Food & Lifestyle Archives - Page 5 of 9

Favorite Things: Beauty Products

It feels good to start the day right and know you look your best.

I think most people have a routine they follow in the morning and before going to bed. I know that when something interferes with my structured morning routine, I feel like my whole day is thrown off. My hair and skin care routines are simple and always the same. I tend to find a product I like, usually in a magazine, and stick with it forever. It feels good to start the day right and know you look your best. Your confidence shows to others and has such a positive influence on the rest of your day. While I am not a huge makeup person, I am big on hair care and have found certain skin care products that I love. My approach to beauty products is actually similar to my design philosophy of consistently using simple, high quality elements. Here are the basics of my beauty regimen, the daily things that both start and end my day with continuity.

1. Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Gel: I am addicted to this and absolutely can’t leave the house without my brow brush.

2. Laura Mercier Almond Coconut Milk Souffle Body Creme: I use this every day. It smells so good and feels great.

3. Green Irish Tweed: Mixed with the Laura Mercier creme I mentioned above, this creates my signature scent. I am asked at least once a day what I’m wearing! Perfume is one of the things I must have or I feel out of sync all day.

4. Dove Soap: I never stray from Dove. It is a great product and I have used it ever since I was a little girl.

5. Living Proof Restore Shampoo and Conditioner: I am choosy about hair care products, but I really love this line.

6. Moroccanoil Treatment: Every day before I blow dry my hair, this is a must!

7. Gillette Fusion Proglide: Forget the women’s razor and go for the Proglide. No fuss!

8. Edge Shave Gel: I love the smell of shaving cream.

9. Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel: I use this day and night. At night, my skin care routine is a big part of my winding down ritual.

10. DCL Glycolic Acid Pads: Use it just once a week for glowing skin.

11. Dermalogica Multi-Active Toner: Never a day or night without it.

12. Meta Silk by Serge Normant: My daily hair routine always alternates between Serge and Living Proof.

What are your favorite beauty products?

The Art of the Brick

Artist Nathan Sawaya builds incredible sculptures using Lego bricks.

Artist Nathan Sawaya builds incredible sculptures using Lego bricks. His art has been displayed all over the world, earning him a huge following and well-deserved praise. His current exhibit, called The Art of the Brick, is running at Discovery Times Square in New York City. The exhibit opened in June and will be on display until Jan. 5, 2014. If you have not experienced Sawaya’s art, you still have plenty of time to visit this amazing exhibit.

The Art of the Brick features various aspects of Sawaya’s work. The exhibit covers several rooms, each with a different style and theme. Visitors are first presented with Sawaya’s Lego interpretation of well-known works of art. I really feel that people tend to revert to what they’ve been shown and taught when creating, and this section of the exhibit is a great example of that. Sawaya seems to understand that you don’t need to reinvent the wheel, just tweak it and do it your own way. His Lego versions of masterpieces present these works of art in a new light while opening the viewers’ minds to new possibilities. Try looking at the mosaic style images from a distance rather than up close. It’s almost magical how much clearer the picture is if you take a step back.

Vermeer's famous Girl with the Pearl Earring done as a Lego mosaic. — Vermeer’s famous Girl with the Pearl Earring done as a Lego mosaic.

Van Gogh's Starry Night — Van Gogh’s Starry Night

Sawaya also recreates significant works from antiquity. It’s difficult to appreciate the scale of these life-sized sculptures unless you can view them in person. The design of the exhibit lets you walk around each sculpture, looking closely from all angles. It’s impossible to avoid wondering how long it took for Sawaya to build each piece or how he is able to recreate his vision with nothing other than the same small plastic bricks you can buy at any toy store. He does not use any custom pieces or colors for his artwork.

Classic Greek sculpture; I really love the vase.

Some of Nathan Sawaya’s most well-known Lego sculptures are his original pieces that illustrate his thoughts on human life and feelings. These sculptures are so pure and lifelike. The engineering that goes into these sculptures is just unbelievable. I love how the lighting around the sculptures is part of the art as well. This area of the exhibit showcases a different aspect of Sawaya’s art.

This sculpture of a woman swimming has fantastic lighting.

I think it’s no surprise that an artist who works with Legos would have a playful side. Many of the pieces show this and make it clear that while Nathan Sawaya takes art seriously, he is also appreciative of the playful roots of his favorite medium. After being impressed, amazed, and made to think by Sawaya’s art, you are made to wonder and smile. Visitors of all ages can enjoy and appreciate this unique exhibit.

A very large T Rex is both fun and impressive.

To learn more about Nathan Sawaya as well as see other examples of his Lego artwork, visit his website. You can also find him on Facebook. For tickets to The Art of the Brick at Discovery Times Square, click here.

Rack of Lamb with Mint Pesto

This recipe updates the classic combination of mint and lamb by creating an easy pesto to season the meat.

I came across this recipe for Rack of Lamb with Mint Pesto a few years back in Williams-Sonoma Essentials of Grilling, a must-have cookbook with many delicious recipes to choose from.

This dish was a definite hit with my family. The recipe updates the classic combination of mint and lamb by creating an easy pesto to season the meat. Coated with a final layer of breadcrumbs, the lamb develops a toasty, incredibly flavorful crust. The pesto is made with mint that I grow in my garden, so it is nice and fresh. For the lamb, I use a New Zealand rack of lamb, which is smaller, and I prefer to use panko breadcrumbs.

Rack of Lamb with Mint Pesto

Ingredients:

For Mint Pesto:

1 cup lightly packed fresh mint leaves

2/3 cup lightly packed fresh parsley sprigs

¼ cup pine nuts

3 cloves garlic, freshly chopped (optional)

1 tsp grated lemon zest

1 tbsp fresh lemon juice

salt

pepper

¼ tsp red pepper flakes

1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

For the Lamb:

2 ½ cups panko or coarse dry bead crumbs

2 racks of lamb, 1 ¼ – 1 ½ lb each

Makes 4 to 5 Servings

To make the mint pesto, combine the mint, parsley, pine nuts, garlic (if using), lemon zest and juice, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon pepper, and red pepper flakes in a food processor. Pulse until all ingredients are finely chopped, then process, stopping to scrape down the sides of the work bowl once or twice, until a coarse puree forms. With the motor running, pour in the olive oil and process until it is well-blended, 5- 10 seconds. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the cheese. Let the pesto stand at room temperature for 15 minutes, or cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before using.

Spread the breadcrumbs on a large plate. Smear the pesto over the lamb rack, covering all sides, then dredge the lamb in the crumbs to cover the pesto coating. Pat extra bread crumbs onto any areas that are not coated.

Place lamb racks on their sides on a grill rack away from the heat elements. Cover the grill and cook, turning the racks over once until nicely browned and crusty, 12 to15 minutes per side for medium rare, or until done to your liking.

To test for doneness, insert an instant-read thermometer into the thickest part of the rack away from the bone. It should register 130 degrees. The temperature will rise another 5-10 degrees while resting.

Transfer the lamb racks to a cutting board, cover loosely with aluminum foil, and let rest for 5 minutes. Cut the racks into chops. Serve with your favorite vegetable and salad. Enjoy!

Garden Follies

Garden follies are fantastic structures.

Garden follies are fantastic structures. They vary from other garden ornaments in that they imitate buildings and aren’t simply sculptures. Traditionally, follies are designed to look like ruins or temples, but they can also be extravagant, fanciful, and improbable. They’re an incredible way to create an otherworldly feel!

mussenden temple ireland — Mussenden Temple, based on Tivoli’s Temple of Vesta, in Co Derry, Ireland. Image via The Guardian.

Many 18th Century European gardens included follies. A true garden folly has no purpose other than to embellish the garden. They weren’t built for storage or shelter, but simply existed as a stylish addition to the extensive manicured grounds owned by the wealthy. In fact, the world folly comes from the French word “folie,” meaning madness or silliness.

The Oriental summerhouse at Veitschöhheim, Bavaria. Designed in 1768 by Ferdinand Tietz.

Garden folly at Chateua Groussay, France. Image via The Classicist Blog.

The Initiation Well at Quinta da Regaleira, Portugal.

Even if you don’t have a traditional European garden, you can take inspiration from these amazing follies when designing your own landscape. Put a modern twist on the garden folly concept by creating unique structures in the garden or along a wooded path. A gazebo or loggia can also be designed with a nod to classic follies.

A modern folly design by The Collins Group, SC.

Bunny Williams designed this temple-inspired pool area.

Side view of the Bunny Williams pool area.

Would you consider adding a garden folly to your landscape?

My Favorite Magazines

You hear a lot about how the digital age is taking over the publishing market, but I still love my stacks and stacks of magazines.

You hear a lot about how the digital age is taking over the publishing market, but I still love my stacks and stacks of magazines. Pinterest may be a great way to save and organize online inspiration, but I like to do some things the old, reliable, consistent way and that usually means ripping pages out of magazines when I see something I love!

My stack of magazines consists of Elle Decor, House Beautiful, and Architectural Digest. These staples of design inspiration are always a welcome sight in the mailbox and keep me updated on what my favorite designers and architects are doing, upcoming trends, and new products and books. Every issue has something valuable.

Of course, there are design magazines that I follow online as well. These would include Lonny Magazine, Interiors, and Traditional Home. Reading online is more interactive, with links to follow and images to pin to Pinterest. I definitely enjoy this medium, but do hope it never entirely replaces print magazines.

I also love some fashion and health magazines. I read Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar online, both of which are great fashion resources. I get a lot of inspiration from the world of fashion. The health magazines I subscribe to are Shape and Women’s Health. Both contain valuable, real-world information on a subject that is very important to me. I also like the recipes in Women’s Health, even though I don’t often have time to try to them out.

Everyone needs a trashy, veg-out type of magazine, and for me, Us Weekly does the trick. I read it backwards!

Which magazines do you read regularly?

Nutribullet: The Healthy Green Drink Diet

I was happily surprised at how good and easy to drink these recipes are!

The idea of using whole, healthy foods for their healing properties isn’t necessarily new, but with increasing awareness about the negative long-term health effects of our over-processed Western diet, it has been getting more attention lately. We’ve recently had good reason to improve our diet at home; my husband was diagnosed with hemochromatosis, a genetic disease that causes the body to absorb too much iron from the foods you eat. Learning about this condition has inspired us to focus on adding more fresh vegetables and fruits to our diet, which isn’t as easy as it might sound for a busy family that doesn’t have time for cooking. We bought a Nutribullet and accompanying book called The Healthy Green Diet.

I have to admit, I was a bit skeptical. How could drinks made from a combination of greens, vegetables, and fruit be tasty enough to keep us on track? However, I was happily surprised at how good and easy to drink these recipes are!

The benefit to the Nutribullet, as opposed to a juicer, is that you are using the whole fruit or vegetable. Instead of only the juice, you get all of the fiber as well as nutrients in parts of the food that are discarded with a juicer. The difference between the Nutribullet and a regular blender is that you can easily obtain a smooth texture from foods you wouldn’t normally be able to blend. This means you can create drinks from raw, whole foods in very little time, giving your body a big dose of nutrients all at once.

I will admit, my husband and I have a slightly different focus on the recipes we like to try from the The Healthy Green Drink Diet book. Because he is concerned with improving his diet for health, he uses more of the detoxifying and anti-inflammatory recipes. Before each section of recipes, the book describes the benefits of certain greens, vegetables, and fruits, as well as other ingredients like spices and green tea. You can then focus on recipes using the foods that offer the benefits you want. Here’s an example of a detoxifying recipe:

Toxin Tamer

50% beet greens (i.e. half-full container)

2 stalks celery

1 lemon, peeled

1 pinch cayenne pepper

water: fill to MAX line.

Extract, and enjoy!

I really was surprised at how good the drinks are that we’ve tried, including some designed for other benefits like beauty or a good night’s sleep. My favorite drink, which tastes like a dessert, helps you sleep. It’s so good!

Sleepy Pie

1/4 cup cooked oatmeal

2 dates

12 cashews

1 tsp cinnamon

almond milk to MAX line

The beauty recipes are designed to give you nutrients that contribute to healthy skin, hair, and nails. This example contains goji berries, which are good for your skin, and almonds, which have been shown to clear the skin and heal blemishes.

Sipping Pretty

1/4 cup goji berries

1/4 cup almonds

2 tbsp raw cocoa

1 1/2 cups almond milk

These recipes aren’t meant to replace meals, but to supplement a healthy diet. They are also a great way to get greens and other veggies into kids. If the color isn’t appealing, you can hide it in a colorful cup with a lid and straw. As you try recipes and adjust for your taste, you learn what food combinations you enjoy and can customize the recipes. You can also add your own ingredients, such as protein powder.

The Nutribullet is a worthy investment for other reasons as well. In addition to making drinks, you can use the included flat (or milling) blade to grind fresh herbs, chop nuts, and mill grains. You can even make your own nut butters as well as custom spice blends. In other words, the Nutribullet isn’t one of those kitchen gadgets that has one specific use. It is versatile, easy to clean, and definitely more capable than a basic blender. The Nutribullet Blog is an incredible resource for additional recipes, including soups and salad dressings, so you can get the most out of this handy appliance.

Do you have any green smoothie or Nutribullet recipes you love?

Lobster and Shrimp Salad

Last week I wanted to make a light and simple meal and, not being able to find just the right recipe, I decided to make a dish using lobster and shrimp

I am always looking for new recipes for easy meals, especially in the summer. Last week I wanted to make a light and simple meal and, not being able to find just the right recipe, I decided to make a dish using lobster and shrimp. I put together a Lobster and Shrimp Salad that tasted amazing! When placed on a bed of lettuce, it is a perfect summer dish for lunch or dinner, ideal on those days when it is just too steamy for a warm meal.

To make this dish, I used lobster meat and shrimp that were already cooked. You can certainly cook the seafood yourself, either just before making the salad or up to a day in advance. Keep in mind that if you buy raw seafood, you will need more than the following recipe calls for. The amount of each seafood can also be adjusted to your taste; for example, I prefer more lobster than shrimp.

The olives I use are from Whole Food, though you can use any that you prefer. Using fresh herbs, whether you pick them from your own garden or buy them, will always give your recipes more flavor. I strongly recommend using fresh herbs whenever possible!

Lobster and Shrimp Salad

Serves 2 (or 4 as a side dish)

Ingredients:

1lb lobster tails, cooked

½ lb large shrimp, cooked

½ cup pitted Mt Athos green olives with Sicilian herbs, cut into quarters

½ cup pitted black olives with Herbs de Provence, cut in half

½ cup olive oil

¼ tsp coarse ground black pepper

½ cup finely chopped fresh basil and parsley (total, adjust to taste)

1 tbsp fresh lemon juice

romaine lettuce leaves, optional

Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, black pepper, basil and parsley. Set aside.

Cut lobster tails and shrimp into small chunks and place in a medium bowl. Add olives to seafood, then pour on the olive oil mixture and toss to coat evenly.

Place salad over a bed of romaine lettuce and serve as a main course, or use as a side dish to compliment your favorite fish.

Enjoy!

Mixed Seafood Grill with Anchoiade

Cooking on the grill is a favorite summer activity!

Cooking on the grill is a favorite summer activity! There are so many different meals you can make on the grill. Williams-Sonoma has a Guide to Grilling on their website that can help even an amateur grill cook create a delicious meal. They also offer a wide assortment of grilling essentials that you will need to get started and their rubs, spices, and sauces are a compliment to many dishes.

Williams-Sonoma Grilling Baskets — Grilling baskets make it easier to grill a variety of foods.

Williams-Sonoma Barbeque Sauce — A few sauces available from Williams-Sonoma.

Williams-Sonoma cookbooks are phenomenal; I have an assortment of them, and one in particular that I highly recommend is Essentials of Grilling. It has a wide range of recipes that can take you through the summer without repeating meals!

One recipe we enjoy is from the Williams-Sonoma Seafood Cookbook. It is so easy to make, and a perfect dish for a hot summer night.

I have changed the original recipe to include shellfish and seafood varieties that we enjoy. I also marinate the seafood with an olive oil mixture before grilling. I love the Anchoaide sauce with this dish! This Provencal dipping sauce made with anchovies is the perfect complement to the seafood.

Grilled Seafood — Mixed Seafood Grill with Anchoiade

Mixed Seafood Grill with Anchoiade

1 whole lobster, 1 ½ lb or 2 frozen lobster tails, thawed

1 lb sea scallops

1 lb jumbo shrimp

2 doz little neck clams, cleaned

1 lb mussels, cleaned

1 lb firm fleshed fish fillets such as tuna, salmon, or swordfish (optional)

12 large oysters, cleaned (optional)

½ to ¾ cup Olive Oil

Course black pepper, to taste

½ cup chopped Basil

½ cup chopped Parsley

¼ tsp red pepper flakes

Italian Seasoning to taste

Thick slices French or Italian bread, grilled and brushed on one side with olive oil.

Anchoiade:

In a blender, combine ½ cup extra virgin olive oil, 2 cloves of garlic (optional), 4 oil-packed anchovies, ¼ cup parsley, and 1 tbsp lemon juice and puree until smooth. Pour into a bowl and add ground pepper to taste. You may need to adjust the amounts used according to how much seafood you grill.

Prepare a grill for grilling over medium high heat. Make the anchoiade and set aside.

Prepare the seafood. If using lobster tails, cut them in half down the center and remove the vein. Place on a platter with cleaned clams, mussels, and oysters, if using. Wash and pat dry scallops. Shrimp can be shelled and deveined, or you can grill with shells on. Cut fish fillets into large pieces and place all on platter.

For the marinade, combine the olive oil, pepper, chopped parsley and basil, red pepper flakes and Italian Seasoning. Whisk ingredients together and spoon over the seafood, turning to coating all of the fish and shellfish but reserving some marinade for garnish. You may have to adjust the measurements of the olive oil mixture depending on amount of seafood. Let sit until ready to grill, up to 30 minutes.

I prefer to grill the shrimp, scallops, and fish on a grill grid, but you can place them on skewers to cook as well. If you use wood skewers, soak them in water for at least an hour before grilling to prevent them from burning.

Place a grill basket on the grill and line it with tin foil. Place the marinated clams in the basket and add mussels and oysters after 15 minutes, or when the clams start to open. Keep the foil in the basket folded closed while grilling. When clams and mussels begin to open, unfold foil. Discard any clams, mussels, or oysters that do not open.

Meanwhile, grill the lobster tails, turning until shells are bright red and flesh becomes creamy white. If using a whole lobster, plan on needing about 30 minutes grill time. Grill shrimp until evenly pink and scallops until they are opaque and lightly browned. Grill fish, turning till flesh is opaque and easy to flake.

I place any seafood that is done in the grill basket with the clams and turn the heat down while I wait for the rest to finish cooking.

Transfer all of the fish and shellfish to a warmed platter and drizzle with the remaining olive oil mixture. Garnish with lemons and serve immediately with the grilled bread and individual bowls of the anchoiade.

Serve with a salad of your choice and enjoy this delicious meal!

Container Gardening

With the start of the gardening season, I am looking forward to one of my favorite forms of gardening: container planting.

With the start of the gardening season, I am looking forward to one of my favorite forms of gardening: container planting. I love to plant flowers in containers, and when the seasons change I will plant containers to reflect the time of the year.

Summer is by far my favorite time to plant because there are so many different flower varieties to choose from and all are so vibrant with color. It is an art to be able to create and design with plants, and the type of containers you choose to showcase your plants is almost as important as the flowers themselves.

amy aidinis hirsch greenwich ct design 2 — Examples of container plantings in my garden.

First, you will need to decide if your pots will be placed in a sunny location, a shady spot, or where they’ll receive a mix of sun and shade. The type of plants you use will depend on the amount of sun in each location. There have been times that I have had to replace plants that did not last the season, either due to using incorrect plants, overcrowding, or, of course, the weather.

If you do not have any knowledge of plants, you will have to depend on your local garden shop. I have been fortunate to learn from a knowledgeable person for years who has taught me a great deal about plants and the planting of containers. There has to be symmetrical balance of the plants, and the size of the pot will determine the amount of plants used.

Annuals are plants most widely used for containers. I decide on a color palette and then choose the type of plants I will use. Some of my favorite annuals to use are geraniums, calibrachoas, verbena, angelonia and bacopa.

container garden urn — An urn planted with Verbena, Angelonia, Geraniums,and Bacopa.

Rose Standard Topiary Trees and Bougainvillea Topiary Trees make a great focal point. I will under plant them with an annual such as verbena or bacopa. Another favorite option of mine is putting Dwarf Hydrangeas in containers. They need a shadier area or else they will wilt. After the season is over, you can transplant them in your garden.

amy aidinis hirsch greenwich ct design 6 — Bougainvillea Topiary

I also like to do containers of mixed sedums, or a container of a creeping sedum. They are quite interesting. Boxwood Topiaries make a simple statement and, come winter, the Topiary looks great alone or under planted with greens.

My containers sit amongst my perennials and herbs as well as on ledges and walkways. They are a menagerie of all shapes and sizes. A lot of planning and work is involved in planning a container garden, but there is a satisfaction you get in knowing you have created something that is beautiful to behold all season!

amy aidinis hirsch greenwich ct design 5 — Using a trestle in a container allows climbing plants to spread upward.

I hope you enjoy some of the containers I have done. I am getting ready to start a new season and cannot wait!

Greenwich Shopping

Here in Greenwich, we are fortunate to have some really amazing places to shop.

One of the things I love about having my office in Greenwich is the great shopping. Greenwich has become something of a shopping mecca for designers with some fantastic storefronts. It’s so nice to have the option of shopping right here and supporting the community that supports my own business. Along the center of town and down a couple of side streets, you can find these places that aren’t always your typical, mainstream store. Here are some of my favorites:

Greenwich Tile: This is my go-to source for tile in any size. Vita, the owner, is creative and innovative. Greenwich Tile isn’t just a supply house; they love design and will mix materials to create an energizing, unique palette. You can visit them at 402 W Putnam Ave or call (203) 869-4773.

greenwich tile 2 — One of my favorite designs from Greenwich Tile.

greenwich tile 3 — For a master bathroom in progress.

Mark Inc.: I’ve known Mark for a while now and he is such a great guy. He does custom mohair rugs in hundreds of designs. The level of capability that goes into his products in unbelievable! The classical thinking behind his rugs is evident. I love that you can even see progress photos of your rugs on the loom! Mark Inc. is located at 34 E Putnam Ave.

mark inc carpet — Mark Inc hand knotted wool rug.

mark inc carpet 2 — Hand knotted hemp rug from Mark Inc.

Exquisite Surfaces: Amazing source for flooring, including salvaged and reclaimed options. Visit them at 11 E Putnam Ave.

exquisite surfaces 2 — I love these strong graphic tiles from Exquisite Surfaces.

C. Parker Gallery: The gallery’s storefront opens at 17 E Putnam Ave with the holiday season, but this year has remained open. With an extensive collection of impressionist paintings, the gallery is a wonderful source of art close to home. I love the concept of C. Parker Gallery; they host events, are available for private consultations, and install purchased artwork.

c parker gallery 2 — A client’s home with a painting from C. Parker Gallery.

greenwich interior designer amy aidinis hirsch — Another painting from C. Parker Gallery in a living room I designed.

Trovare Home: They have a great knack for mixing vintage items and reproductions with modern pieces. The accessories are great, and you can really tell the owner has a clever eye. Trovare Home, at 245 E Putnam Ave, also has good sized abstract art that’s well priced. The store consists of such charming vignettes that you want to scoop them up and install them just the way they are.

trovare greenwich 2 — One of the many unique finds at Trovare Home.

Room: With a showroom in NYC as well, Room is a great addition to Greenwich shopping. They feature custom crafted pieces by a variety of artisans and designers, but what I really like is their lighting. I was once working on a project here in Greenwich with a short lead time. Their bocce lamps were perfect — like jewelry for a room. Everything is customizable too, making their pieces suitable for almost any decor. You can find Room at 36 E. Putnam Ave.

room greenwich copy — Hanging bocce lighting from Room.

What kind of local shopping do you like to do?