mercie ghimire photography

With a new beginning comes an ending.

2012-02-29T22:23:00.005-05:00

Harper is home! She was gaining weight steadily, her vital signs were great, and she was feeding well so the doctors sent her home. We are soooooo happy. I know this statement will come back to bite me in the ass at some point, but things have been... kind of easy. (I can just hear the laughter from all of you mamas. I know, I know, I'm naive but just let me have this while it lasts). Since she was in the NICU for over a month, she was already on a schedule. When we got home, we continued on the same schedule and it has worked out brilliantly. It's amazing having her home and listening to her squeaks, peeps, and sweet little sighs. It's a new beginning for all three of us.

And with this new beginning has come an ending. The same afternoon Harper came home, I found out my great Aunt Ginny had passed away at 92. Aunt Ginny was like a grandmother to me. Growing up, my sister and I spent a lot of time with her and I have so many wonderful and vivid memories of us. She was an expert seamstress, knitter, gardener, cook, and birder. Her creative and crafty nature inspired me to learn how to sew, knit, and cook (and hopefully garden some day when we leave the city). She was kind, generous, independent, and sharp as a tack until the end. She adored babies and couldn't wait to meet Harper. Unfortunately she didn't get the chance. After I found out I was pregnant, I called to tell her that I was knitting Harper a blanket. She was so proud and excited to see it.

So here is the peanut on her blanket, Aunt Gin. I so hope she has a spark of you in her.

*Photographs by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

Baby G is here and it's a...

2012-02-12T14:05:00.007-05:00

GIRL!!!

Harper Mia Ghimire
Born January 22nd at 12:33 am
3 lbs 1 oz 16 in

Okay, could she be any cuter?! Those rosy cheeks and black hair?! LOVE LOVE LOVE!

Harper surprised us by arriving nine weeks early AND being a girl (we didn't find out what we were having but were convinced we were having a boy). On Wednesday, January 18th, I was hospitalized with mild Preeclampsia. By Saturday evening it had turned severe and the doctors said the baby had to be delivered. After preparing to have the baby naturally, they ended up performing an emergency c-section because they lost the baby's heartbeat. Thankfully they got her out in time and she was okay. As a matter of fact, the nurses said she was feisty from the moment she arrived. SO CUTE.

Harper has done amazingly well considering her early arrival: breathing on her own since the beginning and aside from one tiny hiccup, she's steadily gained weight. She's now 3 lbs. 10 oz.! As with most premature babies with low birth weights, she will probably be in the NICU until her due date of March 21. So for now we are visiting her in the hospital every day. It's hard and we wish she were home with us, but we know that she needs to be there and is getting the best care there is.

So that explains my absence! I will post more details soon. Promise.

In the Kitchen | Crepes with Caramelized Cinnamon Apples

2012-01-04T11:11:00.001-05:00

I present our lazy New Year's Day breakfast. It was so easy and so delicious and didn't require leaving our apartment. Vivek is a master crepe maker, so I left that part to him and concentrated on the filling. I love any type of warm buttery brown sugary apple filling so that's exactly what I made. Twas delicious.

Crepes with Caramelized Cinnamon Apples

Crepes

1/2 c flour
1/2 c milk
3/4 of a large egg

Filling

2 Granny Smith Apples, peeled, and cut into small pieces
1-2 T butter
Approximately 1/4 c sugar
Approximately 1/4 c dark brown sugar
Cinnamon

Makes 4 perfectly filled crepes

Make the filling first. Heat a small frying pan over medium heat. Coat with butter, add apples, and cook for a minute or two. Since I used exceptionally tart Granny Smith apples, I added the sugar and brown sugar to taste so the measurements are loose. If you plan to use red apples, you won't need as much sugar. Add cinnamon to taste and simmer until the mixture caramelizes and the apples are soft. Set aside over low heat.

To make the crepes, mix flour, milk, and egg with an electric beater until smooth. Heat an 8-inch frying pan over medium heat (no need for a fancy crepe pan). Once hot, spray a thin coat of cooking spray and pour a 1/4 cup of the mixture to evenly coat the pan (it should be a thin layer of batter, so if you use a smaller pan, adjust the amount accordingly). Cook for about 30 seconds, flip, and cook for about 15 seconds. Lay finished crepe on a plate, add the apple filling, fold twice, and sprinkle with cinnamon. Devour. YUM.

We're going to try a savory filling next, perhaps a take on the Salsa Crepe from The Crepe House. It is absolutely out of this world. When I lived in San Francisco I was obsessed with that place. OMG yum. If you're ever in SF, you MUST go.

*Photo by Me.

A big, huge...

2012-01-03T22:29:00.001-05:00

My sincerest thanks to all of you for sharing your stories, leaving comments here and on Facebook, including my family in your thoughts and prayers, and for all of the kind emails you sent regarding my dad. I cannot express how grateful I am for the out pour of love and support. I am incredibly humbled. I'm still struggling quite a bit, but am trying to stay strong. Reading and rereading your comments and emails helps me do just that, so thank you. Thank you so so much.

I hope all of you enjoyed joyous holiday festivities with friends and family. Cheers to 2012!

*Photo by me.

I don't want you to go.

2011-12-19T16:17:00.017-05:00

When I started blogging I made the conscious decision to only share certain details of my life, which is quite different from how I am in real life: candid and open. But there was something about putting things out there for EVERYONE to read and know and judge that made me uncomfortable. But right now I need to talk about something very personal because the pain of what I’m going through is so deep, so raw, and so awful that I need to get it out. I hope that in doing so, there will be someone out there who can relate or tell me that this pain will go away with time. Because right now, it feels like it will last forever.

My dad called my sister and me in late September and told us he has pancreatic cancer. Up until that point, we hadn’t spoken to him in several years. We’ve had a difficult relationship with him our entire lives (for reasons that I will not discuss) so just hearing from him was emotional, let alone hearing that he has cancer. We drove three hours upstate that night to see him. We all knew the odds of surviving pancreatic cancer were not good, but there was still hope. Hope that he would be one of the very few to survive.

He started seven weeks of chemo and radiation a few days after he called us. After the chemo and radiation finished, he had to wait a month before he could find out if he was able to have surgery to remove the cancer. The plan was for the surgeon to make a few incisions in his stomach and insert cameras to see if the cancer had spread. If it hadn’t, they could proceed with the six-hour surgery to remove his spleen, gall bladder, and part of his pancreas. If it had spread, surgery would no longer be an option (at all) and it would just be a matter of time.

As my sister and I sat in the waiting room of the surgical unit last Wednesday, we watched doctors in scrubs come out of the OR and tell anxious family members that everything had gone smoothly and their loved one would soon be moved to the recovery ward. We waited, staring at our hospital-issued pager, for the doctor to come out and tell us the cancer hadn’t spread and that they could proceed with the removal surgery. After two hours, my sister looked up and said, Is that Dr. H? I said, It can’t be. He’s not in scrubs. A second later our pager went off. It was Dr. H, but unlike all of the other doctors who were in scrubs delivering news to families right there in the waiting room, he was in a his doctors coat and led us into a small private room. The room where they take the families who are receiving bad news. And that’s when he told us… The cancer has spread to his liver and three other spots in his abdomen... Surgery is no longer an option… It’s stage four cancer… He has 6-11 months to live, perhaps more, perhaps much less… We are keeping him overnight, as is standard procedure after any type of surgery with anesthesia. He said it so matter-of-factly, so coldly, that I wanted to jump off the couch and strangle him. There was no empathy or sympathy for what had just been said. And I hated him for it. Suddenly I felt so alone, so scared, that I was having trouble breathing. I was trying to keep it together and ask adult questions like what to do next and when to contact Hospice. And I did ask those questions, but I wasn’t hearing the answers. I couldn’t stop thinking, We’re just kids. We need an adult deal with this. They’ll know what to do and say. They’ll take care of us. And I so desperately wanted to believe that. Because as I sat there, six months pregnant, I felt like a helpless child. I was going to lose my parent around the same time I was due to become one and it was incomprehensible.

The morning after the surgery Dr. H, along with his team, made their rounds through the recovery ward. The image of that morning is burned into my brain. It is so sad and so awful that I cannot think about it without crying. My dad was lying in the bed, with his hospital gown bagging around his frail frame, with one harsh fluorescent light illuminating the otherwise dark room. The surgical team stood in a line along the side of his bed, at a distance appropriate for delivering devastating news and then quietly slipping out. Dr. H told him what he told my sister and me. And my dad said, So my time is up? And Dr. H, with his eloquent bedside manner, simply said Yes. And my dad silently nodded and tears started rolling down his face and I’ve never in my life felt so much pain. My sister and I crawled onto the bed and hugged him. The surgical team slipped out and the nurse pulled the curtain around us and we sobbed. The type of sobbing you usually only do when you’re alone. Because you’re gasping for air and your heart is breaking and you don’t want anyone else to hear or feel the pain you’re in. We stayed like that for a long time…

He was released from the hospital on Thursday and we stayed with him until yesterday. It was/is difficult to see him so frail. He tires quickly and is in pain, but tries to stay upbeat. There were times when I would go to the market for something small just so I could get out of the house and cry in private. I’ve always known that cancer is a terrible way to die, but until you see someone you love going through it, you simply have no idea.

…There is an ease to our relationship now that we’ve never had before. It devastates me that only because he’s dying are we able to have that. But what happened in the past is irrelevant now. I am looking to this time to have the relationship with him that I always wanted. The day he came home from the hospital he taught us how to play dominos. It probably sounds silly to everyone else, but it means the world to me. And I will never ever forget it.

*Photo by me.

Rock on.

2011-12-07T17:30:00.003-05:00

WOWZA. I am OBSESSED with these chairs. The seller describes them as: "Hand gilded then varnished by a car painter, several times polished, base laquered by a car painter." How cool is that? I love that you can still see the fiberglass pieces through the gilding. And gold and red? Brilliant combo. Perhaps I could find a cheap, beat up vintage Eames chair and just spray paint it me-self?

*Images from Okay Art, found via Oh Joy!.

Baby Bump | Annie | Great Neck, NY

2011-12-02T16:54:00.001-05:00

Annie and I met while working at the same architecture firm. We bonded over our wedding details, fashion finds, and of course, annoying coworkers. She is the sweetest and I was so happy to be able to photograph her pregnancy (and bond over yet another shared experience). These were taken in October, a mere TEN days before they welcomed their little baby girl into the world. Doesn't she look amazing??!! Thankfully the weather cooperated so we were able to take photos at a park on the Long Island Sound.

*Photographs by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

Wall Hanging

2011-11-30T23:44:00.001-05:00

Isn't this woven wool wall hanging beautiful?! I love the colors and the little birds. Of course it's way out of our price range, but I'd love to hang it on the wall in the baby's nook (we're calling it a "nook" because it's the other half of my office). Cute, no? Eep! I can't wait to decorate the nook!

*Image via the shop Tomboy.

Etsy Fave | The Basket Garden

2011-11-22T11:28:00.000-05:00

I have been a wee bit obsessed with holiday decor this year. I was literally trolling Etsy daily for vintage Shiny Brite bulbs, unique textiles to use as a tree skirt, laser cut wood decorations... It was a little out of hand considering I should be A. working, B. not buying ANYTHING, and C. saving all of our money for baby related necessities. BUT. These?

Right?! I am IN LOVE with these Scandinavian Stars from The Basket Garden. They come in small, medium, large and extra large. Perfect sizes for hanging on your front door, tree, windows, walls, doorways... We need one for our tree. And a few for our front door... However Vivek put the kibosh on buying anymore holiday decorations (I did end up buying quite a few BUT THEY WERE ON SALE).

Handmade, lovely, perfectly priced Scandinavian Stars. Buy them.

*Image via The Basket Garden.

Chloe | Seven Months

2011-11-21T11:19:00.005-05:00

Okay. Could Chloe be ANY cuter?! Theresa and I decided she was long overdue for a photo session, so we put on her cutest hat and pulled out the vintage Flexible Flyer we used as kids. Chloe is seriously the chillest. baby. ever. Her latest favorite trick is almost too cute to take. She sits facing you, reaches her tiny hands out to grab yours, and (grunting and furrowing her brow) pulls herself up to stand. Once standing, she gives you her big, gummy smile. It's sooooooo cute.

And of course we pushed the photo session just a few seconds longer than we knew we should have... Poor love. She was such a good sport.

*Photographs by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

In the Kitchen | Homemade Bread

2011-11-15T18:36:00.001-05:00

Annnnnnnd I've mastered homemade bread. If you've never made bread at home, I highly recommend doing so. It's delicious, healthy, and who doesn't want their apartment smelling like a bakery? I bought Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day and can't recommend it enough. The instructions are easy to follow and the results are to. die. for. I made two loaves this weekend and used one for homemade croutons to go with the Ribollita I made. SO GOOD.

*Photo by me.

Halfway there.

2011-11-01T12:49:00.001-04:00

Yay for 20 weeks! The little bugger is kicking and somersaulting away. It's the coolest. feeling. ever.

In the Kitchen | Zucchini Noodles with Pesto

2011-10-30T13:23:00.000-04:00

It snowed yesterday. SNOWED. In October. So I did what anyone would do: put on Christmas carols, knitted my baby's blanket, and made an amazing dinner. The only thing missing was a glass of red wine. Ugh, I miss a glass of red wine when it's cold out but cozy inside. I had hot tea instead. Almost as satisfying. Okay no, but we make do in such times, don't we?

This dish shocked me. I picked it because we had the majority of the ingredients and it seemed simple. (The one part that was not simple was slicing the zucchini length-wise on our mandoline. We have a very very small handheld mandoline, which really isn't best for slicing anything lengthwise because you can't hold it without the fear of slicing skin off your fingers. No bueno. Hopefully yours is better than ours.) WOW. The flavor and textures were spot on. And in my book you really can't go wrong with pesto and lots of grated Locatelli. Give it a whirl. You will love.

Zucchinni Noodles with Pesto adapted from A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg

Ingredients

For the Pesto

2 c tightly packed basil leaves
1/2 c olive oil
3 T pine nuts
2 medium cloves garlic, minced
1/2 t salt
1/2 c grated Locatelli cheese

For the Zucchini Noodles

2 medium zucchini
3 T olive oil
3/4 lb. dried spaghetti
Pepper
Grated Locatelli for serving

Serves 4

Directions

First, make the pesto. Put the basil, olive oil, pine nuts, garlic, and salt in the bowl of a food processor. Process to a smooth, creamy consistency. Stir in the Parmigiano-Reggiano. Set aside.

Boil a large pot of salted water.

While the water heats, prepare the zucchini. Using a mandoline slicer fitted with the julienne blade, slice the zucchini into long, skinny noodles, each the width of a strand of spaghetti.

Warm the oil in a large skillet or Dutch Oven, which is what I used to slow cook them and prevent burning. Add the zucchini noodles and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender but not mushy, 5-8 minutes. Add freshly ground pepper to taste.

When the water boils, drop in the spaghetti and cook until al dente. Once done, scoop the noodles directly from the boiling water to the pot of cooked zucchini. Use tongs or a utensil that will strain most of the water. This adds a little bit of the cooking water to the pesto, which loosens it up and helps form a nice sauce. Add 1/2 c of pesto and toss the mixture well to ensure that all of the zucchini and spaghetti are covered. All lots of grated Locatelli and serve. YUM.

Note: Molly called for three zucchini, but I only used two. I preferred a higher ratio of spaghetti to zucchini noodles. If you want more zucchini, definitely add another.

*Photograph by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

The weekend | Pumpkin picking

2011-10-28T16:00:00.000-04:00

This is actually from two weekends ago, but apropos since it is Halloween weekend. A few pictures from our trip to Ort Farms, a lovely farm in the New Jersey countryside. It was the perfect chilly, windy, fall day for pumpkin picking. And eating cider donuts, of course.

And someone had their first pumpkin patch experience. She loved it, despite having a bad cold. Poor little babe.

Have a happy Halloween weekend! I'll be knitting my baby's blanket, making bread, and hopefully carving our mini pumpkins. I love fall.

*Photographs by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

Welcoming Grace | New York, NY

2011-10-27T12:21:00.000-04:00

A few photos from one of my newborn sessions a couple weeks ago. Little Grace was a wee two weeks.

*Photographs by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

Two

2011-10-17T08:26:00.000-04:00

Two years ago today we were married on an unseasonably cold October day in the Adirondack Mountains.

Vivek,

Thank you for making me laugh each and every day and for always remembering the little things. I love you a thousand times over.

XO,
Mercie

*Photograph by Keira Lemonis.

Airing out on 17th Street

2011-10-14T18:24:00.000-04:00

*Photograph by Mercie Ghimire.

!!!!!

2011-09-30T12:42:00.001-04:00

Arriving March 2012. We're in love already.

Etsy Fave | bookhou at home

2011-09-29T09:49:00.000-04:00

Left to my own devices I would fill our apartment with linen tea towels and throw pillows, and laser cute wood anything. There is something about screen printed linen and abstract wood art that is both rustic and modern at the same time. Like everything from Etsy shop bookhou at home. OMG. Gorgeous.

*Images via bookhou at home.

Luke | Ballston Lake, NY

2011-09-26T17:45:00.004-04:00

I photographed this little guy on a beautiful fall day in upstate New York. His mama, my good friend, hired me to do a photo session for her holiday cards. We went to Lakeside Farms to run around the fields and eat cider donuts. I bought a bushel of granny smiths to make apple pie with, although Luke had other ideas. He decided to take all of the apples out of the bag and give them to his mama one by one. It was so cute.

After that, we headed to the park to let Luke go wild at the playground. He thoroughly enjoyed himself.

It's not too early to think about photos for your holiday cards! Check out my information page for session details. I'm also putting together a holiday package that includes a custom designed photo card, so check back for updates on that. My weekends are booking up fast so email me if you'd like to reserve a date!

*Photographs by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

The Weekend | A trip to the farm

2011-09-06T15:22:00.003-04:00

We had a quiet long weekend. I made applesauce, my favorite summer-turning-into-fall activity, with delicious apples from the Union Square Farmers Market. Then we headed to my sister and brother-in-law's. We bbq'd, went for walks, and took a drive to Alstede Farms. We walked almost the entire farm picking veggies and berries (we're saving apple picking for the fall!). Oh, and ate cider donuts! Yet another favorite summer-turning-into-fall activity. YUM.

Someone slept through all the fun...

I can't believe summer is winding down. Where did it go? I hope you had a lovely weekend.

*Photographs by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

A very special first birthday

2011-08-25T20:00:00.000-04:00

A couple weeks ago I had the pleasure of photographing a doljanchi, a Korean tradition that celebrates the birthday of a one-year-old baby. It was an honor to be a part of the family's special day and the little lady of honor was such a treat to photograph. Not to mention the Brooklyn restaurant, 1 or 8, was a beautiful backdrop for the event.

And the ritual of the event. Her dad got a kick out of her choice.

After the celebration, we took a few shots outside of the restaurant.

It was such a lovely day. Thanks for letting me be a part of it!

*Photographs by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

Beatrice Valenzuela

2011-08-09T10:56:00.003-04:00

I believe I need these. Badly.

And when we have kids, they will definitely rock a pair of these.

LOVE. Pick up a pair here. And you can learn more about the beautiful designer here.

*Images by Beatrice Valenzuela.

In the Kitchen | Lemon-Poppy Seed Scones

2011-07-28T15:30:00.003-04:00

I am a huge fan of all things lemon-poppy seed: muffins, pound cakes, this cake (which I made last summer for my former coworkers and it was a wild success)... I am also a huge fan of scones, as evidenced here and here. So when the idea of lemon-poppy seed scones popped into my head last night, I scoured the internet for a recipe and found this little gem.

Lemon-Poppy Seed Scones from Bon Appetit, March 2002

Ingredients

3 c all purpose flour
1 c sugar
1-2 T sugar in the raw for sprinkling on top
3 T poppy seeds
1 T baking powder
2 t grated lemon peel
1 t salt
10 T (1 1/4 sticks) chilled unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
1 large egg
2 T fresh lemon juice
1/3 c whole milk

Directions

Preheat oven to 375°F.

Mix flour, 1 cup sugar, poppy seeds, baking powder, lemon peel, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Cut in the butter until mixture resembles coarse meal. In a separate bowl, whisk together egg and lemon juice and add to flour mixture. Using your hands combine until moist clumps form. Add 1/3 cup milk. Mix until just combined. Using floured hands, gather dough into ball. Flatten into 8-inch round. Cut round into 8 wedges. Transfer scones to large baking sheet lined with two sheets of parchment paper. Sprinkle tops with sugar in the raw. Bake until scones are golden brown, about 25 minutes. Transfer to rack and cool.

They are divine, people. You must try.

*Photograph by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

WOW

2011-07-27T09:57:00.002-04:00

beet cake from tiger in a jar on Vimeo.

I am at a loss for words. You all know about my love of food photography, but this. This just rocked my world. Wowza.

It's simple. It's beautiful. It's artistic perfection.

*Video by Tiger in a Jar.

Etsy Fave | Voz Clothing & Art

2011-07-27T08:40:00.012-04:00

I love the hand painted geometric designs on these wood bangles by Voz Clothing & Art. Especially the neon prints. So fun.

They also have necklaces, totes, and brooches. Def have a look.

*Photographs via Voz Clothing & Art.

Travelogue | Joshua Tree Road Trip | Part Two

2011-07-26T10:51:00.001-04:00

On our last night in Joshua Tree, we headed to Pioneer Town for some BBQ and live music. Founded in 1946 by a group of Hollywood investors, Pioneer Town started as a live-in Old Western movie set. The set was designed to provide a place for the actors to live while also using their homes as part of the movie set. Neat, right? It's also the home of Pappy & Harriet's, a local landmark built within one of the original sets, that serves up food, drinks, and live music.

This gem lived up to all of the hype. There was music, dancing, friendships made, ribs and pecan pie, and one of the best musical performances I've ever seen. Even the bathroom was cool.

The band (whom the bartender said were the Joshua Tree Armory...Kinda) rocked. I'm a wee bit obsessed with them. They played You Don't Know how it Feels (one of my all time favorite songs) and it was AMAZING. The lead singer, whose voice is reminiscent of Jerry Garcia's, KILLED IT. It was sick. I recorded a snippet of it on my iPhone and have listened to it at least 30 times. If you know who they are (Lily?! Jamie?!) do tell!

It was such a great night. I can't wait to go back.

More Joshua Tree adventures to come...

*Photographs by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

Travelogue | Joshua Tree Road Trip | Part One

2011-07-20T09:24:00.028-04:00

Fiiiiiiiinally getting around to recapping my Vegas/Joshua Tree trip. I'm lying. I started this post about 12 times, got overwhelmed, and stopped. Truth be told, I'm not the biggest fan of recap posts. There is just TOO MUCH TO PUT TOGETHER. But since I went on and on about how excited I was for my trip, I just couldn't leave everyone hanging. So.

Amber and I had a fantastic time exploring the town of Joshua Tree, photographing her baby belly, hiking, laughing, eating, wandering, and just enjoying time together before her little cutie arrives.

THE PAD

We stayed at Rattler Ranch Cabins, which is like camping but not. This is the road leading up to the ranch. It was in the middle of nowhere. Obviously.

Our cabin, the Mustang, was RAD. Seriously rad. It had a patio with a charcoal grill, giant fire bin (which admittedly was a tad scary), a little table with chairs, a couch (that's correct), and hammock (!!). LOOOOOOOOOVE.

There was even an old Airstream trailer parked next to the Mustang, which we were obsessed with. Unfortunately it was being renovated, otherwise I'm pretty sure we would have spent the entire time playing cards and drinking (me) in there.

The inside was super cozy. It was decorated with music posters, vintage furniture, a shiny red wood burning stove, desert tchotkes, and two guest books (dating back to 2005!) filled with notes and drawings from guests, us included.

THE PARK

The park was incredible. We entered through the west entrance and went hiking in Hidden Valley and Barker Dam. Then we drove the entire length of the park. Um, I don't recommend this. Once you pass Cholla Gardens, the Joshua Trees and cool rock formations disappear. It was like driving on I-15. And it took FOREVER. And don't be wooed by Cottonwood. It's a total buzz kill.

I am/was freakishly obsessed with the massive rock formations. I couldn't get enough of them.

Chollas are ugly little guys but fascinating nonetheless. They also do NOT like it when you brush into them, as evidenced by the giant warning signs everywhere. Apparently their needles are like barb wire. Awesome.

And Joshua Trees are adorable. I love them.

So that's part one of our Joshua Tree road trip. More to come turkeys!

*All photographs by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

Three brothers | Summit, NJ

2011-07-19T12:53:00.004-04:00

Okay. It really doesn't get much cuter than these three little guys. They stole my heart: adorable, well mannered, non-stop talkers, and ready to do whatever I asked. Run towards the camera at full speed flailing my arms? ABSOLUTELY.

And this little guy? BIGGEST HAM EVER. He kept saying, "Mercie! You can take my picture!" So. Damn. Cute.

We had so much fun. I even played Red Light Green Light, which I haven't played since third grade. Turns out it's still as much fun.You can see more photos of these cuties here.

*Photographs by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

Woman in Hallway

2011-07-14T08:44:00.001-04:00

Taken in a hallway lined with vintage album covers in The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas.

*Photograph by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

Press | HGTV.com

2011-07-13T15:24:00.002-04:00

Last month I worked with Jen from The Haystack Needle on a project for HGTV.com. I presented my Lillet Cocktail recipe and photograph, which are now up on HGTV.com. How exciting! Check it out here!

Thanks Jen and HGTV.com!

Update: The link is now working. Somehow it linked to a random post from my old blog. Sorry about that!

*Photograph by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

In the Kitchen | Nibby Buckwheat Butter Cookies

2011-07-12T06:53:00.075-04:00

I have a thing for buckwheat flour. There is just something about the nutty flavor that makes everything a little more exciting. Like these scones I made. I also have a thing for any cookie that requires an alarming amount of butter, such as these little devils I made and proceeded to finish in two days. Oops.

Nibby Buckwheat Butter Cookies from Chewy Gooey Crispy Crunchy Melt-in-your-Mouth Cookies by Alice Medrich

Ingredients

14 T unsalted butter, softened
3/4 c sugar
1/4 t salt
1 1/2 t pure vanilla extract
2 c unbleached all-purpose flour
3/4 c buckwheat flour
1/3 c roasted or raw cacao nibs

Directions

Using a mixer, beat the butter with the sugar, salt, and vanilla until smooth and creamy but not fluffy, about one minute. Add the flour and mix just until incorporated. Scrape the dough into a mass and knead it with your hands a few times just to be sure the flour is completely incorporated. I chose to do the slice and bake cookies (as if you couldn't tell by the random shape) as it was easier and didn't require a rolling pin (I hate rolling pins). Form a 12x2 inch log, wrap, and refrigerate the dough for at least two hours, preferably overnight. (Alice recommends making the dough a day before baking to allow the cacao bean flavor to permeated the dough.)

The next day, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Using a sharp knife, cut the cold dough into 1/4 inch thick slices. Place cookies on an ungreased baking sheet and bake for 12-14 minutes or until the edges are light brown. (Alice also recommends baking the cookies at least a day ahead of serving for even more flavor.)

And voila! Buttery, not too sweet, deliciousness. Alice suggested using them for linzer cookies with blackberry preserves. OMG. I love linzer cookies AND blackberries. Will definitely be trying that combo out.

*Photographs by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

Etsy Fave | PAWLING

2011-07-11T12:25:00.013-04:00

I absolutely adore the clean, understated designs by PAWLING. A design collaboration between two sisters focusing on environmentally responsible design, PAWLING designs totes, tea towels, pillow covers (all of which I can't have enough of),
onesies, and more. See?

Perfect, right? Pick up some of their lovely goods here.

*Photographs by PAWLING.

Chloe | Three Months

2011-07-07T20:04:00.006-04:00

Guys, my niece is THREE MONTHS OLD. I can't believe it. She's very busy smiling her big gummy smile, chewing on her fists, chuckling, and saying "ohhh" in the tiniest little voice I've ever heard. Oh, and drooling. EVERYWHERE. It's adorable. And almost too much to take.

See her at one and two months.

*All photographs by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

Travelogue | Downtown Las Vegas

2011-07-06T10:16:00.003-04:00

I'm finally going through the 1,500 photographs I took on my trip. Here are a few of my faves from Downtown Las Vegas. I've never photographed there, but as you know, have always been fascinated by the history of old Vegas. I wish I had alloted more time for shooting it... BUT the liquidation of the Sahara Hotel & Casino started at 10:00, so I had to rush uptown to get in line. That, my friends, is one insane story that I'll share soon.

*All photographs by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

Portrait sessions | Upstate New York

2011-07-05T23:40:00.004-04:00

I'll be in the Albany / Saratoga / Lake George region July 19 - 22 and still have a few portrait sessions available. AND I'm offering a 25% off Friends & Family discount. Good deal, right? Email me or visit my website for more information.

*All photographs by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

Baby Bump | Amber | Joshua Tree, CA

2011-06-29T08:36:00.010-04:00

I've been trying to come up with something to say about these photographs for days. You see, Amber is one of my dearest friends. We live on opposite coasts and only see each other once a year, so capturing this time in her life means the world to me. We had so much fun that evening in Joshua Tree National Park - attempting to get a decent photo of ourselves using the self timer and laughing until our stomachs hurt. I am thrilled with how they turned out and Amber looks absolutely stunning.

*Photographs by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

The weekend | Lake George

2011-06-27T23:05:00.010-04:00

We spent an extended weekend with my family in Lake George, one of my favorite places to be in the summer (and it happens to be where we were married). There was fishing on the dock, bbqs, boat rides, cold beers, lots of laughter, black raspberry soft ice cream... And yours truly jumped into a very very cold lake and went for a long swim.

Twas a perfect weekend.

(Vivek snapped the photo of me jumping into the lake. He's super proud of it.)

*Top photography by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

Back

2011-06-22T09:58:00.014-04:00

Hellooooo! I'm back from Las Vegas and California. AND I have a shiny new blog. What do you think? I'd love to hear your thoughts! I won't be posting on a lovely evening anymore, so I hope you'll follow me over here from now on. It will be just as great, no, better than great. Promise.

I'm catching up after being away for over a week, but I have lots of stories and photos to share. One being the Liberace Museum in Vegas. Rad, right?

*Photograph by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

Travelogue | Away I go

2011-06-11T10:37:00.010-04:00

Tomorrow I'm flying here...

And Friday we're driving here.

I'll be back in a little over a week with stories and pics from our adventures. See you then turkeys!

*Las Vegas photo via here and Joshua Tree photo via here.

Vista

2011-06-08T09:29:00.002-04:00

I spent the day with my mom on my birthday (which was last month but I just remembered to blog about it. I did the same thing last year. I'm losing my mind). Anyway. After a most delicious lunch on the patio at Il Bambino (and two very large glasses of Chianti), we walked to one of my favorite places in Astoria/LIC: Socrates Sculpture Park. The current exhibition, Vista, is described as:

Vista will explore the ways that methods of viewing and observation determine the assessment and evaluation of an object or scene. The works in the exhibition will employ visual alignment, perspective, and the framing of a site-line or point of view to dictate perception. The show will re-examine themes and ideas that were initially laid out in the Park's 2002 show View and is being curated in response to a reemergence of these topics in current artmaking practices. The Park's location along the East River provides a spectacular view of Manhattan that is the backdrop for all the exhibitions presented at the Park. This show will take particular stock in the Park's location and the outlook that it affords of urban greenspace, iconic cityscape, river and open sky.

So I photographed my view through one of the installations. Neat, right? If you've never been to Socrates, I highly recommend it. The view of Manhattan and the East River are incredible, and the exhibits are thought-provoking and contemplative.

*Photograph by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

In the Kitchen | Almond Biscotti

2011-06-07T11:04:00.002-04:00

Mmmmm. Biscotti. One of my all time favorite treats. I love it with coffee for breakfast or dessert. It's so versatile. I've wanted to make it for a while, but was patiently awaiting the arrival of my new (and quite possibly favorite) cookbook, Chewy Gooey Crispy Crunch Melt-In-Your-Mouth Cookies by Alice Medrich. Do any of you own it? Because you should. How can you not like a cookbook that is solely devoted to cookies? Literally every last recipe sounds heavenly.

Almond Biscotti from Chewy Gooey Crispy Crunch Melt-In-Your-Mouth Cookies

Ingredients

2 c unbleached all-purpose flour
1 c sugar
1 1/4 t baking powder
1/8 t salt
3 large eggs
2 T amaretto liqueur or 2 T rum with 1 t almond extract
1 t pure vanilla extract
1 c whole almonds, toasted, and coarsely chopped

Directions

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a bowl and mix together thoroughly. In a separate larger bowl, whisk the eggs, amaretto, and vanilla until well blended. Stir in the flour mixture and then the almonds. The dough will be thick and sticky. Scrape dough onto the cookie sheet. We your hands and form the dough into a long flat loaf about 12 inches by 4 inches.

Bake for about 50 minutes, until firm and dry. Rotate the pan half way through to ensure even baking. Set the pan on a cooling rack for 15 minutes and leave the oven on. Transfer the loaf to a cutting board (removing the parchment paper) and cut the loaf into slices 1/2 to 3/4 inch wide. Transfer the slices to the unlined baking sheet at least 1/2 inch apart. Toast for 40-50 minutes, until golden brown, rotating the pan half way through to ensure even baking.

Enjoy with coffee or alone. YUM.

*Photographs by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

On photography

2011-06-01T23:59:00.005-04:00

I usually don't use this space to rant, but this particular topic has been chapping my hide for sometime.

While the advent of digital photography has made documenting life available to the masses, it has also spawned the mindset of if you have a digital camera or (gasp) camera phone and can take a decent picture on Automatic, then you can call yourself a photographer. Now I fully support individuals in their creative pursuits, but that is not what I'm referring to here. I'm referring to the people who come up to me and act as if their son's birthday party photos are the same as my professional photographs. It's that mindset that has changed the value of photography as a skilled art form and that angers me. It angers me because I work really really hard to make my photographs. I study and analyze and obsess over them (probably to my detriment). To me, photography isn't simply snapping a decent picture with your camera set to Automatic. It's about seeing. It's about knowing how to use your camera in any situation. It's about capturing a moment. It's about making art. It's about finding a new take on an ordinary situation. And that takes patience and skill and talent and most importantly, a unique eye. So this malarkey about photography being something anyone can do really. chaps. my. hide.

Sooooo. Now that I got that out of the way, here is what I was originally planning to write about.

I study photography as much as I participate in photography. I can spend hours looking at and thinking about one image, wondering why the photographer chose that specific point of view and what was left out. Aside from the technical aspect of photography, for me the hardest part of photography is what to keep in the frame and what to leave out. Below are a few books I've been reading and studying the last few months. I highly recommend all of them, for those who are interested.

Annie Leibovitz At Work by Annie Leibovitz. I've mentioned before how much of an influence Annie Leibovitz had on me. She was the first professional photographer I took note of when I was younger. While I appreciate all of her work, it's really her early work from the late 60s and 70s that fascinates me. I love that this book tells a story behind each set of images, especially those taken on the 1975 Rolling Stones tour. Dude. Can you imagine?

Photo-wisdom by Lewis Blackwell. Every few months my friend, Sean, and I get together and talk non-stop about photography. He's the one person in my life who is as passionate about the art as I am. So when he recommended this book, I didn't hesitate. Similar to Annie's book, the photographers featured tell about their influences, inspirations, adventures, and so on. It's a fantastic compilation.

Richard Avedon: Portraits by Richard Avedon. What appear to be simple portraits against white backdrops are in truth raw, complicated, intimate snippets of his subjects. He is a master.

Dennis Hopper: Photographs 1961-1967 by Tony Shafrazi. A few weeks ago I watched The Cool School, a documentary about the L.A. art movement that began in the late 1950s. It was fascinating and further fueled my obsession with Dennis Hopper's lesser known career as an artist and photographer. His work ranges from quietly honest photographs of anonymity to sophisticated portraits from behind the scenes of 1960s Hollywood. His range is incredible.

*Photographs by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

A vintage jumper

2011-05-25T22:50:00.004-04:00

That jumper? My sister wore it as a baby. Four years later, I wore it. Over thirty years later, my sweet little niece is wearing it, too.

I think she likes it.

*Photographs by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

Pink Toes

2011-05-24T09:04:00.003-04:00

*Photograph by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

Pickles and a Bar.

2011-05-20T09:30:00.002-04:00

One serendipitous evening last summer, Vivek and I stumbled upon Sweet Afton and McClure's Pickles and our lives changed forever. Sweet Afton is the best thing to happen to Astoria. Ever. Not only is it rustic, cozy, friendly, and serves Ommegang Witte on tap, but they serve Fried McClure's Pickles. FRIED PICKLES you guys. They are hands down the best creation EVER. Sliced pickles coated with a puffy, chewy dough, fried, and served with a smokey mayo for dipping. TO. DIE. FOR.

Sweet Afton quickly became our favorite bar and their fried pickles our weakness. So when I saw a jar of McClure's at Whole Foods the other day, I couldn't resist. Turns out they're just as good straight out of the jar.

*Photograph by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

Tribeca Film Festival

2011-05-02T10:01:00.001-04:00

I had the privilege of photographing the Family Festival at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival. It was a blast! I found myself laughing at the funny little dances the kids did in the FlipBook booth, secretly wanting to get my face painted, and singing along to The Garden Song. When I was little this local hippie/folk duo put on concerts at our town's high school. My mom would take me and my sister to every concert and we'd sing along to that song. I thought they had written it until I Googled it just now. Um, embarrassing. Apparently every children's show in the 70's played it.

But I digress. It didn't feel like work at all and reaffirmed how much I love being a photographer.

You can see my published photos on the Tribeca Film Festival's website here. So cool!

*Photographs by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

In the Kitchen | Lunch Favorite

2011-04-27T15:22:00.002-04:00

Spring hits and all I want to eat are salads. Until September. I've posted several salad recipes here, here, and here, as well as a guest post on The Haystack Needle. Can't get enough.

This one is absolutely delicious. I know I say that about all of them, but it is.

Colorful Spring Salad

Ingredients

Baby spinach
Red bell pepper
Yellow bell pepper
String beans
Avocado
White beans
Fresh mozzarella
Fresh lemon juice
Olive oil
Fresh ground pepper

Directions

Simply throw as much of each ingredient as you'd like in a bowl, add lemon juice, olive oil, and ground pepper to taste. I used dried white beans that I cooked and seasoned, but canned work just as well.

Yum. Delish and filling.

*Photographs by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

Breakfast and a newish table

2011-04-15T12:39:00.003-04:00

This is one of my favorite breakfasts: Chobani Honey yogurt, fresh blackberries, and Not Sweet Vanilla Galaxy Granola. I love granola but am slightly horrified by how much fat is in it, especially since I eat way more than the "serving size." So when I found this low-fat option at Whole Foods, I thought I'd try it. Admittedly, it's not the most flavorful granola, but it adds crunch and sustenance. And of course, coffee. Another Whole Foods find. It's a light roast from Costa Rica with notes of honey and chocolate. Tis amazing. And you grind it yourself so it's super fresh. With a splash of organic milk, it's heavenly. And addicting...

And how about that fancy black table? Fab, right? Years ago I bought a round wood (oak, perhaps?) table off of Craig's List for 35 bucks. I hated the color of wood, and frankly, the table itself, but it was built well and it actually fit in our small kitchen. After years of complaining and procrastinating, I finally painted it last weekend. It was super easy and only cost $20 for painting supplies. I LOVE IT. Black was the perfect choice, too. Now I have a new backdrop for my food photos. Sweet! I got a little carried away and painted the shelf in the kitchen too, which also looks fabulous. I started to say that I wanted to paint the other larger shelf in the kitchen, but Vivek put the kibosh on that idea. Apparently I have no limits.

Have a lovely weekend all!

*Photograph by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

Joining the party early

2011-04-13T10:39:00.002-04:00

She's here!! My niece arrived two weeks early. Of course I am biased, but she is the cutest little peanut I've ever laid eyes on.

Chloe Mann Janaitis
Born April 6th at 4:29 am
7 lbs 7 oz 19 in

Congratulations Theresa and Bram! I love you both and can't wait to watch this new adventure unfold.

*Photograph by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

On the Outside

2011-03-31T11:49:00.002-04:00

Taken with a Polaroid SX70 on PX 100 silver shade film.

In the Kitchen | Shortbread cookies with Date & Almond Tapenade

2011-03-30T17:22:00.002-04:00

The stars finally aligned: A huge sale at Macy's, an unused Macy's gift card, and a fine argument on my part that we do indeed have room for another electronic appliance in our kitchen. We bought a food processor. !!!!!! I promised myself that as soon as we bought one, I could justify buying pestos, tapenades & spreads, which I have pined over since discovering it last year. Every recipe sounds incredible and super easy. A must buy, in my opinion. And it's on sale.

For my first go around with the food processor, I decided to make one of the sweeter tapenades. I found a shortbread recipe on 101 Cookbooks - everything Heidi makes is divine - and used the shortbread as a base to slather on the date & almond tapenade. Kind of similar to Linzer Cookies, which I love. The result is heavenly.

Date & Almond Tapenade from pestos, tapenades & spreads

Ingredients

1 c pitted dates
1/2 c unsalted almonds
1 T balsamic vinegar
2 T canola oil
2 t fresh lemon juice
1-3 T water

makes about 1 cup

Directions

Throw dates, almonds, vinegar, oil, and lemon juice in the bowl of a food processor and mix until ingredients start to bind together. Add water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until a coarse paste forms. And that's it. Spread over fresh bread and top with cheese or, as I did, over the most delectable shortbread cookie of all time.

*Photograph by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

In the Kitchen | Those Cookies

2011-03-22T13:52:00.002-04:00

Every Christmas when we were little, Aunt Patty would make a variety of cookies for dessert. Tucked between Russian Tea Cakes, Peanut Butter Thumbprints, and the occasional red or green wrapped Hershey's Kiss, were these cookies with coconut, chocolate chips, and a thick buttery graham cracker crust. In my eight-year-old mind, they were the culinary equivalent of chocolate souffle and Aunt Patty was a genius. I looooooved them. For some reason, no one knew the name of them so my sister and I referred to them as those cookies.

Years later when I was away at college, my mom found the recipe for those cookies. !!!!!!! The name? Magic Bars. Quite possibly the most appropriate name ever bestowed upon a dessert.

Magic Bars

Ingredients

8 T butter
1 1/2 c graham cracker crumbs
14 oz can condensed milk
2 c semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 1/3 c flaked coconut
1 c chopped walnuts

Directions

Preheat oven to 350. Crush graham crackers. In a 13" x 9" baking dish, melt butter in oven. Once melted, layer the rest of the ingredients evenly: graham crackers, condensed milk, walnuts, chocolate chips, and coconut. Press down firmly with a fork. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until lightly browned. Eat.

You're welcome.

*Photographs by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

More Sideways Thinking

2011-03-19T11:59:00.002-04:00

I went to the park again yesterday to practice my new rule breaking mindset. Here are some of the results.

All photos were taken digitally with my Nikon D700 using a 105mm lens. All photos are straight from my camera; no alterations were made in Lightroom.

*Photographs by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

Thinking Sideways

2011-03-18T09:29:00.006-04:00

I am extremely hard on myself so it is rare that really love one of my photographs. Perhaps it will compel me to always better myself; or perhaps it is to my detriment. Whatever the case, I felt that I needed to evolve my way of seeing. I researched books on the subject and decided on Freeman Patterson's Photography and the Art of Seeing. It was published in 1985 and I think it's out of print at this point (I bought a used copy), but the art of seeing is timeless. I can't recommend this book enough for photographers of all levels. A paragraph on the first page summarizes the book perfectly:

"Letting go of self is an essential precondition to real seeing. When you let go of yourself, you abandon any preconceptions about the subject matter that might cramp you into photographing in a certain, predetermined way. As long as you are worried about whether or not you will be able to make good pictures, or are concerned about enjoying yourself, you are unlikely either to make the best photographs you can or to experience the joy of photography to the fullest. But when you let go, new conceptions arise from your direct experience of the subject matter, and new ideas and feelings will guide you as you make pictures."

What really draws me to this book is how Mr. Patterson's statements apply to life in general and to letting go of preconceived notions of yourself and others. I love that.

But back to photography... One of Mr. Patterson's key ideas is "thinking sideways." I often get caught up in capturing what I think is the perfect image, so this idea of thinking about what you shouldn't photograph resonated with me. Yesterday I went to the park and set out to "break" my own rules of photography. Here are some of the results.

Update: I forgot to mention that all photos were taken digitally with my Nikon D700, using either a 105mm or 16-35mm lens. All photos are straight from my camera; no alterations were made in Lightroom.

*Photographs by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

In the Kitchen | Macaroni & Cheese with sauteed Shallots and Onion

2011-03-16T08:29:00.002-04:00

Macaroni and cheese is one of my all time favorite dishes. Nothing makes me happier than pasta smothered in cheese.

I've tried other macaroni & cheese recipes, but they've all been too heavy (and that's saying a lot considering my affinity for cheese). I found this recipe in The Illustrated Quick Cook and added sauteed shallots and onion in white wine and butter. The result is a decadently rich flavor without any heaviness. Tis divine.

Macaroni & Cheese with sauteed shallots and onion
Adapted from The Illustrated Quick Cook

Ingredients

2 T unsalted butter
1 T all-purpose flour
1 1/4 c organic whole milk
1 1/2 c shredded sharp white cheddar
12 oz mezze penne
1 small shallot
1/2 small yellow onion
Splash of white wine
Sea salt & fresh ground pepper
Fresh parsley

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Chop shallot and onion into small pieces. Melt 1 T of butter in a small pot over medium heat. Once melted, add shallot and onion. Saute until slightly soft and add a splash of white wine. Let the wine burn off a bit. Season with salt and pepper and put aside.

Melt remaining tablespoon of butter in a small saucepan over medium heat, remove from heat, and stir in flour with wooden spoon until well blended. Return to heat and gradually add milk, whisking constantly until the sauce begins to thicken. Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup of the cheese until melted. Add onion mixture and add salt and pepper to taste.

Meanwhile, cook pasta as package directs. Drain, reserving a small amount (1/2 cup or so) of the cooking water. Return pasta to the pot and toss with reserved cooking water. Mix in the cheese sauce and blend well. Transfer into a baking dish, I used an 8 inch square dish, top with remaining 1/2 cup of cheese, and bake for 10-15 minutes or until bubbly-hot.

Garnish with fresh parsley. Mangia!

*Photograph by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

Baby Bump | Theresa | 8 months

2011-03-06T15:06:00.004-05:00

Theresa is now 34 weeks pregnant. Eeeep! It's getting SO CLOSE! We hung out in Baby J's room this weekend for her 8 month pictures. Isn't her room awesome?! I'll do a full post once they're finished decorating. So for now, pictures of the lovely mama to be.

I love this one. It's how I always picture my sister.

You can see more here.

*All photographs by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

Baby Bump | Theresa | 7 months

2011-02-13T21:44:00.006-05:00

I love these.

*All photographs by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

Jumping In

2011-02-07T17:58:00.002-05:00

Fall in love or fall in hate.
Get inspired or be depressed.
Ace a test or flunk a class.
Make babies or make art.
Speak the truth or lie and cheat.
Dance on tables or sit in the corner.
Life is divine chaos. Embrace it.
Forgive yourself. Breathe.
And enjoy the ride...

-Solbeam

I quit my job today.

I am actually going to pursue my dream of being a photographer. As in, Oh yes, I make my living as a photographer. F--k yeah.

Because if I didn't, I'd never be able to say I lived my life without regrets. It's going to be a hell of a ride...

*Photo by Nuno Santos.

Etsy Fave | Upper Metal Class

2011-02-04T07:04:00.003-05:00

I have been on the hunt for a unique pair of every day earrings for years. Years. That sounds a bit ridiculous, but tis true. While trolling Etsy the other week, I stumbled upon Upper Metal Class. It's pretty awesome. Check out these rad necklaces.

AND I found TWO perfect pairs of earrings. I bought both. Love.

*All images via Upper Metal Class.

In the Kitchen | Cold Soba with Carrots & Black Sesame Seeds

2011-01-29T12:33:00.002-05:00

I LOVE cold soba. Love love love. I have been scouring the internet for a suitable recipe for months now. I wasn't able to find one that sounded perfect, so I pulled elements from these two recipes: Nigella's Soba Noodles with Sesame Seeds and Molly's Soba with Peanut-Citrus Sauce. To my utter delight (and surprise), the outcome was brilliant. Twill be a new staple in the Ghimire household.

I kinda threw everything in, tasting and adjusting as I went, so use the below as a guide. And if you don't like spicy food, go easy on the chili garlic sauce. It adds amazing flavor so definitely add at least one spoonful.

Cold Soba with Carrots & Black Sesame Seeds

Ingredients

1/2 - 3/4 lb. soba noodles
1 large carrot, sliced thin (we used our new veggie slicer. f-king life changing.)
1/3 cup black sesame seeds
6-7 t soy sauce
3 t honey
2-3 t sesame seed oil
4 scallions
juice of one lime
1-3 spoonfuls of chili garlic sauce (depending on spice preference)

Directions

First, make the sauce. In a large bowl, mix sesame seeds, soy sauce, honey, sesame seed oil, lime juice, and chili garlic sauce. Mix well.

Meanwhile, boil water in a large pot. When the water is boiling, add the soba noodles. Reduce heat and cook at a gentle simmer until noodles are al dente. They cook fast, so be careful. Drain noodles in a colander and immediately wash them in cool water. Keep the water running and using your hands, pick up small handfuls and separate them between your fingers, taking care to rinse each noodle. According to Molly, "washing" the noodles helps remove any starchy residues and keeps the noodles from clumping.

Drain any excess water from the noodles and then mix them in the bowl of sauce. Gently toss the noodles until they are evenly coated. Add the carrots and scallions and mix again. Next time I may add red peppers or English cucumbers.

We had ours with a side of sauteed Bok Choy. YUM.

*Photograph by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

In the Kitchen | Blueberry Almond Buckwheat Scones

2011-01-26T07:38:00.002-05:00

Top 'o the mornin' to ya! It's snowing again (uuuggghhh) which is the perfect excuse to eat homemade scones while snuggled up on the couch watching DVDs of Mad Men. (Unfortunately I will have to wait until I get home from work to do that. Lame.) I'm officially obsessed with making scones after discovering this amazing recipe, which I made for Christmas brunch. This recipe is a twist from Molly's Buckwheat Bundt Cake with Blueberries that I made this summer (which you MUST try). So so good.

Blueberry Almond Buckwheat Scones

Ingredients

1/4 c buckwheat flour
1 c plus 4 T unbleached flour
1/4 c sugar
1 3/4 t baking powder
1 c heavy cream
3/4 c dried blueberries
1/2 c chopped almonds
pinch of salt

Directions

Heat oven to 425. Line a baking sheet with two layers of parchment paper. Apparently this protects the bottoms from browning before the tops are done. Brilliant!

Mix flours, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Stir in almonds. Make a well in the center of the mixture and pour the cream into it. Push the dry ingredients into the well with a rubber spatula until just mixed. Mix in the blueberries (I find it easiest to use my hands at this point). Transfer dough onto a lightly flours surface. Press into a circle, about an inch thick. Cut into 8 equal-size wedges. Place the wedges 1 inch apart on baking sheet. If you'd like, brush the tops with a bit of extra cream and a sprinkling of sugar. Bake until just browned on the top, about 15 minutes.

Enjoy with your morning coffee and a clementine. Yum.

*Photograph by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

clementines

2011-01-23T06:03:00.002-05:00

*Photographs by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

Peels

2011-01-22T10:29:00.002-05:00

*Photographs by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

In the Kitchen | Thumbprints

2011-01-19T06:54:00.002-05:00

I found a recipe for Cranberry Thumbprints in the November issue of Sunset magazine the other day (yes, I'm that behind in my magazines). The article was about using leftovers from Thanksgiving, hence the cranberry sauce. Since it's way past Thanksgiving and I loath cranberry sauce, I used chocolate chips. Any filling will do though.

Chocolate Chip Thumbprints

Ingredients

1 c unsalted butter
3/4 c packed light brown sugar
1 t vanilla extract
3/4 t cinnamon
3/4 c pecan pieces
pinch of salt
chocolate chips

Makes 25 cookies

Directions

Using a hand beater, mix butter and light brown sugar together in a large bowl until smooth. Add flour, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt. Mix on low speed until blended. Stir in pecans. Form dough into 1 1/2 inch balls and place on a greased baking sheet. Use your thumb to press a well into the center of each cookie. Place a few chocolate chips in each well. Bake cookies until light golden brown, about 12 to 15 minutes. Let cool completely on baking sheet.

Enjoy!

*Photograph by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

In the Kitchen | Escarole & White Bean Soup with Orzo

2011-01-17T12:26:00.002-05:00

I spent what was intended to be a very productive three-day weekend on the couch with a heinous cold. I finally ventured out of the apartment this morning determined to make myself soup. My mom makes the most amazing escarole and white bean soup, which sounded perfect. I decided to wing it and make my own version, adding orzo for extra sustenance. The end result? Perfection.

Escarole & White Bean soup with Orzo

Ingredients

8 c low sodium organic chicken broth
6 c roughly chopped escarole
1 c orzo
1 can Northern white beans
3 garlic cloves, minced
3 T olive oil
Fresh ground pepper
Locatelli

Makes 4 main course servings

Directions

In a medium soup pot, bring 8 cups of chicken broth to a boil.

Heat a large soup pot over medium heat. Add oil. When oil is hot, add minced garlic. Saute until just brown and add escarole. Lower heat to medium-low. Let escarole cook down a bit and then add beans, including liquid. Cook on low heat.

Once the broth is boiling, add the orzo. Let simmer for about 8 minutes and then pour into escarole and bean mix. Bring everything to a boil. Add pepper and Locatelli to taste. Personally, I like a lot of Locatelli as I think it makes the soup. But it's up to you. I don't add any salt since the broth, beans, and cheese already have a salt, but you can add if you like.

I'm on my second bowl as I write this. Delish.

*Photographs by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

Baby Bump | Theresa | 6 months

2011-01-09T22:31:00.005-05:00

Jingle jingle. Theresa is now six months pregnant. AND I got to feel Baby J kick! Ah! Here's a few belly shots of the lovely soon-to-be mama at their house.

By the big Christmas tree...

And the mini. So cute.

You can see more pics here.

*All photographs by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

In the Kitchen | Cesha's Sauce

2010-12-21T19:36:00.002-05:00

My grandmother, Cesha, is a hell of a cook. And her sauce is legendary in my family. It is simple in appearance - smooth and seedless - but has a robust flavor. It is perfect in lasagna, atop a bowl of meatballs, or as Vivek prefers, by the spoonful. It took me several failed attempts to master it. I have tweaked a few things along the way and although I don't think mine will ever taste as good as Cesha's, I think this version is pretty close.

Be sure to use the best ingredients you can afford; especially the tomatoes. The ladies in my family swear by Cora, but I can't find them in my neighborhood so I use Sclafani.

Cesha's Sauce

Ingredients

1/4 c olive oil
4 cloves of garlic, peeled
2 cans of whole peeled Roma tomatoes
1/2 medium yellow onion
1 forkful of capers plus 1 spoonful of the juice
4-5 fresh basil leaves (or a sprinkle of dried)
Splash of sweet vermouth
Fresh ground pepper

Serves 4 - 6

Directions

In a medium pot, heat oil over medium-high heat. Toss in garlic cloves and cook until browned. Remove garlic and set aside. Turn off heat and remove pot from burner. Let the oil cool completely, then put the food mill on top of the pot and mill tomatoes until you can't squeeze any more juice out of them. Remove food mill and turn heat on high. Using a garlic press, press garlic cloves into sauce. Add onion (whole, not chopped), capers, caper juice, basil, and vermouth. Add pepper to taste. I don't use any salt as the tomatoes and capers are salty on their own. Bring sauce to a boil, then let simmer uncovered for 1 hour. Sauce will reduce and thicken. Pour over your favorite pasta (I had Gnocchi this time) and top with lots of freshly grated cheese.

Mangia!

*Photograph by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

Siblings | Long Island City, NY

2010-12-14T18:16:00.003-05:00

I had the pleasure of photographing my dear friends last month. Jeseka, Allen, and Eldin are three of my favorite people. They are funny, kind, generous, good people. Jeseka, my friend and former partner-in-crime at Conde Nast, asked if I would take a few pictures of them before Eldin flees New York City for Las Vegas. Um, absolutely. Eldin and I traveled to Malaysia together with Habitat for Humanity (which bonds you for LIFE), so I kinda felt like my little brother was leaving me too.

They were such hams in front of the camera and took me out for beers and wings after. They know how to woo me.

This is my fave.

Aw, love you guys.

*Photographs by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

Baby Bump | Theresa | 5 months

2010-11-26T18:03:00.004-05:00

Gobble gobble. I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. It's my absolute favorite holiday. We go to my sister and brother-in-law's house every year to whoop it up. We had an awesome time as always. And look! Here she is five months prego! Yay!! Isn't the little turkey super cute? Theresa traced her hand and made it into a turkey. Awwww.

*All photographs by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

Back to 35mm film

2010-11-15T17:38:00.004-05:00

My brother-in-law had a 30-year-old Canon AV-1 along with FIVE PRISTINE lenses sitting in a mildewy box in their basement. DUDE. I can definitely take that off your hands, thankyouverymuch. It's on loan (permanently?!) to moi so I brought it along on our trip to Storm King last month. Aside from some crud on the body and a rusted back hatch that must be pried open with a quarter, everything else seemed fine. After waiting with baited breath for the filmed to get developed, I am super excited to report that IT WORKS. What up.

I love the beautiful graininess of film. Love love love it.

Walls Notebook

2010-11-09T20:14:00.002-05:00

This was supposed to be our wedding guest book. Cool, right? I bought it online like 10 months before our wedding. I was super stoked about it. Oooh, people can doodle and write witty comments on rad photographs that I wish I had taken! Oh, and here is an array of Sharpies to further encourage creativity, guys! It's going to be awesome!

I forgot to put it out. I found it a month after our wedding in a box filled with our leftover centerpieces.

It STILL chaps my hide thinking about it...

Once mini. Now gigantic.

2010-11-08T06:03:00.002-05:00

Remember this 2 inch x 4 inch Instax I took?

It's now a 3 feet x 5 feet C-Print in our living room.

F-king awesome, right?! It took me years to decide what photograph of mine to enlarge. But when I took this photo a couple months ago, I knew immediately it was the one. It's unbelievable how much bigger our apartment feels now. I wanted the entire piece to be seamless. Mounting it on plexiglass allows you to focus on just the image. Plus I love the reflections on the plexiglass.

My first photograph enlarged and framed. I love it.

Update: Whoa, influx of people from Jamie's post! I'm so glad you like it and since a lot of you asked, here's the deal. Graphic Lab in Manhattan worked with us to get exactly what we wanted. They did an awesome job (as you can see). We gave them the dimensions and they did a high-res scan of the photo. They provided a proof and the resolution was spot on. We asked them to glue the photo on 1/4" thick gator board and then glue 1/8" plexiglass on top of that. There is no frame. To hang, there is a long beveled block on the back of the artwork (about 1" thick) and a matching block which you drill into the wall. The artwork is lowered onto the wall block to hang. The piece weighs about 40 pounds. I hope that answers your questions! Many thanks to Jamie for posting about it!

Baby Bump | Theresa | 4 months

2010-11-01T06:28:00.006-04:00

My sister, Theresa, is four months pregnant! YAY!!! I'm going to be an aunt!!! Oh my god, I don't think I've ever been this excited. Okay, perhaps when I got married, but this is a close second. I love little cuties. It's nearly impossible to resist spending gobs of money on onesies, wooden toys, hooded ducky towels, sock monkeys...

Anyway. Theresa agreed to let me snap pictures of her belly over the next several months. She gets to keep the pics and I get to practice my portraiture. Win win. Here are some of my faves from our first session yesterday.

Aw, isn't she beautiful? Lots more belly shots to come...

*All Photographs by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

lost

2010-10-27T20:46:00.003-04:00

Taken with a Polaroid SX-70 on PX 70 Color Shade film.

Keith's Life

2010-10-25T13:33:00.001-04:00

I just read the Times review about Life and am dying to read it. The lives of rock stars are fascinating, aren't they? Especially badass rockers from the 60s and 70s. Um, did anyone witness the sheer brilliance that was Keith blowing a cigarette out of his mouth while on stage jamming away in Shine a Light? Holy sh*t. It was awwwesome. We replayed it at least 10 times. Perhaps the only good part of the film, unfortunately.

I can't wait to get my hands on a copy of it.

Anniversary weekend: Storm King & Balthazar

2010-10-22T07:41:00.002-04:00

Sunday we drove an hour north of the city to Storm King, a 500 acre sculpture park in New York's Hudson Valley. It houses works by Richard Serra, Roy Lichtenstein, Maya Lin, and David von Schlegell, to name a few. I've never seen anything like it before.

The weather was beautiful and the foliage was amazing. I was very excited. Clearly.

A few of the exhibit highlights, in my opinion.

And a few of us.

Isn't it beautiful there?? I highly recommend going in the fall. The vibrant foliage is quite a contrast against the sculptures.

Later that night we had an incredible dinner at Balthazar. Fresh oysters, steak frites, wine... We were too busy oohing and ahhing over the food to take any pictures though.

And that was a our anniversary weekend. So lovely. Happy anny, lovey!

*Photographs by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

Anniversary weekend: The Whitney & Central Park

2010-10-20T11:30:00.001-04:00

After a most delicious breakfast, we made our way to the Whitney. The wind was whipping and there was a distinct fall chill in the air. As we turned down 73rd Street, the sun tucked behind the clouds, the wind whipped and it felt like we were in a different city. Gothic buildings with spidery vines crawling upwards and a Bates Motel sign blinking eerily. It reminded me of the days leading up to Halloween as a child.

The Lee Friedlander: America By Car exhibit at the Whitney was extraordinary. The nearly 200 photographs capture his time spent driving through almost every state in the U.S. As I studied each of the photographs, I was struck by how intentional his composition was. At first glance, the photographs appear to be just a snapshot from a car window. But a closer look reveals the precise framing and composition of each part of the image. It is simply fascinating to see what he chose to include in each part of the image. (No photos were allowed in the exhibit, but I did take a couple of the lobby.)

After the museum, we wandered around Central Park for a while. Walking to the top of Belvedere Castle.

Past The Met, where we caught a glimpse of Big Bambu.

And then headed home for cocktails and dinner.

More anniversary weekend adventures to come...

*Photographs by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

Anniversary weekend. Let's start with breakfast...

2010-10-19T17:42:00.003-04:00

Our anniversary weekend started out pretty much how it ended: with food. Burg's French Toast from A Homemade Life, to be exact. I never thought it possible to make restaurant worthy french toast in my own kitchen - my standards are pretty high after living down the street from Mama's in San Francisco - but this little nugget proved me wrong. WOW. Made with Challah, it's deliciously rich and has the perfect combination of crispy outside and moist inside. Topped with bananas and lots of pure maple syrup it's mind bogglingly good.

After we recovered from our food comas, we headed to the Whitney and Central Park. More on that to come...

One

2010-10-17T05:54:00.002-04:00

one year ago today i married the man who still has that adorable smirk, giant head, and child-like zest for life. and yes, when the first time i saw this picture i pretty much died and knew i had to marry him.

nobo,

your humor and enthusiasm for life are infectious. i am so excited to spend the rest of my days with you. i love you a thousand times over.

xo,
nobi

movement

2010-10-12T20:55:00.002-04:00

Taken with PX 70 Color Shade film from the Impossible Project.

*Photograph by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

In the Kitchen | Nutty Chocolate Coconut Cookies

2010-10-06T14:28:00.002-04:00

From my new favorite blog, Mae Bird. I am not one to make cookies without including lots of butter and white sugar, so a vegan/natural cookie recipe was completely foreign to me (Sucanat? Coconut Flour?). In fact, a couple years ago I'd declare you insane if you thought I'd bake an entire batch vegan cookies. But not anymore. In the last year or so, I've become quite the experimental cook. Now my motto is, f**k it, I'll try anything. A much better approach, if you ask me.

So I decided to give Mae Bird's Nutty Chocolate Coconut Cookies a whirl. Um, they're amazing. They aren't super sweet nor do they have the consistency of a traditional cookie, but I think that's what makes them so unique and delicious. Vivek said they reminded him of the sweets he grew up eating in Nepal. (And then proceeded to inhale six.) I think they are America's answer to Britain's biscuit. Dense, but still light, they are excellent paired with a cup of tea or coffee.

Nutty Chocolate Coconut Cookies by Mae Bird

Ingredients

1/2 c almond butter
1/4 c Sucanat (or natural brown sugar)
1/4 c honey
3 T coconut oil
1 c unsweetened shredded coconut
1/2 c chopped raw walnuts
1/2 c dark chocolate chips
1/2 c coconut flour
Dash of salt

Makes about 15 cookies

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a bowl, combine everything EXCEPT the coconut flour. Really mix it together with your hands otherwise it's hard to get the coconut oil to meld into everything else. (Since I've never used coconut oil, I had no idea it was a solid. Random.) Once everything is good and mixed, add the coconut flour and mix well.

Roll dough into one inch balls. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for about 15 minutes, or until tops are golden brown.

Eat. Seriously guys, these are addicting. I made them last night and there are two left. To. Die. For.

A few things to note... My cookies didn't form into a typical cookie shape. They looked more like Russian Teacake Cookies (which I love)... Next time I'll cook them for about 10-12 minutes since my oven temperature tends to be on the warmer side. Seeing that this was my first time baking this type of recipe, I didn't know how to gauge things... The bottoms burned right away (which I also noticed on Mae Bird's site). Vivek suggested putting a baking sheet (with edges) up side down and then placing the baking sheet with your cookies on top of that. Hopefully that will solve the problem.

Update: I made these again last night (obsessed). I cooked them for 12 minutes and used the double baking sheet method. It worked brilliantly.

*Photograph by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

Tomatoes

2010-09-15T21:47:00.002-04:00

*Photographs by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

In the Kitchen | Union Square Cafe's Bar Nuts

2010-09-12T17:32:00.002-04:00

I made these to snack on while watching the US Open today. The match is delayed due to rain, but we've carried on eating them anyway. Hopefully there will be some left by the time the match starts.

I tweaked the recipe slightly, adding paprika and substituting light brown sugar for dark as that's all I had.

Union Square Cafe's Bar Nuts

Ingredients

7 cups of assorted, unsalted nuts. I used almonds, cashews, peanuts, and pecans.
3 T minced fresh rosemary
1 t nutmeg
1 t paprika
1 t cayenne
2 T light brown sugar
2 T Kosher salt
3 T melted butter

Directions

Preheat oven to 350. Toast nuts until golden on a cookie sheet, about 10 minutes. Mix frequently to avoid burning (the pecans burned anyway. BE CAREFUL. maybe I'll roast those separately next time).

Mix spices, sugar, salt, rosemary, and melted butter together in a bowl. Pour nuts into a large mixing bowl, pour in spice mixture, toss and mix well. I let them sit for a while to really absorb the seasoning.

Enjoy!

Update: These are even better a few days later when the flavors have really melded together. I made these again in a 250 degree oven for about 5-8 minutes and that prevented any burning.

*Photograph by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

In the Kitchen | Homemade Applesauce

2010-09-05T11:19:00.001-04:00

It was an absolutely glorious summer-turning-into-fall day yesterday. After a quick trip to Williamsburg to scope out a vintage fabric shop and shoot pictures, I stopped by the farmers market in Union Square. I wanted to make a farmers market dinner, but when I arrived I was drawn to tent after tent of beautiful fall apples. Perfect.

Growing up, my Aunt Patty always made applesauce. I loved how comforting it was to sit in her kitchen, my little legs dangling from the chair, spooning heap fulls into my mouth. Last fall while at her house, my grandmother (who lives there) gave me a bowl. The memories flooded back and I knew I needed to make it. I asked Aunt Patty to share her recipe and she kindly obliged. Much to my relief, it's incredibly easy to make. I tweaked it a bit to add my own twist. I had two heaping bowls last night straight from the pot. I'm convinced there is nothing better than warm applesauce.

A quick note. You will need a food mill for this recipe. If you don't have one, I highly recommend investing in a good quality one. We have a Rosle and love it. I use it to make pureed soups, marinara, mashed potatoes, and now applesauce. Every women in my family owns one so I can't imagine my kitchen without it.

Now then.

Homemade Applesauce

Ingredients

Mixed dozen of McIntosh, Cortland, and Honey Crisp apples
2 T cinnamon
1/4 c packed light brown sugar
1/4 c sugar

See? Only four ingredients. Super easy.

Directions

Wash, core, and cut apples into medium size pieces. As Aunt Patty said, don't worry about cutting them into perfect sized pieces; the beauty of this recipe is in it's simplicity. Brilliant. Heat a large Dutch Oven over low heat. Add just enough water to coat the bottom; DON'T add too much as the apples have a lot of juices and you don't want to water it down. Add the apples, cover, and cook for about 1 1/2 hours. Checking every once in a while to make sure they aren't sticking to the bottom or worse, burning. Once you can easily cut the apples with a wooden utensil, they are done. Set food mill over a large bowl and spoon 1/3 of the apples at a time through the mill. I used the sieve with larger holes as I wanted my sauce to have tiny pieces of apple. If you want yours to be completely smooth, use the smaller sieve. Once you're finished, transfer the applesauce back into the Dutch Oven over low heat. Add the cinnamon, light brown sugar, and sugar. Serve warm or cold.

I think it's best warm. I heated some up for breakfast this morning. OMG. SO GOOD.

*Photographs by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

In the Kitchen | Arugula salad with Dates & Apples

2010-09-01T08:07:00.001-04:00

I realized the other day that I haven't done a food post in a while. I have cooked a few things this summer despite the insane heat, but nothing was really blog worthy. It is quite maddening when I get really excited to share a recipe and it comes out terribly, or tastes good but doesn't photograph well AT ALL. But this little nugget of goodness and prettiness is perfect to share. It was inspired by a most magnificent salad we had at Purple Palm in Palm Springs. My sister and I are still talking about how amazing it was. It was THAT good.

The one main difference is Purple Palm used a pistachio vinaigrette. I'm not sure how to recreate that, so here's my version. As usual, I didn't measure anything so the amounts are very very loose. Go with what tastes best.

Ingredients

Arugula (one 5 oz. box)
1/2 a green apple, peeled & chopped into tiny pieces
4-5 dates, pitted & chopped into small pieces
1-3 T Honey
1/4 c good olive oil (Olave is my favorite)
2-3 T champagne vinegar
Splash of fresh lemon juice
Grated manchego
Salt & pepper to taste

Directions

In a small bowl, mix 1/2 of the chopped dates, honey, olive oil, champagne vinegar, and lemon juice. Really mash up the dates so their juices come out. Taste and adjust ingredients if necessary. In a large bowl, combine arugula, chopped apples, and remaining dates. Mix in dressing, add salt & pepper, and top with lots of grated manchego.

YUM. I was licking my bowl.

*Photograph by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

The Weekend | Governors Island

2010-08-18T20:11:00.003-04:00

With Vivek, my sister, and brother-in-law. We had a lovely time wandering around the island. It's a bit random, actually. A lot of vacant buildings, piles of rubble, and fenced off space. But it was neat to explore. We ate one of the most delicious cucumbers I've ever had from a little fruit & veggie stand along the water. The highlight though (for me at least) was Encounters, an art exhibit put on by the Sculptures Guild. There were some stunning pieces by Eve Ingalls, Vera Manzi-Schacht, Betty McGeehan, Michael Rees, and Joel Perlman.

The first two sculptures took my breath away. And fortunately for me they photographed beautifully.

*Photographs by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

Sunspot

2010-08-16T22:03:00.002-04:00

*Photograph by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

Fall cooking to-do list

2010-08-10T20:04:00.001-04:00

Although I am the first person to lament the end of summer, for some reason I'm thinking ahead to fall. Maybe because we have a super fun anniversary trip planned (more to come on that) or that I'm really looking forward to cooking again. Since ALL of July and pretty much the whole of August so far have been in the mid 90s with 95% humidity (GAAHHHHH), I've been loath to stand by a hot stove. So we've mostly survived on this cocktail (have literally made it every night since last Thursday - ummmm), Hoegaarden, and Stacy's Pita Chips. Very healthy.

On my list of culinary creations: pureed white bean soup (NOT this one), canning project (hopefully a fig jam), pickles, and some type of tart. I plan to scour my burgeoning cookbook library, some of which I may or may not have read (yet).

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. Not a cookbook, but more about responsible living/consuming/eating/etc. Just started it today on the subway ride home from work. It's going to be good. I can tell.

A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg. I finished it last month and absolutely loved it. I can't wait to try out some of her recipes, most notably: Burg's French toast, Red Cabbage salad with Lemon & Black pepper, and French-Style Yogurt cake with Lemon.

Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day by Jeff Hertzberg & Zoe Francois. I know. I KNOW. I didn't didn't bake the amazing fresh bread I claimed I would. I sat down with this book the day I bought it and after reading the summary of items you'd need to bake your bread in five minutes, I felt overwhelmed and bought a baguette from the bakery down the street. I shall conquer.

Jamie at Home by Jamie Oliver. BEEEAUUTIFUL book. Wow. Also. Here in lies the pickling recipe I plan to tackle.

I Know How to Cook by Ginette Mathiot. This is more up Vivek's alley as it's VERY detailed with very few pictures and I am still working on my patience with cookbooks. I shall enjoy at least one recipe Vivek whips up from this gem.

The Illustrated Quick Cook by Heather Whinney. I haven't even looked through this yet. I will, promise. I tend to get a little carried away with purchasing cookbooks and then forgetting about them shortly thereafter. Oops.

And a book I am dying to own, pending the purchase of a food processor.

Pestos, Tapenades, and Spreads by Stacey Printz. YUM. If I could, I would eat a little smattering of apps every night. A few pieces of bruschetta, veggies & hummus, a light salad...

So that's on my to do list for fall. Amongst other things.

The Weekend | Saturday with the girls

2010-08-09T18:39:00.005-04:00

My mama and I went to my sister's house for a girls weekend. We had a great time as always. Chinese take-out on Friday and lots of chit chatting. Up early on Saturday to spend the day at the beach in Spring Lake, then a homemade dinner, wine, and ice cream sundaes for dessert. And a couple hours on the tennis court on Sunday.

I love spending time with my two favorite people.

*Taken with my Instax.

Lillet Cocktail

2010-08-05T22:02:00.002-04:00

We've been drinking our fair share of Hoegaarden this summer. While delicious, we (OK, I) wanted something a wee bit lighter and less caloric. So we mixed up this Lillet cocktail. It was quite good, I must say. Super light and very refreshing. AND we got to use Vivek's Turkish glasses he purchased in Istanbul. Extra fun.

Fill glass with ice cubes
3/4 Lillet
1/4 Mandarin Seltzer
Juice of half a lemon
Slice of lemon, halved

Cheers!

*Photograph by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

The weekend | Saturday around town.

2010-08-03T07:28:00.004-04:00

Aw, we had such a lovely weekend. The balmy summer temps called for some lazying around the city, which as of late was unthinkable. We wandered through the Hester Street Fair for a bit, sipping a most delicious cucumber and mint lemonade. Established in 1895, the Hester Street Fair was once home to New York City's largest pushcart market. Neat. It's now a smaller market dedicated to culinary delights, vintage finds, and handmade treasures. Tucked neatly between a boisterous basketball court and singing playground, it's an intimate part of the neighborhood.

After the fair, we made our way across the lower east side, through China Town and then up through Little Italy to Nolita, where we stopped off for a few drinks at Epistrophy. It's a lovely bohemian cafe with just the right vibe. The way the late afternoon light streamed through the windows was just beautiful. I couldn't resist snapping some pics.

After a few drinks, we meandered through the streets debating whether to head home and make dinner or treat ourselves to a meal out. Obviously treating ourselves sounded like a much better option.

Like a lot of hip NYC restaurants, Public is romantic and charming and sexy. But that's not what wooed me. It was the red curry of crispy tofu with Hon-Shimeji mushroom, Thai eggplant and long beans. Tofu is not something I normally order at a restaurant or even eat at home, but I decided to give it a whirl. And oh my god, it was DIVINE. The tofu was literally bursting with flavor and I NEVER say that about tofu. Mixed with the sweet and spicy red curry it was hands down one of the best dishes I've ever had. Vivek had the grilled swordfish with wheatberry cous cous, baba ghanoush and minted courgettes, which was also quite delicious. We split the grilled scallops with sweet chili sauce, creme fraiche and green plantain crisps as an app. Yum. I love scallops. An exquisite meal to end a most lovely summer day.

Coney Island through a Fisheye

2010-07-27T21:53:00.008-04:00

Taken with this bad boy on an excursion to Coney Island in 2008.

*Photographs by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

The word sunkist makes me happy.

2010-07-15T21:57:00.002-04:00

Taken with my Holga in Palm Springs, CA.

Flash of PInk

2010-07-13T19:40:00.002-04:00

A little flash of pink on the Museum of Arts & Design building taken with my ridiculously unreliable holga. I still miss the original building designed by Edward Durell stone though. It had much more character, if you ask me.

*Photograph by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

Rickshaw Dumplings

2010-06-23T14:48:00.007-04:00

Normally I bring my lunch to work every day.

But not today.

Because Wednesday is the magical day when the Rickshaw Dumpling Truck parks its little self right outside my office building. And for once I actually remembered and planned ahead. Yay me.

The menu is simple: three kinds of dumplings, three different sides, and two drink choices. Brilliant. I chose the Bell & Evans chicken dumplings with glass noodles, lemongrass, and fresh Thai basil with a spicy peanut dipping sauce. To. Die. For.

As a side I wanted the chilled edamame, but they were sold out and only had the Asian green salad with ginger soy dressing left. The lovely gal told me it's really really good. people go mad for the dressing. Um, they should. It's f-ing amazing.

So it's offish. I love Rickshaw Dumplings. And the truck. And the super fun packaging. NYC locals: stalk this truck. For realz. Or stop by their Flatiron location. You will love it.

*Photographs by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

Rainier Cherries

2010-06-20T18:01:00.001-04:00

I look forward to these every summer. So so good.

*Photograph by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

In the Kitchen | Roasted Beet & Avocado salad

2010-06-17T00:00:00.001-04:00

I am super proud of myself. I finally cooked beets. I have been thinking about it for months now. Lame, but true. I love beets, but something about making them at home completely intimidated me. The crazy looking bulbs and the dirty leaves. It seemed like to take that and make it into something I would actually want to eat, would take hours of prep work. It didn't. And now I'm a pro so I can whip them up anytime.

I followed this recipe from Sunday Suppers, but modified it a bit. I omitted the mint and added avocado and green onion. Much better in my opinion.

Ingredients

6 medium beets, scrubbed with stems cut
3 T olive oil
2 T minced shallot
1 t sugar
1/4 t salt
1/4 c red-wine vinegar
1/2 c really good olive oil (for the vinaigrette)
2 avocados, cut into medium chunks
1 green onion, chopped

Directions

Wash beets. Like really really scrub them. Cut the stems and just a wee bit off the bottoms. Toss beets with olive oil and salt, wrap in a double layer of foil and roast in a 375 degree oven for 1 hour. Or until you can easily insert a fork into them.

Meanwhile, make the vinaigrette. Mix together shallots, sugar, salt and vinegar. Slowly stream in olive oil, whisking constantly.

Remove beets from oven and let stand for 10 minutes still covered. Peel if desired. I was intending to peel them, because if you've seen a dirty raw beet you understand why. But I found it impossible to decipher the peel from the beet once it was cooked. I am, was, a beet baking novice after all. So I kept the peel on. Luckily I had scrubbed the beets with the equivalent of a Brillo pad, otherwise I would have ended up eating mostly dirt.

Cut into smallish cubes and toss with vinaigrette while still warm. Top with avocado and green onion. Serve warm or chilled.

I am still somewhat stunned that the beets came out so well. Yay me! And the perfectly ripe and juicy avocados mixed with the green onion were absolutely sublime. You must try.

*Photograph by Mercie Ghimire Photography.

The weekend | Saturday in Brooklyn

2010-06-14T00:31:00.002-04:00

On Saturday I went to Fort Greene to check the sale at Lena Corwin's Studio. It started at noon and when I arrived at 12:15 it was absolutely packed. I had a mini heart attack when I saw the throngs of women and thought Oh my god all of the cool stuff is gone and there's nothing left! Ahhhhh! It wasn't. In fact, I left with some really great finds. See?

I saw the turquoise ceramic pot by Juliet Gorman on Lena's blog and thought about it the entire way there. As I've mentioned a gazillion times, I love turquoise. It was the first thing I grabbed, er, picked up.

Two leather bracelets by Manu. Again, with the turquoise.

And an awesome silk tie-dye wrap bracelet with a tiny gold stud. I think it's by Mociun since it was on the same table, but I'm not certain.

Such awesome finds at amazing prices. Totally worth the hour-long subway ride to Brooklyn.

Grand Central Station

2010-06-12T20:29:00.001-04:00

*Photo by Mercie Ghimire Photography.