The ultimate winter salad.

Remember when I said that I'd be giving you recipes full of yummy seasonally appropriate produce?  Well here is about the most low maintenance one I could create that packs in a whopping five ingredients off our winter list.  This is a little bite of sunshine and vitality to distract you from the cold and gray world outside your window.  Easy to make and unbelievably satisfying, this salad should become a winter staple at your dinner table.

For this salad you will need:

Kale (just a lot, fill the bowl)

1 orange (I used a Cara Cara which is pink on the inside, you can use whatever you want)

1 grapefruit

1/2 small log of goat cheese (I used honey goat cheese because YUM)

1/2 cup walnuts

And for the dressing:

1/2 cup pomegranate juice

2 tbsp balsamic vinegar

Okay so in terms of assembling the salad, I'm confident that you don't need help.  The dressing however will need to be reduced and all that entails is putting the juice and vinegar in a saucepan on med heat and letting it simmer until you're left with about half as much liquid.  Let it cool completely and then pour it over your prepared salad.  It is so sweet and yummy and is really great against the bitterness of the mounds of kale.  Enjoy it as a side, or add some protein and make it your main.

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January 11th is a date of significance.

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Are you mentally preparing yourselves?  Have you set your DVR?  Do you have an HBO subscription?  If you answered no to any of these questions, then you need to take a step back and reevaluate your weekend plans.  This Sunday we will be graced with not only the return of both Girls and Looking, but also the Golden Globes hosted yet again by the lovely Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.   I can only assume that you have now rushed off to get your affairs in order, but I will continue.

If you haven't seen the trailers for the new seasons you can watch them here and here.  Do you have any predictions or hopes for our Hannah and Patrick?  Personally, I think that Adam and Hannah will probably break up, and I'm thinking there will be a big focus on her writing and her growth in that respect.  And Patrick?!  Well hopefully he'll realize how stupid he is, and that while Kevin is super hot he's not even remotely right for him and that he should get back together with Richie.  But that's just what I want to happen, who knows what will come to pass.

In any case, I hope your Sunday brings you great television and witnessing some sever burns dished out by Amy and Tina.

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Fruit and veg?! In Winter?!

It turns out that cookies and take out are not the only foods available in Winter time.  There's a ton of awe inspiring produce that is in season during these dark ages.  In an effort to eat more seasonally and encourage others to do the same, I've listed a bunch that can be found in the book Eat Pretty.

avocado

banana

beets

brussel sprouts

cacao

carrot

cauliflower

fennel

ginger

grapefruit

kale

kiwi

onion

orange

pomegranate

potato

turnip 

walnuts

Recipes featured on the blog from now until March 20th will be focused on one or many of these ingredients.  I'll do my best to feature as many of the produce as possible, but if there is something in particular that you would like to me to try, do let me know.

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And a happy New Year to you.

Well, it's officially 2015.  We're in the midst of a new beginning, in a time to refocus our goals and our life, and of course to make resolutions.  Do you make resolutions?  My family is very serious about them.  For years we've all made very specific resolutions (usually giving up food items like ice cream or red meat).  And if we managed to go the whole year sticking to our resolution, my grandmother would give us $100.  This year I've made a couple resolutions in relationship to food, but they have less to do with what I eat and more to do with the way I eat.  So here they are, my resolutions for 2015:

• I will not get take out or delivery for myself (I'm allowed to eat takeout that someone else is providing because how rude would that be).
• I will not eat outside of meals.
• I will eat fish at least once a week.

I think the one that will prove to be most difficult will be not eating outside of meals, because it's just so automatic.   Americans are a snacking people, and I am not immune.  Although I don't usually snack throughout the day,  after dinner is a demon that I will vanquish.

But on that note, is anyone out there going to wrestle some pretty fiendish resolutions of their own?  Let me know.

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I have a 'Pinkprint' on my heart.

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Nicki Minaj is queen, I am her subject, and on December 15th she issued a decree.   After a year dominated by Iggy Azalea getting 'Fancy', Nicki shifts the spotlight back where it belongs with her new album 'The Pinkprint'.   Her single 'Anaconda' is reminiscent of the more pop friendly eccentric Nicki we all know and love, with a video that had me very curious as to how she can move her ass like that.  But what I really love about this album is songs like 'I Lied', 'Bed of Lies', and 'The Crying Game': songs that make you feel something.  No offense to Iggy, she's got a great voice for rapping, but songs like 'New Bitch' and 'Fuck Love' are great to run to, but they don't connect with me as a listener.   Nicki raps as easily as she breathes.  She makes it look so easy, and frankly she makes Iggy Azalea look like a novice.  

'The Pinkprint' is graced with features from Beyonce, Ariana Grande, Jeremih, and of course Drake and Lil' Wayne among others.  'Truffle Butter' which features Drake and Lil' Wayne has a simply unbelievably smooth sound, and Lil' Wayne's verse on 'Only', for lack of a better word, SLAYS. Their performances do their job perfectly, which is to highlight Nicki's talent.  

Long story short, buy the album because it's glorious.

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I went 'Into the Woods' on Christmas day.

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There were a number of highly anticipated films released on Christmas day; 'Unbroken', 'The Interview' and 'Annie' to name a few.  But the film I ended up seeing was 'Into the Woods'.  I didn't know what to expect upon walking in, but was pleased with this irreverent mash up of classic fairy tales.  The music was tremendous, and the performances (especially of Meryl Streep and Anna Kendrick) were spectacular.  They seemed to have quite a bit of fun with the stories and didn't take them too seriously.  The number "Agony" demonstrated that very well and had me laughing out loud a number of times.
However, I will say that I enjoyed the first 1/2-2/3 of the movie much more than the last bit.  The story really lost me when they kept moving to different people in the woods.  It felt very aimless and somewhat disorienting.  I also had a problem with Johnny Depp's slightly pedophile like pursuit of Red Riding Hood.  It was unsettling to say the least.
Aside from those elements, I thought the film was quite enjoyable.  The set and wardrobe were gorgeous, and all around I think it is a great choice for an outing this holiday season.

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Coffee in the morning with Miguel.

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If you don't follow Miguel's social media (or if your best friend isn't a connoisseur of hip-hop like mine is), then you may not know that Miguel released three new tracks on his Souncloud account yesterday.  Do yourself a favor, and head over there for a listen.  The gent that released favorites of mine such as "Use Me" and "Girl With The Tattoo" has done it again.  The tracks feature his unbelievable vocals, and are punctuated by well placed electric guitar work.  I have been especially loving "coffee", which was on repeat for the better part of the evening last night.
I highly recommend you take a listen, but let me just say that if you don't enjoy music of an "explicit" nature, then Miguel may not be your cup of tea, though he certainly is mine.

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