Mango Coconut Muffins
Posted on April 13th, 2015
I really like baking, but baking for nobody feels wasteful, and there is only so much my coworkers want me to fatten them up. Visiting Ian is a perfect excuse to try out new recipes– he lives in an 8-man suite, and his roommates will eat pretty much anything. I got the baking bug last week, so Thursday night I revved up my hot pink stand mixer for a little experiment. I was thinking muffins for the following reasons:
- They travel well, which is crucial considering they would be making a 200 mile journey
- They are single serving, which is easy for sharing
- You can pretend muffins are healthy, when in actuality they are un-iced cupcakes
Given the whole “it’s spring” thing, I was in the mood for something tropical, so I decided to go with Mango Coconut Muffins.
They were delicious! You can make them, too…
- 2 cups of flour
- 1 cup of milk
- 3 teaspoons of baking powder
- 1 egg
- 3/4 cup of white sugar
- 1/3 cup of applesauce (or substitute 1/4 cup of vegetable oil)
- 1 tablespoon of vanilla
- 1 cup of shredded coconut
- 1 1/4 cup of diced mango (frozen, or about 1 fresh)
The key with muffins is not to overmix the batter, which should be lumpy. Overmixed muffins are dense. We will have none of that in my kitchen. To avoid that calamity, I just dumped all ingredients in the bowl at once, and stirred just until mixed. I popped them in a 400 degree oven for about 18-20 minutes (don’t forget to grease your muffin tins!), and enjoyed the beautiful product shown above! Yield: 12-15
Funny you should ask– no, I am not a food photographer.
I always look super normal carrying a whole bag of muffins in my purse… but the real test is how many are still in the bag after the four hour train ride!
Sunday Snapshot- April 12
Posted on April 12th, 2015
Lots of excitement about the return of spring this week! We’ve had our moments, and I am optimistic that this week brings some truly beautiful days.
The planters around Herald Square were feeling the springtime love, too.
On Friday night, I hopped a train to Boston (Amtrak, I love you). I rented Foxcatcher on iTunes to keep me entertained– I had seen all of the Oscar best picture nominees this year, but I did a poor job of seeing anything else. I really didn’t know anything about it going in (like the plot, for example…), and I could not get over Steve Carrell’s makeup job! After seeing him in so many comedic roles, let’s just say this was quite the contrast.
On Saturday, I stopped by Anthropologie while Ian was getting a haircut. First of all, I am pleased to publicly announce that I left without buying a single thing. …But that doesn’t mean I didn’t think about it. I had seen these handpainted globes online, but this was my first time seeing them in person. Do I need one? Definitely not. But that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t like to just have this. Just because.
By the way, if you want to know what literally every girl in Cambridge was wearing yesterday, I’m it was essentially this. Nothing makes you feel basic quite like being dressed identically to every 20-something in a five mile radius.
And on one final spring note, Ian and I had our first run outside on the Charles this morning, and it was blue and not windy and glorious. That is a route that is near and dear to my heart– kind of hard to conceptualize that I’ll only run here a few more times. Ian graduates next month!
Now go be a boss this week!
Hostess Dresses
Posted on April 9th, 2015
Though I’m very much in favor of living in the moment and being grateful for what you have now, I don’t think a little daydreaming ever hurt anyone. This week, the calendar says spring but the weather says “Don’t go outside,” so I’m settling for dreaming of warm weather outdoor soirees.
They say you shouldn’t overthink things when it comes to entertaining. If the hostess is having a good time, everyone will have a good time. I believe this is true, and I also believe the hostess is more apt to have enjoy herself if she knows she’s looking fabulous. When I think about hostess outfits, I think about color (when am I not thinking about color?), comfort, and something that’s casually show stopping. Our dear hostess flits about her party, G&T in hand, laughing with her guests but also ducking back inside to toss the salad and whip the homemade whip cream. This is what I would wear for such an occasion:
1. Vineyard Vines– it’s easy to glow in white
2. Tracy Reese– covered shoulders for the spring time chill
3. Shoshana– a jeweled bodice is just the right amount of sparkle
4. Shoshana– you’ll look good in blue even before your tan comes in
5. Socialite– it’s navy and white and it’s under $50, end of story
6. Mara Hoffman- cut outs!
7. French Connection- sometimes you need to show a little leg
8. Splendid– easy and breezy
Now I just need to pick one, overcome my fear of maxi dresses, move out of my small apartment to a place with a real kitchen and outdoor entertaining space, and I’ll be all set! Which would you choose?
Easy Peasy White Chicken Chili
Posted on April 7th, 2015
I know I just wrote about how I don’t mind my year of independence, but one thing that is totally not chic is cooking for one. Time constraints aside, it’s surprisingly hard to do in a cost effective way, unless you’re okay with eating the same thing four days in a row, which I am not. But I do actually still love to cook, so when Ian was in town last week, it seemed like the perfect excuse to roll up my sleeves and make one of my favorite recipes.
Soup and stew recipes are excellent for many reasons. The recipes usually have lots of flexibility. Want different spices or extra veggies? Use what you like! If you let the soup simmer for two hours instead of 90 minutes, it’s not overcooked, it’s just extra flavor. When entertaining, portions are more flexible if you’re not sure exactly how many people are coming or how much they’ll want to eat. For busy families, soups can be kept warm on the stove all evening to fit everyone’s individual schedule (although family dinners are strongly encouraged!). And soup portions can also easily be frozen for easy weeknight meals.
Can you tell I like soup? And this easy white chicken chili recipe is one of my favorites. If you can open cans and jars, you’re most of the way there. Here are the basics:
To make, sauté onion and garlic for about three minutes, and then dump all the ingredients into a big pot on your stove. The chicken breast should be raw and whole when you put it in the pot– allow it to simmer in the soup for about an hour, then just take it out and dice it up. The longer you allow this soup to cook, the more flavorful it will become. Just add more chicken broth if and as needed.
When I make pretty much any recipe white chicken chili, I like to add extra vegetables– the great thing about this recipe is pretty much anything will work. The other night, I added peas, and then I also made a side vegetable dish. Beautiful colors on the cutting board!
To make this soup more filling, you can serve it over rice, or with a delicious Asiago roll from the Maison Kayser bakery you live on top of. Top it with a little salsa, a little sour cream, a little cheese– whatever floats your boat! Enjoy!
Me, Myself, and I: BFFs
Posted on April 6th, 2015
I’ve spent a lot of time alone this year. That might be a taboo thing to say—there is somewhat of a stigma associated with riding solo—but I think it has been really important for me. Even though I have a lot of confidence in my competence as an individual, I am not really known for my independence. I just prefer the company of others and sharing experiences with people I love! When I have a good day at work, the first thing I want to do after I leave is call and text my parents, my boyfriend, my friends, etc. because it enhances my joy to include them in my happiness.
But this year has been a little different. On weekends when I’m in the city, I usually have loads of unstructured time, and while of course I arrange to meet up with friends, I also have long stretches when it’s just me. On these days, I practice being my own best friend. I’m a lovely friend to other people; it’s something on which I really pride myself. I defer to their preferences, I remember what they like and what they don’t like, I really and truly listen to what they have to say. So why shouldn’t I do the same thing for myself? When I’m my own best friend, I get myself flowers. I get pizza with the toppings I know I like best. I stop by a new bakery with myself, I go to the movies, I tell myself my hair looks great, and I wear cute clothes because I want to look good for myself. Ultimately, I try to be as proud of myself as I am of my friends.
This is extremely corny, but it has been extremely effective. I have more love and respect for myself this year than I ever have had in the past. I don’t know why it took me so long to start giving myself what I do for others, but I am very glad I finally got the hint!
Sunday Snapshot- April 5
Posted on April 5th, 2015
Snippets from the early days of spring:
When Ian was here last weekend, we were feeling adventurous, which for us just means we actually left the one-mile radius around my apartment. We visited Tompkins Square Bagels in the East Village– amazing! The bagels are not toasted because they’re made so frequently that they are still fresh and warm when you order. They have a range of bagel sandwiches and tons of cream cheese options. I succumbed to my most juvenile taste buds and ordered a french toast bagel with sprinkle birthday cake cream cheese. I happily rode that sugar high all morning.
Warmer weather means walking home, which is something I really love to do after sitting at a desk all day. I walk all the way up Fifth Avenue, including by the Met on the Museum Mile.
Let’s just get right to it with the embarrassing confessions: Shake Shack custard is my jam, and the release of the monthly custard calendar is something I look forward to. (It’s the little things, y’all) I’m in for some extra temptation this month– all of these flavors look incredible.
Normally I paint my own nails badly, but on Monday I treated myself to a little professional pampering. Essie Van D’Go has been putting a smile on my face all week.
And some Sunday inspiration:
Welcome!
Posted on April 4th, 2015
Welcome to A Cultured Pearl! I’m Helen, and I’m glad you’re here. A Cultured Pearl grew out of a Tumblr account once I realized I had more to say than fit within the social norms of the Tumblr medium. Not that I expect anyone to read it—it just seems more appropriate to put it here. After graduating from college in 2014, I moved to New York City, where I currently work as a consultant and live on the Upper East Side.
I grew up in St. Louis with the coolest parents and chicest little brothers. We have always called ourselves the 5 Pals. Photographic evidence here:
That side-eye shade was a preview of things to come. And yes, I wore an Abercrombie t-shirt to Notre Dame. You can be embarrassed for me; I promise I am too.
Fast forward through the physical and psychological ugliness of middle and high school, and I’ve grown into someone with a lot of passion. Passion for people I love, for pushing myself to be better, for event planning, for the retail world, for finding a cure for Type 1 Diabetes, for entertaining, and many, many other things. I’m looking for a place to find happiness, and I appreciate you all joining me for that journey!
PS—everyone else grew up, too:
