Wednesday, June 29, 2011

The Ultimate Summertime Salad Recipe

Hey everybody, remember when I mentioned in a recent post that we'd had friends over to kickoff the grand re-opening of our pool and deck?  For that dinner party I made a spectacularly pretty and delicious summertime salad, and wonder of wonders, I remembered to photograph the process.  (You have no idea how big an accomplishment that was, y'all.  My meno-challenged mind -- once a crafty lawyer's steel trap -- now most closely, and pitifully, resembles a steel collander!)


This salad has a lot of ingredients and takes some time to put together, but it's not difficult at all and it's well worth the work.  Just plan your time and make it a day ahead.   Hope y'all will enjoy -- maybe over the 4th of July holiday weekend!

Fresh Corn, Black Bean and Edamame Salad
Adapted from several sources, including Alton Brown’s Roasted Edamame Salad
and Fresh365online.com’s Corn, Edamame & Black Bean Salad
Serves 4
Keeps covered in fridge for 4 to 5 days



Salad Ingredients:
Kernels cut from 2 large ears fresh corn, drained
2 cups fresh or frozen cooked edamame, shelled 
1 15.5-oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
2 red peppers, quartered, seeded and with white membranes removed
1 pint cherry tomatoes, quartered and drained (may use halved grape tomatoes, drained)
½ cup Craisins or dried cherries (please do NOT omit -- a fantastic, unexpected addition!)
½ small red onion, finely chopped (optional but pretty)
4 scallions (including green stems), finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
¼ cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
Pinch cayenne pepper
¾ tsp. kosher salt or sea salt
½ freshly ground black pepper


Dressing Ingredients:
2 large or 3 small limes, juiced
1 tsp. white sugar
½ tsp. freshly ground black pepper
5 Tbsp. red wine vinegar OR rice vinegar OR combo (just use what you have on hand!)
3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil (this is in addition to the 1 Tbsp. mentioned above)

To make:
1.  Preheat one oven to 450 degrees F and preheat a second oven to 400 degrees F.  (Note:  If you’re working with a single oven, then as soon as the red peppers come out reduce the oven temp to 400 degrees F.)

2.  Place red peppers on a lightly Pam’d cookie sheet and roast at 450 degrees til peppers are just beginning to blacken, about 20 minutes.   Cool and chop medium-fine, then set aside.

3.  Combine corn kernels, scallions, garlic, 1 Tbsp. olive oil, salt and black pepper.  Stir to combine and pour into a 13 x 9 METAL pan. 

4.  Place the corn-edamame-scallions mixture on the middle rack of the oven and roast at 400 degrees F until edamame have just begun to brown, stirring occasionally.  (Note:  This will take between 15 - 20 and 35 - 40 minutes, depending upon whether you use frozen or fresh (or thawed) edamame.   I’ve found that I prefer to use fresh or thawed edamame because everything cooks more quickly and a bit more evenly.   But I’ve used straight-from-the-freezer edamame too, and it all comes out fine.)

5.  Remove the corn-edamame-scallion mixture from the oven and let the pan cool for a few minutes, then remove the contents into a large bowl, cover with plastic wrap and cool thoroughly in the fridge for about 30 minutes.

6.  Make the dressing by combining all ingredients in the blender at medium speed.

7.  When corn-edamame-black beans mixture is cooled, gently fold in the black beans, tomatoes, roasted red peppers, red onion, Craisins (or dried cherries), and cayenne pepper. 

8.  Add dressing and toss gently to combine.  Taste and adjust salt, black pepper and cayenne pepper as desired. 

9.  Finally, gently fold in the basil and cilantro, reserving a combined Tbsp. of both herbs for garnish.   Refrigerate til 30 minutes before serving. 

10.  Before serving, garnish the top of the salad with the reserved Tbsp. of fresh herbs.



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Thursday, June 16, 2011

Borrowing from the Crewcuts Jewelry Box, Pt. 2

Borrowing from the Crewcuts Jewelry Box, Pt. 2


J Crew striped tank
$25 - jcrew.com

Cardigan
jcrew.com

Flip flop
$13 - jcrew.com

Kate Spade stud earrings
$38 - couture.zappos.com

Girls' magic mirror bracelet
$7.60 - jcrew.com




Sorry the set's a little sloppy, girls.  Still playing with the Agate and Cobalt (since I own a little of each).  And -- let's be honest here, shall we? -- killing time before I head out to cycling at 5:00.   I can think of a dozen things I should be doing, but hey, Polyvoring my wardrobe is a useful function in life, right? ;-)


Have a nice summertime evening!


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Borrowing from the Crewcuts Jewelry Box

Borrowing from the Crewcuts Jewelry Box


J Crew sheer tee
$40 - jcrew.com

Stella McCartney blue shoes
£150 - matchesfashion.com

Girls' magic mirror necklace
$12 - jcrew.com



Every now and then I spot something in the Crewcuts jewelry line that inspires an unexpected and fun color combo --- like this ridiculously inexpensive, cute and summery little necklace.  Plays well with the colors Agate and Deep Cobalt from the Grown-Up Girls' line. :-)


I sure wish my budget would allow for those Stella McCartney sandals.  Do they not look uber-comfy? 


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Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Where My Budget's Gone in 2011

Recently we had two couples who are our closest friends over for a celebratory dinner as we officially began to enjoy the Giant Black Hole where all of our money has gone in 2011.  You're seeing why I'm closet-cleaning and closet-shopping these days!   Welcome, JCA pals, to the new and greatly improved back deck of our house or, as we now call it around here, Spa de FAH! (FAH is my hubby's nickname among friends -- an acronym for "Fun As Hell" Kenny, which he most certainly is!)


The pool and wall (previously orange brick, which made no sense as our house has Tennessee fieldstone all over it) were here when we bought our house in 1985.  We've resurfaced the pool, but the deck's just been a slowly-worsening concrete eyesore and, even worse, has been creating a worsening drainage problem for our house's foundation.  (We're convinced the original owners wrote their own Certificate of Occupancy, because this on-grade-with-the-house deck and so many other things in our 1975 house, we discovered, ridiculously violated city and county building codes.  And we've had to fix every flippin' thing.)


So last fall we interviewed engineers, landscapers, concrete companies, etc., and found out for sure that the only way to fix our drainage problem was to take the whole area back to dirt and start over with new grading and a re-pour.  At that point FAH and I figured what the heck, it's time to add the water feature and decent grill we've always dreamed about.  And away we -- and our wallet -- went.  They will have to take us out of this house feet-first, y'all.  We are here for. the. duration.


As usual, the project went over budget, just enough to eat up the "new outdoor furniture" line item, so what  you see here is our 15-year-old stuff. Next year, if I'm lucky and keep shopping my closet, that old junk goes and something in a lovely outdoor wicker will appear.  When my clothing budget will re-appear is a whole other question.  No time soon, I can tell ya THAT.


During construction (taken from my dining room window in early March, just after the wall was re-surfaced in stone and the deck was demolished:




And after, in late May, featuring FAH's new toy:






Here's what I wore on the very hot evening we entertained our friends at Spa de FAH:



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Shopping My Closet: Menagerie Style

Shopping My Closet: Menagerie Style





Created 6.15.11.  Finding new ways to play with this Whisper Linen Cardi, one of a handful of new additions to my closet this spring.  It's a floaty, hip-length, very cool (in all ways :-)) piece and I highly recommend it!  And this color (and many others) are on sale!  


For reference, the pink isn't icy -- it's soft and has just enough yellow in it to work well on my auburn/strawberry-blonde-ish coloring.  The buttons are HOT pink, a nice touch and an exact match with the very bright, fun Favorite Tank.  


I bought the Small, and actually could have worn the XS (to give me a little more of a fitted look through the body), but I thought the arms were way too tight in the XS.  


Wishful thinking on that cute as heck watch, by the way.  Don't own it but sure would like to!



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Monday, June 13, 2011

Old School Basics with a Twist

Old School Basics with a Twist




J Crew polo top
$40 - jcrew.com

J Crew denim vest
49 GBP - net-a-porter.com

J Crew safari pants
$70 - jcrew.com

J Crew glitter sandals
$98 - net-a-porter.com

Gucci 18k jewelry
$2,650 - net-a-porter.com

J Crew chain jewelry
$33 - jcrew.com

J Crew chain jewelry
$33 - jcrew.com

J Crew belt
$33 - jcrew.com



Wearing 6-13-11. All closet-shopping except the sandals, which are new and beloved already! I've been drooling over them all season but suddenly they were just gone, and I figured well, Fate. And then they were shockingly THERE in my size the other night when I was battling insomnia and randomly surfing Net-a-Porter.  An early birthday present!

And today my saved eBay search on these same sandals sent me an e-mail reporting a pair in my size 8, up for auction for $90 + shipping or BEST OFFER. I haven't seen ANY of these on eBay. Go figure! :-) If you're an 8 and you've been wanting these sandals, there you go!

Not sure yet how I'm feeling about the teal green pedicure -- way outside my usual wheelhouse, and creating a bit of unexpected havoc with my clothing choices. But oh what a BEAUTIFUL color!
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Saturday, June 11, 2011

At the Movies (Super 8) in Pink (Hot), Papaya (Sweet) & Pearl (Cool)!

At the Movies (Super 8) in Pink, Papaya & Pearl



Date night to the movies -- went to see "Super 8" and WHAT A FUN FLICK!! J.J. Abrams/Steven Spielberg collaboration -- an awesomely perfect summer flick and a real homage to "early" Spielberg sci-fi. 


This adorable top was my third and final sale rack "find" at Anthro yesterday, and I was surprised and delighted to discover that the large salmon-y stripe is almost an exact match to last spring's J. Crew "sweet papaya" color.  And my Banana Republic moccasins (a late '09-early '10 eBay score) are this exact shoe pictured, but in the very same pale pinky-peachy color.  


Isn't it fun when something that unexpected happens in your wardrobe amongst "odd" colors?  


Have a fun weekend, everyone!  
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BR Soft Ribbon-Trimmed Moc in Papaya


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Anthropologie En Plein Air Dress, Mad Men Dinner-Style

Anthropologie En Plein Air Dress, Mad Men Dinner-Style


Channeling Betty Draper... These shoes look gorgeous with the dress, y'all.  The patent leather is summery, and the soft wood of the heel echoes the earth tones in the dress.  

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Anthropologie Tag Sale: En Plein Air Dress, Laura Petrie Style

Anthropologie Tag Sale: En Plein Air Dress, Laura Petrie Style

Anthropologie Tag Sale: En Plein Air Dress, Laura Petrie Style by JCAUNCMom featuring tory burch flats


I don't shop much at Anthropologie.  Lovely, lovely store and beautiful things, but usually not nearly so "me" as J. Crew.  If you follow my occasional IRL posts and Polyvores, you know that my personal style leans strongly toward the tailored, the un-frilly and the classic preppy-with-a-bit-of-discreet-bling.


But every now and then Fate steps in to pull me out of my little comfy rut.


Yesterday I was walking purposefully through the mall in a hurry and on a house project-related scouting mission to Bloomingdale's.  I passed Anthropologie and they had a gigantic tent sign that I literally had to skirt around, advertising their "Take an additional 25% off!" sale.  Well, girls, that's the kind of sign that I don't take lightly.  So I zipped in out of curiosity (mentally giving myself five minutes tops) and there, on the sale dresses rack, was one lone En Plein Air dress in my size, marked from $258 to $128 less 25%.  


Two minutes in the dressing room and I was singing "Welcome to my closet!!" Such a piece of gorgeousness this dress is, I'm sayin'.  Way outside my usual style zone, but so classic and feminine you just want to giggle when you put it on!


The SA suggested wearing ballet flats and a more casual necklace (as pictured, my other sale score!) for a 60's daytime look.  Hence this Polyvore.  And of course, I plan to wear pumps (like my Juliets in Glazed Pecan, maybe) and pearls for a bit more glamour.


The Gucci watch is an item I've had for at least 15 years -- a gift from MIL long ago that must seriously be at minus $10 cost per wearing now. The bezels are interchangeable, and a couple of the soft colored bezels add a nice bracelet-y zing.  I was searching for an online pic for Polyvore and much to my surprise found my EXACT watch on eBay here, in case you're interested.  Expensive, but worth every nickel -- incredibly versatile!



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Saturday, June 4, 2011

Where My 2011 (2012, 2013...) Clothing Budget's Gone

Tonight we're having two couples who are our closest friends over for a celebratory dinner as we officially begin to enjoy the Giant Black Hole where all of our money has gone in 2011.  You're seeing why I'm closet-cleaning and closet-shopping these days!   Welcome, JCA pals, to the new and greatly improved back deck of our house or, as we now call it around here, Spa de FAH! (FAH is my hubby's nickname among friends -- an acronym for "Fun As Hell" Kenny, which he most certainly is!)


The pool and wall (previously orange brick, which made no sense as our house has Tennessee fieldstone all over it) were here when we bought our house in 1985.  We've resurfaced the pool, but the deck's just been a slowly-worsening concrete eyesore and, even worse, has been creating a worsening drainage problem for our house's foundation.  (We're convinced the original owners wrote their own Certificate of Occupancy, because this on-grade-with-the-house deck and so many other things in our 1975 house, we discovered, ridiculously violated city and county building codes.  And we've had to fix every flippin' thing.)


So last fall we interviewed engineers, landscapers, concrete companies, etc., and found out for sure that the only way to fix our drainage problem was to take the whole area back to dirt and start over with new grading and a re-pour.  At that point FAH and I figured what the heck, it's time to add the water feature and decent grill we've always dreamed about.  And away we -- and our wallet -- went.  They will have to take us out of this house feet-first, y'all.  We are here for. the. duration.


As usual, the project went over budget, just enough to eat up the "new outdoor furniture" line item, so what  you see here is our 15-year-old stuff. Next year, if I'm lucky and keep shopping my closet, that old junk goes and something in a lovely outdoor wicker will appear.  When my clothing budget will re-appear is a whole other question.  No time soon, I can tell ya THAT.


During construction (taken from my dining room window in early March, just after the wall was re-surfaced in stone and the deck was demolished:




And after, in late May, featuring FAH's new toy:






I'll be back tomorrow to tell y'all what I'm making because I have a couple of fun recipes to share.  Here's what I'm wearing:





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Friday, June 3, 2011

Tawny Olive & Agate on a Hot, Hot Day!


J crew cardigan, $62
J Crew camisole top, $18
J Crew mini skirt, $75
J Crew gladiator shoes, $88
J crew handbag, $35
J Crew heart bracelet, $36
J Crew vintage jewelry, $98
J Crew beaded wrap bracelet, $23
J Crew layered necklace, $33
J Crew layered necklace, $33


A little old, a little new!  This '08 python print mini skirt (in Tawny Olive) was a recent eBay "score" for $20 (shipped) and it's been a great addition to my closet.  Once again it's going into the 90's here and it's dripping with humidity, but I'm headed to Costco where the produce room is a freakin' meat locker, so this cute cardi with the tortoise buttons should do the trick for me!
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Thursday, June 2, 2011

Shopping My Closet for University of Delaware Graduation Celebration Casual Dinner 5-28-11


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Lots of goodies for sale!

Hey y'all!  Hope everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend, as we did.  We were in Delaware for my niece's exciting graduation from the University of Delaware (go Fightin' Blue Hens!) and then in northern NJ with my hubby's fam.  Good times, good food, good wine, all in l-a-r-g-e quantities.  Can I just say that teaching my cycling class on Tuesday was hard, hard, hard?!?!?!?

NEWS!  I have a new closet-cleaning blog, which you can find right here.  And I have zero Followers there since it's new, but I'm hopeful that y'all can help me change that.  All things being equal, I'd much rather sell stuff "inside" this community before I resort to eBay or local consignment.  So please check it out!

By the way, if you wear a size 8 medium-width shoe, pay special attention to the Rieker skimmers.  I cannot overemphasize how insanely comfortable these shoes are -- the very best travel shoes ever.

I've put Polyvores of each item up too (these just duplicate what's on the sale blog, but I figured each site has its audience).  You can find my Polyvore home page here.

See you soon!
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FOR SALE! Tory Burch Anne-Marie Metallic Ballet Flats 8.5M


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