Happy New Year!

"Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man."
Benjamin Franklin

If, like me (and, apparently, Benjamin Franklin), you also make New Year's Resolutions, here are some tips on actually keeping them.

Corporations are always going on and on about SMART goals, which are usually (in my opinion) really boring (but can be useful when making New Year's resolutions).

SMART goals (resolutions!) are:
Specific
Measurable
Attainable (Aim low!)
Relevant
Timely (Don't wait until the last minute...)

My SMART resolutions this year:
1. Lose 7 pounds (although 10 would be better...)
2. I have a specific savings goal, which may (or may not) be attainable
3. I've lived in my apartment for 3 years, and still have temporary blinds. It'd be nice to get ALL the projects done around my apartment (it's a small apartment, so that's probably attainable)
4. This is the year I finally knit a sweater
5. And learn how to play "You are My Sunshine" on the guitar (I love that song...)

Other suggestions for keeping New Year's resolutions include:
- Only make a few resolutions, so you aren't overwhelmed (5 is plenty, I think)
- Tell people what you're resolutions are so they'll hold you accountable (post them on the internet, for example)
- Reward yourself along the way (although I'd just be happy to lose the 7 pounds)

Good luck keeping your resolutions and have a very Happy New Year!

Kiss My Grits!

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas.

O'Hare Airport was nicely decorated for the holidays,



but unfortunately, I never made it to my final destination.

Before leaving on this ill-fated trip, I received a copy of the Clinton Street Baking Company Cookbook as a Christmas gift.

(The Clinton Street Baking Company is a restaurant located on the Lower East Side of New York, famous for their pancakes and long lines for brunch.)

Many of the recipes in the cookbook sound delicious, especially one in particular...

In 2008, Time Out New York wrote that the Baked Truffled Grits are one of the finest dishes in the city.

And now, here is the recipe:

INGREDIENTS
2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup dry instant grits
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Salt
Ground black pepper
2 Tablespoons canola or vegetable oil
8 ounces fresh mushrooms (oyster, shiitake, cremini, or any seasonal wild mushroom mix), stemmed and coarsely chopped
2 Tablespoons minced shallots
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves, picked from stems
1 cup shredded fontina cheese
1/4 cup breadcrumbs, preferably panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)
1 teaspoon white truffle oil

DIRECTIONS
Bring the milk to a simmer in a 4-quart saucepan over medium-low heat.

Slowly add the grits and stir with a wooden spoon until smooth, approximately 3 - 5 minutes.

Turn off the heat and stir in the cheddar and Monterey Jack until the cheese melts, and the mixture is smooth and creamy. (If the grits get too thick, stir in a little water to thin them out.)

Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Pour into 4 buttered 10-ounce ramekins or a buttered 5-cup casserole.

Set aside.

Preheat a medium-sized saute pan over medium-high heat, add the oil and heat until smoking hot.

Add the mushrooms and cook for 2 - 3 minutes.

Add the shallots, garlic and thyme to the mushrooms and continue to saute for 1 minute.

Season with salt and pepper.

Scatter the mushroom mixture over the grits.

Top with the fontina and breadcrumbs.

Bake at 375 degrees for 12 - 15 minutes, or until the top is crusty and golden-brown.

Remove from the oven and drizzle with truffle oil.

Enjoy!

Christmas in Iowa

Merry Christmas!


Photo courtesy: my brother

Another Trip to San Francisco...

another Imperial Yarn Pattern.

During my first trip to San Francisco, my friend & I took a class at Urban Fauna Studio.

While there, I bought The Sumptuous Cowl pattern, from Imperial Yarn.

At the same time, I also saw the pattern for the Ribbon Cravat.

I don't know why I didn't buy it right then.

But, I didn't.

I couldn't stop thinking about it, though...

So, when I booked another trip to San Francisco, I made plans to go back to Urban Fauna and get that pattern.

And I did.

It's Christmastime in the City

My holiday-related goals for today were to go to the "Gifted" holiday market in Brooklyn, where I would find unique, inexpensive gifts,


then run next door to Target to pick up holiday candy (specifically Hershey's Kisses and red & green M&M's) that I would then turn into festive holiday treats.

Well, I finally made it into the Gifted market (after being briefly trapped in a corner of the lobby by a couple with a stroller), but was instantly distracted by the prices, which were...

exorbitant.

So, instead of looking for unique, inexpensive gifts, I started taking note of $15 Little Golden Books


$24 View Masters


and a $150 magazine rack.



(My favorite was the $12 Petit Marseillais shower gel, that sells for about 2 euro at Monoprix in Paris.)



I left empty-handed (of course) but even more determined to raid "the junk shop" back home for stuff to sell here. (And Monoprix on my next trip to Paris.)

I then walked across the street to Target. The Hershey Kisses were on sale (!), and although I couldn't find plain holiday M&M's, I thought I could make do with almond.

So I made my way downstairs, to what could not possibly be the line to check out.

Except it was.

I stood there, in shock, until a security guard tried to direct me to the end of the line. Instead, I turned into the nearest aisle and dumped an armful of holiday candy onto the nearest shelf and walked out. (Empty-handed again.)

After a less-than-enjoyable ride on the subway from Brooklyn to Manhattan, where someone thought we'd all benefit from listening to Rihanna, I may never leave home again.

Ever.

Less is More

As I've moved into progressively smaller and smaller spaces, I've had to get rid of a lot of things.

I thought I would hate this, but I don't.

I love it!

Then, while reading The Art of Non-Conformity: Set Your Own Rules, Live the Life You Want, and Change the World , by Chris Guillebeau last night (its just ok...), I learned about a website called Zen Habits.

Zen Habits is about finding simplicity, focusing on what's important, and finding happiness.

Topics include:
Finance & Family
Health & Fitness
Goals & Motivation
Habits
Happiness
Productivity & Organization
Simplicity

Sounds perfect!

(The article The Case Against Buying Christmas Presents is especially interesting this time of year...)

What a Cheese Ball

Today was our annual office holiday potluck and for some reason I decided to make a cheese ball.

I thought it would be funny, but...

It was really good!

Cheese Ball

Ingredients
1 pound cream cheese, at room temperature
8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, finely grated (about 2 1/2 cups)
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Ground pepper
1 cup finely chopped pecans

Directions
In a large bowl, with an electric mixer, beat cream cheese with cheddar, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and a generous pinch of pepper until well combined. Mix in 1/4 cup pecans. Cover cheese mixture with plastic wrap, and chill at least 2 1/2 hours or up to overnight.
Divide the cheese mixture in half, and shape each half into a ball. Spread remaining 3/4 cup pecans on a plate, and roll balls in pecans to coat completely, pressing nuts to adhere. Serve chilled.

Out with the Old

97s.



Friday night, the Old 97s played The Music Hall in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

The Old 97s are an alt-country band that have been around forever (well, since 1993).

This is a band that must be seen to be appreciated.

And the show Friday night did not disappoint.

Rhett "Let the Whisky Take the Reins", so forgot some lyrics...

But then he looked up, and smiled, and all was forgiven. (Rhett must also been seen to be appreciated.)

Some favorite Old 97's songs include:
Big Brown Eyes
Salome
Time Bomb
Please Hold On While the Train is Moving
Melt Show
Designs on You
Barrier Reef
Dance with Me
The Grand Theater
Coahuila

I could go on.

And on.

And on.

I highly recommend going to see these guys. I'm already looking forward to the next show!

(The Fillmore in San Francisco on January 22?)