1. Chartreuse dress by Herve Leger
2. Tribal clutch by Jimmy Choo
3. Spiked heels by Sam Edelman
4. Hot pink lipstick and nail polish by Sephora

Sometimes a craving can only be satisfied by the real thing.  And I mean the real. thing.  Momma’s lasagna.  Coffee ice cream.  Dill pickles.   Sunday afternoon I had an urge for the latter – a crunchy delicious dill pickle.  Since I was frankly too embarrassed to go to the neighborhood grocery store and buy a sole jar of pickles, I chose to make my own.  Obviously this was much more cumbersome (and pricy) than simply sucking it up and purchasing a jar, but absolutely worth it in the end.  A few ingredients, a few days worth of patience and a heaping handful of fresh, peppery dill makes this recipe one for the books.

• Two quarts of water
• 3 tablespoons of coarse, white, kosher salt
• 4 cloves of garlic, peeled but whole.
• 3 bay leaves
• 1 large bunch of dill
• pickling salt (recipe follows, or can buy premixed)
  • 1 teaspoon of whole, mustard seeds
  • 1 teaspoon of multi-colored peppercorns
  • half teaspoon of crushed redpepper (less or more depending on taste)
  • 1 teaspoon crushed coriander
  • 1 quart of white vinegar
  • 4 large cucumbers chopped into spears (smaller whole cucumbers can be used but will take longer to marinate.  Your choice!)
  • 2 mason jars with airtight lids.

Peel rough outer layers of garlic and chop ends of cloves.  Wash and scrub cucumbers, chop ends off of cucumbers and slice into spears.  If the cucumbers are too long for the height of your jar, chop them in half lengthwise.  Layer dry ingredients in the bottom of the jar: garlic, peppercorns, coriander, bay leaves, mustard seeds, salt and about half of the dill.  Pour 1 quart of water and a half quart of vinegar into the jars.  stack sliced cucumbers tightly in the jar on end.  Pour remaining liquid into the jars until just under full.  Seal jars tightly and shake gently but thoroughly to mix dry ingredients with the liquid.  Store jars in the refridgerator for 3-6 days (the longer they store, the tangier they’ll be).  Enjoy!

This morning I woke to a cold, sleepy city.  Knowing that boyfriend and the friends had been out late the night before, I decided to prepare a breakfast sure to cure (or at least aid) any cobwebs from the previous night’s over-indulgence. Going into the meal, I certainly assumed that the sausage quiche would be the star with it’s light, savory fillings.  Or maybe the atypical breakfast sandwich - easy and ever-so-popular.   However, I soon found that the traditional popover stole the show.  This recipe has been passed to me from my step-father, who inherited it from his parents before.  He remembers his grandmother making popovers on the weekends, their versatile nature appealing to all.  Serve with fresh fruit preserves, peanut butter, nutella or plain butter.

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted and cooled
• room temperature butter for pan greasing
• 1 cup of all purpose flour
• 1 and a half teaspoon fine sea salt
• 2 large eggs - room temperature
• 1 cup whole milk – room temperature

Directions:

• preheat oven to 400 degrees F
• grease the inside of the cups in popover pan with room temperature butter
• blend all ingredients for roughly 30 seconds
• spoon batter into cups evenly, filling them just less than 1/2 full
• bake in the center of the oven for 40 minutes
• remove popovers from oven and allow to slightly cool, but serve warm

Sadly for turquoise, thecarribbean colored jewel has commonly been relegated to summer-only status.  However, with a recent rise in the popularity of the classic winter white, turquoise is staging it’s comeback in the form of stacked bangles and feathered earrings. Pair it with burnished gold, lace and cream colors for an elegant pop of winter appropriate color.

1.   frame by delafuentefinishes.com and gold lace dress by desireclothing
2. earrings found at idogifts.com
3. bracelet by evesaddition.com
4. diagonal bead bracelet by forever21
5. turquoise ring
6. gold strappy sandals found at thisnext.com
7. cocktail dress by rebecca taylor
8. retro handbag by forever21
9. mint pearl bracelet by forever21
10. feather drop earrings by forever21

As the decade narrows to an end amidst champagne and balloons, I pause to think of all that I’m grateful for: my family, my health, my wonderful life – the list is essentially endless.  Often, on the eve of the new year, we look forward to the changes we hope the coming months bring.  I absolutely have my fingers crossed for the future.

As both sparkly snow and a truly awesome football matchup compete for the hearts and minds of Chicagoans tonight, I find myself obsessed with flatbreads that similarly delight and wow.  As any good, Chicago girl knows: the soul of a pizza lies in a hearty helping of sausage atop a mountain of creamy mozz and a spicy, rich sauce.  As any young, single woman knows: a pizza heaped with sausage does the body no favors. 

That being said, I happily distract the gentlemen in the football audience with a sausage flatbread topped with caramelized onions and fresh rosemary.  For the ladies in the crowd, I prepare an incredibly flavorful and still satisfying (ifIdosaysomyself!) flatbread just  loaded with fresh peppers and goat cheese. 

The only way to prepare is to use red, yellow and orange peppers, a red onion with a bite, sweet fresh basil and a thin crispy dough.  Oh, and did I mention the goat cheese?  For a sweetly impressive display, slice the peppers so they create gorgeous rings and keep the onion tissue paper thin; use only complete slices (i.e. omit those rings of veggies that are thick on one side and skimpy on the other.  Rule of thumb: if your momma wouldn’t display the veggie slice on a holiday h’ordeuvres tray – push it aside). Using only skinny rings of vegetables creates this oh-so-hard-to-achieve aura around the flatbread that’s entirely too easy to take credit for – but I will. Flatten your dough dough to desired thickness (which, for us delicate women, is obviously candy-glass thin) and brush both sides with light olive oil.  Spread the vegetable options in even thickness and vary their veritable variety.  Sprinkle the goat cheese in even thickness and bake at 350 degrees for around 10 minutes.  When the bottom of the pie becomes slightly golden, place the flatbread in the broiler to toast the veggies to crisp perfection from the top - you wont be sorry.  Sprinkle the hot pie with thinly shredded basil and crack a quick twist of black pepper over top.  Next step?  Delight your audience with both your presence and perfect flatbread pizza prowess.

As the long holiday weekend looms in the foreground, it dawns on me that I strangely have everything under control – knock on wood.  Christmas presents have been ordered, my projects at work are as on track as they’re ever going to be and my weekend wardrobe has been planned to perfection.  Comfy cashmere, stretchy straight-leg jeans and winter white dominate my packing list – all that’s left is the search for the perfect weekend bag. 

While traveling on quick jaunts a versitle carry-all is a must.  There’s nothing worse than a chic woman running to catch a train in her fabulous Cole Hahn over-the-knee boots while carrying a gym bag full of soft sweaters and sparking studs.  Nothing worse. 

One of my childhood (extended into adulthood) friends, Anna , could be one of the most entertaining, generous people I’ve ever met. She’s always been closer with my sister my she consistently enters and delights my world. The other night we were out for a few post-work cocktails and she shared her recent obsession (her obsessions tend to crush with intensity what they lack in longevity): holiday party looks. Now, obviously with the holiday season, this is certainly an appropriate distraction of thought – appropriate and contagious, I must say….

Now anyone who knows me knows that I work at a very straight-laced corporation; that corporation happens to have it’s annual holiday party tomorrow which begs the age old question: what is appropriate, professional attire for a holiday gathering? While there’s a good chance that my look tomorrow eve will be a watered down version of my real favorites, I pass along the basis for any fabulous holiday wardrobe as I see it.

 Lately I’ve been thinking often about Asian Pears; the crispness of an apple with the juicy sweet flavor-of an Asian Pear. Fortunately I was able to indulge my preoccupation on a boyfriend-sponsored shopping spree at Whole Foods. He carried the basket dutifully while I marveled at mackerel, was charmed by cheese and plucked a few delicious Asian Pears. While he (rather predictably) became distracted by their styrafoam, mesh, fruit-jackets, I envisioned a delicious salad where the nutty flavor of parmesan complemented the sweet, crisp pears and cushioned the peppery bite of arugala. 

Also found?

• Pomegranate, tangerine and mango organic lip balm
• Organic soap in Spanish Rose
• Freshly Roasted, whole coffee beans, French Roast Variety.
• A delightful wedge of tangy Bleu Cheese and Organic water crackers
• A custom blend of peppermint and lavender bath salts.

What is it about camel colors and fabrics that just invite a warm cuddly feeling?  As camel capes and jackets continue to warm chilly bodies against the winter cold, I find myself drawn to their soft smooth fabrics…classy and sleek.