I am headed home today much to my excitement.  Although I have loved celebrating the holiday season  with Erich,  I have been missing home a bit.  Luckily, a few friends came up for a soiree we threw last weekend so that tided me over this week.  Below is a picture from the party.  I thought Erich had snapped a photo of the delicious spread we made for the party, but he only captured the hummus?!

Anyways, one of my New Year's resolutions is to take more pictures for the blog, so wish me luck!


And incase your are curious as to what we made for our party, "For the love of Tapas Christ," I have listed the tapas selection below.

For The Love of Tapas Christ

Crunchy Curried Chickpeas (Sprouted Kitchen cookbook)

Lemon and Herb Hummus (Sprouted Kitchen cookbook)

Whole Roasted Tandoori Cauliflower with Mint Chutney  (My New Roots)

Sweet Potato Bellini with Black Bean salsa (found here)

Roasted Pork Belly with a vinegar dipping sauce 

Roasted chestnuts with cinnamon and sugar

Unami flat bread (Bottomless Pie)

Roasted Red Pepper flatbread with Gorgonzola Cream

Have a holly jolly Christmas!

-Ash

Deck the halls

   This weekend, Erich and I bought a tree and some tree fixings.  It's our first tree and Christmas season together.  Needless to say it has been one of the best, though I am missing my friends and family.  I am an only child so there is no one to assist my parents with the tree, so my Catholic guilt is kicking in.  

   Erich suggested that we start a little tradition in which we each add an ornament to the tree every Christmas season.  For our first Christmas, we went to Anthropologie and picked up the fluffy white owl, and the polar bear who is carrying a fish.  The other ornaments are from Target and make great fillers until we have a real collection of special ornaments. 

    We even put a little garland in our bathroom.  Oh and we made hanging planters in mason jars to bring a little life to our bathroom a few weeks ago.

    Sunday I sketched up a Christmas card, and we pulled out the Gocco and printed away!  I cannot wait to give them out!

It's official 12 days till Christmas!  Get your egg nog on!

My signature salad

    So, it's true.  I have a signature salad, and if I owned a little cafe or restaurant, this would be on the menu.  The ingredients change slightly each season.  For the fall/winter recipe, see below.  It's the perfect, I ate too many carbs and need a break, but still want the warm comfort of a hearty winter meal.  Ya know what I mean?

Ashley's Signature Salad

serves 2

arugula (kale makes a great substitution)

8-12 brussel sprouts (quartered)

3-4 carrots (halved lengthwise and cut into thirds)

1/2 an avocado

3 Tbsp. pepita seeds

salt 

pepper

cumin

feta

dressing

1/4 c. olive oil

1 tsp. honey

juice of half a lemon

salt and pepper

   First coat the brussel sprouts and carrots with olive oil, and roast in the oven at 400 degrees for 25 minutes or until you see some caramelization happening.  Season to taste when they are finished. While the vegetables roast toast the pepita seeds in a pan until golden brown.  Once everything is finished toss together and voila! 

Hope your weekend is filled with festive holiday wonderfulness! 

Jacquard pattern

I designed the jacquard pattern for this lovely coat for Anthropologie.  

Tis the perfect gift! Buy it here!

Life lately

Friday night we experimented with our pie dough recipe.
Success or failure?  Find out here.

Saturday morning we hit Blue Sky in Park Slope.  

Erich had the pumpkin walnut muffin scene above.

I ordered their banana chocolate chip bread.  Mmmm!

    I had Erich take a silly picture of me afterwards for my Dad, who seemed very interested in the new Barclays Center.

I went on a walk around Prospect Park on Sunday. 

    My dad sent me home with a container of chili, and although I had enough for two Erich insisted upon making his own dinner Sunday night.  Quite the pile!

  Two more days till next weekend! Woooooo!

Thanksgiving

    The holidays came fast and furious this year as usual.  It seems like Thanksgiving was yesterday...I am always a bit bummed after Thanksgiving.  It's my favorite holiday, and I hate the thought of having to wait another whole year to celebrate!  I did not take very many pictures of my thanksgiving.  Now that I live in New York, when I return home I make rounds to visit family and friends, which is wonderful yet a bit exhausting. 

   Thanksgiving morning I headed over to make pie crust in Erich's mom's kitchen aid.  Oh how I cannot wait to own one of those one day!  Before we got down to pie crust making, we ate pumpkin cinnamon rolls via Miss Deb's recipe.  Found at the one and only, Smitten Kitchen.  (Have you bought the book yet?  It's amazing and makes the perfect holiday gift!)

Before frosting...

     

 

After!!!

    Then I attempted to make my first apple pie.  Usually my Uncle makes his infamous apple pie, but he was not feeling up to it this year, so I offered to fill the void.  I found a recipe for a salted caramel apple pie on A Cozy Kitchen blog, and I knew I had to make it.  (Recipe found here.)

   It turned out okay...but not great.  My family showered me with compliments, but I knew what they were thinking.  (I wish we eating Uncle John's pie...)  The apples did not cook through, the crust did not glisten, and the caramel did not caramelize.  Oh well.  It was my first pie.  I can't be too hard on myself.  Right?

   Full of thanks and food, I headed over to my second families household and to my surprise when I opened the door, Lea's friend was giving tarot card readings.  I had my cards read, and then I cuddled up with Izzy Fartalini.  Her last name describes what you may have guessed.  She toots.  A lot.

The little stinker sure is cute!

    Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and are immersing yourselves in the holiday spirit and holiday festivities!