TIMBER.....

A tree just fell at our door steps.....

Tomato Based Sauces

Marinara

 

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
1 carrot, chopped
2 (32-ounce) cans crushed tomatoes
4 to 6 basil leaves
2 dried bay leaves
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, optional

In a large casserole pot, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic and saute until soft and translucent, about 2 minutes. Add celery and carrot and season with salt and pepper. Saute until all the vegetables are soft, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes, basil, and bay leaves and reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot and simmer for 1 hour or until thick. Remove bay leaves and taste for seasoning. If sauce tastes too acidic, add unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, to round out the flavor.
Pour half the tomato sauce into the bowl of a food processor. Process until smooth. Continue with remaining tomato sauce.

If not using all the sauce, allow it to cool completely and then freeze for up to 6 months.

Tomato, Caper, Garlic Sauce

6 Big Handfuls of Cherry Tomatoes
2 Cloves of Garlic
1/4 cup of capers
2 Chili Peppers
Olive Oil

My Friend Federica made this for us with capers from Italy where she was this summer.  She simmered chili pepper, cut fresh garlic and tomatoes together with olive oil for around 25 mins the she poured light spicy sauce over pasta.  Note: the pepper gives the spice and the capers give the salt both so no need for adding extra salt and pepper.

Rosa Rosa Sauce

(as an Italian Restaurant in NYC I once worked at calls it)

1 quart Simple Tomato Sauce, recipe follows, or store-bought marinara sauce, blended until smooth
1 cup vodka
1/2 cup heavy cream, at room temperature
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
1 pound of penne or one of your choosing

Simmer the tomato sauce in a heavy large skillet over low heat until the mixture reduces by 1/4, stirring often, about 20 minutes. Stir the cream into the tomato sauce. Simmer over low heat until the sauce is heated through. Stir in the Parmesan cheese until melted and well blended.

Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente, tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Drain the pasta and transfer it to the pan with the sauce, and toss to coat.

Suiting Up....

 From Esquire:

How to Tell Your Suit Fits

A great suit doesn't look so great if it doesn't fit. Seven ways to tell if it does.

1. Shoulder pads end with your shoulders.

2. Your flat hand should slip easily into your suit under the lapels when the top (or middle) button is fastened. If you put a fist in, the suit should pull at the button.
3. The top button of a two-button suit — or the middle button of a three-button suit — should not fall below your navel.
4. With your arms at your sides, your knuckles should be even with the bottom of your jacket.
5. Jacket sleeves should fall where the base of your thumb meets your wrist.
6. Between a quarter and a half inch of shirt cuff should be visible.
7. One inch of break.

Read more: http://www.esquire.com/style/tips/suit-fit-0708#ixzz2Aj6Jk2D0

Candles

I love the scents of fall and it started making me think of my favorite candles....

Archipelago - sweet pea and jasmine - Archipelago Monogram

Votivo - red currant

Lollia - www.lollialife.com

Thymes - www.thymes.com

Aspen Bay Gold Leaf 

Dolce Vita Candles

Diptyque

Tocca

Nest 

LAFCO - Pool House & Guest Room

Swoon 

Jo Malon

CandleDelirium Has It All!

For Fall I love the Yankee Harvest I enjoyed lighting one while studying in college.  

That scent just made me happy.  My bf Carrie would buy some little ones as fall happy's for me!  

Mother Mary bought me one last year and proceeds helped a fundraiser for students. 

The candle was gone before December.  For Christmas I love Aromatique (from Arkansas) 

smell of Christmas and I also enjoy tree.  

 

Here & There....This & That

Enjoying Eataly Roof

 

Pepsi Audition

Roof Time Tini's With Friends

Central Park

 

Highline Park

Riverside Park - Riverside Pier

Store Windows

Neat Finds

Reminds me of all the scarfs my dear great grandmother, Gram, has made me over the years

Upper East Side

You know this

The private Gramercy Park

Washington Square Park

Actor's Studio

Loved being here the other night for a stage reading of 'Year Boston Won The Pennant' honoring actor/playwright John Ford Noonan put on by Al Pacino.  What a great place Actor's Studio is and the actors that are members.  Really enjoy anytime I'm here.