Sidewalk Lanes

This has been floating around blog-land, but I couldn't help myself.  If we could just get these in Chicago...

Homemade Ricotta

A friend sent me this recipe the other day from Mireille Guiliano of French Women Don't Get Fat.  I love really good ricotta (so much that Norm often catches me eating it straight out of the bowl with a spoon...oops!).  This looks surprisingly easy... definitely plan to make this one of these nights.
I'll let you know how it goes!

Yields 2-3 cups

8 cups regular milk
4 cups 2% milk
1 ½ teaspoon salt
4 ½ tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Bring the milk and salt to 160 degrees F using a heavy-duty saucepan over medium-high heat (I don’t use a thermometer anymore…it’s at the point before boiling where little bubbles form all around the edge of the saucepan). Lower heat, add fresh lemon juice, stir a few times until curds form (it will take a few minutes), and with slotted spoon pick up ricotta and transfer to colander. Drain it quickly (a few seconds) if you want a soft texture (you may like a lighter style to use for your Magical Breakfast from The French Women Don’t Get Fat Cookbook, or to eat as is with a drizzle of honey) or longer if you want a firmer cheese (for pasta topping, for example, or on bread), and discard the drained liquid.

You can eat as is or cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate to chill. It will keep a few days, though in my house the 3 cups don’t last more than 48 hours if I am lucky! Kids love it, too, and with fresh fruit it makes an excellent breakfast or dessert. Have fun creating your endless options.

Holiday Cards on Minted

Hello Lovelies. As you know, I'm a big fan of Minted.com.  I was able to find the time to crank out a few designs for the Minted Holiday Card Challenge.  There are over 1300 designs entered in the competition which I think is the most they've ever had!  The quality of work that has been submitted is outstanding.  It's a great company and I always think it's fun to enter in their competitions.  I plan on making it a priority to enter more designs in the future!
Please feel free to vote for my designs at the icon to the right of this post!
Happy Friday everyone!!

Summer Days

hmmm...this is where I am today...

but this is where I'd like to be...

 

image courtesy of lizzynewm

She & Him

Last night my friends and I had a picnic in the park while She & Him played live.  It was a great Monday with good friends, good food and even better music.  And who doesn't love Zooey?...total girl crush.
Their website is super cute as well.

Imagination Poster by Postal Press

I've always loved this poster by Postal Press.  I think it would go perfectly in our home.