Read more…
December 28, 2023
I was so happy to get an intimate tour of the mansion and greenhouses at Planting Fields. The former Gold Coast estate of William Robertson Coe and Mai Rogers Coe, heiress and daughter of Standard Oil partner Henry Huttleston Rogers. Like many of the preserved former estates on Long Island’s Read more…
December 27, 2023
Of course I would have to head east to Riverhead for some brief adventures. This would start with a cheeseboard from Veg On Board. This board wound up feeding me even after I returned home to Rochester several days later. It is always a pleaser! We always have to fight Read more…
December 26, 2023
Being in Brooklyn again had a refreshing familiarity. This is Daphne; I stayed at her place for a couple of days while I celebrated an extended holiday of all-me time. I made her pose for pictures in the beautiful light of Kensington. The Comet. I wanted to drive it home… Read more…
What more is there to say about a visit to Green-Wood Cemetery that I haven’t said before? Within some well-deserved downtime, the peace that this place used to bring was pure nostalgia. But there is always something new I discover in its trails. To follow, my stop inside this familiar Read more…
December 24, 2023
With the motivation of making a showstopper for the big day, I embarked upon the annual challenge of assembling a vegan Bûche De Noël. And though the end result is always spectacular to look at, I have accepted that, thus far, the texture of a vegan cake rolled and compressed Read more…
December 23, 2023
Using this fantastic recipe for cookies and their accompanying icing, the kids had a blast making their own cookie creations. It was a lot of work making and then supervising the process, but it was well worth it! I know I will soon forget the stress of this day long Read more…
December 20, 2023
Usually my treat holiday treat boxes go to my colleagues in teaching… ones that help add a little fun to the dysfunction. But not being in the classroom anymore, these boxes would go to my guy’s children’s teachers (Boy, I really hate double-possessives). First, the very much loved pumpkin chocolate Read more…
