Project Adventure: New York - Tea Time


A new addition to My Life Eclectic is the Project Adventure. It came from the idea of the Bucket List. I decided it's not one of those "before I die..." things, it's more of something to get me out doing things around the city that I wouldn't do in my everyday life. So, I've compiled a list {that keeps growing} of things that I've always wanted to do/see in and around New York. Most of which are a one-time thing because of cost, time, or location, but just to be able to say I did it... and I've never regretted it.
One thing on that list is to have High Tea at the Plaza. I was lucky enough to venture there with my mom and some close friends for my birthday this year! So amazing, if you live in the city or get to visit, set aside some time {and money - read: not cheap} and experience this for yourself. Just once. Just to say you did it. You won't regret it.

Flower School

 Last month, my mom came out to visit for Mother's Day {seriously, just give her an excuse and she's out here in a flash}. For a fun thing to do, I signed us up for a flower arranging class at The Flower School in Red Hook. We made the most amazing bouquets... hostesses-with-the-mostest Sarah & Nicolette, held class at Saipua and just posted pics, and I had to share. The photos were just so beautiful! {I'm pretty sure the arrangement above was mine... pat on back}

Week(end) Bake Project: Chocolate Chip Cookies


As we all know, this weekend is Father's Day {Happy day, dad!}. I am blessed with a totally awesomely rad Dad, who doesn't really make a big deal out of, what he calls, a "Hallmark Holiday." But, at the same time, I sometimes lament that every so often, my birthday falls on or near Father's Day - and usually trumps his big day of relaxing. This is one of those weekends, where my mom is coming out to NYC for a visit {yay, mom!} for said birthday. Now, my dad may be happy about this turn of events, I'm not saying anything, but I wanted to show him a little love anyway.
Dad's a big sucker for chocolate chip cookies. The one thing that Dad asks for when I'm around, albiet very cute and bashful-like, *big grin* 'How 'bout some chocolate chip cookies?'
So, I decided to bake some cookies and send them out to California. Old reliable recipe: Nestle Toll House.
Perfect every time. Recipe after the jump.
The Original Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
1 cup chopped nuts

PREHEAT oven to 375° F.

COMBINE flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels and nuts. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets.

BAKE for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

picture above via here

Project 365: Day 1


So, I've been wanting to start another project that I heard about long ago... called Project 365. Its where you take a photo every day for a year. I guess it's kind of like a biography of your life by photo. Lets just hope I can keep it up. *fingers crossed!*
I'll be keeping a Flickr set as well, if you want to see them there... (granted, there's only one now, so it'll be very anticlimactic)

Monthly Obsession - Order Strigiformes (Owl)

I've decided to introduce this new section, Monthly Obsession, to one of my favorites, Owls.
They are just amazing. Pure and simple. Every shape, size and color of them are just cool as can be. And, they've been popping up a lot over the last couple of years. I recently saw a preview to a new CGI movie called Legend of the Guardians that looked so beautiful, I almost fell out of my seat (and has one of my favorite voices ever, Hugo Weaving).
So, here's a few cool-looking items that you can use to spruce up your home or closet... Granted, it takes some patience to weed through the kitch, but there are some really awesome things out there. Enjoy!

1. Great Horned Owl, 2. Powerful Owl, 3. Curiouser Lamp, 4. Hoot Owl Kids Hat, 5. Umbrella Stand,  6. Wise, 7. Owl Test,  8. Hoot Hoot Hooray earrings
Pics at top via here and here

Salted Caramel Brownies 2.0

So I finally put together the recipe I originally wanted to use - adding in some caramel. It turned out great! (I always want to tweak recipes so they are a bit more personalized, but these are darn yummy from the getgo) Warning: These things are sticky gooey deliciousness!
And, I realize that I need to work on the food photography, but I figured you folks would want to see the finished product.
Recipe after the jump!
So this recipe is via Food & Wine website. Called Salted Fudge Brownies. I added a layer of caramel with Kraft's Traditional Caramel squares (found on top of the apples in produce at Food Emporium, go figure).

What you need:
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, finely chopped
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
2 cups sugar
3 large eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon Maldon sea salt (or any flake salt you can find, I found it at Whole Foods)
About 3/4 cup caramel squares (prefer Kraft's Traditional, but I've also used Werther's Chewy)

What to do:
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°. Line a 9-inch square metal cake pan with foil, draping the foil over the edges. Lightly butter the foil. (I used a Pyrex glass pan, resulted in having to bake it a bit longer, but it worked)
  2. In a saucepan, add water until the bottom is just covered (about a tablespoon). Slowly melt caramel over low heat stirring constantly - you don't want it to crystalize - until melted. Set aside.
  3. In another saucepan, slowly melt butter with unsweetened chocolate over very low heat, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat. In a separate bowl, combine the cocoa, sugar, eggs, vanilla and flour. While whisking, SLOWLY add melted butter/chocolate (especially if its still hot, you don't want to cook your eggs!) together until thoroughly incorporated. Pour about half of the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the surface. 
  4. Pour melted caramel over batter. Use as much/little as you want. Pour remaining brownie batter over the caramel and smooth surface.
  5. Sprinkle the salt evenly over the batter. Using a butter knife, swirl the salt into the batter.
  6. Bake the fudge brownies in the center of the oven for about 35 minutes, or until the edge is set but the center is still a bit soft and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out coated with a little of batter. Let the brownies cool at room temperature in the pan for 1 hour, then refrigerate just until they are firm, about 1 hour. Lift the brownies from the pan and peel off the foil. Cut the brownies into squares. Serve at room temperature.

Singing in the Rain



Ohmygod ohmygod ohmygod! I'm beyond excited about a recent arrival to my doorstep!
SquidLondon's color-changing umbrella!!!! I first saw this beauty on the MoMA Store website, and thought 'wow, that is super cool'.... but he-llo! How many umbrellas does one need? I mean, seriously. I let it go for awhile, but it kept nagging me. So when I finally gave in to my materialistic urge - discontinued!!! *heartbroken*
Luckily, I found it straight from the source at SquidLondon!  *Applause*

I am tempted to run it under the sink, but the planets have aligned, because it's supposed to rain tomorrow!!!!!! My week is now complete.

Weekend Bake Project - Salted Caramel Brownies

I've recently had this obsession with chocolate-coated salted caramels. Perfectly sweet with a zing of salt in every other chew. **heavenly**
I've hunted them down in various places around the city and online because caramel is not something I'm about to subject my saucepans to without proper supervision (see: my mother)... One day I saw these beauties and thought that maybe this could be a weekend bake project.

So, I attempted to make these awesome little things, but neglected to use the correct recipe. And, I guesstimated about thinning the caramel down with evaporated milk (bad idea)... so, while still delicious, it wasn't quite what I was going for. I will perfect these and make the most super-amazing chocolate caramel salted brownies EVER!
...to be continued.

Happy Memorial Weekend!


The official summer kick-off weekend always makes me think of sleeping in, poolside BBQ, sunshine, beer koozies, and laughter. (And for those of you in NYC, there is of course, Fleet Week)
Have a good one!

In the Beginning


So, here is my first blog post. {no pressure} I've been thinking about starting one of these for a little while, and have finally decided to bite the bullet. I don't intend for this to be where I wax poetic about existential nonsense. It's just an opportunity for me to show you what inspires me, as well as fun adventures that may befall me. Being of the more visual persuasion, I'm hoping that this blog will be filled with yummy imagery that will inspire you as well.

Enjoy!