Food for the "Soul"

I don't think I will ever be able to fully express in words on this blog how much I love my friends. Its time that I spend with them that make me feel refreshed and back to where I need to be. When life gets crazy and there are extraneous details that bog us down, all it takes is a good kick in the pants from those that know you best to kick you back into gear and back to being your best. We have all been so busy with work lately that there has been little to no time to spread peace and love. We find our calendars filling up so quickly that we had to plan this dinner nearly a month in advance to ensure all parties were present!

Sara is our new restaurant scout and she planned a girls dinner at an eclectic little establishment in Plaza Midwood on Friday night. Sara and I, along with Laura, Mary Katherine and Kealy made our way to Central Avenue to Soul Gastro Lounge for a fantastic dinner and uncontrollable laughter (what else is new!!) From the outside, Soul was nothing magical but as soon as you open the doors the mood completely changes and you find yourself in a chic hideaway tucked away in a culinary wonderland. The menu is completely tapas and small bites which was perfect for our food obsessed taste buds. I always love small plates of food to taste because by the end of the meal, you have experienced a plethora of flavors guaranteed to satisfy all of your cravings.

We started with cocktails and of course Mary Katherine and I could not resist the mixed berry margaritas. I am pretty sure when our waiter told us the berries had come from the farmer's market that day, we fell in love with the drink. Sure enough it was refreshing and crisp and created nothing but happiness in my mouth. Like children who had never eaten before, we chose so many tasty items from the menu and shared amongst the table. Dips with pita, greek country salad, an artisan cheese plate, shrimp and chicken skewers and shoestring french fries kissed with truffle oil. And when we consumed the above and cherished every bite, we decided we still needed more and indulged in mini kobe beef sliders and cured salmon pillows wrapped and snuggled in phyllo dough. Soul is the perfect place for a date or small group of friends. The atmosphere was so warm yet sophisticated enough that kicked it up a notch. The service reminded me of dining in Italy where the meals linger and you are welcome to take your time and enjoy your culinary experience along with the company.

A night out with these girls is never complete without a sweet ending so sure enough, we drove over to my favorite gem, Amelie's, for coffee & dessert. Pure bliss!

Sips of Spice

I am a huge proponent of hot beverages, especially in the fall when the flavors are seasonal and the unique spice blends that can only be found during this time of year are abundant. Pumpkin spice lattes, mulled apple cider, chai spiced tea...all of these embrace the warm and magical flavors that bring spark to this time of year. This also happens to be the time of year in the corporate event planning world that our vendors like to treat us to sinful desserts and all sorts of items that are not always conducive to my love of good health. I was in for an exquisite surprise yesterday when a hotel brought us a basket filled with ginger snap cookies snuggled in with Herbs of Autumn Hot Apple Cider Tea (made by The Reppublic of Tea)! I am not sure when I acquired such a British Inspired love for hot tea but it calms me at night and 3:00pm tea time has taken residence on my Microsoft Outlook calendar as a daily occurrence. I have a cup at my desk right now and it is a perfect way to warm my soul on this cloudy day in the Carolinas. I just love the description on the back of the tea can:

"A cup of comfort: When autumn leaves begin to change and the chill returns to the air, this cozy, naturally caffeine-free blend of apples and spices will surely warm you up. Enjoy the luscious aroma of cinnamon and cloves as the steam rises from your cup. Pull on your coziest sweater and embrace this golden season".

What a perfect cup of tea to sip from on this dreary Friday. Another reason to add smiles to the day? A perfect girls dinner at a bloggable establishment tonight with my favorites! Ciao!

Pumpkin Spice & Everything Nice

It's officially the first day of fall and I could sit here and create a neverending post listing the countless reasons as to why I love this season upon us so much. However, that is not necessary...when this historic Nido picture says it all.

Peace & Love

"Peace. It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart" {Unknown}

I can't abandon the peace & love tidbits in this blog because after all, it's what keeps this crazy world smiling. Today is International Peace Day. Take some time today and think about what you can do to sprinkle a little bit of peace and love on those around you.

*photo courtesy of flickr.com

17 Candles for My Not So Little Sister

{Happy 17th Birthday Natalie!!!}

Anyone that has ever celebrated a birthday at the Nido house knows that the best part is "the cake". Simply angel food cake with white mountain frosting...a birthday miracle in your mouth and the closest thing to perfection on a plate. Birthday bliss starts here.

Anatomy of the Perfect Pasta Dish (perfect friends included)

It's in my Italian nature to thrive on cooking for and feeding people...I just like to share my love of food. I had 3 of my dearest friends (Laura, Mary Katherine and the freshly married Sara!) over on Wednesday night and I cooked up a staple dish from the Nido repertoire, Penne A La Vodka (penne pasta in a vodka cream sauce). I came home from work, put on my favorite apron, and got to work. I love cooking for these girls and anytime I get to spend with them for that matter, I truly cherish. MK was begging me for the recipe and I promised her I would post it so that she can wow Nick Baker in the kitchen! This recipe is so quick and easy and tastes delicious. It doubles as the perfect pasta dish for a big dinner party or if you want a go to recipe to cook up something delicious for a special someone and have a romantic dinner for two. Once again, credit for my knowledge of this fine work of culinary art goes to my dear old Dad.

Penne A La Vodka

2-6 cloves of garlic, minced (this can be adjusted according to your love or un-love for garlic)

1 can of crushed red tomatoes

1/2 cup Heavy Cream (can be substituted with half and half for a healthier option and the consistency will just be less creamy)

1/4 cup Vodka (any brand will do)

Olive oil- enough to cover the bottom of the pan

Fresh Italian flat leaf parsley (Muffin swears by the flat leaf)

Salt & Pepper to taste

1 lb. penne pasta

This dish does not take long so go ahead and heat up your water to boil the penne. Wash off and chop off the fresh parsley so that it is ready when you need it. Mince garlic and sautee in a large pan with olive oil. Once the garlic starts to bubble (you have to babysit it so that it doesn't burn), add can of tomatoes. Season the sauce with salt and pepper and let it simmer until the flavors are born. Much like risotto, love your sauce into existence. When the pasta is done, drain and set aside. Slowly add the cream and vodka into the marinara sauce and stir toether. Transfer the penne to the pan with the sauce and toss together with the fresh parsley. This pasta looks gorgeous served in a large ceramic pasta bowl. Mange, mange!

Fa la la la la

It is now mid-September and the official start of fall is in sight next week. I am fairly confident I have expressed my love for this time of year to a great extent but just in case you missed it, let me just re-iterate it right now. As I sip on my afternoon cup of pumpkin spice tea, it occurs to me that not only is fall about to warm our hearts, but today marks a whimsical and sensational day.

Actually...this introduction is just for effect because in all reality, I have been thinking about this blog post since Monday, when the numbers 102 appeared on my twitter updates and my heart skipped a beat. If I could insert some sort of "scent technology" on this post and create the wonderful smells (think cinnamon, sugar plum, spice, peppermint, gingerbread and fresh pine) of what is about to hit us in 100 days, I would be one extremely happy blogger. But alas, the art of the written word will have to do as I prepare to embark on the yearly countdown of all countdowns. My eyes are about to well up with tears because I hold this time of year so near and dear. I love the meaning behind the season, the traditions and all of the little blessings and delights that come with it! The Nido house especially is like a Christmas wonderland from the end of November through New Year's. I love the beautifully lit entrance to our house from the front porch, shown above. Sadly I do not reside there full time but despite the fact that my dad will correct me and call it his house, I will forever continue to take part ownership of my haven on India Wilkes. I would love to get a head start on this year's holiday recipes if you have any to share.

And how appropriate that tonight I am making dinner with 3 of my favorite girls in the world (the clackers!!!). I can't help but be reminded of our journey uptown last December to see the Nutcracker! (which also means I am sitting here laughing at myself thinking about running from the Epicentre to Blumenthal sprinting up Trade St. in Christmas dresses and high heels! If only I could express in words the looks of people trying to enjoy a relaxing holiday stroll on twinkling Trade St.

100 is a good number to start at, right!? Laura calls me a certified Yuletide Freak but there really could be things that are far worse. The official countdown to Christmas is finally here!

And speaking of countdowns...15 days until I fly to NYC and meet Mark in the big apple!!! I can' hardly contain my excitement.