Cheese. Please.

I've been looking at tons of foodie pics today on Pinterest (follow me!) and now I'm starved. I'm especially craving some cheese, after seeing so many gorgeous platter set-ups on Pinterest. I always find it interesting to see how people set up their cheese platters - what cheese, what accompaniments, etc. Here are two I saw and loved. Aren't they pretty?

Pick up a great cheese platter from Nordstrom, and get creative!

sources: abeautifulmess.com, honeyandlimes

lovely salmon in fashion & interiors

nothing beats the light and refreshing color of salmon....whether you're wearing it, living in it, or eating it of course!

source: fashion roll call, shelterness.com, moniquealamode, carpet the world

summer eating

it's summer time again, and that brings along a whole host of changes, from clothing to attitude to culinary desires. everyone loves eating "fresh" in the summer -- no heavy creams, sauces, or other sleep-inducing foods, please -- only clean-tasting items, meals prepared with a light hand, and just a few ingredients. one of my favorite dishes has to be this watermelon salad i've written about before. but another favorite dish, and a more substantial one, is this tri-colore orzo. it's so easy to prepare, and so good to eat...especially outdoors with a glass of chilled white wine! try it out:)

ingredients::

1 pound orzo pasta
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus 1/4 cup
2 cups fresh arugula
3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
1/2 cup dried cherries (i used dried cranberries...just as yummy)
12 fresh basil leaves, torn
1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

directions::

bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. drain pasta and put the pasta on a large cookie sheet. drizzle the pasta with 3 tablespoons olive oil, toss, spread out, and set aside to cool.

once the orzo is cool, transfer to a large serving bowl. add the remaining ingredients and toss gently to combine. serve.

source (image and recipe): giada on food network

stonewall kitchen

stonewall kitchen has been around for quite some time now, and i've tried some of their amazing jams/spreads once before, but only recently am i sort of getting obsessed with ordering everything that they have to offer. "stylish" gourmet eating is what this brand seems to be all about (had to throw in the "stylish"...trying to stick to the theme of this blog, of course!)

the combos of ingredients they use in their jams, jellies, dressings, and oils are absolutely perfect. the red pepper jelly hits every taste bud in your mouth -- the savory blend tastes like heaven with just a simple cracker (make it garlic or parmesan-flavored if you're feeling fancy). it is so perfect for an after-work snack, and even more perfect for entertaining, as it is just so simple and pretty.

some of their other product titles include:

• balslamic fig dressing -- another savory concoction that tasted just right with a baby spinach, strawberry, and feta salad.

• roasted garlic and onion jam -- garlic & onions? can't go wrong.

• apple jalapeno jelly -- haven't tried it, but yum, sounds good.

• wasabi horseradish cream sauce -- must try this! it's too interesting-sounding not to.

happy, and stylish:), eating.

source: stonewall kitchen

food.

i usually make the same thing over and over again, so where else to look for ideas but food porn daily? exciting name, i know, but even more exciting images. check out this drool-worthy picture of "pistachio, chorizo, and chipotle crusted mahi w/ apple-chorizo braised red cabbage & carrot moroccan pancakes." how good, good, goooood does that sound? also sounds hard to make. but hey, that's inspiration for ya.

i also "tweeted" about food today -- a delicious (and easy) recipe of brie, apple, and arugula quesadillas, from the atlantis home blog. you can follow me at twitter.com/greychiffon.

source: food porn daily

pink inspiration

i normally hate the color pink -- not sure why, but it just doesn't do anything for me. lately, however, i've been oddly drawn to images loaded with the candy-floss hue. i've found myself saving those images to go back to for style (whether it's personal or home) inspiration. above are a few of those images!

pink also represents breast cancer awareness, and october is breast cancer awareness month. if you'd like to make a donation, please visit the susan g. komen for the cure website.

sources: a glamorous little side project, kelly wearstler, this is glamorous, the laurel hedge, lila and candivy, this is london

i like...

things i like...

1. fresh cilantro for kick of...hmm...freshness!
2. gorgeous architecture -- right here in d.c.
3. diptyque candles -- each fragrance from this line is wonderful, but baies smells divine...

sources: cilantro - nature hills, dc supreme court columns - flickr, diptyque baies candle - style bible

random things...

sources: martha stewart bouquet, gourmet.com, linda derector

jai ho to jaipur

viewing all the collections from lakme india fashion week has me thinking of and remembering gorgeous india...especially my visit to the city of jaipur, somewhere i had never been prior to my last trip.

jaipur, once the capital of royalty, is the capital state of rajasthan. the rich history of the city cannot be experienced in just one trip...and once you add in all of the city's little charms, it is impossible to not want to visit there again and again.

among all the old palace ruins and pink-hued buildings, are vibrant street bazaars lined with exquisite fabrics and glittering bangles...and close to grand hotels with expansive gardens and five-star dining is chokhi dhani...a place designed to give you the experience of being in a real rajasthani village. the city is simultaneously haunting and lively.

jaipur was in all short, but wonderful, trip. i hope to return soon!

sweet + savory + summer

nothing beats this refreshing summer salad of watermelon, crumbled feta, and fresh mint leaves

source: slash food