RECIPE: Orecchiette With Kale, Fennel, & Sausage

‘Tis the season for some serious cooking, but thankfully for us novices, help has arrived just in time.

I’ve been counting down the days for Cook Beautiful, the long awaited cookbook from blogger extraordinaire Athena Calderone, to arrive and it’s just as stunning as I hoped. If you don’t know Athena, you must explore her site EyeSwoon immediately. An interior designer, entertaining expert and all around savant at living your best life, I’ve long wanted to tuck myself into Athena’s world. After years of long distance admiration, we finally had the pleasure of meeting at my farewell to summer dinner in New York last month. My favorite thing about Athena is the ease she brings to her swoon-worthy style. Cook Beautiful marries her love of amazing recipes with all the tips and tricks you need to bring friends and family around a meal that is as gorgeous as it is delicious. Athena has even curated seasonal playlists for each section of the book!

I know I’m going to turn to Cook Beautiful for months to come – that’s why I’m so excited to co-host Athena’s book signing event at Williams-Sonoma next week and you’re invited! There will be a cooking demonstration, delicious bites, good drinks and knowing Athena – a stunning party. I do hope you’ll join us. You can purchase tickets for the event right here.

For those of you not in San Francisco next week, I did happen to snag a recipe from Cook Beautiful to whet your appetite. Who can resist a classic pasta dish?!

RECIPE: Orecchiette With Kale, Fennel, & Sausage
Serves 4

Ingredients
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
1½ lb. ground pork sausage, removed from their casings (half-and-half mix of sweet and spicy)
4 cloves garlic, smashedand chopped
1 shallot, thinly sliced
1 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
1 fennel bulb, cored, quartered, and thinly sliced
½ tsp kosher salt, plus more for seasoning
2/3 cup chicken stock
1 bunch lacinato kale, ribs removed and roughly chopped
1 lb. dried orecchiette pasta
Grated Parmiggiano-Reggiano cheese, for serving
Freshly cracked pepper, for serving

Instructions
1. In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook, stirring and breaking up the meat, until it’s browned on all sides, 7 to 10 minutes. Remove the sausage with a slotted spoon and transfer it to a plate.

2. Add the garlic to the same skillet and sauté for 2 minutes, until light golden. Add the shallot and cook for 2 minutes more. Add the red pepper flakes, if using, and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the fennel and salt and sauté until the fennel has softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the stock and cook a few minutes more.

3. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the kale to the boiling water and blanch it for 2 to 3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove the kale and add it to the skillet, along with the sausage. Return the water to a boil and add the pasta. Cook according to package directions until al dente.

4. Drain the pasta into a colander, making sure to reserve 1 cup of the cooking water. Add the pasta to the skillet and cook it with the sausage and kale over low heat for 1 to 2 minutes. If the pasta is dry, moisten it with the reserved pasta water, adding ¼ cup at a time. Check and adjust the seasoning.

5. Finish the pasta with grated cheese and freshly cracked pepper. Serve immediately.

I do hope to see you at Williams-Sonoma next week!

Recipes excerpted from Cook Beautiful by Athena Calderone, published by ABRAMS c 2017. Photographed by Johnny Miller.

The Fall Edit

Decor

Now that we’re coming up on mid-October, I’ve dropped all things summer like a hot potato and have fully embraced the new season. Except pumpkins. I’m still refusing all pumpkin related items – but I know I’m in the minority on that one. However, I am loving a mix of warm woods, creamy whites, black accents and a touch of metallic or two.

shop the post: striped rug // table lamp // metallic boot // camel coat // shoulder bag // tea kettle // side chair

While this color palette is certainly a classic, when applied to modern pieces with crisp silhouettes it feels fresh and new. Like that stunning table lamp?! You won’t see something like that gorgeous marble shade every day. Or that yummy leather side chair with black metal legs. It’s equal parts comfortable and sophisticated. Definitely what I’m craving right now.

But surprisingly, I’ve also been drawn to a touch or two of green. Specifically, a mellow, subtle mossy green like this gorgeous shoulder bag. The color is natural and earthy, but a piece with crisp clean lines keeps it from feeling hippy-dippy. That bag would look gorgeous with that timeless camel coat and some good boots.

When you’re working with this neutral palette, it’s all about layering on a mix of textures. Leather, wool, brass, cashmere, rattan. Mix and match to your heart’s content.nThat’s where you’ll find that cozy fall sweet spot.

What say you? Are you feeling the fall vibes from this collection?

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Six Fall Cocktails to Sip Now

Entertaining

Hey friends. So it’s October. OCTOBER. Feel weird to you too? I mean, where the heck did the first three quarters of 2017 go?? The world also seems to be insane right now. INSANE. Sadly, that no longer feels so weird. I haven’t gotten a chance to recap my recent trip to Kauai – both in terms of the amazing travel discoveries I made, nor in terms of the personal revelations that a week of being fully unplugged brought. A post about both is coming forthwith, but in the meantime, I won’t lie. I also cope (while calling my member of congress for the umpteenth time this year) with a stiff drink in hand. You too? Thought so. That’s why I’ve gathered six fall cocktails that, like my mood, are a bit dark, but will get us through the next week at least.

‘Tis the time of year to drink bourbon. I’ve been slow to acquire a taste for it, even as it’s become the spirit de jour, but I’ve been sampling cocktails that can help bring my palette along. Thankfully, our Apple Spice Bourbon Flip from a few years back does that quite nicely. You can find the recipe right here.

Rosé and bourbon? You had me at hello. This Rose + Rosé Bourbon cocktail puts a lighter twist on a fall drink. And I love any cocktail that includes my go – wine. Adding it to my rotation stat. The recipe is here.

But if whiskey isn’t your thing, I get it. That’s why I snuck this Mango + Black Pepper Gin & Tonic in here for you. It’s herbal, it’s spicy, but still light. Sometimes we all need a little kick to keep going right? I think this cocktail will definitely give that to ya.

Our Pomegranate & Blackberry Lemon Drop looks dramatic and tastes even more so. It’s a one-two punch of sweet and sour that I particularly love. It also just looks broody and moody. Perfect this time of year. The full recipe is right here.

You can’t really go wrong with an Old Fashioned – they’re called classic cocktails for a reason – but I’m intrigued by my girl Cassandra’s additions of Walnut Liquor. A little nutty perhaps? (heehee). But damn good nonetheless. Do give this guy a try.

This pretty number mixes blood orange, lemon and whiskey into a delicious little citrusy mixture that is the ultimate combo of sweet, savory, acidic and bitter. Though I can’t quite tell if I’m describing a drink or my inner dialogue. Regardless, I’d gladly have one of these in my hand right now.

It can be hard to know what to do when so much feels beyond our control. But I firmly believe any positive action works to counteract the negative attempting to besiege us.

Also, CLICK HERE to see how you can help hurricane victims in Puerto Rico. CLICK HERE to see how you can help shooting victims in Las Vegas. CLICK HERE to see how we can work to take our country back.

cocktails in order of appearance: apartment 34 // hello glow // sprinkles and sprouts // apartment 34 // coco kelley // holly & flora

How to Cook Healthy at Home

Entertaining

This post is in partnership with Macys. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. Thanks for supporting collaborations I’m excited about and that have kept Apartment 34’s doors open.

Now that fall is officially here, I’m sure your brain, like mine, as turned to all things cozy. And while that means piling on chunky sweaters and snuggly throws, it does not have to mean piling on unhealthy food. While summer is typically the “healthy eating” season, this fall I want to stay on the wellness train.

One easy place to do that is in the kitchen, so this month I’ve partnered with Macys to get the tools to eat clean and healthy at home. I’ve finally found my rhythm in the kitchen post-baby (it only took 2.5 years), but it feels so nice to be cooking again. I’ve been working on some week-night dinners that both my kiddo and the grownups can love and I’ve landed on a winner that I wanted to share with you. Keep scrolling to check out the recipe – and some more peeks at my finished kitchen!

Macy’s has the best tools to create creative, healthy meals every day. I recently snagged KitchenAid’s new Spiralizer, and I’m obsessed. I now have my eye on the vegetable sheet cutter, food processor, and the slicer/ shredder attachments to make the work quick and easy with an all-in-1 machine. It’s also helpful when cooking is both good for you and aesthetically pleasing. Cuisinart has every type of tool to outfit your kitchen to be a healthy mecca, but I’m particularly loving the new Cuisinart cookware sets with rose gold hardware. I now have my eye on some J.A. Henckels ceramic cookware set to help whip up any healthy meal I desire – the naturally nonstick surface cuts down on the need for excessive oil or butter. I also just saw that Crux has introduced a new Air Frier to create healthy fries or veggie chips – I’ve never tried that before but it could be perfect for a fall party.

But when it comes to weeknight dinner recipes, I want to achieve three goals: making something quick, make something healthy, make something delicious. While I’m a massive pasta lover, I’m going to try to keep my carbs to a minimum fall while also plotting ways to sneak veggies into a toddler’s diet. I think I’ve created a total win-win – a pesto “pasta” made from Zuchinni noodles with chickpeas for added protein and Ricotta Salata for a yummy salty touch. The toddler gobbles it up (especially impressed by the extra long zucchini noodles) and the husband loves it just as much. Better yet, it takes no more than 30 minutes to make. Final bonus: this recipe is also gluten-free. Continue to scroll to see how it all comes together!

RECIPE: Parsley Pesto Zoodles with Chickpeas and Ricotta Salata

Ingredients
Bunch of Zucchini Noodles (4-6 zucchini’s worth, depending on size)
Parsley-arugula pesto (see below for recipe)
Chickpeas
Ricotta salata
Lemon
Olive oil
Salt

Step 1: Make your Zoodles. This is super easy to do via the KitchenAid mixer instructions and their handy-dandy online videos at KitchenAid.com/quickstart

Step 2: Drain, rinse and soak your chickpeas. Pro-tip: remove the chickpea skins before sautéing, otherwise, they won’t crisp up.

Step 3: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Blanche your zoodles, retaining a bit of the water from the pot, drain noodles and set aside.

Step 4: Heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat.

Step 5: Once hot, add chickpeas to the pan with the oil with a big pinch of salt. Stir to coat. Cook, tossing occasionally, until the chickpeas are just crispy, about 6 minutes.

Step 6: Lower the heat to medium-low, and add the blanched zoodles to the pan along with a good-sized blob of pesto and a bit of reserved pasta water. Toss until the zoodles are coated with pesto, then add one more pinch of salt and a squeeze of lemon juice. Toss once more, and adjust lemon juice and salt as needed.

To serve, plate your zoodles and serve with shredded or sliced ricotta salata over top.

RECIPE: Parsley Pesto

Ingredients

1 bunch Italian parsley
2-3 cloves garlic
1/2 C toasted almonds
1C parmesan cheese, grated
lemon
olive oil
Salt
Pepper

Step 1: Toast your almonds in a pan over low heat. Watch them closely to ensure they do not burn.

Step 2: Add parsley, garlic, almonds, grated parmesan, a pinch of salt and a bit of pepper to a food processor. Pulse until fine.

Step 3: Add a squeeze of lemon juice and then slowly add the olive oil as the food processor spins until you have a nice paste. Adjust seasonings to fit your taste.

(or if you’re feeling industrial you can use a mortar & pestle)

original photography for apartment 34 by andrea posadas

This post is in partnership with Macys. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. Thanks for supporting collaborations I’m excited about and that have kept Apartment 34’s doors open.

Your Entire Fall Wardrobe is Right Here

Fashion

Hi Friend! Since it’s the first day of Fall, I figured you deserved a bonus Friday post. This has always been my favorite season for fashion after all. The coats, the boots, the layers! It’s when getting dressed gets interesting again. But at the same time, I love the concept of the capsule wardrobe and uniform dressing – but how to do you combine the two? A beautifully edited closet and clothes that make you feel fabulous when you put them on. Well, I found the solution and it’s called Kamperett. You can consider all of your fall shopping done, right now.

I’ve shared Kamperett collections before (like right here). Designed and made in San Francisco by two women who understand great style, but also know the needs of the modern, multi-tasking mom, Kamperett has taken their fall collection to new wearable levels. You have stunning pants, the perfect bodysuit, amazing coats, a sweet blouse – virtually everything you need to create a complete closet. Everything is simple and classic but also head turning. Dresses have sheer panels. Pants have the perfect kick hem. The dresses drape just so. And course so much of the fall collection is in my favorite black & cream color palette. Mmmm, my happy place. These are the pieces you’ll love wearing now and will keep for years.

Every single one of these pieces is calling my name – including the dresses! I know – me in a dress – but I actually already wore one right here and never felt more fabulous. So feel free to stop your online shopping for the random piece that everyone will have this fall and instead, think about emptying your closet and only adding back what’s special. This line certainly fits that bill.

For more fall style inspiration, CLICK HERE.

images c/o kamperett

The Skinny on Fall Style

Fashion

While my personal style posts have been much fewer and farther between (thanks, motherhood and late 30s) this post from a few years back is a look I’d still gladly rock today (though I admit, the heels would probably be traded out for flats). But even years later, I’m loving this look and thinking I need to recreate this fall style when I’m back from Kauai!

As fall officially creeps up on us, it’s time to break out your favorite cool-weather pieces. But as I sifted through my sea of dark jeans, black coats, and cream sweaters, things were looking a little too…shall I say predictable? Truth is, I’ve been dying to push my boundaries and try the new hot hue in town: oxblood.

Oxblood, maroon, wine, whatever you like to call it, it is technically not a neutral, but I’m here to convince you that it’s an incredibly wearable color that you’re going to want to get your hands on this season. I can attest, you’ll want to wear it with everything.

When looking to make my first wine-colored purchase, I was thrilled when I came across oxblood waxed skinny jeans. Talk about an upgrade from your basic denim. These have just the right amount of sheen and their extra stretch makes sure they hug in all of the right places, making a super chic foundation for a sophisticated fall look.

I liked the idea of pairing the oxblood with another great neutral: navy. The two dark colors together make a killer team. They have a similar depth of tone and a richness that really compliment each other well. There’s no harsh break for the eye, just one smooth color-blocked palette. And you know me, I love a good turtleneck.

And of course, you have to top off the quintessential fall ensemble with a great coat. A classic peacoat shape, lush plaid pat, ern and fabric like tweed or harringbone will bring in texture and add a shot of sophistication to your style. Try the streetstyle du jour – draping it on your shoulders (no longer du jour, but I still do it all the time!) The architectural lines of a draped coat compliment the skinnies and make your stems appear to go on for days.

get the look: oxblood skinny jeans // tweed coat // satchel // pointed toe d’orsay pump // navy turtleneck // sunglasses

It’s official, oxblood is my new “neutral” this season. It’s totally breaking me out of my comfort zone and dare I say, I really like it! Who knew I would be turning my back on basic black and opting for a little punch of color this fall.

Now the question is, will you?

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original photography for apartment 34 by Aubrie Pick

Fall-Inspired Party to Welcome the New Season

Decor

If someone asks me to throw a party, they certainly don’t have to do it twice. There is nothing I love more than creating beautiful spaces and inviting people I admire and care about to come and enjoy them with me! So when Peerspace, the leading marketplace to find and book space for meetings, events, and productions, asked if I’d like to design a little fete in one of their San Francisco spaces…well you can guess what I said. And today I get the joy of reliving a bit of that stunning Friday afternoon with you.

Welcome to my version of heaven. The moment I found this stunning San Francisco home on Peerspace (a historical Queen Anne style if you’re wondering), I knew making my vision come to life was actually possible. After all, we all know— atmosphere is everything. A good space can really make or break an event. For this party, I had envisioned creating an luxe afternoon filled with pampering by some of my favorite San Francisco-based skincare and beauty brands, delicious bites and an opportunity for creative entrepreneurial women to get together. I really wanted to hold the event in a home to make the experience as warm, welcoming and personal as possible. Using Peerspace, I literally found the location of my wildest dreams. I mean – just look at this house!

photography by suzanna scott, styling by rosy fridman

With this stunning backdrop, I dove in to create a fall-inspired afternoon. You may recognize the color palette from this recent post. Golden-mustard tones, white, black and brass helped set the rich, sultry, lush vibe I was craving. As the lovely ladies (or really more accurately, the kickass group of badasses) walked through the house, they got to enjoy nontoxic skincare tips from True Botanicals, mini-makeovers by Lilah B. Beauty, expert brow grooming by Michele Holmes and a Clare V. popup shop! Each experience was integrated seamlessly into the home’s style. You felt like everything simply belonged there.

The dining room was transformed into a lush lunch buffet full of fresh seasonal bites from Good Eggs and the yummiest little cakes by Batter Bakery that you ever did see. We toasted over Aperol Spritz’s – my favorite drink. Flower arrangements by Natalie Bowen were truly breathtaking.

But more than all the gorgeous details, what really makes any party special is the people you share it with. After what feels like an endless stream of bad news, stressful events and so much outside of our control, the camaraderie of talented, world dominating women certainly lifts my spirits.

If it weren’t for Peerspace, I would never have known this unicorn of a space existed and this magical day might never have happened. Now I have ideas for many more parties and maybe even workshops dancing in my head (would anyone be interested?!). With Peerspace as a resource there seems like no limit to what you can create. No matter what you dream up, there’s probably the perfect spot on Peerspace for it. I highly recommend you check it out! In fact, you can get 20% off your Peerspace booking (up to $50) until December 31, 2017 if you CLICK HERE.

For now, I just want to relive this day over and over and over. Start scrolling to see all the pretty – cuz there is reams and reams and reams of it.

pictured: cheryl foland / oh hi, it’s me / danielle felmlee / katie hintz-zambrano / sheri evans / natalie brookshire / temi adamolekun / lauren nelson

pictured: kristen philipkoski

pictured: joanna riedl

pictured: lauren podoll

pictured: sonja yu

Even more behind the scenes of this party is on Instagram! Just search the hashtag #madeinpeerspace. You should also check out Facebook today for more pics too. Because I just can’t help myself.

For your 20% OFF a Peerspace booking, CLICK HERE.

Event Collaborators: Lilah B. Beauty / True Botanicals / Natalie B. Designs / Good Eggs / Batter Bakery / Aperol / Le Labo / Clare Vivier / Michele Holmes Brows

photography by aubrie pick / styling by rosy fridman

This post is in partnership with Peerspace. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. Thanks for supporting collaborations that have kept Apartment 34’s doors open.

5 Color Palettes to Try this Fall

Decor

This weekend I could feel it. A slight shift in the season. The air turned crisp as a warm afternoon waned. I looked up and it was dark before 8:30pm. The smell of freshly sharpened pencils is filling the air. Well not quite, but you get where I’m going. While I’ve been craving nothing but light and bright interiors all summer long, fall is the perfect time to embrace some rich color palettes. If you’re looking for some fall inspiration, here are five fall color palettes catching my eye right now.

Teal is having a moment and this kitchen perfectly exemplifies why. It’s rich, it’s warm and very grounding. Pairing teal with those beautiful light floors and walls, brass accents and leather pulls is simply delicious.

Gold. Mustard. Marigold. Golden yellow hues in all forms are also catching my eye for fall. It’s the perfect accent in an otherwise timeless color palette of black, white and warm browns.

Pink is officially a neutral, but it doesn’t have to be reserved for the sunny seasons. When grounded in a sea of creamy neutrals, the girlie edge is taken off. I’m loving the addition of mauve and dusty purple to the mix for a lighter approach to the fall season.

A cool mix of deep navy, grays, and just hints of warm brown feel like a cozy fall hug. I think I would crawl into that bed and not get out until next spring!

While warm brown can overwhelm a room (bad catalog furniture sets come to mind), when you add touches of warm brown to white, bright spaces and balance it with creams, taupes and a touch of ice blue it feels inviting, welcoming and very relaxed.

What do you think? Is a color palette calling your name?

For even more color inspiration, CLICK HERE.

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Tasty Tuesday: How to Make Udon at Home

Entertaining

If you’re already burnt out on BBQ and hot dogs (me too!), then you’re going to love today’s recipe post. My talented friend Selina Lee is back with another soul-filled dish that takes the intimidation out of Asian cooking. While I’ve always thought I have to go out to get a good bowl of Udon (what I crave whenever a cold starts to sneak in), Selina proves you can, in fact, make this beautiful soup at home, all on your own! This is a lovely, light, healthy meal that even the kids will love because there are noodles involved! Now I know what I’m making for dinner tonight.

RECIPE: EXOTIC MUSHROOMS YAKI UDON (버섯 볶음우동) – 2-3 servings

INGREDIENTS
2 pk of fresh cooked udon noodles
1 cup mixed exotic mushrooms (shitake, enotikate, tree oyster, king trumpet – my favorite local farm box delivery, Good Eggs sells them in packs)
1 cup shredded cabbage
½ cup shredded carrots
½ onion
2 spring green onions

SAUCE
¼ cup low sodium soy sauce
2 tbsp oyster sauce
1 tbsp brown rice vinegar
1 tsp sugar
½ cup water

PREPARATION
Prepare the mushroom by cleaning it with a damp kitchen towel then shred them into strips by hand. Prepare cabbage, carrot and onion by cutting them into thin slices. NOTE: you can also buy shredded vegetables in package to save prep time. Finely chop spring green onions. Mix all sauce ingredients except for the water. Keep water separately on the side.

COOKING INSTRUCTIONS
1. In a large deep skillet or wok, add half of chopped spring onions with about 2 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil to cook it over med-high heat. Save the remaining spring onions for garnish.
TIP: This will create very flavorful green onion infused oil. Works great for all stir-fry cooking!

2. Add mushrooms and onions with half of the seasoning sauce, cook it for about 2 min.
TIP: Adding the seasoning by pouring around the edge of the skillet/wok (instead of pour over) will coat evenly and create smokey flavor!
Add noodles and ½ cup of water and wait for the noodles to start separating apart. Flip and stir the noodle block to soften on each side.

3. Add cabbage and carrots with remaining sauce and keep stir-frying on high heat for about 5 min. Season with salt and pepper as needed. Serve with chopped spring green onions on top.

This soup is earthy, hearty and wonderful vegetarian dinner option. Perfect after a long weekend of over indulging. If you try it at home you have to let us know how you like it!

For Selina’s first recipe, how to make your own Kimchi, CLICK HERE

For the rest of my favorite summer recipes, CLICK HERE

food photography & recipe by selina lee

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