Lazy Sunday: Sushi Adventures

Photo found on The Perfect Pantry

This lazy Sunday I decided to make sushi. No, the photo above is not my final product. Think more smooshed, less taut, nix the garnish, and more messy all-over. That was my final product. It had nothing on my favorite Denver tofu rolls or the best Boston Portabella rolls, but every once in a while it's more fun to make a mess and try things yourself... just buy a good dessert in case the exotic entree doesn't quite make the cut. Thankfully Whole Foods has added yet another vegan dessert to their bakery line-up: lemon poppy-seed cake!

What's Cooking?

Photo via How Stuff Works

What's cooking? If you think you're too busy to cook, you might need to be a little more strategic in the that meals you choose. For example, it can be helpful to make a big batch of something yummy that can be easily re-served as a convenient lunch or fast dinner all week long. Bonus points for making a multi-tasking meal that uses up extra bits of this and that you have lurking in the fridge. Case in point: Homemade Soup.

I made a big stock pot full of soup tonight using this Ellie Krieger recipe which made a delicious dinner served with garlic bread. The soup was fast and easy to make, low in calories, brimming with nutrients, and could easily accommodate a few substitutions depending on what produce you need to use up. Better yet, what didn't get eaten tonight can be reheated alongside a salad or sandwich for lunch tomorrow or even used to fill up a store-bought bakery roll like a bread-bowl for dinner on Friday.

Soups, especially homemade soups that are lower in sodium than their canned counterparts, are a great way to fit more veggies into your diet too - especially as the weather cools and salads start to lose their luster. So go ahead and make a pot-full this weekend, and you'll have a healthy and quick option for even your busiest of days.

Design Inspiration: Warm Spaces

Photo by David Allee via NYMag

You may have noticed from some of my other interior design posts that I gravitate towards clean, simple spaces - but I also love rooms that combine natural elements to create warmth. This living room and kitchen, found on the New York Magazine website, may just be my favorite room set yet. Open and airy yet inviting and cozy, architect Diane Kellog and her husband, writer Neil Burger, have created an exceptionally beautiful and livable space. To see more of Diane's work, check out her website here.

Photo by David Allee via NYMag

Design Inspiration: Bright Kitchens

Photo via Interior Design Story

There's something about a bright, white kitchen that sets the tone for a beautiful home. I especially love kitchens with lots of natural light, so large south-facing windows would be ideal for creating a bright, open, and airy space. To me, the more space a kitchen affords, the easier it is to spread out and prep food comfortably and enjoyably. Since space is at a premium for those of us in apartments, the illusion of space and light can be achieved with the use of light and bright colors and framed mirrors to reflect light and expand the perceived size of the area. 

Photo via Room Envy

Photo via Country Living