Birthday Bathtime!

When we were doling out responsibilities for my dear friend Lizzie's birthday celebration I was charged with bringing a sweet treat of some kind. Our friend Katie mentioned she had already put in an order for the unparalleled  Momofuku Birthday Cake that we have all been obsessed with since my birthday.  Then Angela had suggested I try + make my own interpretation of the Momofuku Birthday Cake + we could compare + contrast the two.  I wimped out of the challenge + went on a mission to find another suitable recipe to make.

As I was sifting through cookbooks, binders of recipes I clipped from magazines + some of my favorite food blogs I was simultaneously racking my brain to think of Lizzie's favorite flavors when it hit me. She loved when I made Magnolia Bakery Banana Pudding once + mentioned she would "take a bath in it if she could".  While I am not usually a fan of making the same recipe more than once this one is too tasty not to be repeated.

Happy Birthday Lizzie, best wishes for the best year to date! xo

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Magnolia Bakery Banana Pudding {adapted from the More From Magnolia Cookbook}

Grocery List

Dairy

3 cups heavy whipping cream

Produce

4 cups sliced ripe bananas

Dry Goods

14oz can sweetened condensed milk

12oz box Nilla Waffers {I prefer the mini Nilla Waffers}

 3.4 oz package instant vanilla pudding {Jello Brand preferred}

Misc

1.5 cups ice water

Game Plan

1. In a small bowl, on the medium speed of an electric mixer, beat together the sweetened condensed milk and water until well combined, about 1 minute. Add the pudding mix and beat well, about 2 minutes more. Cover and refrigerate for 3-4 hours or overnight, before continuing. It is very important to allow the proper amount of time for the pudding mixture to set.

2.  In a large bowl, on the medium speed of an electric mixer, whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Gently fold the pudding mixture into the whipped cream until well blended and no streaks of pudding remain.

3. To assemble the dessert, select a large, wide bowl (preferably glass) with a 4-5-quart capacity. Arrange one-third of the wafers to cover the bottom of the bowl, overlapping if necessary, then one-third of the bananas and one-third of the pudding. Repeat the layering twice more, garnishing with additional wafers or wafer crumbs on the top layer of the pudding. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and allow to chill in the refrigerator for 4 hours - or up to 8 hours, but no longer! - before serving.
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xo

jules

Nuovi Vicini {New Neighbors}

  It is no secret that I have a giant food crush on Mario Batali, so when I heard his mega Italian food temple was finally opening a stone's throw from my apartment I could not have been more gitty {yes, I am that big of a food dork!}. While it is over crowded, overwhelming + over stimulating , I still happen to think it is a great addition to the neighborhood.


 I had an old friend from college visiting from LA on Saturday so I popped over to Eataly mid afternoon to pick up some vino + snacks to enjoy on my rooftop before we headed out for the night.  I was throughly impressed by how knowledgable + helpful the staff was despite the over abundance of customers clamoring for their attention. I walked out with a crisp bottle of Pinot Grigio + the most delectable selection of cheese, cured meats, pears, bread + olive oil to accompany it. I think my new neighbors + I are going to be seeing a lot more of each other.

 xo

jules

TV Dinner

{butternut squash soup with spicy pumpkin seeds}

New York is undoubtedly a fast paced city with the exception of the summer when locals insist on leaving the office early to flee the city + actually take a little extra time to relax. Post Labor Day the city ramps right back up again, as does my social calendar.   With parties, dinners out, fundraising galas, brunches, happy hours, birthday celebrations, concerts + work, my schedule has literally been a whirlwind since the first week of September! 

Tonight was the first night in weeks I didn't have anything on my iCal after work, so I welcomed the opportunity to stop by Chelsea Market on my way home + pickup  some ingredients to make a seasonally inspired dinner. When I got home I put on my favorite sweats, made myself some butternut squash soup with spicy pumpkin seeds + curled up on the couch to catch up on my magazine reading + DVR.  It was exactly what I needed!

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Butternut Squash Soup with Spicy Pumpkin Seeds {adapted from here}

Grocery List

Dairy- 2 tablespoons butter

              sour cream for dolloping {I had some leftover from here}

Produce- 1 small onion chopped

                    1 {2inch} piece of fresh ginger, peeled + chopped

                    2 garlic cloves chopped

                    2 3/4 lbs butternut squash, prepared + cut into 3/4 inch cubes

                    2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

                    1/4 cup fresh orange juice

Dry Goods- 1 cup raw green pumpkin seeds

Spice Cabinet- kosher salt

                              fresh ground pepper

                              1 teaspoon chili powder

                              1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Game Plan

Soup

1. Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook onion until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add ginger, garlic, and squash; cook, stirring occasionally, until fragrant, 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in 4 cups water. Bring to a boil; reduce heat. Simmer until squash is tender, 20 minutes.

2. Purée soup in two batches. When blending hot foods, allow the heat to escape to prevent splattering. Remove the cap from the hole of the blender’s lid, and cover with a dish towel. Stir in juice and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. Serve hot, with sour cream, pepper, and pumpkin seeds, if desired.

Spicy Pumpkin Seeds

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, combine pumpkin seeds, chili powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and lime juice; toss to coat.

2. Spread on a rimmed baking sheet; bake until puffed and browned, about 10 minutes.

                          

{spicy pumpkin seeds}

{my magazine pile up}

{seasonally fresh butternut squash}

{my favorite spot on the couch}

{crusty bread for dipping!}

 xo
 jules

How Much Is That Doggie In The Window?

                                                                {Bergdorf Goodman}


I work just off 5th Avenue in midtown + live just off 5th Avenue downtown so access to the best shopping in the city is literally at my door step.  The good news for my pocket book {designer of course!} is that by the time I get off work most of the stores have already closed for the night. However, I happen to have two roommates who could not be more excited to go for a walk when I get home + do a little window shopping, as well as take care of some other business while we are out.  Here are some of our favorite spots to browse past.....

                                                                        {Moschino}

 {ABC Home}

{Banchet Flowers}

{Mulberry}

{Little Marc Jacobs}

{Christian Louboutin}

{My Roomies}

                       

xo

jules

Paint The Town

My friends + I will use any excuse to throw a party.  Birthdays, holidays, TV show viewings, job promotions, you name the occasion we are most likely toasting Veuve to commemorate it! When my friend Angela recently moved to a fabulous new place on the Upper West Side it seemed obvious that a "painting party" was in order, so that was exactly what we did this Saturday morning.

After dissecting back issues of Domino {RIP}, scouring design blogs + over analyzing Benjamin Moore swatches, colors were chosen, mimosa were poured + we got to work.  I decided we might need a something sweet to keep us motivated mid-morning so I baked a chocolate chip coffee cake before hopping on the 1 train uptown.

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Janet's Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake {adapted from here}

Grocery List

Dairy- 1 stick unsalted butter at room temperature

           2 large eggs at room temperature

           1 cup sour cream

Dry Goods- 2 cups all-purpose flour

                    1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

                    1 teaspoon baking soda

                    1 1/4 cups sugar

                    1 cup chocolate chips {Ghirardelli milk chocolate chips taste best!}

Spice Cabinet- 1/2 teaspoon salt

                        1 teaspoon cinnamon

                        1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract {my favorite kind}

Game Plan

1. Preheat oven to 350. Grease an 8-inch square baking pan.  In a medium bowl mix together flour, baking powder, baking soda + salt.  In a small bowl combine 1/4 cup sugar + cinnamon.

2. Using an electric mixer, beat together the butter + remaining 1 cup sugar until fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then beat in sour cream + vanilla.  Fold in the the flour mixture in 2 parts until just combined.  Pour half the cake batter into the pan + sprinkle with half the cinnamon-sugar mixture + half the chocolate chips.  Spoon the remaining batter over the filling as evenly as possible spreading gently.  Sprinkle with remaining cinnamon-sugar mixture + chocolate chips.

3. Bake 30-35 minutes until golden brown + tooth pick inserted in the center comes out clean.

4. Enjoy! 

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xo

jules

City Love

Dear New York City, 

I think any New Yorker will agree "if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere". As a young girl growing up in the Windy City, I always dreamed of moving to the Big Apple.  Here I am 6 years later, still standing + just as smitten with you as ever. I've changed jobs, boyfriends, moved apartments an inordinate amount of times, had my heart broken, broken some hearts, consistently paid obscene rent + STILL there is no place I'd rather be.

Ok, ok, I'll cut to the chase. Yes, it's true. I did abandon you for a multilevel structure surrounded by copious amounts of land, complete with white picked fence in a far off land called New Jersey.  I admit it was a gargantuan lapse of judgement, but love makes you do crazy things sometimes {and just plain crazy others!}.  Please accept this sincere apology from the bottom of my city-loving heart + know I will never relocate west of the Hudson  again.

I've returned to my senses + could not be more ebullient to meander through your villages, listen to music in all your quaint little venues, taste the fruits of your culinary masters, people watch in your luscious parks, be inspired by your museums + most of all rediscover what it means to be a New Yorker.

Forever Yours,

Jules

Ps. Check out my new digs! 

xo

jules