by Nicole Jordan
I haven’t written in a while, at least not on the blog. To tell you the truth, I’ve been bogged down with school and work. That’s not to say I was unhappy about that. I rediscovered my interest in chemistry, architecture, and the French language. Yet I’ll admit that it didn’t leave me with much brain power to disclose the hilarious kitchen mishaps I had or discuss my recent favorite reads.
Let me catch you up on what I’ve been up to.
Let me catch you up on what I’ve been up to.
Culinary Confessions:
+ I made a fragrant orange infused Madeira cake for a monthly girl’s night dinner I attend. It’s not a terribly sweet cake, so, per suggestion of my friend Raisa, I served it with a vanilla shortbread tangerine ice cream. The ice cream didn’t overpower the light refreshing orange zest of the cake. Nor did it tip it over the edge of sweetness.
+ My mom and I developed a new obsession with chocolate shortbread cookies with sea salt. The salt balances out the richness of the chocolate and butter which makes this crumbly cookie a something that can be enjoyed on its own or paired with more savory items. I used this recipe.
+ I increased my obsession with curry. I saute red curry paste with chickpeas and shallots for a spicy protein packed snack or I mix it into ramen broth.
+ After twice failing to make meringue cookies, I delved into the chemistry of egg whites hoping that it would solve one of my kitchen conundrums. It didn’t. (I ended up slightly ruining a pavlova at a birthday party, but that’s a story for another time.) Despite this, I refuse to give up because my desire to make French macarons is too strong.
+ My mom and I developed a new obsession with chocolate shortbread cookies with sea salt. The salt balances out the richness of the chocolate and butter which makes this crumbly cookie a something that can be enjoyed on its own or paired with more savory items. I used this recipe.
+ I increased my obsession with curry. I saute red curry paste with chickpeas and shallots for a spicy protein packed snack or I mix it into ramen broth.
+ After twice failing to make meringue cookies, I delved into the chemistry of egg whites hoping that it would solve one of my kitchen conundrums. It didn’t. (I ended up slightly ruining a pavlova at a birthday party, but that’s a story for another time.) Despite this, I refuse to give up because my desire to make French macarons is too strong.
Spring Fashion:
+ I recently stumbled upon fashion guru, Jenny Walton. She is the Fashion Director at the Sartorialist and creates beautiful illustrations. Her sense of style is quirky and sweet, yet tailored and elegant. It’s clear she draws inspiration from iconic women, like Audrey Hepburn. You can check out her Instagram and website to see what I mean.
+ I’ve finally embraced the embroidered floral trend. (Better late than never!) I purchased two pairs of shoes from Nanette, that have tiny pink and white flowers.
+ Blue and white strips are starting make another appearance in my closet. I feel like the movement away from grey/black and white stripes is a step in the right direction, while still staying true to my classic uniform.
+ I’ve finally embraced the embroidered floral trend. (Better late than never!) I purchased two pairs of shoes from Nanette, that have tiny pink and white flowers.
+ Blue and white strips are starting make another appearance in my closet. I feel like the movement away from grey/black and white stripes is a step in the right direction, while still staying true to my classic uniform.
Books:
I haven't read much outside of the required reading for school. In fact, I haven't even finished a single book. Oops. I hope to finish these two books in the coming weeks.
+ The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt: This novel won a Pulitzer prize for fiction and seemed to be on everyone's book list last year. I picked it up because of its enticing plot. A teenage boy is caught in an explosion at the Metropolitan Museum of Art that kills his mother, he absent-mindedly steals a painting, and eventually plummets into a life of crime and drug addiction. It’s amusing and outrageous but doesn’t move at the fast-paced speed I’d imagined for such a thrilling plot. It’s become a book that I read on occasion as I try to fall asleep. I’m always immediately swept into the narrative but drift off when I begin to find it to repetitive. I’ll let you know you know how the second half of the book is once I’m done.
+ The Golden Age by Joan London: I started this book yesterday and I’ve already fallen in love with it. Set in 1940s, a family flees Hungary as refugees and settle in Australia. Their son has polio and emitted into a convalescent home for children where he falls in love with a fellow polio patient. The narrative provides the perspective of life through the eyes of the two children, as well as their parents. It’s simply written, yet captures the complex beauty that resides in the vulnerability and strength required to overcome illness.
// Photos via GoodReads, abc.net, The College Prepster, BBC Food, The Works of Life, shop it to me
Tags: by Nicole, Food, Life, Style, Spring
+ The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt: This novel won a Pulitzer prize for fiction and seemed to be on everyone's book list last year. I picked it up because of its enticing plot. A teenage boy is caught in an explosion at the Metropolitan Museum of Art that kills his mother, he absent-mindedly steals a painting, and eventually plummets into a life of crime and drug addiction. It’s amusing and outrageous but doesn’t move at the fast-paced speed I’d imagined for such a thrilling plot. It’s become a book that I read on occasion as I try to fall asleep. I’m always immediately swept into the narrative but drift off when I begin to find it to repetitive. I’ll let you know you know how the second half of the book is once I’m done.
+ The Golden Age by Joan London: I started this book yesterday and I’ve already fallen in love with it. Set in 1940s, a family flees Hungary as refugees and settle in Australia. Their son has polio and emitted into a convalescent home for children where he falls in love with a fellow polio patient. The narrative provides the perspective of life through the eyes of the two children, as well as their parents. It’s simply written, yet captures the complex beauty that resides in the vulnerability and strength required to overcome illness.
// Photos via GoodReads, abc.net, The College Prepster, BBC Food, The Works of Life, shop it to me
Tags: by Nicole, Food, Life, Style, Spring