My September in Food

I have become quite the foodie as of late.  Between our trip to Fire Island, and the weather turning colder, I have been spending a lot more time indoors cooking and baking.  I thought I'd share some of the pictures of the various foods I've eaten/prepared/bought over the past month (and yes, I'm becoming one of those people that takes pictures of their food).

I'm obsessed with my new garlic chopper, and I find an excuse to use it every Saturday by buying a loaf of fresh Italian bread from the Greenpoint market.

A bowl of fresh produce from the Greenmarket, so amazing!

Roast chicken with fingerling potatoes, shallots, garlic and leeks.

Late night snack- bruschetta made from Roma tomatoes, sage, thyme, garlic and french Gruyere style cheese. 

I can't wait to see what delicious food October will bring!

Hipster Must-Read: Bohemian Manifesto

Hipsters are the new bohemians.  And as a self-proclaimed hipster (not to be confused with a trustafarian), and an avid (maybe obsessive) reader, I couldn't help but pick up a copy of Laren Stover's Bohemian Manifesto.  And I definitely see the connection.  Stover explores Bohemian lifestyle and culture from past French bohemian's through present hipster types.  Stover discusses everything from wardrobe, to food, to the language of love through five different types of bohemians; the Nouveau Bohemian, the Gypsy Bohemian, the Dandy Bohemian, the Zen Bohemian, and the Beat Bohemian.  She lists must-read books for bohemians, cookbooks that explore the bohemian lifestyle (I am dying to get my hands on this),  must-see bohemian films, and even a recipe for absinthe.

I've discovered that I am a mix between the Nouveau Bohemian and the Zen Bohemian, if that's at all possible.  My love of food and finer things makes me a little bit Nouveau, but my love of the earth, growing my own food, and being a bit of a hippy definitely files me under the Zen Bohemian.  But let's face it, with my love of getting manicures, watching crappy SyFy movies, and reading a book on being bohemian, definitely makes me much less of an actual bohemian.

Yes, the book is a little bit ridiculous, but it's fun.  And besides, there is something so ridiculous/romantic about the bohemian lifestyle that you can't help but want to be a part of it.  Or maybe that's just me...

Hipster Must-Read: Bright Lights, Big City

I've been dying to read this classic Jay McInerney novel for ages.  Having been a huge Bret Easton Ellis fan for years, I couldn't wait to read the novel of his 80s literary rival.  And when I finally broke down and got a copy, it took me all of two days to finish it.  And with a film remake version set to come out next year, there is no better time to do so.

With similar tones to Less Than Zero, McInerney's semi-autobiographical novel explores the seedy underbelly that was the 1980s New York yuppie scene.  My favourite.  I love reading about the different areas of New York and how they change now, and let's be honest, I love reading about discontent people in their mid-20s (something about it just strikes a chord with me, what can I say?)

I've added a couple more McInerney novels on my list, and also added the Michael J. Fox film version to my Netflix queue, although I'm sure to be disappointed.  But since McInerney never really repeated his super star status with any other books, I'm wondering if I'm going to end up disappointed?

Style Inspiration: What a Way to Go

I know that this is a hot topic for blog posts these days, so maybe I'm slow to catch on, but I recently watched What a Way to Go, and now I fully understand the gravity of Shirley Maclaine, Edith Head, and 1960s glamour.

The story is great, the acting is fantastic, and the costumes speak for themselves.  Shirley Maclaine's style transforms with every man she marries (not an easy task), and every costume is better than the last.  It makes me want to wear nothing but glitter, feathers, bright colors, hats and fur, just what I need for winter!  And it makes me want to dye my hair pink too!

*I've left captions off the pictures intentionally, I sincerely urge you to go watch this movie ASAP!

Hipster Hideaway- Fire Island

Sorry for the delay in regular scheduled programming, but I was MIA this week enjoying the wonders of Fire Island.  I spent the past three days sitting on the beach, reading a book, taking walks, and being lavished with amazing food via the boyfriend.  Just thought I'd share a few pics from the trip.  Cheers!

A wonderfully beachy sunrise

The fresh smell of saltwater and the sand of waves are perfect therapy in the fall

I fell in love with this beach house

This couple was so cute with their dog and baby, kind of a perfect existence.

On of my favourite meals JB prepared.  Fresh pasta with hen of the wood and crimini mushrooms, herbs, onion, garlic in a white wine reduction.  Served with a great big salad and grilled veggies!  Yum!

Hipster Must-See: Machete

I rarely get an opportunity to post about big budget, mainstream movies.  To be frank, most of the time, I don't go watch these movies, let alone like them enough to devote my time to posting about them.

So am I surprised that I would feel so strongly about Machete, that I would want to write about it?  Absolutely not.  Since seeing the Machete trailer during the Grindhouse double-feature (which I saw three times in theaters), I have been counting down the days until this movie was released.  Robert Rodriguez Mexploitation starring the severely underrated Danny Trejo is full of mass, pointless violence, campy dialogue, and hot chicks.  Everything a grindhouse inspired throwback should be.   Robert Rodriguez knows a few things about casting, action, and violence, and this movie has all three.

It's about time that Trejo, who has a million imdb credits, finally got the recognition and lead role he deserves.  I loved Jessica Alba, Michelle Rodriguez, and even Lindsay Lohan in this film, which is no easy feat considering I don't care for any of those actresses.  And an appearance by the magnificent Tom Savini, and De Niro*?  How can the movie not be epic?

In light of the recent racial issues and controversy surrounding Arizona, the timing for this film could not have been more perfect.  I left the theater wanting to see it again and again.  It will definitely be a must-own for my collection, and should be a must-see for you!

http://www.vivamachete.com/

*Can I just mention how brilliant it is when De Niro starts to go all crazy and gets into a taxi?  Amazing for all the right reasons.

My New Workout Playlist

I just got a gym membership.  I used to be a complete gym rat, but sometime since my move to New York, that has totally taken a backseat to everything else in life.  And that totally shows whenever I try to get up in the morning and make it to the gym.  So I've decided to make a killer new playlist to help get me moving in the morning, thought I'd share part of it here:

• "Army of Me"- Bjork
• "Baptism"- Crystal Castles
• "Our Lawyer Made Us Change the Name of This Song So We Wouldn't Get Sued"- Fall Out Boy
• "Telephone"- Lady Gaga ft. Beyonce
• "The Dope Show"- Marilyn Manson
• "Perfect Drug"- Nine Inch Nails
• "U + Ur Hand" - Pink
• "Sleep Now In the Fire"- Rage Against the Machine
• "Le Disko"- Shiny Toy Guns
• "Seven Nation Army"- The White Stripes
• "Baba O'Reilly"- The Who

So what gets you motivated at the gym?

Ways to Be Green in NYC

Last week I got caught up watching The Lazy Environmentalist on Netflix, and I started to realize that most of my daily habits are pretty environmentally friendly.  I thought I would just take a second to share a couple of those tips and everyday things here.

• Recycling.  I grew up recycling and I have taken that to my adult life.  My roommate and I recycle everything that's possible.  While it still takes energy to recycle, at least I can feel better knowing that it isn't sitting in a landfill.
• Carry a reusable cloth bag everywhere! I hate when I see people with one item that is getting a new plastic bag when they already have one or don't really need them for that one item.  I have been known to get a little bit extreme with this, but after reading some shocking plastic bag statistics, it's made the transition much more natural.  
• Start a compost.  I know that this can be a kind of gross subject for people, but if you have the space and ability, it's a great way to turn your food waste (veggies, fruits, leaves, etc.) into something that you can actually use!
• Shop locally.  This can be more expensive and difficult, but I've managed to make it a priority on my meager salary.  It usually just means skipping a night out with my friends.
• Eat less meat.  I know it's unrealistic to assume that everyone will become a vegetarian, but if you reduce your meat consumption by 1 meal a day it can make a huge difference in your carbon footprint, as well as your health.
• Carry a reusable water bottle.  New York State has compiled a great list of quick facts about plastic water bottles.  And most bottled water is city water anyway, so why spend the extra money?
• Choose natural hygiene products.  I've recently started making the switch to paraben free cosmetics, sunscreen, and natural toothpastes.  I've talked to various doctors about these choices and have been encouraged to do so.  And with parabens possibly being linked to cancer, it seems like not only the most environmentally friendly, but also the safest choices.  

Being more environmentally friendly can be not only be a difficult start, but a daunting task.  I've found that by slowly implementing a few of these things at a time, it quickly becomes second nature!

Vegan Pumpkin Cupcakes

Lately, I've been eating mostly vegan.  Now, I'll spare you all the gruesome details as to why I made this "crazy" choice, but part of the reason is that I wanted to have the opportunity to experiment with vegan cooking and baking.

So last night, I decided that I would welcome my love of fall with these vegan pumpkin cupcakes.  I used a  modified versions of this recipe, and then topped them with a vegan cream cheese cinnamon frosting.  I added some crystallized ginger on top.  So far, they are eliciting great responses!

The heat in our house made the frosting a little bit melty last night, but after popping them in the fridge they got much better!

Sorry that the pictures aren't great, I'm still learning to use my new camera!

Welcoming the Fall

Fall is my favourite season.  It always has been.  I'm not much a summer person, and when it gets to be about mid-August, I cannot wait for the fall to get here.  Fall has always kinda been like my New Years, I make tons of resolutions and it feels like a natural time for growth and change.  I just wanted to share a few fall events and things I'm looking forward to:

• My trip to Fire Island on the 13th.  I can't wait to do a post-season trip when the island will be more empty
• Shorter, colder days made for watching movies, reading books, and doing crossword puzzles
• Pumpkin flavoured everything! I can't wait to find new pumpkin inspired recipes
• Trips to the green market when things get a little more root vegetably
• Boots, coats, and sweaters! 
• Solo movies on a cold afternoon
• Going back to drinking hot coffees and teas
• Halloween! My favourite holiday and I have some amazing costume ideas for this year!
• Going back to the gym now that it isn't a million degrees outside
• Getting some redecorating done around the house 
• Taking walks in the park with all the leaves changing colors

Now if only the humidity would take a hike and the fall would actually come!