Kathleen Rear

French Dip Sandwich

Kathleen Rear

September 15, 2013

I’m not quite ready to crank up my oven for a lovely beef stew or a piping bowl of chili. This, I believe, might be a good compromise between what my belly wants and what my thermostat can tolerate.

French Dip Sandwiches
4 Hoagie or Outdoor rolls
1 lb. sliced Roast Beef
1/2 sliced Provolone Cheese

For the Au Jus:
2 Shallots (finely sliced)
4 cups Beef Consume (canned is fine)
2 tablespoons Cream Sherry
1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
1 tablespoon Herbs de Provence
Salt & Pepper

Place all the ingredients in a medium sized pot and bring to a simmer.

To assemble the sandwiches:
Toast the hoagie rolls under the broiler or on a griddle.
Dip the slices of roast beef into the hot au jus before dividing the meat between the rolls. Add the cheese and allow to melt slightly before serving. Serve the au jus in small bowls for dipping.

it’s no biggie

Kathleen Rear

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September 12, 2013

I had to share these charming illustrations/gif animations by Thoka Maer. Go by the Tumblr page and check them all out!

The Packing Project: Episode 7 (NYC)

Kathleen Rear

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September 9, 2013

It’s hot and steamy with a side of rainy day in NYC in the summer. I tried to pack by occasion and the outing planned.

What I Ate in NYC

Kathleen Rear

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September 6, 2013

I’ll admit most vacations are planned around eating ourselves silly, NYC is a very good place to do that!

Shake Shack- I shy away from places I’ve seen on TV travel shows that implore you to go. I’m glad we checked this out!

Black Shack Burger– However, the joint that won our undying affection was this place around the corner from our hotel.

Mulligan’s Pub– This was the perfect place to rest our tired dogs after a day of sight-seeing. Very friendly family owned place that pours a proper drink!

Il Cortile– We wanted to have a family dinner in “Little Italy” and I’ll admit I was put off by the reviews I saw on the internet for this place. I made the reservation for a Tuesday evening and crossed my fingers. It was good! Really good! Service, food, friendliness of the staff…. No idea what all those whiners on the web were crying about!

Quality Meats– One of the date night dinners Jef and I had. Relaxed and easy-going, definitely our kind of place!

Lucid Cafe– A very nice cup of coffee and croissant. Again, in the Murray Hill neighborhood.

Scotty’s Diner – Charming NYC authentic diner in Murray Hill. Once we found this place we went back every morning for breakfast.

Grilled Chicken Burger

Kathleen Rear

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September 4, 2013

This simply grilled chicken breast on a bun has been a staple for us this summer. It’s tasty, quick and can be gussied up as you like.

Grilled Chicken Burger
4 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
2 tablespoons Olive Oil
Salt & Pepper
4 Hamburger Buns (toasted)

Toppings as you like:
Tomato
Lettuce
Ranch Dressing
Avocado
Salsa
Cheese
Etc…

Place the chicken breast between two pieces of cling film and pound until a uniform thickness. About 1/2 inch.
Discard the cling wrap and sprinkle with the olive oil, salt and pepper.
Heat your gas grill to medium, about 400 degrees. Place the chicken on the grill for 3-4 minutes a side.
Cover loosely with foil and let rest for 5 minutes.

Assemble the burger with your toppings and enjoy!

Sunday Surfing

Kathleen Rear

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September 1, 2013

Lets stay in our PJ’s and surf the internet….

Photo by NAGANO TOYOKAZU

NAGANO TOYOKAZU takes charming portraits featuring his daughter and gives us a peek into Japanese family life.

In one second on the Internet there are HOW MANY actions performed? Wow!

Cool! Full text illustrated posters of literary classics!

I’m getting inspired for fall fashion with Madewell and Anthropologie Pinterest pages!

The Packing Project: Episode 6

Kathleen Rear

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August 29, 2013

Last time we had a weekend away I challenged myself to take as little as possible. Everything HAD to fit in the back pack and large tote pictured below. Our activities included sight seeing, dinner out and a football match.

The challenge for my dopp kit was made easier by knowing I would have body wash and shampoo waiting for me at the hotel.

Here’s the finished packing IRL:

I went ahead and gate checked the backpack so I had even less to fuss with while on the flight.

Edit: All the light packing techniques in the world won’t save you however if there happens to be an Anthropologie shop near your hotel. Heh. I had to buy a cheap duffel to check so I could get my new purchases home.

Next time though, I’ll do better! Maybe….

What I Learned in New York

Kathleen Rear

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August 26, 2013

It’s big! Like, really big!
Makes me sound like a gawking tourist doesn’t it? Yep, I was.

All the travel shows tell you, “If you don’t want to be taken for a tourist, do this and that and this….”
I’m not sure that’s very realistic. No one is going to take me for a native New Yorker, or Parisian, or Londoner etc.
The guy marching down the side-walk conversing rapid fire on his phone, or the woman in a skirt suit with ear-buds firmly in place on the subway, those are natives and they pretty much ignore you.

photo by Gavin

Here’s what I learned.

Step out of the flow of sidewalk “traffic” to take pictures.

People in big cities are protective of their personal space:
-While riding the subway, don’t take up more than your fair share of real estate.
-Don’t touch anyone while riding the subway if you can help it.

Tell the cab driver what corner you’d like to be dropped off at rather than the address.
“38th and Park Ave” rather than “70 Park Avenue”

Leave a good tip. Especially if it’s a place you’ll be frequenting.

NYC really is the city that never sleeps. Traffic noises and service vehicles go all night long. You’ll want to buy a white noise app for your phone.

I truly enjoyed the differences between NYC and home. I think that’s why we travel. To gain a better understanding of the world, but also to appreciate what we have waiting for us when we go home.

More later on my NYC experience! Till then….

Happy Things

Kathleen Rear

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August 22, 2013

I’m sure you’ve all seen this by now. Me, I’m always late to the party!
If you haven’t here’s the jist: It’s part car show, part chat show, hosted by Jerry Seinfeld. Jerry picks up his friends for coffee, each in a different classic car…. Hilarity ensues.

August Bookworm

Kathleen Rear

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August 20, 2013

Perfect Scoundrels (Heist Society #3) by Ally Carter
“Hale unexpectedly inherits his grandmother’s billion dollar corporation, he quickly learns that there’s no place for Kat and their old heists in his new role. But Kat won’t let him go that easily, especially after she gets tipped off that his grandmother’s will might have been altered in an elaborate con to steal the company’s fortune.”

Dead Ever After (Sookie Stackhouse #13) by Charlaine Harris
The conclusion to the popular series. “….a shocking murder rocks Bon Temps, and Sookie is arrested for the crime. But the evidence against Sookie is weak, and she makes bail. Investigating the killing, she’ll learn that what passes for truth in Bon Temps is only a convenient lie. What passes for justice is more spilled blood.”

Scarlett Fever (Scarlett #2) by Maureen Johnson
“Ever since Mrs. Amberson, the former-aspiring-actress-turned-agent, entered Scarlett Martin’s life, nothing has been the same. She’s still in charge of the Empire Suite in her family’s hotel, but she’s now also Mrs. Amberson’s assistant, running around town for her star client, Chelsea – a Broadway star Scarlett’s age with a knack for making her feel insignificant.”

Anger Management (for Beginners) by Giles Coren
His rants get raves….
Grumpy and opinionated, Giles covers everything from plane travel to doggie doo. I found myself laughing and nodding in agreement.

What are you reading this month? Join me at Goodreads!