Sweet paul

Recipe monday

This one is for all the kids in us all.
My mom used to do this when I was a kid, make a sandwich puzzle.
You take a sandwich and use a cookie cutter to make a shape. Then cut up the leftovers and place them all on a plate.
Then the kid can put it all back together again.
Because in my book, its ok to play with your food.
Photography by Alexandra Grablewski

Crafty friday!

I used to have a garden, miss it a lot.
When I did I made this carrier out of an old apple crate.
I painted it white, drilled 4 holes, two on each side and made handles of some thick cotton rope.
Easy as pie.
And very handy when you need to bring stuff out to the garden. Saves you a few trips.
Have a fab weekend all (Its going to be a hot one here in Brooklyn)
Photography by Studio Dreyer Hensley

So hot out!

Today here in Brooklyn its over 90F out, for all you non americans, thats 33C.
And that's hot!
Watermelon always tastes so good in the heat, and it you spike it with some lime flavored vodka its even better.
You make a hole in the watermelon all the way into the meat.
Place a funnel in the hole and pour in the vodka.
It takes a long time for the watermelon to soak it up.
2 cups takes about 2 days, so do it in the fridge.
The result is awesome. Cut the melon into wedges and serve.
Photography by Studio Dreyer Hensley

"My Happy Dish" Recipe Contest

Im working on the second issue of Sweet Paul Magazine.
And its time to launch a new "My happy dish" recipe contest.
You can see the first winner here!
This time I'm looking for your favorite fall comfort dish.
It can be a soup, salad, stew, cake or something else.
It just needs to be your original recipe and not one you found somewhere else.
So you send an email to myhappydish@sweetpaulmag.com
In the email you send the recipe, a picture of yourself and a max 100 word text that starts with, "This dish makes me happy because..".
The winner will have their recipe published in Sweet Paul Magazine and the image will be styled by me and shot by one of the great photographers that contributes to the magazine.
Deadline is june 25th.
Good luck!

Recipe monday

This is a salad I invented many years ago.
I was on a bean kick at the time and wanted to come up with new ways to eat them.
This salad has so many great flavors to it.
The sweet onions, the hot chili and the sour feta. Just love it!
Its the perfect summer salad.

warm bean and feta salad
serves 4

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 small red onion, sliced
2 spring onions, sliced
1 garlic clove, sliced
1/2 red chili, sliced
4 cups cooked white beans
1 cup feta cheese, crumbled
2 tablespoons parsley, chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
salt

Heat the oil in a large pan and saute onions, garlic and chili until the onion goes soft.
Add beans and saute until the beans are hot.
Sppon the mixture into a large bowl and add feta, parsley and olive oil.
Season with salt and mix well.
Serve while warm.
Photography by Studio Dreyer Hensley

Crafty friday!

Want to learn how to turn 3 $2 dish towels into a stylish apron?
Follow this link to lean how.
Have a fab weekend all!

Crafty friday!

I made these napkins a while back for a blue and white china story.
What I did was to place plates on my home copier and use lazertran paper to print out.
Lazertran.com has papers that you can use for china, wood and fabrics.
I cut out the plate and ironed it to the napkins. Easy as pie.
I really love how the plate prints are a bit blurry, kinda look like art.
Have a fab weekend all.
Photography by Frances Janisch

My happy dish winner.....

Remember "my happy dish" competition I had on my blog a while back?
Sarah Eisler won with her sticky ribs and awesome mac-n-cheese.
I have made those ribs 4 times now and they always comes out great.
And the prize was to have your recipe featured in Sweet Paul Magazine.
Check it out here.

Recipe monday

I went to a diner here in Brooklyn on saturday with my friend Kurt.
Its called Juniors, most famous for its cheese cake.
But the highlight for me was the beet salad they served before the meal came out.
It made me realize how long its been since I cooked anything with beets.
For me, the best thing ever is just a simple roasted beet.
Roast it, peel it and eat it together with chicken, a nice piece of white fish or simply slice it and make a mayo, chives and beet sandwich.

Roasted beets
Roasting beets is very easy.
Just remember to roast red and golden beats separate.
Otherwise the juice from the red beats will turn the golden beats all red.
Serves 4

8 golden or red beets, washed and trimmed
4 tablespoons olive oil

Preheat oven to 450F, 220C.
Place the beets in a baking dish and drizzle with olive oil.
Cover the dish with foil and bake for about 40-45 minutes.
Use a small knife to pierce them and check if they are tender.
Remove from oven and cool.
Rub the beets gently with your fingers to remove the skin.
Ready to use.
Enjoy
Photography by Colin Cooke

Happy mothers day!

This bouquet of Sweet Peas are to all you mothers out there, including my own.
You are all amazing and do such a great job everyday raising your kids.
We all love you!