When you’re planning on using specific ingredients for dinner or a party, designate a shelf or spot in your refrigerator for those ingredients. This way, there will be no confusion about what’s there for the taking and no more time spent searching for something your significant other/ roommate already scarfed down. You’ll also save time when you go to gather your ingredients because they’ll all be in one place.
Traditional Sangria With A Hip Twist February 28, 2008
Sangria is the perfect party drink. It’s festive, flavorful and great for a crowd. Unlike flavored martinis, which require you to shake each one individually, you can mix up a huge batch of sangria the day before your party and simply transfer it to a pitcher or serve it in a vase with a ladle.
Sangria should be made at least 8 hours and up to 48 hours in advance so the flavors have time to merry.
Don’t let the selection of fruit used below stop you from trying other fruit combinations. The possibilities are endless.
Hip Twist on Traditional Sangria
2 bottles Spanish dry red wine, such as Rioja
1 C. Spanish brandy (preferably Brandy de Jerez)
1/2 C. orange juice
1/8 C. agave nectar (or ¼ C. superfine sugar)
20oz can Lychees (or Litches) in light syrup, undrained
3 apples, cored and cut into small cubes
2 oranges, cut into thin rounds
2 lemons (Meyer, pink, regular or a combination), cut into thin rounds
4 Key limes or 3 regular limes, cut into thin rounds, divided
2 cups club soda
Ice
1. In a large pitcher, combine the first 4 ingredients and stir well. Add the lychees and their liquid. Add the remaining fruit (reserving 12 lime rounds to use as a garnish). Refrigerate for at least 8 hours.
2. Remove from the refrigerator and add the club soda. Gently stir with a large a ladle. Serve immediately in a sangria or wine glass filled with ice, ladling some fruit into each glass.
3. To add the limes as a garnish to the glass, cut a slit in the remaining lime rounds (beginning in the center and cutting outwards through the rind on one side). Put one lime round on the rim of each glass. Drink up!
Makes 12 servings
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Penedès Brandy is another Spanish brandy, which is a good substitute but it tends to be drier than Brandy de Jerez. If you cannot find a Spanish brandy any brandy or cognac will work.
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Agave nectar is a vegan sweetener that is similar in taste to honey. It is perfect for sweetening sangria or iced tea because it dissolves easily in cold liquids. Also, it is known to have a lower glycemic index than other natural sweeteners. Agave nectar is widely available in the natural/ organic section of grocery stores and at smaller health food stores.
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If you have never tasted a lychee you are in for a treat. Lychees have a sweet, translucent white flesh and are similar in texture to a peeled grape. Look for them in the ethnic sections in the grocery store or at an Asian or Mexican market.
Red Lentil Soup February 26, 2008
This hearty soup for two is the perfect way to heat things up on a cold winter night. Serve with warm, crusty whole grain bread and a salad with cilantro-lime vinaigrette for a healthy and satisfying meal that will warm you from the inside out.
Red Lentil Soup
1 Tbs. olive oil or non-stick cooking spray
1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. ground coriander
8oz can diced tomatoes, drained (or 2 lb. fresh tomatoes, peeled, seeded & chopped)
1 C. red lentils, rinsed and picked over to check for stones
4 C. low-sodium vegetable or chicken stock
salt and ground pepper to taste
½ bunch cilantro, finely chopped (for garnish)
1. Heat medium dutch over or 5 quart pot over medium heat. Add the oil or cooking spray. Add the chopped onion and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onions are golden brown and soft.
2. Add the garlic, cumin, coriander, tomatoes and lentils to the cooked onions. Continue to cook, stirring constantly, for 5 minutes. Add in vegetable or chicken stock and increase the heat to medium-high. Once the soup comes to a boil, reduce the heat to low and let it simmer gently for 20-30 minutes, or until the lentils are tender. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
3. Remove the pot from the heat and let the soup cool slightly. Transfer half of the soup to the blender and puree until smooth. Pour pureed soup into a bowl and repeat process with the remaining soup from the pot. If the soup has cooled significantly, pour the pureed mixture back into the empty cooking pot. Reheat the soup over medium heat until desired temperature. Ladle the soup into 2 large soup bowls, and garnish with chopped cilantro. Serve immediately.
Cooking Tips:
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Cooking the onions until they turn a golden brown color, without burning, enhances the flavor of the soup significantly.
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If the soup is still hot when transferring it to the blender, open the center of the lid for the blender slightly, while holding it over the hole as the mixture is pureeing. This will allow the steam to escape.
* As shown in picture, garnished with truffle oil, balsamic, snipped chives and greek yogurt
Urban Baby Shower February 26, 2008
Hosting a baby shower for an urban mom? Here are some ideas for invitations, favors and flowers from a baby shower the Hip Hostess recently threw for a very hip New York City mom.
The Invitations:
“Madison Avenue Mom” by Bonnie’s Style Press
$25 for 25 fill-in invitations
The Favors:
Baby Bottle Favors by Little Tree Gifts
Glass baby bottles filled with hot cocoa mix and gift tags coordinating with the invitations (directions for making the cocoa on the back)
$8 each (including customized gift tags)
The Flowers:
White Calla Lilies
The Cake (cupcakes):
Vanilla cupcakes with buttercream frosting (chocolate and vanilla) and teddy graham bears, served on stacked cake stands
Black Bean Pizza February 26, 2008
Tired of braving the cold to meet up with friends for dinner? Rather than hibernating, invite a few friends over and serve this quick and delicious pizza. The spicy salsa will warm you up, and your friends will enjoy eating this healthy, protein-packed pizza in the comfort of your home.
Serve with a simple salad of torn romaine, cucumbers and grape tomatoes, topped with cilantro vinaigrette (olive oil, red wine vinegar, fresh lime juice, dijon mustard, garlic and fresh cilantro), to round out the meal.
Black Bean Pizza
1 package refrigerated or frozen whole wheat pizza dough, defrosted*
1 8oz jar medium salsa (Newman’s Own is a good choice)
1 C. shredded chipotle cheddar cheese (Cabot brand) or pepper jack cheese
1 15oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
2 Tbs. cornmeal (optional)
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Spray pizza stone with nonstick cooking spray or olive oil. If you are using cornmeal sprinkle it on the pizza stone. Stretch pizza dough to fit the pizza stone.
2. Top pizza dough with 1 jar salsa, spreading the salsa around the dough with the back of a spoon, leaving a 1/2 inch border for the crust. Scatter the rinsed black beans over the salsa. Top with shredded cheese.
3. Place the pizza on the middle rack in the oven and bake for 10-15 minutes, until the bottom of the crust is golden brown.
4. Remove from oven and let the pizza cool for 2-3 minutes. Using a pizza cutter, slice into 8 pieces.
*Many grocery stores carry whole wheat pizza dough, including Wholefoods, Hannaford and Trader Joe’s. You can substitute regular white dough, which is available at most grocery stores or at your local pizzeria.
Books For Urban Babies February 7, 2008
Whether you are hosting a baby shower or are just a guest, its always nice to have some fresh (i.e. non-registry) gift ideas for the expecting mom. For those soon-to-be urban babies, adding a few funkier books to their library makes for a great gift. Here are a few that the Hip Hostess recommends, which will be loved by urban and suburban moms alike.
Urban Babies Wear Black by Michelle Sinclair Colman
The Adventures of Taxi Dog by Debra Barracca and Sal Barracca
City Lullaby by Marilyn Singer
Say No To Plastic (Wine Glasses) February 7, 2008
I know, I know. Plastic is easier. It’s disposable, inexpensive and shatter-proof. That being said, you took the time to pick out fabulous wine (or the best you could afford for the type of event you are having), so why serve them in something less than fantastic? Glassware can be affordable and your guests will appreciate the elegant feel of a stem in their hand.
Need another reason to loosen your purse strings? Plastic cups are rarely made from biodegradable material and only add to our growing landfills. So now you can finally say you are doing something to lighten your carbon footprint.
There are plenty of options for affordable glassware.
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Bed Bath and Beyond carries a solid line of glassware that comes in boxes by the dozen for about $10 (about 85 cents each). They offer flutes, goblets and standard 5oz stems.
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Crate & Barrel also carries inexpensive glassware, sold individually so you can purchase exactly what you need.
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Pier I is another great place for inexpensive glassware. They have clear stems and they also carry a line that comes in cobalt blue (the blue margarita glasses would be perfect for a summer fiesta!), which you can often find on sale for $1 per glass.
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Don’t forget to check out the dollar stores. They always have wine glasses for $1 per glass, though they are usually extremely thin and break easily.
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Finally, Ikea is another great place to look. They have a plethora of inexpensive glasses in various styles, sizes and packages.
