tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63291047472457844952024-03-12T23:50:45.454-04:00Hollywood Cerisehollywoodcerisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16662359830490002780noreply@blogger.comBlogger104125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329104747245784495.post-34321399740434526852012-06-13T18:00:00.000-04:002012-06-15T16:56:01.212-04:00Favorite Instagrams from MayI'm really having fun with Instagram, despite the fact that my iTouch takes photos with terrible resolution. My plan is to post something (my Instagram account is connected to Facebook) every day until I run out of photos.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/7178591745/" title="IMG_0622 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5234/7178591745_bb0ffdcd6a_z.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="IMG_0622"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/7363782354/" title="IMG_0551 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5339/7363782354_18485bec92_z.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="IMG_0551"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/7363798732/" title="IMG_0613 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7101/7363798732_ac1dd8cb69_z.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="IMG_0613"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/7178575157/" title="IMG_0599 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7238/7178575157_7dce2a1e0f_z.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="IMG_0599"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/7363781414/" title="IMG_0565 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5196/7363781414_cfd77e1285_z.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="IMG_0565"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/7363781516/" title="IMG_0563 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7218/7363781516_bf1f66f158_z.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="IMG_0563"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/7363781716/" title="IMG_0560 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7237/7363781716_58ee480e5c_z.jpg" width="640" height="640" alt="IMG_0560"></a>hollywoodcerisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16662359830490002780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329104747245784495.post-38525299506339733332012-06-13T17:42:00.000-04:002012-06-14T13:31:53.899-04:00New York, March 2012I finally settled on a camera, and I love it. Here are the results of my first experiments.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/6874935068/" title="IMG_0042 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7092/6874935068_32ccbcc2a0_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="IMG_0042"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/7021036979/" title="IMG_0023 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7215/7021036979_2eefabaa92_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="IMG_0023"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/7021040533/" title="IMG_0046 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7263/7021040533_875111e831_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_0046"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/7021040227/" title="IMG_0044 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7109/7021040227_7735b00eb9_z.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="IMG_0044"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/6874933296/" title="IMG_0032 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7230/6874933296_a6ac4884d0_z.jpg" width="640" height="427" alt="IMG_0032"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/7184693859/" title="IMG_0036 straightened by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8024/7184693859_37d42102e1_z.jpg" width="426" height="640" alt="IMG_0036 straightened"></a>hollywoodcerisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16662359830490002780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329104747245784495.post-3946034182570628142012-04-22T13:01:00.000-04:002012-04-22T13:01:38.356-04:00How to Impress Your OfficeI'm the designated cake baker in my office, and it's a title I take very seriously. Most of the people in my office request chocolate cake. I have a great chocolate cake recipe, and it's something that I can practically whip up in my sleep. As delicious as it is, making basically the same thing, even with slight variations of filling & decorations can get boring. I share my office (in the suite) with someone I really like, and I wanted to make something special for her birthday. Luckily, she left the decision in my hands. YES!!! I made her the most exciting, colorful birthday cake ever. It was not chocolate.<br />
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Sitting on my kitchen table, it looked pretty ordinary, with its billowy marshmallow frosting and rainbow bee-bees :<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/6076413352/" title="IMG_3930 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6088/6076413352_143f3544d3_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_3930"></a><br />
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Upon slicing, the surprise was revealed. Six layers of colorful cake, and five layers of colorful frosting stacked into a sweet rainbow. "OMG! HOW DID YOU DO THAT??" Magic. (No silly!)<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/6076415712/" title="IMG_3935 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6084/6076415712_9cc06f3f00_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_3935"></a><br />
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The photo above is regretfully messy, but I couldn't be like "Oh, birthday lady, could you please cut that cake perfectly so that I can take photos for my blog?" No. Here's a slightly more photogenic photo of the very last piece:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/6076423678/" title="IMG_3952 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6192/6076423678_6f0efe006f_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="IMG_3952"></a><br />
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The fun began with six bowls of batter mixed with gel food coloring. Gel food coloring is much more intense than typical food coloring; saturation of this quality wouldn't be possible with the drippy-droppy grocery store stuff. The recipe specified approximately how much batter to use for each layer, so I didn't have to do too much measuring.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/6066946200/" title="IMG_3863 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6075/6066946200_6b62d74575_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_3863"></a><br />
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This was a two-day deal. The baked cake layers hung out in the fridge overnight.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/6066406861/" title="IMG_3868 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6182/6066406861_ea7ec34436_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_3868"></a><br />
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I liked how the remaining crumbs looked on the parchment paper that lined the bottom of the pans looked when I peeled it off the cake:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/6066497201/" title="IMG_3928 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6068/6066497201_0965aee432_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="IMG_3928"></a><br />
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Next comes frosting! I decided to use a standard buttercream. About this point I really wished I had a dishwasher.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/6066960190/" title="IMG_3876 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6066/6066960190_9747726dfa_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_3876"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/6066997638/" title="IMG_3882 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6061/6066997638_5f25045c91_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_3882"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/6067020360/" title="IMG_3907 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6209/6067020360_367d3412d4_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="IMG_3907"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/6066483831/" title="IMG_3915 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6087/6066483831_54fd1b666c_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="IMG_3915"></a><br />
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My, that's a wicked lot of frosting. As you can see in the slice photo, the ratio of cake to frosting is 50:50. In order to prevent each piece from containing approximately an entire stick of butter, I frosted the cake with 7 minute frosting, which is mostly egg whites and sugar. I seem to remember that the afternoon was kind of a wash, between the sugar coma and the thrill of cake victory.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/6956653612/" title="IMG_3937 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7193/6956653612_c9046a05a0_z.jpg" width="640" height="454" alt="IMG_3937"></a><br />
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This may be only the beginning of my rainbow cake experimentation. I'd love to make one of these with a series of all blues and greens, or all reds and oranges.hollywoodcerisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16662359830490002780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329104747245784495.post-45267254172202683722012-03-28T11:46:00.001-04:002012-03-29T15:06:36.218-04:00Catching Up, Part 1: Cambridge GraffitiIn an attempt to distract myself from writing my thesis this summer and fall, I became slightly obsessed with graffiti, especially stenciled graffiti and sometime wheat paste posters. I wandered around Cambridge to find these little hidden gems of art unapproved. I began a separate blog dedicated to Cambridge graffiti, but that fell by the wayside. Here are some of my favorites:<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5409291620/" title="IMG_3239 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4148/5409291620_ece2c765c4_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="IMG_3239"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5409285542/" title="IMG_3228 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5255/5409285542_f4b2f12f46_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="IMG_3228"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5895298407/" title="IMG_3648 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5076/5895298407_51669d0de0_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_3648"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5895300531/" title="IMG_3651 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5038/5895300531_6750fc4bb3_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="IMG_3651"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5893781776/" title="IMG_3608 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5269/5893781776_ca9b9c991a_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="IMG_3608"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5895304365/" title="IMG_3657 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5151/5895304365_6e806e5c83_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="IMG_3657"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5893217997/" title="IMG_3616 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5070/5893217997_09ceccb92e_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="IMG_3616"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/6065871016/" title="IMG_3822 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6190/6065871016_9f3ab38dfc_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_3822"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5952491938/" title="IMG_3809 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6002/5952491938_5a64f3c66c_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="IMG_3809"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/6066387985/" title="IMG_3845 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6088/6066387985_8259371738_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="IMG_3845"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/6554339445/" title="IMG_4562 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7169/6554339445_d58427ca7d_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_4562"></a><br />
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On the side of a toy store:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/6193237253/" title="IMG_3991 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6142/6193237253_f10f0edc25_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_3991"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/6193775868/" title="IMG_4029 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6015/6193775868_443ba45cba_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_4029"></a><br />
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I expanded my horizon to Boston, especially to see the alleged Banksy in Chinatown. There was a second Banksy in Central Square a couple years ago, but the City painted over it. The Chinatown Banksy site is in a parking lot, which made photographing during the week impossible. I stopped by on a Sunday morning, and was able to get a good look. As you can see, people have added their own touches. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5917467064/" title="IMG_3683 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6130/5917467064_3da2b15ed9_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="IMG_3683"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/7024114153/" title="IMG_3680 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7256/7024114153_582d02e1ee_z.jpg" width="511" height="640" alt="IMG_3680"></a><br />
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These little guys are in the corner - pretty sure they're not original:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5917469600/" title="IMG_3686 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6008/5917469600_01c7f33837_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_3686"></a><br />
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I walked by this December on a Chinatown excursion with some friends, and was saddened to see that some dickhead has painted over the entire thing. Banksy or not, it was still a nice piece of graffiti. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/6554345165/" title="IMG_4573 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7025/6554345165_545b491a79_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_4573"></a>hollywoodcerisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16662359830490002780noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329104747245784495.post-48114009841833255752011-10-04T16:27:00.000-04:002011-10-04T16:27:33.194-04:00Rhode IslandThe DeWolfe Mansion <br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/6193246051/" title="IMG_4005 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6169/6193246051_7e357f7244_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_4005"></a><br />
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Neat mangled railing:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/6193244015/" title="IMG_4002 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6158/6193244015_3fdaf9360f_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_4002"></a><br />
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The sky was exceptionally pretty at Colt State Park:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/6193764326/" title="IMG_4010 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6122/6193764326_1618417534_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="IMG_4010"></a>hollywoodcerisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16662359830490002780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329104747245784495.post-75755608676360120382011-10-04T16:16:00.000-04:002011-10-04T16:16:05.243-04:00My Awesome TomatoDon't you love this tomato? I always try to buy the creepy looking vegetables. This one grew up on Verrill Farm.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/6191635587/" title="IMG_3973 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6030/6191635587_cfcd3cb809_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_3973"></a>hollywoodcerisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16662359830490002780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329104747245784495.post-9065599092168686912011-10-04T16:12:00.002-04:002011-10-04T16:12:45.135-04:00Blondie BrowniesI made some nice brownies with a blondie layer on the bottom, and a brownie layer on the top. The recipe called for an 8 inch pan, and my pan was a 9 inch, so if done correctly they'd be a little more compact & aesthetically pleasing. Whatever. . . <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/6193262299/" title="IMG_4033 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6178/6193262299_0cc52c554d_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_4033"></a>hollywoodcerisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16662359830490002780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329104747245784495.post-47061958290287970482011-08-21T17:32:00.002-04:002011-08-21T17:38:59.674-04:00Brimfield Antique Show, July 2011Brimfield was hot! So I spent more time drinking water than fiddling with my camera. The first place we stopped was the vintage dress tent - good stuff. I found a spectacular white satin sheath dress with silver embroidery. It fits almost perfectly, though I'd need to wear it with a good pair of black tights and at an event where I don't need to sit down. Yeah, I don't go to too many events like that. I also found a new shape of Capri dot glasses, (obviously not new because they're old, but a shape that I've never seen before!), and a fancy aurora borealis cocktail ring. And some painted Canadian toy soldiers from 1963. And a vintage funky flowers tablecloth. And a red handled ice-cream scoop. <br />
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Here are some American cowboys:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5951905399/" title="IMG_3732 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6150/5951905399_e77ede9ef2_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_3732"></a><br />
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This guy has an articulated bullet exit wound on his back:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5952457766/" title="IMG_3729 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6005/5952457766_e5da633ae5_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="IMG_3729"></a><br />
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A pile of Presidents:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5952457276/" title="IMG_3728 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6143/5952457276_0a5ed168d2_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_3728"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5952459846/" title="IMG_3734 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6015/5952459846_33594502e8_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="IMG_3734"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5952456388/" title="IMG_3726 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6148/5952456388_783afb8698_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="IMG_3726"></a><br />
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Oh look! That's my little head reflected in almost every bracelet:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5952455576/" title="IMG_3724 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6124/5952455576_27a2dce47a_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="IMG_3724"></a><br />
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Giant beads:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5951901885/" title="IMG_3723 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6148/5951901885_96a04769ee_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_3723"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5951901519/" title="IMG_3722 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6140/5951901519_8cab8065a3_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_3722"></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5952454214/" title="IMG_3721 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6142/5952454214_21bfc29665_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="IMG_3721"></a><br />
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hollywoodcerisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16662359830490002780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329104747245784495.post-64397364651184553712011-08-21T17:23:00.002-04:002011-08-21T17:37:48.190-04:00Cucumber and Strawberry VodkaI made cucumber vodka and strawberry vodka for my annual summery drinks party. I'd seen this recipe around the Web, and was really curious. I'm not a huge fan of vodka, except in my newly discovered love of homemade Bloody Marys, so I was mostly excited about the process. Basically, you cut up stuff, put it in a jar, fill the jar with vodka, and agitate twice daily for a few days. Then strain, chill, and hand out the tiny glasses and the aspirin. <br />
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Here are the two jars on the first day<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/6065330107/" title="IMG_3836 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6209/6065330107_75f2d22ce0_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_3836"></a><br />
<br />
Here are the jars on the second day:<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/6065331919/" title="IMG_3839 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6064/6065331919_4d28ae9147_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="IMG_3839"></a><br />
<br />
Here's a photo of straining the strawberry vodka through coffee filters. It takes a while, because the little strawberry hairs clog up the works. I had to switch filters frequently. And look at the strawberries - all of the color has been leached out. Icky!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/6065881416/" title="IMG_3842 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6083/6065881416_5483c496bd_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_3842"></a><br />
<br />
Here's a photo of the cucumber vodka, unstrained, still in the jar.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/6065334053/" title="IMG_3843 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6061/6065334053_8c9eae3147_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="IMG_3843"></a><br />
<br />
I didn't really care for either flavor, but everyone else seemed to. hollywoodcerisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16662359830490002780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329104747245784495.post-10157926042331048162011-07-03T20:19:00.010-04:002011-07-03T21:42:51.603-04:00A Visit to Shelburne FallsWe took a trip to the Bridge of Flowers, where there were some especially nice poppies in bloom:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5883049636/" title="IMG_3494 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6057/5883049636_bf7cb4180e_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_3494" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5883048704/" title="IMG_3492 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6026/5883048704_b728882f27_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_3492" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5883050490/" title="IMG_3496 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5062/5883050490_4d01fd0b43_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_3496" /></a><br /><br />I admired the view:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5882490909/" title="IMG_3500 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5069/5882490909_a48c23c717_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_3500" /></a><br /><br />And the new mosaics around town:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5883051574/" title="IMG_3498 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5038/5883051574_9e436b075a_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="IMG_3498" /></a><br /><br />I like this funny little MOHAWK DETECTIVE AGENCY plaque. I'll have to add it to my peeling paint project!:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5882489337/" title="IMG_3497 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5274/5882489337_1f639ae021_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_3497" /></a><br /><br />I admired some fresh graffiti:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5882479775/" title="IMG_3480 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6012/5882479775_399bd2c737_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="IMG_3480" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5882484269/" title="IMG_3487 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5150/5882484269_2d446ce917_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_3487" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5882483139/" title="IMG_3485 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6042/5882483139_d577203cbf_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_3485" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5883043792/" title="IMG_3483 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5269/5883043792_f9bff52b15_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="IMG_3483" /></a><br /><br />I made some plans with my grandmother's recipe book. This page has recipes for doughnuts, cinnamon rolls, and Syrian bread!:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5883054110/" title="IMG_3503 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6007/5883054110_4b5e86fc28_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="IMG_3503" /></a><br /><br />The end:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5883053384/" title="IMG_3502 by hollywoodcerise, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6010/5883053384_0ae36ee6a6_z.jpg" width="491" height="640" alt="IMG_3502"></a>hollywoodcerisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16662359830490002780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329104747245784495.post-19842268387560983292011-06-29T11:01:00.006-04:002011-06-29T11:24:03.725-04:00MarriageThis weekend I attended a truly lovely wedding in Brooklyn. The personality of the bride and groom shone through brightly, and it seemed like everyone had an excellent time. I did. Congratulations, guys!<br /><br />In honor of the recent gay marriage legislation in New York:<br /><br /><a title="IMG_2124 by amycavelier, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5408774697/"><img alt="IMG_2124" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5179/5408774697_c3b1a023fa.jpg" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">(Zurich, 2008)<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">In honor of my friends who married around this time a couple years ago, also a wedding with lots of personality: </span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><a title="IMG_2157 by amycavelier, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5409407104/"><img alt="IMG_2157" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4082/5409407104_986917ce87.jpg" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">(Zurich, 2008)</span>hollywoodcerisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16662359830490002780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329104747245784495.post-79680504050630760742011-06-21T10:02:00.008-04:002011-06-28T21:52:41.597-04:00Brimfield!Well, I seem to be generally about a year behind. These photos are from a trip to the Brimfield antique show in May 2010.<br /><br /><a title="IMG_3095 by amycavelier, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5409216656/"><img alt="IMG_3095" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5053/5409216656_642f26c548.jpg" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_3102 by amycavelier, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5408611101/"><img alt="IMG_3102" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5135/5408611101_c85a655f46.jpg" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_3094 by amycavelier, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5408606451/"><img alt="IMG_3094" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5171/5408606451_2cfefac200.jpg" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /><br />(I like my lucite & abalone table better, but this one is nice too. I think the white slices are agate.)<br /><a title="IMG_3085 by amycavelier, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5409210912/"><img alt="IMG_3085" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5260/5409210912_e253c477d2.jpg" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_3084 by amycavelier, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5409210384/"><img alt="IMG_3084" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5252/5409210384_c17a6b58d7.jpg" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_3078 by amycavelier, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5408597553/"><img alt="IMG_3078" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5131/5408597553_0963c6de3d.jpg" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_3068 by amycavelier, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5409202182/"><img alt="IMG_3068" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5140/5409202182_bacc85650d.jpg" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />Dolls are creepy enough anyway, but these are extra creepy:<br /><a title="IMG_3098 by amycavelier, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5408608809/"><img alt="IMG_3098" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5098/5408608809_95780859da.jpg" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_3074 by amycavelier, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5408595785/"><img alt="IMG_3074" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5099/5408595785_06c47b8fc7.jpg" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_3070 by amycavelier, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5409203284/"><img alt="IMG_3070" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5212/5409203284_b5a6288fd5.jpg" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_3071 by amycavelier, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5408594167/"><img alt="IMG_3071" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5180/5408594167_f5597354b7.jpg" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_3083 by amycavelier, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5408600007/"><img alt="IMG_3083" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5016/5408600007_d434c2f99d.jpg" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_3073 by amycavelier, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5409204854/"><img alt="IMG_3073" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5012/5409204854_8c7b394f96.jpg" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_3091 by amycavelier, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5409214478/"><img alt="IMG_3091" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5014/5409214478_faf455a08b.jpg" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_3103 by amycavelier, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5408611667/"><img alt="IMG_3103" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5018/5408611667_6fb7434f6c.jpg" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /><br />Check out the base of this table:<br /><a title="IMG_3105 by amycavelier, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5409222458/"><img alt="IMG_3105" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5011/5409222458_d5c242b839.jpg" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_3075 by amycavelier, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5408596161/"><img alt="IMG_3075" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5298/5408596161_7d42ff794c.jpg" width="375" height="500" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_3079 by amycavelier, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5408597981/"><img alt="IMG_3079" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5020/5408597981_0bd115ca1d.jpg" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_3089 by amycavelier, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5409213280/"><img alt="IMG_3089" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5052/5409213280_9e472905f9.jpg" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br /><a title="IMG_3058 by amycavelier, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5408586851/"><img alt="IMG_3058" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5173/5408586851_a7c53d34dc.jpg" width="500" height="375" /></a>hollywoodcerisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16662359830490002780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329104747245784495.post-22304427070106732992011-03-05T15:54:00.004-05:002011-03-05T16:03:50.689-05:00Chilly ArtI always like visiting the <a href="http://www.decordova.org/">deCordova ScupturePark & Museum</a>. <div><br /><div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5483358318/" title="IMG_3377 by amycavelier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5131/5483358318_693a7a02bb.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_3377" /></a></div></div>hollywoodcerisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16662359830490002780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329104747245784495.post-29021896988546452782011-02-27T12:03:00.012-05:002011-02-27T16:11:52.665-05:002010 in Review: Bakey BakeyFor my May Day/ birthday party I made myself a pretty lemon cornmeal cake with candied violets. This year I'd like to make <a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/2008/08/chocolate-peanut-butter-cake/">Smitten Kitchen's chocolate peanut butter cake</a>, though this year's party will be delayed due to school and work conflicts.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5408575355/" title="IMG_3036 by amycavelier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5291/5408575355_38e908a5e7.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_3036" /></a><br /><br />And a pretty birthday cake for a friend:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5408705791/" title="IMG_3282 by amycavelier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4110/5408705791_94d30404b5.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_3282" /></a><br /><br />I made stained glass jello:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5409234138/" title="IMG_3128 by amycavelier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5212/5409234138_a6afedeb5c.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_3128" /></a><br /><br />I baked about 14 batches of cheese straws:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5409319134/" title="IMG_3289 by amycavelier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4109/5409319134_455c1827f1.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_3289" /></a><br /><br />I made english muffins:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5408713925/" title="IMG_3300 by amycavelier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5011/5408713925_979c6e6861.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_3300" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5408715465/" title="IMG_3303 by amycavelier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5292/5408715465_8e5547f3d9.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_3303" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5408717839/" title="IMG_3307 by amycavelier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4130/5408717839_8855dde8f9.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_3307" /></a><br /><br />I charred eggplants on the gas burner and didn't burn down the house:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5409122217/" title="IMG_2776 by amycavelier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5135/5409122217_3867cb6171.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_2776" /></a><br /><br />I made fleur de sel caramels:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5409329430/" title="IMG_3310 by amycavelier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5217/5409329430_b5bcd25bd8.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_3310" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5408723197/" title="IMG_3317 by amycavelier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5055/5408723197_31f992dd46.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_3317" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5409336960/" title="IMG_3325 by amycavelier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4136/5409336960_d28ecd5cd8.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_3325" /></a>hollywoodcerisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16662359830490002780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329104747245784495.post-38854472096320924882011-02-27T09:33:00.024-05:002011-02-27T21:23:34.481-05:002010 in Review: New YorkWe visited my sister twice in 2010. This past October's visit was especially exciting because she had recently (well, not that recently) moved to a new neighborhood, Ditmas Park. I love Ditmas Park! It's pretty, and close to the subway, and there are necessities ( like a health food store and a drug store), around the corner. <br /><br />As usual, we did a lot of walking and eating, both in Manhattan and Brooklyn. For dinner on Friday, we went to <a href="http://www.thefarmonadderley.com/">The Farm on Adderly</a> in Ditmas Park. We split a selection of fish dishes, which were very tasty. I vaguely remember a nice dessert, too. <br /><br />In Manhattan we poked around <a href="http://www.fishseddy.com/">Fishes Eddy</a>, where I bought some lovely teardrop shaped spoons and oogled at some of their larger reproduction glass pieces, like the cake stands, and the jadeite dishes. For lunch, we went to Tabla, an Indian Fusion restaurant which sadly served their last meal on December 30th. We walked off lunch by exploring the TEN floors (wait, are there really ten???) at <a href="http://www.abchome.com/">abc home</a>, which made me want to start looking for a rich husband because they have some very pretty furniture and rugs. For dinner, we went to my favorite pizza place, Di Fara Pizza. <br /><br />In Brooklyn, I became a new fan of teeny-weeny <a href="http://mimishummus.com/">Mimi's Hummus</a>. The shakshuka (eggs cooked in spicy tomato sauce), was as good as I'd hoped, and the pillowy pita was outstanding. I wish Mimi lived in my neighborhood, though I make a pretty good shakshuka myself. After brunch at Mimi's we walked around the neighborhood. There are also some lovely big houses with pretty details in the neighborhood, like these:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5409304242/" title="IMG_3261 by amycavelier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5219/5409304242_5609c7c4c9.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_3261" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5409305242/" title="IMG_3263 by amycavelier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4143/5409305242_941f16f006.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_3263" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5409305798/" title="IMG_3264 by amycavelier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4085/5409305798_60996a480f.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_3264" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5408700391/" title="IMG_3271 by amycavelier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4150/5408700391_c7c46c65db.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_3271" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5408699903/" title="IMG_3270 by amycavelier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5211/5408699903_4feebd4268.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_3270" /></a><br /><br />I'm obviously attracted to triangles!<br /><br />I liked this neighborhood throne. The sign reads: "If you taka my space I breaka you face":<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5409301986/" title="IMG_3257 by amycavelier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4147/5409301986_38ffae3b00.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_3257" /></a>hollywoodcerisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16662359830490002780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329104747245784495.post-62198546024910121242011-02-26T10:18:00.016-05:002011-06-28T17:43:36.807-04:00Catching Up: New York, October 2009This one is overdue, huh? I'd like to finish with 2009 before I move on to 2010 and 2011. My mom and I visited my sister in Brooklyn and ate our way through the weekend. Here are some highlights:<div><br /></div><div>We began at the <a href="http://www.doughnutplant.com/">Doughnut Plant</a>, at 379 Grand St. </div><div>I think we split a Valrhona chocolate glazed, and a chocolate blackout, and a pumpkin. I'm not a doughnut fanatic, but these were tasty. If I ever go back, I'd like to try the tres leches, having discovered an intense love of caramelly foods.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5409623990/" title="IMG_2573 by amycavelier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4077/5409623990_5153706e67.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_2573" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The store is petite and pretty, and features doughnut tiles:</div><div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5409623458/" title="IMG_2572 by amycavelier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4132/5409623458_8c9a23df2b.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_2572" /></a></div><br /><br />Next, we went to the Lower East Side <a href="http://www.tenement.org/">Tenement Museum</a>, which is somewhere I've been wanting to visit for years. In 8th grade I wrote a research paper on Jacob A. Riis, who photographed tenements in the Lower East Side in the late 1800s, and I've been fascinated ever since. Visitors are only allowed access by guided tours, so we went on "The Moores: an Irish Family in America." The building, at 97 Orchard St., had been vacant since the 30's when the museum bought it, so the amount of remaining detail is incredible. I'd love to visit again.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5409626838/" title="IMG_2578 by amycavelier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4093/5409626838_6e0f3ef0bd.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_2578" /></a><br /><br />After the museum we went to <a href="http://www.gusspickle.com/">Guss' Pickles</a>. Garlicky pickles were a great balance to donut breath.<br /><br />The containers of pickled thingies were alluring, but not practical for the day's events.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5409014875/" title="IMG_2579 by amycavelier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5093/5409014875_2a0cc622cf.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_2579" /></a><br /><br />So we bought a selection of sours and half-sours:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5409628100/" title="IMG_2580 by amycavelier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5259/5409628100_41d40cfb5f.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_2580" /></a><br /><br />For lunch, we stopped at Vanessa's Dumplings in Chinatown.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5409630838/" title="IMG_2584 by amycavelier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5259/5409630838_a02e60ccd8.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_2584" /></a><br /><br />I forget what exactly this was, but it was good:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5409019781/" title="IMG_2587 by amycavelier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4082/5409019781_b7079d525d.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_2587" /></a><br /><br />Then we walked by bags of durian fruit, which is so stinky when opened, that many Thai business establishments have "NO DURIAN ALLOWED" rules. Do not try to bring Durian on the bus in Bangkok!<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5409021203/" title="IMG_2589 by amycavelier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4082/5409021203_6c1976df32.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_2589" /></a><br /><br />I bought some delicious eyeball fruits, I mean longans.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5409635384/" title="IMG_2591 by amycavelier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4097/5409635384_af977a2628.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_2591" /></a><br /><br />They look more like eyeballs when you take a bite our of them to reveal the seed.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5409636008/" title="IMG_2592 by amycavelier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4078/5409636008_1fe8eba741.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_2592" /></a><br /><br />We walked by a store that makes cream cakes. While I'm sure they are delicious, we couldn't eat anything else. The robotic cake machine is in the front window, and I found it fun to watch. I should have made a movie.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5409638050/" title="IMG_2595 by amycavelier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5252/5409638050_34b39d9e4d.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_2595" /></a><br /><br />I thought these peppers were an especially nice range of colors:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5409639308/" title="IMG_2597 by amycavelier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4093/5409639308_4845f606d9.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_2597" /></a><br /><br />Next on the list, the <a href="http://www.thehighline.org/">Highline</a>, a former industrial train line that was transformed into a garden lined walking path. The photos on their Web site are better than mine.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5409038977/" title="IMG_2616 by amycavelier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4105/5409038977_7724aafec2.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_2616" /></a><br /><br />There's a spot where there's a window onto the traffic below. Whoops, this is a little crooked!<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5409651072/" title="IMG_2614 by amycavelier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4115/5409651072_133d29cb6b.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_2614" /></a><br /><br />On the way back down to earth, we ran into this character. He claimed that he was promoting Brain Playground Day, though the next day was Halloween. It was a challenge to pass him on the stairwell, good thing his matter was so spongey!<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5409655748/" title="IMG_2622 by amycavelier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5011/5409655748_41dd600976.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_2622" /></a><br /><br />Next, we went to the Chocolate Show. Yum. Here's a photo of antique chocolate bunny molds:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5409661210/" title="IMG_2630 by amycavelier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5175/5409661210_60928d837f.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_2630" /></a><br /><br />For dinner we went to <a href="http://www.difara.com/">Di Fara Pizza</a>, at 1424 Avenue J in Brooklyn. I dream about this pizza regularly. Dom DeMarco has been making his pizza here since 1964. It's old fashioned and delicious. He clips fresh basil onto the pizzas with scissors. the wait was long, and it got a little smoky inside, but our pizza was worth it.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5409663624/" title="IMG_2633 by amycavelier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4109/5409663624_52a8422362.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_2633" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5409664916/" title="IMG_2635 by amycavelier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4145/5409664916_a98c61cb32.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_2635" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5409054321/" title="IMG_2640 by amycavelier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4102/5409054321_cac4e23082.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_2640" /></a><br /><br />And so our Day of Eating ended.hollywoodcerisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16662359830490002780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329104747245784495.post-34417735143143760292011-02-13T22:22:00.002-05:002011-02-13T22:29:42.120-05:00Coming soon. . .2010 in review. . . Brimfield! Eating my way through New York! Flotsam and jetsam! New neighborhoods! Balancing acts! Cakes! Critters!<div><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10291984@N04/5409216656/" title="IMG_3095 by amycavelier, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5053/5409216656_642f26c548.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_3095" /></a></div>hollywoodcerisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16662359830490002780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329104747245784495.post-55085099323018166022010-03-09T07:52:00.007-05:002010-03-09T08:07:15.254-05:00Cookie bars are the savior of the modern woman<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEMJ6c0_a377oV_rnPP-EBOhbm8rRAQFCIq2Dzgb2xKXkyrmNtROt6AEzibIWNvodesuBW9Hwdq1v3DxZiq5OpBFZJxQvDSpx2pyIBZvxEDDhP5_j2pjsA0soudiMcCxeDM4v3nbK70bU/s1600-h/samoas.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 291px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446617315965418082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEMJ6c0_a377oV_rnPP-EBOhbm8rRAQFCIq2Dzgb2xKXkyrmNtROt6AEzibIWNvodesuBW9Hwdq1v3DxZiq5OpBFZJxQvDSpx2pyIBZvxEDDhP5_j2pjsA0soudiMcCxeDM4v3nbK70bU/s400/samoas.jpg" /></a><br /><div></div><div>Another late night baking session ended succesfully. Actually, the baking didn't go all that late, it was the washing up that stretched on into the wee hours. When I grow up, my kitchen will have a dishwasher. Anyhow, thinking he had done something incredibly fantastic and best husband of the year worthy, my coworker's husband brought home a case of sweetened flaked coconut. What does one do with a case of coconut? HAVE A COCONUT BAKEOFF!!!(Said in Oprah voice for greater effect.) Yup. and 12 days into the bakeoff, everyone is um - you guessed it, pretty sick of coconut.<br /><P><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div>I made Samoas bars (like the Girl Scout cookies) from the <a href="http://bakingbites.com/2009/02/homemade-girl-scout-cookies-samoas-bars/">Baking Bites</a> blog. She's created a more traditional round cookie version (as well as recipes for thin mints & tagalongs), but I had no time to roll and fuss with cookie cutters. I'm happy that I chose the bar version, though It was a difficult decsion. Usually I'm all about aesthetics, unless it interferes with getting a reasonable amount sleep. I think trying to manipulate the sticky caramel-coconut mixture evenly around round cookies with their centers cut out at midnight would have been scream inducing. </div>hollywoodcerisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16662359830490002780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329104747245784495.post-61893272556446244462010-03-07T16:09:00.013-05:002010-08-15T19:34:08.468-04:00The Not So Fun Sunday. . . Followed by the Mostly Fun SundayLast Sunday was just not veey much fun. I had an 8 hour class all day Saturday and Sunday. We got out a little early both days and as far as classes go, it was pretty fun, but school wouldn't be in my top 10 fun ways to spend a day off. I'm nerdy, but I'm not THAT nerdy! On the way on Saturday I saw a couple things that caught my fancy, and I found myself saying yet again, "why don't you carry your camera with you all the time?" On Sunday I packed the camera. Some of the sites had lost their charm, while I saw other things that I hadn't noticed before. Here are a couple:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxAiCekQLlUkgzETckB2b4sSHqorqQxcWFTlqtFQ9G26K1E-AWXMUrMl1Z-t2sWTbtaPnyZDJWUlC7trqO6Q35JbEGkf2dSbvLzgVXoF4jUL-aIuu3VkyBy08Z-duoCXoEfdngmvI1-mA/s1600-h/lanterns.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 291px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446003138767792834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxAiCekQLlUkgzETckB2b4sSHqorqQxcWFTlqtFQ9G26K1E-AWXMUrMl1Z-t2sWTbtaPnyZDJWUlC7trqO6Q35JbEGkf2dSbvLzgVXoF4jUL-aIuu3VkyBy08Z-duoCXoEfdngmvI1-mA/s400/lanterns.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNuB4stXHArWYwKjr4R7ibQqeulsy0SgFmZTAUJ_aiXQaKF6Euviem09I8A6prRF2nWqw4eSZSKEDfWjFaxdamtSD23jRLNoJqwwtdZIQEJFnznjj48a6S45H3WLixv9YVIWBD40fcADA/s1600-h/centaur.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 291px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446003333442743298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNuB4stXHArWYwKjr4R7ibQqeulsy0SgFmZTAUJ_aiXQaKF6Euviem09I8A6prRF2nWqw4eSZSKEDfWjFaxdamtSD23jRLNoJqwwtdZIQEJFnznjj48a6S45H3WLixv9YVIWBD40fcADA/s400/centaur.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj17n9MCHj2DfZ7kVj7VGTe0PMqNo0ou-h5frvBoftO-Fuw-9126e6hipLhHGnvCwttwoSJnD_kwRhkDry9xAwFP_3pMpJyQTrX_VduEWN0Pr9rLv3JDXKJpkSZp77ngHEwJX8j1fGmvEE/s1600-h/architect+god.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 291px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446003893081900690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj17n9MCHj2DfZ7kVj7VGTe0PMqNo0ou-h5frvBoftO-Fuw-9126e6hipLhHGnvCwttwoSJnD_kwRhkDry9xAwFP_3pMpJyQTrX_VduEWN0Pr9rLv3JDXKJpkSZp77ngHEwJX8j1fGmvEE/s400/architect+god.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX-JukbVKmUPnMhGg-U_3gtWdXAaEGzu465b3e_onR3jaK-8K9sUpPC-3fZBQ58Ii94mCRddh2XBtgPGLrMc2Vu3FkAXcUlkc6BjKHc7pbMrWzy99OytUSzhX57eLYoNC_J5nOt2LdSDo/s1600-h/billboard.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 291px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446004052663173202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX-JukbVKmUPnMhGg-U_3gtWdXAaEGzu465b3e_onR3jaK-8K9sUpPC-3fZBQ58Ii94mCRddh2XBtgPGLrMc2Vu3FkAXcUlkc6BjKHc7pbMrWzy99OytUSzhX57eLYoNC_J5nOt2LdSDo/s400/billboard.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><p></p><br /><p>This sunday was much more fun, in spite of paper anxiety produced by last Sunday. I went to dim sum for the very first time. (But hopefully not the last.) For someone who loves gummy/ ricey/ salty/ dumplingy things it was a revelation. I learned that the reason tea is served is to aid digestion - the tea cuts the grease in your belly. Umpteen dim sum delights and four pots of tea later I feel pretty good. I don't even need a nap. On the way home, we stopped at the (best) Chinese bakery and I bought a lotus paste mooncake. I had to take a picture before I took a tiny slab and stuck it in the freezer. They're so very pretty. </p><p><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPJrBXuxg5TIPIGo7uLkdNFWmYFDoWxm9wQ3Bf5OVsx9pp0W2PZ-iDHvqsiNB6ozx-hsi4SyGhfuPb7C3M_kBlQ6_fk0Cpgl75vmxlkk-YofZT-V7OspryvPUiBlPUDSxg-nvDAiJUITc/s1600-h/mooncake.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 291px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446006016998396882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPJrBXuxg5TIPIGo7uLkdNFWmYFDoWxm9wQ3Bf5OVsx9pp0W2PZ-iDHvqsiNB6ozx-hsi4SyGhfuPb7C3M_kBlQ6_fk0Cpgl75vmxlkk-YofZT-V7OspryvPUiBlPUDSxg-nvDAiJUITc/s400/mooncake.jpg" /></a><br /><br />And the kitty thought it looked tasty too, note her paw on my wrist trying to steal my wedge.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbFoLTMKCZvaNDhrVxHtKO_wpB1n3hrt9ecYc4PiE9C21JovRBO44t0A6JUER0V3h2WHmeQEVDoLowrhkdIXwqqwtpCigKhvcaqVWdB_X8IELJt3s8IJTV2TMbN21zeo-dZpWOk4EzEG4/s1600-h/kittymooncake.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 291px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446006294746175506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbFoLTMKCZvaNDhrVxHtKO_wpB1n3hrt9ecYc4PiE9C21JovRBO44t0A6JUER0V3h2WHmeQEVDoLowrhkdIXwqqwtpCigKhvcaqVWdB_X8IELJt3s8IJTV2TMbN21zeo-dZpWOk4EzEG4/s400/kittymooncake.jpg" /></a><br />After the bakery, we meandered through the Common to Charles St., and ended up at particularly excellent store called <a href="http://www.shopatgood.com/index.aspx">Good</a>. Good is very very good. They stock some gorgeous yet totally unneccessary things as well as incredibly lovely and timelessly classy jewelry; they type I love because it looks like it belongs in museum cases, recently unearthed from webby tombs. </p><p>This Sunday would probably be totally fun if I didn't have to stop farting around RIGHT NOW and work on a paper. (Thus, the "mostly fun".)</p><p></p>hollywoodcerisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16662359830490002780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329104747245784495.post-43001853665423859072010-01-03T21:42:00.000-05:002010-01-03T21:43:18.241-05:00Frost Heart<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9zf16sD-wkjitdg0DyiTst-bTsNGdN0dKblrRUweDh9pgZdEt57azOL4oVB0lyLTNUpsoEq12rKspELp5-40bpUFGUYwcAQYE9naErCKSZdJ2y4Zj1ZAo4kuLqVZRYKUlyqaEuS9CVj4/s1600-h/frost+heart+b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 291px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9zf16sD-wkjitdg0DyiTst-bTsNGdN0dKblrRUweDh9pgZdEt57azOL4oVB0lyLTNUpsoEq12rKspELp5-40bpUFGUYwcAQYE9naErCKSZdJ2y4Zj1ZAo4kuLqVZRYKUlyqaEuS9CVj4/s400/frost+heart+b.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422709655901255618" /></a>hollywoodcerisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16662359830490002780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329104747245784495.post-64646860388143182942009-11-24T21:03:00.001-05:002009-11-24T21:30:22.512-05:00Farewell, Pud!Here are some photos taken by the lovely Karen at a farewell brunch for Pud at my house in early October. Thanks Karen! <br /><br />Steamy waffles:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBVLit4h0N12HIzPYiJOuxAGmJKWO6u0joxuD3sFZF6y4-2BdUGoEZGGQBPgxNqVnMPhzrFLkNUBxuwlVQUQqhRqRJ_I9mbzw5xwsQ2kTDFnSxG5RmlnCU-BvUOQ5hAw91JZNKsZ939Ic/s1600-h/Karen+waffle+kitchen.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396337181275717570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBVLit4h0N12HIzPYiJOuxAGmJKWO6u0joxuD3sFZF6y4-2BdUGoEZGGQBPgxNqVnMPhzrFLkNUBxuwlVQUQqhRqRJ_I9mbzw5xwsQ2kTDFnSxG5RmlnCU-BvUOQ5hAw91JZNKsZ939Ic/s400/Karen+waffle+kitchen.jpg" /></a><br />Kitty & mimosas:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMEs0OUSwhSQrYDS6zoFlkOQZ1xUghii7XPEEbQxiiQhS1TN5pmdzw_MtzjeW_ndJMo-ltXKAnbZ_4HKkyzMXrB1izh2uaY5-85tPacFfhLOuiIpWziVxEI0GoGhIYDtP2E_Qo4-r56Sw/s1600-h/karen+kitty.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396337562745539858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMEs0OUSwhSQrYDS6zoFlkOQZ1xUghii7XPEEbQxiiQhS1TN5pmdzw_MtzjeW_ndJMo-ltXKAnbZ_4HKkyzMXrB1izh2uaY5-85tPacFfhLOuiIpWziVxEI0GoGhIYDtP2E_Qo4-r56Sw/s400/karen+kitty.jpg" /></a><br />Spiced dates and haloumi with pears:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhln1AUriBhU8w20Wfmv_LUbA78IcDMFlKoL-IvM3ZYtqp95w4WAGAJ4iO_nhl9M1i1uxu8PbXFfzKYGWEw14PRu6VwKiOljZQaeKmMsjvFc5lrj5rAYoOxwCRT1OSAxF6qGfqB_GmedSs/s1600-h/karen+haloumi.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396337313732507106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhln1AUriBhU8w20Wfmv_LUbA78IcDMFlKoL-IvM3ZYtqp95w4WAGAJ4iO_nhl9M1i1uxu8PbXFfzKYGWEw14PRu6VwKiOljZQaeKmMsjvFc5lrj5rAYoOxwCRT1OSAxF6qGfqB_GmedSs/s400/karen+haloumi.jpg" /></a><br />The remains of baked eggs, spinach & parmesan:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpn7ZjIP3D_frmuOJ4duHPiOtsG2TzvqThvZ5WTNzngyVdGUDKGloXqITPi_IKRUcu9JpONvl4WjEhW4gAtaD-Rp0g4q2LrwDw6gkR045LDrvN8MMhtosZNDVOdG0-H89QC3xqVJLa1iM/s1600-h/karen+eggs.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396337498720158338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpn7ZjIP3D_frmuOJ4duHPiOtsG2TzvqThvZ5WTNzngyVdGUDKGloXqITPi_IKRUcu9JpONvl4WjEhW4gAtaD-Rp0g4q2LrwDw6gkR045LDrvN8MMhtosZNDVOdG0-H89QC3xqVJLa1iM/s400/karen+eggs.jpg" /></a><br />Not fakin' bacon:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL2lLqnQJCmQeM-5qAZapyF2oubkpwIo9Il6JVXnojUOx_YOxWPfEyk20xtNAaZA76xU9IHu1XlMLUmQcuOaP3yysvcyuc7iGU-CrT8e9ZVQ4XVlZqwsDsimOQq0oJ0aw1gStbYS7rPkg/s1600-h/karen+bacon.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396337404777722338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL2lLqnQJCmQeM-5qAZapyF2oubkpwIo9Il6JVXnojUOx_YOxWPfEyk20xtNAaZA76xU9IHu1XlMLUmQcuOaP3yysvcyuc7iGU-CrT8e9ZVQ4XVlZqwsDsimOQq0oJ0aw1gStbYS7rPkg/s400/karen+bacon.jpg" /></a>hollywoodcerisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16662359830490002780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329104747245784495.post-34642609995422370432009-11-09T21:17:00.000-05:002009-11-24T21:29:21.962-05:00Farewell, Gourmet!Welcome to the second annual Naughty Table function, farewell Gourmet Magazine! We all brought something from a Gourmet recipe, though funny. . . no one brough aspic!<br /><br />Here are some cooling galettes (apple and squash-sage-caramelized onion-goat cheese) and pretty tiles:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6iTyQ5zRVdHfQY0McZCRpKUdUR2flB8DOgnUCUNVn8p1BKiezKjtpR0S3mLN4yZerzabMzjbsBb602M2RVRTFgFJMi6l_vlHx_YdAzJgybAP2-AKspNgjz6YfA-YJSw5qLQccgospTv0/s1600/tarts+and+tiles.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 291px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407860421403834002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6iTyQ5zRVdHfQY0McZCRpKUdUR2flB8DOgnUCUNVn8p1BKiezKjtpR0S3mLN4yZerzabMzjbsBb602M2RVRTFgFJMi6l_vlHx_YdAzJgybAP2-AKspNgjz6YfA-YJSw5qLQccgospTv0/s400/tarts+and+tiles.jpg" /></a><br />Among the seven of us I think there were like. . . 12 desserts??? Totally spectacular. I tried to take a photo of one of the plates representing slices of each dessert but the combination of my laughing too hard at the absurdity of it all and the lovely candle-lit victorian dining room didn't make for a great photo. Yum.<br /><br />a><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 291px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407861102725925602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyqK3vussJEREcBudw4azQ2Lxib3XISDQ5Dxy706qokiGCUr44K8kHOsUqWNUy_sL-nR1FNwdK20KNoUDHL0cCBVfDO01h5-qdhRBs2NFP1Bjqr32WFwCqhI904_iub3Gv1oy_kq6XI4Y/s400/fgdesserts.jpg" />hollywoodcerisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16662359830490002780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329104747245784495.post-78766448461296547942009-10-25T21:13:00.012-04:002009-11-24T21:29:52.777-05:00Apple Pie Bake-Off 2009I won again. I don't think I'm going to be invited next year! The first year I made a very traditional pie. It had boiled cider in the filling and maybe in the crust, so it was quite good. Last year I made a pie with cheddar cheese in the crust. This year, I decided to make something completely different - so different that I thought I might have been disqualified. I made a candy apple pie. I found the recipe online, it won Apartment Therapy's best pie contest last year. It's insanely sweet - my teeth still ache. It began with a graham cracker crust. Once the crust cooled, I smothered it with caramel and chopped pecans. I cooked the Granny Smith apples in butter, sugar, and cinnamon. Once they had reduced, I poured them into the crust. The final layer was a thin cheesecake layer. The original recipe calls for a layer of whipped cream and then more caramel & chopped pecans. I decided that whipped cream would have been overkill, so I drizzled more caramel on the top and decorated the whole thing with whole pecan halves. It was good, but VERY sweet. The other contenders were fantastic as well. One was a French apple tart, another a pie with raisins and almonds, and another a very good traditional pie with a soft crust.<br /><br />Here's my pie pre-carnage. The caramel dripped down the sides in transit, and I see that the pecans aren't where they were originally obsessively placed:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ1og5fKBE81vQAdnewzL-U_MwVjfnULxGjj7At_iu8IDDXgu-RURSf765B9ij6JchMf819Xgauh27Ol5ySAfKXWWY_Z8Zw_FRI7_VgpOr9kOzWOx2tfEDvuf_q991rfJepxHQz5U0gos/s1600-h/pie+whole+2009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 291px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ1og5fKBE81vQAdnewzL-U_MwVjfnULxGjj7At_iu8IDDXgu-RURSf765B9ij6JchMf819Xgauh27Ol5ySAfKXWWY_Z8Zw_FRI7_VgpOr9kOzWOx2tfEDvuf_q991rfJepxHQz5U0gos/s400/pie+whole+2009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396715357103174690" border="0" /></a><br />Here are all four contestants:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2eaw2pb3Nqnehyphenhyphen8VdxLH9cDHg25ItyRZ7pFo1ltbO996R2HCvFtXvegHn5iaCaFOeXk-HfbU3ltRNaX23aO9TVHEyUknx-Q7ttqTtDbRbYEUNU6bKoKOowC4MUGppWF3qtZZvOt2_YYs/s1600-h/pie+2009+all.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 291px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2eaw2pb3Nqnehyphenhyphen8VdxLH9cDHg25ItyRZ7pFo1ltbO996R2HCvFtXvegHn5iaCaFOeXk-HfbU3ltRNaX23aO9TVHEyUknx-Q7ttqTtDbRbYEUNU6bKoKOowC4MUGppWF3qtZZvOt2_YYs/s400/pie+2009+all.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396715438105248290" border="0" /></a><br />Here's my pie stratigraphy:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6pgwDDGAkO4BK6wFdixc0sSHiBS5LKZVYcUOWpDGKRAnzTmL8SwB6FTFtH7M5gV6mqjqAr_ulzcYyhUNVW1igpjbc1eKLtU8BnAJP7nMkSeQeDvmKRknCly6EuAUYq2dZXSFe6DtCRiE/s1600-h/pie+2009+cut.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 291px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6pgwDDGAkO4BK6wFdixc0sSHiBS5LKZVYcUOWpDGKRAnzTmL8SwB6FTFtH7M5gV6mqjqAr_ulzcYyhUNVW1igpjbc1eKLtU8BnAJP7nMkSeQeDvmKRknCly6EuAUYq2dZXSFe6DtCRiE/s400/pie+2009+cut.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396715525620597714" border="0" /></a><br />And because we hadn't had enough sugar, here's a lovely rootbeer float:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9B59tlruszdmQP1Mhm0llZ01jCXK-R3aWnu4W7VmLrqSrKNJh_gm5u2UfW-dv7AqCActXDaIE1y1Y3_yVWYdzrlS2zgy71OgF55k8RRAyDtBNdqX5XgfX4qk3ZwiLW8UqtbGeM6xHBpE/s1600-h/root+beer+floats.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 291px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9B59tlruszdmQP1Mhm0llZ01jCXK-R3aWnu4W7VmLrqSrKNJh_gm5u2UfW-dv7AqCActXDaIE1y1Y3_yVWYdzrlS2zgy71OgF55k8RRAyDtBNdqX5XgfX4qk3ZwiLW8UqtbGeM6xHBpE/s400/root+beer+floats.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396715596824705762" border="0" /></a>hollywoodcerisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16662359830490002780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329104747245784495.post-76965872188292578662009-10-04T22:48:00.004-04:002009-10-25T20:10:30.251-04:00Pistachios, before you knew themI found fresh pistachios at the Armenian market. They're covered in a squishy skin.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZA8uG9RO9Vs_I1zuWovqlitMc08ex6mJy3amfEBN2HU1xV7MdWFYwPsquWZZ1L607cmBRmSIiyRMzEYUCxDQZ8DRDyIvwhNeP7ce8hBTAcZPCnBlH_Z4MxvhTEsLwt0Dk3SUQnkK0SiY/s1600-h/pistachios+closed.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 291px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZA8uG9RO9Vs_I1zuWovqlitMc08ex6mJy3amfEBN2HU1xV7MdWFYwPsquWZZ1L607cmBRmSIiyRMzEYUCxDQZ8DRDyIvwhNeP7ce8hBTAcZPCnBlH_Z4MxvhTEsLwt0Dk3SUQnkK0SiY/s400/pistachios+closed.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396332919418993122" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Which you peel away to reveal the familiar shell, which you struggle to crack to reveal sweet, delicately green raw pistachios.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0CcqOeXYgUKoQl2WQ9nWbQknTSgd2-ZwDIsAyKYiKpsLfPy1sESIyNAF-YZMLfWKKPa8jFKVN_pD-inNoKlA5_CIjUzjgXqDlfs6NNCNge1idfeinrCJCI5Zd4qKdRueLHzFB0XoRjo0/s1600-h/pistachios+open.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 291px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0CcqOeXYgUKoQl2WQ9nWbQknTSgd2-ZwDIsAyKYiKpsLfPy1sESIyNAF-YZMLfWKKPa8jFKVN_pD-inNoKlA5_CIjUzjgXqDlfs6NNCNge1idfeinrCJCI5Zd4qKdRueLHzFB0XoRjo0/s400/pistachios+open.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396333358315272290" border="0" /></a>hollywoodcerisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16662359830490002780noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329104747245784495.post-61634602123749750262009-09-23T21:37:00.000-04:002009-10-25T21:12:38.277-04:00Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?No, not Amanda Hesser, nor Judith Jones.<br /><br />The Naughty Table! Before I explain who the Naughty Table is I need to backtrack even further. This has been an exceptionally tasty and educational summer! It all began when my friend the Kurdish Nomad, or K.N., and I started going to the Talking Taste series at The Institute of Contemporary Art. TheTalking Tastes were a lecture series where members of the restaurant community spoke and cooked. And they fed us, not an entire meal, but just enough to get our taste buds watering and our stomachs looking forward to dinner. The first guest speaker was my favorite chef from my favorite restaurant, Ana Sortun from Oleana (and Sofra Baker). K.N. and I left the museum totally blissed out (not without a tour of the Shepard Fairey exhibition) and drove straight to Oleana. That set a precedent. After each talk, we went to one or more of the restaurants belonging to the speaker. Or to Oleana, if the restaurant wasn't in the area; Pane e Salute sounds lovely, but a drive to Vermont wouldn't have been very practical.<br /><br />Since then, we've been unabashed members of the Ana Sortun fan club. I think we've been to Oleana at least another 4 times between us, and to Sofra Bakery (just a fifteen minute walk from my house) too many times to mention. I think we went like, three Sundays in a row or something crazy like that. I can't really explain the menu. . . just look at their Web site.<br /><br />A few weeks ago we went to a Dutch beer and food pairing at the Peabody Essex Museum as a tie in to the dutch seascapes exhibition. I had the best shared table experience ever - everyone at the table was interesting and funny and likes talking about food as much as I do. We had so much fun talking that we ignored the less than stellar lecturers, resulting in the group tag "the Naughty Table". We exchanged email addresses and vowed to share especially good information and to hopefully meet again<br /><br />I took the commuter rail back to Boston with the two of the women who are about my age. It was spooky how much we had in common, spooky in an exciting way that made me feel happy that I'd found some of "my people". We all like visiting museums, traveling, (eating and cooking obviously), going on culturally edifying (read nerdy) field trips, and Mad Men (but who doesn't, right?) Upon further chatting, we discovered that their third musketeer is none other than my long lost fellow camp counselor from 1989! (I'd always wondered what had happened to him.)<br /><br />Last Sunday, after a beer tasting at Formaggio, the Naughty Table AND my long lost camp friend came to my house for dinner. K.N. and I decided to make a selection of recipes from the Talking Tastes and from Ana Sortun's cookbook, Spice. We had a test run a couple weekends before, so we knew pretty much what we were dealing with. The goal was to have a light and fresh dinner that took advantage of the great late summer produce. Light was key, since we'd have just come from a beer and cheese tasting. We made:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Haloumi with Spiced Dates and Pears</span> (from Ana Sortun's <span style="font-style: italic;">Spice</span>): This is always a crowd pleaser, at least to those who aren't grossed out by haloumi, the cheese that squeaks when you bite it! Halloumi has a high melting point, so it can be fried to a lovely golden brown crisp on the outside but not melty on the inside because it doesn't really melt. When it's paired with sauteed pears and dates spiced with cardomom, cumin & coriander cooked in lemon juice, olive oil & brown sugar it's a winner.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Spoon Salad with Sorrel Granite</span> (from ana Sortun's ICA lecture): spoon salad is a cucumber, grape, mint, dill & onion salad atop a dollop of sorrel flavored labne, embellished with a spoonful of sorrel granita. Before Ana's talk, I'd never had sorrel. It's a green with a light, fresh, almost lemony green apple flavor. It can be very difficult to find - it had a definite season, and it's not very in demand. It's work seeking out.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Heirloom Tomato Soup with Succotash</span>: (from Frank McClelland of L'Espalier & Selle de Terre): Despite the tomato blight, the giant heirloom tomatoes were spectacular.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nectarine and Lemon Verbena PaoPaos</span>. (Ana Sortun's <span style="font-style: italic;">Spice</span>, served regularly at Oleana): A few tablespoons of pureed nectarines and lemon verbena infused sugar syrup topped off with prosecco. We made the pear cardamom version a couple weeks ago, and I have to say that despite my unfailing love of nectarines, I prefered the pear cardamom<br /><br />I didn't take photos of any of the finished products, but here are some of the works in progress:<br /><br />Here's a blanched nectarine. I learned an awful lot about blanching!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSIXP5bJOhYJJGVFd1zM4BG33s1wuoPGGy2qXLtvepApE9rngoA7BAbjgxXDWKQutOejesDxGLQFINoSQIvudUmlPZsUUOY3rW_byWrvXpyXqJvVWay396DXlGCo17FdO7lCEoSBN6gUw/s1600-h/blanched+nectarine.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 291px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSIXP5bJOhYJJGVFd1zM4BG33s1wuoPGGy2qXLtvepApE9rngoA7BAbjgxXDWKQutOejesDxGLQFINoSQIvudUmlPZsUUOY3rW_byWrvXpyXqJvVWay396DXlGCo17FdO7lCEoSBN6gUw/s400/blanched+nectarine.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396334743191576338" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here's the sorrel on the way to being granite. It's such a spectacular color! It tastes just like it looks:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiodhDEOf3SKZpNqWt2YzNC7Ogfo-HwL7rTNE9G1TeA08KAY5NUAAgxyuojlz2BksChnO180MMmyF-3lqMzoRz_c4HW40rLJUX3TSlmEs_mynB_SvgspxGS-gTqdU0M2NQvpbkI-8Gjv8/s1600-h/sorrel+in+blender.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 291px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiodhDEOf3SKZpNqWt2YzNC7Ogfo-HwL7rTNE9G1TeA08KAY5NUAAgxyuojlz2BksChnO180MMmyF-3lqMzoRz_c4HW40rLJUX3TSlmEs_mynB_SvgspxGS-gTqdU0M2NQvpbkI-8Gjv8/s400/sorrel+in+blender.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396334824939116946" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Heirloom tomato puree- not as pretty as the others:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtdUmEsR_UPBCG6w1BB-5ZZ1rLtYr8ozETv7S5VFapT9jtmvKl3SQENr3YHFRLYSsm3HnIXpPctmxtBCscK9H4yzJqtBaOYt3Aoeb0JSCO7W8h_9046Mr07hDrcgojmn7oYNb3-Vdm3Vk/s1600-h/heirloom+tomato+soup.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 291px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtdUmEsR_UPBCG6w1BB-5ZZ1rLtYr8ozETv7S5VFapT9jtmvKl3SQENr3YHFRLYSsm3HnIXpPctmxtBCscK9H4yzJqtBaOYt3Aoeb0JSCO7W8h_9046Mr07hDrcgojmn7oYNb3-Vdm3Vk/s400/heirloom+tomato+soup.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396335118278196914" border="0" /></a>hollywoodcerisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16662359830490002780noreply@blogger.com0