Finger on the Pulse

Shows how much I have my finger on the pulse of the New York City culture scene that I found out about the DOC NYC festival on the day before it ends, but at least I managed to see one screening. Tonight I was lucky to be part of last-minute plans to see Page One: Inside The New York Times. It was a fascinating film about old media, new media, and how reporters keep their finger on the pulse of important stories during the digital age. See it if you can, and then go read and appreciate a great piece of investigative journalism. I wish I could have seen all the films on the festival's short list - will have to track them down!

Chevron + Chevron

Like everyone else, I'm loving chevron these days. Oh and something I've had my eye on for a while is on sale. Alas, home decor purchases are on hold due to a little expense called grad school.  

via Decor8 via Apartus

via Honey Kennedy via Swedishness

A Recipe for Monday: Spinach Balls

I would like to share my go-to party recipe that my friend Gina requested I bring to her place on Saturday night.  Spinach balls are freakishly easy and such a crowd pleaser.  Some might say a good cook never reveals her recipes, but I say, let's spread the spinach ball love.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 (10 ounce) packages frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
• 2 cups bread crumbs (the chunky kind, not the fine Panko kind)
• 1 cup coarsely Parmesan cheese (not finely grated)
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 4 small green onion, finely chopped
• 4 eggs, lightly beaten
• salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F
2. Mix all ingredients. 
3. Shape the mixture into 1 inch balls.
4. Arrange the balls in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven 15-20 minutes, until lightly browned and sizzling.
5. Serve with spicy mustard.
6. Consume.

Makes about 100 balls, always at least double the recipe since people will likely eat them pretty quickly.  Stay tuned, during the holidays I'll also share my other favorite finger food: cheddar olive balls!

Happy Halloween

I shopped my closet for a Halloween costume and came up with this ... a beat poet of course.  All things considered I was quite happy about it and fit right in at a Halloween house party where everyone simply culled clothing from their own wardrobes.  That's JM as Paul Bunyan.  I am not a candy person, but night was made by the presence of pigs in a blanket (and a good amount of wine).  HAPPY HALLOWEEN.

Week in Review

Via the Brick House Tumblr via Andrew Cloutier Blog

It feels great to have been back into blogging this week! I confess I've really missed it, but the first quarter of this semester has been absolutely crazy busy. One class just ended however and things will be a bit calmer for the next two weeks until I start picking up a bunch of holiday hours at one of my jobs. This weekend will consist of house cleaning, homeworking, trekking to the post office to pick up a package, and a stop at a Halloween party for which I don't really have a costume (JM is going to be Paul Bunyan).  The party's hostess has also requested that I make my famous spinach balls and bring them for an appetizer, so I'll be working on those Saturday evening.  Some things that have caught my eye recently ...

A pumpkin smoothie?

Love this gem via Swiss Miss.

I am all for art and natural births, but not so sure about this.

JM has already been to see it, but for now I'm checking out our friends Joe & Amy's house renovation here.

Woohoo, more NA chic.

Wouldn't you like to just drop everything and open an oyster truck?!

And once again, we were here, it was awesome.

Movie Alert: My Week With Marilyn

It's no secret I have a bit of a girl crush on Michelle Williams and I loved learning more about Marilyn Monroe last year in Vanity Fair ... so, needless to say I'm excited about this movie!  (PS. If you can believe it, I have not been to a movie theater since I saw Harry Potter 7, Pt. 2 in Kampala, Uganda in August. Gotta get on that.)

via - via