grand old opera

After a month long disappearance I have returned to pen a post on The Papers. It has been a strange and busy time away. The highlight or crescendo if you will, was a disappearing act by my very young cat, Ugo that ended with rescuing the mischievous little beast out from a chimney which he wallowed in for 10 entire days before anyone heard his cries. Now that he is back, looking healthy and up to his usual tricks, my life is getting back on track. Today I found myself cruising on the old Schwinn through Philadelphia, running errands pertaining to renewing my driver's license as it was my birthday last week and after four years the card had expired. Peddling on North Broad Street, I passed by this old town gem, the Philadelphia Opera House.

Except sadly, it now looks like this...

If you have been following this blog for any length of time, you may be aware I hold an endless fascination and appreciation for unloved historical charmers such as this and could spend hours lying about daydreaming how I would resurrect and restore these castaways to a glory greater than they've ever known. I was surely familiar with this hunkering ivory giant. I knew it to be some sort of church possibly. I stopped and snapped a picture. Returning home I did some snooping. This was our old Opera House! How did I miss that? Such a shame to see it like it is. But after all the years of neglect it's had, it has actually been recently on the mend. It was opened in 1908 and was the largest theater of it's kind in the world at that time seating 4,000 people. Within two years it fell into hard financial times and started its change and inevitable decline (along with the neighborhood) refashioning itself into a vaudeville and play house, a cinema, a ballroom, a sports venue and most recently and currently, a church. There is talk of future development but nothing is set in stone except the fact that the church still owns the property. I look forward to seeing what comes of the old gal. It will be quite a feat if both The Divine Lorraine and The Philadelphia Opera House get a second run. North Broad will have surely made a come back if that were to happen. If it interests you to see more current photographs of the interiors click here for a good link.

one from the good ol' days

quid pro quo

Mark your calendars... It's that time again!

Today while you are rummaging through your closets trying to find that perfect Stepford Wives gown to wear at your premier party for the new season of Mad Men, take stock of your wardrobe and clean out what isn't working any more. In three weeks Miss Erin Seifert of Liberty Belle Vintage and myself will be hostessing our second, biannual SWAP party upstairs at Johnny Brenda's. Bring a bagful or a handful... as long as you have 5 pieces minimum. Come in early and grab a bite of brunch downstairs before the swapping starts at noon on the second floor. Sip a mimosa while David Krivda  spins groovy tunes for your rummaging pleasure. Leave with a new spring wardrobe or come by just to let us take those unwanted goods off your hands. Any extra clothing will be donated to a charity of our choosing. See you there!

a spring cleaning

One thing that gives me great pleasure and a serious sense of calm is when things are in order. It is that "spring cleaning" time of year and I am trying to chip away at all the tasks I need to get to by choosing one or two things to tackle a day. Cleaning my vanity and make-up brushes was one more item crossed off that list, even though it's a chore I actually don't mind and do my best to remember to stay on top of at the beginning of every month. After a month of powdering my nose and blending in countless smokey eyes, my brushes are pretty saturated. I used to let them soak all day and then wash them out with shampoo. It always felt that there was still some pigment rinsing out no matter how much I lathered. Then I had a life changing moment. A little while back I was in the art supply store and saw The Master's brush cleaner and preserver. It seemed to be pretty serious stuff so before I bought it I googled it. Behold! I saw I was not the first lady to have the idea of using it for my make-up brushes. Smart girls in the know had been using it for a while and people seemed happy. And though the list of ingredients is a trade secret, it is non-toxic. And can I tell you something else? It is classically fetching package, works like a charm, seemingly lasts forever and is cheap, cheap, cheap!

a taste of honey

Like I mentioned earlier this week... I have been keeping busy in the kitchen. Today may have been the fourth morning in a row I walked by the fruit basket, in which sadly sat one blackened banana and two more headed in that direction. I wasn't the mood for banana. Not even a smoothie. But I was feeling frisky and got out the mixing bowl, did a quick search online and then assembled the ingredients I found here for a honey and walnut banana bread.

This recipe is a winner. I varied ever so slightly by using McCann's steel cut oats but the results were out of this world. I had to force myself to walk away before eating a third slice in a row.

Preheat your oven to 375* and starting in a large bowl, mix the following together until thick and still slightly lumpy:
~3 Ripe/over ripe Bananas mashed up
~1/2 Cup butter, softened (1 stick)
~1/2 cup Honey
~1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
~1/2 tsp vanilla
~2 eggs
~1/4 tsp Baking Soda
~1 tsp Baking powder
~1/3 tsp Cinnamon Powder
~1/4 tsp salt

In a smaller bowl combine the following (use only half the nuts):
1 1/4 cup of Flour
1/2 cup Oats
1 cup Chopped Walnuts

Pour the small bowl of dry mix in to the larger and mix until well combined. Transfer to a loaf pan or muffin tin and top with the remaining nuts. Bake for 40-45 minutes. Et voila!

warm weather dressing

When the sun is shining and spring fever has taken over there is only one remedy... a recipe for warm weather dressing. This season and right through 'til Fall, I'll find my ingredients in the stylings of muse and fashion darling, Jane Birkin.

1 heaping topknot

well trimmed bangs

patchwork blue jeans

a flash of toothy grin

a cup of classic cotton whites

a sprinkle of striped knits

1 low slung belt

a dash of mini dress

a generous scoop of high-waisted denim

pinch of lace

dewy natural skin with emphasized lashes

and a wicker basket thrown in for extra flavor

spring on the table

When the seasons transform themselves and play their next rendition, without fail, I find myself inspired to be in the kitchen. My kitchen is on a ground floor, in the rear of the house with a long, dark porch overhead outside shielding me in from both the weather and light. The window over the sink provides me with a sole, shining porthole in which to see my garden and trees, summer dining table and outdoor seating. When my hideaway is in order and the greenery is growing and the crystal beads are swinging gently and sparkling in the breeze, I only want to be there; cooking, entertaining, quietly sipping something refreshing in the cradle of my hammock.

So last week I cleaned up the crispiness of winter's garden and dug in new bulbs, sowed seeds, turned soil and trimmed trees. Naturally after that I found myself at the kitchen window daydreaming about warm patio soirees and... food. With it being the season of Easter eggs and asparagus, my mind became set on mayonnaise. Before I continue on, I have to confess, I have always been one to shun mayonnaise. Being raised in a house of Hellman's, I never took to the greasy, white whipped topping. I was always a mustard, mayo on the side, dry or oil & vinegar kind of gal. When I first came to know the loveliness that is aioli, things started to change for me. I then began to understand that mayonnaise can be flavorful, fresh and downright delicious. And this weekend, after procuring eggs, bacon and asparagus while at the market, I was inspired to make a fresh batch of this velvety golden dressing.

Tamar Adler, in her simply stated kitchen must-have, An Everlasting Meal, speaks passionately on the classic topping. "Mayonnaise is a food best made at home and almost never made at home. This has robbed us of something that is both healthy and an absolute joy to eat with gusto. Mayonnaise deserves to be the focus and main attraction of any meal that contains it. A good mayonnaise helps foods stay their course. [...] Mayonnaise and aioli are cousins, the second the first's bolder relation."

The first time I tried my hand at mayo it was for lobster rolls. It was delicious but a little thin. I have since learned how easy it is to correct that. This most recent batch I whipped up is surely more of an aioli but I think it is what I feel most happy eating. It originally was inspired to top this weekend's BLT sandwich topped with a fried egg. Here is my recipe which yields a bit more that a cup:

1 cup of good olive oil

1 whole egg

1 garlic clove

juice of 1/2 a lemon

coarse salt and cracked pepper

red wine vinegar

I start by beating the egg. The whole egg. Yes, it's true, mayo usually calls for only the yolk but since it is such a small batch I go with the waste-not, want-not theory. Beat in a pinch of salt, pepper to your liking, the garlic (crushed), and half of that lemon juice. Add a dash of the vinegar. When that is well combined, slowly pour the oil in and continue beating until it firms up to that wobbly, mayo-y consistency. If it's not coming together add a bit more oil. If it seems too firm add in some of that leftover lemon juice. Use on everything and anything. This will keep for about 3 days refrigerated in an air tight container.

Like I mentioned, I topped my sandwiches with it. It would also work divinely with lobster rolls. Or as a dip or topping for lightly grilled or steamed vegetables such as asparagus. But I saved my asparagus for flatbread.

Yesterday while dying a few Easter eggs for fun, I threw together a bread dough. This has become my go-to mix for both baguette making and pizza crusts. If you are feeling ambitious, here's my recipe. If not, get yourself something pre-made. This would even work wonderfully with frozen filo or pastry dough.

1 package of dry yeast

3 cups of flour

tablespoon of salt

1 1/2 cups of warm water

I mix the dry ingredients quickly in my food processor. Then add the water in a slow, steady stream until the dough forms and moves away from the bowl & blade. Let rest for a few minutes. Turn out onto a floured surface. Knead gently and lovingly for a few more minutes. Place dough round into a large bowl, cover with a kitchen towel and sit it inside your oven(which is turned OFF). Let rise for about an hour, punch down and knead again. Cover in the bowl again, letting the dough rise for a second time. After the second rise, punch down and roll out into the desired shape for pie or work outthe shape by hand. Add toppings and bake in the bottom of a 450* oven for about 15 minutes. Timing will vary depending on your toppings.

For my toppings I used a cup of shredded Gruyere cheese and  about 2 dozen asparagus stalks tossed in olive oil and a squeeze of lemon. I seasoned the pie with cracked pepper, red pepper flakes and sea salt. I have another dough I saved  in the refrigerator that I plan on making a roasted garlic and cherry tomato pie with today. Bon Appetit my friends!!! And happy spring!