Cold Soba Salad

I'm a big fan of soba noodles. When I was on an exclusively gluten-free diet for several years, these buckwheat beauties opened the door to many new culinary options. Lately, I've been loving them in cold dishes and salads, where their nutty flavor really stands out. Here's a recipe that I've been making for lunch the past few days; feel free to substitute your own veggies or protein, depending on what is on hand.

The beauty of this recipe is that once you adjust the dressing to your liking, you can really do anything you'd like with the other ingredients. Sometimes I like to add lime juice and make the dressing more acidic, whereas other days a more nutty sesame-heavy dressing pairs well with the ingredients I'm using. I've tossed in some leftover roast chicken, and sometimes I like a soft boiled egg on top. Shrimp is a great addition, too - leave me a comment if you give this recipe a try!

Salad Ingredients:
Soba Noodles - 1 bundle (these often come packaged in 3-4 "bundles")
Spring Onions -2 *save 1/3 for garnish*
Bell Pepper, diced
Cucumber, sliced into matchsticks
Soft Boiled Egg *Optional - substitute your own protein, like tofu or chicken or shrimp*

Dressing Ingredients: *adjust these to your liking*
Sesame Oil
Soy Sauce
Rice Vinegar
Sriracha (or any other Asian hot sauce) *use this for garnish on top as well*
Spring Onion - 2 stalks

-Boil water, then add soba noodles and stir to avoid sticking.
-While noodles are cooking (takes about 5-7 minutes), mix dressing ingredients together. Adjust flavors until you are happy with the outcome; you will need about 1/3 cup of liquid (start with small quantities!)
-Once noodles are fully cooked (either follow instructions on package, or taste them to determine done-ness), drain and rinse in cold water.
-Return cold cooked noodles to the pan, adding the vegetables and dressing.
-If you are adding a protein that can be mixed in, add that now as well. Toss together gently and pour into a bowl or onto a plate.
-Top with an egg (optional), and garnish with spring onion and a little more hot sauce.

Voila!

Buh-buh-buh-BEETS!

A combination of summer's finest seasonal ingredients, and my recent wanderings in Brighton Beach (known as "Little Russia" to the Brooklyn locals), has left me with a craving for beets.

Red, ripe, naturally sweet - I love them picked or steamed, in salads and soups. One of my favorite summer foods from my childhood was my mom's pickled eggs & beets, the eggs stained burgundy with the vinegary sweetness of the beet-infused pickling liquid.

This time, I whipped up a quick beet soup - it's super simple and, if you omit the yogurt or sour cream garnish, it's vegan too!

You'll Need:
2 medium sized red beets, peeled and diced into 1/2" cubes

1/2 one yellow onion, chopped

3-5 cloves garlic, chopped 

1tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

1/2 tsp lemon zest 

White pepper

Black pepper

Sea salt 

For the Garnish: 

Greek yogurt (or sour cream) 

Fresh dill (or parsley)

Add beets, onion, garlic, parsley, salt and pepper to a medium saucepan.
Fill with water just to the top of the beets, and bring to a boil.
Simmer until the beets are fork tender (the softness you'd want potatoes to be for mashed potatoes)
Add lemon zest just at the end, and remove from the heat.

Using a stick (immersion) blender, puree until smooth.
Garnish with Greek yogurt, or sour cream, and some fresh dill.
Enjoy!

      

Summer Lovin'

There is one, and in my opinion ONLY one, benefit to the trials and tribulations that one must endure when living in NYC: summer beaches. My apartment is 20-30 minutes from three beaches, one of which I just discovered a new express bus route for, so that's pretty freakin' awesome. 

I guess it's one of the benefits to living on what is essentially an island, but it makes the weekdays fly by when you're counting down to your next day under a colorful umbrella in the sun. Last year, I basically spent every single weekend at a beach. Rainy or less-than-beachworthy weather? No problemo, because Brighton is a short ride away on the Q train, and I'm always happy to sit under the awning of a Russian eatery on the boardwalk, watching the rain make patterns in the sand while eating delicious head-on shrimp and meaty little dumplings. 

This weekend was the first kick-off to the beachy summer I have to look forward to... and I can't wait.

Colors of the Weekend

I barely got any sleep this past weekend, but for a pretty good reason. My neighborhood is predominantly West Indian in heritage, many residents being first- and second-generation immigrants, and Labor Day weekend coincides with the West Indian Parade (and neighborhood-wide festivities). So many brilliant flags, wonderful people, music at all hours of the day & night, and delicious food - this basically sums up an exciting and colorful weekend that I have always looked forward to since I moved to Brooklyn 3 summers ago. 

                             

Greener Grass

     

Can't believe that the hot days, the lemonade, the fresh herbs on the windowsill and the accidental sun tans are a thing of the past already this year. Well, almost. I tend to be sad to see summer go, but it's always easy to step back through a photo or two and remember some spectacular moments. 

And while I mourn the loss, I know that September brings with it a few of my favorite things... 

The grass is always greener in another season.

                    

So Long Summer

Labor Day weekend swooped in and whisked  the summer days away. I didn't even see it coming. 

These past few weeks have just flown by... so many changes, all of them wonderful, and I'm so grateful for the 3000 mile gap that has finally been closed. 

So, yesterday, my honey, my ex-roommate, and I took a quick train ride down to Brighton Beach to soak up some of the last rays of late-afternoon summer sun. 

Fete Paradiso

Antiques and Paris: these are a few of my favorite things. 

Put them together, and you have Fete Paradiso - a vintage Parisian carnival full of beautifully preserved 19th century games and children's rides on Governor's Island this summer. This past Sunday offered perfect weather to go see it, so I grabbed a friend and took hold of the opportunity while it knocked.

A short ferry ride, and we felt hundreds of miles from NYC, even though we could still see it's skyline dominating the horizon just beyond the island's treeline. 

And I thought I liked spicy foods.... I'll pass on the fire.

From what I could gather, the object of the above game is "throw the ball in the drunk guy's mouth." 

Me! In an antique carnival ticket booth. Obviously being lazy on the job.

Flags fluttered in the breeze...

Cassie and I explored Fort Jay - a historically preserved fort from the Revolutionary War that occupies the island. The grassy "moat" was quiet and lovely and a great place to stop and have a mini picnic.

This guy.

Market Months

New York is chock full of amazing markets in the summer months. Local farmers, purveyors, artists and producers band together in different locations every day of the week to bring the concrete jungle a little bit of the gifts of the great outdoors. Immeasurable physical and social benefits in less than half of a city block, right at your fingertips.

This summer, I've challenged myself to avoid grocery stores. Other than purchasing non-grocery supplies, I haven't set foot in a "real" grocery store since the warm months began to give way to these bountiful outdoor markets. Seasonal, fresh, fruitful... what's not to love? My greatest feelings of accomplishment stem from making a really simple, delicious, amazing meal out of my semi-weekly finds. 

Out of Focus

I am so relieved that the infernal heat wave has broken. 

What better way to celebrate than by sneakily frolicking in the ivy of Bryant Park? 

Most of the photos, unfortunately, came out blurry, but then I just decided, 

'Hey, screw it! It looks kind of fairytale-y.' 

Vintage dress, "Phoebe", going on sale  tonight, I promise, I'll list it, finally. Had to take some photos first!

Treasures

When I was a young Girl Scout I heard the phrase, "take nothing but pictures; leave nothing but footprints". 

Well, I still have carry the picture-taking part with me, but I don't think it's too bad to have snatched up a few pretty shells from the beach. 

These are just a few of the treasures I brought home with me from this past weekend (seaweed excluded) and I really want to think of a fun crafty project use for them. 

Can't Get Enough

I know I've posted photos from the beach quite a few times already this summer, but I just can't get enough of the sand and sun this year. 

Today, my weekend in Atlantic City wound down with a day on (you guess it) the beach! I instantly turn into an overgrown child at the prospect of jumping in some waves and collecting seashells. 

Perfect ending to my little weekend getaway :)

Sand and Sun

I love sand dunes. I don't know why, I just do. The grasses gently swaying, the ripples in the sand made by the wind... It's just so peaceful and beautiful to me. 

Little hidden treasures between the beach and boardwalk that just brighten my day. 

Light White Bright

It's a bit of an overcast day here in Atlantic City, but it's still so hot and humid. Right now I'm just lounging in bed, catching up on emails and planning the day ahead. 

Mini getaways just make me feel so free! 

<3

Great Escape

I have to admit, I'm a bit biased when it comes to nature. Growing up in rural Pennsylvania left a lasting, unshakable impression - and to this day, I think it's the prettiest place in the country, if not the world. 

Well, to me, at least. 

When I need a break from the city, the perfect stress release, or just want a quiet night of sleep....

This is the perfect setting for a campfire, a dirt road, and a night under the stars. 

Not to mention, you'll probably get some amazing photos without really having to try. 

I'm exhausted from my journey back to NYC tonight, but I can't wait to share more photos, memories, and the new additions to the store! Head over to www.shopdisowned.com to check out the first brand-spankin-new listings :) 

Tea Time

Sun tea is a magical thing, simple and wonderful, that instantly brings back nostalgia of my childhood summers.

 

To put it simply, you put regular old tea bags in a jug of water, and set it in the sun to brew. It slowly darkens throughout the day, and trust me, does not taste like ordinary iced tea. Not to me, at least. It's almost as if brewing slowly and gently in sunlight brings out a natural sweetness and mellow flavors of the tea leaves.  

Then, you can add mint, lemon, sweetness... And really personalize your glass. Give it a try! You won't regret it :)

After the Rain

This extreme heat has given way to several torrential downpours in the past week. Sometimes they catch you when you least expect it, and you don't have an umbrella or chance to duck under shelter. You're drenched, sticky, inconvenienced, and frustrated for a few moments...

But afterwards, the air is cooler, less humid, and the sky glows with a grey and yellow radiance that you can only have after a storm as the sun peeks through a crack in the dark clouds. 

And sometimes, if you're lucky, you see the rainbow at the end. 

This is just what happened to me the other day, and I found it to be so inspirational and a reminder that there can always be a rainbow after a storm, no matter if its literal or metaphorical for things that pop up in day to day life. 

Look for your rainbow at the end.