gift guide: the wee ones

1.  Sophie the Giraffe Teether – The Land of Nod  2.  Zoo Touch & Feel Puzzle – Tadpole  3.  Personalized Story Book – LL Bean  4.  Beginner Skis & Poles – Lucky Bums  5.  Personalized Merry Xmas Plate – Pink Taffy Designs  6.  Wood Easel / Art Desk – One Step Ahead 7.  Make an Impression Holiday Ornament – The Land of Nod  8.  Mix It Up Mixer – The Land of Nod  9.  Silver Piggy Bank – Reed & Barton  10.  Sleep Sheep – Pottery Barn Kids  11.  Radio Flyer Tricycle – The Land of Nod  12.  Nursery Horse Rocker – Pottery Barn Kids  13.  KinderSleigh Vintage Snow Sled – One Step Ahead  14.  Flared Baby Cup – Tiffany  15.  Jacquard Stroller Blanket – Pottery Barn Kids

dinner for one

It’s a lot more fun to cook when the Man is around – but tonight he was stuck in the office, like the busy little bee he is – and sometimes a girl’s just gotta do what a girl’s gotta do! Tonight I tried my own variation of a recipe I found on the Cooking Channel’s website.

Penne with Goat Cheese & Vegetables

Salt

8 oz. whole wheat penne

1 medium zucchini

2 handfuls of snow peas

1/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons extra virgin oil olive

1/3 red onion, finely chopped

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1 pint grape tomatoes, halved

freshly ground black pepper

4 oz. goat cheese

Heat a large pot of water over high heat.  Bring to a boil and add a generous pinch of salt.  Add pasta (the original recipe calls for penne, but I used a mix of whole wheat penne and whole wheat fusilli, which is what we had around the house), and cook according to instructions.  We like our pasta al dente, which is usually takes about 7 minutes or so.  Slice the zucchini into quarters.  Slice the snow peas in half, on a diagonal.

While the pasta is cooking, heat a large skillet over medium high heat and add 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil.  Add the zucchini and season with salt and pepper.  Cook 3 to 4 minutes, until browned, tossing as it cooks.  Remove the zucchini and set to the side.  Add another 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the same pan.  Add the sliced snow peas and cook, 3 to 4 minutes, tossing throughout.

Add the remaining olive oil to the pan and turn down heat to medium.  Add the chopped red onion and saute, 1-2 minutes, until soft.  Add the garlic and red pepper flakes (add more if you like high heat!) and saute for another minute.

Add the tomatoes, season with salt and pepper, and saute another 2 minutes.

Add the zucchini, snow peas, and goat cheese to the pan.  Cook for another 1 to 2 minutes.

Strain the pasta and return it to the pot.  Add the vegetables to the pot and mix together.  Serve immediately.

The original recipe called for a squash, but alas there were none at the market down the hill.  So snow peas it was.  Turned out pretty delicious – just wish the Man was here to have a serving (or 2) with me.

gift guide: the hostess w. the mostess

1.  Porcelain cups – Burke Decor (1&2) 2.  Antler Candlesticks – Williams Sonoma 3.  Bread plank – JK Adams  4.  Body Souffle – Molton Brown 5.  Personalized playing cards – Horchow; 6.  A Year of Celebrations & My Father’s Daughter 7.  Ikat Throw – Furbish Studio  8.  Elephant Ornament – Furbish Studio 9.  Cocktail napkins – Dransfield & Ross 10.  Cookie Tin – Etsy  11.  Wine cork cheese spreaders – Z Gallerie 12.  Personalized wine label – Etsy  13.  Personalized Embosser  – Williams Sonoma

gift guide: him

1.  Backgammon & Chess Board – Restoration Hardware  2.  Water Resistant MP3 Player and Headphones – Sony  3.  Wood Frame Phone Charger – Orvis  4.  The Man Can (Men’s Skin Care Products) – Orvis  5.  Cavalier Collection (Cooked Country Ham, Bacon, Hickory Smoked Sausage) – Edwards  6.  Pearl Jam 20 DVD  7.  New Balance for J. Crew 1400 Sneakers – J. Crew  8.  Stretch Webbing Belt – Barbour  9.  Nikwax Waterproof Wax – EMS  10.  Alliance Chronograph Watch – Swiss Arm  11.  Durham Stripe Sock – Barbour  12.  Binoculars – Orvis  13.  Heated Gear and Boot Bag with Build in Drying – Cozy Winters 14.  The Oxford Companion To Beer – Amazon 15.  Onne Van der Wal Sailing Photo Print  16.  Oxford Shirt in Keelan Check – J. Crew  17.  Lambswool Sweater – J. Crew

friday blooms: wreath peeping with ballard designs and martha

There are wreaths going up all around town and I love it.  By Christmas, almost our entire street will be lined with wreath-clad doors.  The trees in the common are all lit up.   The neighborhood Civic Association will be putting up garlands on the lamp posts this weekend in Beacon Hill, and then it will officially be Christmas time (and therefore appropriate to listen to Frank Sinatra’s version of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas on a loop in the office).  This weekend I’m looking forward to some quality Christmas tree shopping and spending time with my family.  My grandmother (formerly a Radio City Rockette – how rad is that????  She taught me, my sisters and our cousin how to do those signature high kicks when we were young, though I’ve never quite perfected the technique) is flying in tomorrow and we’re all very excited to see her.

And now for some peeping . . . Who else would have so many spectacular wreath specimens for you to feast your eyes on besides Martha (arbiter or all things tastefully done)?

Last but not least – I couldn’t resist this Alphabet Wreath from Ballard Designs.  Wreath worship.  Want it ASAP!

For more information on all of Martha’s wreaths (including some DIY projects) visit marthastewart.com.

Have a great weekend, lovelies!  See you Monday xx