Not Your Grandmother's Pot Roast

My friend Heather asked me to guest post on her cooking blog, "Pestle Mortar." So exciting! She's a kindred foodie spirit, an amazing chef (trained in pastry at the Cordon Bleu!), you can always find great recipes on her blog (not to mention, she always brings a tasty treat to a party!).

Check out her blog to get the yummy recipe.

The cupboard under the stairs

No Harry Potter room for us-- couldn't fit a bed in it if you tried. But given the teeny quarters we live in (with no storage space... have I mentioned that enough?), we are trying to maximize every good quality for what it's worth. High ceilings mean cabinets and bookshelves to the rafters. Oddly shaped alcoves get shelved and faced with interesting fabric as a door. Even the bed frame doubles as storage, with some fancy spring action that allows you to lift the foot up to reveal our linen closet. You have to be creative when you're dealing with 100 year old houses b.c. (before closets).

Under the stairs is the latest transformation. The refrigerator, washer and dryer were shoved underneath, but with things piled high on top, we weren't using the available space to the best of its ability. Not to mention it was both unsightly and super loud. I don't know why but washers and dryers in England are ridiculously loud. They may very well be the same decibel as the U.S., and really? What do I know-- I've only experienced them in a garage, basement or a separate laundry room. But all the same in such close quarters (here), if the washing machine was running, forget about watching TV. Even turned up all the way you literally couldn't hear anything.

Enter the ever-handy MRN. We started with some damp-proof and new plaster. Then a vent was fitted through the wall, under the stairs, to the exterior for the dryer. Next came the framing and boxing in to house the washer and dryer and create shelving followed by a new light (since the single bulb hanging from the ceiling really wasn't doing it for me; not to mention it kept burning through boxes and bags I was storing up there above the microwave... a teeny bit of a fire hazard). And finally? The piéce de résistance-- bespoke (English-ism meaning custom) doors to match our kitchen, made by hand by the talented MRN.

The awesomely crazy thing about the feat is that there is literally not a straight wall in this house. Partially to do with its age, although I suspect much of it to do with the cowboys who called themselves builders, it means lots and lots of extra work to make anything look right or doors to actually open. This project was no different, but sheer genius has prevailed. The result? Amazing cabinets that even have room for the vacuum (courtesy of yet another custom shelf) and a laundry basket. All hidden away by beautiful doors.

Can you tell I'm excited??

damp course treatment and new plaster































lovely light bulb













yes-- sooooo attractive...













boxed in and getting tidier (new refrigerator... the teeny one broke... thank goodness)
















new doors going in, pre-sanding and painting



































painted and beautiful, color matched to kitchen cabinets

















and another bonus-- a place to hide keys and (finally) hang my key ring key (that i love). oh-- and get things off the front of the refrigerator (which MRN hates).

I Am a New Yorker

Nine years later... seems like a lifetime ago. At the same time, it's like it was yesterday. My eternal gratefulness to policemen, firemen, armed services and their families who put their lives in the line of fire to protect ours.

I Am a New Yorker.

Prepping for a wander

And what a wander it will be. Heading to the US in a couple of weeks. First stop is Chicago where we'll visit our dear friends K&E and J&E and their beautiful gaggle of littles (well, K&E have more littles these days!). We'll have missed the glorious summer but it will probably be warmer than England. From there we'll drive to Tennessee to meet up with my Dad and sis to visit my beautiful 92-year old grandmother. Drive, you say? Indeed. We decided upon it for a number of reasons:

1. It's cheaper. Even with the car rental and gas, for some reason getting from England to Tennessee is crazy expensive. Brits don't want to go to the Southern US (except Florida, that is)?? Go figure.
2. We get to see my college roomies. Not that I ever need an excuse. But especially special because there's a new little (Amelia) to meet.
3. Road trip! I love a good road trip-- the flexibility, the food... plus, MRN has not seen very much of the US, so this is a good opportunity (even if it is just Indiana and Kentucky... shhh. Don't tell him).

I have to admit I am looking forward to the food, especially as we pass into the Southern part of the country. There's the standards-- Cracker Barrel, Chick-fil-A. But the exciting part is the unknown discoveries... will we find an awesome diner? Fantastic BBQ? The options are limitless.

I'm trying to decide our route now. We could go direct-- straight down through Indiana and into KY; or we can go slightly out of the way and cut over to Columbus (where I'd be able to stop at the Ballard Design outlet... heehee. Don't tell MRN...), but would add a couple of hours onto our trip. Do we just want to get to Music City so we can play tourist there (even though I lived there, I was 2, and haven't been there since except to fly in and out, since my grandmother lives in eastern TN, about 2 hours from Nashville), or do we want to take our time and stay over somewhere interesting. I have to say I'm still a bit burnt out on the planning front from the wedding so I'm not super jazzed to do my research. So if anyone has any suggestions, they are welcome!

Missing the boat

First Jamba Juice and Trader Joes, then Chipotle and now?? TARGET! Why is it that all my favorites came to NYC after I moved? I think the universe may be trying to tell me something.

Okay, okay-- so technically Target was in the City before I moved-- in Queens, in fact. I'd get a trip in every once in a while when I had a rental car for work, or could talk my then boyfriend into a jaunt (usually accompanied by a bribe of Outback Steakhouse... yes, the way to a man's heart...). Way back then (stretch your minds to circa 2004) Target was still in its turn-around phase: pre-designer dumbing down their expensive lines for more affordable fare for the masses. In a time where brands are diversifying and diluting their value, Target has found a way to defy all odds. High end designers-- Michael Korrs, Zac Posen, Liberty of London and my personal fave, Orla Kiely, have managed to keep their couture street cred while still bringing fashion to us normal peeps. Pretty impressive.

Growing up, Target was more of a discount store. Not quite Pic-in-Save (a Southern California version of a dollar store only, pre-dollar story. Holy crap, I'm old), but not up to Wal-Mart standards. Target is a rags to riches story to the nth degree. And I'm happy to say I was along for the ride.

I often bemoan the fact that there isn't a Target equivalent in this country. Nothing even close. It's a must-stop when I'm home (as in, anywhere in America that has one... watch out Chicago!). Maybe when I leave England Target will open its first international location here. Bad timing-- the story of my life.