Crème Bru-FAIL

So I was feeling domestic yesterday and I was craving one of my all-time favorite desserts.

Crème Brulee

Maybe it’s the creamy sweet custard or the fact that it’s covered in perfectly charred sugar…all I know is that I adore it.

I went to the supermarket…purchased vanilla bean, heavy cream…all the accoutrements. I slaved, I waited and I slaved some more. It was over 5 hours before I could crack open the caramelized shell and take a bite.

FAIL

My custard was NOT custard. It was more like Crème Bru-soup. I was devastated. All I wanted was some yummy goodness. It was my first big food fail since the Baking Soda-less Irish Soda Bread of 1999…oops.

I will try again…and eventually I will create THE perfect Crème Brulee.

Happy cooking!

XO,

Ash

"You've left me speechless"

Turkey Day!!!!

Quick little post before I head to bed somewhat soonish.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!! I hope that you enjoy the Turkey, Stuffing, Sweet Potatoes and my ULTIMATE FAVORITE…Green Been Casserole.

I will be working at the Parade tomorrow, bright and early…6am to be exact, I was in the studio at work this morning at 5:30…so it goes without saying that I’m about as tired as someone who ate a whole Turkey.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and look for me at the Parade…chances are you won’t see me, but you never know!!!

Gobble Gobble,

Ash

Happiness is...

My life is in a state of transition...I hate saying that, but it is. This morning I woke up, the sun was shining and there were pancakes in the kitchen and despite the state of uncertainty in my life I’m happy.

I've been trying to define happiness all week. So today, I sat in my bed, flipping though old photos currently stored on my computer. These are some of the things that make me happy.

This is my “Paradise”…


Happiness is...sunshine and graduation parties.


Happiness is...The "Trifecta".

Happiness is...hotel parties and sitting in TV cabinets.


Happiness is...Kelly Clarkson in the rain with backstage passes.

Happiness is...Fairfield Beach, Mock Wedding and 3/4 of "Club Blue".


Happiness is...Bowling in funny shoes on a Friday night.



Happiness is...The Coliseum in Rome.

Happiness is...being an Orientation Leader.


Happiness is...family vacations.

Happiness is...Best Friends.


Happiness is...wearing balloon animals on your head.


Happiness...is dressing up like a "mathlete".


Happiness is...playing with sparklers.


Happiness is...your best friend be your roomate.
Happiness is...Senior Week.


Happiness is...drinks on the LIRR.


Happiness is...Yoga by the pool.

Happiness is..."Dottie", "Judith" and the "Gypsy"


Happiness is...matching Britney t-shirts for THE concert event of the summer!


Happiness is...funny faces with the brother.


Happiness is...my dad


Happiness is...silly faces with Mom.


Happiness is..."Paradise".


XO,

Ash

"I just want to be Happy"

LOVE

How cute are these? Don't you just "LOVE" them?

XO

Ash

And that's why you never fall asleep on the train!!

I just saw a man get locked on the Train today. His wife watched in horror as the train started to leave Penn Station and head back to the yard.

The wife proceeded to bang on the door and husband looked like he wanted to cry.

I…started laughing.

Why?

Because it was funny…

Hope your day started off better than this couples.

Wishful Thinking

I love living at home with my parents. They are fantastic, rent is free and there is always a warm meal on the table for me when I get home from work. However, I've been itching to move out and get a "big girl" apartment...From Tea Cups to Measuring Cups,here are some of the things I would fill it with. Courtesy of Anthropologie.

XO

Ash

"Awkward Life Syndrome" aka ALS

My Dear friend…let’s call her CM, suffers from something she likes to call ALS or Awkward Life Syndrome. It is something we bonded over. We both have an uncanny ability to attract and engage in awkward life situations.

We don’t search for them.

They just occur.

She is a magnet for painfully uncomfortable interactions with boys. They are drawn to her, just like the crazies and homeless men are drawn to me.

She is gorgeous, fun and smart… yet boys like this one, let’s call him “JD”, tend to seek her out.
This is an email she received from a boy who was handing out fliers in her neighborhood. He knocked on her door, left, came back and insisted on getting her phone number. She refused…but to get rid of him gave him her work email. This blog friends, is the epitome of ALS.

“CM”,

This is that obnoxious, ugly kid that would not leave you alone yesterday. Normally I would wait 3-6 days after getting a number or in this case an email but I figured ehhh, send her one so she is not in suspense checking email every five minutes for the next week. First, I do apologize for the way I presented myself, but I am very, very cautious about who I ask out. Asking questions like I did has saved me from some unpleasant characters based on their initial reaction. I would like to try to make plans in the near future; I was thinking dinner (early) and a drink (early) Mon, Tue, or Wednesday. I mean I could be available this weekend if you HAD to see me, but I figured let’s not push it.

This is my email address ……………….. and I look forward to hearing from you.

“JD”


XO,
Ash

Childhood Favorites: Macaroni and Cheese

Everyone has a favorite meal from childhood. In my 20+ years on earth I have never abandoned my love of Macaroni and Cheese. I don’t care if it’s white cheddar, original or four cheese. It can come in a blue box (Kraft) or out of a pouch (Velveeta). I’ve even been known to order it at fancy restaurants and to add caramelized onions, spinach, chicken, bacon, broccoli and ketchup to make mine special.

Now that I’m 22, I‘ve decided my "Mac’ n cheese" should evolve into a slightly more grown up version. When I stumbled across this recipe online from Ina Garten, I knew this would be the perfect recipe to try. Wish me luck on my culinary journey to my childhood.

Ingredients
4 ounces thick-sliced bacon
Vegetable oil
Kosher salt
2 cups elbow macaroni or cavatappi
1 1/2 cups milk
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
4 ounces Gruyere cheese, grated
3 ounces extra-sharp Cheddar, grated
2 ounces blue cheese, such as Roquefort, crumbled
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Pinch nutmeg
2 slices white sandwich bread, crusts removed
2 tablespoons freshly chopped basil leaves

Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Place a baking rack on a sheet pan and arrange the bacon in 1 layer on the baking rack. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until the bacon is crisp. Remove the pan carefully from the oven - there will be hot grease in the pan! Transfer the bacon to a plate lined with paper towels and crumble when it is cool enough to handle.
Drizzle oil into a large pot of boiling salted water. Add the macaroni and cook according to the directions on the package, 6 to 8 minutes. Drain well.
Meanwhile, heat the milk in a small saucepan, but don't boil it. Melt the butter in a medium pot and add the flour. Cook over low heat for 2 minutes, stirring with a whisk. While whisking, add the hot milk and cook for a minute or 2 more, until thickened and smooth. Off the heat, add the Gruyere, Cheddar, blue cheese, 1 teaspoon salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Add the cooked macaroni and crumbled bacon and stir well. Pour into 2 individual size gratin dishes.
Place the bread slices in a food processor fitted with a steel blade and pulse until you have coarse crumbs. Add the basil and pulse to combine. Sprinkle the bread crumb mixture over the top of the pasta. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and the macaroni is browned on the top.

Recipe Courtesy of Foodnetwork.com and Ina Garten

What are your favorite childhood meals?

XO
Ash

"I like writing songs about douchebags who cheat on me...but I'm not going to say that in my monologue"

"I want your love... I don’t wanna be friends"

Let me preface this post by saying, that my taste in music is about as Schizophrenic as it gets. My IPOD is a collection of bad pop music, emo-ballads, cross-over country and the occasional rap/dance hit. These are the top 10 songs on my current playlist.

Don’t judge…to much.

1. Jay-Z “Empire State of Mind” – I’m from NY…this song just makes me happy.

2. Lady Gaga “Bad Romance” –GAGA = Amazing

3. Taylor Swift “SuperStar – I'm pretty sure I can relate to all of her songs in some way...and she told me she liked my sweater last year...I will always love her.

4. Orianthi “According to you” – Handpicked by MJ to be a part of his tour…check her out!

5. Taylor Swift “Jump then fall” – Fantastical

6. Ke$ha “Tik Tok” – Mindless and Cheeky… J’Adore!

7. Britney Spears “3” – 3 words- Peter, Paul and Mary…

8. Jesse McCartney “Body Language” – "I don’t speak Spanish, Japanese or French”…but I would learn for Jesse!

9. Glee Cast “Defying Gravity” – My obsession with this show is well known.

10. Glee Cast “ Sweet Caroline” – Lets be honest…I have the whole Glee Cast soundtrack, but these two are the most recent adds to my playlist.

Borrowed Wisdom of the Day

There is no set path. Just follow your heart!- Unknown

Things I <3 right now

MARC BY MARC JACOBS Graphic Metal Small Bow Necklace

Helmut Lang Drape Neck Leather Jacket


Elizabeth and James Laurent Plaid Button Up Shirt


Yoana Baraschi Short Colbalt Disco Dress


and ONLY because I've started to think about all of the Holiday parties I will have to attend, am I considering this delish frock. It is THE perfect color and I adore the paillettes.

Sorry for the quickie post today. Just thought share some of the fun things I adore right now.

XO