Mastering the Art of Julia

I know I'm about a year too late, but did you guys see that wonderful movie, Julie and Julia? I'm re-watching it. I forgot how wonderful this movie is. Its one of those you can pop in at any time and enjoy over and over again. Based on the book by Julie Powell, this movie really brought Julia Child back onto the front burner. She was such a wonderfully exciting woman. I find it so extraordinarily inspiring that she didn't even begin culinary school until she was 36. There is so much pressure for those of us in our 20s to know just what we want to do with our lives as soon as we graduate college, and just look at Julia. She found her calling a little later, and it happened perfectly for her. Mastering the Art of French Cooking is in the top 10 Best Selling cookbooks of all time. Julia brought this art to the women of the United States, and we could never thank her enough. If you haven't seen this great movie, watch it! It will inspire even those whose cooking level is only making toast or a box of Shells and Cheese, to poach an egg or even attempt Beef Bourguignon.

It's like she knows everything

I love Martha Stewart . My mom is wonderful and keeps renewing my subscription every year for Christmas. Martha's website is awesome too. So many great ideas for decorating, baking, gardening, and organizing. I really want to make these, tye-dye pops. try the recipe!

Blending yogurt with lemon juice results in an airy mixture that is more delicious when frozen. If fruit is not ripe, add 1/2 cup orange juice to the puree.

Blackberry Tie-Dye Pops

Makes 1 dozen 1/2-cup pops

9 ounces (1 1/2 pints) blackberries

3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

32 ounces low-fat or nonfat vanilla yogurt

1. Place 7 1/2 ounces blackberries in a food processor. Process until smooth, then pass through a fine sieve into a glass measure. (You should have 1/2 cup puree.) Stir in 2 tablespoons lemon juice; set aside.

2. Blend yogurt with remaining tablespoon lemon juice in a blender until smooth.

3. Layer each 1/3-cup pop mold with yogurt and puree, adding rest of berries along the way. Swirl mixtures together with knife.

4. Let freeze 25 minutes, then insert wooden pop sticks halfway and freeze overnight. Pops will keep, frozen, for at least 3 weeks.

Plum or Raspberry Tie-Dye Pops 

Makes 1 dozen 1/2-cup pops

1 pound black or red plums, pits removed, cut into pieces, or 3 pints raspberries

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

32 ounces low-fat or nonfat vanilla yogurt

1. Place plums or 2 1/2 pints raspberries in blender or food processor. Pulse briefly, then puree until nearly liquid, about 1 minute.

For plum pops: pass puree through large-mesh sieve to remove skin.

For raspberry pops: Pass puree through a very fine sieve to remove seeds; you should end up with 1/2 cup. Add 1 tablespoon lemon juice.

2. Blend yogurt with remaining tablespoon lemon juice in a blender until smooth.

3. Layer each 1/3-cup pop mold with yogurt and puree, adding rest of raspberries along the way. Swirl mixtures together with knife.

The Heart of the Home

The other day I wrote about porches and outdoor spaces and how I was so exicted to have my own home someday so I could create a wonderful place like that. I think of all the indoor spaces, the kitchen would be my pride and joy. At this point in my life, I am by no means a great cook, probably even not a good cook. I can throw together some  okay dishes, but I have so little time to cook, it hasn't become a great skill yet. Kitchens to me mean something else. So, I don't really care about having chef's grade appliances, amazing cutlery, or anything else. I just want it to be a real family place, a place for entertaining friends, the spot in the house where everyone comes together. One thing I love about my parent's kitchen is that they've had the same kitchen table since before I was born. It isn't polished, it has water rings from my brother and I not using coasters, a spot where someone left a newspaper too long and some print rubbed off on it, and one chair has a painted arrow on it from where one of us decided to get creative during an art session. The leaf inset may be a different color from the rest of the very worn table, but I am so glad they've kept it. It holds many memories from childhood and is a real staple piece to their home. For my own dream kitchen, I would love a bar area around an island where kids can spread out their homework while dinner is being made, where scrabble and trivial pursuit is played, announcements are made, waffels and scrambled eggs are a sunday morning tradition, and cupcakes are iced with multi colored frosting on rainy days. Kitchens are usually secondary rooms to living rooms and such where the family gathers to watch a favorite TV show. I am hoping to make my kitchen that place, with less TV and more games, with less take out and more home cooking.  I love these four kitchens because they are airy and bright, open with the rest of the house, comfortable and clean, yet very real. I feel like I could walk right into them and feel at home. If you want some great tips, this article has some good advice on how to make your kitchen unique, inviting, and all your own.