Tuesday, December 20, 2011

T'is the season to be chubby..falala

It's that time of the year...

Holidays are fast approaching... and my stomach is waking up. That means I have the worst cravings for food 24/7.

I really tried to portion control... but since I was 13 I could not control my appetite. I would devour food like no girl... or boy I knew for that matter. This is not unusual. It seems from the minute I came to earth I had an appreciation for food.

* so state my nicknames accumulated over the years: dumpling, spaghetti, horse... and the non food group : szmegul.

Any-who,

The past two days I was too tired to bake, but was craving sweets. Of course I was angry with myself for touching some added preservative American treats... such as cheesecake, croissants and hot chocolate.

I have been blessed with cooking skills and still manage to touch this garbage as opposed to making my own fresh batches...?

This is what got me baking today.

Christmas is approaching which got me thinking of my cultural background. I am Polish. What was traditional dessert from Poland...? Of course ! Jablecznik ( aka: Polish Apple Cake). So I slaved ( well rather enjoyed) myself in the kitchen for a few hours while listening to Coldplay's Mylo Xyloto to put me in the spirit...and voila with the final product.



Here is the recipe I used for it:




Ingredients:

2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 + 1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) soft butter + 3 tablespoons cold butter, cut into pieces
3/4 cup milk
2 large eggs
4 large apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
1/4 teaspoon cloves




Preparation:

 

 

 

 


















  1. Lightly coat a 13"x9" pan with cooking spray. Heat oven to 350 degrees. In large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt and 3/4 cup sugar. Add 1/2 cup softened butter, milk and eggs. Beat at medium speed 4 minutes.
  2. Pour half the batter into prepared pan, then layer on half the apples. Spoon all but 1/2 cup of the remaining batter over the apples, covering completely. Place the remaining apples on top and dot the reserved 1/2 cup batter over the apples.
  3. Cut remaining 1/4 cup sugar and cloves into 3 tablespoons cold butter and sprinkle over the unbaked cake. Bake about 40 minutes or until a toothpick tests clean.
  4. Let the cake cool in the pan so the apple juices will be reabsorbed to create a moist cake. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar, if desired, and cut into 12 squares.


  1. Eat ! Smacznego! 

Friday, December 2, 2011

New Day, New Way

Allas...

I got over my doubtfulness and became more open minded overnight. With my previous internship the whole fashion industry looked cold and cheap. " Was this what I was really going to devote my life to?" , I questioned myself. It was surely not the industry I have dreamt of growing up.


NEW BUILDING &REGION
OF WORKPLACE ( WATERFRONT) 
That all changed when I began my new internship in the gorgeous region of Chelsea at Karla Otto. The 13 story silver loft stood out of the other red brick buildings the moment I got off the subway. It was an easy find. As I entered the building... as usual I was too early....so.... I waited ...and waited... for 30 more min until my boss entered through the elevator door in his alien size headphones and famous bright smile. Minutes later.. the usual.. he introduced me to the rest of the employees.
Old Neighbourhood

Old Neighbourhood

Last day of internship #1
( Winter Editorial Photoshoot)
It was a breath of fresh air for me. My old job I worked with 3 employees ( 1 Boss, 1 worker, 1 intern)... here there were boss's, co - boss's, assistants and finally the lowest of the low...
the interns. And you know what? The interns were NORMAL like me. No ivy league / boarding school history. Simply hardworking, poor/ normal girls and the one beautiful french boy ( probably gay too tho.. thats's the unfortunate predictable part of the fashion industry).

View on West Side of clothing racks
Right to the right you can see the
New York Hotel & Empire State Building!



Loved this dress..& the thousand others!
Showroom 1/2 side ( best panoramic view)

And my obsession with the views continue
onto the waterfront 
Next time I will show pictures of the
bridge from the kitchen!

Skipping the tutorials I had to learn....

2 Hours later. There I sat in front of this magnificent waterfront skyline towering view of Manhattan. I could not believe it. I came here only 2 weeks ago and moved from one smaller cool building to this amazing place. The panoramic view made my daydreams worthwhile.


My mini tasks of the day included :

1) Picking up items from Vogue Japan !!! ( their messengers were late)
2) Drop off million dollar jewelry ( the boss trusted me over all other interns.. just after 1 previous delivery.. I felt honoured haha)
3) Drop of PUCCI dresses on Broadway & pick up items at "The Dream Hotel" ( Only one of Manhattans most luxurious hotels! )

.... this is only day 1. Next perhaps HARPERS magazine?!

Anyways... what I try to remember at tough times like these is the one silly quote I have my little sister to thank for  introducing me to....

" Never let the fear of striking out keep you
from playing the game"


Wish me luck! Few days till Christmas & my 18th birthday! Eeek!

Sunday, November 27, 2011

The most wonderful time of the year is fast approaching!



Last night as I finished one of my all time favourite holiday movies "The Holiday"... I sat there in my bed... feeling different. More content with life, calm, appreciative, excited... This is what the Christmas season does to me ( and to many others I believe). It makes us feel as if nothing is wrong in the world.



'Lalala'
How I loved the cottage
On this ever so warm sunday afternoon, I took my long overdue stroll down Central Park, and noticed something different. There were still millions of people walking along the streets, some tourists, some native New Yorkers...but what was so apparently different then the previous time I have stepped outside.

            * One day I dream like anyone else to live near Central Park*






... Everyone was smiling. There was so much joy that filled the air. Couples strolling down 5th Avenue, families enjoying a picnic on the hill, children laughing at they climbed the Alice in Wonderland tribute. This was a breath of fresh air to the usual time consumed citizens that fill the streets.

Best of all, as I got lost down a few streets, I stumbled upon 5th Avenue. It was breathtaking... and this is only the beginning. The countdown has not even began for jolly Saint Nicholas's special day to arrive. Cheerful melodies filled the streets, glimmering lights shone above my eyes as I passed a tunnel of these golden trees, unimaginably wonderful mannequins reflected at me through the windows.

Fountain of evergreens
If NYC keeps impressing me daily like this, I will never want to go back home. Only one thing was missing today... my mother and sister. Family. Nothing is as enjoyable alone in comparison to being with those you love most.

So many hotdog stands

Enjoyed the usual street-dancing 
( Take a deep breath...ok now admire each picture carefully)










 
These are full window examples of how they appeared

DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR IN THIS CLIP?!
                                         


Snowflake light the streets 




As the night skies arose, it was time to head back home. As I made my way to Union Sq, there it was. The store that was being ignored for the past week. Curiosity filled my mind with what goodies might be hidden between the shelves of the 'black friday' book sale. I examined several shelves, but would not give up, because something told me I would find 'the book'....and of course 1/2 an hour later there it was. Lying on top of a few old cookbooks " Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas" has caught my eye.

I automatically knew it was right for me : 1) It was a love story 2) It contained the word " Nicholas" 3) Moving onto the fact that all of Nicholas Spark's books are located in N.C.... as was this one... it had to be good.  Plus you cannot go wrong for 1 $. I also stocked up on a few postcards for friends and family...

As I came home, I enjoyed some fresh goat cheese , grapes, and a baguette all for 7$. Overall I sat there eating my late supper completely satisfied with my day. It was more then I was expecting. I guess the best things really come when least expected.


** Note: Fresh air did help clear up my flue partially... maybe one more walk tomorrow and it will be gone?!