my week in pictures...

This week has been pretty great. I am also pretty snap happy with my new camera, and wanted to share some photos of what I'm all about lately in Portland. For Christmas, my dad and his wife got me and my sisters gift cards from Anthropologie, a store I mostly avoid due to the high prices and achy feeling of want that I leave with, so this time it was nice to shop for something without sweating the price too much. This is the sweater I got! The collar is like a mock scarf that loops through a hole on the other side. Snap buttons, too! I'm so dorky. And fancy.

Speaking of fancy, I went to a restaurant downtown called Fish Grotto, which has been a bridge town establishment for over 100 years. It was very tasty, and I even tried two things I've turned my nose up to my whole life: Mussels- wow, yum. And RABBIT (pictured below). It was very tasty, actually, and I liked it better than chicken, though I probably won't make a habbit out of it. The next day when I was walking by a department store, a woman with pamphlets asked if I would be interested in an anti-fur organization. On the cover of her pamphlet was a cute little bunny.

On the subject of cute, the kiddos I nanny, Eliza (4) and Zachary (7), have had a fun week due to the cool and rainy weather. One of their favorite things to do is go to the OMSI (Science Museum). Here Eliza found one of the robots disguised as a cute baby doll. She was obsessed with it's strange sounds.



There was a big to do in our neighborhood with the new Whole Foods Market opening just 2 blocks away from our house! My roomie Suzanne is a marketing director for the pacific northwest stores, so she was busy busy at the special Hollywood "Red Carpet" party. We dressed up a bit to feast on the many free samples of food and beverage. They even rented a paparazzi background to get a photo in front of! Tony Starlight, a neighborhood legend, performed oldies with his band right in the store. It was pretty cool for a grocery store opening!

I have been running every day, slowly clearing out my lungs (tomorrow is two weeks without a cigarette!). This also makes me very bake-happy. I made chocolate chip cookies a couple of nights ago, and also french baguettes with whipped sea salt butter last night! Yum. It's amazing how simple it is to bake bread, it's just all about the timing, and having the time to do so. I had to let mine rise for much longer while I was at work, but it still turned out well.
<---(I found this great little bedside table at House of Vintage for $35 as well and rearranged my bedroom).

Anyway, that's about it for now. I am excited to return to Minnesota in a less than a couple of weeks to play The Current's Rock the Cradle event and hang out with some friends... Thanks for reading!




Later/*hb

Chilly Weather Solution for my Midwest homies...

I've heard through the grapevine, and the weather reports, that the moaning wind coming from the midwest is not just the people living there. In other words, it's really frickin' cold and everyone is bummed. I'd like to say 'ha ha', but it hasn't been much warmer out here in stumptown with the chilling wind and rain making it unpleasant to do much but drink hot beverages and eat warm food as soon as you get inside.
As a gift I recieved a much-coveted copy of Martha Stewart's "Great Food Fast", a wonderful little cookbook divided into seasons, with a whole section in the back about the basics, something that is nice to have around without leafing through a giant book. Last night I tried a VERY EASY vegetarian (vegan, even) version of her "Moroccan Chicken Cous Cous", substituting with tofu instead, and it was delicious. So, my Minnesota friends, this is for you- if I were freezing my butt off with you there I would have a dinner party and cook this belly warmer. Do it!

Moroccan chicken (or tofu) Cous Cous
serves 4-6, takes 45 min. total.

you need:
Half block of extra firm tofu, cubed (or you can do the 8 bone-in skinless chicken thighs)
3 carrots, cut into 1.5 " chunks
1.5 onion (the recipe calls for 3 but that is WAY too much), thinly sliced
1 (14.5) oz. can whole tomatoes, drained
1 (15.5) oz. can of garbonzo beans, rinsed and drained
1 3/4 c. veggie or chicken broth
1/2 tsp ground ginger (i used fresh, worth it)
1/4 tsp ground turmeric
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp chili powder
course sea salt, ground pepper
2 zucchini, halved crosswise and quartered lengthwise
1/2 fresh jalapeno (optional, but good)
cous cous, for serving (easy recipe at the bottom)

you cook:
1. In large pot with lid combine everything except the zucchini, breaking up the tomatoes with a spoon, and bring to a simmer. You do not need to pre cook onions or tofu, it all starts together! Once at a simmer, let cook for 15 mins.

2. Add zucchini, stir it up, let it cook for another 15 mins, testing for need of more salt/pepper.
3. Divide cous cous evenly among 4-6 bowls. Spoon the stew on top and serve immediately.


Wasn't that easy?
I hope you enjoy!

love, hb

Best Cous Cous recipe (From Ms. Stewart, of course, or why else would it be called "best"?)
2 c. cous cous, dry.
2 tbls. olive oil
2.5 C boiling water.

1. Put the cous cous in a medium mixing bowl, add oil and stir with a fork until coated. Flatten with the back of the fork.
2. Add 1 cup of boiling water, cover bowl with plastic or plate for 3 mins. Stir. Repeat twice until water is added and cous cous is nice n' fluffy. Add salt if desired.