On another JP note because it is my neighborhood, I was also sad to learn that Hi-Lo is closing. It has been a staple in the Latino Community here in Hyde Square for over 47 years.. it will be replaced by a Whole Foods.. I am not sure how I feel about it.. there was a great story on yesterday’s Morning Edition on WBUR, here is the link to that as well, Hi Lo

stay warm dear reader!
xo, the hip domestic

Johanna went to SMFA with me, and is a painter and has been planning to make this move for close to 2 years now and she finally left last monday! I am excited for her and Mike and like to hear their progress along the way. i know that they did purchase bear mace for some instances where they will be camping outside and apparently because the truck does run on vegetable oil it smells like food because a bear attacking a biodiesel truck would be bad.

Johanna’s trip also got me thinking about road trips in general, the culture behind them, the history of them, what they mean, who does them etc. there is something to be said about traveling the country by car, experiencing things in ways you have not before,getting caught up in the weird tourists attractions, the lay of the land depending on what state you are in and most importantly, the local cuisine. I think what makes their trip so interesting is their conscious effort to make it green and to also be embarking on a new adventure in their lives! i wish them both the best of luck in Portland!

xo,
the hipdomestic

my latest thing is what to do with left over wine! you may open a bottle, have a glass or two and leave it to sit, which is not good past a week than it goes down the drain! or worse, you buy a bottle and hate it! in the spirit of not wasting, i got this idea from a 2009 broadcast of the Faith Middleton show from my home state NPR station WNPR on one of Faith’s editions of the “Foodschmooze”. In this episode she spoke with a local chef who does this and it is as simple as saving your old wine and putting it in a crock and letting it sit for a few months until ready. my batch is in the process of fermenting but here are some step by step intructions from food and wine magazine! enjoy.

xo,
the hipdomestic

i just wanted to give you some more images of my feather wares… please let me know your thoughts and contact me at thehipdomestic@gmail.com for orders and custom designs!!

xo, the hipdomestic

so i have perfected my sangria recipe and for this time of year i find that white is a better option than red. for a long time, i was defiantly a fan of  red but this past year i have been reintroduced to white again via the vino verhde from the discount barrels of blanchard’s liquors across the street from my house.

i made up a quick batch tonight using frozen strawberries because they are not quite in season and from there i cut up an organic apple, mango and used pineapple juice instead of using lots of sugar. i was inspired to do this batch because of a friend’s birthday party last week and they turned me on to the pineapple and white wine goodness! a typical white sangria calls for a Sauvignon blanc or a different kind of white wine and this latest recipe i found in the new york time’s food section calls for gin and triple sec:

White Sangria

Adapted from Kerin Auth, Tinto Fino, Manhattan

Time: 20 minutes, plus at least 4 hours’ refrigeration

2 apples, cored and coarsely diced

2 pears, cored and coarsely diced

2 juice oranges, peeled, seeded and diced

1 cup gin

1/2 cup triple sec

3bottles (500 milliliters each) manzanilla sherry or 2 bottles (750 milliliters each) dry white wine

1/2 bottle cava (1 1/2 cups), chilled.

1. Place all fruit in a bowl with gin and triple sec. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours, or overnight.

2. Transfer to a large pitcher and add manzanilla or white wine. Stir. Divide liquid and fruit into wine glasses, over ice if desired, until about 2/3 full. Top each with cava.

Yield: 8 to 10 servings.

coutrsey: NY Times

there is also an adaptation for red as well. enjoy!

xo the hipdomestic

So I have always had my hands in a variety of things and after a year of baking, cooking, trying new recipes for friends I have decided launch a hip domestic party planning service! my goal is to help people around the Jamaica Plain/Boston area plan small dinner parties or events for up to 25 people from the menu to the favors and create a custom party for them! The plan is to cook in their home, gather all the ingredients, and extra elements etc so that hosts can be wonderful hosts without having to worry about the details of throwing a party! I am also in the process of developing my own brand of vintage inspired head bands that are all hand-made by moi! down below is a recent one i created so feel free to email me with questions about those or the party planning services as well and as always keep checking back for the latest on what’s happening in the boston domestic scene!

please feel free to contact me for details and fees for my services at: thehipdomestic@gmail.com

i look forward to hearing from you and hopefully will start receiving orders soon!

xo, the hipdomestic

                                                                                                                                         also here is a headband i made recently:

 i been a busy bee with moving and other things. I recently got the new Erykah Badu cd, “erykah badu new amerykah part 2″. it’s amazing. and her video for the first single, “window seat” was received with a lot of controversy. it was shot in Dallas, Texas, and she strips down naked to the spot where JFK was shot. every song off the new album is great, and it is a definite evolution from new amerykah part 1 and in general.

Erykah Badu is performing in Boston on June 6 and I happen to have gotten tickets which I am totally stoked about. it is going to be amazing.  checkout the video and see what all the fuss is about.

xo the hip domestic

Hi world! this month the hipdomestic turns one! Oh what a year it has been! it has been full of many delicious treats– baked and adventure wise! Currently I am planning my summer garden and am going to attempt the topsy turvy tomato plant i am sure you have seen advertised on T.V. I am very intrigued by it and hope it is able to yield some tomatoes for me! on other news, the lilacs seem to be out early this year and boston is full of spring and new life! I will be posting soon on my planned brew tour around Massachusetts this summer so watch for me at a brewery near you!

I am going for the second time to the Sam Adams Brewery next week which is literally in my neck of the woods in Boston! It is quite the experience! I will keep you all posted on my planned brew tour activity and other fun recipes! Thanks for reading everyone and supporting the hipdomestic!

love always,

the hipdomestic

spring in many ways is about change, and this is the season for it. in many ways it is about a fresh start, turning a page, and maybe coming to amends with things that have happened. this is the perfect time to do these things i think.. it is also about the time to start gardens, and make pies, and barbeque, to start new spring flirtations, drink sangria and go out dancing.

i think also in some ways spring is about reinventing… and i think that is where i am at currently at. i am ready to start new things and move on from others and right now in this moment i feel hopeful!

so happy spring everyone!