Thanksgiving in Michigan

So, it's the holidays again. Wow. November flew by in a blink!

I spent Thanksgiving in Michigan, like I always do, visiting my family and old friends. Lucky for me, this year I had an entire week to soak in the loveliness of the fall season in my home state.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because it allows me to do something I address regularly on this site- reevaluate my habits and goals. For me, comparing and taking mental notes on what I would like to change, or goals I need to set is a critical practice. Going home allows me to really take in how much I've grown since I moved away and evaluate where I can move forward or take a step back. By the end of the week I inevitably flood my husband's phone with texts excitedly discussing what goals I want to set for the new year.

This time around was no different. I came back to New York yesterday feeling re-energized and a lot less overwhelmed by the prospect of finding a new job and checking off my to-do list. I'm starting tomorrow by decorating our apartment for the holidays and making a red pepper soup for the week. In the meantime, some photos from my trip home are below. Check them out and please share your favorite Thanksgiving traditions in the comments!

Michigan apples and cider donuts at the Franklin Cider Mill. Always the first stop on my list.

Leaves so pretty i successfully avoided raking them all week. not my best moment but... they look like confetti!

We spent most of our time by the fireplace, reading and catching up with old friends. Also, drinking approximately 10 gallons of tea. Russians can't talk to each other without tea or wine. It just doesn't work.

I have a few traditions I always like to keep while at my parent's. It's a small list of items which help me appreciate my days off and soothe the homesickness between visits.

Favorite reading nook. The lamp has a little tray for wine glasses or tea mugs!

1. Sit and read in every warm and comfortable spot in the house.
2. Drink my dad's coffee. He makes the best cup of coffee.
3. Drink wine. Lots of wine. My parent's wine is better than my wine. Enough said.
4. Eat my weight in my mom's cooking.
5. Wear all my old baggy high school sweaters. Mostly to hide how much I'm eating and drinking. Also, because they are the ultimate in comfort and not fashion. That's what the holiday season is about!
6. Take baths. Our tub in Brooklyn is too small!
7. Eat a Greek Islands salad. (This is my death row salad. I love this salad. Ask me about this salad.)
8. Visit Detroit and gape at how much the city has changed since I left in 2009.

Our Thanksgiving menu is always representative of the culture we came from as well as the country we've called home for over 25 years. We start with pickled side dishes followed by turkey and challah stuffing. Dinner is always punctuated by family and friends sharing that which they are grateful for. This year my mom proposed an update to our usual tradition. After we shared our individual toasts, names were drawn out of a hat and each person spoke to what the person on their card might be thankful for, without naming the name. Then everyone at the table had to guess who the toast had been about. Hearing what someone else thinks went well for you is great reminder to be thankful for the little things. Honestly, I get so wrapped up in my own world it was nice to hear what family and friends see and are happy for from the outside.

We wanted to make sure to have lots of different dessert options to accommodate various palates at the table. Without a doubt the baked pears filled with honey and walnuts, topped with melted chocolate and homemade whipped cream were the big hit of the night. (Recipe up soon!)

After dinner we sat around the fireplace, drank tea and cognac, and sang Russian folks songs. The night went well into the morning and culminated with everyone eating as second round of dinner around 2AM! Every year around the holidays this is what I look forward to the most. Slowing down, eating amazing food, and actually taking an entire evening to talk to people who are near and dear. It's a rare event and the best part of the season.

For days I feel particularly insecure...

After almost three straight days of eating and drinking everyone needed a break from the kitchen table. We rallied and went to explore the Detroit Institute of Arts. I hadn't been in years and it was nice to rediscover what a rich collection the museum houses. Old favorites like Modigliani and Soutine and fun new finds like the handsome woman to the right.

On Saturday night my mom got us tickets for a tour of the city. Usually I would scoff because tours where someone talks history at me for hours are boring, dry and the human equivalent of taking a Melatonin. Hanging out with Bailey, the owner Detroit History Tours was the total opposite. Her focus is on illuminating the 300 year old history of a city many wrote off for decades. She's knowledgeable and sharp, but also damn funny. I cannot recommend this tour company enough if you live or are visiting the area. Bailey brings to life the rich and fascinating history of Detroit and she also makes sure there are stops along the way to grab drinks at some of the city's oldest bars. You can find more information and schedule a tour here.

The stunning front hall of the DIA.

The Detroit Yacht Club, all decked out for Hanukkah. Obviously.

Super cool in front of the tour bus.

I wrapped up my week by visiting old friends and eating my favorite salad. Of all the fancy food I've ever had no one dish has captured my heart quite like this one. Grilled chicken, lettuce, tomato, onions, Kalamata olives, banana peppers, beets, and feta could come together to make the best $9 salad on the planet. I've tried recreating it time and time again but it's most satisfying when consumed in the fluorescent diner setting, with a good book and a Diet Coke. The secret is the dressing which I buy in bulk from the restaurant and cart back to NYC year after year. Sopping it up with the perfectly toasted pita bread is something I look forward to every single time I come home.

Happy Holidays, friends! I can't wait to share and hear how you're spending the season. Meal plans and decoration ideas coming up on the blog in the next few weeks.

When you eat so much turkey and drink so much wine you just need your sister to lay down on top of you.

Savannah, Again!

We were lucky enough to spend the weekend in Savannah.  New York was so grey and gloomy last week that landing in the South to seventy degree weather and sunshine was a massive treat. 2016 has been total crap for obvious reasons but I will say it's nicely balanced itself by also being the Year of the Wedding. We've been to five this year, including our own, so I'm definitely going to experience some withdrawal from the now regular celebrations of holy matrimony. Turns out dressing up, dancing my face off, and drinking vodka with good people is the cure for all ailments.

I was absolutely blown away by how stunning our friends' wedding was this Saturday. I've written about Savannah's architecture and parks before, but when employed as the setting for a ceremony the result is nothing short of magic. Haunting Spanish moss decorated trees and cobblestone streets are the perfect backdrop to a moody, fall wedding. Some photos from the weekend, below. Looking through them with my hot cop of coffee and feeling so grateful for amazing people and the luxury of taking breaks and skipping town.

I insisted that we start the weekend at Sandfly BBQ. My reasons were twofold: I have been talking this place up to Ian since July and because he insists that I, as a Midwesterner, don't understand good BBQ. I had to prove him wrong with my off the beaten path find. Let me tell you, it did not disappoint. The beef brisket sandwich was so good I'm hungry again just looking at it on the screen. Side note, their homemade chicken dry rub is the best and I went through it in record time this summer. You can purchase it online, here.

Our AirBnB felt like stepping back in time. The lighting was sparse, just small lamps in every room. The windowsills and railings were so old that it was part of check in to make sure we knew not to lean on them! I fell in love with the moody wood finishes and natural light in the kitchen and bathroom. Enough so to justify my first bathroom selfie. (I don't have a Starbucks cup so there's still hope for me.) Definitely decided on a claw foot tub and farmhouse sink in our future home. Holding my breath for that.

The setting for the ceremony. Everything from the flowers to the lighting felt like it was staged for Vanity Fair, breathtaking.

I've been so lucky to meet the most incredible, smart, and hilarious women through my husband. Feeling all the feelings about making new friends. It's not easy as an adult so when you find people that you really click with and who make you laugh, it feels like eating a delicious piece of dark chocolate.

Weeknight Meal: Easy Chicken + Eggplant Parmesan

It's been an incredibly taxing week for everyone. I don't really think I need to say much more than that. Emotionally, physically, spiritually everyone is drained. I'm not sure I've ever seen New York City as quiet and still as over the last week. Even the rush-hour subway train cars are just... silent.

In my personal life the last few weeks have been full of incredible highs and lows. I intend to write a post about the week of our wedding as well as some other life shifts which have happened recently. I just need to make sure that I fully process them before sharing, which sometimes takes more time than I intend. For now, back to the usual- busy schedules, weeknight meals, and budget friendly ideas.

The biggest goal of this blog is to share with you bits of my everyday but also how I challenge myself to live in a sustainable way, on a budget of time and money. I want to write about real days and real meals, not imagined and pretty Instagram moments. Last Monday proved to be a perfect example of my intention for this site. Most of the day I spent taking care of errands put off for weeks since the wedding. I knew that I had to be home by 5PM in order to throw together dinner (Ian works late on Mondays so it's my night to cook).  At 7:30PM sharp I had an international Skype call for which I had to be on time. As is always the case when I am in a rush in this city, the transportation system was set against me. Of the three trains I could take home, not one was running. Totally out of service! I took the bus, which is always much more time consuming. Even with running from the stop back to the apartment I still got home at 6:15PM. I calculated a meager hour and change to cook and take out the dogs before jumping on my call.

I'm not going to lie, I strongly considered spending $20 and ordering Thai food or pizza. It would've been the easy thing to do. But, I recently made a promise to myself that I wouldn't let food in the fridge go to waste and I would actually start trimming the fat on unnecessary expenses. (A decision I made after ordering three pairs of boots on a major sale last week. Oops.) Monday night felt like the perfect opportunity to challenge myself to make something quick and delicious, without buying anything new, with only ingredients already in my home. Sustainable and budget friendly.

In my fridge I found an eggplant, fresh basil, leftover roasted chicken, and tons of grated cheese. I always have lasagna noodles and breadcrumbs on hand so I threw together a dish I've made before when in a serious time crunch. It's not quite a lasagna and not quite an eggplant Parmesan but honestly, does it really matter when you have an hour, two dogs that need walking, a starving husband on his way home, and a phone interview?! The answer is no, it doesn't. What matters is that now it's Wednesday and we've been eating this Easy Chicken + Eggplant Parm all week, it's seriously delicious, and I would put money on making it again when in a total pinch for time.

The best part about this recipe, as with many of my dishes, is that you can improvise beyond what's in the ingredients. If you want more of a lasagna, add carrots, onions, more tomato sauce. If you want to leave out the lasagna noodles and only layer the eggplant, do it. Or make the dish vegetarian and leave out the chicken, your choice. The idea is to cook quickly, effectively, and with items you already have in your fridge.

Golden, crunchy, cheesy crust. What more do you need for a weeknight meal on a cold and grey november day?

Easy Chicken + Eggplant Parmesan

Ingredients

Ricotta Mixture: 3 eggs, 2 cups ricotta, basil, Mustard seed, oregano, salt, pepper, garlic

• 3 roasted, shredded chicken breasts (omit if you're making this vegetarian)
• 1 large eggplant, diced
• 1 large yellow onion, diced
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 package lasagna noodles
• 1.5 cups breadcrumbs
• 1 jar tomato sauce
• 2 cups ricotta or cottage cheese
• grated Parmesan
• sliced cheese like mozzarella or provolone, any Italian cheese you have on hand will work
• 3 eggs
• dried parsley
• dried oregano
• dried basil
• mustard seed
• handful fresh basil
• olive oil
• salt + pepper

1.  Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Boil water in a large pot and completely submerge lasagna noodles for about 8 minutes. If you really want to save time use no-boil noodles. (Follow the instructions on the box.)
3. While lasagna noodles are boiling, dice eggplant and onion.
4. Brown diced eggplant and onion with s+p and a dash of all spices listed above. Use your judgement, the eggplant and onions should become fragrant and soft. When they're soft, mix the breadcrumbs right into your skillet and brown for a few minutes more.
5. Remove noodles and place them on a lightly greased cookie sheet, making sure to coat each noodle in some oil. This will prevent them from sticking and becoming a total pain to handle when assembling the dish. No need to use olive oil! Save some money and use vegetable oil or cooking spray for this step.
6. Prepare your cheese mixture. In a bowl mix 3 eggs, 2 cups of ricotta or cottage cheese, 1 tbsp of basil, oregano, parsley, mustard seed, and minced garlic.
7. Layer your dish in the following order: lasagna noodles, ricotta mixture, chicken, sauce, grated cheese. Reserve some eggplant/onions for the end. Repeat until you have a final layer of noodles. Top noodles with any leftover vegetables and sliced cheese on top. I liked sliced cheese to finish because it makes for an even, golden crust.
8. Bake on the top rack for 30 minutes at 350°F and broil for an additional 5 to get a golden crust on the cheese.
9. Serve with a green salad and a handful of fresh basil on top.