Thank you, GKS.

Two nights ago for our Christmas Eve feast, my younger sister and I made an entire menu off of Green Kitchen Stories. Soup to nuts we made her  Christmas menu ::

- Spiced Spinach + Mushrooms in Almond Tartlets (though we made one larger tart).
- Baked Saffron Falafel
- Cinnamon Roasted Veggies
- Mustard Quinoa Cranberry + Kale Salad
(all recipes to be found through the link above)

This was a lot of faith to put into a blog I'd never made a recipe from. Not only was I trusting that 4 separate recipes would be yummy, but that they complemented one-an-other, and that despite being gluten free and vegan, they were christmasey enough to satisfy my sister and I, and hearty enough to satisfy my hard to please father.

I am thrilled to report GKT scored a perfect ten in all of the above categories, AND each was super simple to prepare. Kathryn and I couldn't have been more pleased with our efforts and shockingly Michael was thrilled with the dinner.


Thank you Green Kitchen Stories for your help with tricky diets and Christmas warmth. All of these recipes will be added to my staples, and I will most certainly be back for more ideas.

I hope everyone had a flavorful and healthy Christmas. Let the countdown to 2012 begin. xx

Image viahttp://www.greenkitchenstories.com/

Derby Inspiration.

Did everyone celebrate the Kentucky Derby this past weekend ? I'm a little embarrassed to say I think this was the first time I have. I think it was even more fun this year with all of the Royal Wedding hat hubbub. A friend sent me the overhead table shot of a Met Gala table as inspiration for the party she hosted for us. I couldn't delete the email until I finally just saved the picture because I loved how the table looked so much. Then, in an email chain discussing hat possibilities, a friend who works for a milliner offered these beauties for all attendees, and again -- I couldn't let go of the image ! And THEN a friend sent a link to let me know my "Bold + British" wear for a themed black tie event had made New York Social Diary (the only blond head). All these images pouring in felt like such an organic Derby Party inspiration board. I know, now you have a whole year, so why am I posting this now ? Well, I think Preakness is coming up, and these could work for a lot of spring parties...

(Beth, Photo # 3 was really only posted because of your request :).